You Are the April Sky

April was always imbued with all kinds of beautiful meanings.

And this April, Zhang Yang was living a fulfilling and incredibly wonderful life.

Day after day, he worked out, watching his body change with each passing day as his muscles gradually took shape, leaving behind what people called the marks of training.

His relationship with Bei Wei flowed like a gentle stream, unhurried and steady. Zhang Yang wasn't in any rush to move things forward. Instead, he was enjoying every moment, as if making up for the student days he'd missed.

When work was just a pastime and he no longer had to earn a living, Zhang Yang's relaxed, natural approach actually sparked countless ideas while he was putting together the proposal for the Shihong Group.

"Zhang Yang, your proposal is almost exactly in line with what I had in mind."

During their discussions, Tang Leyi from the Shihong Group said this after reading the proposal.

As Zhang Yang replied, he couldn't help but reflect.

Back when he'd worked himself to the bone to make ends meet, it had been common for clients to reject his proposals. But this time, simply doing things his own way had left the other party completely satisfied. It really was true that flowers planted with care might not bloom, while willows planted by chance could grow into shade.

And that wasn't the only good thing.

As the days went by, he kept earning his daily twenty thousand yuan, and in just over half a month, he'd saved nearly half a million.

At last, his cash reserves were starting to look respectable.

The May Day holiday was just around the corner, and everyone in the company was eagerly counting down the days.

On the last weekend before the holiday, Zhang Yang drove Bei Wei to Lingang in the Magic City to see the sea.

Just before sunset, the sky met the sea.

Zhang Yang parked on the embankment and watched Bei Wei walk along the beach in the distance, her long hair blowing in the sea breeze.

Far away stood the East Sea Bridge. The horizon stretched over the sea, and the setting sun sank beneath the waves.

All around them, the world was bathed in gold.

"Brother Zhang!" Over the sound of the waves, Bei Wei waved both arms high. Her thin skirt fell to her knees, leaving her long, fair legs uncovered.

With a smile, Zhang Yang took out his phone and snapped a quick picture.

Before long, Bei Wei came running over, her cheeks flushed from the run.

Zhang Yang opened his arms as Bei Wei rushed into them.

With the tide and waves murmuring in his ears, and strands of her hair tickling his nose, Zhang Yang held the soft, sweet-smelling Bei Wei close and felt a little wistful.

How had he been so slow to realize that being in love could feel this wonderful?

What a waste of time.

He'd nearly turned thirty. Luckily, the system had stepped in to save him, giving him a chance to wake up and make up his mind to change at this point in his life.

"Brother Zhang." Bei Wei's soft call brought Zhang Yang back to the present.

"Hmm?"

He had barely answered when he felt something soft and damp against his cheek. By the time he came to his senses, Bei Wei had already darted out of his arms like a gust of wind.

"Teasing me, are you?" Zhang Yang was easy to tease. He immediately took a few steps forward and pulled Bei Wei back into his arms amid a string of laughter.

Night fell. Downstairs from Bei Wei's apartment building,

Zhang Yang and Bei Wei hugged goodbye, and he watched her disappear into the stairwell.

"Guess I'll go work out." Feeling that he had energy to burn, Zhang Yang turned the car around and headed straight for the personal training studio.

Today was leg day again. Thinking about the agony that would linger for days afterward, he couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive.

Inside the personal training studio, cries of pain rang out without pause.

"Ah!"

"Yikes!"

"Clang!"

"Come on, come on, last set." The trainer stood beside Zhang Yang, assisting as he squatted.

The squat belt was cinched tight around Zhang Yang's waist. He felt the weight bearing down on him as his legs trembled. Even as they grew stiff, he forced himself to push through the soreness and heaviness, driving the weight up.

"If you skip leg day, you'll end up like Ah Wei." The importance of leg training for men went without saying.

After finishing his last set of squats, Zhang Yang could barely feel his legs anymore.

Fortunately, every bit of effort he put in now would eventually be magnified sixtyfold, so he had to give it everything he had.

"Mr. Zhang, your supplements, protein powder, and post-workout meal are ready." The trainer had already arranged his usual post-workout nutrition.

When it came to working out, as long as you weren't taking anything performance-enhancing, supplements and protein powder were perfectly normal ways to get the best results from training.

"Mr. Zhang, out of all the clients I've trained, you're the most serious and hardworking."

While Zhang Yang ate his post-workout meal, he chatted with the trainer, who offered that compliment.

"Coach, be honest with me. Do I have any talent for this?" Zhang Yang asked with a smile after finishing his protein shake.

"I always tell it like it is. With your frame, once you put on enough muscle, you'll have a perfect physique. The only drawback is that you gain muscle slowly, so it takes time." The trainer was quite candid.

Zhang Yang agreed. The same amount of muscle looked completely different on a frame that was five-foot-seven compared with one that was five-foot-eleven. But once someone that tall built up enough muscle, the sheer impact and definition would blow everything else away.

"At least how many years?" Zhang Yang asked.

"If you mean a competition-level physique, five years would probably be the limit of how much muscle you can gain. After that, even if you make progress, you'll barely be able to see the difference with the naked eye."

"Five years?" Zhang Yang murmured, fairly satisfied.

After all, a month after the task began, he'd be able to gain five years' worth of training experience. By then, he should at least be able to recreate a physique like Wu Long's, right?

The trainer watched Zhang Yang's expression, worried that he might get discouraged. "Of course, beginners make the most progress in their first year. If you train consistently for several months, you'll already have plenty of definition, and you'll stand out among people your age."

"Got it." Zhang Yang nodded.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Yang finally headed back to his apartment under the night sky.

For now, his legs were only weak and numb. It wouldn't be until the next morning that they really taught him a lesson.

Before bed, Zhang Yang had a video call with his family.

"You're coming back for the May Day holiday, right?" Song Wenqin asked, no longer bringing up his blind date from last time.

Since she didn't mention it, Zhang Yang acted as though it had never happened.

"I'm coming back, of course."

"Good. Oh, and while you're back, help me pick out a jade bangle. Your dad finally agreed to buy me one." Song Wenqin smiled.

Zhang Yang saw Zhang Zhaohai looking rather dejected beside her. He wondered if Song Wenqin had some leverage over him.

"A bangle? Sure, I'll help you pick one out when I get back." Zhang Yang agreed aloud, but made a mental note of it.

He'd saved nearly half a million this month, after all.

How could he not grant his mother's simple wish for a bangle?

Consider it arranged!

As for Zhang Zhaohai, middle-aged men couldn't live without cigarettes and alcohol. A few packs of good cigarettes and some fine liquor would surely make the old man happier than ever.