Chapter 522 — Upgrading to a Great House
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
The words he had spoken, those seemingly "heart-to-heart" confessions, were in truth a deliberate performance. If the Kang family truly rose to the rank of a great house, Kang Jingming would inevitably start scheming to wrest the future family headship from him. So Kang Jinglong had moved first today, declaring his stance to Divine Doctor Kang — letting the old man know his position, letting him know that as family head he would never shortchange Zhaoming, and reminding him as well that Zhaoming was not entirely useless. With all that in place, Divine Doctor Kang would have no choice but to pass the seat of family head to Kang Jinglong!
For Kang Jingming had already been written off by the family — labeled, and slated to be groomed as a dissolute young master. Once that was done, he would forfeit all right to compete for the family headship. How could a spendthrift playboy ever head a household?
The instant Kang Jinglong turned and walked out of Divine Doctor Kang's room, he let out a cold laugh, then set off toward his own.
A great house was no longer Kang Jinglong's ultimate goal. What he wanted was a martial arts great house — only then could they keep their footing for good and never be cast aside.
Wu Chengtian received Kang Jinglong's call early that morning. He had assumed Kang Jinglong was phoning to ask him for money, and jumped half out of his skin. Staring at the number on his screen, he hesitated over whether to answer or let it ring.
His grandfather had only just come round in the middle of the night. Wu Gonggao was a martial artist, and had waved it off as "nothing serious — I merely fainted from anger," yet even so Wu Chengtian dared not raise the subject of money now, for fear his grandfather might pass out all over again. This business would simply have to wait; for the time being, it could be set aside.
And so, watching Kang Jinglong's call flash on the screen, Wu Chengtian found he could neither answer nor refuse. He was a man who cared about his face — and this was a splendid chance to show off. How could he back down now?
Yet in all honesty he did not quite dare to answer. What if Kang Jinglong really was after money? If he had to admit he couldn't repay it yet, wouldn't that be a devastating loss of face? Forget showing off — people would laugh their heads off.
Still, this was fifteen million! Such a sum would make anyone's heart ache — and Kang Jinglong had lent him so much in private that once he got home, he was bound to catch an earful from Divine Doctor Kang.
Gritting his teeth, Wu Chengtian answered the call after all. He was a man who valued loyalty; he could not let anyone look down on him. Even if it meant slapping his own face swollen, he would still play the fat man.
"Hello? Little brother Zhaolong? I was just sitting here thinking of calling you!" — for fear that Kang Jinglong would bring up the matter of repayment, Wu Chengtian decided to strike first: "Let me tell you, about yesterday's dinner bill — I'll settle it with you the moment I get home. I didn't bring my bank card with me here!"
"Oh, that money — no rush." Kang Jinglong blinked, and guessed at once what was on Wu Chengtian's mind. He was a man skilled at observing and reading others, though on the surface he always played the docile one, so harmless-seeming: "Between us brothers, you're not going to welch on me, are you? It never even crossed my mind. We'll talk when I'm back!"
One had to admit, Kang Jinglong had a way with words. Speaking so not only bought him credit with Wu Chengtian and won the man's gratitude, it never once suggested he didn't want the money. On the contrary, it pointedly implied — you must pay me back; you are the leader, the capable one, and a man like you would never shortchange a little brother over a trifling sum! And yet it gave Wu Chengtian all the face he could want.