Chapter 109
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: I'll Treat You to Some Healthy and Delicious Tea
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Stamina. Often referred to as cardiopulmonary endurance.
It was something you could achieve through effort even without innate talent, but conversely, if you weren't born with it, no amount of diligent training could push it beyond a certain level.
That was why, even among the trainees gathered here, there were meaningful differences—who had better stamina and who lagged behind.
Even if they put in similar post-natal effort, their congenital talents varied.
Yet.
No matter how rigorously an actor managed their body.
Could they really outlast professional boxers—whose careers depended on never tiring, lest they get pushed out of the ring—in terms of stamina?
A healthy rivalry where they pushed each other to give their all.
If it were just among themselves, they were the type ready to applaud the last one standing.
But today was a bit different.
"My God…."
"C-Coach. Who the hell is that guy? What kind of monster is he…."
With nearly everyone collapsed in exhaustion, only two remained on the track.
Aaron Radley, the cardio icon who always went the distance even in the boxing ring. And a strange Eastern man no one had seen before today.
The foreigner was bent over, gasping like he was about to vomit, his eyes glazing over. He looked like he could drop any second.
Aaron, on the other hand, was plenty worn out too, but he seemed to have one or two more laps in him.
"Coach, shouldn't we stop him now? If he keeps going like that…."
Someone suggested pulling Jung Woo-jin aside, but Jim Miller just shook his head quietly.
"Shh. Let's just watch until he comes around one last time."
At his words, the trainees all stiffened, eyes fixed on the foreigner.
"......"
"......"
"......"
In the tense silence.
Beep—!
The whistle blew.
Taat—!
Aaron bounced back into motion with labored effort at the sound, but the Eastern guest didn't react right away.
His legs gave out, knees buckling.
Whether conscious or instinctual, he staggered, regained balance, and lurched toward the opposite side. No, stumbled forward.
It was just running, nothing more.
But the trainees were already captivated by the stranger, cheering him on.
"Hey, buddy! You're almost there! Just a little more!"
"You're right on it! Yeah!"
Forget his astonishing stamina for a second.
An actor set to star in a major drama soon, keeping a pace faster than theirs, treating their life-or-death training with dead seriousness and full commitment.
It might seem silly, but to them, that was more than enough.
And finally.
When Jung Woo-jin staggered across the starting line, everyone erupted in cheers, whistling sharply.
"Someone grab some water."
Jim Miller said, eyeing Jung Woo-jin sprawled on the floor like he couldn't lift a finger.
And at those words.
All the trainees' heads tilted in unison toward one spot.
"......"
Normally, the guys who flexed their back muscles at anyone daring to approach Catherine were just staring blankly at her now, like they'd eaten something bad.
"I'm going…. I'm going, okay? What'd you all eat that's got you acting weird?"
Aaron spoke up as representative.
"Dude, we got nothing on that. Look at him. A guy built like that running himself to exhaustion just to impress his girl—what can you do? Catherine, permission granted. Love him all you want."
"...W-What are you saying."
Catherine snorted and shot to her feet.
As she grabbed a water bottle and headed for Jung Woo-jin, a small cheer rose from behind, the cheeky guys egging her on like she was off to do well.
"Ugh…."
Jung Woo-jin lay there soaked in sweat like he'd showered.
And since he was wearing a white t-shirt, every inhale made his massive pecs swell visibly beneath the damp fabric.
And that still-handsome face despite the sweat….
Catherine couldn't say it out loud, but inwardly, she marveled.
How could looking at someone's face make you think 'perfect'?
She'd met plenty of Hollywood actors who flew high and famous beauties, but Jung Woo-jin was at least a step above them all.
And the significance of even a small gap like that went without saying.
There were many actors, but 'great works' were rare. Many good actors, but 'irreplaceable' ones were scarce.
With leads for 'great works' limited, the gap between them would never close.
Anyway….
Just looking at Jung Woo-jin made Catherine's face burn hot.
A flurry of thoughts raced through her head in that brief moment.
'Did he really run like that just to impress me…? Then all those times he kept talking to me on set…?'
It felt like maybe, just maybe, that was true.
But.
'No, no way. Absolutely not. Think of Jennifer.'
Catherine shook her head fiercely, banishing the thoughts.
She glanced away from him and crouched by his side.
"You okay…?"
"Ugh…. Help me up."
Jung Woo-jin writhed, hand pressing the floor like he was trying to rise, and Catherine quickly supported his back.
A weight as heavy as his build.
"......"
Her heart pounded bewilderingly.
At first, it was guilt.
He'd come all the way to this distant country for lonely shoots, and she'd been too cold—maybe introducing him to the gym wouldn't hurt.
But that seemed like a huge mistake now.
Thump-thump-thump—.
Pressed against Jung Woo-jin, her heart raced faster.
Catherine pulled away hastily the moment he sat up, fearing he'd notice.
"H-Here, water…. Drink."
"Thanks…. Ah…."
Clunk—.
Jung Woo-jin's hand trembled uncontrollably as he held the bottle, dropping it.
Catherine picked it up from the floor and hesitated a moment.
Then.
She unscrewed the cap herself and held it to his lips.
"Let me help…."
The way Jung Woo-jin gulped down the water….
It was too lethal, they were too close, her heart throbbed madly enough to numb her body.
Catherine knew it was wrong but couldn't tear her eyes from his profile.
Probably because the target was an actress.
I unleashed an even more nuanced full-commitment performance.
Thanks to Jennifer's handiwork talent, I convincingly dropped the bottle without a hitch.
Everything went as planned after that.
Catherine offered to help, tilting the bottle directly to my lips.
Acquired Catherine Tramell's talent, Phenomenal Body Control (A+).
Precise Body Control (B+) is absorbed into Phenomenal Body Control (A+) due to talent duplication.
The water sliding down my throat felt incredibly refreshing.
Now I didn't have to hold back for real.
On the way back.
Catherine drove the car I'd come in, dropping me off at the lodging.
The car parked briefly in the courtyard.
Catherine let go of the wheel awkwardly.
"…Woo-jin. I-I'll just take a taxi…."
"You said you'd stop by for a bit. I've got some healthy tea at the lodging. Rest up, and I'll drive you back."
"N-No, it's fine. I really feel okay…."
Catherine unbuckled and tried to bolt from the driver's seat.
I grabbed her.
"W-What?! W-Woo-jin! What are you, mmmph?!"
And pounced.
I gripped Catherine's bare cheeks hard, pulling her toward me, and forced my tongue past her tightly shut lips.
"Guh, guh…?!"
She pushed at my head, resisting fiercely.
But so flustered, she soon ran out of breath, teeth parting.
In that instant.
I seized the opening, thrusting my tongue deep into her mouth, grinding mercilessly against her stiff one.
"Hahk, haa…! Haak…!"
After a forceful kiss like devouring her lips.
Catherine's face, when we parted, was melting into mush.
"Aah…."
I hurried out, opened the driver's door, and supported Catherine's limp, babbling form.
"Changed your mind about sticking around?"
"W-Woo-jin…. Please. We can't do this…. We're…."
"Really? I've wanted this from the start. Too bad."
"Ah, aah…."
Leaning against me, Catherine's body went slack, no more resistance.
I opened the front door and greeted her warmly.
"Come on in. First time, right?"
To commemorate Catherine's first visit, I decided to treat her to some delicious tea.
"E-Eek?! W-What's this! Mmph, mmph…?!"
Of course, that delicious tea.
Was a privilege only for good girls who sucked thick rod-shaped candy nicely, so I grabbed her ponytail.
"Don't worry. It's super tasty—you won't be disappointed."
"Mmph, mmph! Guh…! Gulp!"