Chapter 928 — Guan Xuewen's Proposal

Calm and resolute as he appeared at this moment, deep down he was overcome with sorrow. He and Wei Zhao had not known each other long, yet Wei Zhao had truly treated him as a brother and a friend, and Kang Xiaofeng had in turn come to regard Wei Zhao as his leader.

The change Wei Zhao had brought into his life was nothing short of immense. In barely more than a month, he had not only gained self-confidence but built a career of his own. In the past, that would have been unimaginable. Yet no matter how unwilling he was to let Wei Zhao go, he could not bring himself to ask him to stay.

Tang Zhi had already tried to hold him back, and in the end she too was leaving with Wei Zhao. Kang Xiaofeng had even felt the urge to take Xiaofen and follow him, but he had sensibly restrained the notion. That would not be loyalty; it would be sheer folly.

Wei Zhao was going back to lie low and recover his strength. What would be the point of his going along? Far better to stay here and do his utmost to run the company for Wei Zhao. That was what he ought to do, and what Wei Zhao would be glad to see.

"All right, stop crying!" Wei Zhao knew that Fatty Lai had the soul of a crybaby, forever dabbing at his tears, so it was hardly surprising.

Guan Xuewen, who had said nothing up to now, suddenly spoke: "Xiao Yi, actually, if you don't want to leave, I do have an idea!"

"Don't want to leave? What idea?" Wei Zhao blinked and turned to look at Guan Xuewen.

"Xiao Yi, what do you think of Xinxin?" Guan Xuewen paused, then asked out of the blue.

"Huh?" Wei Zhao's eyes went wide at his words. When Gu Pengzhan had raised the same subject with him earlier, Wei Zhao had still been somewhat hesitant, but now that Guan Xuewen had brought up the very same thing, how could Wei Zhao fail to guess his meaning?

Could it be that Guan Xuewen wanted to recruit a grandson-in-law too? Amazing—it seemed he was quite the sought-after commodity.

"Grandpa Guan, why do you ask that all of a sudden?" Still, Wei Zhao could only pretend not to understand. "Guan Xin's great—she's beautiful, and a wonderful cook..."

Guan Xin was nearby applying medicine to herself. Hearing her grandfather's words, she tensed at once. How could she not guess what he had in mind? She knew perfectly well that her grandfather wanted to marry her off to Wei Zhao; it was only that Wei Zhao already had a girlfriend, and her own feelings had remained somewhat unclear.

Today, hearing her grandfather raise the matter to Wei Zhao so seriously, her heart leapt into her throat. Though Guan Xin had never held out much hope—to quietly like someone, she felt, was a happiness in itself. There was no need to possess him; it was enough just to be at his side, watching over him...

Even so, Guan Xin was desperate to know what Wei Zhao really thought of her.

So she pretended to go on applying her medicine, but her ears pricked up, listening for Wei Zhao's answer. When she heard his assessment of her, her heart turned as sweet as if she had eaten honey. Was what Wei Zhao described not the very model of a good wife and loving mother?

Guan Xin's breathing quickened and her cheeks flushed. Did he... like her?

"Ha ha, in that case, how about I betroth her to you?" Guan Xuewen laughed heartily. "If you become my grandson-in-law, you'll be the heir to Guan Xuewen's medical skill. Not that you need me to teach you medicine, but with my name standing behind you, those enemies of yours will think twice about causing you trouble. I may be nothing but a scholar, but the great families and the powerful men of Yanjing still show me a certain deference. With me at your back, no one will dare touch you!"

Guan Xuewen was not boasting. Wei Zhao knew very well that if he agreed, then Zhao Qibing, furious though he might be, would not dare openly make an enemy of Guan Xuewen. After all, behind Guan Xuewen stood a host of great families and powerful men.

Guan Xuewen was a nationally renowned medical expert, and countless people had received treatment from him. It was fair to say his connections were extraordinarily wide.

"This..." For a moment Wei Zhao found it hard to answer. Guan Xin was sitting right there, after all; if he refused outright, it would certainly wound her, and that was the last thing he wanted.

Yet fond as he was of Guan Xin, he was not so fond as to seek shelter under the Guan family's wing on that account.

"I... I'll go make more tea. You two talk..." Guan Xin had not expected her grandfather to come right out with it, and in front of her no less. How was she supposed to face this? Instinctively she wanted to hide, so she seized on an excuse, rose to her feet, and stumbled off toward the kitchen...

Wei Zhao was just about to give Guan Xuewen a tactful answer when the villa's door swung open. Guan Xiaopeng strode in, his face dark with displeasure. "Dad, what on earth are you thinking? How can you casually betroth Xinxin to someone, and a dangerous man at that? Besides, Xinxin is already promised to another family. Even if the engagement is to be broken, it has to be settled with them first. How can you make the decision on your own like this?"

Guan Xiaopeng had been hiding outside the villa's door, listening for quite some time. When he heard his father come right out and offer his daughter to this young man named Wei Zhao, he could contain himself no longer and burst through the door!

To begin with, Guan Xiaopeng's impression of Wei Zhao had never been good, and now Wei Zhao had stirred up trouble out in the world and meant to take refuge through such a scheme—how could he possibly agree? What if the danger spilled over onto Guan Xin?

"Guan Xiaopeng, have you no manners at all? Can't you see I'm in the middle of a discussion? Get out—get out of here!" Guan Xuewen had not expected his son to burst in at such a moment, still less to say things that left him with no way to save face. In an instant his stubborn streak flared; a man who seldom lost his temper, he was furious now, and he pointed at Guan Xiaopeng and ordered him out.

"Fine, I'll go! But I'm only afraid you've been fooled by someone. If it were just your reputation at stake, so be it—but I won't have my daughter dragged into it too!" Guan Xiaopeng gave a cold snort and pulled Guan Xin toward the door.

Guan Xin stood there at a loss, never having imagined that her father and grandfather would clash so violently. For a moment she had no idea what to say.

"Grandpa Guan, I'll take my leave first. In any case, I'll trouble you to look after the medicine company's affairs from here on—work it out together with Fatso Lai." Wei Zhao shrugged with a self-mocking air and rose to his feet. In a situation like this there was no more to be said; faced with a family quarrel among the Guans, he had no way to take part, so he might as well go on ahead.

"All right, then—give me a call before you leave, and I'll see you off!" Guan Xuewen sighed, knowing his proposal could no longer be realized, and nodded to Wei Zhao with a look of apology. RO