Chapter 9

It was a flyer for a nearby boxing gym, left there yesterday.
The gym was one of the sponsors at yesterday’s park festival. Shen Youwei had won a trial class in a game draw.
Before, she wouldn’t have been interested in boxing. But after yesterday, she realized she needed to strengthen herself, so that even if she couldn’t defeat a criminal, she wouldn’t die so easily.
To make it harder for anyone trying to harm her, she decided to take the trial class.
She was always action-oriented, so she found a time that afternoon and went to the gym.
The boxing gym was very close to her apartment, less than ten minutes on foot. The gym had two floors and was about the same size as the tea house next door. Shen Youwei held her trial card and walked in through the main entrance.
The receptionist immediately greeted her warmly. “Hello! Are you here to sign up for boxing classes?”
Shen Youwei, her face covered by a mask, smiled with her eyes. “I’d like to join a trial class.”
The receptionist took the card and replied cheerfully, “Of course! When would you like to start?”
“Right now, if possible.”
“Sure, let me check which instructors are available.” The receptionist tapped at the keyboard. “Right now, Coach Wang and Coach Gao are free, you can choose either of them.”
Shen Youwei asked, “Do you have their profiles?”
“Yes, over on the wall.” The receptionist pointed to a display wall with photos, introductions, and achievements of all the coaches.
Shen Youwei walked over, scanning the wall. The coaches were well-qualified, and they looked capable just from their photos. But Coach Wang and Coach Gao looked intimidating, and she wasn’t very keen on them.
However, a coach named Lu Zhaoye caught her eye, he looked like a college heartthrob and stood out among the others.
“This Coach Lu looks pretty young,” she remarked.
The receptionist nodded knowingly. “Yes, Coach Lu is the youngest and also the most popular coach here.”
Ah, top seller, Shen Youwei thought, nodding, his performance matched his looks.
“Coach Lu’s schedule is pretty full. If you want him, you might have to wait,” the receptionist continued. “Coach Wang and Coach Zhang aren’t as good-looking, but they’re more experienced and very professional.”
After all, unlike Lu, they didn’t have a company waiting to inherit them.
“Hmm, then just assign me anyone,” Shen Youwei said. She didn’t insist on Coach Lu, it was just a trial class, and she wasn’t sure she could keep it up after.
“Okay, I’ll assign Coach Zhang. He looks a bit fierce but has the best temper of all our coaches,” the receptionist said.
“Fine.” Shen Youwei nodded, just as Coach Lu Zhaoye walked out from the back.
He was escorting a student out and froze for a moment when he saw Shen Youwei standing in the lobby.
“Oh, Ms. Chen, leaving early?” the receptionist greeted another student leaving.
Ms. Chen nodded. “Something came up. I’ll come back next time.”
“No problem. I’ll carry over your remaining class time to your next session,” the receptionist said.
“Thanks.”
Ms. Chen left quickly. The receptionist looked at Shen Youwei and said, “Since Ms. Chen left early, Coach Lu’s slot is now free. If you want him, I can switch your schedule before you submit the request.”
Before Shen Youwei could answer, Lu Zhaoye chimed in: “Go ahead, I’m available!”
“…” The receptionist had never seen him so eager, but she was asking the customer, not him.
She smiled at Shen Youwei, waiting for her reply. Shen Youwei glanced at Lu Zhaoye and asked the receptionist, “You said Coach Zhang is more professional, right?”
Lu Zhaoye added, “Yes, Coach Zhang is more professional. But may I ask, are you planning to compete?”
Receptionist: “…”
That was indeed a bit forward.
Shen Youwei replied, “Not really.”
Lu continued, “Then is it just for fitness?”
“Something like that.”
Lu Zhaoye smiled like a sunny little dog. “Then I’m more than enough.”
Shen Youwei ultimately chose between professionalism and the playful little dog, she went with the little dog. “Then I’ll take Coach Lu.”
“Great.” The receptionist typed away on the computer, and Lu Zhaoye’s smile grew even brighter.
“Oh, I also want to ask, is there a more private training room? I’d rather not train with everyone else.” Being a female celebrity, she needed some privacy.
The receptionist glanced at her and nodded. “We have private rooms. There are cameras, and the fee is higher.”
“No problem. Please arrange a private room for me.”
“Sure, for today’s trial we won’t charge extra. If you like it, remember to buy a course from us.”
“No problem.” Once the receptionist finished, Shen Youwei followed Lu Zhaoye upstairs.
The first floor was the public training area. The second floor had both a lounge and private training rooms. Lu Zhaoye walked ahead, occasionally glancing back at her. When their eyes met, he quickly looked away, but his ears betrayed a blush.
Shen Youwei blinked. Many boys had blushed around her growing up, but now, even with a mask on, someone could still react like this?
Her charm truly had no bounds.
In the training room, Shen Youwei finally removed her mask. Lu Zhaoye saw her face and, unsurprisingly, his ears flushed even more.
“Do you recognize me?” Shen Youwei asked. She had only registered her surname and phone at the front desk, so he should have been surprised.
Yes, she was that confident in her fame.
Lu Zhaoye nodded shyly. “I recognized you outside, I’ve been a fan for three years.”
“I see.” She knew her claim of being a celebrity was valid.
“You’re living nearby now?” Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come all this way for boxing.
Lu Zhaoye asked curiously and then added, remembering a previous trending topic, “I’m just asking, you don’t need to answer! Don’t worry, I’m not a bad person. I won’t leak your info!”
Perhaps from nervousness, his face was even redder. Shen Youwei, seeing his pure, college-student-like innocence, asked, “How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-five, just three months younger than you!”
“…” Okay, clearly a devoted fan. “Then let’s start the lesson.”
“Okay, okay.” Lu Zhaoye first taught some warm-up moves, then went to fetch her equipment.
It was the first class, so not much was needed. Shen Youwei tried punching the bag. Regardless of fitness benefits, it was quite stress-relieving.
“If you decide to continue, you can get a better mouthguard yourself.” During a break, Lu Zhaoye handed her a water bottle and sat beside her.
“Thanks.” Shen Youwei took the water and drank. “Is this free too?”
He had also given her the mouthguard for free, though not expensive, it still felt odd that the coach was subsidizing her class.
Lu Zhaoye smiled. “We provide free water, or you can bring your own.”
Shen Youwei nodded silently. Lu cleared his throat, deliberately making conversation. “I saw on your livestream that you’re planning to start your own studio?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.” Shen Youwei usually did fashion videos and a section for transforming ordinary people, since her rise to fame started from a roommate makeover video.
Starting a personal image design studio had been her idea for the past six months. She even got certified, but after a fallout with Xu Qairan, the plan was put on hold.
“Right now, I’m too busy. It’ll have to wait.”
As her three-year fan, Lu Zhaoye immediately guessed her predicament. “Is it because Xu Qairan left? No worries, you can hire an assistant.”
With her fame, finding an assistant wouldn’t be hard.
“If you really can’t find someone, I, cough, can help,” Lu Zhaoye offered.
Shen Youwei looked at him, surprised. “You know about image design?”
“I don’t, but I have strength!” Lu Zhaoye flexed his arm, showing her his muscles. “I can help with heavy work.”
Shen Youwei glanced at his arm. His muscles were well-formed, not intimidating, but a perfect blend of strength and aesthetic.
“Nice build,” she said casually. Lu Zhaoye’s face flushed again, eyes gleaming with joy.
The little dog was easy to understand, much easier than the older brother at home.
“There’s a lot to prepare for the studio. If you need help, I’m always available!”
Shen Youwei smiled. “What about your classes? The front desk said your schedule is full.”
“I know, I’m planning to reduce some.” Lu Zhaoye took out his phone. “Let’s add each other on WeChat, it’ll be easier to contact each other.”
“Sure.”
As they added each other, Guan Shanyan came out of his study. Not seeing Shen Youwei, he casually asked Xie Mingqiu, “Are you home alone?”
Xie Mingqiu, watching TV, replied, “Your dad went out for tea. Youwei went to the boxing gym.”
Guan Shanyan’s brows twitched. “She went to the boxing gym? For what?”
“To work out. There’s one nearby,” Xie Mingqiu said, a sly smile appearing. “I heard there’s a really handsome coach there. Several girls in our community train with him.”