When Shuya heard the words come from AnLing's mouth her face immediately turned pale and she looked at AnLing as if she had said the most ridiculous thing on earth.
"I'm not suicidal. Have you heard the rumors about that family? They may be insanely rich and good looking, but they're part of the underworld. I don't want to get involved in that. I wouldn't dare to approach one of them. Either way, the most approachable and the least aggressive one is the youngest but he's a playboy, I wouldn't want to get cheated on."
The words 'cheated on' rang in AnLing's mind but she didn't feel as angry as she would have long ago. Little by little the pain Yize had etched in her heart was fading away.
AnLing crossed her arms over her chest but she didn't say anything about Shuya's affirmation. She didn't know much about the Kang family so there was nothing she could say.
Grandma Lu, on the other hand, was very vocal.
As she listened, the old woman nodded at certain statements Shuya made in agreement.
"Yes, Little Shu is right. It's best to stay away from the Kang family. They are too dangerous and unpredictable plus their family situation is quite strange nowadays. After the elder son's death, the right to be the heir has been up in the air and it has created a rift between them. As I've heard, the majority favor the second son but he's cold and not likable also, I've heard that he's been very unimpressive for the last few years.
Meanwhile, the third and fourth sons are very bright and hardworking, so it's hard for them to make the decision. Plus I heard the second son refuses to marry. Isn't that ridiculous? He cannot be the successor if he doesn't produce an heir who can legitimately succeed him… and then there's the whole business with those adopted children. I mean, why adopt children when you can have them instead. You're telling me they had five sons but they're all impotent? Though that's probably karma. Old Kang Guanting has never been a good person--"
As Grandma Lu continued her incessant chatter, many nurses and doctors passed by. Some even gazing in the room. Seeing this, Shuya and AnLing began to feel nervous.
If the Kang's were a powerful and dangerous family, as the old woman had said, then wouldn't they be able to crush anyone who speaks ill of them?
Shuya paled slightly.
"Grandma, I think we should stop talking about this…"
Grandma Lu didn't stop.
Shuya and AnLing didn't know if it was because she didn't hear them or if she was too caught up in her speech to care but hearing her grandmother talk badly about the Kang family made AnLing's heartache.
It's not that she cared about them, per se, but Kang Jun and Mingyu seemed kind and they were good to her. They didn't deserve to be insulted!
"Grandma, rather than stay away, our family is nothing compared to the Kang's. They're so amazing. We'll never have the opportunity to share the same air as them." Shuya said with a nervous laugh.
If somehow the Kang's were listening she hoped that her self-deprecating words would soothe them. Though as the words left her mouth, she began to feel sick. She hated putting herself or her family down.
Hearing this, Grandma Lu's face twisted.
"Look at this rude kid! We're not as rich but we're not poor either." Grandma Lu sounded angry at first, but then, as if remembering something, she began to laugh.
AnLing wanted to laugh herself. 'I've been sharing the same air, the same car, the same and hotel floor as a Kang.' AnLing said to herself, but they would never know that.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed.
'Speak of the devil.'
King Kang: [I'll be coming late tonight, could Mingyu stay with you?]
Since their last date, Mingyu had sometimes been staying with Kang Jun at Hotel Helios and when he was busy, and so, AnLing would take care of the boy in his stead. It had become so frequent that it began to feel like they were co-parenting and AnLing wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Kang Jun was glad and grateful that there was another person that Mingyu could rely on. The fear of taking care of a child alone, with his busy schedule used to paralyze him. Now, it was different. His fears had faded to black because now, there was someone else that could lend a helping hand.
AnLing: [Of course. Is he with Mr. Long?]
King Kang: [Yes. Mr. Long will be dropping him off later. Tell me what time is good for you.]
AnLing: [Alright, I'll tell you when I'm home.]
At first, Kang Jun had thought it would be best to have Mingyu stay at his villa but there was barely anyone there; just a few trusted servants. Knowing that Mingyu wouldn't be comfortable around a bunch of strangers, he decided against it.
So far, there had only been a couple of people who were able to make the boy open up and at this point in time, there were only two who were alive and in the country; Kang Jun and AnLing.
King Kang: [What are you doing?]
AnLing: [Hospital.]
Rereading her message, AnLing's heart skipped a beat. A part of her feared that if she didn't specify he'd worry and then call her and right now wasn't the best time.
AnLing: [Visiting my grandmother.]
King Kang: [Want me to pick you up?]
AnLing's eyebrow arched.
It had been around a month since she'd gotten to know Kang Jun and little by little she'd begun to completely understand him and open up to him… Enough to even talk back to him without worry.
AnLing: [Aren't you suppose to be busy?]
King Kang: [I am but I can not be.]
AnLing's lips curved upwards.
She was beginning to get used to his shamelessness which now made her feel amused rather than shocked when she experienced it.
AnLing was so distracted texting Kang Jun that she had completely zoned out and hadn't realized that her grandmother was calling her. Once she did, AnLing raised her head to look at the old woman as if she had been listening to her the whole time.
"Yes?" AnLing said, her voice was full of tranquility.
"Is everything alright?"
AnLing: "Yes… why?"
"You're smiling." The words that flew out of Grandma Lu's mouth dripped with shock, confusion and obvious curiosity.
Eh?
Really?
AnLing hadn't realized. Though this wasn't the first time. It would happen every so often when she was texting Kang Jun.
AnLing: "It's nothing. Just work. I have to go soon."
Grandma Lu: "You're smiling because of work?"
"Come on grandma, you know that money is life!" AnLing joked.
Hearing this, Grandma Lu began to frown.
"You know you can always move back into the Lu old house if you need a place to stay. There, you'll never be lacking in money."
'God, please stop.' AnLing groaned internally as she saw Shuya's gaze sharped.
She wanted to roll her eyes but she fought back the urge. Instead, she forced herself to giggled a bit and then said, "No, I like working for my money. It's very rewarding."
'Not to mention necessary…'
Hearing such responsible talk escaping her Granddaughters mouth, Grandma Lu agreed and allowed AnLing to leave.
As she walked out the hospital doors AnLing continued to text with a stupid smile appearing on her face. Whenever she would realize her expression, she would slightly blush and then force herself to keep her lips in a straight line.
When she thought about what she had said to her grandmother, AnLing's face immediately soured.
Truth be told, AnLing barely had any work to do nowadays, and she was beginning to get restless. Not only that, but she also began to worry. Financially she wasn't in the best place and she didn't know how long she could take it.
Suddenly, her phone began to ring. AnLing answered it and placed it on her ear but she didn't say a word.
"Can you come in?" Manager Hong said. She sounded like she'd just won the lottery.
AnLing bit her lip.
She had planned on going home early and tidying up a bit before Mingyu came over, so she was a bit reluctant to answer but when she gazed at her watch, she noticed that there was still a lot of time till business hours were over.
"I think so. What's going on?"
A long, high pitched squeal came from the other end of the line, causing AnLing to squint in pain. "We got invited to the Starlight Event!"
Starlight Event?
AnLing's jaw dropped.
Impossible!