Xia Ran went straight to the point and asked.
Qin Hao's expression remained unchanged. "Xia Ran, what are you talking about? What do you mean by my real purpose? I came here to see you and Grandpa. Although we're not family anymore, the time we spent together and the feelings we had for each other weren't fake, were they?"
“Grandpa and you were so good to me back then, shouldn’t I come and see you? I didn’t come a few days ago because I was afraid to come. I was afraid that coming would make Grandpa even angrier and affect his recovery. Today I think Grandpa should be almost better, so I dared to come.”
Hearing this, Xia Ran looked at Qin Hao with some suspicion.
He didn't believe that Qin Hao had really only come to see him and his grandfather, but Qin Hao's open and honest expression made him wonder if he was overthinking things.
Perhaps Qin Hao really just came to visit him and his grandfather?
"Alright, then I guess I misunderstood you earlier," Xia Ran said.
Qin Hao shook his head, "It's alright, but if you really want me to know something, I'm not against it."
He said it in a deliberately joking tone.
"Actually, I did come here this time with some gossip I wanted to ask you about, it's about that Dr. Lin Ziming. Oh right, don't get me wrong, my brother didn't tell me this, He Xiu told me."
“He was in a bad mood yesterday and asked us to go out for drinks. Then he told us about it. I overheard him and just happened to be here, so I thought I'd ask him out of curiosity.”
He tried to keep a calm expression, but inside he was panicking.
In fact, he can still lie without batting an eye when facing unfamiliar or indifferent people.
However, he can't handle people he knows well; he always feels inexplicably guilty.
"Did you really hear that from He Xiu?" Xia Ran asked again, still doubtful.
Qin Hao: "Of course it's true! Don't believe me? Call him and ask."
"No need for that." Actually, he basically believed Qin Hao when he said that He Xiu was in a bad mood.
"You believe me? Can you tell me about it? I'm quite curious. Don't worry, my brother doesn't know I'm here, and I definitely won't tell him anything."
Qin Hao's eyes were open and honest; he was practically ready to raise his hand and swear an oath.
"Actually, there's nothing between him and me." Xia Ran gave an ambiguous answer.
He still didn't believe Qin Hao.
He knew Qin Hao quite well, and he didn't believe that Qin Hao's visit today was entirely without any intention of approving of Gu Zheng's presence.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao knew he had given himself away, so he decided to stop pretending and said...
"Okay, I admit it, I did have another purpose for coming here this time."
Xia Ran revealed an expression that said, "I knew it."
Qin Hao: "Actually, it's nothing, but you can't be angry when I tell you. I just came here on the side. My most important thing is to come and see you and Grandpa."
“Yesterday, my brother went home and threw a huge tantrum. But I could tell that even though he was angry, he was actually feeling really bad. Later, he drank a lot of alcohol by himself, so I was the one who took Xiao Chen to kindergarten this morning.”
"Then last night, after he got drunk, he came to me in a daze and said that there was someone in your life whose identity could not be verified, and asked me to remind you."
"Actually, what my brother said isn't wrong. He didn't mean anything by it. If someone can't be found in our family, there must be something wrong with them. Just be careful."
Qin Hao was a little uneasy, afraid that Xia Ran wouldn't believe him.
After hearing his words, Xia Ran did indeed ponder for a moment.
He remembered what Lin Ziming had told him before: Lin Ziming's identity was different.
so……
"I understand. Thank you for coming to tell me. But Lin Ziming isn't a bad person, so you don't need to worry about it."
Anyway, he believed what he saw with his own eyes; Ziming's recent concern for him and his grandfather was genuine.
Regardless of Ziming's identity, he would never doubt Ziming's concern for him and his grandfather.
Qin Hao paused for a moment, as if he wanted to say something more.
"Do you... know Lin Ziming's true identity?"
"I guess so, he mentioned it to me." Xia Ran did not deny it.
Hearing this, Qin Hao had nothing to say.
"Alright then, I've said everything I needed to say. Just be careful. But when did you and Lin Ziming get together? If you get married, remember to invite me."
Qin Hao's words were a deliberate attempt to test whether Xia Ran was with Lin Ziming.
Chapter 359 Testing
Xia Ran immediately understood the meaning behind Qin Hao's words, and chuckled softly, saying...
"You don't need to test me. I can only say that Brother Ziming is really a good person. You don't need to keep guessing, and you shouldn't do anything to him that doesn't matter. I can handle my own affairs, and I know what I'm doing."
Qin Hao was surprised that Xia Ran had seen through him, and he looked a little embarrassed.
"I... fine, since you've figured it out, I won't hide it from you anymore. I am indeed quite curious about that Lin Ziming. I thought... I thought you would want to forget my brother and quickly move on to another relationship."
Xia Ran: You're overthinking it. I can forget your brother without investing any emotions in him.
"Really? Then... I was overthinking it." Qin Hao had a lot to say, but he didn't dare to say anything.
"Actually, Xia Ran... my brother really knows he was wrong now, and he really likes you. I can guarantee that he doesn't have the same attitude towards Gu En as he does towards you. His feelings for Gu En are just a sense of responsibility or gratitude."
“He couldn’t distinguish these feelings before, so he thought he liked Gu En. But since he married you, he has slowly come to understand, so... could you give him a chance?”
"No." Xia Ran refused without hesitation. "There are some things I can't let go of, and all I want now is to live a good life with my grandfather. Rather than forgiving him, I want him to stop bothering me."
"I still need to help Grandpa prepare for his discharge from the hospital, so I'll head back now. We can talk again next time."
After saying that, Xia Ran got up and went back to the ward, without even giving Qin Hao a chance to speak.
Time and again he thought he had forgotten Gu Zheng, but whenever the topic came up, his heart would still be touched and he would still feel sad.
So what if Gu Zheng likes him? No matter what, it can't change the fact that he used him as a substitute back then.
Moreover, he no longer trusted Gu Zheng.
Some things, once you've been scared, you're too scared to do them a second time.
Qin Hao could only watch Xia Ran leave, and could only sigh silently.
Brother, I tried my best. In the end, you can only blame yourself for hurting Xia Ran too deeply.
Despite thinking this way, Qin Hao still felt extremely distressed.
He really wanted Xia Ran to go back again.
Qin Hao sent a message to Gu Zheng, indicating that he was unable to help.
He had talked with Xia Ran for so long, but he still couldn't get any information out of Xia Ran and Lin Ziming about their relationship.
However, there was one thing he was absolutely certain of: Xia Ran and Lin Ziming had a very good relationship, and Xia Ran even trusted Lin Ziming completely.
Gu Zheng was in his office when he saw the message Qin Hao sent.
He had been waiting for Qin Hao's news all morning.
When he saw the only words "I can't help you," his expression turned cold, and he made a phone call to Qin Hao.
When Qin Hao received Gu Zheng's call, he was not surprised at all and turned to walk into the elevator.
He answered the phone after he got into the elevator.
"Hello."
Qin Hao answered the call casually.
He has figured it out now. He has already asked for his brother's help, so the task can be considered completed. Therefore, he is not flustered at all.
"What do you mean by 'I can't help you'? Explain it clearly to me!"
"Hey bro, don't get angry. This is a long story. I'm going back to the company now, and I'll talk to you about it later."
After Qin Hao finished speaking, he wanted to hang up on Gu Zheng, since this was one of the few opportunities he could have to do so.
But before he could do anything, his phone started beeping.
Qin Hao: "..."
Damn it! Couldn't you just give him a chance to hang up?!
However, that opportunity never actually came.
Qin Hao could only helplessly and regretfully exit the elevator, get into the car, and head towards the Gu Group.
When Xia Ran returned to the ward, Grandpa Xia looked at him and asked,
Have you said everything you don't want me to hear?
Xia Ran paused, then said with feigned helplessness,
"Grandpa, what are you saying? What do you mean by 'I can't let you hear me'? I was just worried that my conversation with Qin Hao might disturb you. Don't overthink it."
"Really? Overthinking?" Grandpa Xia snorted. "You say I'm overthinking? What's the point of lying to me? It's all about Gu Zheng anyway, and you've been keeping it from me, humph!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Ran finally put down what she was holding and walked directly to her grandfather.
"Grandpa, even if it really is something they don't want you to hear, you know they don't want you to hear it, so what's the point of asking?"
Xia Ran's words even sounded somewhat incoherent, but she no longer had any other nervous thoughts.
Since Grandpa has asked this question, he must have guessed what he and Qin Hao were talking about, so there's no point in hiding it anymore.
"Xia Ran." Grandpa Xia called Xia Ran's name solemnly, "Are you still reluctant to let go of Gu Zheng? Is it because of Grandpa that you dare not start over with Gu Zheng?"
“No, Grandpa.” Xia Ran’s expression paused for a moment. “I have no intention of getting back together with him, whether you are here or not.”
“I can’t forget or forgive what he did to me back then. Qin Hao asked me to go out just so I would pay more attention to Ming Ge, saying that Ming Ge’s identity couldn’t be found and he was afraid I would be in danger.”
At this point, Xia Ran even chuckled softly, it was unclear whether she was mocking herself or Gu Zheng and Qin Hao for speaking ill of Lin Ziming.
However, after hearing Xia Ran's words, Grandpa Xia was at a loss for words.
He tenderly stroked Xia Ran's hair, thought for a long time, and finally couldn't help but move his lips to speak softly.
"Xia Ran, does Gu Zheng really know he was wrong? If you want to…"
"I don't want to!" Xia Ran interrupted her grandfather without even thinking. "Grandpa, I've said it before, I don't want to think about anything. It's all in the past, everything is over, there's nothing to think about."
After Xia Ran finished speaking, she immediately got up and continued packing Grandpa Xia's things for his discharge from the hospital, as if she was deliberately trying not to talk to him.