However, Gu Zheng was looking down at the newspaper in his hand, seemingly not wanting to pay any attention to Qin Hao.
Having no other choice, Qin Hao could only look at Xia Ran again and utter a single sentence.
"Xia Ran, you...did you sleep with my cousin yesterday?"
Although he asked a question, his eyes clearly said that this was definitely the case.
It's really not his fault. The main reason is that Xia Ran today is really different from the usual Xia Ran. She looks like she's had her fill of sex!
When Qin Hao asked that question, the living room was deathly silent, with only Gu Chen, who didn't understand anything, staring at Xia Ran expectantly.
Chapter 59 But you don't like him
Xia Ran blushed and had no idea how to answer.
Even Gu Zheng, who was standing next to him, looked somewhat uncomfortable.
But his unease was fleeting, and he quickly called out to Qin Hao with a cold face.
"Qin Hao, aren't you just too idle? Have you finished the task I asked you to do the day before yesterday?"
Gu Zheng's tone was also icy cold; under normal circumstances, Qin Hao would definitely be scared.
But today, Qin Hao glanced at the two of them, a smirk playing on his lips, and said, seemingly unafraid of death,
"Hey bro, don't change the subject. What's wrong with admitting it?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Ran's face turned even redder, and Gu Zheng's expression grew even colder.
However, before Gu Zheng could speak again, Xia Ran stood up and said...
"I'll go to the kitchen to see what dishes are available and prepare for Auntie's return for dinner."
He practically fled the living room, and of course, Gu Chen, whom he was holding in his arms, also left.
Soon only Gu Zheng and Qin Hao remained in the living room.
Gu Zheng's expression remained as cold and icy as before.
The smile that had been on Qin Hao's face faded at this moment.
"Brother, what do you mean? You clearly only see him as..."
He didn't say the rest, but Gu Zheng understood what he was going to say.
Looking at Qin Hao's expression and his words defending Xia Ran, Gu Zheng felt a surge of displeasure.
Although he knew that Qin Hao had no other feelings for Xia Ran, he was still very unhappy.
"He and I are a legally married couple, isn't it normal for us to do these things?"
He spoke in a calm tone, but Qin Hao's expression showed no sign of easing; on the contrary, it became even more angry.
“But brother, you clearly don’t really want to marry him. You’re only after Xia Ran’s face and Xiao Chen. You’ve always treated him so well and never bothered him.”
"After all, if that's the case, the other person can walk away without hesitation if they can't stand you anymore, but you're doing this to him now... what will he do then?"
Qin Hao really likes Xia Ran, otherwise he wouldn't have said those things to Gu Zheng.
Of course, his liking was just that of a friend.
Upon hearing his words, Gu Zheng's expression darkened further.
“I’ve said it before, he won’t leave, not in this lifetime. He likes me, and he likes Xiao Chen, so it’s impossible for him to leave.”
His tone was very firm, not only because he believed in Xia Ran's feelings for him, but also because he would never let Xia Ran leave.
“But you don’t like him,” Qin Hao continued.
"So what?" Gu Zheng said, "He likes me, I treat him well, I can provide him with a life of luxury, and we can live together in mutual respect, that's enough."
"Qin Hao, why do you think this isn't the life Xia Ran wants? He loves me, and this is the best response I can give him. Xiao En is gone, and I can't possibly marry someone else, so why do you think I can't give Xia Ran happiness?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao opened his mouth, only to find himself speechless.
Indeed, Gu Zheng is right.
Qin Hao sighed inwardly, but ultimately said nothing.
A silence fell between the two. Even when Uncle Wang brought over food, Qin Hao ate it without saying a word until Xia Ran came out of the kitchen, at which point Qin Hao became lively again.
If Gu Zheng hadn't known his younger brother's personality, he probably would have actually believed that Qin Hao had feelings for Xia Ran.
"By the way, Qin Hao, when are your parents arriving? I'd like to prepare some food."
Xia Ran hugged Gu Chen and asked. Now that he was sitting next to Gu Zheng, he had calmed down.
Qin Hao raised his hand to check the time on his watch and said,
"We'll be there in about an hour, Xia Ran. Why don't you have the maid cook for you? Are you feeling alright?"
Qin Hao started joking around with Xia Ran again.
Inevitably, Xia Ran's face flushed red again.
Gu Zheng coughed lightly, reminding Qin Hao not to go too far.
However, Qin Hao merely pursed his lips, seemingly not taking Gu Zheng's words to heart at all.
Xia Ran tucked Gu Chen into her arms, said a few words, and then walked towards the kitchen.
"Ah Zheng, you hold Xiao Chen and teach him to read the words in the book. I'll go to the kitchen to cook."
After saying that, he ran away as fast as he could. If Qin Hao continued to tease him like that, he was afraid he would really die of embarrassment!
Gu Chen suddenly felt uncomfortable being held in a different embrace and immediately wanted to wriggle out of Gu Zheng's arms.
However, Gu Zheng's hand encircled him, not too lightly, but not too heavily, but he didn't let Gu Chen leave.
"Sit still. Have you forgotten what your stepfather just said? He told you to read all the words in the book. Are you planning to disobey him?"
Gu Zheng flipped through the book Xia Ran had handed him, speaking as he did so.
Gu Chen, who was originally thinking of getting off, immediately sat down obediently after hearing Gu Zheng's words.
Xia Ran had Gu Zheng teach her a book that was only used in kindergarten. Although Gu Chen wasn't going to kindergarten yet, Xia Ran didn't want Gu Chen to fall too far behind in what he needed to learn.
The book contains only individual words or two-character phrases.
Gu Zheng taught Gu Chen to read it in a soft voice. Gu Chen was quite smart and could remember it after Gu Zheng taught him only twice.
Qin Hao sat opposite them, watching the two of them, and felt a mix of emotions.
Undeniably, Xia Ran's arrival changed Gu Chen a lot, and even Gu Zheng changed.
Qin Hao thought this was a very good thing, but he also knew in his heart that Gu Zheng's kindness to Xia Ran and his marriage to her were only because of her face...
If Xia Ran were to find out the truth one day, would she be devastated?
But the next second, Qin Hao overturned his thoughts.
No, Gu En is dead. As long as no one tells anyone, how could Xia Ran possibly know?
Perhaps, as Gu Zheng just said, everything will be fine as long as we live our lives well.
However, she still felt a little guilty. It seemed that she could only try to make Gu Zheng treat Xia Ran well from now on.
Having figured it out, Qin Hao immediately got up and went to the kitchen to find Xia Ran.
He had tasted Xia Ran's cooking before, and it was quite delicious; he just didn't know what she was going to make today.
But as soon as he stood up, Gu Zheng, who was sitting opposite Gu Chen reading, seemed to have eyes and said something directly.
Where are we going?
Qin Hao: "Go to the kitchen and see what Xia Ran is going to make."
Gu Zheng finally raised his head. "You're not allowed to go."
"Why?" Qin Hao's eyes widened, clearly dissatisfied.
Chapter 60 Gu Zheng, the Macho Man, Acts Like a Darling
Gu Zheng continued to stare at Qin Hao expressionlessly, and said calmly,
"Because having more people here to listen to Gu Chen read will motivate him more."
Qin Hao: "............ I don't believe you for a second!"
However, Qin Hao could only think these words in his heart and dared not say them out loud.
His parents are arriving soon. If Gu Zheng says anything bad about him to them, he's doomed.
But he really didn't want to sit here and listen to the two of them read these boring books! So Qin Hao still stubbornly wanted to refuse and refute.
"Who said that? I'll only disturb your studies if I stay here. I'd better go to the kitchen and see if there's anything I can do to help."
Gu Zheng didn't answer Qin Hao's question immediately. Instead, he looked down at Gu Chen in Qin Hao's arms and said calmly,
"Xiao Chen, do you think it's better for him to stay here and keep you company while you study, or for him to go to the kitchen and bother your stepfather?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao's eyes widened immediately. What did he mean by saying he was going to disturb them? He was going to help, okay? Given Gu Chen's dependence on Xia Ran, how could he possibly agree to let him go after hearing Gu Zheng say that?
Sure enough, the next second Gu Chen shook his head fiercely, his chubby face, which Xia Ran had raised, filled with seriousness.
"Don't... disturb... Little Daddy, Uncle... is with Xiao Chen..."
Qin Hao: "..."
Since Gu Chen had already said that, Qin Hao naturally couldn't leave anymore, so he just said something with a forced smile.
“Chen Baobei, study hard, and Uncle will stay here and watch over you.”
Gu Chen tapped his little head, then looked up at Gu Zheng, the meaning clear: Daddy, hurry up and teach me to read.
Gu Zheng was very satisfied with Gu Chen's reaction just now. He even rubbed Gu Chen's head with his hand, which was rare for him, before continuing to read to Gu Chen.
A deep, pleasant voice reads it once, followed by a childish, babyish voice reading it once.
Qin Hao had never been a fan of studying, so listening to the two of them reciting their lessons in unison made him even more drowsy.
Of course, he did eventually fall asleep on the sofa.
However, he was quickly woken up by Gu Zheng, who also took the opportunity to teach Gu Chen a lesson.