105. Oh, carefree soul, you are nothing but a pretender.

Bai Haonan finally had his first formal office, complete with an independent partition, a desk, a sofa, and even a dog bed. When Bai Haonan brought Ada to the office to report for duty, the entire company was abuzz. Many employees stealthily sought any excuse to walk by the hallway just to catch a glimpse of the strapping, fair-skinned man who had somehow managed to win over their chubby female boss.

Admittedly, he was tall, sturdy, and knew how to put on a show. While his style leaned slightly toward an indescribable "Shamate" aesthetic, his simple combination of a sports shirt and jeans was at least bright and dashing. His buzz cut and stubble added a rugged, masculine touch, and his insistence on keeping his tinted sunglasses on even while inside the office left a deep impression on everyone.

What was most striking, however, was the dog he brought with him. Bringing a dog to work was surely the privilege of a boss, but Jiazheng Investment was not a lively, startup-style office; it was a traditional company in every sense. To bring a dog—and one that dragged its paralyzed hind legs as it crawled—seemed remarkably eccentric. It was so brazen it bordered on arrogance.

Surely, many people must have been rushing to call Chairman Yu. But rumor had it that the elder Yu had just traveled to Thailand to visit a monk and was temporarily unreachable. The Sports Director began to wear the smug look of a small-minded man who had tasted success.

In reality, this was merely a subjective impression. How arrogant could Bai Haonan really be? He was still in a state of curiosity. Although he sat in his office not knowing exactly what to do, having such a desk and a private space was pleasant enough. He would start by teasing Ada. The dog bed, supposedly belonging to Yu Jiali’s Teddy, had been donated by her to the poor, disabled dog, and she had even arranged for someone to buy a bag of dog food for Bai Haonan’s office.

Truth be told, Bai Haonan’s office was empty save for that bag of dog food. There wasn't a single book or file to be found. On his desk lay a stack of blank paper and a few pencils, which he used only to sketch things resembling soccer formations—could anyone really expect him to write anything substantial? He also had a laptop, supposedly one Yu Jiali had recently upgraded, but he didn't even have the interest to open it. He would just sit in the boss's chair, staring blankly out of the floor-to-ceiling window for an hour or two at a time.

If such harmless idleness couldn't be seen as the arrogance of a small-minded man, then perhaps the treatment he received—doing absolutely nothing—was simply intolerable to others. At most, he would attend a meeting regarding the planning and construction progress of the fitness center, sitting there in a daze without uttering a word. He would arrive at noon and leave with Manager Yu and the dog as soon as the afternoon shift ended!

Another week passed, and word from the finance department was that Yu Jiali had invested at least three million in his fitness center, on top of dedicating a company-owned commercial property of over a thousand square meters. The saved rent was significant, as Jiazheng’s real estate holdings were mostly in the prime downtown area of the provincial capital. Although that property was on the top floor of a commercial building and couldn't command street-level retail prices, it included the usage rights to two or three thousand square meters of rooftop space. If they found a client for outdoor activities, the total area of over four thousand square meters could generate substantial revenue.

It felt as though it was all being squandered on the Sports Director!

There was also gossip that Manager Yu didn't fully trust this Sports Director, as she hadn't allowed him to touch any of the accounts from the start. He was just being paid a standard monthly salary of eight thousand. It was said that once the fitness center was running smoothly, he would receive a twenty percent share of the profits, and he wouldn't care about such a meager fixed salary.

Though eight thousand a month wasn't a fortune, just imagine: working half-days, sitting there in a daze, playing with a dog, and doing nothing else for an annual salary of a hundred thousand, with future profit-sharing to boot—that was the disparity in life! Thinking about it was enough to make anyone envious and resentful. To be the sole recipient of favor from the young, wealthy, and plus-sized boss and become a winner in life so easily—who wouldn't be jealous?

There were certainly others within the company who had designs on Yu Jiali, perhaps hoping to take things slow. Seeing her get "conquered" so easily with such high rewards, they must have been regretting their hesitation. Moreover, the whole company had recently noticed that the boss seemed to be having success with her weight loss; her attire looked much slimmer! One truly shouldn't underestimate any chubby girl on a diet; they might just be a potential angel in disguise!

In reality, Bai Haonan spent his days off accompanying Yu Jiali to the gym. Since he was working in the city, he figured he might as well check out other fitness centers downtown. Yu Jiali was naturally happy. From the moment they left the office to reach the elevator, every employee could see the glow on her face. Many felt that their formerly chubby boss was truly being reborn now that she had a man in her life—it was just a matter of time before the transformation was complete.

What was most rare was that she never minded Bai Haonan’s entry-level compact car. The girl who used to love holding her Teddy now grabbed Ada the moment she got in, not caring about the dog hair covering the passenger seat. Not to mention the little hatchback that had traveled thousands of miles—Bai Haonan was too lazy to wash it, leaving it to be rinsed by the rain. She would put down her Birkin bag and buckle her seatbelt, asking, "Which one are we going to today?"

Bai Haonan didn't need a notepad. "Vida Fitness. They say it's the most high-end one. We’ll leave Ada in the car for a bit."

Yu Jiali was curious about his memory. "Then how many digits of Pi can you recite?"

Bai Haonan asked what that was, then looked at her with disdain. "Why memorize useless things? I only remember what interests me and what's useful. I might bring my buddy over tomorrow. If we can't work out together in the afternoon, you go on your own."

Yu Jiali was clearly reluctant. "Can we change the time?"

Bai Haonan glanced at her, and the girl immediately understood. "Fine, fine. Let's talk business. You be careful. He still has quite a few connections. I can only lean toward helping you once something happens, but you must not let yourself suffer a loss."

At times like these, women are truly prone to siding with their own. In fact, because some people didn't like Bai Haonan, they had been complaining to Yu Jiali, reporting to Chairman Yu, and even sending messages to relatives and elders. Using her temper as a cover, Yu Jiali had already dismissed two senior supervisors. It felt as though the girl would do anything for her boyfriend, but the trickiest problem remained.

The biggest headache was the security supervisor. Rumor had it he was a distant relative of the Yu family and had been with the elder Yu for twenty years, having even taken a knife for him during the toughest times. It would be hard for the elder Yu to turn against such a man, and Yu Jiali couldn't move him yet. Now, in his forties, he was drawing a high salary of ten or twenty thousand, acting like a local emperor in the property department of the Jiazheng building, frequently abusing his power for personal gain. Since the elder Yu’s management style had been relatively loose in the past, it was hard to find leverage without causing public outcry, but this part of the company certainly didn't fit Yu Jiali’s new order and future vision. He was the hardest nut to crack. He and Bai Haonan had already crossed paths twice in the building lobby while Bai Haonan was walking the dog, and neither had looked pleased. Bai Haonan planned to have a "walk" with him soon.

He smiled nonchalantly. "You capitalists have plenty of tricks up your sleeves; it's definitely more complicated than managing a soccer team."

Yu Jiali observed his expression. "There has never been completely clean money in this world. If a business were too moral, it would never be able to pursue profit. You must understand that, right?"

Bai Haonan put it simply. "Even the prettiest girl has to take a dump!"

Yu Jiali could only slump back into her chair. "Your thinking always goes straight to the gutter!" But she instantly perked up. "Take me to a bar to see what it's like today?"

Bai Haonan was surprised. "You've never been?"

Yu Jiali chuckled. "I went to small bars outside campus during college. I’ve always had a strong sense of self-preservation and am very careful when I'm out. But back here, I can't exactly go to bars with security guards and drivers, especially since most of them are Old Tan's people. If you really end up clashing with him tomorrow, maybe I'll have to have you drive me for a few days. I'm going to replace everyone on that side. The people Old Tan brought in have sucked too much blood from the company these past few years. My dad has kept one eye shut out of consideration for old times' sake, but it has to be resolved."

Bai Haonan narcissistically replied, "I think you're going through all this trouble just to create opportunities to spend more time with me, right?"

Yu Jiali, no longer as fluttery as she was at the beginning, replied with calm proficiency. "Can you have some shame? I admit that if money weren't involved, you'd be more popular than me. But my weight loss is effective now; I've consistently stayed under 120 pounds, and I have a goal to lose another 20! I feel light as a feather now!"

Bai Haonan was blunt. "You’ve just built a foundation for exercise. Even if you get down to 100 pounds, it doesn't mean much. There’s still a process of readjusting your body fat percentage. Once you truly develop the habit of exercising, even if you go back to 120 pounds, your muscles will be toned and balanced. That’s when you’ll really have a figure. Wait until you have a man for real before you worry about body changes."

Yu Jiali didn't understand women's bodies as well as he did. "Why?"

Bai Haonan made a lewd gesture. "Your breasts! You didn't have much there when you were fat; it’s obvious they’ve never been developed or cultivated!"

Yu Jiali cried out in indignation, "You pervert!"

Bai Haonan nodded. "One of my ex-girlfriends said the same thing. If you want to find someone who’s good in bed, you can't expect them to be too innocent, right? My insight and techniques were all practiced with the help of various female companions."

Yu Jiali went silent. When they reached the fitness center, she changed into gym clothes and slowly warmed up on the equipment with Bai Haonan, repeatedly checking her chest in the mirror through her movements. "Can you really tell? I have female classmates who haven't even dated, but they're quite well-endowed."

Bai Haonan tried to be academic. "I'm not talking about size, but shape. Consider the feeling of your own body versus a face-to-face perspective, and you'll understand. You’re still in an inward-tucked state."

Yu Jiali was not as shameless as he was and didn't dare do anything inappropriate in public, but she was clearly lost in thought, stealing glances at the side floor-to-ceiling mirror.

As a newcomer, Bai Haonan was occasionally approached by personal trainers asking if he needed services. He declined, not wanting others to steal his business. However, other men frequently wandered nearby. Bai Haonan, who had already noticed that the number of beauties here was far lower than at the First Affiliated Hospital gym, wasn't pleased and reminded Yu Jiali, "Is it because you've lost some weight that you're attracting men?"

Yu Jiali stole a glance at her surroundings, delighted. "They look pretty good, too!"

Bai Haonan encouraged his client. "Keep your standards high and don't be fooled by these flashy types. You need to seek inner beauty. Once your body fat is controlled and you learn to dress up and do your makeup, it’ll be your turn to pick the men. There will be plenty!"

Yu Jiali tried to look proud. "I don't care for them!" But her eyes kept stealing glances at the young, handsome men walking by—after all, looking at beautiful things was always a pleasure.

Unexpectedly, while she was back in the locker room showering and changing, someone approached Bai Haonan to ask for his phone number! They even asked all sorts of questions, suggesting he show off his physique so they could give him some fitness advice. Bai Haonan was left between laughter and tears.

Having rarely stepped foot in commercial gyms, had he finally encountered a legendary "rabbit"?