Chapter 857 — Guan Xin Has a Marriage Engagement?!
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Once they were inside the study, Guan Xiaopeng took a seat on the sofa. Kang Jingming was already sitting in his wheelchair, so Guan Xiaopeng saw no reason for further formalities and turned to Wang Shubin. "And who is this?"
"Uncle Guan, don't mind him. He's a friend of mine. Just let him stand there," Kang Jingming said with a dismissive wave.
"All right. So, what brings you here?" Guan Xiaopeng genuinely could not understand why Kang Jingming had come to see him. How had he known that Guan Xiaopeng would be visiting his father that evening? Though puzzled, Guan Xiaopeng showed none of it on his face. Instead, he waited to hear what Kang Jingming had to say.
"Uncle Guan, the truth is, I came to pay you a visit because... well, it's rather embarrassing to say..." Kang Jingming scratched his scalp with a deliberately guileless air. "I didn't come here on behalf of my grandfather, nor on behalf of Divine Physician Kang Pharmaceutical Company. I came here for my own sake..."
"Oh?" Guan Xiaopeng furrowed his brow slightly, but merely voiced his confusion and did not press him further.
"Heh heh... Uncle Guan, I'm terribly sorry to intrude, but I really had no choice!" Kang Jingming said, looking somewhat embarrassed. "You see, my leg was injured a while back, and while I was in the hospital, Miss Guan Xin took such meticulous care of me that I was able to recover and leave so soon! Her gentleness, beauty, and gracious manner moved me deeply. As the saying goes, a fine woman is the proper object of a gentleman's desire. I truly admire Miss Guan Xin, and I would like the chance to become friends with her. I hope you won't object, Uncle Guan..."
"A fine woman is the proper object of a gentleman's desire? You mean you want to date Guan Xin?" Guan Xiaopeng's brows drew together even more tightly.
"Heh heh, that's more or less what I mean, Uncle Guan. But I'm not saying Guan Xin and I should start dating right away. I'm only hoping you'll give me a chance. If we turn out to be unsuitable, I'll quietly walk away!" Kang Jingming did his best to make himself sound pitiful, as though all he wanted was a single opportunity. With the business ties between their two families as well, he had assumed Guan Xiaopeng would not refuse him this small favor. After he finished speaking, he waited for Guan Xiaopeng to agree. Instead, the answer he received was an outright refusal!
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that." After hearing him out, Guan Xiaopeng rejected the proposal without hesitation, showing him not the slightest consideration.
Kang Jingming's words had been direct, yet neither rude nor lacking in an air of honest simplicity. He had made himself seem like a man without a malicious bone in his body. That was precisely what he and Wang Shubin had discussed beforehand. With a man like Guan Xiaopeng, the more slippery and calculating one appeared, the less likely he was to win his favor. So Kang Jingming had deliberately put on a guileless act. He had never expected Guan Xiaopeng to turn him down so directly, and the response left him completely dumbfounded.
"Ah... this..." Kang Jingming was suddenly unable to accept it. Why? Hadn't he put it well? He was only asking for a chance. He had not even said he wanted to be with Guan Xin. And that was still unacceptable? The thought irritated him, but unwilling to anger Guan Xiaopeng, he could only suppress his temper and ask, "Why is that, Uncle Guan? Guan Xin isn't young anymore, is she? She's reached the age when people begin discussing marriage. Is there something about me you dislike? Please, tell me what it is. If it's something I can change, I'll change it."