According to science, if a person concentrated on something for thousands of hours, he would achieve
outstanding results.
Perhaps what everyone is sharpening is not their swords but their hearts. Only when a person's mind is
mature enough can he understand what he really wants. That way, he will be less ignorant and less
desperate.
That was why, when someone talked to Jacob, he would answer it in the kindest way possible.
"You look like a newbie," a muscular man, who was beside Jacob, said in a low voice. He seemed to be
very curious about the newcomer who had just entered the gym.
"Yes, I come here to do some exercises. I'm not like a professional like you," Jacob replied while bench
pressing. He waved his arms at the burly man, who seemed to be friendly and pleasant despite his
towering figure.
"How do you feel when you're sweating? It's cool, right? Especially during winter. Do you know how it
feels to be wet with your own sweat while wearing a vest?" The man sat next to Jacob and smiled at
him in a friendly way.
"I don't know, but I guess it feels good," Jacob replied kindly. He knew that there were always people
who had a habit of being persistent.
"Actually, I'm not a professional either. Like you, I came here to work out as well. At first, I was afraid of
working out. But now, I like the feeling of staying in the gym and improving myself. Many people say
that I've already forgotten the real reason why I decided to hit the gym. On the other hand, others say
that I just exercise for the fun of it."
The man glanced at Jacob, wondering what his reaction was.
"Others don't completely understand what you feel because they're not in your shoes. I'm not either, so
I don't want to comment on that," Jacob answered while staring at Sara, who was running happily on
the treadmill.
The man noticed where Jacob was staring at, so he walked up to Jacob and asked, "Is that your wife?"
Jacob nodded while bench pressing. His biceps already felt sore after several reps.
"I envy you. You have a wife who comes to the gym with you. You see, I'm also married. However, my
wife is the complete opposite of yours. She does nothing everyday but eat and sleep. When she found
out that my lifestyle was completely different from hers, she held it against me. She even said that I
was sick and needed help."
The muscular man heaved a heavy sigh. He seemed to be a little sad, but he soon regained his
composure.
"How can fitness be so troublesome?" Jacob frowned at the man's story. He wondered what this man
really wanted to say. Honestly, he was confused.
"It seems so, but I think that the problem isn't the fitness itself. I think the problem all comes down to
us. Perhaps fitness is just a fuse. Besides, people will always be the same even after being together for
a long time."
The smile in the man's eyes remained throughout the story. Surprisingly, their talk was so peaceful, and
they did not argue with each other.
"So... are you divorced now?"
Jacob was not one to gossip about other people's affairs. However, the man next to him kept telling him
about his life, so Jacob figured that he had to keep the conversation going.
"No. We just don't have anything to talk about. We usually do our own things and go our own ways. In
the past, we liked to chat, eat, and have fun together. But after I hit the gym, I feel like I can't continue
doing those things anymore."
The buff man sighed heavily again. He felt like there was something wrong with their relationship, but
he had no idea what exactly it was.
"Are you saying that you've run out of topics to talk with your wife just because you started working
out?" Jacob was surprised, but he was still kind of doubtful in his heart.
"No. Anyway, do you know the butterfly effect? I realized that there was something wrong with me. I
wanted to change and overturn everything in the past. I was crazy about working out."
The man sighed for the third time. Perhaps he could only speak out his mind in front of strangers.
"Truth be told, I'm the owner of this gym, but not once did my wife come here. After I became obsessed
with fitness, I stayed in the gym all day long. I didn't want to do business anymore, which I did in the
past. I think that's the reason why my wife is angry at me."
The muscular man looked at Jacob blankly.
"Why don't you try to make a concession then?" Jacob asked tentatively. Obviously, he did not want to
be involved in the mess of the gym owner.
Sara looked at the two men. She realized what they were talking about, so she glanced at them from
time to time without saying anything.
"In this world, there is an illness where one likes doing things to the extreme. It's called addiction. I
think that's what I'm suffering right now. I just think about exercising all day long. There's nothing in my
mind but that."
The man pursed his lips in misery. His heart seemed to be a little bitter because of what was happening
in his life.
"I advise you to see a psychologist for your problems." Jacob shrugged helplessly. He did not have to
know everything. He knew in an instant what the man's problem was.
The world is so small. He could encounter people with mentality problems everywhere.
"You know what? You're right. I'll do that. I want to be a normal person. I don't want to be the man that I
am now anymore. Besides, exercise is boring." Now, the muscly man smiled ever so brightly.
Jacob felt numb, either from the man's story or from bench pressing. He decided to walk over and run
with Sara on the treadmill.
The muscular man walked away without looking back at Jacob.
"What did you say?" Sara changed the speed of the treadmill and began walking.
"Nothing. It turned out that he owns this place." Jacob seemed to be perfunctory. It was obvious that he
no longer wanted to dwell on the topic.
"That's it? I think you guys talked a lot just now." Sara frowned and mumbled to herself, "He even
heaved a sigh."
"Hold up. Are you saying that I'm fat? In order to appease me, you suddenly changed the topic on
purpose, didn't you? In the end, the owner realized I was hopeless, so he left. Does he want me to
apply for a fitness card?"
Sara blurted out speculations one after another, as if what the men had talked about was about her.
"Ha-ha! How could that be? You think too much." Jacob chuckled because of her guesses. If only they
were not in public, he would have burst into laughter.
"Don't lie to me. If I'm not right, then why are you laughing?" Looking at Jacob's face that was red with
laughter, Sara felt even more certain that she was right.
"How come you've become like this? Sara, since when did you become so insecure? Look at your face.
Even if you indeed get fat, you're still pretty. Don't worry, I love you,"
Jacob explained in a hurry. Although he laughed at her just now, he had no idea what Sara was
currently struggling with.
"I don't know whether to be proud or sad with what you've said. You're really good at compliments. Why
did you praise me like that anyway? Are you admitting that I'm fat?" Sara rolled her eyes at him.
Although she wanted to laugh deep inside, she still wore a serious look on her face.
"Oh, Sara! Fine, I'll tell you. Just now, the owner said that he didn't know how to continue working out.
He no longer wanted to exercise just for the fun of it. Just so you know, you don't have to apply for your
own card, in case you only want to exercise alone."
Jacob shrugged. What the muscular man had experienced, if not impossible, was highly unlikely to
happen to Jacob and Sara.
"It's you who think too much. I always remember the reason why I exercise. Of course, it's because I
want to stay healthy." Sara smiled at him. She now understood what Jacob wanted to say.
"It's good that you understand. The owner of the gym said that he and his wife were quarreling because
of this matter. But I don't think that working out is the sole reason for it. After all, people don't always
know what they want."
Jacob's lips curled into a smile. It was enough for him to know everything he wanted in life.
"Don't worry about me. I just want to lose weight a bit. I won't fight you, don't worry." As Sara continued
walking on the treadmill, beads of sweat collected on her forehead.
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