Chapter 85: The Eccentric in the Gym

"Brother Yang, are you sure they’ll really be all right?" Duan Bowen looked at Long Teng in the ring, feeling a bit nervous.

Yang Meng shrugged. "That depends on how he usually treats people. Honestly, I’ve already gone easy on them. If it weren’t for their shaky basics, I would’ve arranged three opponents for them."

Hearing this, Long Teng and Bai Ze, who had just mustered up the courage to face their challenge in the ring, nearly collapsed on the spot. "Shaky basics"? We’re proper champions, you know!

All right, you’ve got the bigger fists, so you call the shots.

Yang Meng turned to look at Duan Bowen and Li Xiaoqing, who stood beside him. "What’s this? Li Xiaoqing, you’re leaving already?"

Li Xiaoqing nodded. "I really don’t have the face to stay here any longer."

Yang Meng replied, "Fine. Remember, no matter what you go through, punishing yourself to take revenge on others is the stupidest thing you can do. If someone hurts you and you want revenge, the best way is to climb so high they can only look up at you—then ignore them completely, instead of degrading yourself. What you’re doing now is no different from those who cut their wrists after a breakup. It’s just dumb. If you’re going to cut, cut theirs instead—what’s the point of cutting yourself? Ah, I’m getting off-topic. When you get there, work hard and live a wonderful life!"

Li Xiaoqing murmured an acknowledgment and lowered her head in silence.

Yang Meng continued, "Your tuition covers your room and board. Once you’re there, focus on your studies. Don’t worry about living expenses either—Secretary Duan has arranged everything. You’ll get a thousand yuan a month for clothes, shoes, whatever you need."

Li Xiaoqing lifted her head. "Brother Yang, why are you so good to me? If... if you want, I can stay with you tonight before I go! Ouch!"

Before she could finish, Yang Meng flicked her forehead. "What nonsense is spinning in that little head of yours? Listen, I have a younger sister, and you remind me of her, that’s all!"

Li Xiaoqing held her head, but her eyes were resolute. "Brother Yang, I think I’ve fallen in love with you! I’ve never felt so safe before!"

Yang Meng gave her a look and flicked her forehead again. "You’re just a kid! What do you know about love? In life, you’ll have plenty of ‘I can’t live without him (or her)’ moments—later you’ll see it’s just hormones. Stop overthinking it. Right now, your priority is seizing this opportunity and taking responsibility for your own life!"

Li Xiaoqing was silent for a while, then suddenly looked up. "Brother Yang, I’ll remember everything you’ve said. I’m off to find the twists and turns of my own journey now."

Yang Meng gently ruffled her hair. "Enough. Goodbyes are always sad. I won’t see you off."

He made it sound nice, but in truth, he wanted to stay and watch Long Teng and Bai Ze get thrashed. Of course, he’d never admit it. If Li Xiaoqing knew what he was thinking, that really would be tragic.

Suddenly, Li Xiaoqing said, "Brother Yang, I’m about to leave. Can I hug you one more time?"

"Huh?" Yang Meng was taken aback. "Of course you can!" He opened his arms wide.

But Li Xiaoqing walked behind him and embraced him from the back, pressing her face against his back, leaving Yang Meng completely puzzled. Was this really a hug?

After a while, she let go, her face streaked with tears. "Brother Yang, I’ll do my best! I won’t let you down!" With that, she wiped her tears, turned, and left by elevator without looking back.

"Miss Li, slow down—I’ve arranged a car for you..." Duan Bowen, seeing the situation, hurried after her.

Yang Meng sighed. They say people are good by nature, but Yang Meng believed people are bad by nature. A child’s future is so deeply shaped by their environment. A family’s education is crucial to a child’s growth. To see such a good child end up like this because of her family is truly a pity. He could only hope she would set herself on the right path.

"Brother Yang, you’ve really opened my eyes. I never knew you had such charm!" While Yang Meng was still caught in his melancholy, Long Teng’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear, making him jump.

"Damn it! Are you trying to scare me to death? What are you doing sneaking up here?" Yang Meng glared at Long Teng.

Long Teng, all flattery, gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Yang, you’ve got the moves of a real master of love! I guarantee you’ll be branded into Li Xiaoqing’s heart for life!"

Yang Meng rolled his eyes. "What do you know? Didn’t you see she hugged me from behind? She was just reminiscing about what it felt like to ride on my motorcycle—especially my ‘Six-Eyed Demon’."

"Hmm?" Long Teng was puzzled. "But isn’t riding on the back of a motorcycle all the same?"

Yang Meng sighed. "You’re still too young. Do you know why young people love to ride sport bikes? It’s not just about speed—the pillion seat is high! If a girl wants to sit steady, she has to hold the rider tight, practically lying right against his back... Think about what that position means for two people. Now you get it? Why am I even explaining this to you? When did I let you get off the ring? Get back in there!"

Long Teng hurried to explain, "Brother Yang, there are too many people signed up. They’re drawing lots to decide the order."

Yang Meng laughed. "You really aren’t very popular, huh? Everyone wants a turn at you!"

Long Teng: "..."

"All right, go have fun." Yang Meng had planned to watch the show, but Li Xiaoqing’s departure had dampened his mood. Although he’d once been a member here at Long Yun Fitness Club, he’d only ever used the equipment area and had never really taken a good look around. He decided to wander on his own.

Long Teng asked, "Brother Yang, aren’t you going to watch my challenge?"

Yang Meng shrugged. "Just a bunch of rookies fighting—what’s the point?"

...I’ll just endure it. Your fists are bigger, so you get the last word!

Long Teng called over a staff member and handed Yang Meng a card. "Brother Yang, take this. With it, you can use the whole club, except for the women’s area."

Yang Meng sighed. "The one place I want to go and I can’t. Are you messing with me?"

Long Teng laughed heartily. "Brother Yang, you don’t understand fitness clubs yet. All gyms are pretty much the same—there are three main types of women: moms, health-conscious professionals, and students. Most are moms, and 99% of those in the women’s area are moms. The young and confident ones prefer to train with men and show off their style."

Yang Meng scratched his head. "You work up a sweat, your hair sticks to your face and body—what’s there to show off?"

Long Teng grinned. "Brother Yang, you just don’t get it! For men who love weightlifting, that’s exactly what makes a woman attractive!"

Yang Meng rolled his eyes. "Enough, go get yourself beaten up. I’ll look around by myself."

Long Teng wanted to assign someone to accompany Yang Meng as a guide, but Yang Meng refused. It was much nicer to wander alone than to have someone trailing behind.

He took the elevator to the second floor, the equipment area.

In Yang Meng’s imagination, gyms only got busy at night, with people having nothing to do after dinner. But reality proved him wrong—there were plenty of people working out here even in broad daylight.

In fact, going to the gym when you’re in a bad mood is a great way to clear your head. Not because a workout will immediately cheer you up, but because the gym is full of all sorts of oddballs.

The gym is a place where you see the full spectrum of humanity.

For example, there’s the so-called "Sweat King," who leaves puddles wherever he goes and never bothers to clean up, never considering anyone else’s comfort.

Then there are those who always carry a shaker cup filled with protein powder, asking everyone, "What brand of protein do you use?" They hardly ever actually work out—just wander around so much that you’d think they were selling supplements.

There’s another type—no one knows if they’re here to work out or practice their vocals, but whatever they do, they shout with every repetition, filling the gym with their cries until it sounds like a slaughterhouse.

Apart from those, there are the ones who pose in front of the mirror all day, admiring their muscles; the "lecherous immortals" who start hooting and showing off whenever they spot an attractive woman; flamboyant types hanging around the cardio area and group class rooms, swaying their hips in floral shorts; and the total neat freaks—the opposite of the Sweat King—who bring towels everywhere, laying them down before using equipment like they’re on a camping trip, and making tut-tut noises of disgust as if to make sure everyone knows how much they resent other people’s filth. Or there are those who reek of body odor but have never heard of deodorant, leaving the gym perfumed with the exotic scent of distant lands...

Of course, none of these are the most annoying. The worst are the personal trainers.

They appear at your side at any moment: "Oh, you’re doing that wrong—it’s a waste of effort. The best thing for you is to buy my personal training sessions and let me guide you." In a single hour at the gym, you’ll meet at least five or six of these.

But at Long Teng’s club, this sort of thing was much less common.

After all, this wasn’t your average gym. It was a fitness club—the name alone was on another level!

The space was broader, brighter, and cleaner. The attentive service told you at every turn: this was a high-end fitness establishment.

People are strange creatures—a person with no manners at all will instinctively restrain themselves in a civilized environment. People do have a sense of shame. At least as Yang Meng wandered around, he hadn’t come across too many oddballs yet.

Of course, "not too many" didn’t mean "none."

Perhaps because the Long Yun Fitness Club was a famous hangout for wealthy young heirs, there were quite a few beautiful young women here. But some of them were clearly here with different intentions.

And when Yang Meng referred to "oddballs," it was precisely them he had in mind.