Charlene's High-End Gym Routine

After Bai Feili fled the scene, another familiar yet oddly out-of-place figure appeared near the dining table.

Chu Mingzhe.

"Holy crap, Lao Chu, you’re actually up this early?" Su Bai was shocked, having left their dorm while Chu Mingzhe was still dead asleep.

"Ah, yeah, I’m here with a relative—my uncle," Chu Mingzhe replied sheepishly. "Hello, Director Xia."

"Hello."

Xia Lin’s impression of Chu Mingzhe was slightly better than her impression of Xue Tao.

At least this guy, though also prone to showing off, had far better manners than Xue Tao.

After exchanging greetings, Chu Mingzhe glanced around, seemingly unable to spot what he was looking for, and finally asked, "Su Bai, did you happen to see someone… uh, about my height and build, wearing a Chelsea jersey?"

"...And who also looks just like you?"

"My uncle does resemble me a lot."

"Damn, so it’s not just ‘resembling’—it’s practically a carbon copy."

"Close enough." Su Bai paused, suppressing a laugh. "He went out through the side door of the cafeteria."

"Oh, really? Thanks. Huh, he said he’d grab some sweet fried dough before leaving…"

Looking puzzled, Chu Mingzhe walked away.

Now Su Bai understood why Bai Feili’s face had seemed so familiar.

Turns out he’s Lao Chu’s relative!

"So Chu Mingzhe’s family really does have some connections…"

"Probably a distant uncle, like, ten degrees of separation kind of distant," Xia Lin remarked casually, revealing a key detail.

She must have done some background checks on many of her classmates’ families.

Xia Lin hadn’t expected her blind date to somehow be linked to one of her students.

Small world.

She glanced at Su Bai a few times, her gaze meaningful.

"What’s up?"

"Nothing… Just thought you handled that really well. You’ve got a maturity beyond your years."

"It’s not maturity—I’m actually pretty childish."

"Being a little ‘childish’ isn’t always a bad thing. These days, girls expect guys to be mature, to stand on their own, but they don’t realize they’re becoming more infantile themselves… Society tends to coddle girls like kids, and that’s not healthy."

Maybe out of professional habit or genuine interest in education, Xia Lin naturally drifted into this topic.

Su Bai found it fascinating. He enjoyed talking to people with depth and perspective—women who were either empty-headed or spouted ideological rhetoric bored him.

Xia Lin clearly had substance, and in terms of social savvy, she had plenty to teach him.

Around her, Su Bai didn’t have to think much; he could just follow her lead.

What a reliable, mature older sister.

...

After the meal.

Su Bai debated but ultimately chose to drive the custom Panamera. After all, he probably wouldn’t need to do anything… intimate in the car with Xia Lin today.

They strolled around to walk off the food, then headed to Xia Lin’s usual gym—a high-end fitness club.

"The vibe here is clean. No annoying trainers pushing sales, no weirdos hitting on you. A few of my close girlfriends train here too—I’ll introduce you to them sometime."

"Huh? Introduce me?"

"They’re all accomplished women in their fields. Good connections to have. Plus, they’re curious about my ‘little brother.’" Xia Lin smirked mischievously.

What they’re really curious about probably isn’t the ‘little brother’ dynamic… Su Bai thought dryly.

Still, it was a good sign.

Xia Lin sharing her social circle with him was a gesture of genuine warmth. For wealthy people, if they were just playing around, they’d never let you into their inner circle.

At most, they’d take you to a few dinners with seemingly impressive people—people you’d never actually interact with again.

Classic rich-kid dating tactics.

On the flip side, a privileged woman like Xia Lin had even stronger boundaries.

"Warm up first. I’ll take a while changing, so don’t wait for me."

"Got it."

Su Bai had assumed Xia Lin would train in her morning running gear, but she was changing instead. So meticulous.

Meticulous is good.

From a purely practical standpoint, Su Bai didn’t need to work out—his physique was already peak. His real goal here was savoring the flirtatious atmosphere with Xia Lin.

He certainly wouldn’t mind if she dressed a little sexier.

...

In the locker room.

"Yeah, the far side of Equipment Zone D, away from the windows… Set up a divider for us. Just me and my little brother. Ugh, stop overthinking it—I’ll treat you to dinner later. Gotta go, shower time~"

After a quick WeChat call, Xia Lin stripped off her workout clothes and yoga pants, ready to freshen up.

She didn’t smell bad, but she had gone for a run earlier, and during training… at least in her imagination, she and Su Bai would be close. Best to rinse off any sweat.

Xia Lin realized that ever since meeting Su Bai, she’d started paying attention to little details like this.

Put simply, she’d become more vain.

In the past, she’d have gone straight to training after a run—no shower, no fuss.

Today? Not only was she showering, she was even applying light makeup.

Xia Lin’s makeup skills had been taught by a professional her mom hired—simple, practical techniques with polished results.

Her style leaned toward natural "no-makeup" looks, less photogenic than trendy K-beauty but whatever. Xia Lin had zero obsession with taking perfect selfies, unlike so many girls her age.

The woman she’d just called was the manager of this fitness club, a close acquaintance.

Many wealthy members brought dates here. Working out, surrounded by pheromones and the scent of someone you liked—it had its own charm.

So the manager had smartly designated certain areas, using dividers to create private spaces for couples.

She even personally oversaw pre- and post-session cleanup.

No wonder this gym had such a sterling reputation in Jiangcheng’s elite circles.

Everyone was using it.

Now that they’d have privacy, Xia Lin felt emboldened to try something bolder.

Like that gym outfit she’d bought on impulse but never dared to wear…