Chapter 7, The Lady Lacks Competitiveness

Zhong Bi could no longer hold back, pulling on Zhang Shuo's sleeve, "I want to take a photo too, I want to take a photo too." Zhang Shuo was adjusting the exposure and focus with the camera, feeling a bit impatient, "Wait a moment, wait a moment." Zhong Bi was insistent, grabbing his arm, "No, no, I want to take a photo right now." Since the lady had no competitive edge, she decided to be relentless to the end.

Little did one know that the matter of weight gain would have far-reaching consequences and endless repercussions

The taxi drove all the way to the girls' dormitory, and at this moment, Zhong Bi felt extremely guilty, lowering her head in shame. She held Zhang's arm and said, "Boys are not allowed in the girls' dormitory, you should go back. Thank you for today, it was all my fault." Of course, it was all her fault

Zhang wiped the sweat from his face, panting as he said, "No, I shouldn't have pushed you. Which floor do you live on?" Zhong Bi replied, "The fourth floor." He frowned and turned to the dormitory administrator, saying, "Auntie, my classmate sprained her ankle. Can I take her upstairs?" After saying a lot of good words, the auntie finally agreed. Zhong Bi stood silently to the side.

Zhang looked at her with a carefree and rogue demeanor, feeling quite displeased. Knowing that losing weight was her lifelong endeavor, he deliberately aimed to undermine her, exclaiming in surprise: "Zhong Bi, you have a double chin"

Zhong Bi flicked the brand new money, making a crisp sound, and said with a sidelong glance: "Zhang Shuo, what a generous person." She thought indignantly: Hmph, how very generous! Last time when the two of them had Guilin rice noodles together at the cafeteria, why didn't he pay for her? Zhong Bi forgot that in a moment of excitement, she had impulsively grabbed the meal card and paid for both of them in one go. She should have let Zhang Shuo pay, and then found a way to repay him, creating an opportunity for the two of them to be alone together. Zhong Bi forgot that in a moment of excitement, she had impulsively grabbed the meal card and paid for both of them in one go. She should have let Zhang Shuo pay, and then found a way to repay him, creating an opportunity for the two of them to be alone together

Wei Jianping finally realized that one must never offend women, for they will always seek revenge

Wei Jianping then said, "I will take the photo for you." Zhong Bixin felt annoyed by his interruption and replied, "I don't want you to take it; it's Zhang who takes the best portraits. The light and shadow are just right, and I must have him take it." Zhang was staring at the camera, completely focused, and was disturbed by her antics. He reached out to push her away, saying, "Go away, stand aside, don't block the light."

Zhang looked her up and down, his face full of confusion. How could her sprained ankle have healed so quickly? With his high intelligence, if he still didn't understand that he had been played, he might as well jump into Weiming Lake. But he said nothing, only asked, "Is your foot better?" Zhong Bixin nodded sheepishly, "It's better. It was probably just a cramp, and it got better once I came back..." This only seemed to make things worse, and it was unclear whether he believed her.

Wei Jianping thought that she truly wanted to burn incense and pray to dispel her misfortunes, so he agreed, saying: "I used to lose money when going out, got hit while riding my bike, and failed my thesis. I also went to Yonghe Temple to burn incense, and afterwards, I indeed had good luck, achieving a distinction in my exam"

On the weekend, a group of people arrived at the botanical garden in high spirits. The spring sunshine was bright, flowers were blooming everywhere, and there were many visitors, bustling and jostling. Everyone split up to explore, while Zhong Bi was still thinking of ways to ask Zhang to go together. Yuan Lan had already tugged at his sleeve, saying, "Zhang, let's go to Cherry Valley to take photos together." Zhong Bi glared at them walking side by side, feeling a surge of jealousy. He nudged Wei Jianping and said, "Let's also go to Cherry Valley; I heard the scenery there is quite nice."

Zhang nudged her thigh upward and the first thing he said was: "Why are you so heavy!"

Zhong Bi was extremely excited as she climbed onto Zhang Shuo's back, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and playfully moving around near his collarbone, unabashedly taking liberties. His skin was smooth and slick, cool to the touch, and felt so good that it made her restless.

Zhong Bi listened nearby, gritting his teeth. Upon seeing the sign indicating that the Left path leads to the Reclining Buddha Temple, he was determined not to let Yuan Lan succeed. Without considering the consequences, he rushed over to position himself between the two, deliberately separating them, and said loudly, "Let's go to the Reclining Buddha Temple, let's go to the Reclining Buddha Temple." Zhang did not respond. Yuan Lan asked curiously, "What are we going to the Reclining Buddha Temple for?" Zhong Bi smiled innocently, "To burn incense, of course. Haven't you noticed that recently the fortune has not been favorable, and one keeps encountering some petty people?" He intentionally emphasized the term "petty people," which was clearly directed at Yuan Lan, but he glanced back at Wei Jianping, not daring to be too overt.

Upon hearing these words, Zhong Bi felt as if she had been struck by a sudden realization, as if enlightened. From the perspective of her peers, she represented the ideal figure in the eyes of women, with a well-proportioned physique and a harmonious blend of slenderness and fullness. However, when viewed through the lens of the opposite sex, it might not be perceived in the same way. Yuan Lan indeed possessed a voluptuous figure, exuding charm and grace, reminiscent of the spirit of Yang Guifei. She was quite indignant and shouted at Wei Jianping, "What about me, what about me?" She was unwilling to accept being in the background, especially not in a position of disadvantage, particularly when it came to a romantic rival.

Oh. Zhang said to hand the fruit to her, said nothing, and turned to leave

After a long delay, Zhong Bi finally climbed to the fourth floor, feeling extremely anxious inside. This wicked woman, she would eventually face divine retribution! She blocked the door to the dormitory, preventing him from entering, and turned her head to say, "You should go, I'm fine." He asked with concern, "Are you sure?" Zhong Bi nodded emphatically, "Sure. Hurry and leave, if you don't go soon, the truth will be revealed."

This further solidified Zhong Bi's determination to lose weight at all costs

Little did they know that the steps made of blue stone at the Reclining Buddha Temple seemed endless, as if they were hanging straight down from the sky, leading up layer upon layer. After climbing less than halfway, Zhong Bi leaned on her knees and wiped her sweat vigorously, saying, "Let's take a break." Wei Jianping teased her, "You are really useless, getting tired after just a few steps." Zhong Bi retorted, "Who is it that screams twice upon seeing a cockroach?" Wei Jianping quickly fell silent.

Zhong Bi said seriously: "What's wrong with believing in this? Even the folklore teachers believe in this." He then urged everyone, saying, "Come on, come on, it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't; after all, it won't cost you anything."

Yuan Lan said, "Hey, hey, hey, we are discussing an issue right now, can we wait a moment before making the payment?" Although her words were polite, her expression was entirely different, showing clear impatience. Zhong Bi cursed her in her heart for "putting on an act," while smilingly saying, "Just pay first, so I don't have to run back and forth." Zhang Shuo lowered his head to look for his wallet. Yuan Lan pushed the book aside, crossed her arms, and said, "Zhang Shuo, can you cover for me first? I will pay you back later." Zhang Shuo took out a fifty and handed it to Zhong Bi, but his eyes were on Yuan Lan, saying, "No need to pay me back."

Yuan Lan held the camera and took pictures haphazardly. Upon seeing a broken stone sculpture lying in a pile of weeds by the roadside, he handed the camera to Zhang Shuo, bounced over, and sat on it, saying, "Zhang Shuo, Zhang Shuo, take a picture of me." After taking one photo after another, he hugged the stone and then embraced a tree. Zhang Shuo, being good-natured, obliged every request.

As usual, the evening was reserved for the club's group activities. Recently, Zhong Bi had developed a hearty appetite, spending significantly more time lingering in the cafeteria. By the time she arrived, everyone was already present, with her being the only one missing. She noticed Yuan Lan whispering to Zhang Shuo, which displeased her. Moreover, Zhang Shuo kept leaning in to listen to her, nodding occasionally, which seemed quite intimate, further aggravating her feelings. She rushed up to the two of them, extending her hand for money, "Zhang Shuo, Zhang Shuo, the membership fee for the weekend trip to the botanical garden." The club had organized a spring outing to the botanical garden for the weekend, with each person required to contribute twenty yuan, and Zhong Bi was acting as the temporary treasurer. She noticed Yuan Lan whispering to Zhang Shuo, which displeased her. Moreover, Zhang Shuo kept leaning in to listen to her, nodding occasionally, which seemed quite intimate, further aggravating her feelings. She rushed up to the two of them, extending her hand for money, "Zhang Shuo, Zhang Shuo, the membership fee for the weekend trip to the botanical garden." The club had organized a spring outing to the botanical garden for the weekend, with each person required to contribute twenty yuan, and Zhong Bi was acting as the temporary treasurer.

When the roommate returned and saw the corridor filled with drying clothes, and then noticed Zhong Bi leisurely sitting in front of the computer sipping coffee, they were astonished and asked, "Did you wash all of this?" Zhong Bi nodded, wiped his mouth elegantly, and replied, "Yes, and I hand-washed them; the washing machine doesn't clean them well." The roommate clicked their tongue in surprise, wondering if Zhong Bi had actually become diligent, could it be that the heavens were raining red? "In this day and age, there are many strange occurrences, like a boat capsizing in a well or a fire breaking out in a river..." humming a tune, they went downstairs to the cafeteria for a meal.

Zhong Bi looked at his departing figure with unparalleled frustration

Four people in two groups, one in front and one behind, are climbing up. Yuan Lan is discussing with Zhang, "There is a pool of mountain spring water at Cherry Valley, with a large boulder in the middle, which is quite beautiful. I have always wanted to stand there for a photo, but unfortunately, I never had the chance. Please take a picture for me later." Zhang agreed.

Zhong Bi was momentarily overwhelmed with shame and anger, and decided to resolutely continue her weight loss plan, unwavering and unyielding, with no one able to stop her—including Zhang. Women in the 21st century should not live solely for men, but also for themselves.

For a period of time, Zhong Bi was struggling with whether or not to gain weight. Perhaps Zhang also preferred women who were a bit fuller? After all, men's perspectives on women are generally similar. After countless internal debates, in pursuit of the dawn of love's victory, she decided to take the plunge. Thus, for dinner, she no longer limited herself to just fruit salad and clear soup, but instead opted for curry beef rice, and for a late-night snack, she enjoyed a cup of Mengniu's large fruit yogurt

Deserved it

Zhang's hand crossed in front of Zhong Bi's chest, half-embracing her as they climbed the stairs. "Does your foot still hurt? It's alright, take your time walking," he said. Zhong Bi felt his arm brush against her chest, her face flushed as she stole a glance at him, but he showed no signs of discomfort. Zhang appeared anxious, repeatedly saying, "Alright, take it slow, take it slow..." fearing that he might hurt her again.

Zhong Bi, feeling both guilty and smug, remained silent from beginning to end, pretending to be dead and alive, humming and hawing.

Yuan Lan was skeptical, "Is it true or false?"

Zhong Bi watched his figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, quickly opened the door and went in, stuffing all the scattered underwear, bras, and socks from the bed, chair, stool, and floor into the basin, then grabbed the bucket and happily went to wash the clothes

Zhang noticed that she seemed reluctant to say much. He initially intended to give her some advice, but ultimately just nodded and said, "Alright, I will take my leave now. Call me if you need anything." After saying this, he hurriedly left.

Zhong Bi, with a face full of anger, pointed at his nose and gritted his teeth, saying: "I want to report you to Xiao Wei, saying that you have not changed your lecherous nature, that you are insatiable, eating from the bowl while looking at the pot!"

Zhong Bi's "rivals in love" include both men and women, both obvious and hidden, both large and small, both Chinese and Western. Peking University's ethos is "freedom, democracy, and science," so it generally does not interfere in students' romantic issues. For a period, Zhong Bi was very suspicious of Zhang Shuo's sexual orientation, feeling tense all day long. Later, when she confirmed that he was not homosexual, she felt a great sense of relief. If Zhang Shuo were truly like "Mount Abandoning the Arm," she could only weep silently and jump into Zhongnanhai.

Zhang was quite annoyed by the endless banter between the two, and handed over a bottle of mineral water. Zhong Bi asked, "Have you drunk from it?" Zhang's expression was somewhat unpleasant, "I only took a small sip—do you want it or not?" Zhong Bi quickly took it, nodding vigorously, "Yes, yes, yes." Of course she wanted it! Although she didn't like to come into contact with other people's germs, since it was from Zhang, it was naturally a different matter; love for the house extends to the crow.

Zhong Bi hummed and hawed for half a day without being able to speak. She wasn't injured anywhere, just that her bottom had split into two, looking rather disheveled. Seeing everyone surrounding her, Zhang appeared as if she wished to commit suicide to atone for her sins. She was about to say it was nothing, swallowed her words, and deliberately furrowed her brow, inhaling sharply, with a mournful expression on her face, saying: "My foot hurts"

Zhang said that nothing serious had happened to her, wiped his sweat, and remarked, "It’s probably just a sprain." He helped her up. In order to act more convincingly, Zhong Bi stood on one leg, striking a pose reminiscent of a golden rooster standing alone, a unique sight. Her fall dampened everyone's enthusiasm for the outing, prompting Wei Jianping to suggest, "Let’s head back." Zhong Bi, with a face full of distress, said, "My foot..." Zhang glanced at her, tossed the camera to Yuan Lan, turned his back to Zhong Bi, and half-squatted, saying, "I’ll carry you." Her fall had indeed diminished everyone's excitement for the outing, leading Wei Jianping to propose, "Let’s head back." Zhong Bi, looking quite miserable, said, "My foot..." Zhang glanced at her, tossed the camera to Yuan Lan, turned his back to Zhong Bi, and half-squatted, saying, "I’ll carry you."

A single remark drew the attention of those around her, who began to chatter excitedly: "Zhong Bi has indeed gained weight, look, look, she even has a little belly now..."

Zhang disdainfully said: "Wei Jianping, it's surprising that you, as a materialist, actually believe in this."

A few people, under her half-pleading and half-coercive insistence, had no choice but to head towards the Reclining Buddha Temple

Wei Jianping glanced at her and scoffed, "You? Princess Taiping!" At that time, she was very diligent in her weight loss efforts

Little did they know, Zhong Bi was standing on tiptoe on the steps, swaying her body to the rhythm of the music in her ears. Zhang casually gave her a push, and she lost her balance, tumbling backward with the force. Before anyone could react, she had already fallen to the ground with a loud thud. Zhang was startled and quickly crouched down to support her, asking, "Zhong Bi, Zhong Bi, what happened to you?" His voice changed pitch in urgency, his expression anxious, and his face turned pale with fear.

Zhong Bi's primary rival in love is Yuan Lan

Zhang said he is not a muscular man, and the mountain is steep, making Wu feel exhausted, panting heavily and sweating profusely. However, when Wei Jianping could no longer stand it and asked to carry the bell pen, he firmly refused, saying, "It's nothing, this is the trouble I caused." Yuan Lan, who was standing by, remarked, "Bell pen, you are indeed a disaster." This greatly displeased Zhang.

The next day, Zhang said he brought a large bag of fruit to comfort her, but instead saw her holding an ice cream cone in each hand, licking one and then the other, with a look of complete enjoyment on her face. When Zhongbi came out of the convenience store and saw him, his mind immediately went blank, thinking, "This is it, this is it, my image is completely ruined. How could he come to the girls' dormitory?"

Four individuals left the main force and returned early

Yuan Lan is also from Guanghua School of Management; those who can enter Guanghua are not "humans," at least not of the same kind as her. Yuan Lan has straight hair, an oval face, small eyes, fair skin, a few freckles on her face, and a curvaceous figure; she has a small canine tooth that shows when she smiles. Her family background should be quite good, as even her casual makeup bag is from Dior. Zhong Bi initially did not regard her highly, thinking that although she is beautiful, she cannot be considered stunning. However, Wei Jianping, who has Xiao Wei, said with a lewd smile: "When Yuan Lan smiles, her eyes squint into a slit, her mouth curls outward, both sexy and cute. Also, holding her in my arms must feel very comfortable."