63: A rich kid acting like a simp?

"Really? Senior Zhou, you're too kind. Cousin, the only reason you found a Girlfriend is that Xinxin must be blind. When I look for a partner in the future, I'll definitely look for someone like Senior Zhou."

Shen Qian chuckled inwardly, but Zhou Wei's eyes were already crinkling with a blooming smile.

"Is this Second-generation rich guy for real? Has he never had anything good before?"

Shen Qian was puzzled for a moment, but then he thought about it. After all, while a Second-generation rich guy could certainly afford the best, top-tier beauties like her—scoring a seven or eight—had many such men competing for them. It was normal not to get them.

Moreover, as the internet became more developed, girls were increasingly aware that their beauty had value. Thus, many were playing hard to get, and there truly weren't many like Xia Mengling who provided so much emotional value.

"Lingling, your luggage is quite heavy. Let me carry it for you."

Lü Jiaju popped out at this moment. He was only a sophomore, and his approach was slightly unrefined compared to the junior, Zhou Wei. It was clear he was a bit anxious and didn't want to lose the lead in this competition.

"Thank you, Senior Lü~"

Still enthusiastic, but anyone with eyes could see that compared to Senior Zhou, this Senior Lü was already at a disadvantage.

"Jiaju, I see you're quite strong. Why don't you help me too?"

Guo Shuangcai finally couldn't sit still. There were only three boys in total. Now that Zhou Wei was clearly devoted to Xia Mengling and Shen Qian already had a Girlfriend, her only choice was Lü Jiaju.

It was much as Shen Qian had guessed; she indeed wanted to find a Boyfriend, and he couldn't be too ordinary—he had to have some capability. She clearly realized that her looks, combined with her ordinary family background, were a disaster for her.

She wasn't willing to settle for someone ordinary, nor was she willing to be treated as a plaything for the wealthy.

So she had to sift and select until the right person appeared.

But she forgot one thing: all of this was based on the premise that no one was competing with her. Now that Xia Mengling had appeared, she realized how cheap the affection of a Second-generation rich guy could be. In less than half an hour, their gaze had shifted directly to Xia Mengling.

"Sure!"

Lü Jiaju had always wanted to help Guo Shuangcai before, but her response was always a refusal—even for the smallest things. This was the first time she had taken the initiative to ask for his help.

"Does this mean she's finally starting to accept me?"

At the thought of this, he felt like his arms had endless strength.

"Sigh, the disease of being a simp... although the incidence rate among the Second-generation rich is low, once it strikes, it's even more incurable."

Shen Qian followed silently like this, watching the two of them perform to their hearts' content.

"Are you just going to let things develop like this?"

On the bus, Tan Xinxin leaned against Shen Qian's shoulder and asked in a low voice.

"I can tell you like Xia Mengling. Are you really just going to let others fawn over her?"

"If others want to fawn over her, let them. I came on this trip with you. What would it look like if I were staring at someone else?"

"Really?"

"Really. I told you, when I'm with you, I only have eyes for you."

Shen Qian was telling the truth; in his eyes, there indeed was only Tan Xinxin. And having only Tan Xinxin in his eyes was part of the plan.

Xia Mengling liked to keep 'dogs,' and Guo Shuangcai wanted to screen candidates.

On this trip, he, the 'dog,' needed to break free from Xia Mengling's collar and enter Guo Shuangcai's screening list.

He didn't need to do anything else; he just needed to take good care of Tan Xinxin and, while he was at it, show off his money power.

Tan Xinxin sat up and cupped his face, trying to see something in his eyes, but there was nothing. What he said sounded very sincere, and his gaze didn't waver in the slightest.

"What? Trying to see if I'm lying to you through my eyes?"

He dotingly pulled her into his arms again.

The journey from Shanghai to Hui Province took just over an hour. Along the way, Zhou Wei's attention was almost entirely on Xia Mengling, and for the first time in a long while, Lü Jiaju felt that his relationship with Guo Shuangcai was making progress.

"Tch!"

While queuing to get off the bus, Shen Qian and Tan Xinxin were at the very back when they heard a girl from their group make a resentful sound.

The Campus Belle senior wanted to screen candidates, and so did they. They had originally thought that with two men, if the Campus Belle chose one, they could at least get some benefit from the other. After all, when a man is frustrated, the woman who comforts him stands to gain the most.

But Xia Mengling's appearance couldn't just be called a disruption to this plan; it directly destroyed it. The two Second-generation rich guys were completely taken, and although the remaining one was handsome, he had a Girlfriend guarding him.

They immediately felt like they had been played for fools, so they were bound to be unhappy.

"4,000 yuan per person, and you booked this kind of hotel?"

Shen Qian had thought it would take two or three days for this conflict to build up before exploding, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"Shuangcai, this is too much. We paid 4,000 yuan each. Even if you make us share a room, you should at least find a better hotel. These budget hotels are filthy; who knows what the previous people did in here."

"What are you saying!" Having just made some progress with Guo Shuangcai, Lü Jiaju naturally stepped up to defend her.

"It's only 4,000 yuan in total, and we're going to be traveling for five days. It's not just for the hotel. Does food and drink not cost money? Do the attractions not cost money?"

"Besides, it's the National Day holiday now, so hotel prices are already high. Don't be unreasonable!"

"It's over," Shen Qian thought to himself.

Everything said before was fine, but he just had to add that last sentence.

"I'm being unreasonable!? What are you saying! I paid my money to come out and play together. Can I not even voice an opinion?"

"Even if it's the National Day holiday and hotel prices are high, how high can they be? Lü Jiaju, I'm asking Guo Shuangcai. Why are you jumping in? What does it have to do with you!"

"What did you say!"

"I said you're acting like a big shot here. She's not even your Girlfriend, so why are you so worked up?"

"Alright, alright, everyone stop arguing. We came out to have a good time."

Xia Mengling jumped in at this point. These girls were already unhappy with the two of them, so now that Xia Mengling had stepped forward, they naturally weren't going to let her off.

"We're talking here, so why are you trying to play peacemaker, you green tea bitch."

"Who are you calling names!?"

Zhou Wei immediately stood up. He was already fantasizing about a sweet romance with Xia Mengling. If these few people ruined her mood, it would be a huge loss.

"Am I wrong? What's the use of just trying to smooth things over? This hotel is really too poor. At least let us stay somewhere better!"

Three men and eight women. According to the current division, five of the girls could band together. Shen Qian was just a bystander, and Xia Mengling was the type who loved to see things escalate. This resulted in unprecedented unity among those five girls.

"Fine, then we'll change hotels!" Lü Jiaju waved his hand grandly.

"Jiaju, if we change hotels, the budget won't be enough."

"It's fine. I'll cover the extra cost."

"How can we let you cover it alone? I'll join you!" Zhou Wei immediately responded.

Shen Qian frowned slightly. "How did this 'Second-generation rich being a simp' model even get developed? It's so stupid!"