Chapter 7: The Unremarkable Second-Generation Rich Kid

“Senior, how does your abdominal muscle line feel? Pretty amazing, right?” Qi Xia looked at Wang Can with a smile.

“Indeed... quite impressive.” Wang Can nodded seriously in agreement.

“Slap!” Qi Xia unhesitatingly brushed away the restless hand, raising an eyebrow playfully. “Junior, I never realized you were such a mischievous one.”

“Well, I’m just cooperating with the act,” Wang Can said, rubbing the back of his hand with an innocent grin. “Besides, since you’re pretending to be my girlfriend, I have to charge some interest, don’t I?”

“Pah!” Qi Xia spat lightly, her ears quietly flushing red. “I was the one helping you save face, and you’re taking advantage of the opportunity.”

“Alright then, consider it a favor I owe you.” Wang Can solemnly patted his chest. “If one day you need me to pretend to be your boyfriend, I’ll do it without hesitation.”

“Hah? You’ve got quite the calculation going on.” Qi Xia’s delicate hand suddenly swiped at the ticklish flesh around Wang Can’s waist. “Trying to take it all, huh?”

“Senior, don’t be like that!” Wang Can recoiled as if electrocuted, pleading repeatedly.

Qiao Huayang, who had had enough, couldn’t help but ask, “I’ve eaten my fill; are you two going to leave or not?”

Wang Can and Qi Xia had almost finished eating and followed him out of the cafeteria.

In a corner near the aisle, Shen Mengqing’s gaze had been fixed on Wang Can from the moment he stood up, following him until his figure disappeared beyond the train door.

“This Rolle’s theorem states that for the function y = f(x)…” Tang Baizhou was focused on deriving the formula on a scrap of paper but suddenly noticed the silence opposite him.

He looked up and saw Shen Mengqing staring absentmindedly into the distance. He softly asked, “Mengqing, what’s wrong?”

Snapping out of her daze, Shen Mengqing lightly bit her lower lip and shook her head.

“Nothing.”

Her voice was so soft, like a feather brushing the water's surface, vanishing without a trace.

The girl’s thoughts were gentle and fragmented, yet like the deep sea, they concealed waves and secrets.

...

On the way back, Qi Xia’s curiosity was rekindled fiercely.

She quickened her pace to catch up with Wang Can and tilted her head. “Come on, tell me, why did your ex-girlfriend break up with you?”

Wang Can answered casually, “Because she got into Fudan University.”

“What?” Qi Xia’s eyes widened, and she unconsciously stopped walking. “That’s the reason? How old are you two? So practical already?”

“Yeah.” Wang Can shrugged and signaled for Qi Xia to follow as he continued, “But she didn’t say it so bluntly. She made a five-year pact with me.”

“A five-year pact?” Qi Xia sounded excited, as if discovering a new world. “That’s so dramatic! But I like it—tell me more!”

“It was an agreement that if after graduation I could find a job similar to hers and we were both still single, we could get back together.”

Wang Can’s tone was so indifferent, as if talking about someone else.

Qi Xia let out a long “Ehh—” sound. “Your ex looks cold and aloof, but she’s pretty clever.”

To her, this five-year pact was a way to avoid guilt over the breakup and keep a backup plan, treating someone like a spare tire.

“Senior, you know these tricks well. You’ve used this kind of strategy before?”

“I haven’t, no, don’t say that.”

...

When the three returned to the carriage, Qi Xia froze on the spot.

Ahead, Qi Dong was seated calmly on the bench in the corridor, smiling at her.

“Hehe, sis, you’re awake.”

Qi Xia forced a smile and pretended to yawn. “I went to the restroom. I’m so sleepy, I’ll head back to bed first.”

She tried to walk steadily toward the sleeper bunks but heard a cold laugh behind her.

“Oh, really?”

Qi Dong snorted. “What’s that greasy stain on your lips? Did they serve midnight snacks in the restroom?”

“Huh? Grease? I just wiped my mouth.” Qi Xia instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth and immediately realized something was wrong.

She was exposed.

She tried to run, but Qi Dong was faster—grabbing her collar and dragging her toward the carriage connection.

Desperate, Qi Xia reached out to Wang Can, grasping at air, silently pleading for him to play the hero.

But Wang Can could only wave helplessly, silently mouthing, “Take care.”

Qiao Huayang, having watched the drama unfold, seemed tired and wanted to return to bed but was blocked by Wang Can.

“W-what’s wrong?” Qiao Huayang asked nervously.

Wang Can stared at him. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not surprised at all to see Tang Baizhou and Shen Mengqing on this train?”

“Ah… pure coincidence,” Qiao Huayang’s eyes flickered as he stammered.

“Look in my eyes! Tell me why!” Wang Can’s voice darkened.

Because of his holiday work, Wang Can had entrusted Qiao Huayang with buying the train tickets, and yet he had bought the midday train.

Wang Can had found it puzzling—why not choose the earlier 8:30 train for university registration?

After all, it still took some time to get to the campus in Shenhai, and any mishap could have caused panic.

Now, the answer was clear.

Seeing he couldn’t hide it, Qiao Huayang finally confessed, “I saw you were down for a long time after being dumped by Shen Mengqing, so…”

He didn’t continue, but the implication was clear—he wanted to help Wang Can get back together.

Wang Can sighed. Qiao Huayang meant well. The original Wang Can had been heartbroken to the point where he became who he was now.

He patted Qiao Huayang’s shoulder. “I’m over her. You don’t need to get involved in this anymore.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Qiao Huayang hesitated before asking, “Can part-time work really change a person that much?”

Today’s Wang Can seemed unfamiliar but admirable.

Not only could he boldly scold guys like the glasses-wearing one who acted entitled, but he also flirted with gorgeous seniors like Qi Xia.

“Of course. It’s called adapting early to society. It really builds character. If you want to try, I can introduce you to that bar for the winter break.”

Part-time work could bring change, but not this much... Wang Can thought.

“Huh? Aren’t you coming with me?”

Qiao Huayang looked disappointed; he was a bit scared to go alone.

“We’ll see. I’ll probably be busy.”

“Well, alright then…”

...

The next day, an hour before the train reached Shenhai station, the persistent glasses-wearing guy, Zhao Peng, appeared in Wang Can’s carriage.

Apparently, he had learned from the last encounter.

Wang Can admired the guy’s thick skin.

Zhao Peng might have a certain status at school; Qi Dong and Qi Xia didn’t want to refuse him outright, but kept glancing at Wang Can, seemingly hoping he could handle the situation.

Wang Can found it amusing. What could a freshman like him do?

He couldn’t just tell Zhao Peng, “I like both of these sisters, so go play somewhere else, or I’ll have someone take care of you.”

He wasn’t a Dragon King—just an ordinary wealthy second-generation kid, (with 500 million in the bank), that’s all.

Yet, when they arrived in Shenhai, Wang Can really did become the Dragon King...

Xia Kewei came to pick him up, driving a Mercedes S400.

“Senior Zhao, we’ve never ridden in such a fancy Mercedes before,” Qi Dong, back to her first impression, gently traced the sleek lines of the car, her face full of anticipation.

Qi Xia eagerly nodded too. “Yeah, yeah, such a rare chance, it’d be a pity to miss it. Senior, you’re so considerate—you’ll definitely let us come along, right?”

“Hey, we’re from the same school. Can I come too?” Zhao Peng asked begrudgingly.

“But…” Qi Xia pointed at Wang Can and Qiao Huayang, “including the driver, that’s already five people. We can’t overload.”

“...”

“Damn!”

Watching the Mercedes S400 glide away gracefully, Zhao Peng kicked Der Yuanlang beside him angrily.

The kick was strong enough to shake the car.

“You little brat!”

The middle-aged man in the driver’s seat rolled down the window abruptly, eyes blazing. “My brand-new car—did you just break it?”

Zhao Peng stiffened but quickly forced a smile. “Sorry, uncle, I forgot it was your car...”