Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1608

Chapter 1608: Chapter 772:

But Fang Cheng didn’t want to choose at all.

The strong never let themselves be bound by worldly rules and restrictions.

Enjoying the blessing of many lovers or being devoted to just one—those are only moral shackles the social order forcibly clamps onto the weak.

Since he possessed Strength beyond ordinary people, he had enough confidence to keep these two utterly different bonds firmly sheltered beneath his wings, letting no one lay a finger on them.

And he was just as sure he could give them happy, fulfilling lives.

The sound of water in the bathroom gradually faded.

Not long after, Zhou Xiumei pushed the door open and came out.

She had changed into that light blue dress; her damp hair was wrapped in a towel, and her cheeks held the rosy flush of a fresh shower.

The faint, clean fragrance of shower gel drifted through the air.

“Brother Cheng, what time is it?”

Zhou Xiumei asked as she unwrapped the towel and started drying her hair.

Fang Cheng lifted his wrist and glanced at the time:

“It’s already six o’clock.”

Hearing that, Zhou Xiumei’s expression tightened slightly:

“Then we’d better hurry over. If we’re late, the dishes won’t be fresh.”

She swiftly ran a comb through her long, jet-black hair, smoothing it straight, then used a blow-dryer to roughly dry it.

Once the two of them were tidied up, they took the elevator down to the restaurant on the first floor.

The restaurant was tastefully decorated, with a quiet, elegant atmosphere.

A few glass tanks held live, freshly delivered seafood.

Fang Cheng ordered steamed grouper, lobster, steak, and several fresh seasonal vegetables.

The head chef’s skills were superb, and the ingredients were all top-quality and fresh, so naturally every dish that came out looked, smelled, and tasted amazing.

The shrimp was so tender it bounced on the tongue, the steak seared to perfection; every dish lived up to a six-star hotel’s standards.

Recently, Zhou Xiumei had been busy with training and filming, often eating boxed meals with the staff.

This meal, you could say, was especially satisfying.

After dinner, the two of them strolled casually along the garden paths of the Golden City Resort.

Night had settled by then, and the streetlights on both sides cast warm, yellow halos.

By the artificial lake in the distance, a few couples were talking softly, and the air was laced with the delicate scent of osmanthus.

Zhou Xiumei walked at Fang Cheng’s side, wearing a pair of white, slender high-heeled sandals.

She was used to flat shoes in daily life, so now, on the uneven cobblestone path, her gait looked a bit awkward, her body swaying slightly from time to time.

Watching this, Fang Cheng couldn’t help a silent chuckle and a shake of his head.

Girls love looking good—purely asking for trouble.

Though he grumbled inwardly, his palm hovered by Zhou Xiumei’s arm, ready to reach out and support her at any moment in case she misstepped and fell.

“Tonight was way too lavish. If the nutritionist and dance teacher see, they’ll definitely make me run an extra two kilometers when I get back.”

Walking in tiny quick steps, Zhou Xiumei tugged lightly at the hem of her dress and said with a laugh:

“Brother Cheng, you know what we eat most often in the training camp? Boiled chicken breast and broccoli. Our intake of oil and salt is strictly controlled.”

Fang Cheng teased:

“Then you broke the rules today. How are you going to explain it when you get back?”

Zhou Xiumei stuck out her tongue, a playful glint flashing in her eyes:

“You don’t tell, I don’t tell—how are the teachers supposed to find out? Besides, sneaking in a big meal once in a while feels kind of thrilling.”

Chatting and joking, they crossed a stone arch bridge.

A lawn stretched out ahead, and the view suddenly opened up.

Zhou Xiumei stopped walking, tipped her face up, and looked at the sky.

The mountain night was exceptionally clear and pure, with no smog and none of the city’s light pollution.

The whole sky was studded with stars, and even the hazy outline of the Milky Way was faintly visible.

“Brother Cheng, look—that one’s Vega, and that one’s Altair. They’re so close together!”

Her voice was bright with delight as Zhou Xiumei pointed toward the southeastern night sky.

“Yeah… it’s been a long time since I’ve seen this many stars…”

Fang Cheng also lifted his head, sighing softly as he gazed into the deep cosmic night.

The vast canopy of heaven spread out overhead, like an immense dome arching over the whole human homeland.

Rustle—

The mountain night wind swept through the treetops, setting the branches and leaves swaying and sounding.

Zhou Xiumei lowered her gaze and turned to look at Fang Cheng, her eyes filled with a hint of expectation:

“Brother Cheng, are you going back tomorrow?”

Seeing the reluctance in her eyes, Fang Cheng hesitated slightly, then replied:

“I’m planning to stay two more days. There are still some business details that need to be confirmed, and I’ve been working nonstop for a while, so I might as well relax here a bit.”

Zhou Xiumei’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands excitedly:

“Really? That’s great, we just happen to have half a day off the afternoon after tomorrow at the training camp…”

She was so happy she didn’t watch her step. The thin high heel of her sandal slipped into a crack between the cobblestones, and her ankle suddenly twisted.

“Ah!”

Zhou Xiumei cried out, her body instantly losing balance and tipping sideways.

“Careful.”

Fang Cheng had been prepared. His eyes and hands were quick as he shot out his right arm, wrapping it around her slender waist.

Then his left hand firmly supported her arm, pulling her whole body smoothly into his embrace.

Zhou Xiumei bumped against Fang Cheng’s broad, solid chest, the tip of her nose catching the masculine scent coming off his body.

The two of them were extremely close, their warm breaths wandering back and forth between nose and lips.

Zhou Xiumei’s heartbeat sped up. Looking at Fang Cheng’s face just inches away, her cheeks suddenly turned burning hot.

Her eyelashes trembled lightly a couple of times, and in her spring-water-clear eyes ripples flickered, before her eyelids slowly lowered shut.

Fang Cheng looked at the girl in his arms, her chin tilted up, and the arm around her waist tightened slightly.

Their bodies pressed even closer, as if time itself had slowed down.

Just then, footsteps and voices came from the path not far away.

Two tourists out for a walk were heading in their direction.

Zhou Xiumei was startled. She hurriedly opened her eyes and straightened up out of Fang Cheng’s arms in a fluster.

She lowered her head to tug at the hem of her clothes, the tips of her ears flushed bright red, and for a moment the air between them was a bit awkward.

“Is your foot okay?”

Fang Cheng asked.

“I’m fine… didn’t sprain it.”

Zhou Xiumei replied in a small voice. To cover her shyness, she stepped forward quickly.

But she was wearing high heels and walking in a rush, so her steps were still somewhat unsteady.

“Slow down, don’t fall again.”

Fang Cheng strode up beside her, reaching out to grab her wrist.

Then his fingers slid down, threading between hers, gently lacing her small, soft hand into his.

Zhou Xiumei’s body gave a small shiver. She lowered her head to look at their ten interlocked fingers.

Fang Cheng’s palm was broad and warm, sending over a steady flow of reassuring heat.

She didn’t pull her hand back. The corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve up slightly as she slowed her pace, nestling close at Fang Cheng’s side.

The insects’ chorus rose and fell in the summer night, and the lights stretched out their shadows as they walked shoulder to shoulder.

In the distance, the main building of Golden City Resort blazed with lights.

Under the night sky, the glass curtain wall shone with dazzling brilliance, like a huge mirror set into the mountainside.

At the same time.

Inside an executive suite on the twenty-third floor of the hotel.

The crystal chandelier shed a soft glow, and a low humming came from the central air-conditioning vent.

Pei Tianci stood before the wide floor-to-ceiling window, his left hand in the pocket of his casual pants, his right hand holding a bulky black brick phone, the receiver pressed to his ear.

The glass reflected his refined features and the gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

“Mr. Ye, the money has arrived.”

Looking at the tourists strolling in the garden below, he spoke in a calm tone:

“Thank you for your generosity, boss. With the funds coming through so readily, we’ll naturally make sure the job is done beautifully.”

A voice processed through a voice changer came from the receiver, sounding somewhat muffled:

“When are you going to start the operation?”

Pei Tianci’s gaze passed over the garden outside the window, falling on the mountain road leading into the resort:

“If nothing unexpected happens, we can move tomorrow night at eight.”

“That soon?”

The voice on the other end carried a hint of surprise.

Pei Tianci chuckled and explained:

“We already came in batches a few days ago posing as tourists, and we’ve long since mapped out the terrain of the entire resort and the rotation patterns of the security.”

“As for the hardware, we used the hotel’s seafood delivery trucks to quietly bring it in, installing it around the operation site’s vantage points and preselected key positions.”

He paused for half a second, then added:

“Preparations are basically in place now. The remaining time is mainly to check for any gaps, refine our strategy for dealing with the police, and finalize the post-operation retreat routes.”