Chapter 2735 — Xiao Qinlin's Phone Call

"Xinran... I don't think she would." Xiao Qinlin knew, of course, that Wang Xinyan was fond of Wei Zhao, but mother and daughter had talked it over. Wang Xinyan had said she and Wei Zhao would only ever remain friends, that she would never cross the line, and that after graduation she would still marry Kang Zhaolong. So she was a little disbelieving. "There must be some misunderstanding here, surely? Xinran isn't that kind of girl..."

"Ah, I hope it's a misunderstanding too. That's why you need to ask her straightaway what's going on, then bring her over here to explain herself and calm Kang Zhaolong's fury!" Xiao Ben said. "Kang Zhaolong caught it all on video with his phone. Wang Xinyan really did walk into Wei Zhao's villa!"

In truth, Kang Zhaolong had never said anything about wiping out the Xiao family. It was only that Xiao Ben did not want to lose so powerful a patron as the Kang family, and so he had made that up to frighten Xiao Qinlin. Kang Zhaolong had merely spoken of breaking off the engagement—but if the engagement were broken, the Xiao family's losses would be enormous. How could Xiao Ben possibly agree to that?

"That... all right, I'll ask Xinran this instant what's going on!" Xiao Qinlin answered hurriedly.

Xiao Qinlin was taken in completely. She hung up on Xiao Ben and immediately dialed Wang Xinyan's number.

Wang Xinyan had returned to the villa. She had just finished dinner and was about to drink the Chinese herbal medicine Wei Zhao had brewed for her when she saw her mother's call come in. She was a little puzzled, but she stood up all the same and said to Wei Zhao, Gu Mengyao, and Shen Yushu, "My mom's calling. I'll take it in the bedroom."

"All right, but don't be too long. The medicine will go cold." Wei Zhao nodded, thinking nothing of it.

Wang Xinyan murmured her assent, walked into the bedroom, and picked up the call. "Mom."

"Xinran, where are you right now?" Xiao Qinlin asked urgently.

"Ah? I... I'm at..." Wang Xinyan wanted to say she was at Wei Zhao's house, but she was too embarrassed, so she could only stammer, "I'm at a classmate's place..."

"A classmate? Wei Zhao's, isn't it?" Xiao Qinlin's heart lurched.

"Yes... Is something the matter?" Wang Xinyan could hear that something was off in her mother's tone.

"Xinran, you really... What did you promise me back then? Didn't you say you would marry Kang Zhaolong after graduation? So why did you go to Wei Zhao's house? Are the two of you living together?" Hearing Wang Xinyan's answer, Xiao Qinlin was beside herself with anxiety. "Do you have any idea that Kang Zhaolong went to the Xiao family today and threatened your second uncle—that he would wipe out the Xiao family, and your father and me along with it?"

"What?" Wang Xinyan was stunned, her face turning pale. "Kang Zhaolong... he went to the Xiao family to see my second uncle?"

"He certainly did!" Xiao Qinlin sighed. "Xinran, tell me the truth—between you and Wei Zhao, has there been anything..."

"No, there's nothing between us. Nothing has happened!" Wang Xinyan had grown a little frightened too, and she said so hurriedly.

She felt no real sense of belonging to the Xiao family, so whether or not it was wiped out did not much matter to her. What she feared for was her father's and mother's safety—and Wei Zhao's. The Xuandan Sect was immensely powerful; send out a single peak late Heaven-rank expert, and he could destroy her family and Wei Zhao with a flick of his fingers...

This had been her constant worry all along, and it was why she had restrained herself, why she had never agreed to become Wei Zhao's girlfriend, why nothing had ever happened between her and Wei Zhao. Otherwise—when she slept beside Wei Zhao every single night—how could nothing at all have come of it?

"Truly?" Hearing Wang Xinyan's words, Xiao Qinlin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Truly!" Wang Xinyan said, with absolute certainty.

"That's good, then!" Xiao Qinlin was finally reassured. "As long as nothing's wrong, it's fine. Xinran, I'm driving over to pick you up now. Tell me the address, and we'll go to the Xiao family together and explain things to Kang Zhaolong."

"Nothing has happened at all, so why should I explain anything to him? Didn't we agree the wedding would be after graduation? Why does it have to be so complicated?" Wang Xinyan frowned. Kang Zhaolong really was a little contemptible, she thought, resorting to any trick he could—he had even gone so far as to threaten her parents and family.

"There's no helping it. The Kang family is powerful now, and we can only go." Xiao Qinlin said helplessly. "You don't want your father and me to come to harm over a misunderstanding, do you?"

"Then... come to the entrance of Xueshang Residential Complex. I'll get ready now." Hearing her mother's words, Wang Xinyan nodded in agreement. Yes—she could hardly give Kang Zhaolong an excuse to fly into a rage over this, could she?

"All right, I'll be right there!" Xiao Qinlin said.

After hanging up, Wang Xinyan let out a faint sigh. She knew that perhaps she could no longer go on living in Wei Zhao's villa—if she stayed, Kang Zhaolong would surely keep pressing and never let it go. But she truly did not want to move out.

She steadied her emotions, then walked out of the bedroom. Seeing that Wei Zhao and the others were not paying her any mind, she feigned composure and said, "Yaoyao, Wei Zhao, my mom's here—she's at the entrance of Xueshang Residential Complex. I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back soon."

"Oh, go on then. Be careful. Do you want me to walk you out?" Wei Zhao really had thought nothing of it.

"No need. It's not that late. I'll take my medicine and go." Wang Xinyan picked up the dose on the table, drained it in one gulp, then waved to Wei Zhao and the others and hurried out of the villa.

Xiao Qinlin rushed over to Xueshang Residential Complex, picked up Wang Xinyan, and headed for the Xiao family villa.

"Xinran, why did you go to Wei Zhao's house? Aren't you just handing Kang Zhaolong something to use against you?" Xiao Qinlin said helplessly as she drove.

"Mom, I only went to visit..." Wang Xinyan said quietly.

"Oh, you're Kang Zhaolong's fiancée now—don't you know you have to avoid any appearance of impropriety? Any other time would have been one thing, but now Kang Zhaolong is in your class too. If you and Wei Zhao are too close, how do you think he'll feel when he sees it?" Xiao Qinlin advised. "Since you're set on marrying Kang Zhaolong after graduation, then don't upset him over these little things. Otherwise, once you're married to him, you'll only end up quarreling!"

"Oh..." In her heart, Wang Xinyan had never intended to marry Kang Zhaolong at all. She had only been putting it off until graduation because she wanted to watch Wei Zhao grow, step by step, until he reached a height where he could stand against the Xuandan Sect. When that time came, Wang Xinyan would choose to be with Wei Zhao openly and honorably.

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