240 She Always Was...

"This is just a flesh wound. More importantly, I defeated the sparkly Godzilla! Praise me." Lu Xia smiled girlishly.

Seeing her cuteness, Lu AnLing didn't know whether to praise her or scold her but with the eyes of Tang Bingyi and Kang Liu Ran starring right at her, Lu AnLing touched Lu Xia's cheek softly and said,

"Fine. You did amazing but I'm still not happy that you got hurt..."

Lu AnLing felt like this was all her fault and, indirectly it was. Lu Xia did this for her but she did not expect the turn of events to be so painful to see.

As Lu AnLing caressed and spoke to Lu Xia, Tang Bingyi watched and she couldn't help but smile. The two really cared for one another. But at the same time, Tang Bingyi felt a bit jealous. Feeling such a thing, she tried to hide it.

Suddenly, Lu AnLing turned to Tang Bingyi and smiled.

"Xia told me you stood up for her, thank you so much." Lu AnLing said to Tang Bingyi.

Hearing this, Tang Bingyi shook her head. "No... she helped me out first so now we're even."

"Even? Hmmm..." Lu AnLing said as she looked between Lu Xia and Tang Bingyi with a cute smile plastered on her face. "You know what, I think what would truly make it even is if you two became friends."

Hearing this, Tang Bingyi raised her eyebrows curiously, "How so?"

"Well I hate seeing my friends get hurt and both you and Xia got hurt. So to make it up to me, you guys should get to know each other."

Tang Bingyi didn't mind the idea, but she still frowned for a second and said, "I didn't get hurt."

Grabbing her hands, Lu AnLing put them together like they were praying and said, "A slap stings not only the receiver but the giver also."

Lu AnLing held Tang Bingyi's hands as gently as she had touched Lu Xia's cheek. From this, Tang Bingyi felt tremendous warmth wash through her body and she unconsciously blushed.

Having a friend was nice. It was warm and bright like she was laying in a grass field at the beginning of summer...

Lu AnLing: "So? What do you say?"

Tang Bingyi nodded.

Seeing this, Lu Xia burst through the little world Tang Bingyi and Lu AnLing had created and said,

"Yayyy! I have a new bestie!"

Hearing this, Tang Bingyi burst out in laughter. This shocked both Kang Liu Ran and Lu AnLing but Lu AnLing was glad to see this.

Suddenly, a surprised voice of Elder Tang said, "What's going on?"

The three girls and Kang Liu Ran turned to look at the old man who stood side by side with Elder Kang.

After Kang Nianxi had found the two, the two old men had decided to make their way back into the hall. They'd joined up with Kang Mu and Mo Ruyi. A bit busy preparing for the events that would soon transpire, Mo Ruyi handed Kang Mei Xue and Kang Mingyu to Elder Kang to take care of for a while. The two old men were glad to have the little rascals to play with so they accepted.

As they walked through the hall, they played a bit with the kids and then, when they were having a serious conversation Elder Tang heard something he seldom ever did.

Tang Bingyi had laughed?

Elder Tang turned to see if it had actually happened and when he saw Tang Bingyi's bright face, The elder felt his heart warm.

Meanwhile, the kids, who had noticed Lu AnLing, ran to her instantly. They had been searching for her all night but the woman had been nowhere to be found.

As Lu AnLing bent down to pat both on their heads, Tang Bingyi unconsciously showed Elder Tang a bright smile, "I made a new friend."

Tang Bingyi was going to introduce Lu Xia but Kang Liu Ran stopped her by saying,

"Let me," Then he walked over, greeted the elders and then he took Lu Xia's hand. "Grandfather, Elder Tang, let me introduce you to my wife, Lu Xia."

Hearing the surname Lu, Elder Kang looked to Lu AnLing.

Elder Kang: "Are you also Lili's granddaughter?"

Lu Xia did not know what to say to this so Lu AnLing answered for her. "Yes. She's my cousin."

Elder Kang's face twisted with curiosity. What was with Kang boys falling in love with Lu women? Not that he was complaining but it was strange, to say the least...

Looking at Lu Xia, Elder Kang smiled and then he warmly welcomed Lu Xia to the family. After he did this, he looked towards Lu AnLing, who stood by Tang Bingyi, smiling at the two children at her feet and said,

"How are you doing?"

Lu AnLing smiled and said, "I'm doing well."

Hearing this, Elder Kang smiled. The way they had said this was a bit strange but that was to be expected because they were speaking in code.

"I see you like Lu AnLing. Is it because her name is Lu?" Elder Tang observed Lu AnLing, realizing something in the way the girl's eyes shone, he then leaned into Elder Kang and said, "Now that I look at her, she looks a bit like Lu Li Jing..."

Elder Trang raised his eyebrows. "Is she your secret love child? Or maybe the child of your secret love child?"

Elder Kang slapped Elder Tang on the arm. "Are you crazy. No!... but I can tell you that she is family."

Hearing this, Elder Tang didn't know what to say so he just stared at his old friend curiously.

"Just sit back and watch!" Elder Kang laughed.

***

As soon as Kang Jun had walked back into the hall, the first person he had laid eyes on was his grandmother.

Kang Jun looked into his grandmother's eyes and said, "Hello, Grandmother."

The old woman smiled. "Boy, it's been so long. I heard you were looking for me?"

Not caring about where they were, Kang Jun frowned and said, "I want custody of my daughter."

Hearing this, Feng Zhengyi's eyes sharpened. "Your Grandfather told you I see..."

Kang Jun: "Regardless. I want my daughter. Will you transfer custody to me or not?"

Feng Zhengyi could see that Kang Jun was not here to play games or waste time. Seeing how serious he was, Feng Zhengyi couldn't help but feel elated. This was what she wanted to see; a ruthless Kang Jun... the one capable of ruining a person's life.

Laughing, Feng Zhengyi said, "I refuse."

"Why?" Kang Jun said, with annoyance.

Feng Zhengyi: "A daughter needs a mother."

Hearing this, Kang Jun glared at the old woman and then he said, "Are fathers useless to their children?"

"Compared to a mother? Yes." Feng Zhengyi said without hesitation, she then looked passed Kang Jun towards Mo Ruyi and said, "You should understand this best, Your mother almost singlehandedly raised you and your brothers... Qiao Lan might not be Mei Xue's biological mother, but she's been the girls only mother for more than 6 years."

Kang Jun clutched his fists. "But she's abusing her."

"I see no marks on her," After saying this, Feng Zhengyi's eyes landed coldly on Kang Mingyu who stayed close to Kang Mei Xue.

Feng Zhengyi crosses her arms across her chest.

Kang Jun: "There is more than one kind of abuse. Regardless of this, Qiao Lan is not fit to raise my daughter—"

"And you think that you are? You won't even have time to spend with her. After that, Feng Yan, that irresponsible little vixen, will be left to raise them? What woman, apart from your mother, of course, would be willing to raise her husbands bastard child with a whore."

Kang Jun: "Whore?"

"What else do you call a woman who sleeps with a rich man, and then holds him hostage by bringing her pregnancy to term? If the bitch didn't die she would have probably tried to forcefully marry into the family. What a disaster that would have been!" Feng Zhengyi said with disgust.

Kang Jun's face twisted at every word. A whore? A bitch? How dare his grandmother call Lu AnLing, the mother of his children, that. Kang Jun did not show much emotion on his face but listening to the woman speak caused his hands to twitch.

Feng Zhengyi saw this clearly.

Feng Zhengyi: "Though, If Kang Mei Xue is truly being abused, I'll take her to live with me."

Hearing this, Kang Jun's heart froze. Looking at his grandmother's serious expression he felt anger like no other bubble within him.

"Such an abnormal nomadic lifestyle isn't good for a young child. You'll be damning her to a life as a recluse!" Kang Jun could barely control his emotions now.

"And you have no say in the matter." Feng Zhengyi's words were final as she raised her head to look over Kang Jun's demeanor. Seeing that he was beginning to seep killing intent, Feng Zhengyi clicked her tongue. "Boy, you simply must learn how to control that temper of yours. It's unbecoming."

Kang Jun didn't answer the woman, he just looked at her with eyes full of disgust.

Seeing this, Feng Zhengyi sighed and said, "Let me give you some advice. Children and marriage are nothing but a nuisance for a man like you. Just focus on more important things. You're only 34 right now. This is a prime time to advance your career and make yourself known."

Crossing her arm over her chest, Feng Zhengyi then said, "Despite the blood, and despite temperament, you're the pride and joy of this family. I'll always be on your side."

After saying this, Feng Zhengyi left Kang Jun frozen in place as he tried to control his anger.

Whether Feng Zhengyi liked it or not, Kang Jun was going to get his daughter back.

His grandmother might be powerful and connected but no one could fight the law. Kang Jun would make sure of it, but before he did this, he was going to have to defeat a few other enemies first.

Kang Jun's gaze swept across his family members.

Just as he did this, Kang Mu walked up to the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for gathering here today. As most of you might already know, today is a special day..."

Kang Mu continued to give a speech, most of which Kang Jun didn't bother to listen to. He just liked at Lu AnLing, Kang Mei Xue and Kang Mingyu.

Kang Mu: "... I welcome to the stage, my son, Jun and his fiancée, Feng Yan."

The crowd erupted in claps.

Hearing her name being called, Feng Yan walked on the stage. As she did this, Kang Jun looked at Lu AnLing softly from across the crowd and made his way up to the stage.

Once there, Feng Yan and Kang Jun stood side by side and nerves began eating away at Feng Yan.

Feng Yang waited until the crowd had stopped clapping. After they did, Feng Yan cleared her throat. Looking at her sister who stood by her mother, Feng Yan felt her heart clench.

Even if she had always been the lesser daughter in her mother's eyes, Feng Yan feared what this turn of events would do to their already strained relationship.

For a second Feng Yan couldn't speak but then, she looked away, to see Kang Jun whose eyes did not leave Lu AnLing and sighed.

Feng Yan: "Kang Jun and I are not getting engaged. Actually...."

"I'm married." Kang Jun said with no hesitation. He then looked to the stairs which led to the stage and held out his hand. "I'm happy to introduce my wife, Lu AnLing."

Hearing her name being called, Lu AnLing walked up on the stage elegantly despite her heart beating like a jackhammer in her chest.

Taking Kang Jun's hand, she looked into his warm eyes and then towards the crowd.

Ready to be judged.

Seeing this scene unfold, Kang Mei Xue who stood by Kang Mingyu and her great-grandfather blinked, as if trying to see if everything that was happening was a dream, and said,

"Does this mean aunties is my mommy, now?"

Everyone around her heard this, and they all laughed at how cute that question was, but Lu Xia, on the other hand, looked at the girl sadly, sighed and whispered,

"She always was..."