After completing two full laps, a total of 24 kilometers, Li Bai had already surpassed the half-marathon distance.
His endurance was clearly enough to handle a half marathon, and he could probably even achieve a decent result.
But just like many amateur runners attempting their first full marathon…
In their first long-distance run, if nothing goes wrong in the final stage, then something definitely will.
After 23 kilometers, Li Bai felt as if his legs were filled with lead, growing heavier with every step.
By the time he barely reached 24 kilometers, he could no longer maintain his previous pace and had to slow down.
Liang Manjun noticed his condition immediately and slowed down to match him.
“You go ahead. I’ll finish the rest slowly,” Li Bai said, unwilling to drag her down.
Liang Manjun shook her head instead and reached into the waistband of her compression shorts, pulling out a salt tablet.
“Take this. Replenish your electrolytes, or you’ll cramp later.”
It was the longest sentence she had spoken throughout the entire run.
“Thanks.”
Li Bai scratched his head and accepted it.
It was his first long-distance run, and he lacked experience. He hadn’t brought enough supplies, and his salt tablets and energy gels were already gone.
Luckily, he still had some water left.
While running, Li Bai tore open the packet.
Perhaps because it had been stored close to her skin, the salt tablet still carried a faint warmth.
As he poured it into his mouth, he even caught a subtle fragrance from the packet.
After taking the salt tablet, he drank some water.
The salt tablet couldn’t solve the heaviness in his legs.
But Li Bai refused to give up. He clenched his teeth and kept running.
After observing him for a moment, Liang Manjun moved ahead again to cut the wind for him.
How embarrassing… I’m a grown man, yet I can’t even keep up with such a slender woman.
Watching Liang Manjun’s agile and graceful stride ahead, Li Bai felt a deep sense of shame.
The key point was, he had even enhanced himself through the Self-Discipline System.
It was practically cheating!
And even then, he couldn’t run as well as her?
For the final three kilometers, Li Bai practically dragged his unresponsive legs to the finish.
When he finally stopped, he couldn’t even walk. He collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
Liang Manjun was also tired, but her condition was far better. She was simply catching her breath while stretching nearby.
By now, more visitors had arrived at Forest Park.
Groups of people occasionally passed by them.
Liang Manjun’s figure, clad in a sports tank and tight compression shorts, drew the most attention.
Especially as she performed lunges for stretching.
Whether men or women, they couldn’t help but glance over.
It was as if something hidden beneath those black tight-fitting shorts stirred an unspoken temptation.
Liang Manjun was used to such gazes and ignored them, continuing her routine.
Meanwhile, Li Bai, still lying on the ground, overheard a few mocking remarks.
“What’s wrong with that guy? Did he collapse or something?”
“No, he just ran himself out of energy. Probably can’t recover yet.”
“That’s so pathetic. The girl is fine, and he’s lying there like a dead dog.”
“Yeah, what a waste of such a beautiful girlfriend.”
Li Bai flushed with embarrassment and quickly got up from the ground.
At first, Liang Manjun said nothing, waiting coolly for him as they walked back toward the main gate.
Only when they were nearly there did she suddenly speak, “Your breathing method is wrong.”
“What’s wrong with it?” Li Bai asked, stunned.
“You need to use abdominal breathing. Chest breathing won’t get you good results.”
“Abdominal breathing?”
“It means using the expansion of your abdomen to drive the diaphragm’s movement for breathing.”
Liang Manjun placed her hand on her stomach to demonstrate.
Li Bai glanced over and couldn’t help noticing her figure.
Her abdomen was flat, her waist slender, like that of a dancer, without a trace of excess fat.
It reminded him of the popular “A4 waist” trend from a few years ago.
Her fingers were pale and delicate, long and elegant. Without a doubt, she could easily reach her navel from behind.
“Compared to chest breathing, abdominal breathing increases oxygen intake, speeds up carbon dioxide expulsion, and reduces lactic acid buildup.”
“The result of lactic acid buildup is exactly what you experienced… legs like lead, unable to move.”
After explaining, Liang Manjun turned to look at him.
By then, Li Bai had already withdrawn his gaze and began trying to breathe the way she demonstrated, expanding his abdomen.
She corrected him, “Don’t force it with your abdominal muscles. Use your breathing to naturally expand your abdomen.”
“When you inhale, your belly should rise naturally. As you get used to it, the movement should be smooth and steady.”
“Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don’t just breathe through your mouth. You can practice by blowing up a balloon to get familiar with it.”
Li Bai couldn’t master it immediately, but he had found a new goal to work toward.
“Thank you, Teacher Liang,” he said sincerely when they parted at the gate.
“No need. Go practice properly. We’ll run again next week.”
Liang Manjun got into her Cayenne and drove off stylishly, disappearing from Li Bai’s sight.
…
The sports facilities in Jiang City were definitely not as good as those in the Magic Capital.
Not to mention the number of professional tracks, even Forest Park, which was considered a decent outdoor running spot, lacked facilities like storage lockers or showers.
After her run, Liang Manjun still had to drive home in her sweat-soaked sports tank.
At most, she threw on the sun-protection jacket she had worn earlier.
But when she parked her car in the underground garage of her residential complex and got out, preparing to head upstairs for a shower…
A man suddenly stepped out from a sports car parked across from her.
“Manman!”
The sudden shout startled her.
She looked over, her delicate brows instantly knitting together.
“Zheng Xicheng, do you have some kind of problem?” Liang Manjun said coldly.
She had already been annoyed by him for a long time. Now he had followed her all the way home and even waited like some kind of detective.
Wasn’t that basically stalking?
If it weren’t for the fact that their families knew each other, she would have already called the police.
“Manman, how can you say that? Aunt asked me to check on you!”
Zheng Xicheng had been smiling just a second ago, but his expression quickly changed.
“Manman, why are you dressed so revealing so early in the morning? Look at those pants, it’s like you’re not even wearing anything!”
Liang Manjun ignored him completely. She walked to the trunk and took out her sports bag.
“Manman, I know you like running. But going out this early dressed like that is dangerous.”
“If you want to run, I can recommend a gym. A friend of mine owns it, the environment is excellent!”
“You can run on a treadmill, and I can accompany you. It’s safer and helps us build our relationship.”
Zheng Xicheng shamelessly continued pestering her.
“Who do you think you are, meddling in my business?” Liang Manjun shot back coldly as she walked into the elevator lobby.
She waved her hand and shut the door behind her, leaving Zheng Xicheng outside in the garage.
“Hey, I’m not in yet!”
No matter how anxious he was, it was useless. He didn’t have an access card.
Liang Manjun ignored him, stepped into the elevator, and disappeared from his sight.
Zheng Xicheng’s expression quickly turned dark.
“Damn it, stupid woman. Who are you trying to act all high and mighty for?”
“No hips, no chest… if it weren’t for your dad…”