Chapter 23: Let Me Help You Stretch

Inside the Jiangshan International residence, the lights were shining brightly on both the first and second floors.

Walking into the living room on the first floor, Zheng Qian found Jin Lu reading on the sofa. She was wearing a light silk nightgown that barely reached her knees, perfectly covering her thighs, her jade-like feet crossed as she sat.

"You're still up?" Zheng Qian glanced at the time. It was already two in the morning, and yet Jin Lu hadn't rested.

"Yes, you said you were coming back, so I’ve been waiting for you."

Upon seeing Zheng Qian, Jin Lu took the initiative to approach him, helping him take off his coat and change his shoes. "I made some hangover soup for you. I’ll go get you a bowl; it’ll help you sleep comfortably tonight."

This... she was far too attentive!

Zheng Qian gulped down two bowls of the soup, and he truly felt refreshed. Lying in bed, Jin Lu even offered to massage his shoulders. Having spent so much time in front of a computer, Zheng Qian suffered from some minor occupational ailments, leaving his lumbar spine and shoulders in poor condition. Under Jin Lu’s skillful hands, he felt much better.

With such a virtuous woman at home, even if Zheng Qian were to have affairs elsewhere in the future, Jin Lu would undoubtedly remain firmly in the position of the legitimate queen.

"Why are you dressed like this today?" Zheng Qian glanced at her attire.

"It’s a nightgown..." Jin Lu saw the look in his eyes and knew exactly what he wanted.

"I'm hungry."

"Then I’ll go make you something to eat."

"I want 'little steamed buns'."

"..."

Last time, Jin Lu had tried to distract him with a Wangzai milk carton, and Zheng Qian hadn't pressed the issue. This time, he turned over...

Afterward, in the quiet intimacy, she whispered, "Your body isn't in very good shape."

"What do you mean it's not good? You were the one begging for mercy just a moment ago."

"..."

"I don't mean in that regard; you're clearly very strong in that area!" she teased. "I mean that if you continue to come home this late every day, your body won't be able to handle it in the long run. You'll become listless, and you won't have the energy for anything."

"You don't usually exercise, do you?" Jin Lu asked.

"Occasionally, but it's a 'three days of fishing and two days of drying the nets' kind of habit."

"Do you have time tomorrow? I’ll take you to the gym. I resigned from my job there yesterday, but I know a few people and can clear out a space for us to train together."

"You were a personal trainer?"

"Yes, to make money, I held three jobs: gym trainer and bar sales."

"What else?"

"I also partnered with a friend to open a coffee shop; I go check on it occasionally."

Good heavens, no wonder Jin Lu could live in the city of Yebei and save up three million; she was a master of time management! A self-disciplined person is truly formidable.

"Alright, tomorrow morning works, though I'm not sure if I'll be able to wake up."

"I'll wake you."

The next morning at 10:30, Zheng Qian was woken up right on time. After a quick breakfast, he followed Jin Lu to the gym. The trip wasn't far—just a fifteen-minute drive. If they drove for another seven or eight minutes, they would arrive at the Red Rose club. It had to be said that Jin Lu’s life planning was excellent.

Upon arriving at the gym, Zheng Qian went to the locker room to change into workout clothes. This scene was clearly captured by the gym’s other personal trainers.

"Damn, who is that guy who came in with Sister Jin today?"

"No idea. A new face; I've never seen him in the gym before."

"He must be one of Sister Jin's clients. I saw him head to the locker room to change."

There were many suitors for Jin Lu here; some trainers had even transferred from other gyms just to be near her after seeing her photos online. Previously, two trainers had fought over her, disrupting the gym's order, and the owner had fired both of them at Jin Lu’s request. Since then, the overt hostility had shifted into a secret competition, with everyone trying to outdo each other with their muscle mass and physique.

There had also been clients who signed up for Jin Lu’s private lessons just to pursue her beauty. When other male trainers realized these clients had ulterior motives and were trying to take advantage of her, they would corner the clients in private, threatening to dunk them in the pool if they dared to harbor any more thoughts about her. In the end, those clients never dared to return, deleting her contact information overnight without even asking for a refund on their gym memberships or private lessons.

"Wait, that’s not right. I heard Sister Jin resigned yesterday. Why is she still bringing a student in?"

"Is that true? She resigned? How come I didn't know?"

"Why would I lie to you? She really did resign."

A thought suddenly occurred to everyone. Could Jin Lu have resigned because of that guy?

Impossible. The kid didn't look like much—at best, he was handsome in a delicate way—but he didn't appear wealthy. He was just an ordinary man. How could he possibly catch Jin Lu’s eye? As far as they knew, the line of rich heirs, second-generation wealthy kids, and tycoons waiting to admire her could stretch from the gym entrance all the way to the Red Rose. What could that kid possibly have to offer?

At this moment, Zheng Qian had finished changing and walked into the yoga area with Jin Lu.

"No way, no way... Sister Jin has never taken a male student for a yoga class before..."

Yoga sessions naturally involved physical contact between the trainer and the student, which was why Jin Lu had always refused to teach men, regardless of how much they were willing to pay.

"Your lumbar spine is a bit weak, so I'll start by taking you through some stretches." Just as Jin Lu was about to teach Zheng Qian the first movement, a group of male trainers walked over to greet her.

"Sister Jin, have you eaten? Why are you here at midday?"

"Sister Jin, this is a bento I brought from home. Would you like some?"

Jin Lu glanced at the food container in the trainer's hand—sugar-free, oil-free, low-calorie, a perfect fitness meal.

She still refused. "Move along. That was made for you by your girlfriend; don't try to be generous with someone else's gift."

"I've already eaten, don't worry about me," Jin Lu replied. "You guys go back to your work. I'm going to take my boyfriend through some stretches."

"Oh, by the way, do you have classes this afternoon? I'll be using your private training area for a bit."

Technically, the private training area was only for trainers and their students, but given how long she had worked there, it was no issue for her to use it with Zheng Qian.

However, the trainers didn't hear the second half of her sentence. Their attention was entirely focused on the word "boyfriend."

How many men had confessed their love to Jin Lu? Yet, without exception, she had rejected them all. She resigned yesterday and brought a boyfriend today—and such an ordinary one at that.

What exactly did a queen like Jin Lu see in him? They couldn't figure it out.