"The photo shows me holding the child. Then I asked Aunt Gu to go back and have Gu Zheng take another one because the child's kindergarten needs a family photo."
Xia Ran then recounted the argument her child had with someone at kindergarten, as well as the homework assigned by the teacher.
Grandpa Xia didn't doubt it after hearing it, but he looked at the photo again.
In the photo, Gu Zheng is tilting his head to look at Xia Ran's side, and it doesn't look like a composite at all.
Xia Ran knew that her grandfather was suspicious, so she quickly took the phone back and opened the chat window with Yu Wu to show her grandfather.
"Really, Grandpa, I'm not lying to you. Look at this chat history where I had someone help me create a composite photo. You'll see for yourself."
"No need," Grandpa Xia waved his hand. "If you say so, then it is. Grandpa believes you."
Grandpa Xia returned the photo to Xia Ran.
Xia Ran pursed her lips and accepted the task, "Xiao Chen will come and pick up the photos when he goes to kindergarten later."
"Hmm." Grandpa Xia smiled slightly, as if he didn't care about the photo at all.
Xia Ran breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that his grandfather would keep asking questions and that he would get angry with him.
Xia Ran thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, Grandpa Xia spoke up again.
"Xiao Ran, are you... still hung up on Gu Zheng? Has Gu Zheng been coming to see you these past few days?"
Xia Ran froze. "Grandpa... what are you saying? How could that be? I've already divorced him. Don't overthink it."
Grandpa Xia sighed and said,
"You don't need to hide it from me anymore. I'm not senile and can't find out. You can fool anyone but you can't fool your grandpa. I raised you since you were a child, and I know your personality and temper best."
Xia Ran moved her lips, unsure of what to say.
Grandpa Xia didn't say anything more, because he didn't know what to say either.
He definitely couldn't bring himself to tell his grandfather to follow his heart, because he was afraid that Xia Ran would be hurt again, and he still couldn't convince Gu Zheng.
No, it should be said that Gu Zheng had his trust in the past, but that trust was gone later.
Xia Ran paused for a moment, put the photo away, and said,
"Grandpa, I'm going to wash up first. After Xiao Chen comes over and takes the photos, I'm going to deliver them to Da Zhuang."
"Alright, alright, go ahead. Grandpa's fine now. I can watch TV here by myself. Oh, and later, give Dazhuang a red envelope. He's been with us in the hospital for so long and helped us so much, so a red envelope is necessary."
"Grandpa, no..."
"Don't refuse. Grandpa knows you and Dazhuang are close, so there's no need for these formalities. Actually, Grandpa wasn't being polite to Dazhuang either. This is a custom in our hometown. Whether you're accompanying a friend or relative to the hospital, you have to give them a red envelope, otherwise it's considered unlucky."
Hearing this, Xia Ran didn't say anything more and simply agreed.
He was aware of this habit, but he had forgotten about it these past few days because he was so busy.
Grandpa Xia's three meals a day are still being delivered by Lin Ziming. In the past two days, Grandpa Xia has been able to sit down and eat by himself, so Xia Ran feels a little more at ease going out.
"Grandpa, Aunt Gu just texted me saying they'll be here soon, so I'll go downstairs first. I'm worried about not having enough time since the kids are going to kindergarten, so I won't let them come up. After giving the photos to the kids, I'll go straight to take Dazhuang to kindergarten."
"Go on, go on," Grandpa Xia waved his hand dismissively. "I have doctors and nurses here, so you don't need to worry."
Xia Ran nodded, took the photo, and went out.
He had just reached the hospital entrance when a car stopped in front of him.
The rear window rolled down, revealing Gu Chen's face.
Good morning, little dad!
"Good morning, Xiao Chen." Xia Ran bent down and patted the child's head. "Where's your great-aunt? Didn't she take you? Did the driver take you?"
Xia Ran bent down and found that there was only Gu Chen in the back seat. He hadn't paid attention to the driver's seat, so he had no idea who was in the driver's seat.
Chapter 346 Showing Off
“My great-aunt wasn’t feeling well today, so she didn’t take me there. My uncle took me.”
Gu Chen spoke softly, his face filled with apprehension, afraid that Xia Ran would be angry if she heard what he said.
However, Xia Ran was not angry. He just stiffened for a moment and looked up at the driver's seat, where he met Gu Zheng's gaze.
Xia Ran calmly withdrew her gaze and handed over the photo she had been holding.
"Then you go to kindergarten obediently. This is a photo that your dad had prepared yesterday. You can take it to your teacher. But you also have to finish all the homework the teacher assigned, okay?"
The moment Gu Chen saw the photo, his eyes lit up. He carefully examined the family of three in the photo before slowly looking up at Xia Ran, his eyes also reddening.
"Daddy, could you... could you take me to kindergarten just once, just once? I want all the other kids at kindergarten to see you, is that okay?"
The child held his head high, his red eyes filled with expectation. Xia Ran opened her mouth, but couldn't bring herself to refuse.
He would have agreed if the driver were taking the child to kindergarten, but since the driver is Gu Zheng, he hesitated.
Xia Ran steeled her heart and decided to refuse.
"Xiao Chen, I'm sorry, Daddy doesn't have time to take you to kindergarten. Daddy has other things to do. Next time, when I have time, Daddy will take you, okay?"
"No." Gu Chen, unusually, ignored Xia Ran's words. "I just want my stepfather to take me today. Stepfather, will you take me? A kid at kindergarten said that his parents will take him to kindergarten together today, and I don't want to lose to him."
Xia Ran's heart wavered, but when he thought of Gu Zheng, he suppressed his soft heart.
But just as he was about to refuse Gu Chen again, Gu Zheng's voice rang out.
“Take the child there. Just this once. The child really wants us to take him. Uncle Wang was supposed to take him today, but he came to call me early this morning, saying he wanted me to take him.”
"Don't worry, it's just taking the child to kindergarten, I won't do anything to you."
Hearing Gu Zheng's words, Xia Ran's resolve to refuse wavered once again.
He looked down at the child, who was looking at him expectantly.
"Little Daddy..." Gu Chen called out softly.
Xia Ran sighed, knowing that she still couldn't bring herself to be ruthless.
"Okay, Daddy will take you to kindergarten so all the other kids can see that our Xiao Chen has a daddy."
Gu Chen's eyes lit up, and he reached out to open the door for Xia Ran.
Gu Zheng, sitting in the driver's seat, breathed a sigh of relief. He had been really afraid that Xia Ran would refuse.
However, Gu Zheng also realized that Xia Ran was currently maintaining a very wary attitude towards him.
If he hadn't made those promises to Xia Ran earlier, she probably still wouldn't have wanted to go with him.
Xia Ran got into the car, and Gu Zheng started the car after everyone had fastened their seat belts.
He didn't dare say anything, for fear that Xia Ran would get angry if she heard it, and then they wouldn't even have this rare time together.
Gu Chen was happily held by Xia Ran, his eyes practically glued to the family photo in her hand.
"Little Daddy, you're so handsome," Gu Chen couldn't help but say.
“Xiao Chen is handsome too,” Xia Ran added with a smile. “He’s also very cute. In his dad’s eyes, he’s already the cutest child in the world.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Chen immediately grinned from ear to ear.
As Xia Ran watched this scene, her heart gradually calmed down.
The child's wish is so simple, how could he bear not to help the child fulfill it?
Xia Ran slowly asked the child about what happened at kindergarten, including his studies, teachers, and other children.
Gu Chen answered without reservation. Gu Zheng drove and listened to their conversation, feeling an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. In a daze, he felt as if they had returned to the time before their divorce.
Gu Zheng unconsciously slowed down, wanting to spend more time with Xia Ran, even though Xia Ran didn't pay any attention to him.
Xia Ran looked up at the scenery outside the window, pursed her lips, and then lowered her head again to talk to the child.
How could he not have felt the car slow down?
But... never mind.
Xia Ran shook off the emotions in her mind. Anyway, this was the only time, so she decided to pretend she knew nothing.
Even though Gu Zheng slowed down the car, Gu Chen still arrived at the kindergarten.
When they arrived, there were already a lot of people at the kindergarten gate, with luxury cars parked one after another. It was clear that the children at this kindergarten were not from ordinary families.
Gu Chen, who usually comes to kindergarten with a nonchalant attitude and little interest, was unusually eager today, even showing a sense of impatientness to get off the bus.
"Little Daddy, Big Daddy, please get out of the car quickly and hand me over to the teacher so that the teacher and other children can see you. That way, they won't doubt that I only have one dad!"
Hearing the child's words, Xia Ran couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat, and softly said to the child,
"Okay, I'll see you off here, so they all know you have two fathers."
Xia Ran spoke very frankly, as if she didn't think her words would have any impact on Gu Zheng at all.
But... so what if it affects Gu Zheng? Xia Ran doesn't care anymore anyway.
Gu Chen exclaimed with delight, then had Xia Ran help him out of the car.
Gu Zheng, who was in the driver's seat, also got out of the car. He saw Xia Ran holding the child's hand, and after thinking for a moment, he went over and took Gu Chen's other hand.
Xia Ran was stunned for a moment when she saw this scene, then pretended not to have seen anything and casually led her child toward the teacher waiting at the kindergarten gate.
Gu Chen was incredibly excited as his two fathers brought him to kindergarten for the first time.
The moment the family of three appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of the parents at the kindergarten gate.
For no other reason than that Gu Zheng's appearance and temperament are simply too outstanding. Even Xia Ran is considered quite good-looking, and together with the fair-skinned, tender, and adorable Gu Chen, they form a beautiful sight.
Xia Ran followed Gu Chen to the two teachers who were greeting the children at the door.
"Hi, good morning, Gu Chen." The teacher greeted him with a smile, but her gaze remained fixed on Gu Zheng and Xia Ran, her eyes gleaming with a strong sense of gossip.
Gu Chen nodded, "Good morning, teacher. These are my two fathers."
As if showing off, Gu Chen's voice was much louder than usual.
Chapter 347 Old Friends
Xia Ran smiled and thought that sending her child to kindergarten was a really good decision. Look how lively her child has become now.
Even Gu Zheng smiled slightly.