Chapter 21 Tears Brimming Over
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April 15, 2023, Saturday, Cloudy turning to clear, 8~22°C, strong ultraviolet index, remember to protect yourself from the sun.
At 6 AM, the reddish sun rose slowly, brightening the sky.
"Ding dong—"
"[China Merchants Bank] Your account ending in 6800 has received a deposit of 200.00 yuan on April 15 at 06:02."
Tang Song bolted up from bed and neatly folded the blanket.
He opened the system interface to check his personal information.
[Height: 180CM, Weight: 81.1KG]
Overnight, his body had naturally metabolized 0.5kg, which was within the normal range.
He was only 0.1kg away from his target!
This was his first task since obtaining the system, and he would even receive a Body Potion reward for enhancing his body!
Suppressing his excitement, Tang Song dived into the bathroom.
Soon, the crisp sound of the system notification rang in his ears.
"Ding! Congratulations, player, for completing the challenge task [restraint and persistence]."
Then, a faint light screen appeared before him, with lines of text leaping out.
[Reward calculation in progress...]
[In the past 14 days, you have firmly held on to your weight loss goal, never wavering, exercising self-discipline, and maintaining restraint, successfully shedding 9 kilograms and returning your body to the normal weight range.]
[You have obtained a special item: Lung Enhancement Potion*1]
[During the task, you did not blindly pursue rapid weight loss, maintaining a healthy and reasonable dietary and rest routine, consistent with the self-cultivation of an Attractive Man, triggering a hidden reward.]
[You have obtained: Basic Body Optimization Potion*1]
He had triggered an additional reward!
Tang Song took a deep breath, calming his exhilarated emotions.
He accessed the system's inventory, where two potion bottles glowing with red light lay quietly.
He checked the details of the items.
[Basic Body Optimization Potion]: Upon use, it will gradually optimize body proportions, making minor adjustments to bones, muscles, and fat, making your physique appear more harmonious.
"Awesome!" Tang Song wasn't quite sure what to say, and could only resort to a classic Chinese exclamation.
A person's body proportions are a matter of genetic luck, fixed from birth, and almost impossible to change later in life.
Harmonious body proportions can make one healthier, more vibrant, balanced, and aesthetically pleasing, and also make clothes look better when worn.
While Tang Song's height was decent, his proportions were only average, with many flaws, such as: an insufficient arm span, shoulders not broad enough, and shinbones slightly short.
Even though it was only a basic potion, the effects were still highly anticipated.
Quickly finishing up in the bathroom and thoroughly washing his hands, Tang Song dashed out of the restroom with the speed of a 100-meter sprint.
He stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking a few deep breaths.
His body was still trembling slightly, barely under control.
Stay calm! Stay calm!
The moment of witnessing a miracle was coming!
He selected the [Basic Body Optimization Potion] and used it immediately.
"Whoosh!" Suddenly, his mouth was filled with a liquid that tasted fresh and slightly bitter, delicious.
Before Tang Song could savor it, he swallowed it down with a "gulp".
Gradually, his throat to stomach was covered with a cool sensation, somewhat like eating a concentrated mint candy.
Waiting silently for a while, there seemed to be no significant change in his reflection in the mirror; it looked like it would take some time to take effect, just as the description stated.
Then, Tang Song's gaze shifted to the next item.
[Lung Enhancement Potion]: Increases lung capacity when used, improving lung condition, providing ample oxygen to the body, enhancing resistance, promoting metabolism, Constitution +2, Endurance +1.
He had worked so hard and suffered so much, wasn't it all for this?
Without hesitation, he used it immediately.
Again, something was suddenly thrust into his mouth, but this time the taste was much stronger, resembling cough syrup.
The liquid smoothly slid down his throat.
A faint burning sensation spread within him.
He felt lighter, his heartbeat slowly decelerated.
His breathing grew deeper and his chest and abdomen began to warm up.
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The comfortable sensation made him involuntarily close his eyes.
More than half an hour later.
"Breathe—breathe—"
Tang Song began to silently feel the changes within his body.
As someone who often stayed up late and had irregular living habits, he always suffered from minor issues like chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing, which were his biggest obstacles when exercising to lose weight.
Now, they had all disappeared, and his breathing was strong, powerful, and smooth.
When he took deep breaths, he could clearly feel his lungs expanding more fully, allowing him to inhale more fresh air and rapidly exchange gases.
He opened his personal information panel.
[Player: Tang Song (29')]
[Character: Jinxiu Commerce - Development Engineer]
[Height: 180.5CM, Weight: 81KG]
[Constitution: 59, Endurance: 56, Agility: 50, Comprehension: 76]
...
"Hmm?" Tang Song was slightly startled and subconsciously rubbed his eyes.
Constitution +2, Endurance +1, Charm reaching 29, these were all within his expectations.
But his height had actually increased by 0.5 centimeters!?
A spark flashed in his mind, and his heartbeat accelerated again.
The "Basic Body Optimization Potion" was even more badass than he had imagined, with its so-called body proportion adjustments actually making him taller.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but Tang Song felt like his calves had indeed become a bit longer, and his shoulders seemed to have broadened slightly.
This was the biggest surprise!
Among the women he was currently seeing, Zhao Yaqian and Xie Shuyu were both quite tall.
Standing with them, he felt a lot of pressure.
Now it seemed, there was indeed the possibility that he might grow taller at the age of 25!
Excited, he did a few high jumps and then changed into a set of quick-drying clothes, ready for his daily fasting cardio.
He couldn't wait to feel just how strong his optimized lungs were.
...
The morning in April was moist with air and sunny.
The neighborhood was perfumed with the light fragrance of locust flowers.
"3, 2, 1, GO! Start outdoor running!"
The rhythm of his breathing was steady and smooth, completely in sync with his steps.
His footsteps were lighter and more powerful, and his physical fitness had significantly improved.
In the latter half of the run, although his body's functions still rapidly declined, he no longer suffered from breathlessness and panting.
This was definitely a super healthy lung, efficient and strong, brimming with vitality.
"You have run 5 kilometers!"
Following the app's voice announcement, Tang Song gradually slowed down his pace and stopped running.
He took a moment to feel his body, which was not as severely fatigued as usual.
He even felt he could continue for another kilometer or two.
He took out his phone from the sports armband to check his running trail.
The entire distance was 5 kilometers, with an average pace of 5'58", taking roughly 30 minutes.
For the first time, his pace broke 6!
This was despite him not having fully adapted to the changes in his body yet.
Carrying an extremely excited mood, Tang Song jogged into the breakfast shop at the south gate of the neighborhood.
He ordered a steamer of fresh pork buns, an egg sandwich, a bowl of spicy soup, and took a small plate of free pickles.
A whole pork bun, a chopstick of pickles, a mouthful of spicy soup.
Carbohydrates, fats, peppers, and spices exploded on his taste buds.
"This is so delicious!" exclaimed Tang Song, eyes brimming with tears.
The landlady, who was cleaning the table, thought this young man was truly attractive!
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