Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2572 - 2508: More Promising Than Anyone

As they arrived back in the Capital City, dusk was just beginning to fall.

With Meng Xinian due home that night, Chiang Xiao had already picked up a fish and various ingredients; she also grabbed some vegetables to serve as a cover.

Arriving home, she discovered Old Meng perched sadly on the doorstep, waiting for her arrival.

"Grandpa, why are you here?"

Old Meng spotted Chiang Xiao unloading fish and vegetables from the car and let out a relieved breath.

He had feared being left to wait in vain.

"Little, you headed to the market, huh?"

"Oh, yes." Chiang Xiao kept it brief, unlocked the door swiftly, and ushered him inside. "Didn’t the guards bring you here?"

She had advised him earlier to always travel with guards no matter where he went.

"Well, they drove me over, but then I decided to wait here by myself, so I sent them back first."

After all, didn’t he plan to linger here for a good while?

Hadn’t they mentioned Xinian returning tonight? He reckoned he ought to at least join them for dinner.

To his surprise, more than half an hour had passed in waiting.

"Didn’t you call ahead before coming?"

"I tried, but nobody picked up. Figured you were still at school, and by now, classes should be wrapping up."

Chiang Xiao stowed the fish and vegetables in the kitchen, then turned to Ding Haijing and Luo Yongsheng. "You guys staying for dinner tonight?"

Ding Haijing shot a look at Old Meng and shook his head. "No."

"Brother Xinian should be back any minute."

"We’ll stick around till he returns, then head out," Ding Haijing replied.

"Fine, grab yourselves a nice meal—it’s my treat."

Ding Haijing and Luo Yongsheng nodded before heading off to find somewhere to eat.

Old Meng eyed them and murmured softly, "Little, do they go to school with you as well?"

"Yes."

Old Meng furrowed his brow, tempted to speak up at first, but after some thought, he held his tongue.

He had wanted to point out that Ding Haijing was rather good-looking and not much older, trailing after Little everywhere like that—what if it sparked the wrong ideas?

Though they wouldn’t get the wrong end of the stick, outsiders might mistake him for Chiang Xiao’s boyfriend.

Such misunderstandings wouldn’t do anyone any favors.

Still, he worried mentioning it would irk Chiang Xiao a little, so he let it drop. Meng Xinian likely wouldn’t care anyway, making it no big deal.

Right as Chiang Xiao finished preparing the rice, Meng Xinian showed up.

He came back in his usual composed fashion.

Dressed in his uniform, he radiated an captivating aura.

From the kitchen doorway, Chiang Xiao watched him enter, her heart fluttering wildly for him.

"Brother Xinian."

"Little, I’m home... Grandpa?"

As Meng Xinian glanced toward Chiang Xiao, Old Meng emerged from the living room.

The sight of him brought tears welling up in Old Meng’s eyes.

"You little rascal!"

Words failed him momentarily, so he resorted to scolding.

This scamp had run off years back, saying he’d joined the Alliance—too young at the time, forced to hide out everywhere—yet who could have foreseen him rising to become such a formidable Supervisor Guard.

Not to mention bearing such a crucial responsibility.

Pride mingled with heartache in Old Meng’s gaze upon him.

At least this kid hadn’t turned out to be a handful.

Orphaned of his mother young, saddled with a father unfit to guide him, and plagued by meddlers like Duan Qingqing stirring trouble from the shadows—folks figured he’d end up brawling and making chaos in the compound, but here he was, outshining everyone.