Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Desire for Beauty Is Universal

Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Love of Beauty Is Universal!

South University, a century-old institution, boasts twenty-four colleges and fifty-three departments. Even without counting the newly opened university park campus, the old campus alone accommodates over twenty thousand students.

Gossipy students may have heard tales from the Psychology College about a figure named Tang Zhong, the one who threw Qiao Lei from the International College into the lotus pond, then again into the urinal—what deep-seated grudge could provoke someone to humiliate a person twice?

Yet, this story circulated only by word of mouth; few had actually seen Tang Zhong in person.

Zhou Wei and his friends were no exception. They had heard the rumor, and felt it more keenly than others. After all, Qiao Lei was a student from their college, their senior, and the “bad apple” everyone warned newcomers not to provoke.

But the infamous troublemaker had been beaten—and after that, he left school.

Qiao Lei’s withdrawal had been the talk of the college for days. It was said that several upperclassmen, who had suffered at his hands, went out and bought drinks to celebrate all night long. Of course, these events were far removed from Zhou Wei. As a freshman, he had never crossed paths with Qiao Lei.

At most, he had seen him leading a group of people to the basketball court.

Never could he have imagined encountering the very star who drove Qiao Lei out of school. Even less did he expect to find him standing right in front of him now, smiling warmly as he introduced himself: Tang Zhong.

Zhou Wei carefully recalled their meeting, but it seemed he had no impression of Tang Zhong at all.

On the bus, when he saw Qiu Yihan, all his attention was fixed on her. Even if he had noticed Tang Zhong while scanning his surroundings, he had easily overlooked him—a nondescript young man sitting with an equally unremarkable companion, laughing with two plain girls.

Who would notice such a boy?

Now, he suddenly claimed to be Tang Zhong.

Instinctively, Zhou Wei recoiled in shock—the name carried too much weight.

But he quickly regained composure, feeling deeply ashamed for his moment of cowardice.

So what if it was Tang Zhong? He hadn’t done anything wrong; what could Tang Zhong do to him?

He grew angry—angry at himself and at Tang Zhong. One who feels humiliated must retaliate fiercely to reclaim the points lost in panic before the beautiful girl.

“You’re Tang Zhong, the one who drove Qiao Lei away?” Zhou Wei asked, full of hostility.

Tang Zhong frowned, puzzled by this sudden aggression. “I am Tang Zhong, but I didn’t drive Qiao Lei away. He left of his own accord—it had nothing to do with me.”

Zhou Wei had no ties to Qiao Lei and certainly no inclination to seek justice for him.

He looked at Qiu Yihan and said, “Yihan, I think it’s safer if you walk with us. We’re classmates and know each other well—it’ll be more secure.”

“Hey, I don’t like what you’re implying,” Hua Ming snapped. “What do you mean you know each other well? Aren’t we students at South University, too? Are you saying walking with us isn’t safe?”

“Exactly! You’re too suspicious—judging us with a petty heart. Don’t think we don’t see through your plan: you want to lure them away and take advantage, right?” Liang Tao retorted bluntly.

“I’ve nothing more to say to you,” Zhou Wei waved dismissively. He turned to Qiu Yihan, asking, “Yihan, you decide. Will you walk with us or with them?”

Qiu Yihan laughed and replied, “I’ll go with them. After all, we agreed on it earlier.”

“Heh, the tigress chose herself. It’s got nothing to do with us,” Hua Ming chuckled, inadvertently blurting out the nickname he’d secretly given Qiu Yihan.

Hearing herself called “tigress,” Qiu Yihan was furious. She marched up to Hua Ming, staring at his face and asked, “Did you just call me something?”

“What? Did I say anything?” Hua Ming feigned ignorance. “Did I speak just now?”

“Aah—!” Hua Ming shrieked. Qiu Yihan had stomped on his foot, grinding it mercilessly.

“Serves you right,” Liang Tao sided with his goddess, Qiu Yihan. Though he didn’t quite know what had transpired between Hua Ming and Qiu Yihan, it was clear Hua Ming feared her.

Otherwise, with Hua Ming’s reckless nature, how could he possibly let a beauty like Qiu Yihan slip through his fingers?

With more than two thousand freshmen in the International College, being crowned the freshman belle was proof enough of her excellence.

After Qiu Yihan’s answer, Zhou Wei’s face turned sour. But since he’d offered her the choice, pressing further would be inappropriate.

His gaze shifted to He Na, and he smiled, “He Na, what about you? Will you come with us or with them?”

He Na hesitated for a moment.

Truth be told, she had liked Zhou Wei when she first entered school—even hinted at it twice.

But Zhou Wei was obsessed with pursuing Qiu Yihan, treating He Na as invisible, so she began looking elsewhere.

Hearing his question, she felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could win him over this time—

But it was only a fleeting thought.

She smiled and joined Qiu Yihan, saying, “We came together—how can we split up? I’ll stick with Yihan. If any bad guys bully her, I’ll throw a punch for her.”

Zhou Wei nodded and led his group toward the bus station entrance.

The previously gray sky suddenly turned gloomy. A wind picked up, carrying sporadic raindrops.

“It’s about to rain,” Tang Zhong frowned. “We should hurry into the mountains and find shelter.”

“A stroll in the rain isn’t bad either,” Hua Ming said, sticking close to He Na. “Years later, it’ll be a romantic memory.”

“It’s only romantic with a handsome guy. With you, it’s a waste,” He Na teased.

“Except for my big face, I’m actually pretty handsome elsewhere,” Hua Ming replied earnestly. “Spend more time around me—you’ll see.”

The girls giggled, following Tang Zhong as they hurried toward the heart of Shanyu Nü Mountain. There were villages there; only in the village could they find lodging.

Zhou Wei still felt unwilling, so he slowed his group’s pace, deliberately merging with Tang Zhong’s group.

Then he walked up to Liang Tao and asked, “You want to pursue her?”

“You mean Qiu Yihan?” Liang Tao glanced at him, feigning ignorance.

“Who else?” Zhou Wei was nearly livid.

“Obviously,” Liang Tao said. “Unless he’s blind, what man wouldn’t like her?”

In his heart, he apologized to Hua Ming: Sorry, big brother. You’re not blind—just oblivious.

“Do you know her?” Zhou Wei pressed. “Besides her name, what else do you know? You know nothing—so how can you say you like her? Do you only care about a woman’s appearance?”

“I haven’t even started pursuing her—how would I know her?” Liang Tao retorted. “Besides, what do you know about her? What right have you to judge me?”

“Of course I know her,” Zhou Wei replied. “I know she loves food, loves travel, gets sick easily, I know her favorite drink, her favorite ice cream brand, the kind of dolls she likes, and that she’s very kind-hearted—”

There was something Zhou Wei didn’t say: he knew she came from a wealthy family; he’d seen her escorted by a crowd at the school gate.

“So what? Once I start pursuing her, I’ll get to know her,” Liang Tao’s comeback was weak. He truly knew nothing about Qiu Yihan, save her name and department.

“So you admit you’re only after her because she’s beautiful?” Zhou Wei sneered. “How shallow.”

“Who says liking beautiful girls is shallow?” Tang Zhong, walking ahead, turned back. “What man doesn’t like pretty girls?”

“From the perspective of color theory, men are especially drawn to beautiful colors. The love of beauty is universal. When men admire beautiful women, it’s an appreciation of beauty. Beauty is something that brings joy to the heart; it’s a perception of goodness. A beautiful woman brings a sense of pleasure to a man’s heart—so, in this sense, men’s attraction to beautiful women is a form of appreciation, an emotional response to beauty.”

“From a health perspective, men’s fondness for pretty women benefits their health. First, beautiful women please the eye. When a man sees an attractive woman, it quickly stimulates the optic nerves, eye muscles, and retina, accelerating blood circulation around the eyes and refreshing the spirit.”

“Second, beautiful women soothe the heart. Whether man, woman, or child, seeing a pretty woman is pleasing and uplifting.”

“Third, beautiful women calm the liver. Who could bear to lose their temper at a lovely woman?”

“Fourth, pretty women whet the appetite. ‘Feasting the eyes’—seeing several beautiful women a day is like enjoying a nutritious, well-balanced meal.”

“Fifth, beautiful women moisten the lungs. In their presence, one unconsciously salivates and holds their breath. With beautiful women nearby, lung capacity can reach up to 6,500.”

“Sixth, I read in the South University journal that beautiful women can strengthen the kidneys. Seeing a pretty woman generally prompts a man to secrete more male hormones, enhancing kidney function and physical health. Since beautiful women bring men so many benefits, why shouldn’t they pursue them?”

———

Watching Tang Zhong speak so eloquently and logically, Zhou Wei felt wronged enough to cry.

Is there anyone who bullies people like this?