Chapter 12: Men Should Compete Over Their Physique…

When the two of them got home, Guan Su was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Xie Mingqiu saw them come back together and was a bit surprised: “Did you meet downstairs?”

“No, I just finished boxing practice and happened to run into him,” Shen Youwei explained briefly, then walked toward her room, “I’m going to take a shower first.”

Guan Shanyan watched her back and pursed his lips slightly.

Seeing his unhappy expression, Xie Mingqiu asked him, “What’s wrong? Did you quarrel with Youwei again? You always let her have her way when you were kids. Why do you become so petty now that you’re grown up?”

“That depends on what it’s about,” Guan Shanyan replied to Xie Mingqiu. “Today I saw that coach Lu. He’s obviously using the coach role as a cover to chase after Youwei.”

Xie Mingqiu smirked, “Isn’t that just perfect then?”

Guan Shanyan: “…”

“I even checked him out. That Lu kid lives nearby, and his family is pretty well off!” Xie Mingqiu eagerly shared her findings with Guan Shanyan. “And that figure of his, tsk tsk, who wouldn’t want to give him a squeeze?”

As she spoke, she looked Guan Shanyan up and down a few times: “You’ve been so busy with work lately, haven’t had time to work out, right? The muscles you built before must be gone by now?”

“…” Hmph.

Guan Shanyan silently went back to his room. When he changed clothes, he deliberately stood in front of the full-length mirror to look — the muscles were definitely still there!

… Although it seemed they weren’t as defined as before.

He stared at himself in the mirror thoughtfully. He really had been neglecting exercise lately. Maybe he should start morning runs again from tomorrow.

The next day, Guan Shanyan woke up an hour earlier, ready to go for a morning run in the park.

Breakfast wasn’t ready yet at home. Guan Su saw Guan Shanyan dressed in sportswear and asked with some surprise, “Are you going to exercise?”

“Mm.” Guan Shanyan walked to the door, squatted down, and started changing shoes.

Guan Su asked, “What made you suddenly decide to start morning workouts?”

Guan Shanyan said, “To strengthen my body.”

“…” Alright then.

On the balcony, Xie Mingqiu, who was watering flowers, snickered, “I think he’s just worried about his figure.”

Guan Shanyan: “…”

Hmph, what does he have to worry about?

“This is good too. Men should compete over their physique,” she said, glancing at Guan Su. “Why don’t you join your son for morning workouts? I think you need some exercise too.”

“…I, I still have to make breakfast,” Guan Su said, then quickly slipped back into the kitchen.

Guan Shanyan had already changed into his running shoes, opened the door, and stepped outside. Lize Park has a dedicated running track around the lake, which is perfect for exercise. Over the past few years, the park’s facilities have been renovated, making the experience much better than when Guan Shanyan was a student.

At this time, quite a few people were exercising by the lake. Guan Shanyan was running around the lake when suddenly someone caught up to him from behind and called out, “Brother Guan, it really is you!”

“…” Guan Shanyan turned his head and indeed saw Lu Zhaoye’s face.

“What a coincidence, Brother Guan, you’re here exercising too!” Lu Zhaoye cheerfully ran alongside him. “I run here every day. Why haven’t I met you before?”

Guan Shanyan withdrew his gaze and quickened his pace. “I just returned to the country recently.”

“Oh!” Lu Zhaoye responded and also picked up his pace. “I looked you up yesterday. You really are that fashion designer. No wonder you looked familiar!”

Guan Shanyan said nothing, but Lu Zhaoye kept chatting enthusiastically. “But why do you have a different last name from Shen Youwei? One takes the father’s surname, and the other the mother’s?”

Guan Shanyan glanced at him sideways. “What do you want by prying into my family?”

“I don’t,” Lu Zhaoye raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit embarrassed. “I just want to know more about Shen Youwei.”

“…” Hmph. Guan Shanyan’s gaze sharpened. “Are you trying to chase my sister?”

Lu Zhaoye became even more embarrassed but didn’t deny it. “I do have that idea.”

Guan Shanyan asked coldly, “Are coaches allowed to date their students?”

“…I don’t think there’s a rule against it,” Lu Zhaoye thought for a moment. “If it’s not allowed, then I can just resign.”

“Do you expect my sister to support you if you quit?”

“Of course not!” Lu Zhaoye quickly replied. “Actually, my family runs some small businesses. My parents have always wanted me to help out at the company.”

He originally wasn’t keen on it, but if he seriously considered dating and marriage, working at the company would definitely be more stable.

“My family lives in Helanglan. We’re practically neighbors, right?” Lu Zhaoye tried every way to get closer to Guan Shanyan. “We can hang out more. How about a barbecue here at Lize Park next time?”

Guan Shanyan glanced at him. Helanglan is a nearby villa area, not far from the community where he lives. But anyone who can afford a home in Helanglan definitely does more than just run small businesses.

When Shen Youwei got up, the house was already empty. It was a workday, so everyone else had gone to work, and only she could sleep in and leisurely eat breakfast.

The family had left her breakfast separately. Shen Youwei heated it herself and sat at the table to eat.

He Man guessed she had already gotten up and gave her a call. “About that buffet I mentioned last time—shall we go for lunch today?”

“Sure.” Shen Youwei took a sip of milk and put the cup down on the table. “Do you have free time recently?”

“Yeah, the business deal I was negotiating got snatched by Jiang Peipei, so I’m quite free now.”

Shen Youwei: “…”

“Alright then, lunch is on me.”

“Let’s save it for next time,” He Man politely declined her kindness. “I already bought the vouchers today. Next time, you treat me to something else.”

“Alright.” After finishing breakfast, Shen Youwei cleared the table herself and went back inside to continue editing videos. When she thought the time was about right, she got up, changed into a Bunny FY New Year’s dress, put on large sunglasses, and went out.

When she arrived at the buffet restaurant, she realized He Man hadn’t just invited her—Xu Kaicai was there too.

She took off her sunglasses, smiled, and walked over to sit on the sofa. “There are quite a few people here today.”

Xu Kaicai didn’t know that He Man had invited both of them, and when she saw Shen Youwei, she remained silent. Worried they might start arguing, He Man actively tried to lighten the mood: “Haha, since we bought three vouchers with a discount, we might as well all come. Let’s go get some food first?”

Xu Kaicai stayed seated and didn’t move. She glanced at He Man and said, “Since you called us all here, just say what you want straight.”

He Man cleared her throat twice before smiling and saying, “What could I want? I just hope you two can reconcile. You’ve gotten along well all these years and were even planning to start a studio together…”

“I know.” Xu Kaicai interrupted He Man right there. “It’s Shen Youwei who wants to open a studio and is short on people, so she wants me to go back and do the hard work for her, right?”

“…Don’t say it like that. It’s better for you to be with her than somewhere else, isn’t it?”

“Don’t worry about that. Chen Qing said he’d arrange for me to work at his company.”

Shen Youwei laughed as she listened. “Chen Qing just has a meaningless job at the company himself. What position could he arrange for you?”

“So what if it’s meaningless? A meaningless job still pays, doesn’t it?” Xu Kaicai looked at her, clearly a bit annoyed. “Since I’ve been with Chen Qing, you’ve always looked down on him from above.”

Shen Youwei asked back, “What’s so admirable about him? Oh, he is indeed gifted in the art of owing debts.”

“Alright, alright, my taste is bad. Then what about your fondness for your own brother?”

Shen Youwei frowned and looked at the person across from her. “He’s just a brother I acknowledge myself. Is it illegal for me to like him? Besides, Guan Shanyan doesn’t gamble, doesn’t owe debts, and wouldn’t leave me alone in the suburbs late at night or even get physical with me.”

Xu Kaicai leaned back in her chair and chuckled. “See, I didn’t even say anything bad about Guan Shanyan and you’re already upset. But when you curse Chen Qing in front of me, have you ever thought about my feelings?”

“…Hahaha, I really have to admire you.” Shen Youwei was so annoyed by her argument she laughed. “I shouldn’t have just cursed Chen Qing, I should have cursed you too. Would that wake you up a bit?”

Xu Kaicai picked up her bag and stood up from the chair. “Since we’ve said this much, there’s no need to talk anymore.”

She turned and left the restaurant. He Man sat silently for a while before looking at Shen Youwei and saying, “The three vouchers I bought are for a set meal—you have to use them all at once.”

Shen Youwei: “…”

She had thought the three vouchers discount was just an excuse, but it really was true.

She picked up her phone and sent Guan Shanyan a location with a message: “Treating you to a buffet. Want to come?”