Rapid Progress

On the way back after working out, Zhang Yang looked up at the moonlit sky, its stars sparse. His muscles were pumped, and he felt as if he'd grown a whole size.

It was a common beginner's problem, commonly known as newbie gains.

How did you cure it? Usually, the soreness the next day brought you back down to earth.

But at least for now, Zhang Yang felt as if he had boundless energy. He couldn't wait to start his second workout.

For several days in a row, Zhang Yang seemed to have returned to the state he'd been in when he first started losing weight: highly motivated and full of enthusiasm. According to his coach, beginners made astonishing progress when they first started training.

With a strict, professionally planned diet and training regimen, Zhang Yang could feel a noticeable difference almost every time.

That day was his weekly rest day.

Inside Ruijie Service Apartment:

Zhang Yang stood in front of the mirror, looking at his lower body fat and increasingly defined muscles. He nodded in satisfaction.

He was lean, and his training intensity had increased. His supplements, diet, and rest were all on point, so his progress was practically visible to the naked eye. Having an expert guide him really made a difference. He couldn't imagine how many wrong turns he'd avoided.

After eight cycles over the course of this month, he expected the results to be remarkable.

And if he kept it up for five years, he'd be at the pinnacle of natural bodybuilding—a rising star in China's fitness scene.

"I'd better not get carried away." Zhang Yang took a couple of steps, then immediately grimaced in pain.

The previous day had been leg day.

The workout itself had been brutal, and afterward he'd tossed and turned all night. His testosterone had been through the roof, and he'd almost given himself a reward. But when he opened his eyes that morning, he realized he was in trouble: even walking made his legs tremble.

"Yikes!" Zhang Yang held onto his leg and went straight to request a day off.

Work was just something to break up the monotony of life. His legs could barely carry him. Why would he go to work when he had nothing better to do?

After requesting leave, Zhang Yang sat down and leisurely finished his breakfast.

It had been carefully portioned according to the plan from his personal training studio. Nutritious and well-balanced, it was much more sensible than the breakfast combinations he'd come up with on his own.

After breakfast, Zhang Yang got a call from the deliveryman bringing his massage chair, so he went out to meet him.

It was an Ogawa massage chair, a Master series space capsule model that cost just under fifty thousand yuan. When he'd tried it out in the store, it had felt incredible, so he'd decided to buy it without a second thought.

A little while later, Zhang Yang sat in the massage chair with his eyes half-closed, feeling waves of pressure wash over him from every direction. A sense of bliss instantly enveloped him.

His aching, swollen thighs slowly relaxed under the massage.

Improving your quality of life happened gradually, like the silent nourishment of a spring rain. There was no need to dress in silks, eat delicacies, or adorn yourself with gold and silver. Right now, the massage chair alone had given Zhang Yang an experience that surpassed everything else.

He didn't know how much time had passed when his phone, lying nearby, suddenly rang. Zhang Yang picked it up and saw a message from Bei Wei.

Bei Wei: Brother Zhang, how come you didn't come in today?

Zhang Yang: I had something to take care of, so I took the day off.

Bei Wei: Oh... never mind, then.

Zhang Yang: Is something wrong?

A moment later, Bei Wei sent a photo. It showed two lunch boxes, both prepared with care and looking delicious. They seemed light and appetizing.

Bei Wei: There are two. I made one for you, but then you didn't come...

Zhang Yang studied the photo of the lunch boxes Bei Wei had sent and smiled as he replied, "Then I'll come downstairs at noon. How about you come out to my car?"

Bei Wei: OK, OK.

Before lunch, Zhang Yang drove his Porsche to the office and parked downstairs. He sent Bei Wei a message on the way.

As lunchtime approached, Bei Wei kept glancing at her phone, distracted from work.

Then a message arrived, and her face immediately lit up.

"Bei Wei, I haven't seen you around at lunch lately. Don't tell me you've got someone?" Sister Liu asked, leaning over with a knowing smile.

"No, no." Bei Wei shook her head, flustered.

"I was just asking. Look how nervous you are." Sister Liu laughed. "How about the few of us eat together today?"

"Ah? Today at noon, I... I have something to do," Bei Wei stammered.

"Going out to eat by yourself again?" Sister Liu exchanged a glance with the other women on the team. They all saw the amusement in one another's eyes. "All right, all right. You're keeping secrets from us, huh?"

Bei Wei's cheeks turned red, but she said nothing.

When noon came, Bei Wei picked up the bag containing the lunch boxes and hurried out.

Behind her, her coworkers got up one after another, ready to go out for lunch.

The women from the Design Department chatted as they headed downstairs together, and naturally, the conversation turned to Bei Wei.

"That girl Bei Wei is definitely seeing someone. She just won't admit it," Sister Liu said in a lowered voice.

"Bei Wei has high standards. I wonder what kind of person she'd go for," one of the women joked.

They chatted quietly as they rode the elevator down to the first floor.

"Hey, look!"

Someone seemed to have made an astonishing discovery. She grabbed the people beside her and pointed toward the distance.

The women from the Design Department all turned to look. In the parking lot downstairs, Bei Wei headed straight for a brand-new Porsche Cayenne, quietly opened the door, and got in.

"Mystery solved!"

"So the mysterious Porsche guy was behind it! That's why Bei Wei's been sneaking around these past few days!"

"No wonder all those young guys at the company had no chance. What made them think they could pursue Bei Wei without money?"

Porsche Cayennes were common enough, but a luxury car worth over a million yuan wasn't something just anyone could afford. At least in their eyes, anyone who could drive a Cayenne had to be well-off.

Inside the car, Bei Wei took out the lunch boxes, spoons, bowls, and chopsticks, then set out the soup. After that, she looked at Zhang Yang expectantly.

"Brother Zhang, hurry and try it."

"Sure. You should eat too." Zhang Yang looked at the delicious spread. It might not have been elaborate, but it was full of care. "You got up early to make all this, didn't you?"

"I got up just a little bit early." Bei Wei smiled, pressing her lips together. "Brother Zhang, try this shrimp. I peeled it myself. It's really sweet and fresh."

The lunch boxes held broccoli, stir-fried beef, peeled shrimp, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Zhang Yang hadn't expected someone as sweet and fresh-faced as Bei Wei to make food that was just as light and refreshing. She'd used very little oil and salt, so he could taste the ingredients themselves.

After finishing the meal, they had a bowl of corn and pork rib soup. A feeling of comfort filled him inside and out.

"Bei Wei." Zhang Yang glanced at her beside him, her black hair falling over her shoulders and her appearance sweet and fresh, and called her name.

Bei Wei met his gaze and gave a soft "Mm."

Zhang Yang watched as she lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling. He reached out and drew her into his arms. She offered hardly any resistance, gently resting her head on his shoulder.

With the car shielding them from the outside world, Zhang Yang listened to the immersive music and held Bei Wei, someone he'd once only been able to admire from afar. For a moment, he felt the unpredictability of fate.

There was nothing better than having life go your way.