Upon hearing Xia Ran's words, Gu En's pupils widened, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He didn't expect that the detectives' side would also be discovered.
That's true. If Zhang Qiang found out, how could the detectives not have found out?
Xia Ran ignored Gu En and turned to leave, with Lin Ziming following closely behind.
Almost the instant the two left, Gu En rushed over and locked the door from the inside, then smashed some things in the house to pieces.
"Xia Ran! I won't let you get away with this! You just wait! You just wait!"
The whole house was filled with his voice, filled with resentment.
The thought of the name Lin Ziming had just called out made him even angrier.
He's not Li Ming! His name is Gu En! He's the young master of the Gu family!
Even if Gu Zheng doesn't acknowledge him now, he is still the young master of the Gu family!
It's definitely not that poor bastard Li Ming! Absolutely not!
Meanwhile, Xia Ran, after entering the elevator, also sighed helplessly, gave a wry smile, and said,
"This is the first time I've ever hit someone, do you believe me?"
"Of course I believe you. I can tell from your expression that this is the first time you've hit someone," Lin Ziming said. "But you don't need to overthink it. He was in the wrong first, and we were just acting in self-defense."
"Besides, you didn't do anything. Don't worry, this is all normal. We didn't hit people without cause; it was just self-defense."
Lin Ziming could only try his best to comfort Xia Ran, because these kinds of things were commonplace for him since he was a child, after all, his family was in this line of work.
But Xia Ran was different. She had never experienced these things since she was a child, so it was inevitable that she would feel scared when she hit someone for the first time.
Xia Ran gave a wry smile, looked down at her palm, and found it was trembling slightly.
However, Lin Ziming is right; he was simply acting in self-defense.
Chapter 355 Unknown Identity
"But, Ziming, what did you mean by calling Li Ming just now?" To stop herself from thinking about what had just happened, Xia Ran could only try to distract herself.
"This..." Lin Ziming smiled, "This is Gu En's original name, Nanfeng. Did you know that Gu En is not a biological daughter of the Gu family?"
Xia Ran nodded, "I know that, Gu Zheng mentioned it."
"Since you know, it's actually quite simple. Gu En was originally from a very poor family. His father saved Gu Zheng from a car accident."
"But at that time, Gu Zheng's parents had both passed away, leaving Gu Zheng alone. Later, Gu Zheng took Gu En home and treated him as his younger brother. So many years have passed, and it took me a long time to find out about this."
He had someone investigate this matter as soon as he learned that Gu En and Xia Ran looked alike.
"So, Li Ming is his original name, but looking at him, tsk tsk tsk... he seems to really dislike this original name and only wants to be the young master of the Gu family. It's really hard to fathom people's hearts."
"You know, even if he's called Gu En now, he can't deny his former name, can he? He can't deny his former self, can he? If his parents knew this in the afterlife, they would be heartbroken."
After hearing this, Xia Ran was also somewhat moved. Considering Gu En's usual behavior, he felt relieved.
"If he weren't that kind of person, how could he possibly put Grandpa's things online? Oh well, that's his own business, it has nothing to do with me."
"Indeed." Seeing Xia Ran's condition, Lin Ziming felt a little relieved.
"The matter is now considered resolved, so you can rest assured."
"Hmm." Xia Ran nodded, though her feelings were actually somewhat complicated.
Is the matter resolved now? But why does he still feel uneasy?
Forget it, things have already come to this point, what else is there for him to think about? Let's just take it one step at a time.
When they arrived at the hospital entrance, Lin Ziming did not get out of the car.
"You go back and stay with Grandpa first. I have other things to do. I'll come see you after I've finished. I should be able to come tonight. I'll bring you something delicious then."
"Okay, then I'll go keep Grandpa company first." Xia Ran got out of the car and waved to Lin Ziming.
Watching Lin Ziming's car leave, Xia Ran turned around and went back to her ward.
As for Lin Ziming on the other side, he made a phone call.
Gu En still needs to be dealt with again.
Xia Ran returned to her room, where Grandpa Xia was happily watching a TV series.
"You're back? How was it? Did you have fun? Where's Ziming? Why isn't he back?"
"Grandpa, so now that Ziming is here, I'm no longer favored?"
To make her grandfather happy, Xia Ran could only try her best to amuse him with words.
Sure enough, Grandpa Xia couldn't help but laugh at what he said.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat? You will always be my most beloved grandson. But it's only these past two days, with Ziming around, that I've realized the benefits of having brothers. I wish you were blood brothers."
"If Grandpa passes away in the future, you'll have a brother to help you, so you won't have to shoulder everything on your own."
"Pah! Pah! Pah! What nonsense are you talking about, Grandpa!" Xia Ran spat twice. "You're perfectly healthy right now! Don't think about all that nonsense!"
Although she knew her grandfather was joking, Xia Ran still couldn't help feeling a little scared.
As his grandfather grew old, his biggest fear was that his grandfather's health would deteriorate and something might happen.
He often dreams about that scene and is terrified. Grandpa Xia, on the other hand, doesn't have any taboos.
"Isn't this all normal? Grandpa is getting old and will eventually reach that point. I'm just worried that you won't have anyone to help you, since we don't have any proper relatives. Luckily, you still have Dazhuang, your good friend."
Hearing her grandfather's words, Xia Ran felt a lump in her throat, but she forced a smile and pretended nothing had happened.
"Grandpa, why are you thinking so many unreliable things? Brother Ziming is treating us very well now, isn't he? If you really want Brother Ziming to be your grandson, then you should treat him well in the future and treat him as I do. You reap what you sow."
"As for Dazhuang, you don't need to worry about him at all. He's my best brother. Look at how busy he's been lately, just like your grandson, he's been working so hard."
"Anyway, I'm already very content with these good friends. And Grandpa, you're still young, don't think about so many things. By the way, the weather is nice today, I'll push you out for a walk later."
Grandpa Xia: "Okay, but Xiao Ran, if Grandpa is really alright, let's get discharged. Staying in the hospital is just too uncomfortable. Didn't we already rent a place? When are we moving in?"
"Grandpa, don't worry. Ziming said that he can rest here for a couple more days and then be discharged from the hospital," Xia Ran said helplessly.
Grandpa had just started to feel a little better these past two days, but he's already getting impatient with being in the hospital and keeps wanting to be discharged.
However, his grandfather's hospitalization this time also served as a major warning to him.
Grandpa is getting old, so he really needs to take very, very good care of his health.
"Sigh, you guys just don't believe me. My body is perfectly fine now, but you still insist on staying here. I'm practically rotting away here."
Grandpa Xia muttered something to himself, but he didn't say much, because he knew that no matter how much he said, Xia Ran wouldn't agree to let him leave the hospital.
In the evening, Xia Ran brought a wheelchair and took Grandpa Xia for a walk in the garden downstairs.
The weather is getting colder, but Grandpa Xia is in high spirits, taking the rare opportunity to get some fresh air.
Because of the cold weather, Xia Ran didn't plan to keep Grandpa Xia outside for long; they would be going back in half an hour.
But they didn't expect to run into Gu Zheng and Gu Chen, who had come looking for them.
Grandpa Xia could see Gu Chenxia almost every day, but he rarely saw Gu Zheng, since he was quite angry with Gu Zheng.
So when he saw Gu Zheng, his face darkened.
Gu Zheng knew he was in the wrong, so he stepped forward and gently called out "Grandpa".
"No, I can't accept being called 'Grandpa' by you, Xiao Ran, go back."
Grandpa Xia's face remained stern, and his tone was colder than ever before.
Xia Ran nodded, and just as she was about to push Grandpa Xia away, Gu Zheng put Gu Chen down as well.
"Great-Grandpa, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood? Don't be sad. I won first place in my drawing competition today, and my teacher gave me several hawthorn strips as a reward. I didn't eat them, so here you go."
Gu Chen took out a few long hawthorn strips from his school uniform pocket and placed them in Grandpa Xia's palm.
Grandpa Xia, of course, couldn't bring himself to be harsh with the child.
"Okay, but one is enough for Great-Grandpa. The rest can be given to Xiao Chen. After all, our Xiao Chen is so great. This is a reward from your teacher, so you can't give it all to Grandpa."
As Grandpa Xia spoke, he gave the remaining hawthorn strips to Gu Chen.
Gu Chen hesitated for a moment before accepting.
"Well... okay, I'll give one to my younger father and one to my older father, and then I'll give one to my great-aunt and Grandpa Wang when we get back."
There were only six hawthorn strips, which Gu Chen distributed very well.
Xia Ran reached out and ruffled Gu Chen's hair, saying,
"That's great, Xiao Chen made the right allocation. But now Daddy is taking Great-Grandpa back to the ward, so does Xiao Chen need to go home and do his homework?"
Gu Chen: "But... I want to spend more time with my stepfather and great-grandfather today. I don't have much homework; I can do it when I get back."
Gu Chen looked at Xia Ran with expectant eyes, making it impossible for Xia Ran to refuse.
Xia Ran sighed, but ultimately did not refuse.
"Okay, but Daddy will be pushing Great-Grandpa, and you have to slowly follow beside him. Daddy can't hold your hand or hug you."
"It's okay!" Gu Chen nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, Daddy. I can manage on my own. You just need to push Great-Grandpa around."
Xia Ran could only nod, but the next second he saw Gu Zheng pick up Gu Chen, as if he wanted to follow them.
Xia Ran was somewhat unhappy, especially since he had met Gu En today, which had directly affected his mood.
When I was talking to Gu Chen just now, I deliberately ignored Gu Zheng.
Xia Ran glanced at Gu Chen in Gu Zheng's arms, and could only silently push Grandpa Xia back to the ward.
This time, Gu Zheng actually followed him into the ward.
Grandpa Xia couldn't pretend he hadn't seen it, so he immediately told them to leave.
"Get out of here! You're not welcome here! Get out now!"
Gu Zheng put Gu Chen down, bowed to Grandpa Xia with a guilty expression, and said,
"Grandpa, I'm sorry. What happened before was my fault, but I regret it now, I regret it so much, and I know I was wrong. Now I really like Xiaoran, I..."
"Enough, Gu Zheng!" Xia Ran interrupted Gu Zheng before he could finish speaking. "Get out of here right now, immediately!"