Xia Ran and Grandpa Xia also overheard the conversation at the door of the room.
Upon learning that Gu Zheng and the others had already left, Xia Ran looked at her grandfather and said,
"Grandpa, how about we go out and get something to eat first? It's already past nine o'clock. Your stomach won't be able to handle it if you don't eat breakfast."
Grandpa Xia has a minor stomach problem. He usually eats at the same time every day, and if he misses a meal, his stomach will feel uncomfortable.
"I'm not hungry." Grandpa Xia's face remained expressionless. "Xia Ran, I'll ask you one last time, are you going to divorce Gu Zheng or not?"
Xia Ran paused, then shook her head firmly.
"Grandpa, I know you don't like me being with men, but there's no way around it now. It's not just because I'm married to Gu Zheng, but also because I like Gu Zheng, I like him a lot."
"You don't know, I've actually liked Gu Zheng since I was very young, but I was too young to tell anyone. Later, when I grew up, I learned that you didn't like me being with men, so I didn't dare to say anything."
“I thought Gu Zheng and I could never be together, but then an opportunity came up, and I couldn’t resist it, so I married Gu Zheng. Grandpa, I married Gu Zheng not because he was a man or a woman, but because of the person I love, Gu Zheng, regardless of gender.”
Xia Ran knew that his grandfather was very stubborn, and if he didn't explain things thoroughly, his grandfather probably wouldn't understand.
Indeed, Grandpa Xia never imagined that Xia Ran had liked Gu Zheng for so many years.
He looked at the determination in Xia Ran's eyes, and there seemed to be a hint of painful memories in them, but it quickly disappeared, so Xia Ran didn't see it.
"I don't care when you started liking Gu Zheng, I won't allow you to be with him. Not just him, but no man at all. Otherwise, don't acknowledge me as your grandfather."
Grandpa Xia's only message was that Xia Ran should not acknowledge him as her grandfather.
Because he himself knew that he had nothing else to threaten Xia Ran besides this.
Or rather, he knew that only this could threaten Xia Ran.
He knew how stubborn the child he raised was; if he hadn't said that, Xia Ran wouldn't have left with Gu Zheng.
Young love is beautiful, but no one knows what lies hidden beneath that beautiful mask.
Or rather, the beauty of youth is only fleeting, and how many people can stay together until the end?
Perhaps recalling some unpleasant memories, Grandpa Xia closed his eyes, unwilling to dwell on them any longer.
When Grandpa Xia opened his eyes again, there was a calm look in them once more.
After hearing Grandpa Xia's words, Xia Ran didn't know how to respond for a moment, but she couldn't stop feeling sad.
"Grandpa, why are you so insistent on not letting me be with Gu Zheng? Same-sex marriage is legal now. You don't need to worry that Gu Zheng will abandon me or treat me badly. Trust me, A-Zheng is a very good person."
If same-sex relationships hadn't been legal in the past, he could have thought that his grandfather disapproved of their relationship because he was afraid they would be mistreated and not accepted by society.
But now that same-sex marriage is legal, what's so scary about it?
Xia Ran originally intended to use the legality issue to get Grandpa Xia's approval, but to his surprise, Grandpa Xia's expression seemed even colder after hearing his words.
This was the first time Xia Ran had seen Grandpa Xia like this.
"So what if it's legal? Anyway, I'll say it again: either we get a divorce, or I'll pretend I've never had a grandson like you. Get out, I don't want to see you right now. Also, make them move out of my house. I don't want them in my house."
Grandpa Xia lay down again and closed his eyes, his determination was very clear.
Seeing this, Xia Ran steeled her heart and knelt down directly in front of Grandpa Xia's bed.
"Grandpa, you have to give me a reason why I can't be with a man, right? It's already legally recognized now, so what reason do you have to forbid me from being with a man?"
"Grandpa, I am a person. I have my own thoughts and personality. I have the right to like someone. If you still don't agree to let me be with Gu Zheng, then I will kneel here until you agree, and then I will get up."
Xia Ran didn't want to threaten Grandpa Xia, but now he had no other choice.
He loves Gu Zheng, so there's no way he'd get a divorce. Of course, he also wants his grandfather's approval; without his grandfather's approval, he wouldn't be happy.
Grandpa Xia didn't expect Xia Ran's attitude to be so firm, but he still didn't say anything, nor did he turn around to look at Xia Ran.
What's the use of such a resolute attitude? Who hasn't been so resolute back then? But what good does it do after being resolute? In the end, it's all for nothing.
"It's no use kneeling. I'm giving you one day. Give me an answer by tonight. Either we get a divorce, or you move out of the house. I'll pretend I don't have a grandson like you."
Grandpa Xia still had his back to Xia Ran, but a single tear quietly slid down his cheek.
"Grandpa!" Xia Ran called out, but Grandpa Xia acted as if he hadn't heard her and didn't answer at all.
Xia Ran remained silent and knelt there. He couldn't believe that Grandpa Xia would be so heartless as to make him kneel there forever. He believed that Grandpa Xia was only doing this because he was angry, and that everything would be alright afterward.
Qin Hao, who had left through the door, already knew the truth from Gu Zheng, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
Sigh, why do all the bad things seem to happen at once?
The matter of Gu En's sudden return has not been resolved yet, and now Grandpa Xia has found out as well. It seems that Grandpa Xia is very angry and unhappy.
All of this is happening at once, it's really giving me a headache!
"Brother, what should we do now? Does Grandpa really disapprove?" Qin Hao asked.
Gu Zheng nodded and placed Gu Chen in Qin Hao's arms. When he saw Gu Chen resisting, he immediately scolded him.
"I'm going in to check on your little dad. Don't make a fuss."
Chapter 117 Bearing the Consequences
After being reprimanded by Gu Zheng, Gu Chen dared not move. He could only look at Gu Zheng with a pitiful expression and say,
"I...I also want a...daddy..."
His stepfather didn't hug him much today, and he felt really sad.
Looking at Gu Chen's expression, Gu Zheng felt a warmth in his heart, and his tone softened considerably.
"Be good, your stepfather is busy. You stay here with your uncle and your big father will let your stepfather out soon, okay?"
Although Gu Chen was very unwilling, he understood that he couldn't be willful right now, so he obediently nodded.
Gu Zheng glanced at Qin Hao, and after Qin Hao nodded, he turned and went inside.
Gu Zheng had closed the door when he went out earlier, and now that he was coming back in, the door was naturally ajar.
Gu Zheng intended to knock on the door, but there was no sound from inside, which puzzled him.
Logically speaking, Xia Ran was trying to persuade Grandpa Xia, so there shouldn't be no sound in the room.
He thought about it for a moment, but in the end he didn't knock. Instead, he gently pushed the door open.
The scene that greeted Gu Zheng when he opened the door was one that he could never forget in the days that followed.
Xia Ran knelt upright in front of Grandpa Xia's bed with her back to the door.
Grandpa Xia lay on the bed with his back to Xia Ran, showing no sign of relenting.
A feeling that was hard to describe welled up in Gu Zheng's heart—bitter, vexing, yet he dared not seriously consider Xia Ran's feelings in doing so.
Xia Ran's feelings for him were too intense, which made him feel somewhat panicked.
Even in his panic, he couldn't give up this relationship; in fact, he was very attached to it and wanted to keep it.
He pushed open the door and went straight in.
Hearing the noise, Xia Ran subconsciously turned around and saw Gu Zheng walk in. His face also looked a little unnatural.
"Ah Zheng, why are you in here? Where's Xiao Chen? You should go out now. I'll talk to Grandpa again. He'll definitely agree to us being together."
Xia Ran's tone was somewhat urgent. In fact, he didn't want Gu Zheng to see him kneeling and begging his grandfather, as that would put a great burden on Gu Zheng's mind.
Xia Ran didn't want Gu Zheng to feel burdened. Just like how he liked Gu Zheng, even if Gu Zheng couldn't give him love, he was still willing to marry Gu Zheng and take care of Gu Chen for Gu Zheng. He wanted to lighten all of Gu Zheng's burdens.
Gu Zheng looked at Xia Ran, his eyes softening, and whispered,
“This isn’t just your problem. We’re a married couple, so we have to share the consequences.”
As Gu Zheng spoke, he knelt down directly next to Xia Ran in front of Grandpa Xia.
If someone had told me before today that they would kneel down to someone for something, I would have thought that person was incredibly stupid. How could they possibly kneel down to someone?
But just now, when he saw Xia Ran kneeling with her back to the door in front of Grandpa Xia's bed, he felt that if he didn't kneel with Xia Ran, then he wouldn't be worthy of being Xia Ran's partner.
Even worse, he is no longer worthy of being a man.
Gu Zheng's actions stunned Xia Ran.
"Ah Zheng..." Xia Ran called out Gu Zheng's name in a daze, but then she didn't know what to say. She only knew that her eyes were a little hot, but her heart was full of sweetness.
Gu Zheng grasped Xia Ran's hand directly, then looked at Grandpa Xia, who had his back to them, and said,
"Grandpa, I don't know why you are so against Xia Ran being with me, but I can say that I promise I will treat Xia Ran well."
"I know you probably won't believe anything I say right now, but why can't you give Xia Ran and me a chance?"
Gu Zheng's tone was somewhat accusatory, but Grandpa Xia acted as if he hadn't heard him at all, not even moving an inch.
Gu Zheng had been waiting for Grandpa Xia's reply, but Grandpa Xia didn't respond at all, which made Gu Zheng feel a little annoyed.
He really couldn't understand why Grandpa Xia couldn't accept same-sex marriage now that it was legal.
Xia Ran had been waiting for his grandfather's answer to Gu Zheng's question. He thought his grandfather would be moved by Gu Zheng and might even give them a chance.
But Grandpa Xia's silence made Xia Ran's heart sink to the bottom of the sea.
"Grandpa, what do you want me to do to be with A-Zheng? Please don't stay silent! Tell me what I should do! Grandpa, I just want to be with Gu Zheng."
As Xia Ran spoke, her eyes involuntarily began to redden.
He used to think that he and A-Zheng would never be together in their lives, but now that they are together, his grandfather doesn't approve.
Upon hearing Xia Ran's words, Grandpa Xia spoke up.
"I've said it before, either we get a divorce, or I'll pretend I don't have a grandson like you."
Grandpa Xia's tone remained firm, showing no sign of backing down.
Xia Ran: "Grandpa, I really like Gu Zheng. If you don't agree, we will kneel here forever."
Gu Zheng had said everything he needed to say. Now he simply held Xia Ran's hand and remained silent, but his expression was very clear: he would kneel down with Xia Ran.
Although Grandpa Xia didn't look at Xia Ran and the others, he could imagine Xia Ran and Gu Zheng kneeling.
But so what? Back then, there were people who knelt in the torrential rain for a day and a night, without eating or drinking, until their parents agreed, but in the end, they still ended up in the same situation.
Grandpa Xia kept his eyes closed and remained silent.
Xia Ran said he would keep kneeling until Grandpa Xia agreed, and he really did keep kneeling.
For as long as Xia Ran knelt, Gu Zheng stayed with her, while Qin Hao outside the door held Gu Chen and waited for Gu Zheng to come out.