"This is one from before, and the three I just took. Take a look."
Xia Ran took it and glanced at it, then showed it to Gu Chen.
"Wow, Daddy, we look so good!"
"Yes, our Xiao Chen is very handsome."
"Both the younger and older dads are good-looking!" Gu Chen was unusually happy.
Xia Ran handed one of the cards to Gu Zheng, "Take a look."
Gu Zheng glanced at it, and his expression softened.
"Yes, it looks great. I'll find some frames to put it in when I get back."
"Okay," Xia Ran replied.
The boss sat opposite them, smiling broadly as he watched them, he couldn't be happier.
It's true that looking at beautiful people makes you feel happier.
Finally, at the shop owner's insistence, Xia Ran added him on WeChat. After leaving the shop, they went shopping and bought some things.
"I wonder how Dazhuang and Hexiu are doing," Xia Ran said.
"We can give them a call and ask. We've been out for so long, it's time to go back," Gu Zheng said.
Xia Ran thought for a moment, "Okay, I'll give them a call. I also wonder how Ziming and the others are doing."
The call was answered quickly. Xia Ran asked Da Zhuang a question, but Da Zhuang's tone didn't seem to change at all. He only said that the problem was solved and they could come back.
As for Lin Ziming and the others, when Xia Ran called them, they seemed to be in some noisy place.
However, Lin Ziming and his son told Xia Ran and the others to go back first, and Xia Ran could only say that they should call if anything happened.
When the two returned home with their child, He Xiu and Da Zhuang were sitting in the living room watching TV, and... the TV was showing an animated film. The atmosphere between the two felt strange to Xia Ran.
However, looking at the distance between the two, Xia Ran narrowed his eyes, feeling that he already knew the outcome of the matter.
"You two...have you resolved the matter?"
Xia Ran should have asked, because Da Zhuang's face turned red. His reaction meant that Xia Ran and the others knew what was going on without even needing to answer.
Xia Ran's eyes crinkled with amusement as she sat opposite Da Zhuang, a look of morbid curiosity on her face. Gu Zheng and the child followed Xia Ran and sat down opposite Da Zhuang and He Xiu.
To the uninitiated, it would look like a trial conducted by two separate offices.
Dazhuang had never been so timid in front of Xia Ran before, but now he seemed unable to control himself, acting like a complete coward, even afraid to look Xia Ran and the others in the eye, his eyes darting left and right.
"Dazhuang, don't you have anything you want to tell me?" Xia Ran asked with a smile.
Da Zhuang blushed, cleared his throat, and was about to speak when He Xiu, who was next to him, grabbed his hand.
"We talked things out and got together."
He Xiu's tone sounded no different from usual, but Xia Ran and the others detected a hint of smugness in it.
Dazhuang was still embarrassed to act like this in front of Xia Ran and the others, but since He Xiu had taken the initiative, he couldn't be coy, as that didn't suit his personality.
Besides, what is there between him and Xia Ran that they wouldn't dare to say? After all, how many embarrassing things do they know about each other?
"Ahem... Yes, we're already together, we just got together."
Xia Ran couldn't help but laugh when she saw that Da Zhuang's blush hadn't faded.
"Actually, I guessed it too. Anyway, we're all adults, what's there to be afraid to say? Time is running out, so if you like someone, just say it out loud, so you don't regret it later."
"Or what if you realize you like someone later, and even if you get together, you've already missed out on so much time?"
Xia Ran said with a smile, revealing that he had only suddenly realized this after his grandfather passed away.
Some people and things won't wait for you forever; you have to take the initiative. That's probably why he chose to try again with Gu Zheng so quickly.
He was willing to trust Gu Zheng as he was now, and he also trusted his grandfather's judgment this time. He thought that if Gu Zheng were really not good, how could his grandfather have let him try with Gu Zheng again?
Hearing Xia Ran's words, Gu Zheng seemed to understand something.
Dazhuang scratched his head. "Anyway, let's give it a try now. He's single and I'm single. Maybe we can actually make it work if we get together."
He Xiu felt somewhat helpless about Da Zhuang's words. He didn't want to be with Da Zhuang because he was single; he just liked Da Zhuang.
But he still didn't say these words. Anyway, they were already together, and they could talk about some things slowly and let each other understand and discover them gradually.
"Oh, right, Gu Zheng," Da Zhuang suddenly remembered something, "He Xiu said he wants to spend the New Year here, but there aren't any extra rooms available. Didn't you already buy the room next door? Could he stay there instead?"
Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at He Xiu.
He Xiu looked directly at him without flinching.
For some reason, Xia Ran blurted out what was on her mind.
"Actually, the two of you can share a room. Da Zhuang's bed is 1.8 meters long, which is more than enough for two people."
His words silenced the others, and a strange atmosphere filled the living room.
Xia Ran belatedly realized that he had said the wrong thing, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.
Da Zhuang looked at Xia Ran with dissatisfaction and said quietly, "Then why haven't you and Gu Zheng slept in the same room yet?"
Xia Ran coughed lightly to cover up her embarrassment.
"I... I was just saying it casually, please don't take it to heart. Gu Zheng's place is definitely a good place to stay, but I didn't know it had been unoccupied for so long, so I'm afraid we'll have to go and tidy it up."
Chapter 434 You speak slowly, I learn slowly
"No need, the other side was already cleaned up when we cleaned this side," Gu Zheng said.
He Xiu: "Thanks."
Gu Zheng glanced at him, said nothing, and then looked away.
Neither of them had ever imagined that their relationship would turn out this way; it was truly beyond their expectations.
The room was all prepared. Lin Ziming and the others didn't return until evening, carrying large and small bags.
Xia Ran felt okay while eating the meal, and gradually accepted her grandfather's situation. She cooked at home today.
After dinner, Dazhuang and Hexiu went to the next room.
As soon as he entered, Dazhuang noticed something was wrong.
"Wow, could Gu Zheng be any more of a brooding jerk? The decor is exactly the same as Xia Ran's house, tsk tsk tsk..."
As soon as Dazhuang entered, he began to marvel. Although he didn't know what the house was like before Gu Zheng bought it, he was certain that it couldn't possibly be exactly the same as Xia Ran's house.
Xia Ran had told him that his grandfather had hired someone to renovate the house himself.
He Xiu raised an eyebrow. "It really wasn't like this before."
"Indeed, love can change a person." Dazhuang was even more surprised after walking around the house.
The layout of this room was exactly the same as Xia Ran's, only the size was different.
Gu Zheng was too lazy to come with them, so he simply gave them the key and told them to come on their own.
"Indeed, psychology has shown that the presence of anyone in your life can have some impact on you, for better or for worse. Love can even change your personality."
Upon hearing this, Da Zhuang turned around and glanced at He Xiu.
"I didn't realize you knew so much about love."
"When I first learned it, I only had a general idea, but later I made a point of learning more about it."
They have now entered a room where the sheets and blankets are new and smell as if they have been sprayed with perfume.
Da Zhuang was quite surprised by He Xiu's answer and subconsciously continued to ask,
"Why? Did you encounter some difficult mental patients?"
He Xiu chuckled softly, moved closer to Da Zhuang, and whispered,
"It's not that I encountered a difficult patient, but rather that I encountered a difficult person I like."
"Huh??" Da Zhuang didn't react at first, but when he looked into He Xiu's smiling eyes, he suddenly understood what He Xiu meant, and his face turned red again.
"You... cough... you'd better put your luggage away first. I'll head over now, you should get some sleep too."
After Da Zhuang finished speaking, he wanted to leave quickly, but before he could take a step, He Xiu grabbed his hand.
"You just left me like that?" He Xiu's tone was somewhat helpless, and upon closer listening, it also sounded a bit aggrieved.
This was the first time Da Zhuang had heard He Xiu speak in such a tone, and he found it rather strange.
"I...I didn't leave you behind. It's just getting late. I think it's better to get some rest."
"But I want to go out for a walk with you." He Xiu didn't want Da Zhuang to leave. "Our relationship is different now. Don't you want to spend more time with me?"
Da Zhuang paused for a moment, and looking at He Xiu's expectant eyes, he nodded as if possessed.
"Then... let's go out for a walk."
Actually, in this cold weather, Dazhuang really didn't want to go out. But He Xiu thought, he had no choice; after all, he was He Xiu's boyfriend now, so he had to accommodate her, right?
He Xiu smiled smugly. If the two of them hadn't been together today, he really wouldn't have known that Da Zhuang could be so easily shy. It was a pleasant surprise to him.
The wind in the south during winter is really cold and biting, the kind of cold that goes straight to the bone.
But even the cold weather couldn't stop some couples or friends from going out for a stroll.
There is a river embankment in front of Xia Ran's house. It takes about an hour to walk from one bridge to another and back to the starting point.
Dazhuang planned to take Hexiu on this route, but...
"Could you... please let go of my hand? I... feel like something's off."
Da Zhuang said in a low voice that He Xiu had been holding his hand tightly ever since they came out, with their fingers intertwined.
This was Da Zhuang's first time dating, so it was normal for him to feel uncomfortable and shy. However, He Xiu acted as if nothing was wrong, showing no other emotions. You could tell from his relaxed expression that he was in a good mood.
He Xiu was not surprised by Da Zhuang's words and reaction, but he did not intend to let go of Da Zhuang.
"You'll get used to it eventually. We're not doing anything shameful, so what's so strange about it?"
“But…” Da Zhuang wanted to say something, but before he could finish speaking, He Xiu spoke up again.
"The image of holding your hand and taking a walk with you has been repeated in my mind many times, and now it can finally come true."