Side steps, stretch squats, alternating knee touches, mountain climbers, jumping jacks...

"Pant, pant—"

Sweat soaked through Tang Song's quick-dry shirt as his heart rate soared to 130 beats per minute. He felt his entire body burning, and his muscles trembling uncontrollably. He had been following this "30-minute High-Intensity Fat-Burning Routine" for five days, finding the intensity moderate and very suitable for his current state.

"Beep, beep, beep—" The countdown ended. Relaxing, Tang Song collapsed onto the yoga mat, unwilling to even open his eyes. The sound of his intense heartbeat filled his ears.

After resting for a while, he propped himself up and picked up his phone to turn off the timer. Immediately, he saw two unread messages.

[Xie Shuyu: "WeChat transfer 5000.00 yuan, please accept."]

[Xie Shuyu: "This is the final payment for the project. The mini-program is excellent."]

Seeing the message, Tang Song's face involuntarily smiled. He replied, "Received. Thank you very much!"

As a skilled programmer, he occasionally took on freelance projects to earn some extra money. Xie Shuyu was an excellent client introduced to him by Lu Ziming, running a local chain coffee brand. Most of their coffee shops were located in office building clusters, with a significant portion of their business coming from corporate orders. Previously, orders were placed through WeChat groups, and employees would deliver them. As the business expanded, mistakes and inconveniences became common, complicating statistics.

To improve user experience, Xie Shuyu wanted a mini-program to streamline the entire ordering process and occasionally run promotions like lotteries and coupons. This wasn't difficult for Tang Song, as he had a ready-made front-end template. He quoted 10,000 yuan, with a 50% upfront payment. Everything went smoothly, and the program officially launched in March, in use for half a month now.

"Ding—" Another WeChat message notification sounded.

[Xie Shuyu: "You've worked hard these past few days. Are you free for lunch tomorrow? My treat."]

Tang Song took a deep breath and quickly replied, "I’m not working overtime this weekend, so I’m free."

[Xie Shuyu: "Yan Bin Lou Restaurant. map"]

[Xie Shuyu: "Here's the location. See you tomorrow. Oh, and remember to accept the money."]

Tang Song: "Got it, see you tomorrow."

After replying, he accepted the 5,000 yuan transfer, but his heart wouldn't calm down. Xie Shuyu was arguably the most outstanding woman he knew, surpassing even his "white moonlight" who got into an elite university. At 32, she had built a multi-million yuan business from scratch, lived in a luxurious house, and drove a BMW. More importantly, she was equally attractive—tall, sexy, with fair and smooth skin, and dignified features. She was the center of attention wherever she went.

A beautiful, wealthy, and cultivated woman like her was undeniably appealing, and Tang Song was no exception. He occasionally fantasized about gaining her favor, skipping a decade of hard work, and enjoying a comfortable life supported by her wealth. Of course, he knew better than to entertain such thoughts seriously.

Tang Song still remembered their first meeting to sign the contract, her fashionable and elegant presence, and his own awkwardness and inferiority. He had felt like a complete toad before her, dressed casually, overweight, stammering, and avoiding eye contact. It was a mental hurdle that made him blush with embarrassment every time he recalled it.

Now, with game assets manifesting in reality and his life taking a 180-degree turn, Tang Song hoped to improve her impression of him and overcome this mental hurdle. Boosting his confidence was also a way to increase his charisma score. With this in mind, Tang Song opened Little Red Book, seeking advice from netizens.

First, he checked his previous post. It had 52 likes, 3 bookmarks, and 74 comments. The engagement was quite real—not viral, but gaining some attention. The steady flow of traffic from transformation content was evident, even for someone as unknown as him.

After some thought, Tang Song created a new post. The main image was a before-and-after comparison of his weight loss, along with daily fat-loss meals and exercise routines. He added an eye-catching title: "Transformation by Advice Day 6: The Goddess Invited Me to Dinner!"

Content: "Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I've lost 7 jin and am continuing my efforts! But tomorrow, I have a dinner date with the goddess. I want to make some quick changes to leave a good impression. Where should I start?"

Tags: #OrdinaryTransformation, #Advice, #Transformation, #Comeback, #Men

After posting, Tang Song felt relieved. He took a quick shower, changed into fresh clothes, and sprawled on the couch, watching fitness videos of pretty girls on Little Red Book while waiting for netizens' suggestions.

Half an hour later, he checked his post again. The catchy title had worked; within an hour, it had over 200 views and 9 comments. Some praised his determination and willpower, while others offered suggestions. One newly posted comment caught his attention.

[Yao Yaoling: "Following from the previous post, liked! You seem like a sincere person with strong execution. You have many issues, but for quick results, start with your hairstyle and clothing. By the way, what's your height and weight? I can give you some recommendations."]

Opening Yao Yaoling’s profile, Tang Song was impressed. She had over a thousand followers, and she looked very professional in her dozens of posts on makeup and fashion. After following her, Tang Song quickly replied, "Thanks for the encouragement and support! I’m 180 cm tall and currently weigh 86.5 kg."

A few minutes later, he received a reply.

[Yao Yaoling: (#doghead) Guys claiming 180 cm are usually shorter. Given your weight, yep, you're definitely overweight! Try a combo of a windbreaker, sweatpants, and canvas shoes to hide your figure flaws. Hair directly impacts your image—go to a good salon, and get a hairstylist to design a hairstyle. Your hair length is good for a trendy undercut with fringe. Also, groom your eyebrows. Good luck! Outfit Example.jpg]

Yao Yaoling’s reply was very detailed, with a reference picture of a black windbreaker, white inner layer, black jogger pants, and light-colored canvas shoes. The outfit looked stylish, layered, and slimming. As for the trendy undercut, Tang Song had heard of it; many of his college classmates sported this look. He touched his hair, realizing it needed a good makeover.

Checking the time, it was almost 10 p.m. Tang Song quickly got up and turned off the lights on time. The night was cool, and his breathing gradually steadied. Tang Song had a long dream where he transformed. He wore a dark custom suit, tall and fit, without any excess fat. His features were handsome, and his skin was clean and fair. He stepped out of a Rolls-Royce, and stood before Xie Shuyu, the wind gently ruffling his dark, fine hair. Their eyes met, and he pulled her slender waist close, kissing her deeply. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI~Fire.net

...

In the darkness, Tang Song turned over, a happy smile on his face.

"Buzz—" His phone on the bedside table vibrated.

[China Merchants Bank] Your account ending in 6800 received a deposit of 200.00 yuan on April 8, 03:11."