Chapter 3: One Jin Down, One Hundred Million Up

Li Hang opened his phone and researched how someone his size could lose weight safely: what to eat, how much exercise to do, which movements would spare his knees, and which foods to avoid or eat more of. He took careful notes until his phone’s memo app was packed with text.

New-student registration would continue through tomorrow, and military training would start the day after. If he joined in, Li Hang figured he’d probably collapse on the field and have to be carried away. He might even make the local news.

He decided to see whether he could get an exemption. Opening his counselor’s WeChat, he sent a message.

“Hello, I’m Li Hang from Room 304. Can I apply for an exemption from military training?”

The reply came quickly. “Hello. Do you have a medical condition?”

Li Hang thought for a moment. “I weigh over 300 jin. I’m worried intense exercise could be dangerous. Could I be exempted, or attend without taking part?”

There was a pause.

“Over 300 jin?”

“Yes.”

“Come to my office tomorrow morning. I’ll assess the situation and handle the paperwork.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Li Hang put down his phone and breathed a sigh of relief. The counselor was probably stunned too. A freshman weighing over 300 jin was newsworthy enough on campus.

By evening, his stomach began growling right on schedule, rumbling like thunder. He hauled himself out toward the cafeteria. His three roommates exchanged glances and got up too, deliberately following several paces behind.

He heard Shi Xiao whisper, “Should we… ask him to come with us?”

Neither Xu Haodong nor Qiao Chuan answered. Their footsteps followed at a measured distance.

The system’s alerts sounded all the way there.

[Shock Points +4]
[Shock Points +1]
[Shock Points +3]
[Shock Points +2]

Li Hang was beginning to understand. There was a limit to how many points he could earn just by being fat. People would take one look, and once the novelty wore off, that was it. He’d have to accomplish something worthwhile to earn points in large numbers. For now, though, he might as well save what he got.

His arrival at the cafeteria caused another small stir, and his points ticked up again. But after a few seconds, people went back to eating and chatting. Everyone had their own business.

Li Hang approached the serving counter. The cafeteria lady’s hand visibly trembled at the sight of him.

[Shock Points +5]

She was already wondering how much food the young man would need. Surely one bowl wouldn’t be enough. Would she have to bring out a basin? She even thought of the pig her family raised back home: over 300 jin in a year, plump and sturdy, worth a good sum when slaughtered for the New Year.

Then Li Hang spoke. “A serving of shrimp, a serving of broccoli, and a small bowl of rice, please.”

She stared at him. “That’s… that’s all?”

“Yes, that’s enough. Thank you.”

Looking at his young, earnest, round face, she guessed he might be trying to lose weight. She smiled kindly and served him a moderate portion. “You can do it, young man.”

He smiled back. “Thank you.”

He took his tray to a corner and ate slowly, one bite at a time. The shrimp and broccoli were lightly flavored, and there was only a small bowl of rice. Before, he would have eaten three bowls. Today he stopped at one.

After sitting for ten minutes or so, he got up and headed for the athletic field. Plenty of people were there: some walking or running, couples cuddling on the grass, students exercising, and a few older men testing themselves on the pull-up bars.

His appearance naturally drew attention again.

“Look over there. That guy’s huge.”

“Whoa, he must be over 300 jin.”

“At that weight, he must have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or something!”

“Wow. Coming to the track at that weight takes guts.”

“Get a video for Douyin. It’ll definitely go viral.”

[Shock Points +3]

Li Hang heard them, anger tightening in his chest. He gritted his teeth and began walking slowly, one lap, then another.

It was exhausting. Really exhausting.

His knees protested with every step, and his chest felt blocked; he couldn’t get his breath. On the second lap, his lungs burned as though someone were cutting them with a knife. Sweat streamed down his face, and his soaked clothes clung to him. He looked as if he’d been dragged out of a river.

His legs grew heavier. Every time he lifted one, he had to tell himself to keep going.

He wanted to quit. Desperately.

But he didn’t stop. Head lowered, he watched the ground beneath his feet and shuffled forward, step by step.

Slow was fine. Just don’t stop.

After more than forty minutes, darkness had fallen. Streetlights and the floodlights over the field came on, casting his shadow long and wide. Li Hang found a wall and leaned against it for wall sits: three sets of thirty seconds.

When he finished the last one, he slid straight down and collapsed on the ground. Sweat splattered around him like rain, quickly leaving a damp patch.

Then—

[Ding! One jin lost. Assets +100 million yuan!]

Li Hang froze for a second, then lay on the ground laughing.

“Ha… ha ha…”

Flat on his back, chest heaving and sweat still dripping onto the ground, he grinned so wide he couldn’t close his mouth.

He was a hundred-millionaire now! Damn it, every drop of sweat and every bit of suffering had been worth it!

His exhausted body suddenly felt as though it had been given a shot of adrenaline. He climbed to his feet and dusted off his backside. He was soaked through, but his steps were much lighter than when he’d arrived.

So what if he had a system? So what if he could grow stronger lying down?

He still had to take that first step.