Chapter 479 — The Kang Family Proposes Marriage (Part Two)

"This young man must be Kang Jinglong, surely? A truly splendid figure of a man!" Xiao Ji, beaming all over his face, took the gift box and then addressed Kang Jinglong.

"Uncle Xiao, I am Kang Jinglong!" Kang Jinglong said politely.

"Yes, indeed — a fine match for our Xinyan!" Xiao Ben nodded as well, though inwardly he was vexed at his own niece for being so obtuse. The Kang family was a clan of exceptional standing — how could she not be moved?

He had reasoned and cajoled for days on end, yet she still would not agree, which left Xiao Ji and Xiao Ben quite helpless. After all, Wang Xinyan was merely a relative by marriage, not a direct descendant of the Xiao family, so there was only so much they could demand of her.

House arrest was no solution; in the end she would have to be let out. As for Wang Xinyan's parents, though at first they had shown some resistance to the match, once they heard that the man in question was the eldest grandson of the miraculous physician Kang, Wang Xuben had fallen silent.

And Xiao Qinlin had never had much mind of her own — all these years she had followed Wang Xuben's lead. If Wang Xuben agreed, naturally she had no objection. The crux of the matter was this: Xiao Ji and Xiao Ben had said that if the marriage were agreed to, the shareholding issue mentioned in the old man's will could be set aside; but if it were refused, not only would a portion of Wang Xuben's company shares be reclaimed, but they would brazenly threaten to join hands with the Kang family against his pharmaceutical company.

What Xiao Ji and Xiao Ben counted as a blessing now was that only Wang Xinyan herself remained opposed; once her resistance was overcome, there would be no problem at all.

"Where is this Wang Xinyan? Why not call her out so I can have a look at my future granddaughter-in-law?" the miraculous physician Kang asked genially, seated on the sofa. As her grandfather, though this match carried a measure of alliance about it, he was still quite satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law.

"I'll go fetch her right now!" Xiao Ben shot his elder brother a look, then rose and went into the inner hall.

"Little sister, brother-in-law — have you actually managed to bring my niece round to the idea? The miraculous physician Kang has come to our house in person to propose. That is a face not just anyone could be granted!" Xiao Ben said, looking at Wang Xuben and Xiao Qinlin by the door of Wang Xinyan's room.

"Xiaoyan won't agree — I say let it go..." Though Xiao Qinlin had never had much firmness of mind, she doted on her daughter, and seeing the girl unhappy, she naturally did not want the match.

"This is just like a woman — long hair, short sense!" Xiao Ben was taken aback and answered with some annoyance. "What manner of family is the miraculous physician Kang's? His eldest grandson Kang Jinglong is the future heir of the Kang family — how could Xinyan lose by marrying him?"

"Qinlin, I have heard of this Kang Jinglong: excellent in both character and learning, not a single bad habit! I have made inquiries these past days — he has never even had a girlfriend. I think he will not treat Xinyan badly!" Wang Xuben spoke up at this point.

Though he feared trouble for his company, he did not want his daughter to be unhappy thereafter either, so he had quietly had someone investigate Kang Jinglong. The findings had rather astonished him!

Was this really a young master of a great house? From childhood to now, it had been nothing but study, study, study; he already held a doctorate and was going on to pursue a second. And most important of all, he had none of the playboy habits of those rich young lords — from childhood to now, he had never had a girlfriend!

What a world of difference between him and his cousin Kang Jingming!

So, having received this investigative report, Wang Xuben no longer opposed the match. Where else could one find such a good son-in-law? Not only a fine scholar but a man of fine character, and, most important of all, of fine family! With the support of the miraculous physician Kang, could his chain of pharmaceutical stores ever fail to flourish?

"Is that so... but Xiaoyan doesn't like him, and they've never even met — where is the foundation of affection?" Xiao Qinlin knew enough of Kang Jinglong's good character not to refuse outright, but at the thought that her daughter felt nothing for him, she still hesitated.

"Can affection not be cultivated? Besides, this is only an engagement — if it truly proves unsuitable later, the betrothal can be broken!" Xiao Ben said. "For now it is merely under the name of a marriage alliance, each side securing a little benefit. Let the two young people meet first; who knows but that affection may follow!"

"I suppose so..." Xiao Qinlin reflected that her second brother's words were not without reason. An engagement was not a marriage, after all; let the children meet and see. If it worked out, they would stay together; if not, then the betrothal could be broken.

"That's right — the whole Kang family is waiting outside! Hurry and bring Xinyan out!" Fearing the miraculous physician Kang might grow impatient, Xiao Ben urged her on.

"Very well, then!" Xiao Qinlin went into the inner room, and after a moment pushed out a wooden-faced Wang Xinyan.

Wang Xinyan could not understand how her parents had been persuaded by her two uncles. To have her engaged to a man she had never met?

Though her father had set out any number of reasons, and spoken of how good, how very good, this Kang Jinglong was, Wang Xinyan simply did not like him. She could never possibly fall in love with a stranger!

"Dad, is your company really so important?" Wang Xinyan raised her head and looked at her father, hoping he might change his mind.

"This..." Wang Xu was somewhat embarrassed, but the company was the lifeblood of his life's work, and he did not want to see it destroyed in a single morning.

"I understand." Wang Xinyan sighed and said faintly, "I can go out with you, but I have not agreed to the engagement."

"All right, let's go out first and talk later. Don't say anything when the time comes — who knows, you might take one look at him and like him!" Xiao Ben said with delight. "Kang Jinglong is a rare young talent!"

"..." Wang Xinyan said nothing more. There was no use saying anything more. Her parents had already agreed to the matter — how was Wang Xinyan to resist? How was she to change it?

But she had no intention of marrying a stranger. It was only an engagement, after all, not a marriage; when the time came she would find a way to escape. Wang Xinyan would absolutely never accept a marriage arranged by her family!

What era was this? That such things as arranged marriages still existed?

Xiao Ben led Wang Xinyan into the great hall of the Xiao family, and Kang Jinglong was instantly captivated by her clear, lovely figure. Though he had never had a girlfriend, that was merely to put on a show before his grandfather; in truth he was quite the lecher at heart and had long been hungry for women.

Now this Wang Xinyan was to be his rightful fiancee, and Kang Jinglong no longer needed to hide anything. However he treated Wang Xinyan, his family would have nothing to say.

Wang Xinyan frowned with some disgust; Kang Jinglong's lust-filled gaze made her very uncomfortable. So this was what they called a young talent? Wang Xinyan felt a measure of contempt — if young talents were all like him, then things really were in a bad way.