Chapter 480 — The Cousin Calls Again

Yet the more Wang Xinyan behaved this way, the more Kang Jinglong was drawn to her. If he were to bring home a woman who coveted nothing but money, he might not say a word against her, but he would certainly not be happy about it in his heart.

Wang Xinyan's conduct suited his taste exactly. The fleeting look in his eyes faded, and his gaze returned to its former clarity. He was a man of deep scheming; that he could endure years of grueling study was proof enough of how formidable his perseverance was.

"Hello, Wang Xinyan. My name is Kang Jinglong. I hope the two of us will get along well," Kang Jinglong said warmly, extending his hand to her with an easy confidence.

Had Kang Jinglong behaved this way from the start, Wang Xinyan would not feel the disgust she felt for him now. He was, after all, a sacrifice to his family's interests; even if she did not like him, she would not have despised him.

But the look that had flickered in his eyes revealed the impurity of his heart, and it made Wang Xinyan feel sick. Glancing at the hand he held out, she said coolly, "I'm sorry. I was locked up by my family before, and I haven't washed my hands in days."

"Ah?" Kang Jinglong was taken aback, and his face darkened—but only for an instant before he recovered his composure. Inwardly he was furious at Wang Xinyan for giving him no face, for declaring in public that she had been forced into this. How was he supposed to bear such humiliation? Yet he absolutely could not turn on her now. For one thing, she was a woman who stirred his heart, and there was no harm in pursuing such a woman. For another, for the sake of his family's interests, a junior like him could not afford to fall out with the Xiao family.

"It seems Xinyan is not exactly eager to marry into our Kang family?" Divine Doctor Kang said, somewhat angered by her words. Kang Jinglong could not speak his mind, but he certainly could.

The Kang family was not yet a great clan, but a marriage alliance benefited both sides, and the Xiao family understood this well. Old Master Xiao had already passed away, leaving only two juniors behind, so Divine Doctor Kang still felt entitled to play the elder and throw his weight around.

"This..." Xiao Ji was also rather vexed. He had not expected Wang Xinyan to be so utterly graceless on such an occasion. He was about to rebuke her when he caught Xiao Ben signaling with his eyes, and hastily swallowed his words.

In the Xiao family, Xiao Ji might be the figurehead, but Xiao Ben was the one full of strategy and cunning. Xiao Ji had come to understand this too: only with the brothers working hand in hand could they preserve the family fortune, so he had set aside the pride of leadership and deferred to Xiao Ben in everything.

"Elder Kang, she's a young girl—girls are thin-skinned. How could she agree all at once?" Xiao Ben said with a smile. "Matters of the young should of course be decided by the young themselves. We are only pulling the threads; in the end it rests with them. Let them get acquainted first—only with acquaintance can there be any next step."

Xiao Ben's words were smooth and diplomatic. Though they diverged from the original intent, Divine Doctor Kang could still accept them. It was plain that Wang Xinyan felt a strong resistance; the Xiao family had surely done a great deal of work already, and if he insisted on anything now, it would only make matters worse—which was the last thing he wanted to see. So the only thing to do was what Xiao Ben proposed: let the two young people get to know each other first.

"Since the two children have been introduced, it's all the better for them to have more contact in the future! I hear Xinyan studies in Songshan City? Then let Zhaolong go and see Xinyan on weekends when he has nothing to do," Divine Doctor Kang said with a nod.

"Xinyan, when I come to see you, you mustn't refuse me!" Kang Jinglong said to her with a smile.

"I'm in my third year of high school. I'm very busy—I may not have the time..." Wang Xinyan said indifferently.

Though her words carried a hint of refusal, her excuse was precisely the kind no one could find fault with. Unhappy as he was, Kang Jinglong could only say, "There's always time for a meal, surely? Just letting me treat you to a meal—to build up some rapport!"

"Well... we'll see how the time goes," Wang Xinyan said with a frown. But with Kang Jinglong having put it that way, she had no way out. Seeing the eager look in her father's eyes, she felt profoundly depressed.

In any case, she would put him off for now. She was still young; if she stalled, perhaps something would change. At this thought, Wang Xinyan felt a little more at ease.

Seeing that Wang Xinyan no longer opposed so fiercely, Divine Doctor Kang's expression softened somewhat. "Guifeng has reserved a table at the hotel. Let us all go over together!"

Tang Zhi did not know how she had gotten through the day. She stumbled home that evening and found her mother, all smiles, discussing the purchase of a shopfront with her father.

"Yun'er is back?" Mother Tang looked at Tang Zhi delightedly, not noticing that her daughter's mood was off. "Your father and I are looking at a bigger shopfront—one with an upper and lower floor would be best. Our house is big enough for the mortgage; we won't need to put down much. Five hundred thousand will certainly do it!"

"Oh..." Tang Zhi answered faintly. The words at the tip of her tongue would not come out. She had meant to ask her mother for the five hundred thousand back, but in these circumstances, how could she? Dejected, Tang Zhi went to her room, shut the door behind her, threw herself onto the bed, and wept in grievance.

She cried and cried until she fell asleep...

Tang Zhi went to her room to study every day after school, so Mother Tang found nothing at all strange about it.

Who knew how long had passed when Tang Zhi was woken by a clamor of voices. Dazed, she climbed out of bed, intending to wash her face and then return to her books. But when she pushed open the door, she saw her younger brother Wang Luwei and his girlfriend Xiaodan sitting on the sofa at home, their faces full of hesitation.

"Yun'er, you're awake? I saw you sleeping just now and didn't dare call you!" Mother Tang brightened at the sight of Tang Zhi getting up. "You wear yourself out with school every day, so I didn't want to disturb you. Good thing you're up — we need your help with Little Wei's business!"

Tang Zhi was taken aback. "What's happened to Little Wei now?"

"Sis... you have to help me!" Little Wei looked at Tang Zhi with a face full of dejection, pleading, "You have to save Little Dan!"

"What is it this time? What trouble have you gotten into now?" Tang Zhi was already in a foul mood, and hearing that Little Wei had landed himself in trouble again hardly improved it.

Little Wei could tell she was displeased, and dared speak even less.

If Little Wei could see it, so could Mother Tang. She shot Tang Zhi a glare. "What, now that you've made something of yourself, you won't look after your brother?"

"Made something of myself? What are you talking about!" Tang Zhi frowned. "I never said I wouldn't look after him!"