Chapter Nine: Sin! The Old Ox Grazes on Tender Grass

After a sumptuous midnight feast, Chen Fang put aside thoughts of Xi Yuanyuan.

Back at his rented apartment, Chen Fang stared at his reflection in the mirror, his thoughts momentarily adrift.

Suddenly, something came to mind. He glanced at the time—it had just passed midnight.

"System."

"Sign in."

He called out to the system in his heart.

The system's timely voice sounded: "Sign-in successful. You have received a daily treasure chest. You may choose to store it or open it immediately."

"Open it."

There was no point in leaving it for later; better to use it at once.

"Opening the chest..."

...

"Congratulations, host. You have received a Strengthening Elixir. Consuming it will greatly enhance your physical attributes and raise your mental fatigue threshold. (One bottle refreshes the mind, two bottles grant tirelessness, three bottles bestow immortality. This item can be stacked.)"

Chen Fang: ?

That line sounded so familiar.

Wasn't this just like the kidney tonic from "Love Apartment"?

A moment later, a white plastic bottle appeared in Chen Fang's hand, filled with some unknown liquid.

Without hesitation, Chen Fang gulped it all down in one go, smacked his lips, and looked puzzled. "No taste?"

His body felt no different.

Chen Fang frowned slightly.

It probably needed some time to take effect. No longer dwelling on it, he turned and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Half an hour later, Chen Fang walked out of the bathroom, bare-chested. Passing by the mirror, he froze for several seconds, then stepped back in front of it, his eyes wide with shock.

"What the hell!"

"When did I get abs?"

"When did I get so muscular?"

Chen Fang stared at his own abdomen in the mirror. Eight distinct abdominal muscles were now visible. Where once his torso had been so thin that his ribs and clavicle stood out, it was now all muscle—he had become a true powerhouse.

Chen Fang mused: if he managed to get a few more bottles of the Strengthening Elixir, he’d never need to worry about physical weakness again.

What a great thing!

He hoped luck would favor him in the future and he’d receive more bottles.

"System, open the attribute panel."

While toweling his hair, Chen Fang called out to the system again in his mind.

The next instant, a virtual screen only he could see appeared, floating in the air.

[Host: Chen Fang]
[Occupation: Street Singer]
[Appearance: 94]
[Charisma: 80]
[Physique: 86]
[Daily Treasure Chest: Claimed]
[Items: None]
[Overall Evaluation: Entertainment Rookie]

Just one bottle of Strengthening Elixir had boosted his appearance, charisma, and especially his physique—from 51 that morning to 86 now, a remarkable improvement.

As for being evaluated as an "entertainment rookie," Chen Fang didn’t care much.

He hadn’t signed with a company yet, nor had he entered the showbiz circle, so being called a rookie was fair.

"What a pity."

"If only a woman could see this physique, she might really keep me as her boy toy."

Chen Fang clicked his tongue.

A bear’s back.

A wolfhound’s waist.

A mantis’s legs.

He was practically born to be kept!

Chuckling at his own joke, Chen Fang climbed into bed and fell asleep.

The night passed uneventfully.

At dawn, Chen Fang rose early and went out for a run. Even with the system’s cheat, it was good to keep up the habit of exercise, especially since his young body was brimming with energy—better to channel it into workouts.

By the time he finished running, packed breakfast, and returned to the apartment, Pang Tong was just getting up. Sleepy-eyed, he looked at Chen Fang, wide awake now, shock written all over his face. "You went out for a run?"

"Couldn’t sleep after waking up, so I went for a bit," Chen Fang replied, tossing the breakfast to Pang Tong before heading for a quick shower.

A short while later, Chen Fang emerged in a comfortable, loose outfit.

Pang Tong found his breakfast suddenly less appealing.

Was it just his imagination, or did Chen Fang look even more handsome today?

He glanced down at his own potbelly; his appetite diminished further.

Just as Chen Fang sat down, his phone rang. An unfamiliar local number flashed on the screen. He hesitated for a moment, then answered.

"Chen Fang, it’s me."

The familiar voice brought a smile to Chen Fang’s lips.

As expected, it was her.

Ji Mei.

In this city, aside from Pang Tong beside him, only Ji Mei would know his number.

After all, he’d left his contact details when signing up for the auditions.

"Director Ji, calling me so early—could it be you missed me?" Chen Fang teased. For some reason, he enjoyed flirting with this capable and curvaceous woman.

On the other end, Ji Mei’s face flushed.

"Little scoundrel!"

She cursed under her breath before replying, "I’m calling to inform you about the next round—the date and location. The next stage is in a week, and the theme for the second round is ‘Childhood.’ If you still plan to perform an original song, you’ll only have a week to write it, so you’d better get started."

The theme of childhood wasn’t difficult. If he chose from the national song database, he’d easily find something suitable.

But Chen Fang was different.

He was set on performing an original piece.

So the difficulty level shot up.

Worried he’d feel pressured, Ji Mei called to check in—if it proved too much, he shouldn’t force himself.

"Don’t worry. A week’s enough," Chen Fang replied, brimming with confidence.

Hearing this, Ji Mei felt a surge of anticipation.

She really liked Chen Fang’s confidence. Thinking of his handsome features, her cheeks grew hotter.

A second later—

Chen Fang’s lazy drawl reached her ears again. "Director Ji, are you free today? I’d like to treat you to dinner."

"Don’t even think about bribing me," Ji Mei replied, suppressing her agitation and maintaining her composure.

Chen Fang shifted into a more relaxed posture, leaning back in his chair. His voice softened, "My invitation is purely because I’m interested in you as a person, nothing to do with the competition."

Ji Mei fell silent.

For a long moment.

Chen Fang wondered if she’d hung up.

Finally, Ji Mei spoke: "I’m free this evening."

"See you at six, then."

After settling the time, Chen Fang hung up.

As soon as he put his phone down, he felt a resentful gaze fixed upon him. Looking up, he saw Pang Tong stabbing at a soup dumpling with his chopsticks, his expression one of utter despair.

"What’s wrong, Fatty?" Chen Fang asked.

Pang Tong looked as if he were about to cry. "We agreed to stay single together, and now you’re dating the show’s director!"

Chen Fang coughed awkwardly. "I just have something to discuss with Director Ji. That’s why I asked her out."

But Pang Tong’s look said it all.

As if to say: I don’t believe a word.

Seeing this, Chen Fang didn’t bother to explain further. After all, he genuinely was interested in Ji Mei—denying it would only mean denying his own feelings.

He was never one to lie to himself.

In a huff, Pang Tong skipped breakfast altogether, resolving to start dieting.

A good thing! Pang Tong was far too fat—losing weight would do him good.

As evening approached, Chen Fang gave Pang Tong a heads up and left the apartment. On the way, he called Ji Mei to confirm the details, then headed for their meeting place.

...

Elsewhere.

At the Rose Restaurant.

Ji Mei wore a black formal dress, her delicate makeup unable to hide the flush on her cheeks.

"Ji Mei!"

"You’re five years older than Chen Fang! How could you have feelings for a younger man like him?"

"It’s too sinful!"

She slapped her cheeks, trying to clear her thoughts, telling herself that if she left now, it wouldn’t be too late.

The next second, the restaurant door swung open.

A tall, powerfully built figure strode in, catching the attention of several women.

"Director Ji, I hope you didn’t wait too long," Chen Fang said as he walked over.

At the sound of his voice, Ji Mei looked up at him, her heart pounding wildly. In that instant, her eyes held no one else but Chen Fang. This guy... he was even more handsome than yesterday.

"So be it, if it’s sinful!"

"If not me, then who!"

...