The secretary quickly nodded, turned around, and left. A moment later, Lin Yi came in.
"Lin Yi seems unchanged after all this time," Qin Hao said with a smile.
"President Lin, what brings you here today?"
When Lin Yi saw the dark circles under Qin Hao's eyes, he immediately frowned, but remembering the rumors he had heard recently, he didn't say anything, only speaking calmly.
"Of course I'm here to collect my debt."
Chapter 249 Rumors
"Debt collection? What debt?" Qin Hao asked subconsciously.
Lin Yi's face darkened, and he sat down directly opposite Qin Hao, saying,
"You haven't forgotten that you still owe me half a month, have you?"
Qin Hao paused for a moment, a hint of embarrassment and discomfort appearing on his face, and said,
"Oh, that's what you mean. I'm sorry, I haven't forgotten. It's just that a lot has happened to me lately, so I haven't had time to come see you."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure it's not that you didn't have time, or that there are traces of you deliberately trying to forget?"
Qin Hao: "…………"
Although he really didn't want to admit it, there were indeed traces of that, but more importantly, he genuinely didn't have the time.
After he came back, he was busy with company matters and had no time to think about anything else.
Let's not talk about these things; he's so busy he hasn't even had time to go home.
"No, believe me, I've really been busy lately. You know my brother's been busy with his own things and Xia Ran's."
"Before, because my brother was around, I didn't care about anything at the company. I just sat around doing nothing and wasted my days. Now that my brother is gone, there's so much I need to learn."
“I can’t even go home every day. I can only eat and sleep at the company. I was thinking of coming to see you after I finished my work, but I didn’t expect you to come so soon.”
Lin Yi looked at the dark circles under Qin Hao's eyes and did not doubt Qin Hao's words.
He came here because he was worried about Qin Hao. He had been away on a business trip for the past two days, so he couldn't come over in time when Qin Hao suddenly returned.
"Okay, if you're free, come have dinner with me," Lin Yi said.
Qin Hao: "Huh? But I'm a newbie online, and there are many things I don't understand. I need to stay at the company to learn, so I'm afraid I won't have time. Besides, I remember that my dad and you had already discussed the cooperation between the two companies, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Lin Yi's face darkened even more, and he said coldly,
"Do you think that having dinner with me can only be about work?"
"But what else can we talk about if not work?" Qin Hao asked, somewhat puzzled.
Lin Yi: "Let's talk about debt!"
Qin Hao was speechless upon hearing this. He glanced at the time and decided to agree to Lin Yi's request.
"Alright, but after I treat you to this meal, you have to promise me that I'll pay you back the debt when my brother comes back and I have time. Otherwise, I really can't do anything."
"Okay." Lin Yi stood up.
Qin Hao had no choice but to follow them out.
Gu Zheng quickly received the information Qin Hao sent him, and after reading it, he confirmed that Gu En had indeed come.
However, after arriving here, Gu En changed locations many times and disguised herself in many ways, so Qin Hao couldn't find her for a while.
Gu Zheng looked rather unwell, especially when he thought about the scene where people said Xia Ran was a mistress, he felt even more guilty and heartbroken.
All of this is because of him.
It seems that Gu En really cannot be kept, nor can he be left unattended any longer.
He originally thought that by letting Gu En go unchecked and after their last conversation, Gu En would understand, but he never expected that Gu En would become more and more outrageous.
Gu Zheng put away his phone and walked to Xia Ran's door, knocking on the door.
The person who opened the door was Dazhuang. When he saw that it was Gu Zheng, he tried to close the door, but Gu Zheng stopped him.
"Tell Xia Ran about what just happened. Only I can remove that thorn in Xia Ran's heart now."
Da Zhuang paused, remembering Xia Ran's distraught appearance earlier, so he slowed down, indirectly letting Gu Zheng in.
Da Zhuang sighed inwardly. It seemed this ill-fated relationship was far from over.
When Gu Zheng entered the room, he saw the child sitting in the living room with red eyes.
"Where's your stepfather?" Gu Zheng walked over.
Upon seeing Gu Zheng, Gu Chen's eyes reddened even more, but he bravely held back his tears.
"Little Dad is in his room. He said he's a little tired and wants to be alone. Big Dad, are we wrong? Little Dad isn't happy at all..."
Gu Zheng was stunned, and looking at the child, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
"You stay here and behave, I'm going to go see your little dad."
Gu Zheng couldn't face the child, so he went to find Xia Ran.
The child's words just now sent a shiver down his spine. Xia Ran was unhappy. Yes, Xia Ran was really unhappy.
Grandpa Xia was still resting in his room, so no one stopped Gu Zheng.
He stood at the door and knocked, and soon there was a sound coming from inside.
"Dazhuang, I want to be alone for a while. Can you watch the child for me?"
Gu Zheng paused for a moment before speaking.
"Ranran, it's me. I have something to tell you."
The people in the room seemed surprised that it was Gu Zheng, and fell silent immediately.
Undeterred, Gu Zheng continued to knock.
“I already know who spread the rumors. Open the door, and let’s have a proper talk.”
This time, the door opened shortly after Gu Zheng finished speaking.
Xia Ran's face was etched with exhaustion.
"Who is it?" Xia Ran was still very curious to know who was spreading rumors about her.
He wanted to know who was doing this to him; he didn't seem to have offended anyone, did he?
"Let's go inside and talk. It's too complicated to explain in a short time."
Most importantly, Xia Ran looked unwell, and Gu Zheng dared not let her stand.
Xia Ran thought about it and realized she really needed to have a serious talk with Gu Zheng, so she didn't object and turned to walk towards the bed.
Gu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and followed them inside.
Seeing the familiar room, Gu Zheng felt a pang of bitterness. He had once lived here, but now everything was gone.
“I’ve already sent people to explain to those people, and they won’t talk nonsense anymore,” Gu Zheng said, standing in front of Xia Ran.
"This whole mess was caused by Gu En. I'll go after him again, and this time I won't let him get away with it. Something like today will never happen again, so don't worry."
When Xia Ran heard that Gu En was the one who caused this trouble, she was not surprised at all.
Now that I think about it, it seems like only Gu En would do something like that.
Xia Ran lowered his head, no longer wanting to be angry. Of course, this was only because Gu En wasn't in front of him. If Gu En were in front of him, he wouldn't be thinking this way.
"I understand." Xia Ran raised her head and looked at Gu Zheng. She didn't know if it was because she was too tired today or what, but when she looked at Gu Zheng, she felt nothing at all.
Chapter 250 Letting Go
There was no liking, no anger, no hate, and no helplessness.
"Gu Zheng, you should pick up the child tomorrow. He's not young anymore and can go to kindergarten. I've already talked to him, and he'll go with you."
"I don't hate you anymore, but I really beg you, please let me go, okay? I was immature before and insisted on liking you, but now I've turned back in time. Please, have mercy and let me go, okay?"
"I'm so tired, so very tired. Your persistent nagging doesn't move me, it only bothers me, because you've brought me and the people around me a lot of trouble."
"Gu Zheng, please let me go, and let yourself go too. Actually, you didn't like me that much. You were just not used to my sudden departure. Believe me, time heals all wounds. I really beg you, please let me go, okay? Otherwise, if something like today happens a few more times, my grandfather definitely won't be able to bear it, and I won't be able to go on living either."
Xia Ran spoke calmly, his eyes fixed on Gu Zheng. This was the first time he had spoken to Gu Zheng so calmly since the divorce.
His calm words, however, made Gu Zheng involuntarily take a step back.
Let him go, it's too tiring, I'll die, please beg him...
Xia Ran actually used such strong words. Looking at Xia Ran's pleading eyes, he suddenly remembered what the child had said earlier.
Xia Ran was unhappy.
"Ranran, please give me another chance, okay? I promise this won't happen again."
Gu Zheng couldn't help but bend down and hug Xia Ran. This time, Xia Ran didn't push him away, but said calmly,
"No, I don't want to like you anymore. Being with you is like committing slow suicide. I can't accept that you only saw me as a substitute in the first place."
Gu Zheng gradually loosened his grip on Xia Ran.
“Slow suicide…” Gu Zheng murmured to himself, his eyes welling up with tears.
"So... my feelings for you were a form of slow suicide, I see..."
He released Xia Ran, and when he looked into her dim eyes, it seemed he understood everything.
He used to think that as long as he stayed by Xia Ran's side, Xia Ran would fall in love with him again. He never expected that Xia Ran would say that his love was a slow form of suicide.
Gu Zheng straightened up, looked down at Xia Ran, and his eyes showed undisguised pain.
“If you say that being with me is like committing slow suicide, then I’m willing to let go. But Xia Ran, it’s true that I like you. It’s not because of habit, not because of the child, but simply because you are Xia Ran.”
"I admit that I initially noticed you because of your face, but later I really fell in love with you. I just didn't want to admit it. By the time I was willing to admit it, we were already divorced."
"I'm sorry, and I love you."
After saying this, Gu Zheng turned and left. Faced with the choice between not being able to have Xia Ran and causing her pain, or even the possibility of her death, he would rather not have Xia Ran at all.
At least this way, Xia Ran can still live a good life.