Chapter 53: Is He... Gay?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: Is He... Gay?
I had her strike a pose that emphasized her chest while lifting dumbbells.
Then, I made her do squats in a ridiculous crab-leg stance.
The positions were absurd, and though Young-eun looked doubtful, she moved her body exactly as I instructed.
Throughout the workout, a look of utter confusion never left her face.
She still couldn't understand why she had to exercise in such suggestive poses.
Nevertheless, she worked out diligently to keep her promise of receiving PT from me.
It was a gamble, one that relied on the fact that Young-eun was a person with a massive ego.
I placed my bet on the belief that the stronger a person's sense of self—especially someone who had achieved as much as she had—the more likely they were to keep their word.
‘I think it was mostly a success.’
It didn't feel like the hypnosis had fully taken hold yet, but this was enough.
It had been a close call.
My heart nearly stopped when the look in Young-eun’s eyes shifted while she was doing those crab-leg squats.
‘She saw herself in the mirror and realized how strange she looked.’
She had sensed something was wrong the moment she visually confirmed the faint sense of dissonance she’d been feeling.
I’d have to get rid of the mirrors for a while.
I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly as I watched Young-eun wipe her sweat with a towel.
"How do you feel? Your body feels refreshed after working out, doesn't it?"
"Well, I suppose... but I don't really feel a difference from other places yet."
"You can't tell after just one session. Leave your review after you've completed all three."
I picked up the camera and took a photo of her.
She looked healthy, having just wiped away her sweat.
There wasn't a massive change compared to the start, but her muscles had clearly been stimulated, giving her entire body a sense of vitality.
And for good reason.
[Gym Wear: A-Grade]
[Skills: Body Correction, Muscle Stimulation, Fatigue Recovery]
I had put her in A-grade gym wear, after all.
It would be stranger if she didn't see results after wearing that.
On top of that, I had spent HP on the exercise equipment to add an extra layer of workout correction, so the effectiveness was bound to skyrocket naturally.
"Alright, I've taken the Day 0 and Day 1 photos."
"I still don't see what's different, but good work anyway."
"Go ahead and change and get washed up."
"Aren't you going to change, Jae-ho?"
"I have to work out myself once you head home."
"Ah..."
Accepting my answer, she headed into the changing room.
After stripping off her sweat-soaked gym wear, Young-eun cautiously made her way toward the shower.
Since the changing room and the shower weren't connected yet, she had to step out into the living area wearing only her underwear.
Because the hypnosis was weak, she was still feeling shy.
She glanced at me while covering her body before slipping into the shower.
It had worked.
The point was that she hadn't questioned her current situation.
She was likely too exhausted from the intense workout for her brain to function properly.
Now, it was time to prepare for the next gamble.
I had no choice if I wanted to cast Young-eun, whose level was overwhelmingly high, as a member.
While Young-eun was showering, I used her Day 0 and Day 1 photos to create a poster.
The process was simple. I just had to pull up the system and input the photos.
I mixed in some suitable slogans to complete the poster.
Now, I would use this to try and cast Young-eun.
The success rate was a mere 9%.
But I had to do it.
To cast her within the next three PT sessions, I had to sacrifice this 9% attempt.
It would be great if I got lucky and succeeded, but that was unlikely.
I checked Young-eun’s satisfaction level.
[Surveying customer satisfaction.]
[Customer Name: Yoo Young-eun]
[Evaluation 1: It’s weird sharing a changing room with a man.]
[Evaluation 2: The poses are strange, but it seems effective.]
[Evaluation 3: I have no choice if I want to work with this Jae-ho guy.]
[Revisit Rate – 26%]
[Satisfaction is low.]
Abysmal satisfaction.
It was probably because her level was so high.
Look on the bright side.
I had managed to satisfy 26% of someone with such high standards. That was a total win.
There were still two sessions left.
Young-eun was forced to come to my gym twice more.
My goal was to get her satisfaction above 60% by then.
Once I finished the hastily made poster...
Flutter.
The poster I created dropped from the air.
A single poster with Young-eun’s photo on it.
[Promotion begins by showing the poster.]
The method was simple enough.
Just then...
"Good work today."
Young-eun emerged, her body fresh and glowing from the shower.
She must have taken her clothes into the shower room with her.
She had changed into very casual everyday clothes: a plain white T-shirt and loose-fitting linen wide-leg pants.
"Is Chief Park waiting outside?"
"Probably. He’ll come around once I contact him."
"I see."
Phew.
Let’s do this.
Don’t be afraid of failure.
"Young-eun, take a look at this."
"At what?"
After catching my breath for a moment, I unfurled the poster for her.
"We’re recruiting official members for our gym. What do you think?"
[Attempting Poster Promotion. 1 free use will be deducted. (Remaining uses: 1)]
Young-eun gave an awkward smile at my words.
"I'm sorry. I don't really feel like quitting my current gym just yet."
[Promotion failed. Would you like to try again?]
[If you retry, an additional free use will be consumed, and the success rate will be boosted by an additional 10%.]
A 9% chance was just too low to succeed.
As expected, things didn't just work out like they do in novels or comics.
‘I guess "being lucky" doesn't apply to me.’
"That's a shame. However, you'll still need to follow a diet plan."
"Excuse me?"
"I told you. It’s a three-session PT program. I’ll be controlling your diet until those three sessions are over."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You can't maintain a healthy body if you consume fat and sugar every day."
"I... I have the type of constitution that doesn't gain weight..."
"That won't do. The PT program includes diet management."
To raise satisfaction, I had to pay attention to even the smallest details.
Even if she hated the diet.
"Text me everything you eat today. Today, you are strictly eating only salad and one chicken breast. You know to skip the dressing, right?"
As Young-eun left the house, she looked drained.
It was a side of her I’d never seen before.
*
"How was it?"
Chief Park asked from the driver's seat.
Young-eun stared out the window at Jae-ho’s house as she answered.
"It was good."
The place was full of strange things, but she definitely liked it.
How many gyms like that even existed?
‘Hardly any.’
She was certain of it.
She’d had to recruit several of the country’s top trainers before she could find a curriculum that satisfied her.
Of course, that didn't mean Jae-ho’s training curriculum was entirely on their level.
But it certainly had its own unique color.
It was a bit strange, though.
Had she said "strange" twice already?
Yes, it was so strange that emphasizing it twice wasn't enough.
From the moment she stepped into that gym, she felt as if something invisible was constantly messing with her head.
Moreover, she felt strangely aroused every time she exercised.
‘Let’s not think about it.’
It only made her feelings more complicated.
What left the deepest impression, however...
‘To think he’d dare to step up and control my diet.’
She let out a scoff.
Throughout her life, she had eaten what she wanted and taken what she wanted.
Control? From someone else?
She had never experienced that once in her life.
And yet...
That man had made the suggestion as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
There was a strange persuasiveness in his words, and she had found herself agreeing before she knew it.
Since she’d made the promise, she’d have to keep it.
Come to think of it...
Young-eun looked at Chief Park through the rearview mirror and asked, "Chief Park, what do you think when you look at me?"
"What do you mean by that, ma'am?"
"Am I not beautiful?"
It was an arrogant question.
But it was a question very much like her.
"Of course you are."
Chief Park’s words weren't empty flattery.
They were sincere.
It wasn't just because he was her secretary, manager, and bodyguard.
She hadn't become the "Nation’s Actress" for nothing.
It was possible because her solid acting skills were paired with her beautiful face and magnificent body.
Young-eun surely knew this herself.
"You are truly beautiful."
He answered with all his heart, but Young-eun’s expression didn't brighten.
"But do you know something?"
"What would that be?"
"That man didn't react at all, even though I was wearing gym clothes that revealed a lot of skin."
"React... you say?"
"Yes. He didn't even steal a glance at me."
"Is that so..."
Young-eun thought deeply.
When Jae-ho had initially set the condition of three sessions in exchange for becoming her photographer...
For a moment, she had wondered if this man wanted her body.
She remembered how hollow she felt when she realized he just wanted to give her PT.
‘It was absurd.’
The daughter of a chaebol family, a famous celebrity.
Countless men had approached her, lusting after her body or the status and fame she possessed.
Third-generation chaebols, sports stars, famous actors and idols, prosecutors, judges, and even the children of politicians.
She had rejected them all.
It was only natural.
Young-eun knew that her body, her face, and her charm were weapons.
Her stunning face, her attractive body, her position as a celebrity, and her status as a third-generation chaebol.
Everything was a weapon she could utilize.
Even her virginity.
‘It’s the ultimate weapon to use against men.’
There were plenty of men who were obsessed with the virginity of the most beautiful and elite woman.
Its value was immeasurable.
She had intended to use that weapon to recruit Jae-ho as her photographer.
She had intentionally given off subtle sexual vibes and approached him wearing revealing dresses.
But it hadn't worked.
Why on earth?
The girl next to him, Ye-seul, was quite pretty, but Young-eun was clearly far more attractive.
"...Is he gay, perhaps?"
If that were the case, it would make sense.
Either that, or he was impotent.
"Interesting."
She muttered to herself as she watched Jae-ho’s house recede into the distance.
Just as much as his ability to take beautiful photos, she had become curious about the man named Jae-ho himself.
[Satisfaction has increased.]
*
I was currently in a very difficult situation.
Miju had shown up at my house with a look of pure indignation on her face.
"What are these photos?"
The photo Miju thrust at me the moment she barged in was of me and Young-eun alone in a cafe.
This was definitely taken when Young-eun, whom I’d run into by chance at school, had rented out the entire school cafe to recruit me as her photographer.
An article with an absurd headline was displayed on her phone.
What?
Rendezvous?
Scandal?
What is all this nonsense?
"Is... is this article true? Oppa, did you have someone else you were dating?"
"Miju, calm down and listen to me first."
Tears were welling up in Miju’s eyes.
I pushed aside the thought of hunting down the reporter who wrote the article for now.
First, I had to clear up her misunderstanding.
"We didn't meet in secret. This is our school cafe."
"I know that!"
Miju’s voice was sharp and strained.
"I'm asking why it was just the two of you in that cafe!"
"That’s because..."
I didn't even know where to start explaining.
Miju looked quite hurt.
It was then.
"It’s nothing like that, so stay out of it."
A familiar voice rang out.
Young-eun was standing there, having arrived with Chief Park.