Chapter 1: Changing Your Life Begins with Self-Discipline
Early April, five in the morning.
The phone alarm rang right on time. Zhang Yang struggled on the bed for a moment, kicked away the thin blanket, quickly got up, washed up, then changed into a loose, sweat-absorbing outfit before going out and heading downstairs.
At five in the morning, the apartment building was completely quiet. Outside the corridor window, the distant city skyline looked unusually majestic.
Have you ever seen the Shanghai at five in the morning?
A month ago, Zhang Yang had never seen it. But during this past month, he had seen it every day.
From the fifteenth floor he took the elevator down to the first floor. Then starting from the first floor, on an empty stomach, he began climbing the stairs up to the thirty-third floor at the top, repeating the process at least five times back and forth.
He had already persisted with this repetitive and monotonous exercise for a full month.
Inside the pitch-black stairwell, there was only dim lighting and the sound of Zhang Yang's breathing. Beneath his feet, step by step, he steadily climbed upward.
"Third round." Zhang Yang glanced at his fitness band to make sure his heart rate had reached the fat-burning zone. Sweat rolled down from his forehead and hands, dripping onto the steps, and most of the clothes on his chest were already soaked through.
A month ago, he had still been just a small company employee who woke up exactly on time and clocked in exactly on time.
In the years since graduation, his life had been completely unchanged, and he had gradually become used to his own mediocrity. After all, weren't ordinary people all like this? A lifetime rolling along like wheels, following the routine until it passed.
He had never felt there was anything wrong with being ordinary.
Until… until that day. For some reason, probably because of someone's encouragement, he inexplicably posted a selfie on RedNote [A Chinese lifestyle-focused social media platform centered on sharing experiences, trends, and everyday living inspiration.] and added a title.
[Major life matters remain unresolved. Where do you think the problem lies?]
He had only meant to ask for some advice. Even ordinary people, deep down, still hoped to improve themselves a little. But he never expected that half an hour later he would be struck like lightning.
'Suggestion: restart your life.'
'Been indulging your pig addiction every day? How did you get this fat?'
'Problems? There are too many. From head to toe, I couldn't find a single place without problems.'
'So tacky and fat. Sigh… maybe try losing weight first and see if that helps.'
It was like a bolt from the blue. Zhang Yang knew he was quite overweight and didn't know how to dress, looking extremely unfashionable, but this was the first time in his life he had been criticized to the point of doubting himself.
Could he not even qualify as an ordinary person anymore? Or was the internet just full of 190-centimeter (~6 ft 3 in) male gods?
Fortunately, the 'Listen-to-Advice System' descended from the sky, and the gears of fate began to turn at that moment…
[Task]
Lose 10 kg (~22 lbs) within one month
[Progress]
100 grams (~3.5 oz)
[Reward 1]
No excess skin ever
[Reward 2]
5 experience points
[Host Level]
Level 1 (0/5)
[Daily Cashback]
0
Zhang Yang glanced at the task progress, endless motivation flashing in his eyes.
"No matter what. Today is the last day of the month. To be safe, I'll fast for the whole day!"
Of course he knew this kind of weight loss was extreme and unhealthy. But opportunities passed in a flash, and he had no choice but to be ruthless with himself.
Why push himself so hard? To level up!
The experience from completing this task alone would be enough to raise him to Level 2.
What did Level 2 mean? It meant the daily cashback would jump from zero to ten thousand. Three hundred thousand a month. Three million six hundred fifty thousand a year! With that kind of income, even in the Shanghai, he would rightfully stand at the peak among ordinary workers.
According to incomplete statistics, among the tens of millions of workers in the Shanghai, only 0.17 percent earned more than two million a year. If he exceeded three million, he would be even rarer.
Twenty-five years old was not the dividing line of his age. It was clearly the turning point of his life!
A complete transformation would happen today!
By the time Zhang Yang stood on the top floor drenched in sweat, daylight had already filled the sky outside.
"Finally finished."
He squeezed the corner of his shirt, and sweat poured down in streams. Although his whole body felt exhausted and weak, his heart was filled with an indescribable sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.
For a full thirty days he had climbed stairs on an empty stomach, slept early and woke early without staying up late, eaten oatmeal, potatoes, boiled vegetables, and chicken breast until he almost felt like vomiting…
Now the goal was within reach. Everything had been worth it!
A short while later, Zhang Yang returned to his single apartment.
Inside the apartment, the windows were bright and the place was clean and tidy. On the table sat a large two-kilogram (~4.4 lb) tub of oatmeal. This was Zhang Yang's daily breakfast. Usually he would also add eggs, milk, and some cucumbers or fruit to maintain balanced nutrition.
But today, after hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and gave up preparing breakfast. He took off his clothes and went straight in to take a shower.
After showering, he stood in front of the mirror.
Zhang Yang looked at the loose skin on his body in the mirror. The excessive weight loss over the past month had made his body sag even more severely.
Fortunately, the system had thought of everything. Once he completed the task, the excess skin on his body would disappear as well. Otherwise, it would look terribly unsightly.
He opened his phone. The first post he had ever made on RedNote still continued to receive replies.
There were sharp mockeries, and naturally there were also frank truths.
However, ever since that first post, he had disappeared without a trace. Many netizens thought he had only been talking and would never actually change.
'Forget it. No matter how much we say, if you don't change yourself it's useless. Good luck!'
This was the most liked reply.
Zhang Yang stared at it for a long time, resisting the urge to post a second update. Instead, he went to work on an empty stomach.
~~~~~
Mingyang Media had around several dozen employees. Among the countless advertising companies in the Shanghai, it was quite insignificant.
At 7:50, people were already flowing continuously beneath the office building.
At this time, Zhang Yang had just clocked in.
As an ordinary junior copywriter in the planning department, just another screw in the company machine, he had worked diligently for two years and only last month earned just over ten thousand in monthly salary for the first time.
With only a junior college diploma, average ability, and such a limited company platform, this salary was already close to his limit.
Zhang Yang had just sat down and poured himself a cup of water when a large head popped up from the desk opposite him. It was Xiang Youde, who had joined the company at the same time as Zhang Yang.
"Zhang Yang, look over there." He nudged his chin and gestured in one direction.
"What's going on?" Zhang Yang looked from afar. A tall, thin, handsome figure was standing beside a workstation, looking somewhat at a loss.
Wasn't that the guy who joined last month?
"Bei Wei, didn't you say you loved the soup dumplings from this place the most?" the boy asked foolishly.
At the workstation, a girl with glowing white skin and long black hair decisively pushed the breakfast back.
That was Bei Wei, the most beautiful girl in the company.
"Zhou Song, I really only see you as an ordinary colleague. What are you thinking?" Bei Wei widened her beautiful eyes and asked in disbelief.
"H-how could that be?" The young man clearly hadn't expected Bei Wei's attitude to be so firm. His lips trembled weakly. "You obviously…"
Zhang Yang and Xiang Youde exchanged glances, both already accustomed to the scene.
"Another one fell for it. This guy gets carried away way too easily."