Chapter 41: Let's Be Friends

Chen Xiaobei and Yang Shuang exchanged glances, their eyes darting back and forth between Zhou Yang and Wang Can.

"97th on the China Rich List."

The impact of this information sent ripples through the two men, though the nature of those ripples was vastly different.

Yang Shuang’s eyes were filled with confusion. For an ordinary college student, this was beyond the boundaries of his perception. If someone driving a Range Rover told him, "I have five million in savings," it might have sparked a flicker of genuine envy. But the 97th richest person in China? That was merely fodder for casual conversation—it was too ethereal, too high up in the ivory tower.

Chen Xiaobei’s shock, however, was far more profound. As a wealthy kid who had seen a bit of the world, he knew the weight of that title better than anyone. It meant that the wealth possessed by Zhou Yang’s family could buy out dozens of companies like his own. He lived quite comfortably, but his lifestyle paled in comparison to what Zhou Yang’s must be like. He couldn't help but suspect that if this guy was telling the truth, Zhou Yang was likely the most prominent "rich second generation" in their graduating class—no, among all the students at Shenhai University.

"Sorry, I’m not interested."

Wang Can’s reply was crisp and decisive. Are you kidding? Him, working as a lackey for someone else? If Xia Kewei found out, she would laugh at him for the rest of his life.

"Badass, Old Wang!" Chen Xiaobei gave him a thumbs-up in his heart. If one could befriend a person of Zhou Yang’s caliber and build a good relationship, there would be no need to worry about the future after graduation. One could even easily surpass ninety percent of the workforce the moment they stepped out of school, saving ten years of detours.

Rebuffed, Zhou Yang frowned. "I’ll pay more" was on the tip of his tongue. In his creed, there was nothing in this world that money couldn't settle. If there was, it just meant the price wasn't high enough. He had set his sights on Wang Can simply because he wanted to bring this campus celebrity under his wing. Aside from having someone to offer him schemes and strategies, no matter how much Wang Can stood out in the future, he could always casually remark, "Wang Can? Oh, he’s just one of my boys."

The mere thought of that scene made the corners of Zhou Yang’s mouth curl upward involuntarily.

"Brother Zhou." His "dog-headed strategist," Old Huang, pulled his arm at the right moment and lowered his voice. "People like Wang Can care most about face. You can’t talk about money in front of so many people. Why don't you just say you want to make a friend?"

Zhou Yang tilted his head, let out a "hiss," nodded, and immediately changed his tune: "That was abrupt of me just now. How about we become friends? I think you’re very talented."

Old Huang immediately chimed in to show off: "Brother Zhou is incredible to his friends! Just yesterday at the Bund hotel, he ordered two king crabs!"

"And at the KTV last night, he let us pick from a whole line of girls. The scale of it..."

"Exactly! He’s always picked up by a Rolls-Royce when he goes out."

Yang Shuang listened with wide eyes. He finally had a tangible sense of the situation, and he suddenly wanted to say, "Can you take me with you?"

Wang Can looked at the group with interest. If he were rating them on a scale of ten, he’d give their performance an 8.5—though he deducted 1.5 for the sheer linguistic cringe. Did he look like a guy who couldn't afford a king crab? He subconsciously glanced down at his T-shirt bought from a street stall... well, maybe a little.

"Sorry, I don’t have any plans to be friends with men for the time being."

Wang Can refused again. A man suddenly coming up to you and saying, "Let’s be friends"... it felt like a scene from a Sichuan opera.

"Why? I’m a rich man," Zhou Yang said, completely baffled. From childhood until now, this was the first time anyone had rejected his friendship.

Wang Can shrugged nonchalantly, a faint, ambiguous smile hanging on his lips. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "Because when I make friends, I don't care if the other person has money or not—they’re all less rich than me anyway."

"?????"

The expressions of everyone present froze instantly; even the sound of their breathing became barely audible. Those present, including Chen Xiaobei and Yang Shuang, cursed in their hearts in unison:

"Holy crap, is that something a human being can actually say?"

"That brag is just too ridiculous..."

"Damn, how can someone be this good at acting so arrogant?"

"That is the absolute limit of arrogance."

Then, they turned their expectant gazes toward Zhou Yang, praying silently:

"Quick, use your money to slap him in the face!"

"I really can't stand his punchable, smug look."

"For the first time in my life, I’m looking forward to watching a rich kid bully someone."

"Wang Can seems like a decent guy, but please, make him lose face!"

After a brief silence, the crowd noticed something strange about Zhou Yang. His fingertips began to tremble uncontrollably, his heartbeat sounded like a war drum in his chest, and his breathing became ragged and chaotic.

"Is he about to explode?"

"Must be. For a super-rich kid like him, being told to his face that he’s not as rich as someone else—anyone would blow a fuse."

"Hahaha, now we’re in for a show."

"Quick, go buy me a large bucket of fried chicken; this is better than any TV drama."

Just as everyone expected Zhou Yang, having been humiliated in public, to fly into a rage and viciously belittle Wang Can, he suddenly grabbed Wang Can’s hand with excitement. A strange luster flickered in his eyes, and he said with genuine sincerity:

"Rich or not, I’ve decided we’re brothers! Because when I make friends, I don’t care if they have money or not—they’re all less rich than me anyway."

That’s the feeling!

That line is so damn classy!!

This is the only thing worthy of my style, Zhou Yang!!!

This brother is a true talent!!!!

I, Zhou Yang, love talent most of all!!!!!

The jaws of everyone present hit the floor, and the atmosphere plunged into an eerie silence once again.

"Wait, what is going on?"

"Damn, is this a play? Who wrote this script?"

"Screw this, I was already living vicariously through Zhou Yang, and this is what you show me?"

"Damn, I give this scene a 5.7. I lose 1.5 for the cringe, the plot twist adds 1.6, and the fact that I bought a bucket of chicken for nothing loses me 1.2."

Wang Can looked at Zhou Yang in front of him, also feeling bewildered. He didn't know where this idiot had come from; it seemed his cerebellum was underdeveloped, and his cerebrum wasn't developed at all. He had finally decided to show off and was ready for a "showdown," but this was the result.

...

After much effort to shake off the "let’s be friends" Zhou Yang, Wang Can didn't return to the dorms with Chen Xiaobei and the others. He had received a text from Shao Wenrun saying that he had arranged for him to meet Teacher Zhang, who was in charge of college student entrepreneurship at the Youth League Committee, to introduce them.

Wang Can hurried to the meeting place, but slowed his pace intentionally when he was about fifty meters away. He was maintaining a persona as a "rich second generation" in front of Shao Wenrun, so he had to strike the perfect balance—he couldn't appear arrogant, nor could he be overly enthusiastic. It was just like chasing a girl: be too eager, and you become a "simp" that no one takes seriously; be too cold, and unless you have something they want, why would anyone bother? Besides, Shao Wenrun was a teacher; as long as he hadn't resigned, he wouldn't dare accept expensive gifts. If Wang Can acted too condescending, the teacher could simply keep him at arm's length. Who could blame him for avoiding trouble?

"Teacher Shao." Wang Can greeted Shao Wenrun, who was puffing away next to a trash can.

Shao Wenrun nodded, but his gaze drifted behind Wang Can, and he said with slight disappointment, "Your secretary didn't come along today?"

Wang Can laughed to himself; men were all the same, regardless of age—they all loved looking at beauties. "She’s busy with other things today."

Shao Wenrun didn't ask further; he just wanted to treat his eyes, nothing more. After crushing his cigarette, he led Wang Can toward the administration building in the center of the campus.

On the way, Wang Can suddenly remembered the milk tea shop and asked casually, "By the way, Brother Shao, what’s the situation with the milk tea shops on campus? I noticed that only the First and Second Canteens have a CoCo and a Happy Lemon, and the rest are just small stalls."

"Decided to do some market research this time? You’re making progress." Shao Wenrun smiled and took the Zhonghua cigarette Wang Can offered, but then changed the subject: "However, I advise you to give up the idea of selling milk tea. That low-price strategy you used for the chicken cutlets won't work here."

Apparently, Shao Wenrun was already aware of the sales at "Hao Dada Chicken Cutlets" that afternoon.

"Oh? How so?" Wang Can became interested.

Shao Wenrun took a deep drag. "You should know about the category protection in the canteens, right? Those milk tea shops in the school are all run by the contractors of the First and Fourth Canteens; they have connections within the school. They have no intention of letting outsiders touch this fat piece of meat."

"There was someone who didn't believe it before and opened a shop right across from the school gate. And what happened? They opened another one right next to his." Shao Wenrun flicked the ash. "Milk tea tastes pretty much the same everywhere. They just sell it a yuan cheaper than you and wear you out until you die."

Wang Can, however, felt a surge of joy upon hearing this.

Price competition?

Wouldn't the high-end market be a vast blue ocean then?