Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2449 - 2385: Taking a Clear Stand
Previously on Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s...
Meng Xinian shook his head gently.
"If he'd actually taken a life, would we be able to spot him around today? He never got the opportunity to make a move; he just let the rumor slip out, and that guy, gripped by terror and panic, bolted away that very night, only to tumble into a canal and meet his end halfway. Ironically, the spot was close to the location where Zhu Shun's wife suffered her assault."
Perhaps the heavens were lending Zhu Shun a helping hand.
It refused to let his fate turn out so heartbreaking.
All three who were paying attention released a deep breath of relief.
Chen Yin let out a sigh: "This tale feels somewhat hard to believe, yet it's obvious the heavens are watching over things, in the end."
Meng Xinian added: "Folks from their village claim Zhu Shun's wife sought her own revenge, unwilling to let Zhu Shun throw away his life as well. Zhu Shun appeared to accept this too; afterward, he sent me a letter stating his life now belonged to his wife and parents, and since they wished to shield him, he'd cherish it fully."
Thus, Zhu Shun stayed away from the military and carried on with this easygoing existence.
And he's remained solitary ever since, right?
"Who would've thought Brother Shun, always chuckling and fooling about, looking so lighthearted and joyful, carried such a heavy history." Wang Yi's eyes welled up with emotion, "Does that mean he never tied the knot again?"
"Likely not," Chiang Xiao replied: "If remarriage had happened, his life wouldn't look this way."
Once their chat about Zhu Shun wrapped up, they slurped down their noodle soup and went their separate ways back home.
Upon reaching home and completing her evening routine, Chiang Xiao settled before the vanity, dabbing on the nourishing lotion blended from spring water and herbal powder, when a memory from her previous life surfaced in her mind.
That individual carried such a sorrowful backstory too.
"What's bothering you?" Meng Xinian emerged from his bath, approached from behind, wrapped his arms around her, and gazed alongside her at their reflection as a pair in the mirror.
He noticed her seeming somewhat distant that evening.
Chiang Xiao shook her head and replied: "Nothing much, I was just mulling over Zhu Shun."
"Fine, stop dwelling on him now."
Meng Xinian brought up Zhu Shun with a sigh of his own, but the past stayed buried—those events were from long ago, and if Zhu Shun had managed to push forward on his own, it was wiser for them to leave it alone and not stir things up.
Chiang Xiao acknowledged with a soft hum.
"Brother Xinian, any updates on the troop movement talks? Also, has Little Cai tried reaching out to you?"
"No updates so far, though the troop shift is definite; the higher-ups are still hashing out the details." Meng Xinian's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Little Cai.
He truly dreaded her anger flaring up.
Even worse, the mere idea of her shutting him out, keeping distance, felt like pure agony.
He quickly responded: "I'm not sure if she's seeking me out. For these past days, I've been stuck in the Enclosed Camp, never caught sight of her, and no word has come through about her. Had you not brought it up, she'd have slipped my mind entirely!"
Chiang Xiao shot him a sideways look, "Brother Xinian, why the jitters?"
"No jitters here, merely stating my position plainly." Meng Xinian shot back without delay.
"Pfft."
How straightforward that position was.
"Isn't anyone in your circle watching the Gao Family, Lu Family, or Long Family to gauge their moves?"
"I'm not involved in tracking that right now; it's up to my superiors to manage."
Meng Xinian drew her to her feet, held her close as they toppled onto the bed, drew the covers over them, let out a sigh, and murmured: "Soon enough, I'll get pulled into these messes too, so for the moment, let's steer clear while we can."