Chapter 21

The motorcycle rolled over the dry pavement of the county town, the main road clean and wide, wind rushing fiercely behind them.

"Aunt Zhao."

"What is it, handsome boy?"

"Is your new job going well?" Jiang Nian remembered how awkward she had been when she signed up for the card, likely nervous, "Have you started yet?"

"I have! And I owe it all to you, handsome boy," Zhao Qiuxue laughed as she rode, "If you hadn't bought the card and classes, I wouldn't have been exempted from the probation period."

"It was nothing," Jiang Nian replied casually, "Even if you hadn't bought it, I'd have bought it from someone else—why let the water flow to someone else's field? Don't you agree?"

"That's true, but I only found out later that you know Yunyun," Zhao Qiuxue smiled sweetly, "She said you scored 573—so impressive."

Jiang Nian couldn't help but click his tongue, thinking his "daughter" was surprisingly filial behind his back.

This money wasn't wasted.

After fifteen or sixteen minutes, the two arrived at the gym. It was on the second floor of a large mall, larger in scale than the gym Zhao Qiuxue had quit the day before.

The side facing the road had been replaced with glass walls, lined with treadmills to attract customers.

Ding—the gym door unlocked as Jiang Nian swiped his card.

Few people were working out at night; the equipment was plentiful, and signs pointed to the swimming area. Jiang Nian hadn't noticed last time, but now he saw this gym was decent.

If I have free time later, I might come here to swim and get my money's worth.

Zhao Qiuxue went to change clothes; Jiang Nian wandered around aimlessly.

Soon, Zhao Qiuxue emerged, wearing black leggings, a tank top, and a thin gray short jacket, smiling gently.

"Let's go—class starts."

To be honest, Song Xiuyun and Zhao Qiuxue looked quite similar. But their personalities were vastly different—Song Xiuyun had half her mother's innocence, but not quite...

The lesson was unremarkable, centered entirely on proper equipment use, training duration, and correct form—Zhao Qiuxue was genuinely professional.

After about twenty minutes of training, Jiang Nian was sweating and asked curiously.

"Aunt, weren't you working in the county before?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Zhao Qiuxue touched her face, smiling gently, "I used to work at a gym in Shanghai, but came back after some things happened."

"I can tell—you're used to big-city life. Isn't the county town hard to adjust to?"

"It really is," Zhao Qiuxue sighed softly, still smiling, "Once Yunyun goes to university, I'll probably return too."

After resting, they resumed the lesson—more explanations of movements.

Zhao Qiuxue taught with full sincerity, no laziness at all. Jiang Nian had originally planned to just go through the motions, but as he trained, he grew interested and actually followed along.

"Guys should train their legs more—it'll help in the long run."

Seeing Zhao Qiuxue's mischievous smile, Jiang Nian felt embarrassed, thinking he'd take a photo next time and show it to Song Xiuyun.

"Then... let's train."

Fitness really is addictive. At eighteen, Jiang Nian's body had matured, and moderate exercise was beneficial. After one session, drenched in sweat, he headed straight for the shower.

He thought to himself—he should come more often to train his legs.

In the equipment zone, Zhao Qiuxue stretched after finishing her lesson. She had just switched jobs the day before and currently had only Jiang Nian as a client; having made a sale, she felt no pressure.

Seeing Jiang Nian genuinely enjoying the equipment, Zhao Qiuxue felt the last stone lift from her heart.

Suddenly, a female coach approached.

"Qiuxue? Where's your handsome boy?"

"Huh? He's in the shower," Zhao Qiuxue turned and saw her new colleague, the cheerful woman she'd met yesterday, "What's up, Lingling? Aren't you teaching?"

"Ugh, don't even mention it," Mei Wanling frowned, "The client who promised to buy ten classes yesterday suddenly asked if I could provide extra services."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, totally vanished," Mei Wanling said, "You think every client is as nice as yours? Spends money cleanly and doesn't make trouble."

"Hehe, if it's a handsome boy, maybe extra services wouldn't be a bad deal."

"Pfft, what are you saying?" Zhao Qiuxue slapped her lightly, "He's still a child—don't talk nonsense."

"Hehe, Qiuxue, don't fool me—no one under eighteen can get our membership card," Mei Wanling grew even more excited, "So that means it's legal..."

Zhao Qiuxue couldn't take it anymore and tried to leave, but Mei Wanling grabbed her arm.

"Teach me, Qiuxue—how do you find quality clients?"

"How would I know? He's my daughter's classmate," Zhao Qiuxue sighed helplessly, then, seeing no one around, smirked, "I suspect they're dating..."

"Really?" Mei Wanling's eyes lit up, wrapping her arm around Zhao Qiuxue's, "Tell me everything—I love hearing this stuff."

Before she could press further, a stern woman's voice rang out from afar.

"Is your free time meant for slacking off?!"

Zhao Qiuxue's expression changed instantly; Mei Wanling frowned and turned toward the woman in a crop top and yoga pants, hips swaying, radiating flirtatious energy.

"What's it to you, Ren Meimei? Are you the boss?"

"Hmph, I'll report this to the boss," the woman strutted over, sneering, "Mei Wanling, mind your own business—don't hang around with shady people."

Mei Wanling cursed silently—slut—"You're the shady one! Qiuxue made a sale yesterday too. Stop being jealous—you ever even go to the fitness area?"

"Besides, Qiuxue just finished teaching—why are you barking?"

In a small county town, fitness coaches are much like salespeople—either they have steady clients who buy cards, which counts as having resources, and the boss turns a blind eye.

New coaches without resources usually roam the fitness zone, offering tips to members to lure them into buying classes.

"Made a sale? You probably paid for it yourself—rare to see someone pay to work," Ren Meimei crossed her arms, sneering, "You can fool your sisters, but don't fool yourself."

"A high schooler comes in to buy a card and classes? What nonsense. At least pick someone who actually works as a decoy—try to be professional. Who the hell has time to work out in high school?"

"What if he's a top student? Pigs can't eat fine rice—you've never seen the world," Mei Wanling shot back, always at odds with Ren Meimei.

"Hehe, what good student goes to a gym?" Ren Meimei looked smug, as if seeing through everything, "You believe whatever they say—so naive."

"I know exactly what's on an eighteen-year-old boy's mind—it's always about that one thing, he just doesn't say it outright."

Zhao Qiuxue frowned at the words; it didn't matter if they criticized her, but when Jiang Nian was mentioned, she couldn't pretend not to hear—no matter what, Jiang Nian was a good child.

Just as she gathered the courage to speak, Jiang Nian's voice came from afar.

"Sister, top up sixty more lessons for me again."