A moment later, the food arrived, and the two of them chatted as they ate.
"Your best friend didn't say anything when you got back last night, did she?" Zhang Yang asked as he ate his fragrant char siu rice.
"Let's not worry about that." Bei Wei gave an awkward smile. "You've seen how outspoken my best friend is, right? But don't take it to heart. She's just sharp-tongued; deep down, she's kind and good-hearted."
"Sounds like she definitely had something unpleasant to say," Zhang Yang said. "Oh well, she and I can stay out of each other's way. We didn't know each other to begin with. I just don't understand why she reacted so strongly."
"She was worried I'd get hurt." Bei Wei stole a glance at Zhang Yang as she gently nudged the grains of rice around with her chopsticks.
"She's only your roommate, but she worries about you like a parent." Zhang Yang couldn't help laughing. He looked at Bei Wei, who had lowered her eyes, and began to understand. Then he reached over and took her hand.
"You can trust me, Bei Wei."
At least at that moment, Zhang Yang meant every word.
Bei Wei lowered her chin, let Zhang Yang hold her hand, and gave a soft hum.
After the meal, the two of them left the restaurant one after the other.
At that moment, Xiang Youde had just finished lunch at the Chinese fast-food restaurant across the street.
Ever since Zhang Yang had started acting on his own, Xiang Youde hadn't ordered any large dishes, like clay pot meals, in a while. Lately, he'd had to make do with a few servings of meat and vegetables.
He was just about to head to the convenience store to buy a bottle of water.
"Huh? Is that Zhang Yang across the street?" Xiang Youde rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have seen wrong.
He'd actually spotted Zhang Yang walking out of the restaurant across the street, followed by a pretty young woman. She looked a lot like Bei Wei.
"No way. That can't be right."
Xiang Youde shook his head hard. He refused to believe those two people, who had nothing to do with each other, could be connected.
That afternoon, while Zhang Yang was at work, he kept getting the feeling that Xiang Youde had something to say.
"Hey, is something on your mind?" Zhang Yang asked curiously.
"Zhang Yang, where did you eat lunch today?" Xiang Youde asked with an awkward smile.
"Somewhere around here. Why do you ask?" Zhang Yang asked, blinking.
"I think I saw you at lunch. I also saw Bei Wei," Xiang Youde said tentatively. He hadn't gotten a clear look, though; he'd only thought it might be them.
"Bei Wei? How come I didn't see her? Maybe you got the wrong person," Zhang Yang muttered, then went back to work.
Xiang Youde scratched his head, deciding he must have been mistaken after all.
By evening, the day's busy work had finally come to an end.
After work, Zhang Yang headed straight to a high-end personal training studio he'd picked out earlier.
There was no denying that commercial gyms had a great atmosphere and a wide range of equipment, but personal training studios had their own advantages.
For example, their trainers were more professional, mostly industry veterans with over ten years of experience. They also focused more on tailoring their services to each member, creating a complete plan based on each person's needs.
Zhang Yang needed a comprehensive, customized plan for the next month to maximize his results. As for the cost, what difference would a little more or less make? To him, it was a matter of a day or two's income.
"Mr. Zhang, let me show you around first," said the person who was showing him around the studio. He was one of its partners, had competed in many contests, and was said to be very close to earning a pro card.
He hadn't earned one, but there were only a handful of people in the country with professional cards—perhaps no more than a dozen. Being close meant his skills were still quite impressive.
Zhang Yang followed him around the studio.
It naturally couldn't compare in size to a commercial gym, but it was fair to call it small and well-appointed. There was an equipment area with a full set of Hammer Strength machines and free weights, as well as a cardio area with an iCROCK treadmill, a stair climber, and more...
It was certainly well-equipped.
The studio currently had ten male and female trainers. All were qualified professionals with at least five years of experience and all the necessary certifications. Their main clientele consisted of high-income people who cared about their health and physique.
"Mr. Zhang, I assume your goal is to build muscle?" the partner asked casually.
After all, Zhang Yang was now 180 centimeters tall and weighed 70 kilograms. Building muscle really was the only thing left for him to focus on.
"Yes, that's what I need right now." Zhang Yang honestly explained what he was looking for. "I need a comprehensive plan covering everything from diet to training. It has to produce results in the shortest possible time."
He didn't mention a month. Fitness was usually measured in years, and if he said he only needed a month, they might think he wasn't taking it seriously enough.
They had no idea that the results he achieved in that one month could actually be converted into five years' worth of progress.
"Are you usually busy with work?" the partner continued, trying to learn more about Zhang Yang's situation.
"I can manage my own time every evening," Zhang Yang replied.
"Then I can set you up with a three-day split. You'll complete one cycle every three days, working each muscle group twice a week and taking a day off after each cycle. This will help you build the framework for your physique in the shortest time. It's also the fastest way for beginners to see results," the partner said.
Zhang Yang considered it.
Trying to rush things could backfire. For a complete beginner like him, training his whole body once every three days was already the most his body could handle. After all, the body needed time to recover.
"Sounds good." Zhang Yang nodded. "Can you train me?"
The partner was the most skilled person at the studio. Even through his clothes, Zhang Yang could feel the powerful impression made by the muscular contours beneath them.
"No problem. Let me show you the prices." The partner was straightforward and got right to the point.
The studio offered packages by the session as well as all-inclusive plans. The all-inclusive option covered comprehensive training guidance and dietary supplements, but it also came at a steep price and was billed monthly.
"I'll try one month of the all-inclusive package first." Zhang Yang glanced at the price. It really was expensive, but if it got him the results he wanted, it would be worth it.
A short while later, Zhang Yang completed a full-body assessment at the studio. They checked his skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage. According to the studio, once a client had paid, they had to guarantee results. Rather than make promises, they'd show his progress with data.
"Your body fat is currently 18 percent, which is quite good. Your skeletal muscle mass does need to increase, but beginners have the advantage of a growth phase. As long as you follow the plan, you'll make rapid progress at first." The trainer went over the assessment report in detail and explained it to Zhang Yang.
"Eighteen percent?" Zhang Yang thought it over. There were still more than twenty days left in the month. With strict dieting and training, dropping to 15 percent shouldn't be too difficult.
Based on Zhang Yang's current condition, the studio put together a detailed plan covering his diet, supplements, and training...
That night, Zhang Yang started his first workout at the studio.
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