Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2490 - 2426: A Pair of Fools

Over these recent days, Old Meng has fretted endlessly over Meng Chaojun's condition, robbing him of proper rest.

With Chiang Xiao and Meng Xinian now present, a sense of relief washes over him, convincing him he might finally catch some solid sleep. Thus, mid-conversation with Chiang Xiao, he reclined against the sofa and promptly began to snore.

Chiang Xiao observed him and released a gentle sigh.

As Meng Xinian emerged and beheld the sight, he softly retrieved a blanket and draped it over him with care.

They slipped out to the courtyard for a leisurely stroll, intent on not disturbing his rest.

"Brother Xinian, maybe you should sit down with the Alliance Officer for a real discussion? This deployment business keeps gnawing at me," Chiang Xiao raised the issue once more.

Meng Xinian shook his head.

"Should the Gao Family truly be scheming in the shadows, meeting the Chief Alliance Officer right now would be unwise. It'd give them leverage to use against me later. The Chief Alliance Officer grasps the situation far better than I ever could. Plus," Meng Xinian slung his arm around Chiang Xiao and added, "Little, didn't we already go over this?"

Their agreement stood firm: if his name appeared on the list, he would head out.

Chiang Xiao continued to harbor doubts.

Should the Long, Gao, and Lu families be orchestrating a snare to force his involvement, hazards could await at Ke Ku Li. Even knowing that, was he to proceed anyway?

"What if..."

"Little, listen carefully," Meng Xinian positioned himself before her, locking eyes firmly, and explained, "If they've got the pull to slip my name onto the deployment roster, then no matter the circumstances, it's an official Alliance directive. Obeying is my only choice. I can't run around claiming this might be a targeted scheme to ship me off, refusing to budge just to foil their plans."

Chiang Xiao nibbled her bottom lip.

"So if they pull off getting me assigned, that's on their skill. Obeying orders is all I can do, with no cause for defiance—do you get it?"

She got it.

Yet a sharp ache of grief struck her.

"On top of that, even if I sit this one out, another will step up. Others' loved ones would worry just the same; if they can handle it, then I can too. I can even say with certainty that, while I steer clear of playing the lone hero, heading there lets me push to keep my nearby teammates alive at minimum."

He's no hero, and he has no desire to become one.

That said, Chiang Xiaoxiao has bestowed immense benefits upon him; the Spirit Spring Water has fortified his body, sharpening his responses beyond the norm. In truth, he now outshines his peers in capability.

Hence, amid risks, his participation could indeed preserve one or two lives.

Such reasoning leads him to believe that, whatever the cause of his deployment, turning it down isn't right.

Chiang Xiao regarded him, her gaze gleaming brightly.

"Folks always peg Tyrant Meng as having a wild streak, full of mischief inside, but why do I see such deep loyalty, courage, and warmth in you?"

"Hahaha!" Meng Xinian let out a booming laugh, scooping her up high, "You silly girl, whatever makes you this silly?"

"How am I silly? You're the silly one."

"Fine, fine, we're both silly, a perfect silly duo destined by the heavens."

"You stay silly by yourself."

"Nope, we'll be silly as a team, or how else do we fit?"

The duo isn't prone to lingering on weighty concerns.

With a choice reached, matters would sort themselves when the moment arrived.

As they bantered playfully, a cough echoed from beyond the gate, "Officer Meng holds onto such fine spirits?"