Chapter 37: The Rules of Survival

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The sky was a clear, cloudless blue. In the distance, students walked in small groups, their laughter echoing across the campus. Jiang Yixue, clicking her way around the corner of the teaching building in slender high heels, eagerly slipped her phone out from beneath her textbook.

“Still playing the guiding light, huh? That’s some nerve,” she smirked, composing a message.

“Really? Is it really that exaggerated?” came Wang Can’s quick reply.

“Absolutely true. If I’m lying, I’m a puppy. Now it’s my turn to ask a question, right?”

“Go ahead,” Jiang Yixue responded curtly.

Wang Can typed, “Do you... know Jiang Yixue? Your names sound so similar.”

“Still testing me? You’re quite cautious,” she thought, about to reply “No,” but hesitated before sending.

Her slender fingers hovered over the delete key briefly before typing a new line: “I am Jiang Yixue. Why are you asking about me?”

Wang Can: “Associate Professor Jiang Yixue from the Applied Mathematics Department?”

Jiang Yixue: “No need to emphasize the ‘associate’.”

...

On the other end, Wang Can rolled his eyes at the message and immediately dismissed the absurd idea that Jiang Xue and Jiang Yixue were the same person. What was the difference between this and him brazenly shouting around under Chen Xiaobei’s name?

“This silly girl probably doesn’t even know I’ve been appointed class rep by Jiang Yixue. I’ll find a chance in a few days to take a photo with her and send it to her to see her reaction.”

With this mischievous thought, Wang Can deliberately switched to a formal tone in his reply.

“Alright, Associate Professor Jiang, I have some mathematical questions I’d like to consult you on.”

Jiang Yixue: “So presumptuous. You dare to lecture a math professor? Go ahead.”

Wang Can: “Listen carefully—why is ‘one five one ten’ correct, and ‘two five one ten’ also correct?”

Jiang Yixue: “...Is that even a math problem?”

Wang Can: “Okay, then why is one and a half hours equal to three and a half hours, seven and a half hours equal to three and a half hours, two and a half hours is a ‘Kun hour,’ and three minutes equal to one hour?”

Jiang Yixue: “I can understand the first part, but what unit is ‘Kun’? And why would three minutes be an hour?”

Wang Can grinned smugly and typed, “Do you know why I bought a fifty-yuan water bottle for just forty-five?”

Jiang Yixue: “Because it was discounted by five yuan?”

Wang Can: “A 10% off water bottle, sis.”

After sending this, Wang Can paid no attention to her reply, pocketing his phone with satisfaction. The frustration he had felt under Jiang Yixue’s scrutiny vanished instantly.

“Not bad. From now on, whenever Jiang Yixue bullies me, I’ll take it out on you.”

...

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Outside the office door of the academic building, Jiang Zi tiptoed, finally spotting Guo Wanwan, who had just finished meeting with the counselor.

She hurried over in three quick steps, eyes sparkling, asking, “So? Did Teacher Zheng pick you as the league branch secretary?”

Guo Wanwan nodded lightly, a rare smile curving her lips. “Teacher Zheng said since our class is mostly girls, it’s more convenient to have a female class officer.”

“Ha! Just as Wang Can said!” Jiang Zi blurted out, then instantly realized her mistake. She covered her mouth in a panic, but it was too late.

Guo Wanwan frowned slightly. “What did Wang Can say?”

Last time Jiang Zi had stopped mid-sentence, leaving Guo Wanwan curious ever since.

Today during class, she had even watched Wang Can closely, but he only glanced at her briefly without any special behavior.

“Nothing, really nothing,” Jiang Zi stammered, waving her hands nervously, avoiding eye contact.

“Jiang Jiang,” Guo Wanwan’s face hardened. “If you don’t tell me the truth, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

She deliberately emphasized her tone and turned as if to leave.

“Ah? Don’t do that,” Jiang Zi was reluctant to lose this fellow villager friend, but Wang Can was her fellow villager too.

“No, no, no!” Jiang Zi stamped her foot anxiously, unwilling to lose this hometown friend, but Wang Can was also from her hometown.

Seeing Guo Wanwan truly turning away, though slowing her steps, Jiang Zi gave in.

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you!”

She grabbed Guo Wanwan’s hand and recounted the conversation she overheard in the cafeteria that day.

Due to the distance, she hadn’t caught everything, only the part where Wang Can recommended Guo Wanwan.

Out of goodwill, she even polished Wang Can’s words a bit.

“That day, I was getting food in the cafeteria when I overheard Yang Shuang say Teacher Zheng asked him to recommend a league branch secretary, so he asked Wang Can for advice.”

Jiang Zi narrated vividly, “Wang Can said you’re sincere and straightforward, very popular among the girls, and everyone is willing to listen to you.”

“Yang Shuang was going to suggest Shen Hongge’s name, but Wang Can immediately rejected it, saying you were the best choice. Then Yang Shuang said ‘got it.’”

“Yang Shuang just listens to Wang Can like that?” Guo Wanwan asked in surprise.

“Yeah,” Jiang Zi nodded. “Feels like their dorm always goes to Wang Can for decisions.”

Guo Wanwan fell into thought, frowning again as they gradually walked away.

Neither of them noticed a boy not far behind, who had heard every word of their conversation.

It was Shen Hongge, who had lost in this class committee election.

He had originally come to ask Zheng Jun about the league branch secretary position and to make a self-recommendation.

He saw Jiang Zi waiting outside the office and, being thoughtful, slipped aside.

Sure enough, Guo Wanwan soon came out, and he heard their entire conversation.

He didn’t go into Zheng Jun’s office but instead turned and walked blankly toward the dorm.

His eyes were vacant, as if his soul had been drained, mechanically moving his steps.

The early autumn wind swept fallen leaves past him, but he was completely unaware.

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“Old Shen, why do you look so pale?”

Back at the dorm, his roommates noticed his abnormal state.

“Nothing,” Shen Hongge shook his head faintly, voice barely audible.

He climbed slowly onto his bed, lying stiffly like a piece of dead wood.

A heavy sense of helplessness spread through his chest.

He didn’t understand.

He didn’t understand why, despite working harder and being better than Yang Shuang and Guo Wanwan, he ended up empty-handed.

Just because of someone’s casual words, all his efforts collapsed like a sandcastle swallowed by the tide.

Why?

Why was it so unfair?

Hot tears uncontrollably welled up and soaked a dark patch on his pillow.

This eighteen-year-old boy pressed his hand tightly over his heart, as if that could stop the twisting pain inside.

He felt life had lost its direction, and his hopes for university had turned into a blank void.

After a long while, Shen Hongge took a deep breath and wiped his face.

When he lifted his head again, his usual smile had returned.

He had figured it out—the road was still long, far from giving up.

If he couldn’t be class president or league branch secretary, there was still a chance to fight for the selection exam through the student union.

“Thank you,” he silently said to himself, “for giving me my first real lesson of university life so soon.”

...

Meanwhile, Wang Can, who had quietly changed several people’s fates, had already arrived at the second cafeteria with Zhang Bailan.

Today was the grand opening of “Big Chicken Cutlet,” and he had to be there in person to see how the promotion was going.

As for Shen Hongge’s restless thoughts, Wang Can was, of course, unaware.

And even if he knew, he would only smile it off.

The world was cruel by nature; resources were limited. The weak waited, the strong seized. Some raised their glasses in celebration while others quietly exited the stage.

In the days to come, he would face many more competitors.

There was nothing more he could do but toast them from afar at the right moment.

This was his survival rule.