Elliptical trainer—

“OHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Spin bike—

“NGYAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

Barbell—

“HAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

Leg press machine—

“YEAHHHHHHHH!!!”

Chest fly machine—

“WAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

Ab bench…

Squat rack…

Lat pulldown machine…

Hanging leg raise…

For each machine introduced, Liyu would hop on and try it briefly. Yumo, beside her, went all out at max intensity like he’d caught a sudden fever.

Luckily, the gym was nearly empty. Otherwise, he’d get mobbed. But no mobbing needed—he was already sprawled on a chair, eyes rolling back.

“Tsk tsk, such ill-mannered Inky,” Yusuozaai sneered. “Don’t you know weird noises are the rudest thing in a gym?”

“I have to… gulp… let it out… gulp… Normally… I… wouldn’t make a sound… It’s all… your… fault…”

“You added ‘give it your all’ to your wish. Don’t blame me.”

“Only because… I… was drunk…”

“So, drinking ruins lives~”

The Demon cracked open a beer—stolen from Yumo’s fridge—and chugged it. Seriously, if you look like a high schooler, don’t drink in public!

“What? You want some?”

“Drinking after overexertion isn’t smart…”

“Then, a lap pillow?”

“No thanks.”

Yusuozaai’s stick-thin legs would’ve been uncomfortable anyway. Plus, she was invisible. A lap pillow would make Yumo’s upper body float mid-air to bystanders… too creepy.

“But your sweat wasn’t wasted. Look.”

The Demon nodded at Liyu, still grinding under Chen Xiang’s guidance with an ab wheel. Her face was flushed red, almost pitiful, but her eyes held fierce determination. Chen Xiang’s gaze mixed scolding with respect. She’d softened toward Yumo, repeatedly advising post-workout stretches to ease muscle burn.

Morning passed.

Yumo wasn’t picky about food, but his stomach cramped from overexertion. Zero appetite.

For Liyu, a food lover, it was hell.

She stared blankly at her lunchbox—a greenish lump fit for herbivores.

“Huh? That’s it?”

“Yep.”

“Is this…”

“Not filling?”

“I expected that, but… I thought it might taste better?”

“There’s meat.”

“But this…”

Liyu poked at bland chicken breast buried under greens. Utterly unappetizing.

“Want fast results? Stop complaining. Low carbs, low oil, high veggies, high protein—basics.”

“I know, but… maybe ease into it? Eat less daily? Right, Yumo-kun—Yumo-kun!?”

Yumo was eating grass. Literally. Munching a handful.

“Hey, Yumo, is that—” Chen Xiang recognized it—the gym’s partner store’s most hated item: The Grass Grass Grass Grass Meal Set! So obscure even desperate dieters avoided it. Just unseasoned edible weeds. Protein? Tooth-breaking beef jerky. A real-life survival challenge!

“I can’t eat better than her.” He crunched grass roots.

“Y-Y-Yumo! Eat what you want! Don’t torture yourself!” Liyu’s guilt flooded her eyes with tears.

“It’s fine. I promised to help. I won’t enjoy myself while you suffer.”

“Yumo…” Naive Liyu sobbed with gratitude.

“Is this… youthful manliness…” Chen Xiang had to respect her stepson.

Only Yusuozaai—

(Hmm, this completes part of the ‘wilderness survival experience.’ Just part.)

(Stingy guy. Steal from my fridge properly next time.)

(I eat wild grass too, like you now.)

(…)

Yumo cursed inwardly, reluctantly chewing herbs. Liyu, oblivious, wept harder.

“Then—I must steel my resolve too!” She dumped her backpack on the table. Pastries spilled out—Chinese, Western, Japanese—all calorie bombs. “I planned to sneak bites if lunch failed… but now I’ll resist!”

“…How often do you snack?”

“Huh? When stressed, sad, tired… between classes, before bed… My allowance vanishes here…”

“QUIT IT!!!”

“Eeek~~~~~!”

“Hidden food?”

“No… ah!” She dug through tracksuit pockets—pulling out compressed biscuits, lollipops, haw flakes, turnip cakes. “Habit. I forget unless reminded…”

“…More?”

“Probably not… ah!” Green Niche Niche mint candies from an inner pocket. “Almost forgot, haha…”

“…………More?”

“This should be last, I think.”

Yumo finally understood Liyu’s failed diets.

“When did this start?”

“Junior high year one? Bad friendships, study stress… snacks eased pressure. I know it’s bad, but I can’t stop… sniff…”

“It’s okay. I’m not blaming you.”

Yumo set down the grass. He knelt, gently holding Liyu’s chubby hand, locking eyes. “Everyone struggles. You feel insecure about looks and personality. Lonely from poor social skills. Closed off by family pressure… But despite all that weight, you’ve grown strong like a desert shrub. That makes me proud. Past is past. Future starts now. If you’re determined to change, it’s never too late. Let’s work together, okay?”

Liyu froze. Such sincere encouragement. Such a caring boyfriend. What could resist this? What could stand in the way!?

“Yes!! You’re right!!! I can’t go on! I’ll change!!!!”

And Chen Xiang, watching as an outsider—

(Holy crap, this kid’s mouth is smoother than his dad’s…)