Huh?
Seeing that Qin Yuenan didn't look like she was joking, Lin Shen froze.
'Shouldn't a perfectly good weekend be for sleeping in?'
'How is hiking a form of rest?'
Lin Shen was starting to regret saying he liked the outdoors, but on second thought, it didn't seem so bad.
After he quit at the end of the month, he wouldn't have any work pressure anymore.
Maybe he really could travel around, experience the country's magnificent landscapes, and see the world in its truest form.
'Isn't this the whole point of making money?'
"Alright."
Lin Shen agreed readily, but it was Qin Yuenan who seemed hesitant.
"Are you sure?"
"Weren't you the one who invited me?"
"I know, but..."
Qin Yuenan pursed her thin lips, feeling inexplicably flustered.
She usually went hiking alone on the weekends. Who knew what had possessed her to invite Lin Shen this time.
'Maybe it's because I'm happy to have found a like-minded friend for the first time.'
"Then you can make a hiking plan."
"Why do I have to make it?"
"You're my assistant."
Qin Yuenan tossed her hair back over her shoulder, giving Lin Shen no chance to respond, and strode toward her car on her long legs.
"See you Monday."
"..."
Although Lin Shen really wanted to complain about why an assistant had to handle such personal matters, he could only sigh helplessly as he watched Qin Yuenan walk away.
'I'll never understand how that woman's mind works.'
After going upstairs and getting home, Lin Shen tossed the paper bags onto the sofa, then stood in front of the mirror, striking a few poses for selfies.
With Qin Yuenan by his side while they were shopping, he had been too embarrassed to pull out his phone.
Now, he could admire himself to his heart's content.
[DING—!]
Just then, Lin Shen noticed a red "1" on the top right corner of the ReceivePal app.
After he tapped it, a pop-up window suddenly appeared.
[Finalize calculation for "Appearance Change Card"?]
Lin Shen thought for a moment, then selected "Yes."
[Performing full-body scan...]
[White crew neck T-shirt + light blue shorts + silver necklace + blue and white sneakers. Outfit score: 80.]
[Weight: 172 lbs, Height: 5'10", slight definition in chest and abs, neat hairstyle. Physique score: 70.]
[Total Score: 150. Your appearance has drastically improved compared to one week ago. You are therefore awarded a 150% cash rebate on your 33,800 spent!]
"[Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received a deposit of RMB 50,700 on July 27 at 21:32. Current balance: 82,900.]"
'So that's how the rebate works?'
Lin Shen had assumed the rebate would be based on the fifty-thousand credit limit, not his actual spending.
'If I'd known, I would have bought a few more clothes.'
Lin Shen was a little annoyed, but he also understood the wisdom of being content with what you have.
"Just 17,000 more to complete the ReceivePal mission!"
Lin Shen stretched, a surge of excitement welling up inside him.
As he went to brush his teeth, he casually opened WeChat, and his expression suddenly froze.
The first post on his Moments feed was a travel photo from Gu Wanting.
In it, she was standing beneath the Eiffel Tower, striking a star-shaped pose with a brilliant smile.
Obviously, the photographer was most likely Cheng Yue.
Lin Shen felt no bitterness at the sight, only a sense of calm detachment.
Two straight lines that cross at a single point will only grow farther apart, unless one of them bends back.
And Lin Shen clearly wasn't going to be that one.
"Time to say goodbye to the past."
Lin Shen smiled, carefree. He scrolled a bit more and, out of curiosity, tapped on Qin Yuenan's Moments.
It was all news about the pet industry and information about Pet Guardian Home, but today, there was a personal photo.
It was a picture of the little orange cat cradled in her arms, with a single-word caption: Fat.
'This woman really loves cats!'
Lin Shen didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He had reason to suspect that the sole reason Qin Yuenan worked so hard was simply because she loved pets.
Lin Shen gave her post a like, then finished washing up and went to bed.
*
*
「July 28, 2025. Monday.」
77°F–88°F
Hot weather, low humidity.
For Modu, cool summer days were fleeting. Searing, charcoal-grill heat was the main theme.
At seven in the morning, Lin Shen got up and, as usual, steamed two eggs and heated a glass of milk for breakfast.
From finding it unfamiliar at first, he had gradually adapted.
Lin Shen could clearly feel his physical condition steadily improving.
While getting ready, he styled his hair using the technique Jason had taught him.
Wash, blow-dry, use hair clay to create volume, and finally, set it with hairspray.
The process was tedious, but seeing his handsome reflection in the mirror, the corners of Lin Shen's mouth curled up unconsciously.
At this time every week, he used to be completely dejected.
After all, no wage-earner likes Mondays.
Today, however, Lin Shen was exceptionally vibrant. He walked into the company with his head held high, offering a warm smile to everyone.
This was the confidence his change in appearance had given him.
A little tip:
When you've lost your passion for life, it's recommended to satisfy your desire to consume by online shopping for a few things you like.
They don't have to be expensive. Just watching the package's shipping progress is enough to give you something to look forward to.
"Morning, Lin Shen!"
"Morning."
He ran into a colleague on the first floor. The moment the colleague saw Lin Shen, his face showed his surprise, and his eyes scanned him up and down.
"Dude, your diet's been a huge success! When did you get so handsome?"
"Just a little."
If this had been the old Lin Shen, he would have just smiled shyly, lowered his head, and walked away.
But now, he could chat and laugh with his colleagues, speaking with ease and confidence.
This change also led the female colleagues sharing the elevator to whisper among themselves. One of them, a girl with glasses, boldly approached him and asked in surprise,
"You're Lin Shen? You changed your hairstyle?"
"Yeah."
Lin Shen replied with a smiling nod.
The girl with the glasses was named Xu Lei. She was on the same Network Operations team as him, responsible for developing new features and maintaining the Pet Guardian Home app.
Lin Shen had a slight impression of her, because with her thick, black-framed glasses, she strongly resembled an old acquaintance of his.
'One of those actresses from a hidden-cam site... hmm. Even her outfit is strikingly similar!'
A light gray, hip-hugging skirt, sheer black stockings, and grayish-brown ankle boots.
They say 90% of girls with glasses have a hidden side. Though Lin Shen was curious, he had always deliberately avoided talking too much with female colleagues because he was in a relationship.
Now, however, he had shed his former shyness. He was poised and generous in his interactions, never stingy with a kind word.
"Your outfit is very nice today, too."
"Oh? Thank you."
After being complimented, Xu Lei's heart inexplicably began to race, and she subconsciously hugged the files in her arms tighter.
The reason she was so flustered was simply that Lin Shen's transformation was too dramatic!
Before, he had been overweight, which made his standard work attire of a shirt and trousers look particularly bulky and unremarkable.
But after a week of self-discipline, his physique had gradually become more balanced, and his new hairstyle suited him perfectly.
His image was instantly elevated by a huge degree, leaving Xu Lei feeling a bit flustered. She then asked tentatively,
"Did your girlfriend help you with your look? You two must be so close, I'm jealous..."
"We broke up."
"Eh?"
'Broke up?'
It wasn't just Xu Lei; almost all of Lin Shen's colleagues knew he had a girlfriend of three years, and they seemed to have a good relationship.
'Why would they suddenly break up?'
"Sorry!"
Xu Lei stuck her tongue out cutely. Only after Lin Shen had walked away did she start gossiping animatedly with her friends.
"I knew it! I was wondering why Lin Shen suddenly started losing weight—he must have gotten his heart broken! But I gotta say, now that he's lost weight and changed his hairstyle, he looks so handsome! Are all bigger guys just diamonds in the rough?"
"What? You've got a crush on him?"
"Well... it's mainly his face shape that I find so attractive. It's so clear and refined. He's got great features."
"Then go ask for his personal WeChat!"
"Nah, forget it. It'd be too obvious now. I'm too embarrassed."