Chapter 44: A New Look

She hesitated, looking at Xing Lian with a face full of worry.

“Training is very hard. Can you really keep it up?”

“I can.”

Xing Lian didn’t want to be looked down on. 

She clenched her small fists, speaking with absolute determination.

“I hope so.” Yue Li smiled and gently rubbed her head.

Xing Lian was furious, ‘Hope?’

What did that mean? 

Did she not believe her?

‘How annoying! I’m being completely serious!’

Knowing she was being underestimated, Xing Lian held her breath, vowing to make Yue Li see her in a new light.

For the next ten-plus days, Xing Lian trained diligently.

She got up at dawn, ate a simple breakfast, and then jogged in circles around the courtyard.

Xing Lian knew her constitution was poor. 

She set a goal for herself: thirty laps.

But when she actually started running, she realized just how difficult thirty laps were.

She was out of breath after just three laps. 

By five laps, sweat beaded on her forehead.

At seven laps, her heart pounded wildly. 

By the eighth lap, her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed on the spot.

“Are you okay?”

Yue Li had been keeping an eye on Xing Lian.

Seeing her about to fall, she quickly stepped forward and caught her.

Xing Lian gasped for air, too winded to even speak.

Her vision swam with black spots, her head spun violently, and her face was frighteningly pale.

Yue Li was terrified. 

She quickly laid Xing Lian on the ground, loosened the clothes at her chest to ensure she could breathe, and gently patted her back.

Under Yue Li’s care, Xing Lian gradually recovered.

Realizing she was lying in Yue Li’s arms and remembering what had just happened, her face flushed red with shame.

‘So embarrassing! That was so embarrassing!’

Fainting from exhaustion while running, nearly working herself to death—it was utterly mortifying.

With a soft whimper, Xing Lian buried her face in Yue Li’s chest.

“There, there, don’t be shy. I won’t laugh at you.”

Having been with Xing Lian for so long, Yue Li knew the little one was thin-skinned and proud. 

She hurried to comfort her, hoping she wouldn’t dwell on it.

The comfort didn’t quite land. 

Xing Lian lay in Yue Li’s embrace for a long time, until her face wasn’t so hot and her heartbeat had slowed, before shakily standing up.

“How do you feel now? Are you okay?” Yue Li asked again.

“Mhm.” Xing Lian nodded.

“That’s good. Don’t push yourself so hard next time. Whatever you do, you must act within your limits.” Yue Li advised her patiently.

Xing Lian’s face remained red, and she stayed silent.

Having learned her lesson, Xing Lian reined herself in considerably afterwards.

When she ran laps again, she paid close attention to her physical condition, stopping to rest whenever she felt she couldn’t take it anymore.

Xing Lian ran in the mornings, and in the afternoons when she had time.

At first, she could only manage five laps. 

Slowly, she made progress: six laps, seven laps, eight laps…

As the number of laps increased, her physical fitness improved noticeably.

Before, she would be panting after walking for just a few minutes. 

Now, she could last much longer, and handling Yue Li at night became easier.

Xing Lian was thrilled about this. 

Seeing her efforts bear fruit made her enjoy it even more.

Although the training was very hard, the visible progress completely overshadowed the physical fatigue.

Seeing Xing Lian work so hard filled Yue Li with deep satisfaction.

‘The little one’s health is improving, and I’m the one who benefits. As the beneficiary, I can’t stop smiling.’

However, seeing how weak the little one’s constitution was and how hard she had to train made Yue Li’s heart ache. 

She needed to work hard too, to save up money quickly to buy treasures that could enhance Xing Lian’s physique.

But until she could afford those treasures, she could only ask Xing Lian to endure a little longer, doing her best to help in any way she could.

Physical training consumed energy, and that energy had to be replenished through food.

After every training session, Yue Li would prepare a huge spread of delicious food for Xing Lian, brewing various tonics daily and stocking up on plenty of high-nutrition snacks.

Under this regimen of abundant, nourishing food…

Even though Xing Lian was exhausted every day from thorough training, she didn’t lose weight. 

Instead, she became slightly fuller and more curvaceous.

Xing Lian had gained weight, truly gained weight.

But it wasn’t fat. 

The weight was distributed very evenly.

Her legs filled out, and her chest increased considerably.

Yue Li hadn’t expected that training would bring such an unexpected bonus. 

Xing Lian’s improved figure was something she herself got to enjoy.

Yue Li was delighted, but Xing Lian was quite frustrated about it.

‘Why did the weight have to go there, of all places? It’s not even convenient for running. It’s just a burden.’

Xing Lian sighed, but she didn’t stay dejected for long before pulling herself together.

“You’re really amazing.”

Seeing Xing Lian’s gloomy expression, Yue Li knew the little one was upset and switched into praise mode.

“I originally thought you wouldn’t be able to stick with it, but you actually did it. I underestimated you before. My Lian’er is truly wonderful!”

“It’s not that amazing.”

Hearing this, Xing Lian waved her hand dismissively, her words modest, but the slight upturn at the corners of her mouth completely betrayed her true feelings.

Having always been looked down upon and disliked, she loved hearing others’ praise.

She, too, had something she could accomplish.

If she kept working hard, she was sure she could obtain a healthy body.

Xing Lian felt a sincere anticipation in her heart.

***

Time flew by, and another half-month passed in the blink of an eye.

During this half-month, Xing Lian continued to train diligently.

She no longer limited herself to simple running and began training in other ways as well.

Like jump rope, brisk walking, stair climbing, and simple stretches.

Xing Lian did a lot, and her gains grew even greater.

She could now run eleven laps around the courtyard, a number she wouldn’t have dared to imagine before.

However, this distance was still far from enough compared to an ordinary person. 

Her body’s innate deficiencies required spirit fruits or high-grade supplements to truly compensate.

“Don’t worry, Lian’er. I’ve saved up a fair bit of money now. I can afford to buy some good things.”

Yue Li felt both ashamed and proud.

Ashamed of her lack of money, proud that she could help Xing Lian.

But this level of help left Yue Li deeply dissatisfied.

‘The pace of earning money is too slow. When will I ever be able to make Xing Lian truly healthy?’

‘If only Xing Lian had someone to look after her, I could really go all out to earn money.’

Lost in her thoughts, Yue Li told Xing Lian to stay inside at home and went out herself to buy medicine.

After Yue Li left, Xing Lian returned to her room alone and started reading.

She had been training so much recently that she’d read very little. 

She wanted to relax.

She became engrossed in the book, gradually losing track of time. 

She didn’t even notice when Yue Li returned and was startled when she appeared.

“Hehe, the look on your face when you’re startled is so cute.”

Yue Li was amused by Xing Lian’s wide-eyed expression.

“You’re so mean~”

Xing Lian puffed out her cheeks and stomped her foot in annoyance.

“Alright, alright, my fault. I’ll go brew your tonic.”

Yue Li picked up her small bag and left.

Watching her retreating back, Xing Lian’s lips parted slightly.

‘After being together for so long, I’ve gradually gotten used to her… even started to like her a little.’

‘I really can’t handle it when someone is good to me, even if that person once hurt me.’

The more she thought about it, the more complicated her feelings became. 

But compared to these emotions, the changes in herself concerned her even more.