Progress is Swift

On the way back from the gym, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Zhang Yang's muscles were engorged with blood, and he felt as if he had grown a size larger.

This is a common ailment for newcomers, colloquially known as the "newbie inflation period."

How to cure it? Usually, the soreness of the next day will force one back to their original form.

But at this moment, at least, Zhang Yang felt as if he had an inexhaustible supply of energy, itching to start a second training session immediately.

For the next several days, Zhang Yang seemed to have re-entered his previous weight-loss state, full of drive and passion. According to his coach, the progress speed of a novice in the initial stage of fitness is astonishing.

Under a strict and professional diet and training regimen, Zhang Yang could feel significant changes in himself almost every time.

Today was his weekly rest day.

Inside Ruijie Service Apartment:

Zhang Yang stood in front of the mirror, looking at his further reduced body fat and increasingly defined lines, and nodded with satisfaction.

Being lean, combined with increased training intensity and keeping up with supplements, diet, and rest, his progress was almost visible to the naked eye. Having an expert guide him really made a difference; he had no idea how many detours he had avoided.

He estimated that after eight cycles this month, the results would be absolutely remarkable.

If these were stacked into five years of results, he would undoubtedly be the ceiling of natural bodybuilding, a rising star in the domestic fitness circle.

Better not get ahead of myself. Zhang Yang took two steps and immediately put on a mask of agony.

Yesterday was his leg day.

It felt exhilarating while training, but after finishing and returning home, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His testosterone was exploding, and he almost couldn't resist "rewarding" himself. As a result, the moment he opened his eyes today, it was over—his legs were trembling just from walking.

"Hiss!" Zhang Yang held his legs and immediately called in sick.

Work is just a supplement to life; now that he couldn't even walk, was he supposed to go to work just because he had nothing better to do?

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

The breakfast was strictly portioned according to the plan made by his personal training studio. It was nutritious and balanced, far more reasonable than the breakfast combinations he had fumbled through on his own before.

After finishing his breakfast, Zhang Yang received a call from the technician delivering his massage chair, so he went out to meet them.

The massage chair was an Ogawa, a space-capsule master chair costing nearly fifty thousand. When he tried it out at the store, he felt it was incredibly comfortable, so he decided to order it without a second thought.

A moment later, Zhang Yang sat in the massage chair and closed his eyes slightly, feeling waves of pressure coming from all directions. A sense of comfort instantly enveloped him.

His previously sore and swollen thighs also slowly relaxed under the pressure.

Improvements in quality of life are subtle and silent, like rain moistening the earth. There is no need for fine silks or gold and silver; at this moment, the experience provided by a single massage chair surpassed everything else.

He didn't know how much time had passed when the phone placed to the side suddenly rang. Zhang Yang picked it up and took a look; it was a message from Bei Wei.

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

Zhang Yang: Had something come up, so I took the day off.

Bei Wei: Oh... never mind then.

Zhang Yang: Is everything okay with you?

A moment later, Bei Wei sent a photo. In the photo were two bento boxes filled with delicious-looking food, appearing fresh and appetizing.

Bei Wei: Two portions. I made one for you, but you didn't come again...

Zhang Yang examined the photo of the bento box Bei Wei sent, smiled, and replied: "Then I'll go downstairs at noon. Why don't you come to my car?"

Bei Wei: OK OK

Before lunch, Zhang Yang drove his Porsche over early, heading to the company building in a leisurely mood, and sent a message to Bei Wei along the way.

Inside the company, as lunch approached, Bei Wei was somewhat distracted, keeping an eye on her phone.

Then, a message came through, and her expression instantly lit up with joy.

"Bei Wei, I never see you around at lunch lately. Could it be that you've got something going on?" Sister Liu leaned over and asked with a meaningful look.

"No, no." Bei Wei shook her head, looking a bit flustered.

"I was just asking, look how nervous you are," Sister Liu said with a laugh. "How about we all eat together this noon?"

"Ah? This noon, I... I have something to do," Bei Wei said hesitantly.

"Going out to eat by yourself again?" Sister Liu exchanged glances with the other girls in the group, all of them seeing the amusement in each other's eyes. "Alright, alright, keeping it from us, are you?"

Bei Wei's cheeks flushed, and she said nothing.

When noon arrived, Bei Wei picked up the bag containing the bento box, stood up, and trotted out the door.

Behind her, her colleagues also stood up one after another, preparing to go out for lunch.

The female colleagues from the Design Department went downstairs chatting and laughing, and it was inevitable that they would talk about Bei Wei.

"That girl Bei Wei definitely has something going on, she just won't admit it," Sister Liu said, lowering her voice.

"Bei Wei has high standards; I wonder what kind of person she would take a fancy to," a female colleague nearby laughed.

As they whispered to each other, they took the elevator to the first floor.

"Hey, look over there!"

Someone discovered a "new world," grabbed the people around her, and pointed into the distance.

The girls from the Design Department all looked over in unison, only to see Bei Wei heading straight for a brand-new Porsche Cayenne in the parking lot downstairs, quietly opening the door and sliding into the driver's seat.

"Case closed!"

"So the mysterious Porsche guy is the reason Bei Wei has been acting so secretive these past few days!"

"No wonder all those young guys in the company had their hopes dashed; who could hope to pursue someone like Bei Wei without a bit of financial backing?"

Although the Porsche Cayenne was a common sight, a luxury car costing over a million was not something just anyone could afford. At the very least, in their eyes, anyone capable of driving a Cayenne must be quite well-off.

Inside the car, Bei Wei took out the lunchbox, spoons, and bowls, arranged the soup, and then looked at Zhang Yang with eyes full of anticipation.

"Brother Zhang, hurry and try it."

"Alright, you should eat too." Zhang Yang looked at the meal, which was a feast for the eyes and nose; while it might not have been overly complex, the effort put into it was clear. "You must have gotten up super early to make this, right?"

"Just a tiny bit earlier than usual." Bei Wei pursed her lips and smiled. "Brother Zhang, try these shrimp; I peeled them by hand, they're very fresh and sweet."

Inside the lunchbox were broccoli, stir-fried beef, peeled shrimp, tomato scrambled eggs... He truly hadn't expected that Bei Wei, who looked so fresh and sweet herself, would cook food that was equally refreshing. She used very little oil and salt, allowing him to taste the natural flavors of the ingredients themselves.

After finishing the meal, he followed it up with a bowl of corn and pork rib soup, leaving him feeling completely comfortable from the inside out.

"Bei Wei." Zhang Yang looked at Bei Wei, whose dark hair draped over her shoulders, looking fresh and sweet, and called her name.

Bei Wei met Zhang Yang's gaze and gave a soft hum.

Seeing Bei Wei lower her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling, Zhang Yang reached out and pulled her close. With almost no resistance, Bei Wei gently rested her head on his shoulder.

Isolated from the world outside the car, Zhang Yang listened to the immersive music while holding Bei Wei, whom he had once only been able to admire from afar, and for a moment, he marveled at the unpredictability of fate.

There is no greater satisfaction in life than this.