Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
’16 May, cloudy.’
‘I went to eat Haidilao alone. The server suggested that I order four soup bases to make it more worthwhile, but I only wanted to have the butter mala soup base. I then ordered 9 portions of ingredients and the server once again suggested that five and a half portions would be enough for me alone.’
‘Seated opposite me is a big, black and white chequered bear. The server placed a set of chopsticks and poured a whole glass of sour plum juice for the big bear too…’
Tang Hong was going through his diary.
He was worried that he could not remember the events corresponding to the respective individual value classes, but he should not record such secretive information either.
After thinking it over and over again, he came up with the method of using a diary to record down the various events that triggered the increase of individual value.
As for how much individual value was added, Tang Hong could remember all of that.
It was fine if he missed a few.
Tang Hong had also considered using a unique method of recording, adding symbols, letters and whatnot. However, given the advanced ways of today’s language research, decoding those symbols would probably be an easy task.
There was no harm in being more cautious. Tang Hong closed his diary.
“Hey.”
A hint of worry was held in the eyes of Zeng Li, who was seated beside him doing his self-study. He pushed Tang Hong’s shoulders. “What’s with you recently, suddenly writing a diary… you’re the second most handsome guy in our dormitory, there’s really no need to be entangled in relationship problems.”
Tang Hong instantly smiled. “And you’re the first?”
“Actually, I do not wish to be the most handsome one.”
Zeng Li shrugged, resignation all over his face. He heaved an inward sigh of relief, seeing Tang Hong smile. He considered finding an opportunity to introduce some girls to Tang Hong.
The best way of breaking away from relationship woes was to start the next relationship, this was Zeng Li’s experience.
“Let’s go eat.”
The grayish white pen between Zeng Li’s fingertips. He pulled Tang Hong to his feet. “The cafeteria would soon be out of seats again.”
Tang Hong said, “Ask where Wu Jie is and whether he wants to join us.”
“I’ll give him a call.”
Zeng Li inwardly found it odd. In the three years, he and Wu Jie were more closer, they always played together while Tang Hong and Han Shibin clicked well.
During the recent few weeks, there had gradually been some changes.
The changes began approximately after the May Day vacation. Ever since Tang Hong
Wu Jie: “…”
Zeng Li saw Wu Jie who was strolling back and forth at the side door of the cafeteria from afar. When they came close, he asked, “I remember you do have a class this morning, a self-selected elective.”
“I skipped it hehe.” Wu Jie pounded Zeng Li’s shoulders and turned his head to say to Tang Hong, “When are you free to go to the fitness center, that Xuan Lizheng from our class is nagging everyday that he’s waiting for you to challenge the 80KG bench press.”
Tang Hong let out a low chuckle. “Let’s make that today.”
Wu Jie’s mouth dropped open, heaven please take pity on and protect me, it was just a casual remark.
He recalled the extent of Tang Hong’s progress a few days ago, and anticipation surged from the bottom of his heart.
The typical mentality to seek novelty, Wu Jie picked up his phone and prepared to tell Xuan Lizheng this news but the words he typed out became ‘let’s go practice deep squats in the afternoon’.
80KG!?
Zeng Li, who was at the side, felt that his ears had probably gone deaf.
He had gone to the fitness center with Wu Jie before. He did not dare to continue after going twice. Those brawny men were too frightening. These days, he had heard about Tang Hong beginning to go to the gym but he had not taken it to heart.
Until this moment…
80KG…
Four short and exquisite digits and letters, but they gave Zeng Li a more direct perception. “I’m 1.83 meters and I’m 70 plus kilograms. According to Wu Jie, Tang Hong can lift one of me??”
Zeng Li didn’t know much about body building.
He eavesdropped white covertly examining Tang Hong’s chest and arms. He looked a little muscular, the outlines of his muscles were indistinctly highlighted.
During the interval when the cafeteria lady was dishing out the food, Zeng Li could not help but ask, “What time are you guys going, I’ll join you.”
…
2PM, fitness center.
As the class’s sports representative, Xuan Lizheng led several of their classmates to experience the benefits of exercising and physical training together.
These classmates were all girls.
Presently, being surrounded in the middle, Xuan Lizheng felt as if he had reached the peak of life, the center of the sun, moon and stars. He did his best to introduce the methods of using the various equipment, especially the chest expanding equipment.
They were conducive to physical and mental health.
He had to make them the key of his recommendations.
Xuan Lizheng swear to the heavens that he really did not have a selfish motive.
“Hey, hey, you’re so naughty.”
“This is too shameful…”
However, while the mouths lied, the bodies were very honest. Two girls wearing short sleeved shirts exchanged glances, both of them were eager to have a go.
As if they were both very confident.
Even though they had not used these equipment before.
“You go.”
“It’s better for you to go first.”
The two of them shoved around while Xuan Lizheng stood up a side with a smile. He did not speak either, he just watched quietly. But just then, he caught two familiar figures through his peripherals.
One was Wu Jie who worked out often.
Another was his classmate, Tang Hong, who was a mystery to him.
“He’s here.”
A nonchalant thought went through Xuan Lizheng’s heart.
“Hold on.”
“He seemed to have mentioned that he wanted to challenge 80KG the next time…” Blurry memories flashed through Xuan Lizheng’s heart again. He was instantly shocked, even the smile on his face froze.
Was he for real?
Only a few days had passed?
Xuan Lizheng could not care for these chattering female classmates and shouted loudly, “Wu Jie!”
“Come on.”
Wu Jie was grinning as he curled his finger. He did not approach Xuan Lizheng. Instead, he helped Tang Hong prepare the 80KG barbell and habitually pushed the discs inwards to prevent them from falling.
Xuan Lizheng took the initiative to jog over.
A corner of his lips tugged upwards. It was really 80KG, was Tang Hong trying to kill himself.
“Serving tea to the big boss.”
Xuan Lizheng’s gaze was so strange, like he was sizing up a monster with three heads and six arms. At the same time, the girls on the other side also ended their dispute and moved closer with curious looks.
They recognized Tang Hong, that pitiful person.
‘Our class’s Jiao Xiaoyu found an internship offer for a Fortune 500 company located in the capital. She immediately broke up with Tang Hong and left to the capital.’
‘So pitiful, three whole years of relationship ended just like that.’
“Flaunt your affections, break up fast. But it’s pretty good that they’ve broken up, the chance to pester him is here, I will go right for him…”
The few of them whispered to one another and gathered at a side.
They saw up close so many barbell discs stacked together and were all surprised, revealing looks of astonishment.”
“How heavy would that be?”
Someone asked.
Xuan Lizheng answered without thinking, “80.”
“80 catties? So heavy!”
The girls were wide-eyed, no longer daring to speak.
Xuan Lizheng was a speechless look. “It’s kilograms, a thousand grams.”
As girls were absolute rare creatures in the gym area, just like beautiful flowers that emerged in the desert, they attracted lots of gazes, many people were glancing indistinctly.
“That person looks a little familiar.”
“I think he’s been here a few times.”
What was his mentality, getting so many girls to crowd around while he did bench presses, some people revealed looks of disdain.
Tang Hong did not care about the looks around him, he laid down and took in a deep breath. He had had 35% of strength when he lifted 60KG the previous time. He did not add more, he felt that lifting 80KG should be about the same.
In any case, he had Wu Jie around.
His palms heaved the silver-white bar and suddenly exerted strength as his eyes brightened. No one trained in the afternoon, the surface of the metal was cool.
Hua!
He barely lifted it and slowly lowered it till above his chest.
Wu Jie’s hands floated around the middle of the metal bar. If this bar was to fall, his sternum would be fine. It would be dangerous if it slid towards the neck, the lower jaw and Adam’s apple was very weak.
“This…”
Xuan Lizheng personally witnessed the barbell moving up bit by bit and fell into silence.
“Oh my God…”
Zeng Li’s eyes were fixated.
Three whole years of living together in a dormitory, he felt that Tang Hong was so unfamiliar.
And those girls who had gathered closer with whispers were even more surprised. Watching movies and videos and being an onlooker felt entirely different. The thick and heavy barbell discs, the barbell bar gleaming with a metallic luster, rising and falling, had greater visual impact.
Ka!
The barbell was placed on the rack.
Even until the trio, Tang Hong, Wu Jie and Zeng Li left the gym area, laughing and chatting, Xuan Lizheng was still in a trance. Was it time for him to give up his title of sports representative and the class’s number one muscle man to Tang Hong?
Those girls began discussing who to go do chest expansion exercises again.
But Xuan Lizheng had lost the mood. His emptiness seemed like the slapping of waves, one after another.
“Sigh.”
At this time, a tall and strong guy with his sleeves rolled up patted Xuan Lizheng’s shoulders. “Deep squats?”
Xuan Lizheng knew this burly guy. “No mood.”
It’d merely been more than a week.
And Tang Hong had moved from 40KG during his first attempt to 60KG on his second attempt to the present 80KG. Even skipping grades wasn’t achieved so quickly, this was virtually heartless.
Good foundation?
Took drugs?
He remained perplexed despite much thought.
…
Xuan Lizheng was pondering, so was Tang Hong.
He was a little worried. Had he progressed too quickly, it seemed that Wu Jie and Zeng Li’s gazes directed at him were filled with amazement. Even Xuan Lizheng’s countenance turned stiff, they were the true regulars of the gym.
He, Tang Hong, was merely an amateur player.
Since that was the case, it seemed that there was no need to go there anymore.
Tang Hong had already broadly deduced that a 6% increase in his strength percentage figure corresponded to about a 40KG weight in bench presses.
“An addition of another 3% would be enough.”
“But, to be safe, it was okay to go beyond slightly.”
As he was in thought, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Several notification alerts sounded successively.
Tang Hong took a look. It was Fan Yu’s invitation. The application for the grant had passed the headquarters’ approval, she wished to hand it to Tang Hong in person. There were also some matters that needed to be communicated in person.
Fan Yu sent an address.
“It’s not far from you.”
Fan Yu said, “This teahouse is a gathering place for Transcendents, there are often Transcendents present, both local and foreign. Are you free, would you like to come experience it?”