Chapter 1880 — Still an Acquaintance
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
It was another familiar voice. Wei Zhao paused for a moment, turned his head—and there she was, just as he'd thought: "Wang Xinyan?"
"Wei Zhao?" Wang Xinyan's eyes went wide. It struck her that fate could be wondrously uncanny. The two of them had no business crossing paths in life, yet some inexplicable destiny kept throwing them together—on the train, on the plane, in the examination hall, each time seated side by side.
And in the commercial district of Songshan City, it had been Wei Zhao who stepped in to help her out of trouble. Never had she imagined she would see him again at the university registration.
Something stirred in Wang Xinyan's somewhat cold heart—perhaps this was what the ancients called the will of heaven? Fate preordained?
But it was only a passing thought. She shook off such fanciful notions, and thinking of her own lot, she sighed.
The pharmaceutical program had not been her choice. She had applied to East Sea Engineering University for Business Administration, but the Xiao family had pulled strings and transferred her into "Pharmaceutical Studies." Wang Xinyan knew what it meant: preparation for her future marriage into the Kang family.
Ever since the Great Clan Assembly ended, the Xiao and Kang families had stayed in close contact, and the matter of the marriage alliance had been placed on the agenda.
The Xiao family had brokered the dealings between the Kang family and the hidden You family, and so they knew every detail. Two families, each backed by a hidden clan, wishing to continue their alliance—naturally they struck a deal at once.
Though the Kang family's pharmaceutical company had taken a heavy blow this time, the Xiao brothers saw clearly enough: so long as the hidden You family behind the Kang family kept supporting them, the Kang family would not fall. The marriage alliance would benefit both houses.
Wang Xinyan, the sacrifice in all this, was utterly helpless—and utterly unable to change her fate.
"You're registering here?" Wei Zhao looked at Wang Xinyan in surprise. He found it hard to imagine a girl choosing such a dry, tedious program.
"Mm..." Wang Xinyan nodded without elaborating. She had always been a quiet, reticent girl, and only once—in her most vulnerable moment—had she opened her heart to Wei Zhao.
"So am I. These two are the brothers Bai Weikai and Bai Weituo. Bai Weikai is our senior—he calls himself Brother Xiaokai. Bai Weituo is a freshman, like us," Wei Zhao introduced them.
Bai Weikai's interest had perked up at the arrival of a beauty, but seeing that she and Wei Zhao apparently already knew each other, his enthusiasm died on the spot. A friend's wife is not to be coveted—and the wife of one's benefactor even less so, or his grandfather would flay him alive if he ever found out!
"Ah? Senior Bai, sorry to trouble you..." Wang Xinyan handed him her admission notice.
"No trouble at all." Bai Weikai briskly processed her paperwork, then said, "Xiaotuo, take over for me here. I'll take our benefactor and this... Miss Wang to handle the rest of the formalities!"
"No need—I'll go with Brother Lin!" Bai Weituo said instead. "You stay here and receive the freshmen, big brother!"
And with that, Bai Weituo strode off ahead.
Bai Weikai had no choice but to sit back down where he'd been, thoroughly disgruntled.
He'd finally met someone worth talking to—his grandfather's savior, no less—and his little brother had snatched the chance right out from under him!
"Brother Lin, Miss Wang, I know this school inside out—I grew up here. When there's time, I'll show you both around!" Bai Weituo said.
"Sure." Wei Zhao nodded, but something puzzled him. "Since you're from East Sea, how did you take the college entrance exam in Songshan City?"
"My hometown is Songshan City. My parents both work there, and my household registration is there too, so naturally I sat the exam there," Bai Weituo explained.