Chapter 423: After Losing Weight, You All Love Me (35)

Chapter 423: After Losing Weight, Everyone Loves Me (35)

The rest of the instance run went smoothly without any special incidents. Tang Qing followed behind Qin Zizhen the entire time, quietly completing the run.

It wasn’t until they encountered the final boss that both of them were one-shot by the boss and sent back to the starting point.

"It's over." President Qin's voice came through the headset once again.

After running through the map again, Qin Zizhen had already identified several spots where the route could be optimized. He still told her sincerely, "Thank you."

"Alright, I’m getting off now."

Just as she was about to leave the team, President Qin spoke up again, "Wait."

Tang Qing: "Something else?"

"You... when are you usually free?"

Huh?

Was he trying to set up another session?

Recognizing President Qin’s invitation, Tang Qing smiled and replied, "I’m pretty much free whenever."

"As for today, it’s a bit early."

This invitation had come right after she woke up. Luckily, Qin Zizhen paid well; otherwise, she might not have been too willing to take this job.

Hearing Tang Qing’s response, Qin Zizhen paused for a moment before unexpectedly showed some concern. "Go rest."

Compared to his earlier condescending tone, the voice coming through the headset now had a rare warmth to it.

Just as Tang Qing left the party, a DM from "Explosive Drummer" suddenly flashed in Qin Zizhen’s chat: "I’m free now. Do you still need me?"

President Qin thought for a moment and replied, "No need."

Explosive Drummer: "Looks like you found a more suitable support than me."

Indeed, he had.

Suddenly, Tang Qing’s voice from earlier popped into his head. President Qin was surprised to realize that he remembered every word she had said...

"System alert: Detected Qin Zizhen’s affection points has increased. Current affection points: 42 points."

"Woo-hoo!"

"The president’s affection points has increased!"

The system’s report was teasing as it chuckled and said to Tang Qing, "What do you think... if Xing Zhe finds out that President Qin chose you as his support today, would he be furious?"

Over the past few days, the pink-haired boy had been completely focused on Tang Qing.

Just that collab video alone, Xing Zhe had rewatched it several times, practically memorizing every comment in the live chat comments!

This morning, because he was thinking about Tang Qing, Xing Zhe wasn't even in the mood to game.

He would never have imagined... that because he turned down Qin Zizhen, President Qin went and asked Tang Qing instead!

The person he’d been longing for had ended up gaming with some other guy, and gave the president an opening... Just imagining the look on Xing Zhe's face, the system could barely contain its glee!

In the afternoon, Tang Qing headed to the gym like she always did.

As soon as she entered, she could tell the vibe was off.

Xing Zhe was there too!

The pink-haired guy stood opposite Lu Tongchu. Though not a word was exchanged between them, they seemed like natural enemies, naturally at odds.

"You're here!" When he saw Tang Qing at the entrance, even Xing Zhe himself didn't notice that his eyes brightened a little!

Tang Qing asked, "You waiting for me?"

"I..." Just as he was about to answer, at the last moment, Xing Zhe's words awkwardly backtracked!

"No."

"Just didn’t have anything going on this afternoon."

This was also a lie.

With the new album's recent promotional activities, the band manager was freaking out when he heard Xing Zhe wanted to take the afternoon off! He practically wanted to drop to his knees and beg the young master to stay!

But Xing Zhe was stubborn as hell.

He always did as he pleased, and no one could talk him out of it. In the end, the manager had no choice but to let him go.

The band manager probably never would have guessed that the young master's "important matter" was actually going to the gym!

Trying to make conversation with Tang Qing, Xing Zhe said, "After our duet, a bunch of people hit me up about you."

"You killed it."

"Those comments online... they're just guessing. You... don't sweat it."

Mentioning the speculation about his relationship with Tang Qing, the young man couldn't help but blush, his ears turning redder by the second.

Tang Qing naturally knew exactly what kind of comments Xing Zhe was referring to—many of those conjectures about them being a couple were actually the system’s own doing!

Afraid Xing Zhe might miss them, the system had spammed at least a thousand comments overnight.

Sure enough, Xing Zhe had bit...

Watching the blush on Xing Zhe's face deepen, Tang Qing deliberately egged him on, "Oh really?"

"What did they say online?"

"Online..." Usually bold and straightforward, Xing Zhe suddenly clammed up!

After a long pause, he finally managed to mumble a few words, "They didn't say much..."

But it was this flustered shyness that made Lu Tongchu, standing nearby, his mood clearly darkened!

He wandered over to Tang Qing's side like it was nothing, effortlessly picking up a weight plate!

20 kilograms, yet in Lu Tongchu's hands, it might as well have been made of plastic, lifted with ease!

His gaze icy, he locked eyes with Xing Zhe...

To anyone unaware, Lu Tongchu's posture might suggest some bad blood with Xing Zhe, the weight plate in his hand looking more like a murder weapon than gym equipment!

Was ready to give Xing Zhe a hard time at any moment!

The pink-haired young man just found it baffling and glared back with a scowl!

"What are you doing?"

Lu Tongchu, however, spoke slowly, "Exercise."

After saying this, right in front of Xing Zhe, Lu Tongchu calmly loaded weight onto the bar until it reached 100 kg!

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Spot me on the bench press."

Seeming to understand Lu Tongchu's intention, Xing Zhe pointed at himself in disbelief, "You're... asking me to help?"

Lu Tongchu nodded.

Watching Lu Tongchu lie back so casually, Xing Zhe's feelings grew even more complicated.

This guy Lu Tongchu is skinny as a rail, and he's going for goddamn 100 kg right away?

And I didn't even see him warm up—is he joking?

With Tang Qing watching, Xing Zhe, suppressing his doubts, still stepped up to Lu Tongchu and warned him, "Do you want to reduce the weight a little?"

Lu Tongchu replied, "No need."

Given Lu Tongchu's build, a 100 kg bench press is definitely at a professional level!

There probably isn't anyone in this gym who can bench press 100 kg...

Half-doubting, Xing Zhe gripped the barbell with both hands, and as soon as he held it—

The weight felt heavy immediately, and Xing Zhe's palms turned red!

The weight right from the start nearly made him drop it!

Just as expected—this guy definitely is up to no good!

Most of the 100 kg weight was resting in his hands!

He wasn't even pushing at all!

Xing Zhe immediately snapped! "Hey!"

"Lu Tongchu, you did that on purpose, you bastard! Put some muscle into it!"