Aotian Combat Fitness Club

The next day, he woke refreshed.

Blinking, Lu Zheng changed into his inner robe, returned to ancient times, and drank a bowl of millet porridge Aunt Liu had cooked to sober up.

Feeling more alert, he returned to the modern world and began studying the Freezing Cold Curse.

But before he had read for long, the phone beside him rang. Lu Zheng picked it up and saw that Lin Wan was calling.

"Hello, Lin Wan."

"Lu Zheng, are you sober yet?"

"I am. Wuliangye, you know? Good liquor. The buzz doesn't last overnight."

"Hehe, how much did Wuliangye pay you? Luzhou Laojiao will pay double!"

"Why not Moutai?"

"Because Moutai doesn't need advertising." Lin Wan giggled. "Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet." Inspiration suddenly struck Lu Zheng.

"Come out and have breakfast with me, then I'll take you to the boxing gym."

"Okay."

Lu Zheng sighed. Lin Wan was a police officer—her logic was meticulous and her eyes sharp.

He had actually wanted to keep his distance from Lin Wan, but she was the one taking the initiative, and neither his mouth nor his legs would listen to him!

At the subway entrance, Lu Zheng saw Lin Wan waiting for him.

A fitted short-sleeved top and cropped denim pants showed off her height and long legs. Her lightly wheat-colored skin glowed with health, and she drew an astonishing number of second glances.

"Lu Zheng!"

The instant she saw Lu Zheng, the iceberg thawed. And along with that iceberg, the hearts of several young men nearby shattered as well.

"When did you get here?"

Taking off her sunglasses, Lin Wan replied, "Not long ago. Let's go get some porridge to settle your stomach. Team Leader Li really poured plenty into you yesterday. So? You really don't feel sick?"

"I really don't." Lu Zheng smiled.

"That's good."

The two found a porridge shop and ordered two bowls of porridge and a steamer of buns. After eating and drinking their fill, they took a taxi and reached their destination shortly after nine.

Aotian Combat Fitness Club.

"What kind of ridiculous name is that?" Lu Zheng could not help complaining.

"But it's memorable, isn't it?"

Lu Zheng could only nod. "Makes sense!"

"Although everyone in there knows each other, no one talks about work. They don't know what I do."

"Got it!"

The two went upstairs and entered through the main doors.

Despite its rather cringe-worthy name, the club occupied the entire third floor of the commercial building. The decor was simple, and every functional area was fully equipped.

"Sister Lin!"

"Sister Wan Wan!"

Greetings came without pause as they walked along.

"You're a celebrity!" Lu Zheng exclaimed.

"I've been here for two years, so I know a lot of people." Lin Wan casually returned the greetings as she led Lu Zheng to the front desk.

"Xiao Lu, get him a supplementary card linked to mine."

"Huh?" Xiao Lu froze when she heard that, then raised her head and gave Lu Zheng a careful look.

Lin Wan was an old client of the club, but she had never brought anyone here before. This was the first time she had brought someone along, and she was even getting him a linked supplementary card?

After all, all spending on a linked supplementary card was charged to the primary card. In other words, every expense Lu Zheng incurred at the club would go on Lin Wan's tab.

"Sister Wan Wan, is this your little brother?"

"No, a friend."

Xiao Lu's expression turned strange, though she kept it hidden as she said, "Sis, the club is running a promotion. There's a discount for new cards."

"No need."

"Not taking a bargain when there's one—isn't that, uh... so how do we get the card?"

Lin Wan turned back, her gaze blazing. "Are you going to charge me tuition?"

Lu Zheng stiffened, shut his mouth, and retreated.

"Just get him a supplementary card," Lin Wan said. "And get him a set of training clothes, a set of toiletries, fingerless boxing gloves, and protective gear."

"What brand of training clothes?"

"Li-Ning."

She paid, gave them his ID number and phone number, got the card, and collected the equipment.

By the time Lin Wan led Lu Zheng toward the changing room to change clothes, word had already spread through the club that its goddess had brought a pretty boy in to get a supplementary card.

In a small group chat:

"Holy shit?"

"Where did this pretty boy come from? He's actually living off Lin the goddess?"

"I saw him. A fresh young hunk!"

"Is he catering to her tastes and showing that he loves boxing too?"

"Hehe, isn't he afraid that he'll start working out and cry himself to exhaustion?"

"I wonder if he even dares to get in the ring?"

"Even if you lent him a few guts! But he won't only get in the ring with Lin Wan, right?"

"Holy shit?"

"I can picture it. I can't bear to look. I have to rescue little sister Wan Wan and tell her that pretty boys are unreliable!"

"I heard the Club Manager is on his way here!"

"Hiss!"

"Is that really necessary? Using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?"

"Hehe, don't you understand what the Club Manager is thinking?"

"Hehe, I admit the Club Manager is strong, but I also respect Lin Wan's taste."

"I took a screenshot."

"You fucking dare!"

In another small group chat:

"Sister Wan Wan brought a really handsome young guy here, and she even got him a supplementary card."

"How handsome? Post a picture!"

"Oh my, what kind of man could captivate Lin Wan? I thought she was destined to stay single."

"@Lin Wan, tell us, what's going on?"

"He's a friend I met through Murder Mystery. He's pretty skilled, so I brought him here."

"Hehe, your words don't match your heart. Then why get him a supplementary card?"

"Because he's pretty skilled. Getting the card counts as tuition for teaching me how to box."

"Bullshit! No matter how skilled he is, can he be better than the Club Manager? He teaches you for free, and you still won't learn from him!"

"Ahem, say what you want, but can you stop bringing up the Club Manager?"

"Tch, they're all young people. Haven't you seen how many people in the fitness area came here for the Club Manager?"

"I'm the one saying tch. I don't have a husband, so I don't need to come here for the Club Manager."

"You're getting off topic. We're talking about Lin Wan!"

"Right, Sister Wan Wan, what's that young guy's name? And just how 'skilled' is he?"

"Don't put 'skilled' in quotation marks!"

"Sister Wan Wan, he's really just an ordinary friend? Then I'm making my move, okay?"

Lin Wan ignored the previous message. Then she thought about the figure and looks of the girl who had sent the latter message, compared them with her own, tapped her fingers, and replied with two words, "Go ahead."

The so-called training outfit was simply two sleeveless tank tops and pairs of shorts, so he could alternate between them.

When Lu Zheng came out after changing, he felt that many people were sneaking glances at him.

What was going on?

Once he changed clothes, Lu Zheng's streamlined physique and the muscles on his arms could no longer be hidden.

Lin Wan's eyes lit up, and she walked over.

Lin Wan had changed as well. She wore a tight tank top on top and stretchy pants below, outlining her exquisite curves.

Her loose hair had been tied into a high ponytail behind her head, swishing back and forth behind her.

"So, how do we train?" Lu Zheng tried hard to keep his gaze on Lin Wan's face, looking straight ahead without letting his eyes wander.

"Want to warm up first?"

"Either works."

"Hey!" A girl suddenly appeared beside Lu Zheng and patted him on the shoulder. "You're way too unprofessional. Is this your first time at a gym?"

"Yes, my first time." Lu Zheng nodded. "Is there anything special about a gym?"

Isn't it just using all sorts of equipment to make yourself sweat while building muscle? "Come on, fitness is highly professional. Different equipment works different muscles, and there's an order to things, training times, and you have to match it to your own physical condition. Did you think working out meant just coming in and randomly lifting iron?"

Lu Zheng nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's exactly what I thought!"