Chapter 3193 — Xiao Taohong Reveals Her Identity

Kang Jingming hung up, well satisfied, and on Xiao Taohong's side, she too let out a breath of relief. She put her phone away and was just about to turn and leave the secretary's office when she looked back—and there stood Kang Xiaofeng in the doorway, his face dark as a storm cloud.

"Ms. Kang… Director Kang…" Xiao Taohong jumped in fright, rooted to the spot like a wooden statue. What she had never expected was that Kang Xiaofeng had actually caught her making that call.

"Tao Xiaohong, don't you think you owe me an explanation for this?" Kang Xiaofeng's expression was very ugly indeed. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that his own secretary would turn out to be a spy. "And who might this 'Brother Kang' on the other end of your phone be?"

"Director Kang… I was wrong… I shouldn't have kept it from you… But I truly bear you—and this company—no ill will, not the slightest bit, not one iota…" Xiao Taohong burst into tears, at a loss for what to do.

Kang Jingming could not help but frown; he had not expected Xiao Taohong to start crying before anyone else! And Kang Xiaofeng was a soft-hearted man—like leader, like follower—he too could not bear to see a woman weep. Though anger burned in his chest, he still comforted her: "Xiaohong, don't cry just yet. If something's happened, say what it is. Crying won't solve anything, will it?"

"Director Kang… then… do you believe me?" Xiao Taohong wiped away her tears and asked in a small, timid voice.

"I…" Kang Xiaofeng was caught between laughter and tears. She hadn't said a single word of explanation yet, and already she was asking whether he believed her—he truly had no way to answer such a question. "Xiaohong, tell me the whole story, the whys and wherefores, from beginning to end. If you've truly done nothing wrong, then of course I won't blame you. But if you've really sold out the company's interests, then even though I value you greatly, I cannot keep you!"

"Yes, yes, Director Kang, I'll tell you right now…" Xiao Taohong held nothing back. She told Kang Xiaofeng plainly of her identity, of her past relationship with Kang Jingming, of how Kang Jingming had sent her here to ferret out secrets, and of how he had toyed with her!

When Kang Xiaofeng heard the name of his cousin Kang Jingming, he was first astonished, but what followed was mostly fury! This cousin of his was still working against him, still working against the leader—the man was truly beyond saving! If there was anyone Kang Xiaofeng hated most in this life, it was Kang Jingming—the man had not only ruined Xiaofen, but had also sent people to oppose him and Wei Zhao!

Kang Xiaofeng was no longer the hot-headed, impulsive youth who had once charged up to the rooftop with Wei Zhao without a thought in his head. After so long battling his way through the business world, he had naturally acquired the knack of reading people. Whether Xiao Taohong was lying or speaking the truth, Kang Xiaofeng could tell at a glance.

From Xiao Taohong's words and tone, Kang Xiaofeng could basically judge that she was not lying; moreover, the Kang Jingming she described fitted his character perfectly—a sycophant who fawned on the powerful and was consumed by greed, a man for whom profit was the only god.

At the same time, Kang Xiaofeng also began to feel sympathy for Xiao Taohong. This woman was nothing but a sacrifice Kang Jingming had used to climb the ladder; one could say Kang Jingming felt no affection for her whatsoever—it was all exploitation, and once she had served her purpose, she was kicked aside…

"How am I supposed to believe you?" Though Kang Xiaofeng had already reached his judgment in his heart, he was not the sort to act on emotion alone. Everything required evidence. He looked at Xiao Taohong and asked.

"I… I have a recording of my call with Kang Jingming. Since it was meant to be played for the Young Sect Master, I recorded it. Director Kang, I can play it for you—once you hear it, you'll know what Kang Jingming is really thinking. My task here could be considered finished; I ought to have gone back, but he told me to stay here three to five years. Is that the sort of thing a man who likes you would say? Three to five years—how long is that? Would he leave me here all alone?" Xiao Taohong shook her head with a bitter smile. "Director Kang, I won't deceive you. The truth is, I came here to get away from Kang Jingming, to start a new life. Our Young Sect Master is a good man—he gave me this chance, and he told me that I only needed to play along with Kang Jingming on the surface."

"All right, let me hear it." Kang Xiaofeng nodded, signaling that Xiao Taohong could play the recording.

Xiao Taohong said nothing more; she simply played the recording of her earlier call with Kang Jingming for Kang Xiaofeng to hear. After listening to it, Kang Xiaofeng was basically convinced of Xiao Taohong's words, and could not help but give a faint sigh.

He felt that Xiao Taohong was truly pitiful, and in that moment his sympathy for her grew even deeper. Perhaps it was because he saw in her a kindred spirit to Lan Zhi—these two were both poor souls cast aside by Kang Jingming!

"Xiaohong, I believe you! So then, your real name isn't Tao Xiaohong—it's Xiao Taohong?" Kang Xiaofeng asked.

"Thank you for your trust, Director Kang!" Xiao Taohong was both startled and delighted. "Yes, I'm called Xiao Taohong. Tao Xiaohong was the name the Young Sect Master gave me! I've been a maidservant since I was small, and never had a name of my own."

"The Young Sect Master of your Xuandan Sect is an upright man." Kang Xiaofeng's trust was, in truth, rooted in his faith in Tian Canbian. He had heard long ago of how Tian Canbian had once helped Wei Zhao, and so his impression of the man was quite good. "If you can get him to give me a call and explain this matter, then we'll let it drop. You'll remain my secretary, and I won't pursue it any further."

"I… I'll try…" Xiao Taohong could not guarantee that Tian Canbian would be willing to speak with Kang Xiaofeng on her behalf! With that, she dialed Tian Chan's number.

"Xiao Taohong, what is it?" Tian Chan still held great affection for Xiao Taohong—after all, the girl had followed her for so long, and now that she had left her side, Tian Chan often thought of her.

"Young Sect Master, it's like this… When I was on the phone with Kang Jingming, Director Kang caught me…" Xiao Taohong said in a small, halting voice.

"Xiao Taohong, how could you be so careless? And now—what does Kang Xiaofeng have to say?" Tian Chan was caught between laughter and tears. She had not expected Xiao Taohong to have so little vigilance—when making a phone call, did she not know to be discreet?

"He said… he wants you to explain it to him…" As she spoke, Xiao Taohong recounted to Tian Chan everything she had already confessed.

"All right, I'll speak with him." Tian Chan agreed readily.

This both startled and delighted Xiao Taohong. She hurriedly handed the phone to Kang Jingming—no, to Kang Xiaofeng—and said, "Director Kang, the Young Sect Master wishes to speak with you."

"Hello, Young Sect Master Tian." Kang Xiaofeng took the phone with some trepidation. After all, the person on the other end was the young heir of a top-tier ancient sect—when had Kang Xiaofeng ever spoken with such a personage?

"Hello, Director Kang." Tian Chan was very courteous; in her eyes, Kang Xiaofeng was one of Wei Zhao's men!