"Hey, little brother, why so distant with your own cousin? Still calling me Kang Zhaoming — you ought to be calling me Second Cousin!" Kang Zhaoming said, all smiles.

"Huh?" Kang Xiaobo was struck dumb by these words. What did Kang Zhaoming mean by that? Had he been kicked in the head by a donkey and gone simple?

"Little brother, what are you standing there for? Get in the car! It's been ages since we two brothers last met, hasn't it?" Kang Zhaoming waved Kang Xiaobo over. He had deliberately put Zhu Xiaozhang at the wheel, with Wang Shubin in the passenger seat, and left the back row of the car open for Kang Xiaobo.

"Kang Zhaoming, what exactly are you playing at?" Kang Xiaobo frowned. Ages since they last met? Hadn't he just seen him a few days ago, handing money to Xiaofen?

"Xiaobo, you're still so wary of your cousin! Heh, I've come this time first of all to apologize. I was young and foolish before, and I did some things that made gods and men alike furious. I hope you can forgive me!" Kang Zhaoming naturally said whatever sounded best, his sole aim being to draw Kang Xiaobo over to his side.

Just then, Wei Zhao and Tang Yun came out of the school gate hand in hand. Seeing Kang Xiaobo talking to Kang Zhaoming with a face full of vigilance, they found it rather strange, and Tang Yun asked, "Xiaobo, what are you doing?"

"Boss!" Kang Xiaobo was overjoyed at the sight of Wei Zhao. He had been at a loss, unable to guess what trick Kang Zhaoming was playing, and in his heart he had no wish to waste words on the man. For one thing, family ties — how had Kang Zhaoming treated him from childhood on? How could Kang Xiaobo not hate him? For another, matters of the heart — Kang Zhaoming had once toyed with his girlfriend Xiaofen, causing her immense hurt. That Kang Xiaobo had not cursed him aloud was already a great face granted to him.

Kang Zhaoming naturally had no idea that Wei Zhao was the man in charge of Divine Physician Kang Pharmaceuticals. To this day, the Kang family still believed Guan Xuemin was the true head of the company, and as for Wei Zhao, he was nothing but a bystander.

As for Kang Xiaobo getting into Divine Physician Kang Pharmaceuticals, Kang Zhaoming did not credit Wei Zhao either. In his view, Kang Xiaobo must have presented Guan Xuemin 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, yet known to no one. So Kang Zhaoming paid him no mind, and had no intention of watching his words or deeds on his account. Still somewhat impatient, he urged, "Xiaobo, hurry and get in! You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's find a place and grab a bite?"

"Boss, this is..." Kang Xiaobo was a man who obeyed Wei Zhao in all things, taking his lead from him always. Had Wei Zhao not come, he would certainly not have kept standing here talking to Kang Zhaoming — he would already have turned and walked away. But now that Wei Zhao was here, he would let Wei Zhao make the call.

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

"Boss, will you come with me, then?" Kang Xiaobo hesitated a moment before asking.

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

Kang Xiaobo had made no particular effort to keep his words from Kang Zhaoming, so the man heard every syllable. Eager to pump Kang Xiaobo for the formula, and seeing how obedient Kang Xiaobo was to Wei Zhao, Kang Zhaoming decided to invite Wei Zhao along as well.

The last time Xiaofen took his money, Wei Zhao had been present too, so Kang Zhaoming had concluded that Wei Zhao was no paragon of integrity — at the very least, he was greedy for wealth. There was no need to hide anything from such a man; so long as there was profit in it, Wei Zhao would surely let Kang Xiaobo take it.

So, before Kang Xiaobo could even ask, Kang Zhaoming spoke first: "Wei Zhao, isn't it? We're friends by now, we've met a few times. Shall we eat together?"

Kang Zhaoming no longer pursued Guan Xin, so his hatred for Wei Zhao had faded considerably. Especially since the night before, he had quietly stabbed Wei Zhao in the back over at Guan Xiaoxiang's place, which had vented some of his spleen. Now that there was no conflict of interest between the two, Kang Zhaoming did not mind having Wei Zhao along.

"You two go on, I won't come..." Tang Yun knew Wei Zhao had business to attend to, so she let go of his hand and said to him.

"It's fine, come along." Wei Zhao glanced at Kang Zhaoming and said to him, "Have one of the people in your car get out and follow behind in a taxi. There are three of us here — your car won't fit us all!"

Kang Zhaoming was so furious his teeth itched. Was this not plain bullying? He was treating them to a meal, and they wanted his own man out of the car? Yet he was set on currying favor with Kang Xiaobo to extract the formula and the supply channels for raw materials, so he could not afford to offend Wei Zhao.

And so, his expression shifting again and again, Kang Zhaoming finally said to Wang Shubin with great displeasure, "Shubin, help me into the passenger seat, then you take a taxi and follow behind us!"

Kang Zhaoming sat in the passenger seat, while Wei Zhao, Tang Yun, and Kang Xiaobo sat in the back of the Porsche Cayenne. Kang Zhaoming instructed Zhu Xiaozhang to find a rather upscale hotel, and the group entered a private room together.

With Wei Zhao beside him, Kang Xiaobo's heart settled greatly. He feared nothing from Kang Zhaoming now. In the spirit of taking things as they came, he fleeced Kang Zhaoming hard when ordering. But Kang Zhaoming had come to flatter him, so he did not mind in the least.

"Xiaobo, I hear you're now vice-president of Divine Physician Kang Pharmaceuticals?" Kang Zhaoming asked casually after Kang Xiaobo finished ordering, adding a few dishes of his own, then sending the waiter away.

"Yes." Kang Xiaobo had no idea what Kang Zhaoming was driving at, so he answered with the utmost economy of words.

Wei Zhao and Tang Yun sat off to the side as though none of this concerned them at all. Wei Zhao snatched up the teapot Kang Zhaoming had been about to reach for, poured Tang Yun a cup of water, and said, "Have some water?"

Tang Yun had been a little nervous at first. She disliked Kang Zhaoming intensely — one look at him and she thought of poor Xiaofen in her misery. But with Wei Zhao beside her now, she felt much more at ease.

"Mm..." Tang Yun cradled the cup and sipped the tea in small mouthfuls. Suddenly she noticed Wei Zhao staring at her fixedly from the side, and a flush of red flew up her cheeks...

Wei Zhao watched Tang Yun drink her water. From the side, she had something of the look of a romance novel cover — so youthful, so playful, her whole being brimming with a bright, sunny air. Seeing her, Wei Zhao felt that life was truly wonderful.

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