"Hye-na, is that you?"
"Yeah, Eomma, why're you back? Where's Chang-woo?"
"Downstairs playing with kids, didn't wanna come up. I'm grabbing water."
"Mm…"
Her nasal reply worried Park Soo-ji, who asked, "Hye-na, are you sick?"
"Mm, just a cold. Took meds, I'm fine."
"You take care of yourself. Chang-woo and I only have you."
"Yeah, Eomma, I know."
"What're you doing in there?"
"Taking… a bath. Feels… better."
Her odd tone left Park Soo-ji puzzled, but with Chang-woo waiting, she didn't dwell. She hurried out, locking the door.
Click, sss…
A relieved exhale echoed in the bathroom.
"Hye-na noona."
"Jin-woo…"
"Don't worry."
When Lee Jin-woo left, he was drenched in sweat, his clothes, dried by body heat, damp again.
"Phew… that was a workout!"
Wiping his forehead, his stomach growled in protest.
The exertion demanded fuel.
Kind Neighbor Wife… Reward calculation in progress.
Robust Health: Grants a consistently healthy physique.
Constant health—did that mean no illness?
Reading the fine print, it wasn't quite that. It didn't prevent all sickness, just fatal conditions like cancer or strokes. Colds or scrapes were still fair game.
"Nice~" Lee Jin-woo's love for the system grew.
What was more valuable than health?
On the way, he grabbed street food: tteokbokki, fried meatballs, and seaweed soup.
It barely dented his hunger.
Spotting kimchi pancakes, he got two to fill up.
Now what?
Glancing at his hands, he decided to work on his physique.
Ding!
As a Big Brother, you've noticed your physical shortcomings and resolved to start strength training today.
A strong body is the first step to success. Congratulations on the right choice.
Hidden reward triggered: Double Effort, Half the Time!
Double Effort, Half the Time: Any physical training yields randomly multiplied results.
His lukewarm motivation surged.
"Today, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats."
He vowed to stick with it. Your body was the foundation of everything.
Huff, huff~
Finishing the set, he collapsed, sweating buckets.
His body struggled with the intense workout, but he powered through.
Keep this up, and he'd get stronger, right?
I want nobody, nobody but you…
"Annyeonghaseyo!"
"Oppa~" The cutesy voice made him shudder.
"Speak normally."
"Oppa, it's only been a day, and you forgot my voice? I'm so hurt!"
He hung up without hesitation.
Stupid aegyo, get lost.
Two seconds later, the phone rang again.
"…Oppa!" Her pitiful, normal voice came through.
It was Lee Joo-bin. She'd left her dorm number but had sneakily used his phone to call herself, saving his number.
Just in case he ghosted her after that night.
From the bits she'd gleaned, his identity was no small deal. In Korea, no one could resist a rich man's charm.
"At the company?"
"Yeah, oppa, practicing is exhausting. My throat's shot."
"Drink hot water."
"…Oppa, ugh! Can't you come see me? Or did you find a new girl and forget me?"
"Yup."
"Oppa, you really have another woman? Sob…"
Instead of the expected meltdown, she cried.
Women's tears were the sharpest weapon, piercing straight to the heart.
"Can you come out tonight?"
"Hm?"
"Stop sniffling. Meet me tonight. We'll drink."
"Oppa~"
That damn aegyo. Tonight, he'd teach her to talk properly—or keep her mouth busy.
After two weeks of training, Lee Jin-woo's transformation was visible.
His average build was now toned and muscular.
His aura shifted—sunnier, healthier, more reassuring.
Running his hand over his budding abs, the satisfaction of hard-earned progress was intoxicating.
Lee Joo-bin's progress was equally stunning. Her dance coach praised her improved flexibility and agility, considering her for the main dancer role.
Her twin-tailed, sultry stage presence was electric.
No one knew it was thanks to Lee Jin-woo's nightly "extra training."
"Starting today, add a 10K run."
Tossing dirty clothes in the washer, he donned a clean hoodie and sweatpants, heading out.
Opening the door, he spotted Yoon Hye-na about to leave.
"Hye-na noona."
"Ah!" She yelped, nearly slamming her door shut.
Smack!
His hand caught the edge, stopping her.
In her panicked pleas, he stepped into the familiar apartment.
"No one home again?"
The quiet echo answered. His smile turned wicked.
"Jin-woo… we're good neighbors, neighbors! Can't we go back to how it was?"
Grabbing her retreating figure, he pulled her close, spinning her to lean over the shoe cabinet.
"Hye-na noona, you don't want the morning market aunties catching us, right?"
After his 10K, Lee Jin-woo sat panting on a bench downstairs.
He'd rest, then grab breakfast. Today's workout was max effort.
Beep-beep!
A silver Mercedes honked, pulling up as the window rolled down. "Jin-woo, long time no see!"
He squinted, uncertain. "Sis-in-law?"
Half an hour later, at a café.
Staring at the spicy-hot woman across from him, he still wasn't sure she was who he thought.
Kim Ji-yeon, his… distant cousin's fiancée. So distant they were practically strangers.
But in a country you could circle in a day, anyone with the same surname was family after five generations.
(End of Chapter)
remember to use your power stones, add the book in your collection!!