Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2373 - 2309: A Bit Softhearted

Noticing that Old Meng remained a touch confused, she forced a gentle smile onto her face.

"Didn't I start calling you Dad earlier? So..."

Old Meng grew thrilled in an instant, "Little one, does that mean you see us as your family now?"

"Yes."

Chiang Xiao felt her throat tighten slightly, which made speaking further quite challenging.

In the past, she had been so cold-hearted that in moments like these, she would have stayed unmoved, often pushing aside memories of her wretched existence and how she'd been toyed with in her previous life.

She never forgot the promise she'd sworn after her rebirth—to stop being excessively kind, to harden her heart against softness.

That approach had guided her actions through these recent years.

But why did her resolve weaken at this moment?

Could it be the presence of a real father in her life now?

Recalling Ah Liu's tender nature eased Chiang Xiao's words considerably.

"Grandpa, I'll make sure to deliver the potion consistently. I've seen that Dad's chemo treatments aren't proving effective, so maybe we should give my potion another shot. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Go with your remedy, stick to yours—it's the best!"

Old Meng exclaimed with fervor, spinning away abruptly.

Chiang Xiao acted as if she hadn't caught him brushing away his tears.

As she glanced aside, Ding Haijing came into view, seated nearby and observing her with an unusual look on his face.

Ding Haijing truly stirred an odd sensation within her.

Yet Meng Xinian had vouched for his reliability.

To be frank, without Meng Xinian's repeated reassurances, she would have kept her defenses up around Ding Haijing.

Before long, the doctor pushed open the door and approached the group.

"Old Meng."

"Doctor Xu, what's the update?"

Thankfully, Doctor Xu, the on-call physician, had built some acquaintance with Old Meng by now.

From their casual exchange, Chiang Xiao realized Meng Chaojun must have been rushed to the hospital numerous times.

True enough, Doctor Xu explained: "As I mentioned to Alliance Officer Meng last visit, considering his condition, admission was the wisest choice, though he flatly declined. The latest scans look grim, showing signs of progression, so hospitalization is essential now."

Old Meng staggered unsteadily, but Chiang Xiao quickly steadied him with firm support.

"Hasn't he stuck with chemotherapy throughout?" she inquired.

"And who might you be?" Doctor Xu eyed Chiang Xiao curiously. He didn't know her and wondered about her tie to the patient, since she'd never appeared before.

"She's..." Old Meng shot a look at Chiang Xiao.

In truth, he paused, reluctant to presume and disclose her role without cause.

Chiang Xiao possessed a forceful character; she'd only just committed to supplying Meng Chaojun's medicine on a regular basis. A single misspoken word could sour the fragile bond they'd rebuilt.

Chiang Xiao picked up on his reluctance, feeling a bead of sweat form despite herself.

Was she truly so intimidating?

"The patient happens to be my father-in-law; I'm Jiang Xiao." Chiang Xiao deliberately shifted her name's pronunciation starting with Doctor Xu, though the homophones of Jiang and Chiang slipped by unheard.

Ah, so that's her...

Doctor Xu grasped it at once.

Hadn't rumors claimed Meng Chaojun shared poor ties with his son and prospective daughter-in-law?

Yet the reality appeared far different now?

"Young Lady Meng," he greeted promptly.

Chiang Xiao felt another trickle of sweat.

Why did that form of address strike her as so uncomfortable?

She remained unaware that Doctor Xu hailed from an elite family background, where formal appellations like that were standard, far from the comrade-style addresses he found unfamiliar.

"To lay it out, for an ailment like this, chemo offers no absolute assurance of eradicating or containing the rogue cells—we all hope for the best, but decline has set in regardless, rendering the old regimen obsolete. We'll convene for a fresh review and craft an updated strategy."