Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Episode 3
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The workout progressed in the order of stretching, cardio, then strength training.
“Huh? Running again?”
Jin-seong, panting and exhausted from strength training, couldn't help but jump in surprise.
No sooner had strength training ended than Park Man-bok ordered him onto the treadmill.
He was already completely wiped out, yet he had to get back on the treadmill?!
It was utterly horrifying.
“Doing cardio before and after strength training is the most efficient.”
“...Got it.”
Jin-seong climbed onto the treadmill with the mindset of a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
He repeated slow walking, fast walking, then running.
He completed three sets.
“Your hips keep twisting.”
“Maintain your breathing.”
“You're doing great. Keep it up.”
With each set finished, Jin-seong's mind grew more dazed.
He hadn't run much, but it felt like his lungs were about to explode.
Steam rose from his body, and sweat poured down like broth.
“Good work.”
After cardio, they wrapped up with stretching.
“Haa...”
His legs gave out, and he slumped to the floor.
“Here, have some water.”
Park Man-bok handed him a bottle of water.
“Th-thank you.”
He snatched it and chugged it down roughly.
“You did awesome.”
“Ah, ha, uh, y-yes, thank you.”
“You coming tomorrow too?”
“Of course. Planning to come every day.”
“Oh, nice! That's the spirit.”
Park Man-bok flashed a thumbs-up with an expression that said, Impressive!
“Do you follow a meal plan by any chance?”
“No. Never done that.”
“You should. Pairing a proper diet with exercise is super effective for dieting.”
A meal plan?
Jin-seong had never tried dieting in his life.
When he was hungry, he ate—whatever, however much he wanted.
To him, words like diet, macros, and calories belonged to some alien world.
“Want me to put one together for you?”
“Does it cost a lot?”
“A bit.”
He learned about meal plans.
Doing it right required way more food budget than he'd imagined.
But there were plenty of low-budget options too.
Park Man-bok offered to customize one for Jin-seong's situation.
“Got a photo of your company cafeteria meal?”
“No.”
“Tomorrow, snap a pic of your cafeteria food and send it my way. I'll tell you daily intake amounts and what extras to add.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed.”
Jin-seong could tell Park Man-bok was helping purely out of kindness.
Even without signing up for PT, he'd taught him with such care.
No obligation to make a meal plan, yet here he was offering.
I'm grateful.
Jin-seong bowed deeply, his eyes and actions brimming with thanks.
“Thank you.”
“Haha, don't mention it.”
Park Man-bok grinned with the warm smile of a kindly middle-aged man.
For a gym veteran, nothing beat helping a newbie and earning their gratitude.
Good guy.
In truth, Park Man-bok really was a good person.
👤 Name:Park Man-bok (46)
❤️ Favorability:40/100
⭐ Specialties:Exercise (A), Gym (A), Business (E), Investment (E)
📊 Status:Healthy, Upright, Steadfast
💭 Inner Thoughts:Teaching a newbie is fun no matter the money. Hope member Yoo Jin-seong succeeds with his diet.
Conversation wrapped up. His breathing steadied. He stood and headed to the locker room.
Hm?
Jin-seong's steps halted in front of the locker room.
His gaze locked onto a woman running on the treadmill.
She wore form-fitting workout clothes that showed off her figure.
Brown t-shirt and short shorts.
Slim build, porcelain-white skin, toned physique—striking.
Wow, she's gorgeous.
Her body was stunning, but her face was on another level.
TV-star beautiful. He couldn't tear his eyes away.
Her profile appeared.
👤 Name:Park Ha-yeon (20)
❤️ Favorability:0/100
⭐ Specialties:Charm (S), Exercise (A), Gym (A), Business (F), Investment (F)
📊 Status:Healthy, Troubled, Worried
💭 Inner Thoughts:Gym business is tanking hard. Is it gonna go under? Is there anything I can do?
As Jin-seong read the profile, he suddenly jolted.
Park Ha-yeon was staring right at him.
❤️ Favorability:–7/100
💭 Inner Thoughts:Pig. Staring so openly? Ugh, annoying. Kinda grossed out.
Favorability dropped.
Mi-yeon's was -6. Park Ha-yeon hit -7, smashing the record in one go.
So depressing.
It stung that a beauty saw him negatively.
He felt like a beauty-repelling machine—tears welled up.
He forced his gaze away and fled into the locker room.
This is unfair.
He'd only stared openly for a moment.
Less than 10 seconds on Park Ha-yeon herself.
The rest, he was distracted reading her profile.
He showered and left the locker room.
Park Ha-yeon was gone from the treadmill.
Buff guys were working out all over the place.
Everyone hustling hard.
Cool.
Not jealousy—admiration for their dedication to sculpting their bodies.
Can I become like that?
Could he look that cool too?
Doubt crept in.
I can become cool.
The doubt turned to conviction.
Jin-seong had Era of Success. He had the will. Reasons to improve overflowed.
No, I will become cool.
Conviction became a goal.
Hit the gym right after work tomorrow too.
He said goodbye to Park Man-bok, left the gym, and walked the sidewalk.
Pulled out his phone. Missed call notification.
Called back. Connected after four rings.
“Mom, you called?”
-Just checking if you're okay.
“I'm good. You?”
-Same as always. Eaten?
“Yeah, at the company.”
-But son, something up? Your voice sounds off.
“Did a workout. Wiped out.”
-Workout? What kind?
“Signed up at a gym.”
It was his mother, Kim Ji-young. She couldn't hide her shock at the word “gym.”
Her son, who'd always shunned exercise, hitting the gym? Unbelievable.
-I'll cheer you on. Give it your all.
“Yeah.”
-Um... son... you know...
Her previously bright tone turned hesitant.
“What? What now?”
-Sorry, but... could you lend me ten million won?
“...”
-Monthly lease ending soon. Gotta move, but short on deposit.
“...”
Jin-seong fell silent. Words failed him.
“...Mom, I don't have money.”
-You got that savings, right?
“Can't touch it.”
-Just this once?
“Find a place with cheap deposit.”
-If it was just me, I'd grab a studio. But with your dad and siblings...
Jin-seong let out a sigh.
-Sorry. As your mom, I should be helping you, not burdening you every time.
“Sigh, fine. I'll send ten million.”
He agreed reluctantly.
Saved up 9.5 million...
One year and seven months of grinding like a dog for 9.5 million.
Next month's salary would add 500k, hitting 10 million.
Hadn't even reached it yet, and now it'd all be gone.
Utterly deflating.
No helping it.
He tried to soothe his frustration.
I get it.
His parents were in a rough spot.
Tried self-employment to live better, but it flopped tragically, leaving them in debt.
They worked nonstop.
Dad: day job, night rideshare.
Mom: dawn restaurant shifts, afternoons at the convenience store.
They never wasted a penny of Jin-seong's salary.
Loan repayments or siblings' tuition.
“Sigh...”
He ducked into a convenience store and bought a can of beer.
No intention to drink, but the stuffiness demanded just one.
Sat down. Cracked it open and chugged.
From the workout? Or the heartache?
It tasted sweet.
So refreshingly sweet—why?
Wish I could make bank. Succeed big.
He wanted to live well. Free of money worries.
His success lifting up those around him too.
Possible?
Could he?
Yesterday—or even this morning—he'd have doubted.
Thought he'd slave away til death, unmarried, aging alone.
Maybe ending it was the smart play.
It's possible.
He could live well.
I have Era of Success.
He could live a life others envied.
If he worked hard, grew, never quit.
Hoo.
He didn't crumble. His sandcastle hardened into brick walls.
Stuffiness lifted. Peace returned.
Time for bed.
Status Window open.
He lay on his mattress.
👤 Name:Yoo Jin-seong (24)
🎭 Talent:Exercise (F)
💰 Points:10
A bare-bones profile.
Talent open.
He opened the talent window.
🏋️ Exercise(F Grade 25.685%)
Description: Proficiency increases with exercise. Higher grade boosts exercise efficiency and effects.
The gym session bumped proficiency from 0% to 25.685%.
At 100%, Exercise (F) levels up to Exercise (E).
Efficiency...
F and E grades have low efficiency. Hard to feel.
D grade brings slight improvement.
Slightly noticeable at D, big gains from C onward.
He needed to rush to C grade ASAP.
Shop open.
[Hair Growth 100 Strands – 10 Points]
[Diet Pill 0.1kg – 10 Points]
[Height Booster Pill 0.1cm – 10 Points]
[Skin Improvement Pill 0.1% – 10 Points]
[Handsome Potion 0.1% – 10 Points]
[Random Luck Note – 10 Points]
[Random Item Box – 10 Points]
[Length Potion 0.1cm – 10 Points]
[Girth Potion 0.1cm – 10 Points]
The 10-point list popped up.
Beyond that, there were pricier items at 100, 1,000, 10,000 points, and more.
What to buy?
Jin-seong had exactly 10 points.
Reward from Achievement 1.
All so tempting...
He wanted them all, but budget allowed just one.
What item would make him think, Best purchase ever?
Sweet dilemma.
Alright.
He finally decided.
[Purchase Stamina Booster Pill item for 10 points?]
He bought it decisively.