### Chapter 192: The Workout
The lazier older brother didn’t wake up; naturally, Xia Yu didn’t dare to wake him either. It wasn’t her style to play nursemaid, and she certainly had no intention of exercising. She plopped down on the couch and started scrolling through her phone, waiting for her older brother to get up and figure out what to do.
An hour passed…
Yep, Xia Yu had been waiting since eight in the morning until nine when Xia Le finally emerged from the bathroom, clearly just rousing himself from sleep.
When Xia Le came out, Xia Yu mustered up the courage and asked a question: “Brother, did Mom and Dad say if we’re still going out today?” Indeed, she was asking and silently hoping her older brother was also too lazy to heed their command and could just chill at home instead.
However, Xia Le found the question somewhat disrespectful. Looking at the perfectly groomed Xia Yu, he thought she was nagging him to hurry up.
This made Xia Le even more annoyed at having to follow his parents’ orders. He snapped, “I know, why are you rushing me? You never liked exercising back home anyway.”
With that, he slammed his door shut, creating a loud bang.
Seeing this, Xia Yu couldn’t help but feel scared, but she wondered what she had done wrong. Was she really so unlikable?
Gradually, Xia Yu began feeling even more insecure. After all, she had always struggled with these feelings. A few moments later, Xia Le reappeared from his room, fully dressed and clearly ready to leave.
Still, Xia Le looked a bit grumpy, yet prepared to go out, which made Xia Yu sitting dumbfounded on the couch even more annoying: “What are you staring at? Aren’t we supposed to go exercise? What are you doing sitting there?”
Xia Yu was now petrified. She immediately stood up and headed out the door, fearing her older brother’s wrath. They had definitely had their fair share of sibling rivalry before.
Xia Yu also knew her current state: exhausted and weak. Once upon a time, she might have been able to challenge her brother, but now… well, it was tough.
Thus began Xia Yu and Xia Le’s trek outside.
Of course, even though Jiang Kekai was away, all the Jiang Family bodyguards weren’t gone. So when Xia Yu and Xia Le went out, they saw a whole bunch of those imposing bodyguards, ensuring a strong sense of security. This left everyone in the neighborhood feeling pretty lucky about living there.
They stepped out into the quiet neighborhood streets to begin their run.
“Are you ready?” Xia Le’s voice sent Xia Yu into immediate action. “Uh-huh.”
Xia Le then put on a pair of headphones and started his run. Xia Yu chased after him.
She couldn’t recall the last time she had jogged since that disastrous experiment. With her injuries and recovery period, running had become a distant memory.
She felt an exhilarating rush as she ran, forgetting all her worries.
But little did she realize, this was only the beginning. By the 300-meter mark, she was drenched in sweat and struggling. Unlike Xia Le who was just breathing through his nose—though he had a slight sweat, he was less of a mess than Xia Yu.
By 400 meters, Xia Yu felt her legs ache. “Brother, could you please slow down? I can’t keep up.”
Xia Le turned around, realizing Xia Yu was genuinely exhausted. He said, “Fine, let’s walk for now.”
From that point on, they transitioned from running to walking, Xia Le checking on Xia Yu every now and then.
After a short break, Xia Le asked, “Ready to start running again?”
“Yeah.”
They started running together once more. Xia Yu had even tied her hair up in a cool ponytail, making her run look quite comical.
Some passersby even stared, especially at the cute Xia Yu.
About two hundred meters in, Xia Yu begged, “Bro, let’s stop. I can’t run anymore.”
Xia Le stopped, still not happy but resigned, “Suit yourself. We’re already downtown. You can head home if you want.”
“What about you?”
“I have my own stuff to do. Remember how to get home? Do you remember?”
“Yeah.”
“Then head home.”
Xia Le didn’t hesitate to let Xia Yu alone while he continued running faster.
Seeing this, Xia Yu decided not to follow. After all, she knew better.
Sweaty and weary, Xia Yu bought some breakfast from a street stall, then headed back home. She preferred staying indoors like this anyway.
While Xia Le met up with his friends and went to a small car. Several black sedans trailed behind, like a biker gang.
At about halfway home, Xia Yu carried two boxes of rice vermicelli, one for herself, the other for her sister Xia Ling.
Though Xia Ling had taken up being the older sister, Xia Yu didn’t mind, as long as Xia Ling was happy.
But then, three minivans blocked Xia Yu’s path from both sides and the front.
Instantly, alarm bells rang in Xia Yu’s head. These guys weren’t here for her… right? The next second, the doors of the vans swung open, revealing over twenty men surrounding Xia Yu.
Regardless of who they were, Xia Yu trembled, thinking they meant to confront her but had no idea why.
“You? Thought you could stick around Jiang Keke like that and then go out alone? Boys, let’s teach her a lesson!”
A foot kicked Xia Yu in the stomach, sending her sprawling. The other men quickly followed, kicking her while she lay on the ground, clutching her stomach in pain and tears trickling down her face.
The leader spoke: “Remember, Jiang Keke isn’t someone you can woo by wearing women’s clothes. My master’s been itching to deal with you for ages. Now’s the perfect opportunity.”
He took a few pictures of Xia Yu and sent them off to his boss.
If Xia Le and the Pengcheng Four were here, they’d recognize these guys as the ones who’d targeted them earlier.
If Xia Le and the Pengcheng Four had seen this scene, they would likely have recognized the men as the ones who’d previously attacked them.
