Gu Zheng reacted quickly and grabbed Xia Ran's hand, his tone unusually pleading.
"Why? You weren't like this last night. Why is this happening? Ranran, I know I was wrong before, it was my fault, but now I know I was wrong. Can't you...can't you give me a chance?"
Xia Ran took a deep breath and said,
"Some things can't be resolved by simply saying 'I was wrong,' Gu Zheng. Do you think you deserve my forgiveness for what you did back then?"
"Don't be silly. I was only like that yesterday because you helped me so much. Once I return the money to you, we'll be done with it."
This was the first time Xia Ran had said such a thing to Gu Zheng. He felt that if their relationship continued to be so ambiguous and entangled, he would despise himself.
"Ranran, I..."
"Don't follow me any further. I don't want things to look bad for either of us in this hospital."
Xia Ran broke free from Gu Zheng's hand and walked straight ahead.
Gu Zheng wanted to follow, but Xia Ran's words just now made him stop.
He used to think that there was nothing wrong with using money and houses to compensate Xia Ran. Even if there was something wrong, he probably thought it was because the money and other things were not enough.
But now, he understands how much he hurt and humiliated Xia Ran with what he had done.
If he could do it all over again, he would never treat Xia Ran like that again, but there are no "what ifs".
But he couldn't bear to give up like this, nor was it possible for him to.
Xia Ran had secretly liked him for so many years, so why couldn't he?
Perhaps only by truly walking the path Xia Ran walked could he understand the pain Xia Ran had endured.
After Xia Ran turned the corner, she let out a deep breath.
He seemed to feel much more relaxed after saying those words.
Chapter 280 Biological Child
They were never on the same path to begin with, so he needed to quickly distance himself from Gu Zheng.
When Xia Ran arrived at the door of Grandpa Xia's ward, she found a doctor pacing back and forth at the door.
Xia Ran's eyes showed a hint of doubt. She walked over and asked,
"Hello doctor, what's wrong with my grandfather's health?"
If it weren't for Grandpa's health condition, why would this doctor keep pacing back and forth at the door? And why would he look so serious?
The doctor seemed startled upon hearing Xia Ran's voice; clearly, he had been lost in thought.
"It's nothing." Lin Ziming came back to his senses, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
It was only then that Xia Ran truly noticed the doctor's appearance.
The doctor had been looking down, so he hadn't seen his face at all. Now that the doctor had looked up, he realized that the doctor was actually very good-looking and had a very gentle demeanor.
If Xia Ran had to use one word to describe it, she could only think of "like a gentle spring breeze".
Lin Ziming carefully examined the young man's appearance. Just as Xia Ran was about to ask if there was something dirty on his face, Lin Ziming spoke again.
"You just said you're the patient's family member, their grandson?"
"Yes." Xia Ran's heart tightened. "Is there something else going on with my grandfather?"
"No, no, don't misunderstand." Lin Ziming quickly said, seeing the anxious look on the young man's face.
"Don't worry, your grandfather is fine. I just... I just..."
"Hmm? What is it?" Xia Ran found the doctor in front of her a bit strange.
A hint of hesitation flashed in Lin Ziming's eyes, but in the end he just asked directly.
"I just wanted to ask if you are your grandfather's biological grandson?"
Hearing this, Xia Ran became even more puzzled.
"Of course they're family. What else could they be?"
"Is that so?" A hint of disappointment appeared in Lin Ziming's eyes, and then he turned and left, leaving Xia Ran somewhat puzzled.
However, he didn't have time to think about it too much, because as soon as Xia Ran and Lin Ziming left, several doctors and nurses came over.
The doctor said he would come to see Grandpa Xia, and Xia Ran's heart was completely focused on her grandfather, having long forgotten about the strange doctor from earlier.
After the doctor examined Grandpa's condition, he said it was very good, so he was transferred directly to a regular ward. However, even the regular ward was a VIP ward, which not only had a single room but also a bed specifically for caregivers.
While in the hospital room, Xia Ran listened to the doctor talk about many things that would happen after her grandfather woke up.
The doctor was about to leave after speaking, saying they would come back when Grandpa woke up, but unexpectedly, Grandpa reacted as soon as they reached the door.
The doctors and nurses could only stay behind to ask Grandpa Xia how he was feeling.
Xia Ran was also nervously watching her grandfather. When she met her grandfather's gaze, she couldn't help but choke up.
Thankfully, Grandpa woke up. If something had really happened to him, he would have been all alone in the world. How would he have survived?
After the doctor finished the examination, he gave Xia Ran a few more instructions and then left.
Only Xia Ran and Grandpa Xia remained in the ward.
Xia Ran sat on the edge of the bed looking at Grandpa Xia, and tears finally streamed down her face.
Grandpa Xia's eyes also welled up with tears. He wanted to raise his hand to wipe Xia Ran's tears, but his body wouldn't allow it. Xia Ran saw this and quickly grasped Grandpa Xia's hand, her voice choked with sobs as she spoke.
"Grandpa, don't move around. We can talk about it later. You should rest and recover first."
Grandpa Xia: "Don't cry, Grandpa...it's okay..."
Although it was difficult for Grandpa Xia to speak, he still managed to say those words.
Xia Ran nodded vigorously, "I understand, Grandpa."
He wiped away his tears so as not to worry his grandfather.
Seeing this, Gu Zheng, who was outside the door, patted the child at his feet, handed the thermos to the child, and gestured for the child to take it inside to Xia Ran to eat.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go in, but he was afraid that if he went in, Grandpa Xia would get emotional, which would affect his health.
Gu Chen nodded to Gu Zheng, then carried the thermos into the ward.
After seeing the child enter the ward, Gu Zheng turned and left. He didn't go anywhere else, but instead went to ask Grandpa Xia's attending physician about the necessary precautions.
He felt that if he wanted Xia Ran to forgive him, it might be better to start with Xia's grandfather.
"Little Daddy..." Gu Chen called out softly in the ward.
Xia Ran, who had just told Grandpa Xia to take a nap, subconsciously turned around and looked over. When she saw the child holding a large thermos, she was startled.
"Give me the thermos right now. Who gave you permission to take it?"
Xia Ran was a little angry. Although the outside of the thermos wasn't hot, what if the contents spilled out and burned the child?
Or what if the child can't see the way because this thermos is so big?
Gu Chen hesitated for a moment before speaking, "It was my eldest father who asked me to bring it to you. It's your favorite breakfast, Little Father."
"Little Daddy, how is Great-Grandpa? Is he alright?"
After hearing what the child said, Xia Ran became even angrier at Gu Zheng, but he didn't show it in front of the child.
"Don't worry, Great-Grandpa is fine. But he's asleep now, so let's keep our voices down and not wake him up, okay?"
Gu Chen nodded vigorously, his voice becoming even softer.
"Okay, I understand, don't worry, Daddy."
Xia Ran rubbed the child's head, then led the child to the table and sofa.
This is a VIP suite, just like a single apartment, which is very convenient.
"Xiao Chen, Daddy doesn't want to eat breakfast, so you can have it, okay?"
Having already decided not to have anything to do with Gu Zheng, Xia Ran didn't even want to eat anything Gu Zheng brought her.
However, Gu Chen's eyes immediately reddened after hearing Xia Ran's words.
"Little Daddy, why aren't you eating? Is it because you're about to give birth to Big Daddy that you're not eating? But even if you're angry, you still need to eat, otherwise how will you have the energy to be angry with Big Daddy?"
"And, if you don't eat, Daddy, I won't eat either."
Faced with Gu Chen's words, Xia Ran was speechless. He continued to persuade the child a few more times, but the more he tried to persuade him, the less the child spoke, and he even turned his head away and ignored Xia Ran.
Xia Ran was exasperated by the child's behavior and could only nod in agreement to eat together.
At worst, he could just pay Gu Zheng back the money he spent on breakfast.
Chapter 281 How was the evening?
"Okay, okay, I'll eat with you." Xia Ran rubbed the child's head and then opened the thermos.
Having confirmed that Xia Ran would be eating with him, Gu Chen waited with bright eyes.
When Xia Ran saw that the thermos was full of her favorite foods, she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, but she still maintained a nonchalant expression.
Grandpa is still very tired, so he has been sleeping and cannot eat for the time being.
After receiving Xia Ran's message, Da Zhuang immediately came over with a card.
Moreover, he ran into Aunt Gu and the others when he arrived. Da Zhuang paused for a moment, not quite sure about Xia Ran's current attitude towards the Gu family, so he still nodded politely.
Aunt Gu nodded in response, and then followed Da Zhuang inside.
Only Uncle Wang, Aunt Gu, and Qin Hao's father came this time. Qin Hao was too busy at the company to come.
When they arrived at Grandpa Xia's ward, they also ran into Gu Zheng, who was coming out of the doctor's office.
Da Zhuang glanced at Gu Zheng, then went straight into the ward.
Aunt Gu walked over to Gu Zheng and asked in a low voice,
How was last night?
The question was, of course, about the progress with Xia Ran.
Thinking of what happened last night, a hint of tenderness appeared in Gu Zheng's eyes, but when he thought of what happened this morning, his expression darkened again. Finally, he shook his head and went into the ward.