C7 Body Modification(1)

"Push forward, strive hard!"

"Temper the will, build the body!"

"Ah, here we go again." The students memorizing vocabulary on the field watched a large group of boys jog onto the track, unable to resist commenting, "Are these guys even human? Do they ever take a day off from running?"

At 6:30 in the morning, most students were still nestled in their beds, dreaming away. The few who were up and about on the field, aside from the middle-aged and elderly faculty members getting in their early morning exercise, were mostly grad school or IELTS/TOEFL hopefuls. Their peaceful morning, usually filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers, was abruptly interrupted by this unexpected invasion.

A squad of over twenty strong, they filed in a neat line, circling the track for their morning run. The leader, decked out in athletic gear, exuded a sunny, handsome charm. But the scene quickly changed as the next seven or eight men, each more daunting than the last, flexed muscles that made a girl's thigh look slender by comparison. Trailing behind were a mix of body types, some skinny as rails, others round as spheres, all drenched in sweat and chanting slogans as they kept pace.

"Hey, hasn't that chubby guy slimmed down quite a bit?"

"Up for a five-kilometer run at dawn every day, he's been at it for a month. It'd be weird if he hadn't shrunk."

"He's actually starting to look kinda cute. Maybe snag a promising one early?"

"Nah, let's pass. He'll end up just like those muscle-bound guys up front. Honestly, except for their club president, the rest of them have so much muscle it's kind of gross."

The girls on the bleachers, regulars to the scene, chattered away about the club members, then returned to their studies in quiet concentration.

"I—I can't go on!"

Not even five laps in, the scrawniest boy in the group stumbled and fell. The whole line came to a halt, but they kept jogging in place, maintaining their energy and focus.

"Wang Jingkang!"

Club President Xiang Tai jogged up to him and extended a hand, saying, "Get up. Lying down now could hurt you."

"President, I just can't do it anymore."

Wang Jingkang was new to the club, and this was only his second time joining the morning run. For those who rarely exercised, mastering the right breathing technique was a challenge. Not long into the run, they'd feel like they were falling apart, their throats ablaze. Sweat from Wang's brow dripped into his eyes, giving him the appearance of having cried, as he propped himself up on the ground and pleaded, "Just let me rest a bit."

"You're doing great!" Xiang Tai cheered him on. "Yesterday, you managed four laps before collapsing, but today you've done five! That's significant progress. But think about the girl who dumped you! Remember her insults and mockery. Are you content to just give up?"

"I'm not content!"

Wang Jingkang had joined the Body Reform Club after being dumped. His girlfriend had left him for a good-looking basketball player, telling him he lacked stamina and wasn't man enough. He joined the club determined to transform himself and win back the girl he loved.

"Then get up! Even if you have to walk, you must finish. If you think about resting today without reaching your goal, you'll be tempted to slack off tomorrow."

"President! But my legs are shaking; I can't even stand!"

Wang Jingkang's voice was loud as he responded to Xiang Tai, clearly at his limit. Continuing to run might well have been dangerous for him.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Tai turned to see the club's vice president, Liu Jing, approaching.

Liu Jing stood at an imposing 1.8 meters tall. A third-year student weighing in at 100 KG, he was far from overweight; his physique was all muscle, his arms thicker than Wang Jingkang's thighs.

His bearded face added to his intimidating presence, making most people instinctively steer clear of him.

"Vice, Vice President..." Liu Jing's presence was even more daunting than Xiang Tai's. His stern expression gave off an air of inaccessibility to all the new club members.

"Get on."

Liu Jing turned away from Wang Jingkang, his strong back muscles on display, and declared, "A man's got to keep his word. You have to meet your daily goal, but I know you've pushed yourself to the limit!"

"So today, I'll carry you for five laps! We'll reach that goal together!"

"But remember, as a man, you've got to promise me that in five days, you'll be keeping pace with me on your own two feet!"

"Vice President!"

Wang Jingkang caught a glimpse of warmth in the fierce vice president's eyes, feeling as if he were basking in sunlight. This was the essence of brotherhood—unwavering, always there to shoulder the load and help a comrade reach their goals. In the face of such genuine masculinity, what could women possibly have to offer?

"Climb on!"

"I... I..."

"Cut the sentimentality, be a man!"

With assistance from a few others, Wang Jingkang managed to get onto Liu Jing's back. Liu Jing advised with care, "Tune into my breathing frequency! Match your breaths to mine! There's a knack to running!"

"Let's keep moving!"

Hsiang Tai called out, then resumed his position at the front of the pack, leading the chant:

"Be proactive, strive hard!"

"Temper your will, build your strength!"

...

After the run, Hsiang Tai led the Body Reforming Society on a walk to the farthest canteen, ensuring they had a thirty-minute break before their meal.

Hsiang Tai's breakfast consisted of two boiled eggs, a meat bun, and an apple. Some were cutting back on carbs, forgoing buns and the like, while others mixed up their own protein shakes. Everyone's breakfast varied, but each was perfectly suited to their needs.

"Wang Jingkang, make sure you eat a good breakfast. Who has nuts? Pass some to him."

Once Hsiang Tai had seen to it, he settled down to his own meal.

"President," Liu Jing said as he sat next to Hsiang Tai, offering him a carton of skim milk, "Here, for you."

"Thanks, Old Liu."

Taking the milk, Hsiang Tai noticed Liu Jing seemed preoccupied and inquired, "What's up? Got something on your mind?"

"Hey, boss," Liu Jing, a burly fellow, scratched his cheek with his fingertips, looking a bit sheepish. He lowered his voice and confided, "I've got a thing for this girl recently. I was hoping to get some advice from you..."

When did I become everyone's go-to big brother? Hsiang Tai chuckled, playfully punched Liu Jing's bicep, and asked, "Alright, what's going on?"

"Well, you know, every morning there are lots of girls on the playground studying, and I've noticed one of them keeps looking my way. I started looking back, and before I knew it, we were exchanging glances. She's really pretty, but... I'm just not sure how to break the ice."

Are you certain that her looking at you means she's interested?