Lin Yi seemed surprised that Xia Ran had guessed it from the taste, and for a moment he didn't know what to say, so he could only nod.
“No wonder.” Xia Ran bounced Gu Chen in her arms and continued, “I had a classmate who also got acute gastroenteritis after we went out to eat hot pot with us, and it was quite spicy. He was in so much pain that he had to go to the hospital.”
He had probably guessed it when he smelled the hotpot smell on Lin Yi.
Lin Yi hadn't expected it to be because of this, so he could only remain silent.
Gu Zheng remained silent with a sullen face, but he reached out and took Gu Chen from Xia Ran's arms.
Xia Ran's arm felt lighter, and then she moved closer to Gu Zheng, whispering,
"Ah Zheng, don't blame others. It's probably because Qin Hao ate too much spicy food and it irritated his stomach. It's nothing."
Hearing Xia Ran's words, Gu Zheng nodded slightly. He understood that what Xia Ran said was true.
After all, someone like Lin Yi wouldn't take Qin Hao out for hot pot on his own initiative.
But the thought that Lin Yi had asked him for the person, and then ended up making Qin Hao look like this, filled him with anger.
Gu Zheng glanced down at Gu Chen before speaking to Xia Ran.
"Take Xiao Chen out to buy something to eat. It'll probably be a long time before we get back." Xia Ran didn't think much of Gu Zheng's words, since they hadn't eaten when they left home.
Gu Zheng asking him to buy things now is probably just because he's worried Gu Chen is hungry.
So Xia Ran simply picked up Gu Chen and left.
This is a hospital, a place with lots of people and chatter, so Xia Ran didn't dare let Gu Chen get down and walk alone, so she had to carry him.
But after walking a short distance, Xia Ran couldn't help but look back again for some reason.
That one glance stunned him.
He noticed that Gu Zheng was talking to Lin Yi. There was nothing wrong with what they were saying, but Xia Ran felt that Gu Zheng was only talking to Lin Yi after he left because he wanted to avoid him.
Thinking of this, Xia Ran couldn't help but feel a little sad. Was there something that A-Zheng was not allowed to know?
But the thought only flashed through his mind, and he quickly composed himself.
He was really overthinking it. Nanfeng Azheng probably wasn't trying to get rid of him; he just happened to be talking to Lin Yi when he was about to leave.
After Xia Ran figured it out, she simply carried Gu Chen to go shopping.
And Gu Zheng was indeed talking to Lin Yi.
It was less of a conversation and more of a one-sided interrogation of Lin Yi by Gu Zheng.
"When I called him over, he was perfectly fine. You only stayed out for half a day and then you put him in the operating room. Lin Yi, how can I entrust Qin Hao to you with this kind of treatment?"
If it weren't for the fact that this was a hospital, Gu Zheng would have really beaten Lin Yi up.
Lin Yi also realized that he was in the wrong; he shouldn't have gone along with Qin Hao's nonsense.
"It was my fault. Don't worry, it won't happen again."
"Next time?" Gu Zheng snorted coldly. "You want a next time? Impossible. What you mentioned before doesn't count."
Upon hearing Gu Zheng's words, Lin Yi's expression changed instantly.
"What do you mean it doesn't count? Gu Zheng, are you trying to go back on your word?"
"So what if it is? You said back then that you wouldn't let anything happen to Qin Hao no matter what, but do you think you can convince me now?"
"Last time you left Qin Hao standing in the meeting room all day, and now he's in the operating room because he was with you."
Gu Zheng rarely speaks at such a long pace, but now that it concerns Qin Hao, he has no choice but to speak.
Lin Yi: "I said, this time it was my fault, there won't be a next time. No matter what you said, you promised me back then, do you think it's possible to go back on your word now?"
Lin Yi's expression also turned cold, and he quickly calmed himself down.
Only when he calmed down could he negotiate with Gu Zheng; otherwise, he would only be led by the nose by Gu Zheng.
"And even if you don't let Qin Hao come to talk to me about cooperation, I still have ways to meet with Qin Hao, and then you won't be able to stop me."
Gu Zheng looked coldly at Lin Yi, and understood that what Lin Yi was saying was true.
Although Qin Hao's current situation is not directly related to Lin Yi, it is indirectly related, so how could he let Lin Yi off so easily?
Gu Zheng: "Lin Yi, I'm warning you, this is the last time. If Qin Hao does something similar again, I won't let you off the hook."
Hearing Gu Zheng's words, Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in response.
If Qin Hao gets into trouble again, not only Gu Zheng, but he himself will not be able to let himself off the hook.
On the other side, Xia Ran had already carried Gu Chen to the hospital's convenience store. He looked around the store and found that there were all kinds of noodles for sale, so he bought two noodles and three bottles of water.
Because he was carrying Gu Chen and had to carry so many things, it was really inconvenient and even a bit strenuous for him.
Even so, he never thought of letting go of Gu Chen.
Gu Chen noticed that his little father was having some trouble, so he took the initiative to get down.
"Daddy, put...put Xiao Chen...down...he can walk by himself!"
Gu Chen squirmed in Xia Ran's arms.
Xia Ran was naturally very touched to hear this, but since this was a hospital, he dared not let Gu Chen get down.
"No need, Xiao Chen, be good and don't move around. There are a lot of people here, and if you get down, you'll easily get separated from your dad. If you care about your dad, how about you help him carry this bag?"
Xia Ran handed the bag of noodles to Gu Chen. Although it contained two portions of noodles, it wasn't too heavy, and Gu Chen could carry it if he wanted.
Gu Chen glanced at Xia Ran, then at the bag, and then nodded and picked it up.
Xia Ran couldn't resist kissing Gu Chen on the cheek and said,
"You're so great, baby!"
Gu Chen's face slowly turned red, and then he kissed Xia Ran on the cheek.
"The young dad... is great too!"
Xia Ran smiled and carried Gu Chen to find Gu Zheng and the others, but after taking only two steps, he noticed that someone was watching them from the side.
When Xia Ran saw that person, she felt that he was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
However, after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure out where he had seen him before. He could only give people a friendly smile and continue carrying Gu Chen away.
Chapter 90 I'm in so much pain
If someone else had witnessed this scene, they would have noticed that Xia Ran looked very similar to the person who had been watching them.
Actually, the person watching Xia Ran and the others was the same person Gu Zheng bumped into when he went to buy a cake that day.
As Gu En watched Xia Ran and the others leave, a faint look of envy and nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
That child from back then must be about the same age as the child we just saw, right?
However, he cannot go back now. After all, he was a dead man back then, and it would feel inappropriate to suddenly go back now.
Moreover, he needs to check on how his family is doing before he can go back; he can't just suddenly go back like this.
When Xia Ran carried Gu Chen to the operating room door, Gu Zheng and Lin Yi were sitting on a bench, both with cold expressions.
Xia Ran didn't know what the two had talked about before, but she pretended not to know anything.
When Gu Zheng saw Xia Ran approaching, he immediately stood up, picked up Gu Chen, and whispered to Gu Chen,
"Didn't we say boys should be more independent? Your stepfather is carrying so many things, why don't you get down and walk by yourself?"
Gu Chen looked at his eldest father with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
He clearly said he wanted to get off and walk by himself, but his stepfather wouldn't let him.
Upon hearing Gu Zheng's words, Xia Ran immediately spoke up.
"Ah Zheng, don't talk about Xiao Chen like that. I was the one who wouldn't let him get down and walk. There are too many people and too much gossip in the hospital, and I didn't feel comfortable with him."
Gu Zheng frowned as he glanced at Xia Ran, then at Gu Chen, who looked aggrieved in his arms, but ultimately said nothing.
Lin Yi watched this scene from the side, and his eyes showed some surprise.
Gu Zheng indeed treated his family members very differently from how he treated outsiders.
Lin Yi glanced at Xia Ran again. He had only recently learned that Gu Zheng had gotten married, and it seemed that Gu Zheng was treating his new wife very well.
Xia Ran noticed Lin Yi's gaze and smiled slightly at him, handing him a bottle of water and saying,
"Have some water first. I didn't buy you any food because I thought you had just finished eating."
Lin Yi took the water and said, "Thank you."
Xia Ran smiled and said "You're welcome" before looking at Gu Zheng.
Gu Zheng had already sat down with Gu Chen in his arms, took the bag from Gu Chen's hand, handed one of the boxes of noodles to Xia Ran, and said,
"Eat up, I'll feed Xiao Chen."
Xia Ran originally wanted to say that he was being fed, but Gu Zheng's serious expression made him change his mind. He only said "okay" and started eating, but his eyes were always on Gu Zheng and the others.
Actually, it's good to let A-Zheng feed Xiao-Chen; it's also beneficial for fostering the bond between the father and son.
This wasn't the first time Gu Zheng had fed Gu Chen, so his movements were quite practiced.
Lin Yi, watching from the side, was even more surprised. He never expected that Gu Zheng was such a doting husband and father.
Appendicitis is just a very minor surgery. After Qin Hao was wheeled out of the operating room, he was taken directly to a private ward.
It's just that the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet, so the person hasn't woken up.
Gu Zheng and Xia Ran were also in the ward with him.
To Xia Ran's surprise, Lin Yi had been there with her the whole time.
Xia Ran had some doubts, but since Lin Yi was still there, he couldn't ask Gu Zheng directly.
But after a short while, Xia Ran thought of Aunt Gu and the others again, and could only tug at Gu Zheng's clothes and whisper,
"Ah Zheng, shouldn't you talk to your aunt and the others? They went to have dinner with friends, but they should be back soon. They'll be worried if they come back and don't see us."
Gu Zheng only remembered his aunt and the others after Xia Ran brought it up, and could only nod.
"I'll go out and make a phone call to tell them."
Xia Ran: "Mm."