29. The Pinnacle of Life Arrives So Suddenly

Every industry resembles a pyramid: only those at the very top, like the most elite footballers, earn millions. Bai Haonan was already at the neck of that pyramid, but the majority of players toil away their entire lives, barely able to scrape by, let alone make a living from the sport. The same principle applied to doctors. Though they all bore the same title, those at a rural clinic and those at one of the top military hospitals in the capital occupied vastly different rungs. This affiliated hospital and its young scholars belonged to the upper neck as well—their income from work, research, and lectures easily surpassed most of their peers. The clever ones even ran side businesses, started companies; they likely had no interest in accepting patient gifts, unwilling to risk their reputations.

Bai Haonan hadn’t expected the hospital to be so well-off; he was almost tempted to persuade Qiao Yingna to stick to this promising medical path. Yet, cunning as he was, he immediately realized that even if she became a top student here, she’d still be just another brick at the base of the pyramid. To climb higher, she’d need opportunity, talent, and courage—none of which could be lacking.

He had courage himself, but it seemed that sort of nerve was best not squandered on being a gigolo. After exchanging contact details with the administrative assistant he’d be working with, Bai Haonan sat down cheerfully in a small cubicle, scrawling out an elaborate training plan in awkward handwriting. This was his area of expertise; he handled it with ease, though nothing could be done about his poor penmanship.

In truth, it was the physical act of writing that proved most taxing—he was used to spreadsheets at the club. By the time he finished, it was nearly dinner. With a thicker wallet, Bai Haonan suddenly remembered Chen Sufen and decided to call her from a public phone outside to see if she’d like dinner. He’d heard she was due for a break as well, but mainly he wanted to check in on Old Chen or Bai Lianjun.

But when Bai Haonan stepped out, he was utterly stunned.

Underfoot, black carpet; all around, a gym decorated in dark tones, lined with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and vast panes of glass. And everywhere he looked—flocks of young women, vibrant as birds in spring!

A single glance at the treadmill showed a pair of gray leggings accentuating a breathtaking figure, while the girl bench-pressing in a peach-pink sports top seemed ready to burst from her clothes. There were short-haired girls exuding freshness, long-haired ones radiating charm, some jogging lightly, others using dumbbells with voluptuous grace, and the sight of them on spinning bikes was nearly hypnotic. Their expressions ranged from blank to alluring; each face was beautiful, youthful, striking, cool—every type imaginable. What was this?

Bai Haonan’s first reaction was that he had wandered into some high-end nightclub—so many beauties everywhere!

Most of them didn’t bother to hide their interest, looking at him directly, even smiling.

For a moment, he felt like a wolf in a flock of sheep; the next, a rabbit in a den of foxes.

In an instant, Bai Haonan had forgotten all about calling Chen Sufen. He brazenly stopped one woman mid-fly exercise, and within ten minutes, he was surrounded by more than a dozen stunning young nurses.

Yes, nurses. From five to seven, the gym was free for all hospital staff, and since the shift change between afternoon and evening happened around then, many nurses finishing their afternoon shift liked to work out, shape their figures, shower, do their makeup, and prepare for a dazzling night out.

It was just as logic dictated: with multiple choices, the result of selection became fascinating. Doctors typically finished work at five or six, so during this period, it was all nurses.

The older, married nurses rushed home to cook for their families. Only the young, pretty ones—full of potential—had the freedom to prepare for an evening of fun. Those less attractive rarely bothered to dress up, and most simply didn’t come.

With over seven thousand medical staff, this super-hospital’s gym seemed to filter out the most attractive group. Dozens of beautiful women from every department during each shift was no surprise.

Bai Haonan finally realized, thinking back to when he first arrived in Rongdu, how considerate Chen Sufen had been to suggest he work at the gym!

He guided them through dumbbell routines, supported their waists as they tried resistance machines, and solemnly demonstrated deep squats, body pressed close behind them. What mattered most was that none of the girls found this odd; faced with this tall, athletic, easygoing coach—his handsome jawline and black-rimmed glasses—they’d sometimes flash him a flirtatious look in return. Bai Haonan nearly shouted with joy, feeling as if his twenty years of athletic training and fitness knowledge had all been preparation for this very moment. Why bother with gigolo work? Compared to this, those middle-aged women were like ancient witches!

For the first time, Bai Haonan even considered calling Chen Sufen to ask if there were any women’s fitness courses or training programs he could crash.

But it was just a fleeting thought; soon, he was so busy he could barely keep up, and by dinnertime, he had seven girls with him!

His little white Polo couldn’t seat them all, but luckily, one of the nurses had a similar hatchback, so they managed to squeeze everyone in.

Even during his supposed glory days as a footballer, Bai Haonan had never enjoyed such a scene.

The person who’d assigned Bai Haonan this makeshift desk could never have guessed he’d be so shameless. Wasn’t his girlfriend supposed to be a campus beauty?

And this was only the first day! Being able to invite so many at once owed partly to that new twenty-thousand-yuan bank card in his pocket, and partly to the chemistry between them—a girl had casually mentioned a trendy, slightly pricey foam party, with entry fees starting at several thousand yuan. She’d wondered aloud who she could go with.

A few thousand yuan just to hang out at a bar—maybe not even leading to anything—would give most men pause, especially someone like Bai Haonan, who appeared to be just an ordinary coach or staff member. But he agreed without batting an eye, and the other girls flocked to him like moths to a flame.

Our “Brother Hao” was living up to his nickname!

That convinced Bai Haonan to get a fake ID under Liu Hao’s name the very next day.

As a regular at both budget hotels and luxury team accommodations, Bai Haonan knew the difference between a real ID and a fake: the latter was only good for fooling ordinary people. For hotel check-ins, flights, trains, even security at some venues, the system could instantly spot a forgery.

At dinner, he played the part to perfection—not by splurging, but simply by sitting at a Haidilao table with seven beautiful women, coming across as nothing less than a billionaire.

Bai Haonan had his assets. Much like how he’d once given his number to a total stranger, he always appeared calm and gentlemanly in such situations, far more refined than his education would suggest. Jokes, stories, and flirtatious remarks flowed easily; he could make each girl laugh without singling anyone out.

That made him irresistible. After all, when a group of girls goes out together, the prettier ones can’t help but compare. However they viewed this wealthy benefactor, each was curious who he was after. Yet Bai Haonan made it seem as if he wanted nothing from anyone—how could they suspect he was after all of them?

The mood remained lively and fresh. Perhaps it was this combination of youth, beauty, and radiant smiles that allowed Bai Haonan, recently trained in the arts of gigolo work, to serve all seven effortlessly: filling plates, pouring drinks, cracking jokes, letting playful girls punch him softly in mock protest—a display of professional dominance over amateurs.

It felt as if his stint as a gigolo had unlocked a whole new skill tree. At the very least, in the famous five-word mantra—pan, donkey, Deng, little, idle—he had completely mastered “little.”

After dinner, when it was time to head out, the girls all complained about splitting into two cars, insisting he should buy a stretch limo—one of those ten-meter Cadillacs used for weddings. Bai Haonan joked that a bus would suit him better, which nearly brought traffic to a halt with their laughter.

Luckily, the restaurant was close to the city’s famous nightclub, so they walked, continuing to build camaraderie.

They still underestimated Rongdu’s nightlife. By just past nine, the club was packed—beautiful women everywhere, and even the most attractive had to queue to get in. The crowds were immense.

Here, Bai Haonan’s extensive nightlife experience paid off. One glance and he knew the situation: those queuing would enter for pay-as-you-go drinks, hoping to tag along for fun. But if you booked a private room or a VIP table, a few thousand yuan would get you escorted right in.

So, ever the big spender, he asked, “What’s the minimum?” Three thousand for a VIP table? “What about drinks?” Not enough. “Add more—let’s start with six thousand!”

Now it was clear how he’d managed to burn through his money so quickly. Even if the nurses had visited clubs before, this was likely their first time being the center of attention, surrounded by envy. Watching Bai Haonan calmly swipe his card and finalize the arrangements, each of their faces blushed bright with excitement. When he said that, according to custom, they should all enter hanging onto him, not a single one refused. He wrapped his arms around all seven as they swept inside.

This legendary nightclub beneath the Rongdu TV Tower was said to have seen the sons of tycoons blow two hundred thousand yuan on champagne in a single night, but today the true marvel was on display: one man with seven companions!

And Bai Haonan had done it all for just six thousand yuan.

Unbeatable value.

He was nothing if not cunning.