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Squatting halfway on the ground, Karen glanced at Shane. Shane nodded at her, signaling her to continue, then picked up the phone, pressed the answer button, turned on the speaker, and put the phone back on the table.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Shane? It's Dave, remember me?" Dave's loud voice came from the other end of the line.
Of course Shane remembered his first potential offline client, but he didn't expect the call to come so soon.
"Oh, Dave, what's up? Discussed the result so quickly? Which package do you plan to take?"
Dave gave a dry laugh on the phone. "We plan to take a trial class first—also, we plan to come over with the whole family this Thursday at 5 PM. We want to see the venue, is that okay?"
"Of course," Shane answered directly. "Welcome anytime. As long as you come, I'll open the doors for you like a church—"
Shane hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly gasped, "Hiss—siss—"
The other end of the phone was confused. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"No, no, got scalded by hot water." Shane tried hard to keep his voice normal. As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Karen, who was squatting halfway. Karen's eyes were full of mischievous laughter, the corners of her mouth hooked up in a playful smile. He really didn't know when she learned this trick.
Shane took a deep breath, suppressed his voice, and continued to speak to the phone. "Thursday at 5, right? No problem. Just call me directly when you arrive."
Shane quickly went over the main information, wanting to end this difficult call as soon as possible.
"Okay, see you then. I won't disturb you now."
"Okay, see you Thursday."
Beep—siss
The busy tone came from the phone. Shane immediately pulled Karen up, looking at her expression, which was obviously still snickering.
Karen looked up, her lips moist, her eyes full of unconcealable smiles and slyness.
"You did it on purpose, didn't you? When did you learn this trick?"
"Guess~" Karen's eyes were misty.
"You reacted too much yourself. It's just answering a phone call, why so nervous?"
Karen stuck out her tongue, licked her lips, and said again.
"Who told someone not to take some time to accompany me on Saturday (Sunday she was dragged to chastity class again)."
Shane stared at Karen for two seconds, then picked her up directly and threw her onto the bed. "Then I'll make it up to you properly, my Chief Recording Officer."
Karen giggled. "Then you have to work overtime tonight, my big star."
After a bout of clouds and rain, only heavy breathing remained in the bedroom.
Karen still rested her head on Shane's chest.
"On Thursday," Karen said suddenly, "I want to go over too on Thursday."
Shane was looking at the ceiling at this time, his mind full of how to connect the online and offline courses and videos next. Hearing Karen's words, he just gave a hum.
"Sure, whatever you want."
She had been exceptionally attentive to things involving his "serious business" recently, but Shane didn't dislike this behavior.
Karen seemed dissatisfied with Shane's brisk answer. She looked up at him but said nothing, pressing her face back against his chest.
Shane didn't continue on this topic. He reached out to grab his phone from the table, unlocked it, and opened the photo album.
"Come, pick photos."
"Now?" Karen propped herself up on her elbows.
"Yes, now. I plan to build up the personal account now, because with the effect on Kevin's side, a comparison video can be released in three weeks at the earliest."
Shane swiped the screen.
"I plan to set up the Facebook and Ins personal accounts now, then post the first two videos directly in two weeks, and then follow up with Kevin's transformation series in the third week. The rhythm will be just right."
"This one is good, looking radiant."
Karen pointed to a photo showing off his back muscles from the side.
"And this one," she swiped to another one—
Shane raised his eyebrows slightly at the camera, a half-smile on his lips.
"This one looks bad-boyish, asking for a beating. Girls nowadays eat this up."
Shane chuckled lightly, letting Karen choose.
Their heads were close together, arguing from time to time about which one should be the profile picture. Finally, they settled on 6 photos with different styles.
Shane created a page called "South Side Iron Gym" on Facebook, edited a simple caption "Change starts with the first drop of sweat," and then posted it directly to both Facebook and Ins accounts.
The two cuddled for a while longer. Before long, the familiar engine sound came from far away outside the window.
It was the noise from the exhaust pipe of Eddie's car. In the quiet night of the South Side, this sound was very recognizable.
Shane put the phone back on the bedside table, turned over, and kissed Karen on the forehead. "Looks like I have to go."
Karen didn't move, just looked up at him getting dressed.
"Shane, when do you plan to let Eddie know about us? I don't want to hide anymore."
Shane paused in the middle of putting on his T-shirt. He was silent for two seconds with his back to Karen.
"Give it some time," he turned around, his face serious.
"Wait until things are more stable on my end. You know, my online business is just starting, and so is the offline one. Bringing this up now, Eddie making a scene would be too much of a headache."
There was another reason Shane didn't say. He had just kicked away the big trouble of Frank and hadn't had a few peaceful days. If he got into another trouble, it would be purely looking for suffering.
Karen pursed her lips because she heard Shane say "my business," not "our business."
"—Mmhmm," but she didn't say much, just gave a hum, then pulled the quilt over herself.
"Up to you. Go, don't let him see you. Be careful on the road."
Shane dressed neatly, kissed Karen again, and then skillfully climbed out the window.
Walking on the way home.
When he passed a quiet, deserted alley entrance, he stopped. He looked left and right—no cameras, no homeless people, not even stray cats.
He walked into the alley. It was pitch black inside, the light from the street lamps quite far away.
He opened the Pinduoduo system directly and placed an order for a 2010 Yamaha Zuma 125.
Because the breakfast stall had been completely handed over to Fiona, Kevin's broken van was naturally no longer a company car he could use at any time.
But after this period, he had gotten used to the efficiency of driving. Walking slowly again would be too much of a waste of time.
Buying a small scooter was the most suitable for him right now. Fast enough, agile enough, and low-key enough.
The scooter he bought was 1.9 meters long, 0.76 meters wide, and 1.13 meters high. It even came with the city vehicle sticker and license plate—he wondered if it was a vehicle from a looting spree put on the shelf.
This scooter was a common model, considered an ordinary commuter vehicle in this year.