Chapter Four: Cementing His Identity as a Scoundrel

(Page 1 of 3)
In the sales office.

“Mr. Wei, our private training sessions are normally 380 per session. If you purchase one hundred, we can bring it down to 320 each, totaling 32,000. What do you think?”

He Feng, the manager of the coaching department, wore a sports vest that showcased his exaggerated muscle mass. With arms exceeding 40 centimeters in circumference, he pushed the price list across the desk toward Wei Lin, signaling him to take a look.

Standing behind He Feng, He Jingxuan looked anxious. Beads of sweat appeared on her high, delicate nose, fearing that Wei Lin might use the incident to cause trouble. She kept bowing and apologizing, “I really didn’t mean it.”

A graduate of a sports academy, she found it difficult to find a job after college. She had used her own savings to complete a fitness instructor training course in the capital, and she had just started working at Like Fitness. Having been there for half a month without closing a single deal, she grew increasingly anxious watching the senior coaches in the group chat sign up new clients and renew existing ones. As a newcomer, He Feng had set her first-month target at ten thousand; if she closed this deal with Wei Lin, she would be set for the month. If not, she didn’t know when the next opportunity would come.

“Tap, tap!”

Wei Lin tapped his fingers on the price list without giving it a second glance. Calm and composed, he said, “Being pinned by the barbell was a result of my own overestimation of my abilities. I don’t blame your gym.”

“But!” After a cold snort, Wei Lin added sharply, “I was knocked over by your coach and now I’m in pain all over. Is that the gym’s problem?”

He Jingxuan’s head spun, and the look she gave Wei Lin turned cold.

“Mr. Wei, you were the one who asked her to pull you in the first place. Besides, based on my professional judgment, you should be fine,” He Feng muttered to himself, realizing this lecherous man was likely bad news. He quickly added, “Of course, if you insist on going to the hospital for a check-up, I can accompany you.”

Having worked in the industry for many years, He Feng had seen all kinds of difficult members and feared that Wei Lin was trying to extort the gym. If Wei Lin really refused to let it go, he would have to stay by his side at the hospital to ensure he didn’t pull any stunts during the examination.

“I’m a reasonable man. Let’s skip the hospital; there’s no need,” Wei Lin said with a casual smile. His gaze finally landed on the price list. “300 per private session, and throw in a two-year gym membership. How about it?”

“No problem!” He Feng let out a sigh of relief. The coldness in He Jingxuan’s eyes vanished in an instant.

Wei Lin pointed to He Jingxuan, whose expression had softened as she stood behind He Feng, and ordered, “Go get the payment QR code.”

“Okay! Right away!” He Jingxuan scurried off, her long legs moving quickly, as if afraid Wei Lin might change his mind.

“Mr. Wei, have a smoke.” He Feng’s square face was wreathed in smiles as he held out a cigarette and a lighter.

“Initiate life advancement?”

Just as Wei Lin was about to reach for the cigarette, he closed his eyes slightly and suddenly felt a distinct will surging from the spherical star.

“Yes!” Wei Lin responded decisively in his heart.

(Page 2 of 3)

The progress bar for the affection value instantly reset to zero, changing from 10/10 to 0/50.

At the same time, the spherical star glowed brightly. A pale green halo surrounding it poured down like a cascading spring, flowing directly into Wei Lin’s limbs, bones, and internal organs. A cool, refreshing sensation permeated his entire body, making him shiver involuntarily.

The previous fatigue was swept away!

Wei Lin took a deep breath, feeling as though the air entering his lungs had become fresher. The long-standing sense of heaviness in his chest had also significantly diminished. He quietly clenched his fist, applying force to his fingers, and instinctively felt an increase in his strength.

Wei Lin’s eyes lit up. This body, long neglected and indulged in wine and women, had undergone an incredibly obvious change due to the initiation of the life advancement!

“It really works!”

Overjoyed, Wei Lin looked at the cigarette He Feng was offering and realized his craving for nicotine was no longer so intense. He could smoke it, or he could choose not to.

“It can even weaken a nicotine addiction? Can I quit smoking?!”

Wei Lin, who had tried to quit many times without success, rubbed his chin and shook his head at He Feng with a smile, “No thanks.”

He Feng was taken aback, then gave a self-deprecating smile, “Not smoking is good. It’s healthier, and your cardiopulmonary function will be better during workouts. Hey, that’s one area where I can’t compare to you, Mr. Wei. My willpower isn’t great; I want to quit, but I can’t.”

Internally, however, he thought, *What the hell does that mean? Is he saying my cigarettes are cheap?*

He Jingxuan was a newcomer, but He Feng was not. As the manager of the coaching department, he habitually observed every member who came to work out to see if they could become private training clients. Wei Lin rarely visited; he hadn’t shown up in nearly half a year, and even when he did, he only did cardio. But in the past, without exception, Wei Lin would smoke in the outdoor smoking area before and after every workout.

*I don’t care if he gives me face or not, as long as he’s willing to scan the code and buy the sessions.*

He Feng lit his own cigarette and watched as He Jingxuan returned with the company’s payment code. Seeing Wei Lin readily scan for thirty thousand, his face beamed with delight. “Mr. Wei, I’ll prepare your contract right away. I’ll also give you a gym bag and a water bottle. Why don’t you add He Jingxuan on WeChat so it’s easier to book your sessions?”

...

A few minutes later.

After taking care of everything, Wei Lin left the office and headed upstairs to shower, but he caught sight of the still-vacant bench press station.

The first life advancement had not only improved his physical condition but also brought a noticeable increase in strength. As for whether it was just his imagination, the bench press was right there—a quick test would reveal the truth.

Thus, Wei Lin returned to the bench press that had humiliated him earlier, lay down for a second time, and gripped the barbell again.

“Wait! Let me spot you! Don’t unrack it yourself!” He Jingxuan shouted as she dashed over, terrified that Wei Lin would kill himself and leave her to take the blame.

(Page 3 of 3)

*This pervert is at it again!*

Members working out nearby noticed Wei Lin pushing the barbell once more and glanced over, assuming he intended to harass the new female coach again. A moment later, they sneered, thinking, *Typical.*

He Jingxuan’s shouts died down as well.

Wei Lin, who had only managed five reps before being pinned by the weight, was now steadily pushing his seventh rep and showed no signs of fatigue, continuing with ease.

*Scumbag! I knew he was doing it on purpose!*

The onlookers and He Jingxuan herself all thought the same. No one could increase their bench press strength that rapidly in such a short time. Since he truly couldn’t push the sixth rep earlier, there was no way he could easily push to the seventh now.

“Nine, ten, eleven, twelve!”

Wei Lin counted silently. When he felt the slightest bit of strain, he racked the barbell and a smile bloomed on his face. The strength increase was real, which meant the changes brought by the first wave of life advancement were absolutely not an illusion.

“Private training is really effective. Just a little bit of guidance on technique and how to exert force, and I’ve made huge progress!”

Wei Lin stood up, gave He Jingxuan a thumbs up, and praised her with a smile.

He Jingxuan, who had already pegged him as a scumbag and was convinced he was just trying to hit on her, could only offer an awkward smile in return for his hypocritical praise. “You... you have a natural talent for bench pressing.”

“It’s because you’re a good teacher.”

Wei Lin wore an earnest, eager-to-learn expression. He gestured toward He Jingxuan in front of the other members and said boldly, “If you want to see rapid improvements in your strength, go buy her sessions. Seriously, when it comes to training, you really need professional coaching. You have to patiently polish your technique; just grinding away blindly makes for very slow progress.”

*Bullshit! I’d have to be brain-dead to believe you!*

*Brother, your methods are really wild, aren't they?*

*Little brother, your fitness game might be weak, but I have to hand it to you—you’re a master at picking up girls.*

A member with muscles even more impressive than He Feng’s, a college student, and a bald man all expressed their skepticism. Unlike Wei Lin, these three worked out at this time every day and had years of experience; they knew that no amount of technical adjustment could possibly produce such a massive improvement.

“Ring!”

The phone rang.

Wei Lin answered the call, smiled at He Jingxuan, and said, “That’s it for today. Remember to book me in.”