The next morning, Xing Zhaozhao went home with Gao Mingcheng.
The Gao family was bustling with activity today. All the children had returned, and Xing Zhaozhao even saw Gao Yang, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Since Gao Mingcheng's accident and hospitalization at the beginning of the year, Gao Yang has returned to Beijing and has been tied to the head office by Gao Han, working like a beast of burden. He hasn't had a chance to come back to Lanyuan since, and he looks thinner.
"Why have you lost so much weight? Are you sick? I've never heard of this before," Xing Zhaozhao asked with concern.
The family already knew about Xing Zhaozhao's situation. They originally thought she was the illegitimate child, but it turned out she was a blood relative. Although it seemed a bit unbelievable, they accepted it well because she was a blood relative.
Gao Yang smiled and shook his head, saying, "No, I'm just too busy with work."
Xing Zhaozhao frowned and said, "No matter what, health is the most important thing. Don't ruin your health for work; it's not worth it."
Gao Yang gestured to Gao Han beside him. "Did you hear that? Grandma has spoken. As the eldest brother, shouldn't you do something about it?"
Gao Han ignored him completely, pretending not to hear. He had finally found a reliable and trustworthy ox or horse to relieve him of his heavy workload, and it was impossible to send him back. At worst, he could just find another ox or horse to share the burden later.
Gao Yang: "..." Is this still my brother?
Not wanting to cause a scene with his brothers in front of their elders, Gao Yang had no choice but to suppress his anger and smiled as he replied to Xing Zhaozhao, "I understand." In his heart, he secretly planned to find an opportunity to act first and ask questions later, to run away to a place where no one could find him, and take a long vacation.
"By the way, is your... mom alright?" Xing Zhaozhao asked.
Gao Yang glanced subconsciously at Ying Rongrong, who was talking to her daughter and daughter-in-law. After a moment, she realized that Ying Rongrong was asking about the other person. Thinking of the good news she had heard from the doctor recently, her eyes softened, and she nodded, saying, "It's not bad. The doctor said that the recent treatment has been very effective, and there may be a chance for us to live like normal people."
Xing Zhaozhao felt relieved: "That's good." After all, that person was also a victim. If he could really be cured, that would be the best outcome.
The three little ones quickly crowded around and pushed Gao Yang away.
Gao Yang: "..."
Gao Yang paused for a moment, then turned to find Gao Han to reconnect. Treating one's own brother like a beast of burden is simply inappropriate, don't you think?
The three little ones surrounded Xing Zhaozhao, chattering away about all sorts of interesting things that happened at school.
Having gone through the previous kidnapping incident, Xia Xiaoyue's previously awkward personality has been completely reversed. She has become increasingly close to Xing Zhaozhao and is also very attached to Xia Fanxing, almost inseparable from her.
Gao Lianzhou, watching from the side, was jealous and deliberately provoked her with her words: "Didn't you used to look down on Great-Grandma and envy Fanxing?"
Xia Xiaoyue hooked her arms around Xing Zhaozhao and Xia Fanxing, looking at Gao Lianzhou provocatively: "That was before. Now I love my great-grandmother the most, and I like Fanxing the most. My great-grandmother and Fanxing like me the most too. What, are you envious?"
"Tch, I don't care." Gao Lianzhou said disdainfully, hooking her other arm around Xing Zhaozhao's, patting her chest and saying to Xing Zhaozhao, "Great-Grandma, it doesn't matter if we can't go back, I'll take care of you from now on."
People around couldn't help but turn to look, their faces full of disgust. "You want to raise them? You expect someone else to raise them? Do you think they're dead?"
They all looked at Xing Zhaozhao with concern, afraid that the words "cannot go back" would stir up her painful memories.
Xing Zhaozhao smiled, seemingly unaffected, or at least not showing it, not wanting them to worry.
She patted Gao Lianzhou's head: "Then from now on, Great-Grandma will depend on you for support."
"Leave it to me," Gao Lianzhou readily agreed.
Xing Zhaozhao glanced around and quickly realized something was wrong. It seemed like someone was missing: "Where's Hongfei? I haven't seen him at all."
Gao Mingcheng walked over, picked up Gao Lianzhou and took her away, then sat down next to Xing Zhaozhao: "There's a press conference at the company, and he's there."
Xing Zhaozhao was taken aback: "Press conference?"
"About what happened last night," Gao Mingcheng reminded him.
Xing Zhaozhao immediately understood.
Although Gao Guang's live stream last night was in the middle of the night, it involved the Gao family, so it easily went viral. There were all sorts of rumors, so Gao Hongfei simply arranged a press conference to clarify things.
"It just started," Ling Shuang said, handing the tablet to Xing Zhaozhao.
Xing Zhaozhao took the document and saw that it was broadcasting a press conference being held at Zhaohong Group.
Besides Gao Hongfei, Xing Zhaozhao also saw several familiar faces inside. Those once young and vibrant faces had all aged: Hao Xiuning, Gao Qingshan, and…
Xing Zhaozhao unexpectedly discovered three unfamiliar faces inside. Compared to Hao Xiuning and Gao Qingshan, they were younger, only in their early sixties.
“These three are…” she asked curiously, pointing to the three old women.
Before Gao Mingcheng could say anything, Gao Lianzhou leaned over for a look and said first, "It's your great-aunt."
"Aunt?" Xing Zhaozhao didn't react at first.
“Those three from the third brother’s family,” Gao Mingcheng explained to her.
Xing Zhaozhao quickly realized: "So they are Gao Mingyi's three younger sisters."
She carefully examined the two rosy-cheeked old ladies and said with satisfaction, "They seem to be doing well."
Gao Mingcheng nodded and said, "Those three are the most successful from those two families. As for my suppression, I've only prevented them from using my name to cause trouble. If their children want to succeed, I won't stop them. If they have the ability, let them do it themselves. In the end, over the years, only these three have emerged. The third one is a fool. He spoiled his son into a good-for-nothing and even wanted to sell his daughter, who had finally gotten into university and become successful, for a dowry. The girl is smart enough to come to me."
"That's great." Xing Zhaozhao was overjoyed as she watched Gao Pandi, who had now changed her name to Gao Honghui, cursing at the nitpicking reporter on the live stream.
"Suppress? Bah. You're a piece of trash who barely finished nine years of compulsory education and almost didn't even get a junior high school diploma. You think you need to be suppressed? Who are you insulting? Do you even have a brain? Did you buy your press card on Taobao?"
Xing Zhaozhao watched the entire press conference with great interest, only to see Gao Honghui rant and rave about how she was doing it all. No one else, not even Gao Hongfei, got a chance to speak; it was all Gao Honghui's doing.
In the live stream, rows of "6"s kept flooding the screen.
The press conference ended, but Xing Zhaozhao was still somewhat reluctant to leave.
"Why don't you call Honghui and her two sisters over so you can meet them?" Gao Mingcheng asked.
Xing Zhaozhao thought for a moment, then shook her head and refused: "Never mind, there's no need for too many people to know."
Gao Hongfei returned after seeing everyone off at noon. Lunch was ready, prepared by a chef he had specially invited from Zhaohong Hotel. The family enjoyed a harmonious meal together.
After dinner, Xing Zhaozhao glanced at the lovely sunshine outside, then turned to Gao Mingcheng and asked, "Let's go for a walk, Mingcheng."
Gao Mingcheng, of course, readily agreed: "Okay."
Gao Hongfei also wanted to go: "I'll go too."
Gao Mingcheng glared at Gao Hongfei: "Get lost, don't disturb my time with your mother."
Gao Hongfei wanted to say something, but Ying Rongrong forcefully pulled him away.
The three little ones originally wanted to go along, but seeing that their grandfather hadn't succeeded, they had to give up and go play by themselves.
Xing Zhaozhao linked arms with Gao Mingcheng and strolled slowly forward, chatting casually with him. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Zhaohong Square.
She took a look at the pedestrian street on her way.
Xiao Xu's stall is still there, but he naturally doesn't have time to come back and set up his stall now. Instead, a young man who used to help him deliver goods has taken over.
After leaving the pedestrian street, they went to the street that Xing Zhaozhao used to frequent when she first came here. Unfortunately, they didn't see those old men. They wondered if they had just finished eating and were taking a nap at home.
Having already come this far, Xing Zhaozhao pulled Gao Mingcheng along and decided to go up the mountain again. Come to think of it, they had returned to the Gao family early this morning and hadn't yet visited the abandoned cellar.
When they reached the halfway point, Xing Zhaozhao walked into the abandoned cellar as usual. It was still the same gray wall, unchanged.
She turned to leave, when suddenly she saw waves of silver light flash across the gray wall, and then the door that had disappeared before her slowly reappeared.
Xing Zhaozhao froze instantly, her heart pounding wildly.
Gao Mingcheng was about to leave with Xing Zhaozhao when he noticed her suddenly standing there, and asked curiously, "What's wrong, Zhaozhao?"
"The door is back." Xing Zhaozhao said slowly, releasing Gao Mingcheng's hand and walking towards the door.
Gao Mingcheng watched Xing Zhaozhao about to leave, his heart clenched, and he instinctively went over and hugged her tightly: "Zhaozhao..."
He knew that this time she would probably not come back. She wouldn't let the previous accident happen again; she couldn't bear another blow.
He couldn't bear to see her leave like this; he had waited so many years for her to come back to him.
However, he also knew that he couldn't keep her.
With a heavy heart, Gao Mingcheng finally let go and said in a hoarse voice, "I'll go back and prepare some things to send over. If you're still willing, remember to come and get them."
Xing Zhaozhao turned around and hugged him tightly, choking back tears as she said, "I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself from now on. When you go back, please tell the children I'm sorry."
Gao Mingcheng patted her head and responded softly, "Mmm."
Xing Zhaozhao gave him one last tight hug, then quickly turned and left...
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