On the way to the gym, Lin Ran called Su Shijie and asked if he was coming. Su Shijie let out an excited yell, then went home to grab his clothes.

Besides being into pretty girls, Su Shijie also loved working out. He’d apparently been training since middle school, which was how he’d managed to build such enviable muscles by his second year of high school. Still, Lin Ran couldn’t help wondering if working out like that at their age might harm his body. The equipment at the gym was intense, after all, and they were both still minors.

Su Shijie’s answer was, “As long as you’re getting enough nutrition, you can train however you want. Being underage isn’t an excuse.”

Well, in the end, it all came down to having money.

Lin Ran changed into his workout clothes at the gym, and Su Shijie showed up soon after. But the guy was standing at the front desk, chatting up the receptionist while wearing his pricey backpack. Lin Ran watched him laughing and joking with her, then shook his head in disbelief.

While Lin Ran was jogging with his headphones on, someone stepped onto the treadmill beside him. Lin Ran didn’t notice, but the other guy took the initiative and greeted him.

“Brother Ran!” the boy said with a bashful grin.

But Lin Ran was wearing headphones and didn’t hear him at all.

Zhao Xingwen awkwardly rubbed his nose. Lin Ran seemed pretty hard to approach.

Zhao Xingwen didn’t force himself to bother Lin Ran. He knew that people who liked working out hated being interrupted mid-exercise. They had to focus, and even a moment’s distraction could lead to serious trouble. That was true even on a treadmill.

Zhao Xingwen waited until Lin Ran had finished warming up and gone to get a drink before speaking again.

“Brother Ran!” Zhao Xingwen stood in front of Lin Ran and greeted him with a smile.

Lin Ran frowned, swallowed the water in his mouth, and took out one earbud. “What is it?”

“Nothing. I just saw you and wanted to say hi. You like working out too?” Zhao Xingwen said with a smile.

“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Beating around the bush is annoying.” Lin Ran said bluntly, then put his earbud back in and headed for the weight machines.

Su Shijie was sprawled across the leg press, chatting with a female trainer who was showing another member how to use the equipment. Lin Ran walked over and smacked him on the butt.

“Work out or get lost,” Lin Ran said irritably.

“That was harsh.” Su Shijie pouted, then grinned and moved aside. That was when he noticed Zhao Xingwen. “Huh, aren’t you that guy from Xiaoxue’s class? Are you Zhao Xingwen or Zhao Xingwu? I remember you two, but I can never tell you apart.”

“Hehe, hi, senior! I’m Zhao Xingwen!” Zhao Xingwen said with a bashful grin, scratching his head.

“Xingwen, I’ve gotta say something about this. You knew who was badmouthing Xiaoxue at school, so why didn’t you come forward and back her up sooner? You waited until things blew up before speaking up.” Su Shijie put on a very proper air as he lectured him.

“Well, senior, I actually wanted to help sooner, but… how do I put it? I just…” Zhao Xingwen looked extremely awkward.

“All right, don’t bother. I know what you’re trying to say. We need to have a good talk, you and me!” Su Shijie said with a grin, slinging an arm around Zhao Xingwen’s shoulders and leading him toward the lounge.

Lin Ran kept his headphones on and continued training his legs.

He worked out until six. Lin Ran was drenched in sweat, his whole body pleasantly sore, while Su Shijie hadn’t worked out at all—he’d spent the whole time flirting with the girls.

After that, Lin Ran took his water bottle and headed to the cycling room. Running after a workout would be more effective, but spinning felt better. Unlike during summer vacation, he couldn’t come every day now, so when choosing between the treadmill and the bike, Lin Ran picked the bike.

After cycling, he showered and changed. He felt refreshed from head to toe.

Then Lin Ran left. As for Su Shijie and Zhao Xingwen, he had no idea where the two of them had gone.

As soon as Lin Ran left the gym, Su Shijie called and told him to wait.

A little while later, Su Shijie came running downstairs.

“Why were you in such a hurry? You couldn’t even wait for me,” Su Shijie complained.

“Wasn’t I doing you a favor by not getting in the way while you flirted?” Lin Ran said with a smile, walking on ahead.

“Hey, don’t say I’m not a loyal friend. I found out that Zhao Xingwen likes Xiaoxue. You’re her big brother, so you’d better handle it,” Su Shijie said.

“What’s that got to do with me?” Lin Ran replied.

“What do you mean, what’s it got to do with you? Xiaoxue’s your sister, and now some guy likes her. He’s only known her for a few days and he’s already saying he likes her. He’s obviously up to no good.” Su Shijie spoke with complete seriousness.

Lin Ran shook his head. “Weren’t you the one who went to a bar, took a girl you’d known for less than an hour to a hotel, and then made me bring you a condom in the middle of the night? You’ve got some nerve.”

“That’s different! Hey, can you stop bringing that up? I’ve quit now. I’m going to be a good student who studies hard and keeps improving! I’m going to join Class S! And one day, I’m going to win Yuanyuan’s heart!” Su Shijie said.

“Give me a break. Do you even believe yourself? ‘Keeps improving’—you’d lose heart the moment someone asked you to do twenty practice papers.” Lin Ran laughed.

“I’m serious this time, not joking around. Starting tomorrow, I, Su Shijie, am going to be a good student who studies hard. You’re in charge of keeping an eye on me. If I ever ask another girl out to a bar or anything like that, may my dick shrink by a centimeter!” Su Shijie raised his right hand to the sky and swore the most vicious oath he could think of to prove his resolve.

Lin Ran shook his head, clearly not believing a word Su Shijie said.

Then, halfway there, Su Shijie got a call from a “little sister.” He shouted, “Eighteen centimeters, not counting the tip! Losing one centimeter’s no big deal!” and ran off to meet her.

Su Shijie was the kind of guy who’d never change his ways, and Lin Ran genuinely didn’t know what to say about him.

As Lin Ran walked along Mingshan Road, a white Maserati Quattroporte slowed down beside him.

The window rolled down, and a stunning face appeared.

“Oh, what a coincidence! Where have you been?” Ye Qingqian asked with a playful smile.

Lin Ran glanced at her and thought, Why does this woman keep turning up everywhere? “Fit.”

“Internet café?” Ye Qingqian asked, puzzled.

Lin Ran didn’t feel like explaining.

“Want me to give you a lift for a bit?” Ye Qingqian asked with a smile, unfazed by his attitude.

“Why didn’t you offer when we were on Jingyang Road?” Lin Ran asked.

Ye Qingqian looked awkward for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and smiled. “I didn’t notice you then!”

“If you didn’t notice me, how did you know I’d come from Jingyang Road?” Lin Ran asked.

“Hey, do you even know how to have a conversation? Do you have to kill it every time?” Ye Qingqian couldn’t hold back anymore. Lin Ran was being way too much! Who talked to a girl like that?

“It’s not like I was trying to talk to you,” Lin Ran said indifferently.

Ye Qingqian was so annoyed with Lin Ran that she was at a loss for words. For the first time, she stopped smiling. As she rolled up the window, she said, “You hopelessly clueless guy. No wonder you’re single!”

Then the luxury car sped off, leaving Lin Ran to continue walking home.

Once he entered the residential complex, Lin Ran started thinking about what to have for dinner. After considering it for a while, he decided on something light. He wasn’t much in the mood for greasy or strongly flavored food these days.