Chapter 861 — The Ever-Present Wei Zhao

"Hey, little brother, why so distant with your own cousin? Calling me 'Kang Jingming' like that—you ought to be calling me Second Cousin!" Kang Jingming said, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Huh?" Kang Xiaofeng was struck dumb by Kang Jingming's words. What was the man playing at? Had a donkey kicked him in the head, leaving him addled?

"Little brother, what are you standing there frozen for? Get in the car! It's been ages since the two of us met, hasn't it?" Kang Jingming waved Kang Xiaofeng over. He had deliberately had Zhu Xiaozhang drive, with Wang Shubin in the passenger seat, and had left the back row of seats free for Kang Xiaofeng.

"Kang Jingming, what exactly are you after?" Kang Xiaofeng frowned. Ages since they met? Hadn't he seen the man just days ago, slipping money to Xiaofen?

"Xiaobo, you're still so wary of your cousin! Heh heh, I've come this time first of all to apologize to you. I was young back then, foolish, and I did a few things that made gods and men alike burn with fury—I hope you can forgive me!" Kang Jingming naturally said whatever sounded sweetest; his only aim was to draw Kang Xiaofeng over to his side.

Just then, Wei Zhao and Tang Zhi came out of the school gate hand in hand. Seeing Kang Xiaofeng speaking with Kang Jingming, his face full of vigilance, they found it rather odd, and Tang Zhi asked, "Xiaobo, what are you doing?"

"Boss!" Kang Xiaofeng was overjoyed at the sight of Wei Zhao. He had been at a loss, unable to guess what trick Kang Jingming was playing, and in his heart he wanted no part of the man's nonsense. For one thing, on the score of family—how had Kang Jingming treated him from childhood on? How could Kang Xiaofeng not hate him? For another, on the score of feeling—the man had once toyed with his girlfriend Xiaofen, doing her enormous harm. That Kang Xiaofeng had not cursed him aloud was already giving him considerable face.

Kang Jingming naturally had no idea that Wei Zhao was the man in charge of Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals. To this day the Kang family still believed Guan Xuewen was the driving force behind the company, and that Wei Zhao was nothing but a hanger-on.

As for Kang Xiaofeng's getting into Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals, Kang Jingming did not credit Wei Zhao either. In his view, Kang Xiaofeng must have presented Guan Xuewen with the formula for the Golden Wound Medicine in exchange for that vice-president's post.

In truth, this was the impression Wei Zhao always left on his enemies: harmless to man and beast, seemingly everywhere at once, yet known to no one. So Kang Jingming paid him no mind and did not mean to be tactful around him in word or deed. Still somewhat impatient, he pressed on: "Xiaobo, hurry up and get in! You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's find a place and grab a bite?"

"Boss, this..." Kang Xiaofeng was a man who obeyed Wei Zhao in all things and had always taken his lead from him. Had Wei Zhao not come, he certainly would not have gone on talking with Kang Jingming here—he would have turned and walked away. But now that Wei Zhao had arrived, he wanted the boss to make the call.

"Heh, since Kang Jingming is treating, there's no harm in going. Let's tag along and see what he's up to." Wei Zhao shrugged. He too was curious to see what devilish scheme this Kang Jingming had dreamed up now.

"Boss, then will you come with me?" Kang Xiaofeng hesitated a moment, then asked.

"Ask your cousin whether he agrees," Wei Zhao said with a smile.

Kang Xiaofeng had made no particular effort to keep his words from Kang Jingming, so the man heard every syllable. Eager to get Kang Xiaofeng alone and extract the formula, and seeing how readily Kang Xiaofeng obeyed Wei Zhao, he decided to invite Wei Zhao along as well.

The last time Xiaofen had taken his money, Wei Zhao had been present too, so Kang Jingming reckoned Wei Zhao was no man of iron integrity—at the very least he was greedy for wealth. There was no need, then, to be discreet around him; so long as there was profit in it, Wei Zhao would surely let Kang Xiaofeng take it.

So, before Kang Xiaofeng could ask, Kang Jingming spoke first: "Wei Zhao, isn't it? We're friends of a sort by now—we've met several times. Shall the lot of us have a meal together?"

Kang Jingming no longer pursued Guan Xin, so his hatred for Wei Zhao had faded a good deal—especially since the night before, at Guan Xiaopeng's, he had quietly stabbed Wei Zhao in the back once more, which had vented some of his spite. Now that there was no conflict of interest between the two, Kang Jingming did not mind having one more Wei Zhao along.

"You all go on, I'll stay behind..." Tang Zhi knew Wei Zhao had business to attend to, so she let go of his hand and said to him.

"It's no trouble, come along." Wei Zhao glanced at Kang Jingming and said to him, "Have one of the people in your car get out and follow in a taxi behind us. There are three of us here—your car won't fit us all!"

Kang Jingming was so furious his teeth itched. Was this not plain bullying? I invite you to dinner, and you make my own people get out of the car? But he was set on currying favor with Kang Xiaofeng to wring the formula and the supply channels for raw materials out of him, and so he could not afford to offend Wei Zhao.

So Kang Jingming's expression shifted several times before he said to Wang Shubin, thoroughly displeased: "Shubin, help me into the passenger seat, then you take a taxi and follow along behind us!"

Kang Jingming settled into the passenger seat, while Wei Zhao, Tang Zhi, and Kang Xiaofeng sat in the back of the Porsche Cayenne. Kang Jingming instructed Zhu Xiaozhang to find a rather upscale hotel, and they all went into a private room together.

With Wei Zhao beside him, Kang Xiaofeng's heart was set at ease. He had no fear of Kang Jingming now, and resolving to make the best of things, he gouged Kang Jingming soundly when it came time to order. But Kang Jingming had come this time to curry favor with Kang Xiaofeng, so he did not mind in the least.

"Xiaobo, I hear you're a vice-president at Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals now?" After Kang Xiaofeng finished ordering, Kang Jingming casually added a few dishes of his own, then dismissed the waiter and asked, as though offhandedly.

"Yes," said Kang Xiaofeng, who had no idea what Kang Jingming was driving at, and so answered with a most sparing use of words.

Wei Zhao and Tang Zhi, meanwhile, stood off to one side as though none of this had anything to do with them. Wei Zhao snatched up the teapot Kang Jingming had been about to reach for, poured Tang Zhi a cup of water, and asked, "Would you like a little water?"

Tang Zhi had been a touch nervous. She disliked Kang Jingming intensely; the very sight of him brought back the memory of poor Xiaofen's wretched fate. But now that Wei Zhao was at her side, she felt considerably more at ease.

"Mm..." Tang Zhi cupped the glass in both hands and sipped the tea in small mouthfuls, when she suddenly realized that Wei Zhao was staring at her, unblinking, from beside her. A flush of red at once flew to her cheeks...

Wei Zhao watched Tang Zhi drinking, and from the side she had rather the look of a romance-novel cover — so youthful, so playful, her whole being brimming with a sunny brightness. Seeing her, Wei Zhao felt that his own life was a marvelous thing. RO