Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 153: The Morning Drill

As he wiped, a stubborn flush began to creep up the tips of Barry's ears.

His movements suddenly became rushed. He tossed the wipe aside, let go of her hand, and averted his gaze. "Done," he muttered.

A hint of irritation colored his voice, a clear attempt to mask his inexplicable awkwardness. He turned his face away, his tone stiffening. "So high-maintenance. You can't even wipe your own hands."

"Didn't you tell me to hold out my 'paw'?" she retorted, waving her freshly cleaned hand defiantly. "It was convenient anyway—what's one more pair of hands?"

With his ears still burning, Barry let out a sharp cough, trying to salvage his dignity. "I was clearly talking to Corry next to you. You just stuck your hand out yourself, so I figured I'd wipe it while I was at it."

Corry, suddenly hearing his name, was currently standing on his tiptoes trying to poke a crystal ornament on the coffee table. He looked up, bewildered. "...Squeak?"

What does this have to do with me, a little squirrel?

Ignoring the squirrel's silent protest, Barry stood up and composed himself, straightening his collar. "Alright, the races are over. Everyone, big and small, goes to bed."

He fixed his gaze on Nancy, adding emphasis to his words: "Don't forget what you promised me for tomorrow morning."

Nancy pursed her lips, secretly praying that Barry would have some urgent global meeting or a sudden crisis at dawn.

However, the heavens did not favor her.

At exactly six o'clock the next morning, Nancy was jolted awake by a series of steady, punctual knocks on her door.

Outside, the sky was just beginning to turn a pale gray. Barry's cool voice pierced through the door:

"Nancy. Morning exercise."

In her dorm bed, Nancy rolled over groggily, grabbed her pillow, and shoved it over her head, trying to block him out.

Outside, Barry checked his watch. His voice remained flat. "One minute late, one thousand deducted from your bonus. Starting the countdown now."

The words had barely left his mouth when the door swung open with a whoosh.

Nancy stood there with bird's nest hair and glazed eyes, looking like a soulless zombie. She moved mechanically to get washed and ready.

When she finally stepped out, she found Barry dressed in sleek black sportswear. His pale skin and deep-set features were particularly striking in the morning light, radiating a cold, "stay-away" aura.

He didn't give her time to daze off. He shoved a sleek, black sports watch into her hand. "Put it on."

The watch felt cool to the touch, its dial shimmering with a high-tech blue glow. It looked incredibly expensive.

Nancy's eyes lit up instantly. "Thanks, Boss! You shouldn't have..."

Before she could finish, Barry cut her off coldly. "This watch can be synced to two phones. I've already linked mine."

"From now on, I will be seeing your real-time exercise data every day."

He watched her face collapse instantly and the corners of his mouth twitched in a barely perceptible smirk. "Slack off, and I'll deduct pay."

The light in Nancy's eyes died out. She wilted visibly, looking like a little sprout shriveling under the sun.

Ignoring her dejection, Barry began the "hellish training."

Given her weak constitution, he didn't schedule anything high-intensity, starting instead with basic jogging and stretching.

Throughout the process, he was merciless.

"Engage your core."

"Watch your breathing. Keep the rhythm."

"Out of breath after five minutes? Your activity level must be zero."

While his tongue was sharp, his eyes never left her. He remained focused, keenly observing her breathing and the growing flush on her cheeks.

When he saw her pace slacken, he naturally adjusted his own speed. When he saw her brow furrow in struggle, he handed her an already opened water bottle at just the right moment. "If it feels hard, it means you're making progress."

Under his "high-pressure" supervision and step-by-step guidance, Nancy actually gritted her teeth and finished.

Forty minutes later, the session ended.

Nancy was drenched in sweat and so exhausted she could barely stand. Strangely, she didn't feel miserable. Instead, she felt as if long-blocked energy channels had been suddenly cleared. She was tired, but exceptionally refreshed.

Right then, Jorgan appeared punctually to lead her to the dining hall.

The breakfast laid out on the table was staggeringly lavish.

There were nutritious oats with precisely calculated carbs and proteins, beautifully colored steamed eggs with shrimp, a fresh vegetable salad, and a small portion of high-quality beef.

Nancy stared at the feast, dumbfounded. "This... is this all for me?"

Jorgan pushed up his glasses, his face wearing the "emotionless" expression typical of a veteran employee. "Mr. Goodman ordered that you must finish every bit. Otherwise..."

He paused, his tone becoming somber. "He will deduct my bonus."

Nancy grumbled with her cheeks puffed out, "Despicable! He's actually using collective punishment!"

Jorgan maintained his professional smile, though his voice softened slightly. "Take your time. There's no rush, as long as you finish it all."