April 9, 2023, Sunday, sunny, 16~26°C.

Tang Song panted heavily as he stopped running, resting for a moment before taking out his phone from his armband to check his exercise track.

A total of 5 kilometers with an average pace of 6'34".

After a week of exercise, he had passed the adaptation period, and his fitness had noticeably improved.

He opened the Personal Information panel.

Player: Tang Song (25')

Role: Jinxiu Commerce - Development Engineer

Height: 180 cm, Weight: 85.5 kg

Physique: 57, Endurance: 55, Agility: 49, Comprehension: 76

Asset Status:

Balance: 18,294.00 yuan (Debt: 20,000.00 yuan)

In a fasted state, his weight had decreased by another kilogram, and his physique had increased by one point. Everything was getting better and better.

Tang Song's eyes brightened as he noticed his charisma had increased by one point! Considering he was still sporting a disastrous bowl cut that came with a -1 Charisma Buff, if he changed to a suitable hairstyle, his charisma could reach 27 points! Only three points away from unlocking the first stage reward and starting the Growth Plan Task!

It seemed that the recent series of events, especially overcoming the hurdle of Xie Shuyu and reflecting on the news about Secretary Jin, had improved his mindset and mental state, naturally increasing his charisma by one point.

After doing a few more sets of stretching exercises downstairs, Tang Song returned to his rental apartment, filled with excitement. He ate breakfast while opening Little Red Book to check the results of his recent activities.

In just one night, he had over 600 unread messages. The note he posted last night attracted considerable attention, with 412 likes and 196 comments. His follower count had risen to 276. He quickly drank his low-fat milk and began earnestly replying to netizens and collecting suggestions.

Tang Song: "Thanks for the advice. My skin is indeed terrible, and I'm currently learning and starting to improve it."

Tang Song: "I often look down at my phone and computer, which might be why my neck unconsciously tilts forward. Thanks for pointing it out; I'll check out this exercise method!"

Tang Song: "I'm planning to switch to an American Crew Cut. I'll update you tonight with the results!"

Time flew by, and it was already past 9 AM.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—" His phone vibrated, showing a WeChat message.

[Zhao Yaqian: "Good morning, Sir! Hope I didn't disturb your rest. Your membership card was ready yesterday afternoon. Remember to pick it up when you have time."]

Thinking of Zhao Yaqian's stunning legs and the ongoing Betting Agreement, Tang Song felt a rush of excitement. He quickly replied, "Got it, Qian Qian. I'll come by at 2 PM to get it and have a skincare treatment as well (#happy)."

[Zhao Yaqian: "Great, Sir! Your card includes three basic facial treatments and one VIP treatment. Just come directly to me at the store!"]

After a brief chat, Tang Song exited the conversation and checked the time. He opened a review app to find a reliable hair salon. After some searching, he chose a high-end chain salon 5 kilometers away. Perhaps because of the high prices, the salon wasn't very crowded.

The hairstylist assigned to him was a young man under 30, who was a bit aloof but quite handsome. Learning from his previous experience, Tang Song showed the stylist the hairstyle picture recommended by netizen "Minmin" and confirmed multiple times if it could be done. The stylist quickly examined his hair and gave an OK sign.

Seeing the stylist's confidence, Tang Song took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The sound of the clippers created a beautiful gradient on the sides, and the scissors worked their magic on the top. Twenty minutes later, the stylist dried his hair and taught him how to style it. Tang Song observed and memorized the steps. His hair now had a natural volume and a textured front spike, making his face look more three-dimensional. The back was lightly tousled to give a fuller head shape.

"OK, that's it. Your hair texture isn't great, so for the best results, use matte texture hair clay," the stylist advised.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Tang Song again realized the importance of a good hairstyle. Despite still having some fat on his face, his new voluminous hairstyle made him look refreshed and stylish, significantly enhancing his appearance.

He opened the system interface.

[Charisma: 27]

"Nice!" Tang Song couldn't hide his excitement. He kept thanking the stylist and praising his skills, making the aloof stylist blush and wonder if he had been too cold.

...

At 1:50 PM, Tang Song approached Yizi Beauty Salon and quickly spotted Zhao Yaqian standing at the door. She wore a black blazer, a white shirt, and flat shoes, looking very eye-catching due to her height. Her beautiful face wore a formal smile, and her alluring figure attracted many passersby's glances. Perhaps this was one way the store attracted customers.

Seeing Tang Song, Zhao Yaqian quickly greeted him, "Good afternoon, Sir. Welcome to Yizi Beauty Salon."

"Good afternoon, Qian Qian," Tang Song smiled and greeted back.

"This is your membership card, with a balance of 2,000 yuan," Zhao Yaqian said, handing him a gold card. "Additionally, you have a 998 yuan product gift. Let me take you to the product area to choose."

"Sure," Tang Song followed her, his heart racing as he admired her graceful figure.

The scent of her fresh, sweet perfume, coupled with her swaying hips wrapped in silk pants, made her seem irresistibly charming. Follow current novels on novel•fire.net

"These are the products you can choose from. The price tags are on them. Just make sure they add up to no more than 998 yuan," Zhao Yaqian said warmly. "Need my recommendations?"

Tang Song averted his gaze and said, "I trust you. You can choose for me."

Zhao Yaqian paused and smiled brightly. "I'll get you a box of hair clay, a set of shampoo and conditioner, and a facial cleanser. These are all useful for you."

"Thanks."

After selecting the products, Zhao Yaqian led him to the beauty area. Although small, it was well-equipped and clean. There were beauty beds, trolleys, wall mirrors, ingredient racks, tool kits, lighting equipment, and a sterilization cabinet. Several certificates hung on the walls, giving it a professional look.

Noticing Tang Song's scanning gaze, Zhao Yaqian explained awkwardly, "We originally had three beauticians, but they left for personal reasons, so I'm in charge now."

"Didn't expect you to be the salon's lead beautician. Impressive!" Tang Song joked to lighten the mood.

Zhao Yaqian chuckled, feeling less tense. Tang Song's trust and kindness eased her recent stress.

...

Moist cotton wipes cleaned Tang Song's face. Zhao Yaqian applied facial cleanser, gently massaging it into a foam. She started from his chin, moving up to his cheeks, nose, and around his eyes, explaining each step.

"This step deeply cleanses to remove dirt and oil from pores. You don't need to do this at home daily."

"This removes dead skin and blackheads, making your skin smoother and brighter."

Zhao Yaqian's gentle, skilled hands felt wonderful. Tang Song lay back on the soft beauty bed, covered with a white blanket, his head and shoulders wrapped in towels, feeling comfortable and sleepy.

A soft face massage ended the session. Zhao Yaqian's sweet voice said, "Sir, your VIP facial treatment is complete."

Tang Song slowly opened his eyes, first seeing Zhao Yaqian's attractive name badge and then the LED clock on the wall. An hour had passed, feeling like a nap. His skin felt breathable, his pores clear, and his face moist.

Sitting up, he saw his clean, reduced blackhead face in the mirror, feeling smooth and tender.

"Thank you, it was fantastic!" Tang Song sincerely thanked her.

Zhao Yaqian smiled brightly, "Glad you're satisfied! You can come weekly or biweekly for maintenance. Regular home care will also help. In two to three months, your skin will visibly improve."

"Alright," Tang Song nodded, clenching his fist. "We're acquainted now, so no need for formal titles. I'm Tang Song."

Zhao Yaqian smiled, "Alright, Tang Song. I'm Zhao Yaqian."

Tang Song took out a small blue box and placed it before her. "I'll be consulting you often about skincare. This small gift is for you, so I won't feel bad about bothering you on WeChat."

"That's not necessary. As a member, maintaining customer relationships is my job. Feel free to reach out anytime," Zhao Yaqian politely declined.

Tang Song smiled, "Skin issues have troubled me for a long. I wanted a beautician friend like you. This earring set isn't expensive. Consider it a friendly gesture."

Zhao Yaqian hesitated but then accepted, blushing slightly, "Thank you, Tang Song. You can consult me anytime."

"Deal! Open it, see if you like it. I saw these earrings during a walk and thought they suited you."

Zhao Yaqian opened the box, revealing Swarovski earrings, white gold with rose gold accents, and sparkling crystals. She tried them on, smiling brightly, "Thank you, Tang Song. I love them!"

The earrings, priced around 700 yuan, were a luxury for her. But Tang Song calling them friends and giving a thoughtful gift touched her deeply.

Suddenly, Tang Song's excitement spiked as a system notification sounded.

"Ding! Betting Agreement Condition 2 achieved! Current bet fund: 150,000.00 yuan."

150,000 yuan! Enough to buy a compact car, a 20% down payment on a house in his hometown, or over a year's salary. Tang Song felt a rush of thoughts and plans.

Back at Qingxin Homestead, Tang Song soon received a delivery of the five classic books he had ordered. Sitting on his ergonomic chair on the balcony, he started reading "The Crowd" against the backdrop of city buildings, blue sky, and white clouds, with the soothing sounds of rustling leaves and birds.