Chapter 14: Unchanging in Name and Lineage, Your Father...

Page 1/3

I knocked—where on earth would you find a gym at this hour? Jiang Nian stood before the long street at the school gate, under the dim yellow streetlights, opening the map on his phone. Usually, gyms with any ambition would update their locations on the map.

Hmm, Sunshine Fitness Studio?

Such a trendy name, yet it’s closed... Beaver?

No gyms within three kilometers, checked within five kilometers.

After searching around, Jiang Nian actually found one. It was called Vision Fitness, located 4.2 kilometers from Zhen Nan Middle School—definitely over five kilometers once you clicked in.

Feeling around his pocket, he realized he hadn’t brought his electric bike keys. So, he simply scanned a shared bike and sped off, thinking of it as leg training.

Twenty minutes later.

Outside a brightly lit two-story gym building, Jiang Nian parked with a cold, commanding smirk—like a domineering CEO. A seven-thousand-yuan CEO is still a CEO; don’t underestimate him.

This damn shared bike had no brakes; he only realized it after riding into a ditch.

The roads in this small county were truly rough, and beyond five kilometers, they were unbearable.

He wiped the blood off his elbow—nothing serious, just a bit red and swollen. The noisy bike screeched louder than himself as it hit the ditch.

Glancing down at the stains on his clothes, he decided not to care too much.

Entering the gym, he was greeted by the front desk, where a woman in her twenties stood. She glanced at Jiang Nian, still in his Zhen Nan Middle School uniform and looking filthy.

She only gave a quick look, not speaking. It was almost closing time; a county school kid showed up alone without an adult outside. Why bother? Did she think she could make money?

This was the lax attitude of a small county—judging people and treating them accordingly.

Jiang Nian ignored her and noticed a beautiful young woman in pink yoga pants resting nearby. Wearing a well-funded white vest, she looked every bit the fitness instructor.

He headed straight toward her—after all, who doesn’t sign up for a membership?

The front desk noticed and raised her voice.

“No card, no entry.”

Jiang Nian had just fallen earlier; his purpose was to pay the gym. He was buying a card and classes to fulfill a task, but he had no intention of actually attending.

Hearing that tone, he instantly felt annoyed.

“I’m here to sign up for a card, aren’t I?”

At that, the woman in pink yoga pants suddenly stood up. Jiang Nian glanced at her, but she only gave him a cold look and walked away indifferently.

Damn, what a lousy gym.

Page 2/3

Jiang Nian turned to leave, thinking, What kind of gym is this? So pure and uninterested, it might as well be a temple.

But he checked his phone—almost nine o’clock.

Usually, gyms would be closed by this time.

Damn it, he didn’t want to waste his time skipping evening study, only to come out for nothing—it would be infuriating.

“Um... hello, excuse me...” a timid voice spoke up. “Handsome, are you here to sign up for a membership?”

Jiang Nian turned and saw another fitness instructor had appeared in the lounge, this time wearing a conservative gray yoga outfit. Her figure was balanced but nowhere near as eye-catching as the woman in pink.

Tsk, foolish woman. How could she attract any trainees?

There weren’t many gym-goers in the county; maybe in the city, gyms had more serious members. In a small county, unless it was a necessity, most gyms had a bit of a shady vibe.

Well, you’re the one then!

“Yes, it’s me,” Jiang Nian said steadily. “I don’t have much time. Can we talk inside?”

“That’s possible... but...” The demure-looking instructor hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Handsome, come over here, I’ll talk to you.”

At that moment, the front desk again drawled in a prolonged tone.

“No membership, no entry!”

“Damn it, I’m here to sign up!” Jiang Nian lost his patience. He turned around sharply. “Do you not understand human speech? Your mother’s a filthy bitch.”

“How can you curse like that, you student!” The front desk fairy snapped, standing up.

“So what if I curse you? I’m even calling your boss!” Jiang Nian ranted, a bit hot-headed as a youth. “You refuse to make money, damn you!”

“Want me to verify assets? Your mother’s a... Come on, let me show you if your father has enough money to buy a card at this lousy gym!”

“What... what’s your name?”

“Your father is Zhao Feipeng, damn it! You calling for backup?” Jiang Nian switched to dialect. “My uncle works in the anti-crime unit, you want to try calling for help?”

Jiang Nian wasn’t bluffing. His mother worked at an office, and his uncle was in the police department. He didn’t know exactly what position, but he heard it was connected to the anti-crime division.

Le Zhi’s father was also in the police department, the same system as Jiang Nian’s uncle, so they were on good terms.

But Jiang Nian usually didn’t like to mention this connection; his uncle was rarely cheerful, and they weren’t very close. Calling him in would be embarrassing.

After Jiang Nian switched to dialect, the front desk fairy quieted down.

“There’s no entry without a card. Don’t you think you’re partly at fault?” she mumbled.

Such was the nature of this little fairy—once they looked down on someone, it was always that person’s fault. If wronged, they’d complain to their blonde husband and, knowing no one could challenge them, they’d just invoke a percentage of responsibility.

“Your mother...” Jiang Nian was fuming.

Page 3/3

Damn it, he came to pay and ended up dealing with idiots.

In the lounge, the demure woman had come out, now carrying a small bag. She placed a card and folder on the front desk, lowering her voice softly.

“Wenwen, I’ve finished my resignation procedures; everything’s here.”

The front desk woman remained silent, still frowning as if mourning a death. Jiang Nian wanted to curse again, but clasped his hands together, ready to vanish.

“Handsome,” the woman gently stopped him, a soft smile on her face. “Sorry, can you come out with me for a moment? I... you want to sign up, right?”

He had been about to struggle free, but hearing “sign up” made him pause.

“Aren’t you resigned?”

The demure woman looked embarrassed, leaning close to Jiang Nian in a whisper.

“I’ve joined a new... gym.”

Oh, seamless transition.

Outside the gym, the woman looked apologetic.

“Sorry, handsome, Wenwen might just be in a bad mood today. Don’t mind her. I’ll apologize on her behalf, how about that?”

“Aren’t you resigned? Why apologize for her?” Jiang Nian shot her a sidelong glance.

“Sorry.”

“Can you say anything else besides sorry?”

“Handsome, sorry.”

Jiang Nian rubbed his head. “You... never mind. If you want to keep apologizing, go ahead.”

Hearing this, Zhao Qiuxue felt awkward. She had hoped to apologize to ease his resentment and then ask if he wanted to sign up. She had already joined a new gym.

But now, it seemed unlikely.

Well, if she were treated like this, she’d be angry too. Young people cared about face. Better not bring up the membership to avoid upsetting him.

It was a pity—her jump to another gym was hardly honorable. If she worked a month with zero results, she wouldn’t last long in the new job.

Just as she felt inwardly distressed, Jiang Nian grew impatient.

“Weren’t you going to sign me up?”