Xia Ran sat blankly on the bed, staring at the door that Gu Zheng had closed, lost in thought. Gu Zheng's words just now left him with a strange feeling.
Why did he let Gu Zheng stay here, or tacitly agree to Gu Zheng being by his side? They clearly have no relationship anymore, so how is he any different from a scumbag?
Gu Chen, who was beside her, had also woken up. He looked at Xia Ran, habitually snuggled into her arms, and said...
"Little Daddy, can Big Daddy come and sleep with us? Big Daddy must be sleepy too."
The child's voice was so soft that it softened Xia Ran's heart as well.
He pursed his lips, looked down at the child, and after a long while spoke.
"Then go call your big dad, and I'll go to sleep first. You can climb up and sleep here later, okay?"
Xia Ran couldn't bear it anymore, after all, Gu Zheng had already helped him a lot today.
Besides, it was Gu Zheng who found this ward, so what right does he have to prevent Gu Zheng from sleeping here?
Gu Chen's eyes lit up instantly, "Great! Don't worry, Daddy, I can sleep by myself later!"
Xia Ran rubbed the child's head, and then the child quickly got out of bed and ran straight to the door.
Xia Ran was afraid that Gu Zheng would see her when he returned, and also to avoid Gu Zheng regretting it, so she immediately lay down and went to sleep with her back to the door after the child left.
When Gu Zheng saw the child running over, his brows furrowed immediately, thinking that something had happened to Xia Ran.
"What's going on? Why did you come over? Where's your stepfather? Did something happen to him?"
Faced with his father's urgent question, Gu Chen didn't have time to answer. He could only shake his head and wait until he caught his breath before speaking.
"Big Daddy, Little Daddy sent me to call you back to bed!"
Perhaps because he was too excited, Gu Chen's tone was very agitated.
Gu Zheng was taken aback by Gu Chen's words and said,
What did you just say?
His tone was full of disbelief.
Xia Ran told him to go back to sleep? How could that be? But if it weren't true, why would the child come and say that?
"I said! Daddy said you should go back to sleep, hurry up, I need to go back to sleep with Daddy!"
Gu Chen immediately grabbed Gu Zheng and pulled him forward.
Gu Zheng was forced to follow the child, and it wasn't until they reached the door of the ward that he came to his senses.
Was what the child said true? Did Xia Ran really tell him to go back to sleep?
So, does that mean Xia Ran has gradually accepted and forgiven him?
Gu Zheng suppressed his excitement and was about to push the door open when the child tugged at his hand, signaling him to squat down.
Gu Zheng could only bend down to listen to what the child had to say.
"Big Daddy, Little Daddy just told me that you shouldn't know he's the one who let you in to sleep," Gu Chen said softly. "So don't say anything later, or Little Daddy will get angry, okay?"
The child's expression also turned very serious. Gu Zheng paused for a moment, then laughed and replied,
"Okay, it's alright, don't worry, I won't say anything."
"Hmm, that's more like it." Gu Chen nodded like a little adult, then pushed the door open and went inside.
Because the two were speaking softly, Xia Ran did not hear their conversation.
However, he did hear them come in, but of course, he turned his back to the door and pretended not to hear anything, as if he were asleep.
Gu Chen winked at Gu Zheng, then climbed onto Xia Ran's bed.
Because Gu Chen snuggled directly into Xia Ran's arms, he was facing Xia Ran.
Xia Ran opened her eyes, and then Gu Chen smiled at her. Xia Ran nodded slightly, thinking that the two had reached a tacit understanding. In fact, he had no idea that the child had also reached a tacit understanding with Gu Zheng.
Gu Zheng looked at Xia Ran's back, his eyes filled with undisguised tenderness. It's good, this is already good enough. Xia Ran must be gradually wanting to forgive him, which is why her attitude has changed like this.
Gu Zheng thought for a moment, but still couldn't help but say something.
"Xiao Chen, go to sleep quietly and don't disturb your little dad, okay?"
Xia Ran tensed up instantly upon hearing Gu Zheng's words.
Gu Chen paused for a moment, then softly said, "Oh."
"Don't worry, Daddy, I won't wake up Little Daddy. You should go to sleep too."
Gu Zheng gave a soft "hmm," then lay down on the bed and turned off the light.
Xia Ran breathed a sigh of relief, then put her arm around the child's waist, signaling the child to go to sleep quickly.
The child blinked and prepared to sleep. After all, this was a rare opportunity to sleep with his stepfather, and he couldn't waste it or make his stepfather angry.
Gu Zheng was facing Xia Ran, and even just looking at Xia Ran's back made him feel extremely satisfied.
If Xia Ran is unwilling to forgive him, it would be fine to continue living like this.
He suddenly regretted his promise to Xia Ran that he would break up with her and stop bothering her.
Because he realized he simply couldn't do it; he couldn't bear to leave Xia Ran, nor could he bear to give Xia Ran to someone else.
He also felt that what He Xiu said that day was correct. Indeed, what he should do was to make Xia Ran forgive him and personally give Xia Ran happiness, instead of cowardly thinking that letting Xia Ran go was the best thing for her.
Xia Ran belongs to him, and can only belong to him; no one can take him away.
This family of three, who were once together, can finally sleep in the same room again after a long time.
However, it seems that only Gu Chen can fall asleep; neither Xia Ran nor Gu Zheng can.
Chapter 279 Inevitable Victory
Xia Ran couldn't sleep. On one hand, he was worried about his grandfather. As long as his grandfather didn't wake up, he couldn't be completely at ease.
On the other hand, it was because of Gu Zheng.
He had seen everything Gu Zheng had done for him these past two days, so did Gu Zheng really like him?
But even if they really liked each other, so what? Could they still be together? No, it was impossible. He could never accept that Gu Zheng was treating him as a substitute.
Moreover, he had promised his grandfather that he would never be with Gu Zheng.
There's a saying that goes, "Late-blooming affection is worth less than grass."
Let's just consider this a favor from Gu Zheng. Once Grandpa has fully recovered, they will never have any contact again.
Xia Ran forced herself to fall asleep, knowing that only by sleeping well could she have the energy to take good care of her grandfather tomorrow.
Gu Zheng couldn't sleep because he simply couldn't bear to sleep. Such opportunities to get close to Xia Ran were extremely rare, and he really couldn't bear to sleep.
While this was a rare moment of warmth, Gu En on the other side had already learned about Yu Chao's arrest.
Gu En gripped her phone tightly, her face extremely grim, and she cursed.
"Useless! You can't even do the simplest thing right!"
But he was all alone in the apartment, and no matter what he said, no one answered him.
Fortunately, Yu Chao probably didn't point it out to him; otherwise, given Gu Zheng's personality, he probably would have already come to warn him or even done something to him.
If it's not there now, then it must be because we don't know yet.
However, now that Gu Zheng has sent people to monitor him, he has no way to go out. Even if he did go out, he couldn't do anything. So he can only communicate with the private investigator on his phone and ask the private investigator to help him investigate Xia Ran and keep an eye on what Xia Ran is doing.
Just then, Gu En received a text message on his phone. When he saw what it said, he burst out laughing.
"Xia Ran, Xia Ran, this is your retribution!"
That's right, what Gu En saw was that Grandpa Xia was hospitalized.
As long as Xia Ran is unlucky, it's an extremely happy thing for Gu En.
But seeing everything Gu Zheng did for Xia Ran, his face turned pale with anger.
What's so great about Xia Ran that made Gu Zheng go to such lengths for her?
Gu Zheng hadn't been this good to him before, so why? Why?
After thinking for a moment, Gu En replied with a few words, asking the person on the other end to keep an eye on Xia Ran for him.
He refused to believe that Gu Zheng could have someone watching him every moment; he would always find a way to get Xia Ran into trouble!
Gu En's eyes revealed a determined look; he had plenty of time to wear Xia Ran down.
Moreover, he didn't believe that someone like Gu Zheng would like Xia Ran forever; it must just be a passing fancy!
Xia Ran woke up very early the next day because he was worried about his grandfather, fearing that his grandfather would not be able to see him when he woke up.
When he woke up, the child was still nestled in his arms, unconscious. He recalled what had happened yesterday and made a decision in his mind.
He absolutely must keep his distance from Gu Zheng and can't continue to be entangled with him!
Xia Ran sat up in bed to go out, but then noticed that Gu Zheng was not there. He was stunned for a moment, and then got up as if nothing had happened.
He had just reached the door when he ran into Gu Zheng.
The two remained silent for a moment, until Gu Zheng finally spoke first.
"Uncle Wang brought over breakfast. Have some. The doctor just told me that Grandpa will wake up soon."
Xia Ran glanced at the breakfast, then looked at Gu Zheng expressionlessly and said,
"No need. I am very grateful for your help yesterday and last time. But I still hope you will not bother me. I will pay you back for my grandfather's hospital expenses later."
“If you want your child to still have contact with me, I won’t refuse. If you don’t want your child to have contact with me, I understand.”
"But what I hope for is that I don't want to have any more contact with you."
Gu Zheng hadn't expected that just last night he thought Xia Ran was being a little nicer to him, but today he heard these words, and the expression on his face gradually stiffened.
"Ranran, what I need is not money, but..."
"Gu Zheng," Xia Ran interrupted Gu Zheng directly, "all I can give you is money. Besides, you could compensate me with money back then when we got married, so why can't I now?"
After Xia Ran finished speaking, she left without waiting for Gu Zheng's reaction or reply.
He promised that no matter what happened this time, he would not accept Gu Zheng's help.
Time and time again, he was feeling utterly exhausted.