Gu Chen, still holding the strawberries in his hand, spoke again.
"Great-Grandpa, please...please don't be angry with Xiao Chen anymore, okay? Xiao Chen wants to be with you."
As he spoke, his eyes welled up with tears.
When Grandpa Xia saw this scene, his heart was clenched with pain.
He wanted to say no, but seeing the child's expectant look, he couldn't bear it and could only accept the strawberry with a blank face.
"Alright, alright, I've eaten. You should leave now and stop getting in my way. Eat by yourself over there."
Grandpa Xia ate the strawberries and for the first time found them sweet and delicious.
Seeing Grandpa Xia eat, Gu Chen immediately smiled. However, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he took a small plastic stool, sat down next to Grandpa Xia, and started eating from the plate.
The child didn't say anything, just held the plate and ate, keeping Grandpa Xia company as he watched the play that he couldn't see.
Grandpa Xia was amused by the child's actions, but he still tried his best to keep a straight face, with only the slightly upturned corners of his mouth showing his good mood.
"Great-Grandpa, have some more." After a while, another little hand was raised, holding the biggest strawberry in the dish.
This time, Grandpa Xia didn't say anything, but just hummed softly before taking the strawberries.
Xia Ran originally wanted to come out and take a look, since the grandfather's feelings towards the child were still quite complicated.
Of course, he wasn't afraid that his grandfather would treat the child badly; he just wanted to see how his grandfather and the child got along.
So when he came out and saw the old man and the young man sitting in a row eating strawberries and watching a play, his eyes were filled with smiles.
After lunch, it was time for a nap. At 1:30, Xia Ran took the child out of the nap, changed clothes, and prepared to go to the hospital.
Although He Xiu said the child was fine, Xia Ran still decided to take the child for a check-up.
Grandpa Xia knew that Xia Ran was taking the child to the hospital, so when he saw the two of them leaving, he couldn't help but say something.
"Since you're going, check everything thoroughly. Our Xia family isn't short of money. Just so that if anything happens to you, people won't blame our Xia family for being careless and cause me trouble!"
Chapter 232 Ignoring and Disregarding
After Grandpa Xia finished speaking, he gave a heavy snort, and Xia Ran couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, don't worry, I'll definitely give the child a thorough check-up. Our great-grandfather has plenty of money!"
After saying that, Xia Ran smiled and carried the child out the door.
Grandpa Xia couldn't help but laugh and scold, but then he sighed.
He originally intended to ignore the child, but the child was just too adorable and pitiful, and he simply couldn't help himself.
When Xia Ran led the child to the door, she saw Gu Zheng standing there.
This time, Gu Zheng got out of the car and walked directly to Xia Ran and the others.
Xia Ran's smile froze instantly, while Gu Chen, who was being led by him, had his eyes light up immediately.
However, he seemed to think of something at the end, and his eyes dimmed. He could only hold Xia Ran's leg tightly, as if he was afraid that Xia Ran would abandon him if she saw Gu Zheng.
"Ranran, where are you going? I'll give you a ride."
Gu Zheng walked up to Xia Ran and looked at her cautiously. His nervous and expectant expression made Xia Ran find it somewhat ridiculous.
Before, he had always been very careful around Gu Zheng, afraid that Gu Zheng would get angry and ignore him.
But what I didn't expect is that the roles have now been reversed. How can that not be funny?
"No need, I can't afford it," Xia Ran said calmly, then took the child and walked to the side.
A car arrived shortly after; it was the one Xia Ran had hailed.
He took the child and got into the car, while Gu Zheng got into his own car and followed the taxi.
Xia Ran's expression remained indifferent as she looked at the car following behind in the rearview mirror.
Gu Chen, nestled in his arms, looked up at him and whispered...
“Little Daddy, don’t be angry. Chenchen doesn’t want a big daddy. Don’t worry, it’s okay for Chenchen to only have one daddy. I’m not afraid of people laughing at Chenchen for only having one daddy.”
Hearing the child's words, Xia Ran immediately lowered her head and asked with some surprise,
"Chenchen, who told you these things? How could anyone laugh at you?"
A hint of distress appeared in Gu Chen's eyes as he whispered,
"Isn't this what they say on TV? All the kindergarten kids on TV are like this. Didn't you show me TV before? There was a kid named Xiaoming who only had a mom and no dad, and everyone was laughing at him."
"Xiaoming was so sad and upset back then, but don't worry, Daddy, Chenchen won't be sad. Chenchen is very strong, and it's okay even if he only has one dad."
Gu Chen spoke these words with an innocent expression, as if he had no idea that what he said would make Xia Ran feel very uncomfortable.
Xia Ran's heart did indeed ache when she heard Gu Chen's words.
When he looked down at the child's bewildered and innocent face, he immediately pursed his lips.
"No, our Xiao Chen is so cute and sensible, how could any other child laugh at you? Other children would fight to play with Xiao Chen."
"But Xiao Chen, it's time for you to go to kindergarten. You didn't go before because of special circumstances, but now it's different. Xiao Chen has to go to kindergarten."
"Then... will Daddy pick me up and drop me off every day?" Gu Chen looked at Xia Ran innocently.
Xia Ran didn't know what to say for a moment, so she could only laugh it off.
Gu Chen didn't say anything, but just glanced up at Xia Ran.
Hmm... Big Daddy said that it's okay to act pitiful in front of Little Daddy from time to time. Did what he just said count as pitiful?
Xia Ran had no idea what the child was thinking; she simply composed herself and continued looking at the scenery outside the window.
Gu Zheng, behind them, followed at a leisurely pace in his car.
Upon arriving at the hospital entrance, Gu Zheng quickly parked the car and got out.
He quickly walked to Xia Ran's side and asked with concern,
"Ranran, why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Don't touch me." Xia Ran immediately moved away from Gu Zheng, looking at him coldly.
Gu Zheng paused for a moment, a pain spreading from his chest throughout his entire body.
However, Xia Ran didn't care at all and turned to walk into the hospital.
Gu Zheng could only follow, but whenever he got close to Xia Ran, she would warily avoid him, so in the end Gu Zheng could only follow at a distance.
Xia Ran knew that some things couldn't be rushed, and with so many people coming and going in the hospital, he couldn't say anything to Gu Zheng, so he could only pretend he hadn't seen Gu Zheng.
Because a full-body checkup was required, it took a long time, and it was already past five o'clock by the time everything was finished.
And as luck would have it, the weather, which had been perfectly fine, suddenly started to rain just as they were about to head back.
There are more people hailing taxis on rainy days, but fewer drivers are available, so Xia Ran waited for a long time without anyone accepting her fare.
Gu Zheng, who had been silent all along, couldn't help but step forward.
"Ranran, take my car back. It's not easy to get a taxi at this time of year. The weather is getting colder, and you're all dressed so lightly, you'll easily catch a cold."
It has to be said that Gu Zheng has become smarter now and knows how to say things that will soften Xia Ran's heart.
Of course, what he said really touched Xia Ran's heart, but Xia Ran did not waver at all. She simply turned around and went into the hospital with her child to wait for the car.
He had only taken two steps when his phone rang; it was Yu Chao.
"Hey, senior."
When Gu Zheng heard Xia Ran's words, his eyes turned cold instantly, but he quickly returned to normal.
With the child around, Yu Chao can't cause any trouble.
Yu Chao: "Are you at the hospital right now? I just came to your house. Grandpa said you took the child to the hospital. Have you come back yet?"
Xia Ran gave a wry smile, "Not yet, it's hard to get a taxi on rainy days."
Yu Chao: "Okay, wait for me for a moment, I'll come and get you."
"No..." Xia Ran wanted to say no, it was too much trouble, but before he could finish speaking, Yu Chao on the other end of the phone hung up.
Xia Ran sighed helplessly, and could only wait for Yu Chao to come and pick them up.
Gu Zheng couldn't hear what Yu Chao was saying on the phone, but he had a bad feeling that it was something bad.
"Ranran, shall I take you back?"
Unfortunately, Xia Ran ignored Gu Zheng when Yu Chao came over.
While in Xia Ran's arms, Gu Chen could only glance at Gu Zheng from time to time, engaging in a silent exchange with him.
Xia Ran had actually noticed the child's behavior, and it was precisely because he noticed it that he felt a little depressed and uncomfortable.
What they do is actually quite painful for the child.
Yu Chao arrived quickly, and Gu Zheng's face darkened immediately upon seeing him.
Chapter 233 Acting Together
He originally thought that Yu Chao was just calling Xia Ran, but he didn't expect him to come looking for her directly.
A surge of frustration welled up inside Gu Zheng, leaving him feeling simmering with rage, and he longed to punch Yu Chao right away.
But he held back. He couldn't do that, otherwise Xia Ran would become even colder or even angrier towards him.
When Yu Chao saw Gu Zheng, he only paused for a moment before walking directly to Xia Ran.
He was carrying a bag and two umbrellas, which he handed directly to Xia Ran, saying,
“There are two coats inside. Grandpa said he was worried you would be cold, so he told you to wear them before you go back.”
Xia Ran took the bag and said, "Thank you, senior."
Yu Chao: "Don't mention it."
After Xia Ran took out the clothes, Yu Chao took the smaller one and prepared to put it on Gu Chen.
"Let me help the child put on, you put on first, so you don't catch a cold."
Xia Ran was about to say no, but the child suddenly threw himself into her arms.