Chapter 9: Cousin

After briefly explaining to Yang Shuang, Wang Can hurriedly went downstairs. He was genuinely worried that this uniquely independent “secretary” might just toss her bedding by the roadside and then leave casually. Given Wang Can’s current financial situation, there was no way he could afford to buy another set.

Following Xia Kewei’s instructions, he quickly located the underground parking lot near the dormitory area. From a distance, he saw Xia Kewei bending over the trunk, organizing something. Strands of chestnut hair casually fell beside her smooth cheek, catching the afternoon sunlight and shimmering like honey, highlighting the already exquisite contours of her face, making her appear even more strikingly beautiful.

Wang Can gazed at this lovely sight, thinking that if this woman remained silent, she might well be the perfect woman. Approaching closer, he saw the trunk filled with quilts, a three-piece bedding set, and daily necessities like a water kettle and washbasin—too much for one person to carry alone.

He reached out to feel the quilts, surprised by their surprisingly fine quality, clearly not the kind of school-issued items Yang Shuang had mentioned. “Where did you buy these?” he asked.

“Got them from the Senguan Hotel,” she replied.

“Surely they haven’t been used by someone else?”

“Boss, if you don’t want them, I’ll throw them away.”

“Sorry for prying.”

Xia Kewei was dressed in her usual professional attire today—a pure white silk blouse paired with a pale pink pencil skirt that perfectly accentuated her graceful waist and hips. Her voluminous wavy hair and the pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose completed the ideal image of the “female secretary” that adolescent boys dreamed of.

As they carried the items toward the male dormitory building, Wang Can could clearly feel many eyes on them, even faintly hearing some of the less discreet types swallowing loudly.

“Next time you come to school, can you dress a bit younger? Maybe wear a baseball cap too.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re messing up my chances of finding a girlfriend.”

“Blame me, huh?”

Xia Kewei seemed accustomed to such scenes, showing no flicker of emotion on her face.

When Wang Can pushed open the dormitory door again, he found two other beds already occupied. The bed directly beside his was taken by a young man dressed impeccably. Wearing a pair of LV sunglasses perched on his nose and clothes emblazoned with luxury brand logos, he sat casually backwards in a chair, holding an iPhone 4s, exuding a formidable aura.

He introduced himself as Chen Xiaobei, a native of Hangzhou.

This young master had clearly moved past the initial stage of putting on airs; there was no arrogance in his tone. His parents even brought a bag of rare fruits for everyone to share, their attitude genuinely sincere.

The last roommate was named Zhang Bailan, from the north. He was tall and handsome, though his skin was a bit dark; his large eyes and frequent smile gave off a distinct college-student innocence tinged with naïveté.

Zhang Bailan’s parents dressed quite plainly. After greeting everyone, they quietly began helping their son arrange his bed and tidy his desk, their movements both swift and meticulous.

With all members of Room 404 assembled, the dormitory atmosphere was harmonious.

As Wang Can entered, the others’ gazes lingered briefly on him before shifting collectively to the young woman behind him—Xia Kewei. Such a young and beautiful woman coming to help students register was rare. If not for her professional outfit, some might have mistaken her for a junior or senior student.

“Wang Can, who’s this?” Yang Shuang, who had introduced Wang Can to the others, looked on curiously. He had initially thought that it was Wang Can’s parents calling him.

“She’s my cousin,” Wang Can said casually.

At the mention of “cousin,” Xia Kewei raised her eyebrows slightly but made no denial.

Chen Xiaobei immediately jumped up from his seat, slinging an arm around Wang Can’s shoulder with a broad smile. “Wang Can, brother, I’m with you for life!”

Wang Can coldly sneered, imitating Xia Kewei, and rudely pushed away the would-be “cousin-in-law.”

“Your face is too big; you’re squeezing me.”

“Damn.”

Seeing their roommates’ parents busy helping out, Wang Can tossed his quilt onto his bed and turned to Xia Kewei with an innocent smile.

“Cousin, could you help me tidy my desk and bed too?”

A smile curved Xia Kewei’s lips. “Beg your cousin.”

“Beg and you help?”

“Beg and still no help.”

Everyone thought how close this cousin duo looked…

At noon, Chen Xiaobei’s parents warmly invited all the members of Room 404 to lunch, but everyone politely declined, since they weren’t that familiar yet. In the end, Chen Xiaobei and Zhang Bailan went off to lu