After hanging up the phone, Xia Ran turned and walked towards the living room. Just as she reached the door, she saw Gu Zheng carrying Gu Chen out.
Gu Chen's eyes were red, but Xia Ran ignored him, said something hastily, and ran upstairs.
"Baby, Zheng, I have to go back for a while. Take good care of yourselves."
"Wait a minute, who gave you permission to go back?"
--
A note from the author:
Chapter 4 is just a substitute.
Gu Zheng frowned, his face full of displeasure. Xia Ran's sudden coldness towards him and his son made him extremely unhappy.
"Ah Zheng, I'm sorry, I really have something to do and need to go back this time."
He was raised by his grandfather since he was a child, and now that his grandfather is hospitalized, how could he not go back?
"What could be more important than Xiao Chen? What will happen to Xiao Chen if you go back?"
"But I really have something very important to do. Xiao Chen, please take care of him for a few days. My grandfather is in the hospital, and I have to go back."
As Xia Ran spoke, her eyes reddened even more. Then, without waiting for Gu Zheng to speak, she went upstairs to her room to pack her things.
Gu Zheng was stunned for a moment. Xia Ran's reddened eyes just now reminded him of that person, who also often called him "brother" with red eyes.
As he was reminiscing, Xia Ran had already come down with her backpack, and Gu Zheng had also come to his senses.
"Have the driver take you to the airport."
"Okay, I understand. Take good care of Xiao Chen."
Xia Ran reluctantly touched Gu Chen's cheek and left. Little did he know that after he left, Gu Chen in Gu Zheng's arms slowly reddened his eyes and silently shed tears.
Gu Zheng felt a chill on his hand. When he saw Gu Chen's actions, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes before he awkwardly said...
"Don't cry, he... will be back soon."
Although Gu Chen is four years old, he rarely holds Gu Chen or talks to him.
Gu Chen remained silent, only shedding tears in quiet desperation, looking utterly pitiful.
Gu Zheng thought that Gu Chen would only cry for a short while, but to his surprise, Gu Chen kept crying.
"This crying won't do. How about we make a video call to the second young master and have him comfort Xiao Chen?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Zheng took out his phone, but it was only then that he realized he didn't have Xia Ran's contact information.
Uncle Gu sighed.
"I have the second young master's contact information."
Gu Zheng finally got through to Xia Ran on the phone. Xia Ran had just boarded the high-speed train. Because his hometown was a small county town, there were no airplanes, and the high-speed train journey only took a little over an hour.
"Accept WeChat friend request. Xiao Chen is looking for you. Let's video chat."
After saying just that one sentence, Gu Zheng hung up the phone and then looked down at Gu Chen, who was silently shedding tears.
"Don't cry, you'll see him soon."
A video call request came from his phone. Gu Zheng frowned and agreed, pointing the camera at Gu Chen.
Upon seeing Xia Ran on his phone, Gu Chen not only didn't stop crying, but he cried even harder.
Xia Ran felt sorry for him as soon as she saw it.
"Baby, why are you crying? A real man shouldn't cry. Be good, don't cry. Daddy will be back soon, okay?"
Tears streamed down Gu Chen's amber eyes like broken pearls, and Xia Ran's eyes also reddened.
Looking at the two figures, one big and one small, Gu Zheng frowned deeply. He was about to ask Xia Ran when she would be back when Xia Ran's anxious voice rang out again.
"Ah Zheng, watch the baby. My phone is about to turn off. Take him for a walk in the garden, and he probably won't cry anymore..."
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Zheng saw that the other party had hung up. Gu Chen was stunned for a moment, and then silently started to shed tears again.
Gu Zheng was extremely troubled and helpless, but he couldn't prevent Xia Ran from going back, after all, that was Xia Ran's grandfather.
"Young Master, why don't you take Xiao Chen to see the Second Young Master? Speaking of which, now that you're married, you should visit your elders."
"Uncle Gu, you know that I only married him for Xiao Chen's sake, just as a substitute. I would never give him anything else."
"I know, but even for Xiao Chen's sake, you should at least maintain appearances. Besides, the young master is no longer here, and you're already married to Xia Ran. Can't you even treat Xia Ran with the respect due to a respectful relationship? Is that fair to him?"
"He did it for money, and this is what he should do and what he should bear."
How do you know he's after the money? Do you think he's after the money?
"Isn't that right?"
Uncle Gu sighed. Anyone with eyes could see that Xia Ran liked their young master.
But their young master...
"Have someone prepare."
Gu Zheng looked at Gu Chen, who was still crying silently, and spoke calmly.
Uncle Gu responded and immediately had people prepare. The back seat was filled with gifts he had found at home.
The driver was driving, and Gu Zheng and Gu Chen were sitting in the back seat. He had only investigated Xia Ran, so he knew where Xia Ran's home was. Throughout the journey, Gu Chen's tears never stopped.
Xia Ran went straight to the hospital as soon as he got off the high-speed train, without even having time to charge his phone. He never even considered that the two of them, one big and one small, would come looking for him. He also subconsciously felt that Gu Chen would be fine with Gu Zheng taking care of him.
"grandfather."
When he arrived at the hospital and saw Grandpa Xia lying in the hospital bed, his eyes immediately turned red.
"Ranran, why are you back?"
"You still say that? You didn't even tell me you were injured. Do you still consider me your grandson?"
"I'm fine, I can be discharged now after getting my medication, isn't it troublesome for you to come back?"
Although Grandpa Xia was complaining, he had a very happy smile on his face.
Grandpa Xia only fell and injured his hand. He received an IV drip and was able to be discharged from the hospital after lying in bed for two or three hours.
The group took a taxi back, and when Xia Ran saw the father and son standing at his door, he was completely stunned.
Their house was a typical courtyard house, with a large tree at the entrance. Gu Zheng stood there holding Gu Chen, and both father and son's eyes fell on him at the same time.
Xia Ran felt a mix of bittersweet emotions, yet also a strange sense of joy.
"you……"
"Xiao Chen kept crying and fussing, so I had no choice but to bring him to you."
Gu Zheng spoke calmly. Xia Ran looked at Gu Chen's eyes and saw that they were indeed red and swollen. He felt very sorry for him, but since his grandfather was here, he couldn't hug him.
"Ranran, who are they?"
“He…they, he’s my colleague, and that’s his son.”
“Dad…Dad…”
As soon as Xia Ran finished speaking, Gu Chen, who was in Gu Zheng's arms, called out in a slightly off-key voice.
Xia Ran and Gu Zheng were stunned, especially Gu Zheng, as this was the first time Gu Chen had spoken since birth.
"Dad? Ranran, is he calling you?"
"No, of course not, he was calling his own father. Well, let's go inside and talk."
Xia Ran gave the aunt a look, and the aunt immediately understood and helped Xia's grandfather inside.
"Alright, alright, let's go in then. Ranran, quickly invite your colleagues in too."
--
A note from the author:
Chapter 5 Deep Longing
"Grandpa, I understand. You can go in first."
After Grandpa Xia went inside, Xia Ran couldn't help but hug Gu Chen and whisper,
"Baby, what did you just call me? Were you calling for Daddy? Can you say it again?"
Gu Zheng's arms were sore and numb from carrying her all the way, but he felt just as excited as Xia Ran, though he kept it to himself.
But as soon as Gu Chen got into his arms, he hugged his neck tightly and refused to let go, and of course, he didn't say anything more.
"Baby is tired, right? Then let's stop calling now, baby, and have a good sleep, okay?"
Judging from the redness and swelling in her eyes, she must have been crying for a long time.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Chen actually obediently leaned on Xia Ran's shoulder and fell asleep, which softened Xia Ran's heart.
"How could you bring him all this way? What if something happens?"
He looked up at Gu Zheng, his tone filled with helplessness and resentment.
"You think I wanted to come? It's all because Xiao Chen kept causing trouble."
"But...but you're here now? What am I supposed to do? I...I haven't even told my grandfather about our marriage yet."
Xia Ran lowered her head and spoke in a low voice, looking very guilty, wondering if A Zheng would be angry.
Gu Zheng frowned, and his tone sounded rather angry.
"This is your problem, you can handle it yourself. In short, whenever you go back, Xiao Chen and I will go back too."
The thought of Gu Chen crying incessantly gave him a terrible headache.
"Also, Xiao Chen was willing to call out to people just now, which is a very good sign. I don't want you to leave his side again."
"That seems to make sense. So... then you can say he's my colleague, not my... my husband, okay?"
Xia Ran's face flushed hot at the mention of the word "husband," and Gu Zheng was taken aback before giving a blank "hmm."
He figured it out. Since that person was dead anyway, being with Xia Ran, who had the same face as that person, wouldn't make the rest of his life too boring.