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It was already afternoon when Li Wei decided to visit the gym again to find Yunfei for another round of exercise.
The sun was still bright outside, its light spilling over the streets of the bustling shopping district. By now, Li Wei had grown used to the noise—the rhythmic thump of treadmills from the glass windows, the faint smell of protein shakes, and the hum of conversations from people passing by in sportswear.
He paused briefly at the reception desk, where the same young woman from yesterday greeted him with a polite smile.
"Ah, hello again." Li Wei gave a small bow. "About yesterday—sorry if I startled you. I wasn't really in my right head at the time."
The receptionist blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly. "Oh, that? Don't worry about it. Happens all the time. Just relax and enjoy your session, alright?"
Her light tone eased his nerves, and Li Wei smiled back before walking past the turnstile.
Inside, the rhythmic beat of pop music filled the air. Machines clinked, weights thudded, and faint laughter echoed between sets. It was a scene full of life and motion.
As he scanned the room, Li Wei spotted a familiar figure in the corner—Yunfei, stretching her arms above her head near the strength machines. Her ponytail bounced slightly with each motion, her expression calm but focused.
"Brother Wei! Welcome," she called out cheerfully upon noticing him.
"Hey," Li Wei greeted back, walking over. "Didn't think you'd already be this warmed up."
"I always warm up first," she replied with a teasing smile. "You'll get used to it soon enough."
Soon after, they began their light routine together. Yunfei led the way with practiced precision, showing him the proper forms for each machine.
"This one's for the back," she said, sitting down and grabbing the handles. "It's called a Lat pulldown. Works really well if you control the motion. Three reps of fifteen—that'll do for today."
Li Wei followed her instruction carefully, feeling the stretch across his shoulders. She corrected his posture once or twice, lightly tapping his arm or adjusting his grip. Her tone was patient, almost professional, though her usual casual warmth lingered underneath.
After finishing their sets, they moved through the rest of the routine—shoulders, chest, and legs. No rush, no ego, just smooth coordination.
Finally, they stopped by the stationary bikes.
"We'll skip the treadmill today," Yunfei explained. "You're already jogging in the mornings, right? Doubling it will just wear you out. Let's save the energy for consistency."
"Got it," Li Wei replied, pedaling lightly as she adjusted the timer on her machine. He watched her for a moment—the serious look on her face as she focused, the way her brow furrowed slightly in concentration. It was a side of her he hadn't seen before, and somehow, it made him want to match her effort.
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"Good! That's great, Brother Wei," Yunfei said once they finished. "Don't overdo it. Later, we'll stretch a bit and call it a day."
Li Wei nodded, catching his breath. He didn't feel overly tired—though he hadn't used any ability points this time, his stamina held steady.
"Thanks! It was a great workout," he said sincerely.
Yunfei handed him a bottle of water. "Here. But don't chug it down all at once, or you'll end up regretting it," she warned with a playful grin.
He chuckled, taking a slow sip. "Yes, ma'am."
As the final cooldown began, Li Wei sat down on the mat, legs extended forward, slowly leaning toward his knees to stretch his hamstrings. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet around them.
Yunfei moved behind him, gently pressing down on his upper back to help with his flexibility. "There—don't force it. Just breathe through it," she said softly.
Li Wei exhaled, feeling his muscles loosen under the steady pressure. Her hands were light and guiding, the warmth of her palms grounding him in the moment.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The background chatter of the gym faded into a blur.
Yunfei, still pressing down gently, felt her heartbeat quicken unexpectedly. It was the third time that day—the same odd, restless flutter she couldn't quite explain.
Her eyes lingered on the curve of his back, the quiet steadiness of his breathing, and the subtle strength that wasn't there before. It was strange. Familiar yet new.
'What is this feeling…?' she thought, blinking rapidly as she straightened up a little.
A faint warmth crept into her chest—confusing, distracting. She quickly looked away, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and forcing a small smile.
"Good stretch," she said lightly, though her voice carried a softness she hadn't intended.
Li Wei, still leaning forward, simply nodded. "Feels good. Thanks, Yunfei."
And in that quiet, unguarded moment, neither of them noticed how the atmosphere between them had begun to subtly change.
Li Wei's muscles ached faintly from being stretched like that, a dull, satisfying burn spreading through his body. But alongside the soreness came something else—a soft, warm pressure against his back.
Yunfei's hands were still there, guiding him carefully as her body leaned close. The faint scent of her lemon-flavored perfume filled the air—light, refreshing, yet strangely intoxicating at that distance.
Li Wei could feel Yunfei's chest bearing down on him at this precise moment. He sensed the elasticity and suppleness of it, perhaps because of the thin clothing.
For a brief moment, Li Wei couldn't tell whether the dizziness in his head came from the workout or from her.
He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, trying to focus on the stretch, though his heartbeat wasn't helping. The warmth, the nearness, the scent—it was too much for him to ignore.
"Alright… that's it," Yunfei said suddenly, stepping back a little. Her tone was steady, but her movements felt slightly rushed, as if she needed to regain her own composure.
It arrived very rapidly. making him feel a little strange about it.
Li Wei straightened up, feeling both relieved and oddly disappointed at the same time. He gave a small, helpless smile and shook his head. "That's plenty for today," he muttered under his breath. 'I already got a freebie like that; better not push my luck…'
Still, part of him couldn't help but think ahead. If he truly wanted to win over this beauty, it wouldn't be something as simple as enjoying a few accidental touches. He needed a plan—a real one. Otherwise, he'd just be like those adult novel protagonists he used to laugh at.
"Brother Wei, you did great today. Tomorrow, we'll carry on, alright?" Yunfei said with a bright smile as he stood up.
"Sure. Thanks for helping me out," he replied, grabbing his towel.
As they left the gym together, Li Wei turned slightly. "Hmm… would you like to grab something to eat? Maybe a light snack before heading back?"
Yunfei hesitated, then shook her head gently. "I'd love to, but I still have work. I don't eat during shifts—makes me sluggish," she said with a soft laugh. "But tomorrow morning, let's get breakfast somewhere else, okay? I'll make it up to you."
Li Wei nodded. "Deal."
She watched him leave, his figure disappearing toward the busy street outside. For a moment, she found herself staring longer than usual—that same faint, inexplicable restlessness stirring inside her chest again.
Yunfei sighed quietly, placing a hand over her heart. The warmth lingered, confusing and unwelcome, yet she couldn't deny it.
'So it was because of Brother Wei…,' she thought.
By the time she turned back toward the gym floor, her expression had softened again, but deep down, she knew something inside her had already begun to change.
Jogging back toward his apartment, Li Wei let out a quiet sigh that slipped through his lips before he realized it. The night air was cool, brushing softly against his face, yet the heat in his chest wouldn't fade.
He glanced down briefly—the faint tightness in his pants made him grimace, half in embarrassment, half in disbelief. 'That girl… she really doesn't realize how dangerous she is,' he thought.
Even without trying, Yunfei could easily turn into a temptress. That light perfume, the warmth of her touch, even the casual curve of her smile—everything about her seemed designed to test his restraint.
Inside the gym earlier, his emotions had reacted more sharply than he'd ever expected. He couldn't remember the last time something had stirred him like that—not anger, not joy, but a quiet, simmering hunger. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was… overwhelming. Like a sealed fire finally finding air.
He exhaled, slowing his jog as the familiar streetlights came into view. The warmth in his chest refused to settle.
The remainder of the day went by quietly as usual. Li Wei made an effort to pass the time by reading, doing small tasks, and even looking for new quests on the EdenLink app. There were a few menial tasks that came up, but nothing that piqued his interest.
He suppressed the slight restlessness beneath his skin. When the time came—when it really mattered—he promised himself he would take care of it. He just needed discipline for the time being.
By dusk, he was sitting on his bed once more with a book open in one hand and the pages flickering in the dim lamplight. His eyes slowly lowered, and the words became hazy.
He put the book down, switched off the light, and lay down. He fell asleep in a matter of minutes.
Then—
Something changed.
His body became lighter, as though the world's weight had vanished. He was staring at his room's familiar wall when he opened his eyes again after a gentle mist passed over his senses.
However, he was lying on the bed in front of him.
Li Wei gave a blink. "Huh..."
There was his own sleeping body, motionless, serene, and dimly lit by the city lights outside.
"Hmm." Oddly calm in spite of the strangeness, he thought, "A dream?" It was all too vivid and real to doubt.
Quiet light shimmered in the night outside his window. His curiosity was piqued. He reached for the door handle as he stood, seemingly floating rather than walking, but his hand slipped through it.
He froze. Then a small, fascinated grin spread across his face. "Oh… this really is something."
He stepped forward, passing through the door like smoke.
Outside, the air was cool and fragrant, carrying the distant scent of the sea. The entire city seemed painted in silver and blue—streetlamps glowing softly, the breeze brushing through the leaves, and the far-off hum of cars fading into whispers.
Li Wei wandered quietly along the corridor, the surreal calm of the night wrapping around him. He could feel everything—the chill, the sound, the rhythm—and yet his body was weightless, untethered.
Then, from somewhere nearby, came the faint sound of a familiar voice.
"Well... Try your hardest. I'm doing great."
He turned to face the noise.
Yunfei stood in the soft glow of a streetlight, her body draped in flimsy nightwear that billowed in the wind. She was talking to someone in a soft, warm voice while holding her phone.
With his breath caught in his throat, Li Wei came to a stop.
"Yunfei..." he muttered, almost reflexively. Like a sigh, the name came out. If it was a dream, it felt more real than anything else at that precise moment.