I'm Surrounded by Beauties

At 10 a.m., Zhou Yi and his group officially set off from the hotel.

Everyone had been styled for the occasion, with Zhou Yi and Xie Tingwan undoubtedly being the most eye-catching.

Xie Tingwan wore a light blue princess dress that perfectly accentuated the charm of an Eastern beauty.

Zhou Yi, on the other hand, was dressed in a suit, his hair neatly styled in a side part, exuding elegance and an air of integrity.

The venue for the banquet was the campus of the competition’s host, Lanz University.

Lanz University was one of the world’s top-ranked institutions, having hosted the mathematical modeling competition since its inception.

It boasted the best mathematics program globally, with countless mathematical geniuses emerging from its halls.

Upon arrival, Zhou Yi and his group saw other teams who had also dressed up for the occasion.

In total, there were over eighty teams participating, though not all had ten members.

Most countries had only three spots, but due to China’s consistently outstanding performance in past competitions, they were granted ten spots.

After their arrival, a student guide introduced them to the banquet’s activities and attendees.

Zhou Yi glanced around—everywhere he looked were handsome men and beautiful women in formal attire, especially the women, each with their own distinct style and allure.

Guests mingled with glasses in hand, chatting in small groups rather than sitting and waiting for the meal to begin.

As Zhou Yi’s group entered, people approached to greet them, and soon they dispersed to mingle with different circles.

Unsurprisingly, Zhou Yi found himself surrounded by women.

"Zhou, you’re the most handsome Asian boy I’ve ever seen."

"Your English is impeccable—I almost thought you were a local Chinese-American."

"Zhou, we’re hosting a party the day after tomorrow. Would you like to come? My friends would be thrilled if you joined."

"Zhou, you look like a celebrity."

"Zhou, your face is a gift from the gods..."

People from Western countries were never stingy with their compliments, and these women praised Zhou Yi with bright, enthusiastic smiles.

Most of them were university students, eager to socialize, and naturally drawn to someone as attractive as Zhou Yi.

While many were initially captivated by his looks, they soon discovered he was also incredibly interesting in conversation.

From a distance, Xie Tingwan watched Zhou Yi encircled by admirers, a fleeting look of disappointment in her eyes.

No matter where he went, Zhou Yi was always the center of attention.

"I’m sorry, but I already have other plans and won’t be able to attend your party. It’s a shame."

Several girls had invited Zhou Yi to hang out after the competition, but he declined them all.

His schedule was already packed.

Besides, their parties couldn’t compare to those hosted by Jones and Albedo, and Zhou Yi wasn’t keen on rushing from one social event to another. He had no intention of becoming a social butterfly.

"That’s too bad. Do you have OTO? Could we exchange contact information?"

"Of course."

By the end of the banquet, Zhou Yi had added dozens of new contacts—both men and women, including a few who were gay.

He hadn’t expected to attract attention from the same sex, but he didn’t turn them away either.

They were all polite, simply expressing their admiration.

His contact list had grown by over sixty people in one evening.

These students loved sharing their lives on social media, using their real names and photos as profile pictures—a cultural difference from Chinese platforms—so Zhou Yi didn’t need to manually label each one.

Putting his phone away, Zhou Yi took a seat. Soon, a beautiful girl approached, lifting the hem of her dress as she invited him to dance.

"Zhou, may I have the honor of sharing the first dance with you?"

Fortunately, Zhou Yi had come prepared. Dancing was a must-have skill in Western social settings—whether you were good at it or not, everyone did it.

But with a smile, he politely declined. "I’m sorry, my dear, but I’ve already promised another lady. What a pity."

His gaze shifted, and sure enough, Xie Tingwan was watching him from afar.

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow at her. Xie Tingwan’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she smiled back.

She watched as Zhou Yi said something to the girl before rising and walking toward her.

Bending slightly, Zhou Yi extended his hand with an elegant smile.

"May I have the honor of this dance, beautiful lady?"

[Xie Tingwan’s affection points +2]

Placing her hand in his, Xie Tingwan replied playfully, "So you just turned down another lovely girl, didn’t you?"

With one hand holding hers and the other resting on her waist, Zhou Yi guided her into a slow waltz.

Leaning close, he murmured by her ear, "Because an even more beautiful lady was waiting for me."

Xie Tingwan didn’t deny it, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "How did you know I was waiting for you?"

"Many men asked you to dance, yet you refused them all. Wasn’t it for me? If not, then I’m still honored—after all, you said yes to me first, didn’t you, Miss Xie?"

"Mr. Zhou, you’re very clever. Yes, I was waiting for you."

This was only the second time they had been this close—the first being at the internet café.

But this moment felt entirely different.

Back then, her feelings for Zhou Yi had been nothing more than a faint flicker of interest.

Now, her heart raced uncontrollably.

She was utterly captivated by his charm.

Even when Zhou Yi chatted and laughed with other women, his gaze never held anything vulgar or inappropriate—only warmth, kindness, and the demeanor of a true gentleman.

It always reminded her of her two brothers, who were nothing like him.

Even the suitors she’d met during matchmaking sessions had subtle expressions that left her uncomfortable.

Ever since meeting Zhou Yi, Xie Tingwan had unconsciously compared every man to him.

The conclusion was always the same: Zhou Yi surpassed them all.

It was impossible not to fall for him.

Day by day, the realization grew stronger—no one could ever replace Zhou Yi in her heart.

She knew she had fallen for him.

But now wasn’t the time to confess.

Her family situation was too complicated, and she didn’t want to drag Zhou Yi into it.

In the past, she would have schemed to use anyone she could.

Yet for the first time, Xie Tingwan—a woman who calculated every move—found herself unwilling to exploit a man.