"Then I'll go say a few words to Grandpa first. Ziming, Dazhuang, please take good care of them for me."
"Okay," Dazhuang said. "Go keep Grandpa company. Auntie has already had someone cook and send it over. You have to come out to eat later, or I'll just feed you."
Lin Ziming nodded as well.
Hearing Dazhuang's words, Xia Ran gave him a slight smile.
To be honest, everyone here was someone he knew and was familiar with, but only when Dazhuang was around did he feel a little more at ease.
Although Gu Zheng used to be someone who could give him a sense of security, their relationship is still somewhat complicated now. As for the Feng family, they are related to him by blood, but they are not close to them.
Xia Ran went into the room next door and saw that her grandfather's urn was placed on the table next to it.
Xia Ran walked over, picked it up, and sat down on the bed. He was all alone, and Gu Zheng didn't come in to disturb him.
Xia Ran used to be terrified of things like urns containing ashes, but now he's not afraid at all. He remembered a quote he'd seen online.
The ghost you fear is something someone else dreams of.
He used to think that this statement was very true, but he didn't really feel it. But now he feels it very deeply.
Grandpa might startle others if he appeared in front of them now, but if he appeared in front of them, he would be overjoyed and cry tears of joy.
“Grandpa, I’ll take you to see him tomorrow morning. Gu Zheng said he’s arranged everything. Grandpa, he seems to be getting better. If it weren’t for them being with me this time, I probably wouldn’t have made it. You said you’ve taken care of everything for me, but you never thought about how I’m reluctant to leave you.”
“It’s almost Chinese New Year, and you’re leaving so suddenly. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to celebrate the New Year? But Gu Zheng and Uncle Lin are right, I will understand you. I’ll just be sad for the last day, and tomorrow I’ll happily take you to Liucheng. Then we’ll go straight home from Liucheng. Without you, there are so many things to take care of and tidy up at home.”
Xia Ran touched the box, and the thought that the person who was talking to him yesterday had turned into a small box today made him feel sad, and tears fell silently down his face.
But Xia Ran also told herself that it was just today. If she was sad today, she wouldn't cry tomorrow. She had to live a good life and take her grandfather to see the people he wanted to see.
Gu Zheng was talking to his aunt and the others outside the door. He was explaining that he would be taking Xia Ran and the children to Liucheng tomorrow. He asked Qin Hao's father and Qin Hao to take care of the company at home, as he didn't know when he would be back. He also asked them to go back after dinner.
Aunt Gu and the others had no objections and agreed immediately.
"Ah Zheng, take good care of Xiao Ran. He only has you two by his side now. Your uncle will take care of the family company. Your most important thing right now is to stay with Xiao Ran." Aunt Gu said.
Gu Zheng nodded.
Qin Hao thought for a moment and then raised his hand to speak.
“I’ll go too, I’ll go with you. Dad can take care of the company at home.”
Actually, he also wanted to take this opportunity to avoid Lin Yi. Although Lin Yi had stayed with them all day without saying a word, Qin Hao knew that Lin Yi couldn't say anything because of the occasion, otherwise he would have definitely caught him and asked him for an explanation.
"No way." Gu Zheng refused outright. "Uncle is already busy enough while I'm gone. If you leave too, how will he manage?"
Qin Hao wanted to argue, but when he met Gu Zheng's indifferent gaze, he chickened out and could only acquiesce to Gu Zheng's words.
“My dad and I are going too, you know our relationship with the old man.” This is what Lin Ziming said.
Gu Zheng didn't object to the two of them going; he nodded in agreement. In fact, he knew that even if he disagreed, the two of them would still go, but since their relationship was like this, there was no need to stop them from going.
“Count me in, Xia Ran needs me right now,” Da Zhuang said. “There are some things he might not know how to tell you, but he will tell me.”
Gu Zheng agreed, as he had the same thought as Da Zhuang earlier; otherwise, he wouldn't have asked Da Zhuang to come over.
He Xiu remained silent upon hearing this. He was the least noticeable person, glancing at Da Zhuang before looking away without saying whether he wanted to go or not.
Seeing that everyone else had agreed, the Feng family members were not to be outdone.
Feng Ming: "We'll go too. We're Xiao Ran's closest family now, and we should be by his side."
"Yes, yes, as Xiaoran's parents and family, we should stay by her side," Mr. Feng said urgently.
The words of the Feng father and son surprised Aunt Gu and the others, as well as Dazhuang and Hexiu, who were unaware of the situation.
"Wait a minute, what do you mean by 'you are Xia Ran's parents and family'? Is there anything we don't know about this?" Da Zhuang interrupted their conversation and asked.
Gu Zheng glanced at Lin Ziming, who immediately understood and explained the connection between Xia Ran and the Feng family.
After hearing this, Dazhuang and the others were very surprised, not expecting things to turn out this way.
Seeing that everyone understood, Gu Zheng spoke again.
“Aunt Feng, Uncle, you shouldn’t go yet. Aran is still grieving over his grandfather’s passing. Your presence would only put a psychological burden on him.”
Feng Ming protested, "Why can you go but we can't? We're just accompanying him; we didn't say we wanted him to acknowledge us immediately."
Before he knew Xia Ran's true identity, he would be angry with Gu Zheng because of Gu Zheng's status. But now he wouldn't. No matter what, he was Xia Ran's brother. If Gu Zheng really wanted to be with Xia Ran, he definitely wouldn't dare to do anything to him.
Although they promised their grandfather they wouldn't interfere in Gu Zheng and Xia Ran's affairs, they didn't say they wouldn't make things difficult for Gu Zheng. After all, was marrying Xia Ran really that simple?
Just as Feng Ming had thought, Gu Zheng showed more respect for the Feng family after learning Xia Ran's identity. Of course, this did not mean he would not dare to contradict the Feng family.
“Now that you know Xia Ran’s identity, there’s no rush to build a relationship with him. Xia Ran is currently very resistant to you. His grandfather has just passed away, and he is in a period of grief. If you stay by his side at this time, it will only bring him invisible pressure.”
Feng Ming wanted to argue, but his father stopped him.
"Okay, then we won't go. Xia Ran is in your care."
Gu Zheng nodded and said, "Don't worry."
Dazhuang watched and listened the whole time, and he was genuinely happy for Xia Ran.
Now that so many people are finally protecting Xia Ran, he can finally feel a little more at ease.
The food delivered by the Gu family arrived quickly. Just as Gu Zheng was about to get up to call Xia Ran, Xia Ran had already come out of her room.
Although her eyes were still red, Gu Zheng sensed that Xia Ran's mood seemed to have improved, so he breathed a sigh of relief and went over to her.
"I was just about to call you, but the food is here. How about you eat something first?"
Gu Zheng originally thought that Xia Ran would still say that she had no appetite and didn't want to eat, and he had even thought of how to coax her. But to his surprise, Xia Ran nodded gently.
"Okay. Where's the child? Hasn't he/she gotten up yet?"
"He's not up yet, I'll go wake him up."
"I'll go too."
The two went to Xia Ran's room to call Gu Chen. The others were setting out the food when Da Zhuang went into the kitchen to get bowls and chopsticks. He Xiu glanced at it and followed him in.
Da Zhuang knew someone had come in, but he didn't expect it to be He Xiu. So when he turned around and saw He Xiu, he was startled, followed by a wave of embarrassment.
He didn't know how to face He Xiu now, after all, he had rejected He Xiu back then. Later, he heard some things about He Xiu from Xia Ran, which actually made his feelings for He Xiu grow stronger rather than less.
However, he didn't know how to get along with He Xiu. The two looked at each other in silence, and then Da Zhuang was about to leave, but He Xiu stopped him.
"Don't you have anything you want to say to me?"
"What?" Da Zhuang was stunned for a moment, not understanding what He Xiu meant, but he quickly realized it.
"I... Today is a special day, let's talk about it in a couple of days. I'll be spending the New Year here with Xia Ran this year, so I still have some time."
He Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Da Zhuang, who had suddenly become timid in his presence.
He used to see this person acting all aggressive and menacing, but now that this person is suddenly so docile, he feels a little uncomfortable.
Chapter 423 Lost all sense of security
"Okay, let's talk about it after this is over." He Xiu turned and left, and Da Zhuang subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
But then Dazhuang seemed to remember something, and his eyes widened instantly.
Damn it! Why did he act so guilty just now?! Why?! He Xiu was the one who blocked him, wasn't he questioning He Xiu? Why was he acting so guilty? So cautiously?
But no matter how annoyed or regretful Dazhuang was, He Xiu had already seen his guilty and fearful side.
During the meal, no one spoke much; they simply ate in silence. It wasn't until after the meal that the Feng family members finally spoke a few words.
“Xiao Ran, your parents know you’re upset, and we know you’re taking Grandpa to Liucheng tomorrow. We also know you have mixed feelings about us right now, so we won’t go with you tomorrow. We’ll wait for you to come back here. If you have any problems, just call us and we’ll solve them together as a family.”
Hearing these words, Xia Ran breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly to the Feng family members.
"I understand, thank you. But there's something I'd like to tell you first. I probably won't be coming back here for a while. I'm going back to my hometown from Liucheng. There are still a lot of things to take care of back home."
Xia Ran lowered his head after speaking. He made a statement of fact, not asking for the Feng family's opinion. In any case, he was just informing the Feng family, and he didn't care whether they agreed or not.
The Feng family members exchanged glances, and finally it was Feng's mother who spoke.
"Okay, it's okay. Mom and Dad can wait. You just need to take care of yourself."
Xia Ran nodded gently, but only lowered her head to play with the child's fingers without saying anything more.
Finally, Aunt Gu and the others were about to leave. Before leaving, they repeatedly reminded Gu Zheng to take good care of Xia Ran and comforted her. Xia Ran agreed to everything and saw them off at the door.
The Feng family was the last to leave, and before they left, they made a small request of Xia Ran.
"Xiao Ran, can Mom and Dad hug you for just a little while? Just for a second, okay?"
Faced with the longing and expectant eyes of Feng's mother, Xia Ran found it hard to refuse and nodded gently after a while.
Overjoyed, Feng's mother immediately gave Xia Ran a gentle hug, but lingered for a long time before finally letting go, fearing that Xia Ran might not be used to it.
Father Feng gave Feng Ming a gentle hug, then Feng Ming, and then He Hao.
Because He Hao and Xia Ran had a good relationship before, he said something while hugging her.
"We'll be waiting for you at home, and then we'll sit down and have a proper talk."
"Thanks."
Regardless of whether he wants to acknowledge the Feng family again, at least for now, the Feng family's attitude makes him feel comfortable.
After the Feng family left, only He Xiu remained. Da Zhuang, Lin Ziming, and Lin's father were all staying here, while Gu Zheng was staying in the house across the street.
He Xiu knew he should leave now, so he nodded to Xia Ran, told her to call if she needed any help, and then left.
The house suddenly felt empty. It never felt empty when it was just him and his grandfather.
Xia Ran stood in the living room, and in a daze, she seemed to see her grandfather sitting on the sofa, drinking tea and watching TV.
His nose stung with tears, but he forced himself to endure the discomfort and arranged the rest of the things.
“Brother Ziming, Uncle, Dazhuang, you’re all familiar with this place, so there’s no need to act like outsiders. Uncle, you can still sleep in your old room, Dazhuang, you can sleep in mine, and I’ll move to Grandpa’s room tonight. As for Brother Ziming, can I stay at your house for one more night?”
Xia then said this to Gu Zheng. His feelings for Gu Zheng were complicated, but he already had a vague answer in his heart.
“Of course.” Gu Zheng replied without hesitation.
"Okay." Xia Ran finished arranging things and planned to take a shower and go to bed.
He thought he would feel better after a good night's sleep.
"I'm going to sleep now, I'm feeling a bit tired. I'd like to leave early tomorrow morning, is that okay?"