Inside the academy.
The Dongfang family villa.
"Beep, beep, beep!"
Crisp electronic sounds rang out continuously as the two treadmills in the first-floor gym kept accelerating faster and faster.
"President, please let me go. I really know I was wrong, boohoo..." Ye Cheng was pedaling so fast on the treadmill that sparks were practically flying out, yet he still didn't forget to whine to Dongfang Zhixia.
Dongfang Zhixia remained silent, merely continuing to press the buttons on the treadmill remote control in her hand...
Ahhh, I won't tell you anything...
Even though that was what Ye Cheng said, his body's reaction was very honest... and very exaggerated!
Ever since returning in the evening, Ye Cheng and the Little Secretary had been dragged here to run. However much they ate, they had to burn off. Simply put, if they didn't get rid of their food babies today, they should be prepared to die on the treadmills.
Having run non-stop for almost two hours, Ye Cheng had been constantly shouting wimpy phrases like "I can't do it anymore," "I was wrong," and "President, let me go..."
As a result... a few hours passed, and Ye Cheng was still full of vigor, showing no signs of giving up. On the other hand, the Little Secretary, who was also running to lose weight beside him, had long since given out, half-dead as she held onto the treadmill and walked slowly.
But even so, the Little Secretary had to rest after taking just a few steps. Compared to Ye Cheng, her exercise intensity was worlds apart.
This differential treatment wasn't even being hidden anymore!
Damn it, this was unfair. He demanded equal treatment! Why could the hamster run so slowly while his damn treadmill was practically shooting sparks?!
Ye Cheng protested...
Ye Cheng was pinned to the ground and beaten by the President...
Ye Cheng obediently returned to the treadmill and continued pedaling on his "Wind and Fire Wheels"...
Hmm, you know what, this treadmill really wasn't bad. It was great for building strength and keeping fit!
A miraculous cure, President!
A great run, I love running!
After being taught a lesson, Ye Cheng was obviously much more well-behaved. He just kept running, though a couple of wimpy phrases would still slip from his mouth, hoping the President would let him off the hook.
Unfortunately, he didn't succeed a single time. Instead, every time he spoke, Dongfang Zhixia would press the remote control in her hand even faster.
Running was originally an activity that consumed a huge amount of energy and stamina. One had to be particularly focused while running and maintain a good breathing rhythm. It was especially important not to alternate between fast and slow paces, and even more crucial not to talk, otherwise, it was easy to get a side stitch.
Dongfang Zhixia exercised year-round, so she understood this professional knowledge very clearly.
Judging by how Ye Cheng was running while still bantering with her, he would be exhausted or get a side stitch in less than ten minutes. Dongfang Zhixia wore a confident smile on her face.
And then...
Ten minutes passed, and Ye Cheng was still full of energy.
Twenty minutes passed, and Ye Cheng was still continuing to spew his wimpy nonsense.
An hour passed, and Ye Cheng...
Two hours...
The longer he ran, the more silent things became. But the one who fell silent wasn't Ye Cheng; it was Dongfang Zhixia... Why did it feel like something wasn't quite right?
He had been running for almost two hours, yet he hadn't taken a sip of water or rested. He could still talk to her without showing any signs of exhaustion or catching a side stitch... Was this logical?
Dongfang Zhixia continued to press the treadmill remote in her hand, constantly increasing the speed. After pressing it several times with no response, she felt a bit puzzled and looked down at the remote in her hand.
It displayed... Maximum speed reached!
Dongfang Zhixia: "..."
"President, I can't take it anymore, please let me go..." Ye Cheng kept complaining endlessly and playing the victim. The more he did this, the more silent Dongfang Zhixia became.
For some reason... Dongfang Zhixia felt like Ye Cheng was constantly provoking her!
At the same time, Dongfang Zhixia noticed something even more absurd. Ye Cheng's "food baby" seemed to have disappeared, replaced by "superb muscle lines." Due to the prolonged high-intensity exercise, sweat had long since soaked through Ye Cheng's clothes.
So, right now, his clothes looked a bit "see-through," a bit...
Dongfang Zhixia: "???"
Dongfang Zhixia stared blankly, and at a speed visible to the naked eye, her ears turned bright red. She hurriedly took half a step back, almost tripping over her own feet.
"President, are you alright? It's getting late, why don't you head up and rest first? I'll stay here and supervise the hamster's workout!" Ye Cheng hurriedly seized the opportunity to volunteer as the overseer, ready to ruthlessly push a certain gluttonous hamster!
The first thing Ye Cheng did after transforming from a "seal" into someone with "superb muscle lines" was to forget his roots. Forgetting that the Little Secretary was a close comrade on the same front line as him, he instantly turned into the ugly capitalist's overseer lackey, ruthlessly supervising the Little Secretary!
A "scab" like Ye Cheng would only learn his lesson if he were strung up on a streetlamp...
Faced with Ye Cheng's "concern," her reaction was different from usual. Normally, Dongfang Zhixia would definitely wear a cold expression and tell Ye Cheng to get back to running and not even think about slacking off. But now... Dongfang Zhixia was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling with anger!
"Shut up!"
"You reek of sweat, it's disgusting. Don't talk to me!"
Dongfang Zhixia scolded, her tone extremely "harsh."
Ye Cheng: "..."
Was that really necessary? Hadn't he been running like this the whole time? Why was it fine before? She had been standing there for so long, so why the sudden change of face?
Heh, women!
"Beep, beep, beep!"
Dongfang Zhixia rapidly pressed the remote control in her hand, continuously decelerating the treadmill. Finally, the "Wind and Fire Wheels" beneath Ye Cheng's feet came to a halt.
"Get out of here and take a shower, you stink!" Dongfang Zhixia glared coldly, taking another two steps back.
Ye Cheng: "..."
A small gesture, but a massive amount of damage... Boohoo, today's humiliation will be repaid a hundredfold, Nalan... Oh wait, no, Dongfang Zhixia, you just wait and see!
Ye Cheng happily hopped off the treadmill, ready to pack up his things and head home. Woohoo!!!
Ye Cheng had barely taken two steps when Dongfang Zhixia's incomparably cold voice came from behind him.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Ye Cheng: "???"
Ye Cheng's face stiffened. Looking at Dongfang Zhixia in disbelief, he tentatively asked, "Well... President, I have to go home to take a shower. You..."
Dongfang Zhixia crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. "In a place this big, you can't find a place to shower?"
Ye Cheng: "..."
"Well... that wouldn't be very appropriate, would it? Besides, President, I'm quite particular about the water I use. If it's not the water from my own home, I feel like..."
"Heh, in that case, you can keep running!" Dongfang Zhixia sneered. She picked up the remote control again and pressed it continuously, beep, beep, beep. Soon, the treadmill was once again adjusted to "Wind and Fire Wheels" mode.
Ye Cheng: "..."
"Hahaha, President, I find you take things way too seriously. I was just joking around just now. What kind of normal person recognizes water? Is that even human? The bathroom is this way, right? I'll head over first then..."
Muttering to himself, he walked toward the nearest bathroom and obediently rolled right in.
Bang!
Splash!
Soon, the sound of running water could be heard. Only then did Dongfang Zhixia retract her gaze and let out a sigh of relief.
Dongfang Zhixia placed a hand over her chest... Her heartbeat had noticeably quickened. Now that a certain someone had scurried off to take a shower, her heartbeat returned to normal.
Dongfang Zhixia narrowed her eyes and took another couple of glances in the direction of the bathroom, then took out her phone and made a call.
"Beep, beep, beep..."
"Miss, how may I help you?"
"Send over two sets of school uniforms, um... and pajamas, a suit, underwear..."
"Right away, Miss. Please wait a few minutes, I will have them sent over immediately!"
"Oh, and make sure they're men's."
"Understood, Mi... Hmm? Miss, could I trouble you to repeat that? The signal here was a bit poor just now, so I didn't catch it clearly."
The young lady answering the phone on the other end was clearly stunned, doubting whether she had heard wrong. Wasn't their Miss at home right now? Why would she need men's school uniforms?
Dongfang Zhixia frowned in slight displeasure, but she patiently repeated her request and added some extra information.
"Height around 185, weight about 160, shoulder width..."
Soon, Dongfang Zhixia rattled off a bunch of highly professional measurements, all of which were noted down by the young lady on the line.
"Understood, Miss. Is there anything else you need to add?"
"No, that's about it. Have them sent over within ten minutes." Dongfang Zhixia glanced toward the bathroom as she spoke.
"Yes, Miss!"
Hanging up the phone, Dongfang Zhixia prepared to scold her little jailbreaking hamster. Before the change of clothes arrived, Ye Cheng shouldn't be done washing up. The timing of the delivery would be just about right...
At least, that was how Dongfang Zhixia calculated it.
The average shower time for Dongfang Zhixia and the Little Secretary was about half an hour. For Ye Cheng, Dongfang Zhixia simply divided that by three, giving him about ten minutes, which should be enough...
"President, well, I'm done washing up. I don't seem to see any spare clothes here..."
Dongfang Zhixia had just finished her phone call when Ye Cheng's voice rang out from the bathroom. He had been in there for less than two and a half minutes, yet he was claiming he was already done.
Dongfang Zhixia: "???"
"Didn't you just go in?!" Dongfang Zhixia's face was full of disbelief. This was way too fast!
"I don't think so. I've already been in here for, uh... 156, 157, 158, 159..."
Dongfang Zhixia: "???"
"Shut up and keep washing! Until I say you can come out, you'd better stay in there and behave. If you dare step out, you're dead meat!!!"
Dongfang Zhixia scolded sharply, her chest heaving. After letting out an "oh," Ye Cheng made no further sound. It was unknown whether he went to take a bath or what he was doing...
Taking quick showers was considered one of Ye Cheng's traditional skills. This was actually considered slow for him; in the past, he would keep it under a minute, or around 45 seconds. For no other reason than to save on water and electricity bills...
When it came to being a pauper!!!
The poverty of Yours truly, Ye, was definitely not an unearned reputation!!!
Dongfang Zhixia adjusted her mindset, suppressing the urge to rush in and beat a certain bastard to death.
"Keep running! Confess honestly, how much did you eat today!" Dongfang Zhixia scoffed coldly, crossing her arms over her chest. She glared "fiercely" at the Little Secretary, who was doing an "old man's stroll" on the treadmill.
She was the polar opposite of Ye Cheng. If Ye Cheng was a crazed bullfrog with "Wind and Fire Wheels" under his feet, then the Little Secretary was a lazy hamster wearing elderly orthopedic walking shoes, utterly incapable of running.
Just walking leisurely on the lowest speed setting for two hours left the Little Secretary looking as though her clothes were about to combust, completely drained and wilted.
"Miss, I can't run anymore..." the Little Secretary pouted pitifully. Looking wilted with her round, bulging little belly, she was actually quite adorable.
"You call that running? You're walking!" Dongfang Zhixia glared at the Little Secretary in exasperation. What a certain bastard did was called running. Sigh...
"It's not like you can't stop. Just promise me you won't fool around with this guy anymore, and you can get off."
Dongfang Zhixia's heart softened after all. She felt bad for the Little Secretary and only needed her to promise not to go out and fool around with Ye Cheng anymore. As for the blame this time... she would pin it all on Ye Cheng.
When it came to being the King of Scapegoats!!!
The Little Secretary blinked her sparkling eyes. "Miss, I think I'll walk a little longer..."
Rubbing her round, bulging belly, the Little Secretary muttered to herself as she continued to walk on the treadmill.
Dongfang Zhixia: "???"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
lity and could only live as an ordinary mortal. He only wished to live a peaceful life. Yet he didn't know— The dog he adopted, because it ate his food, became a legendary demon king. The kitchen knife he casually forged became a peerless divine weapon, causing numerous experts to fight desperately for it. The young disciple he took in became an immortal lord that led an era, due to cultivating the techniques Ye Feng taught him. Even the skeletons he looked down on the most were ominous demon kings that suppressed countless worlds. Many years later, looking at the void shattered with a punch, Ye Feng murmured to himself: It turns out the peerless kings were myself all along...
ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
