Chapter 14: I Don

Fuck, where the hell do I find a gym at this hour?

Jiang Nian stood before the long street outside the school gate, under the dim yellow streetlights, opening his phone map. Gyms with any ambition usually update their locations on the map.

Hmm, Sunshine Fitness Studio?

Such a trendy-ass name, and it's closed already... fucking beaver?

None within three kilometers, what about five?

After searching everywhere, Jiang Nian actually found one. It was called Vison Fitness Workshop, 4.2 kilometers from Zhennan County Middle — but zooming in revealed it was definitely over five kilometers away.

He patted his pocket — no electric scooter key — so he just scanned a shared bike and pedaled off in a blur, calling it leg training.

Twenty minutes later.

Outside a two-story gym lit up with lights, Jiang Nian parked with a cold, tyrant-style smirk. Even a seven-thousand-yuan tyrant is still a tyrant — don't treat tofu like it's not food.

This fucking shared bike had no brakes — only realized it when I crashed into a ditch.

The roads in this small county are truly bumpy — five kilometers out and there's nothing but ruin to look at.

He wiped the blood off his elbow — not serious, just some redness and swelling. That little bitch of a bike squeaked louder than he did when it tumbled into the ditch.

He glanced at the dirt on his clothes — didn't matter anymore.

Inside the gym, the front desk greeted him — a twenty-something beauty stood there. She glanced at Jiang Nian still wearing his Zhennan County Middle uniform, filthy and covered in grime.

She only looked once, said nothing. Shift was almost over — some little brat from the county school, no adult around. Why bother? Could he even bring in money?

This was the relaxed vibe of a small county — judge people by their appearance.

Jiang Nian ignored her. He spotted a beautiful young wife in pink yoga pants in the resting area, wearing a white vest that screamed "capital-rich," dressed like a fitness instructor.

He walked straight toward her — who the hell cares who signs up the card?

The female front desk worker turned, noticed, but made no move — just raised her voice.

"No card, no entry."

Jiang Nian had just fallen, and his whole purpose was to hand over money to the gym. He was buying the card and classes just to complete the task — he had zero intention of ever showing up.

Hearing that tone, he instantly got pissed.

"Aren't I here to sign up?"

At this, the woman in pink yoga pants suddenly stood up. Jiang Nian glanced at her. She only glanced back, expression cold, then walked away.

Fuck, what a shitty gym.

Jiang Nian turned to leave — what the hell kind of gym is this? So pure and detached, just open a temple instead.

But he pulled out his phone and checked — it was nearly nine.

At this hour, even if there was a gym, it'd be closed. Shit, he skipped evening self-study just to avoid wasting time — if he'd come all this way for nothing, he'd explode.

"Um... hello, may I ask..." a timid voice spoke up, "Sir, are you here to sign up?"

Jiang Nian turned — another fitness instructor had randomly spawned in the resting area. She wore conservative gray yoga pants, her figure balanced, not as eye-catching as the previous peach-colored one.

Tch, stupid housewife — how's she ever gonna attract students?

There aren't many people in small counties who actually work out — maybe in the city, gyms have real fitness enthusiasts. In small counties, unless it's an absolute necessity, everyone's just flirting with the edge.

But you're it.

"Yes," Jiang Nian said calmly, "I don't have much time. Can we go inside to talk?"

"I suppose we could... but..." the wholesome-looking female instructor spoke, looking uneasy, "Sir, come here — I'll tell you."

At that moment, the front desk again dragged out her voice.

"No card, no entry!"

"Fuck your mom, I'm here to sign up!" Jiang Nian snapped, turning around, "Can't you understand human speech? Your fucking bitch mother."

"How dare a student curse like that!" the front desk fairy couldn't take it, standing up.

"So what if I curse you? I'll call your boss!" Jiang Nian cursed, youth still having some fire, "You're turning away money? Fuck your mother!"

"Do you want to check my assets? Fuck your mother! Here, let you see if your dad's got enough cash to buy a card at your shitty gym!"

"You... what's your name!"

"My dad's Zhao Feipeng, fuck you, looking for someone?" Jiang Nian switched to dialect, "My uncle works for the anti-gang unit — try calling your people?"

Jiang Nian wasn't bluffing — his mom worked at an office, his uncle was with the Gongan Bureau. He didn't know the exact rank, but heard he was connected to the anti-gang unit.

Le Zhi's dad was also with the Gongan Bureau, same system as Jiang Nian's uncle, so the two boys got along well.

But Jiang Nian never liked mentioning this connection — his uncle was always stern and expressionless, and Jiang Nian wasn't close to him. If he actually called his uncle here, it'd be too embarrassing.

After Jiang Nian switched to dialect, the front desk fairy went quiet.

"It's not allowed without a card — aren't you wrong too?" she muttered.

These fairy girls — they look down on people, then blame everyone else. When hurt, they run to their yellow-haired husbands; when they realize they can't win, they just invoke the percentage-of-blame system.

"Your fucking..." Jiang Nian was furious.

Shit, came here to hand over money and ran into idiots.

In the resting area, the wholesome young wife had stepped out. She carried a small bag, placed the card and documents on the front desk, and whispered softly.

"Wenwen, I've finished my resignation paperwork — everything's here."

The front desk girl said nothing, still sitting with a black face, looking like her mother had just died. Jiang Nian, seeing this, opened his mouth to curse again, hands ready to summon Dust Escape.

"Sir," the young wife grabbed Jiang Nian's arm, smiling gently, "I'm sorry — could you come outside with me? I... you're here to sign up, right?"

He'd been about to shake her off — but hearing "sign up," he froze.

"Aren't you quitting?"

The wholesome young wife looked embarrassed, leaned close to Jiang Nian, and whispered.

"I've joined a new... gym."

Oh, praise seamless transition.

Outside the gym, the young married woman wore an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, handsome. Wenwen's probably just in a bad mood today. Don't take it to heart—let me apologize on her behalf. How about it?"

"Didn't you already quit? What apology are you giving on her behalf?" Jiang Nian said, casting a sidelong glance.

"I'm sorry."

"Can you say something other than 'I'm sorry'?"

"Handsome, I'm sorry."

Jiang Nian rubbed his temple. "You... forget it. If you want to apologize, then apologize."

Hearing this, Zhao Qiuxue felt a little awkward. She had originally wanted to apologize to dispel the young man's resentment, then ask if he wanted to sign up for a membership—she'd already started working at a new gym.

But now it seemed that wasn't very realistic.

Fair enough—if she were treated like that, she'd probably be angry too. Young people care about face; she'd better not bring up the membership, lest she upset him.

What a pity, though—jumping ship to another gym was hardly something to be proud of. If she worked a month with zero sales, she probably wouldn't last long at the new job either.

Just as she was silently nursing her wounded feelings, Jiang Nian grew a little impatient.

"Didn't you say something about signing up for a membership?"