The night passed quietly.
Ervin spent it with his imaginary arms crossed, watching over his two bodies as they slept. When morning came, Han Joon-seong and Cheon Seul-ah woke up simultaneously, like machines booting up for the day.
They stretched, cracked their necks, and rose from the bed. Cheon Seul-ah walked to the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat, while Han Joon-seong grabbed his phone and started planning out the day.
He pulled up his contacts and sent a message to Lee Hye-jin.
While he typed, Ervin thought about his ongoing tasks. 'Alright. I need to keep the scouting mission in mind. I have to figure out what's going on with those talents arriving in Busan.'
He pulled up the mission details:
[Scouting - Check out the Arriving talents in Busan - Reward: 50 Points]
He stared at it, considering. 'I should probably start working on that today. It might involve some kind of fight, so I'll need to be careful.'
He continued messaging Lee Hye-jin — casual conversation, nothing too deep. Just checking in, making plans.
Cheon Seul-ah returned from the kitchen with two cups of coffee. She handed one to Han Joon-seong, then sat down across from him with her own.
They drank in silence.
"She probably has class in the morning," Cheon Seul-ah said. "We'll have to meet her later in the day."
Han Joon-seong nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
She looked at him. "Do you think we can buy a car in the meantime?"
He paused. "Buying a car is a bit more complicated than just walking into a dealership and picking one out."
She processed for a moment, then sighed disappointed. "Right. Driver's license."
She considered for a moment. "Could Choi Yuna help us with that?"
Han Joon-seong frowned, still sipping his coffee. "I don't want to do anything illegal. I want to have the car legally. Even if Auto Pilot could probably handle the driving easily."
She let out another sigh. He let out one as well.
"Gym, then?" they said in unison.
They nodded to each other and finished their coffee. Cheon Seul-ah prepared a simple breakfast — eggs and toast — and they ate quickly.
Afterward, they got dressed for the gym. Cheon Seul-ah put on her workout clothes from her suitcase — a fitted sports top and tight leggings. The clothes were clearly a little small on her, clinging to her curves, her bust prominent beneath the fabric.
Han Joon-seong wore his usual gym attire.
They left the apartment and caught a bus to Ascent Athletic Club.
---
When they arrived, Seok-ju was at the front desk. He looked up as they entered, his eyes lingering on Cheon Seul-ah for a moment before he caught himself.
Han Joon-seong spoke. "Good morning, Seok-ju. This is Cheon Seul-ah. She'll be training with me today, i can have a guest over right?."
Seok-ju nodded, still studying her. "Nice to meet you."
Han Joon-seong continued. "Is there somewhere more isolated we can train? Somewhere with fewer people?"
Seok-ju glanced at Cheon Seul-ah again, understanding. "Ah, yeah. I can take you to the back area. It's quieter back there."
He led them through the gym, past the main workout floor, to a smaller room in the back with a few machines and mats. It was more private.
Seok-ju hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "You know, if she doesn't want to be stared at, she might want to consider a women-only gym. Just a suggestion."
Han Joon-seong nodded politely. "Thanks for the advice."
But Ervin, floating above, scoffed internally. 'No way in hell I'm doing that. I already paid for this membership in the heat of the moment. No way I'm paying for another one.'
They started training. The session lasted about six hours total — though effectively only five hours of actual training, with short breaks in between because of their Vigor.
Cheon Seul-ah focused on endurance exercises to build up her resistance. Push-ups, planks, core work, and some cardio exercises. By the end, she had gained three points in Speed, five points in Endurance, and six points in Vigor.
Han Joon-seong, meanwhile, trained with a mix of calisthenics and strength exercises. He gained only one point in Strength, but five points in Endurance and four points in Vigor.
After training, they showered, changed, and headed home.
---
Back at the apartment, Han Joon-seong checked his phone. Lee Hye-jin had replied. As Cheon Seul-ah had predicted, she had class in the morning and wouldn't be free until the afternoon around three o'clock.
Han Joon-seong nodded. "Yeah. Only in the afternoon."
They continued training at home. Han Joon-seong did another two hours of calisthenics, gaining three more points in Strength. Cheon Seul-ah practiced breathing exercises to increase her lung capacity, gaining one point in Vigor.
When the time came, they showered again, dressed, and headed out.
They agreed to meet Lee Hye-jin near the KTX station. They wanted to keep an eye out for any of the "arriving talents" the system had mentioned, and the station was the most likely place for someone to arrive by train.
They caught a bus and rode toward the station.
---
Lee Hye-jin was in a wonderful mood.
Han Joon-seong had asked to see her again. Another date! And so soon right after the previous one! So of course she wasn't going to turn down another chance to spend time with him. Her heart fluttered every time she thought about it. He must have enjoyed their last time together, she reasoned. Otherwise, why would he want to do it again so soon?
She had been counting down the minutes all day. She had class in the morning, but she could barely focus. Her mind kept drifting to the afternoon, to the station, to him.
As soon as her classes ended, she rushed home. She showered, took extra care with her hair, and put on a new perfume she had bought specially for this occasion. She wanted everything to be perfect.
She dressed carefully — something sensual but not overly revealing. A fitted blouse that hugged her curves, a skirt that fell just above her knees, and a pair of heels that made her legs look longer. She checked herself in the mirror multiple times, adjusting small details until she was satisfied.
Then she headed to the KTX station.
She arrived about ten minutes early. She stood near the entrance, her eyes scanning the buses and trains, her heart pounding with anticipation. Every time a bus pulled up, she leaned forward, hoping to see him step off.
And then she did.
Han Joon-seong stepped off the bus. Her eyes lit up like stars, her face breaking into a wide smile. He was so handsome, so effortlessly perfect. She couldn't help but feel her heart swell.
But then he turned and reached back toward the bus. His hand extended, and someone took it — a woman, stepping down with his help.
Lee Hye-jin's heart stopped.
The woman was stunning. Breathtakingly beautiful. Her hair was long and dark, tied back in a ponytail. Her eyes were sharp and confident, her features delicate and striking. She moved with an easy grace, like she owned the place, like the world was hers for the taking.
She wore a casual yet elegant outfit — a fitted white blouse that hugged her curves without being too tight, tucked into a pair of tailored black trousers that accentuated her long legs. A light jacket was draped over her shoulders, and she wore simple but stylish sandals. It was simple, but she made it look extraordinary.
If one had to compare, While Lee Hye-jin looked like the cute and caring type, this woman seemed seductive and bold.
Lee Hye-jin felt her confidence crumble.
Han Joon-seong spotted her. He smiled warmly and walked toward her, the woman following close behind.
"Hello, Lee Hye-jin," he said. "It's good to see you."
She blinked, snapping back to reality. "H-hi! Yes, hello!" She stumbled over her words, her face flushed.
Han Joon-seong stepped aside, gesturing to the woman beside him. "This is Cheon Seul-ah. She'll be joining us today."
Lee Hye-jin's eyes flickered to the woman. "Oh. I see."
Cheon Seul-ah stepped forward, her expression warm and even... affectionate? She extended her hand.
"Hello, Lee Hye-jin. It's a pleasure to meet you. Han Joon-seong has told me a lot about you."
Lee Hye-jin forced a smile, shaking her hand. "Really? All good things, I hope?"
"Of course," Cheon Seul-ah replied smoothly. "Only good things," she said with a strange emphasis in her voice.
Which made Lee Hye-jin raise her eyebrows. 'W-Wha...'
Lee Hye-jin looked at Han Joon-seong, then back at Cheon Seul-ah, trying to process the situation. She had been expecting a quiet afternoon with just the two of them. Now there was this woman, this impossibly beautiful woman, standing beside him like she belonged there.
"So," Lee Hye-jin said, her voice carefully neutral, "how do you two know each other?"
Han Joon-seong glanced at Cheon Seul-ah. "We're... colleagues. We work together sometimes."
Cheon Seul-ah nodded. "Yeah, we met recently. Got along pretty quickly."
Lee Hye-jin's brow furrowed slightly. "Oh. Work colleagues? You mean like..." She looked at Han Joon-seong like she was looking for his approval to talk.
He smiled warmly at her. "Yes, it's gang stuff, but don't worry, Miss Cheon Seul-ah isn't part of any illegal organization."
"Ah, I see," she nodded her head, honestly not wanting to continue the gang talk any longer. She still felt guilty about Han Joon-seong getting beaten up because of her involvement with Choi Yuna.
Cheon Seul-ah tilted her head slightly. "So, Lee Hye-jin, what do you do? Han Joon-seong mentioned you're a student?"
"Yes! I'm studying business administration. Nothing too exciting, but I enjoy it."
"Business," Cheon Seul-ah repeated, nodding. "That's useful. Han Joon-seong and I were just discussing some... financial matters earlier. You might actually have some insight, since you're studying administration."
Lee Hye-jin's brow furrowed slightly. "Oh? What kind of matters?"
Cheon Seul-ah smiled, a small, knowing smile. "Mmm, well, we may need to find a better place to discuss this matter."
Lee Hye-jin was a bit worried about that statement but decided to keep silent for now.
Han Joon-seong stepped in, changing the subject. "We were thinking of walking around the area, maybe grabbing some food. Does that sound good to you?"
Lee Hye-jin nodded, still trying to process the situation. "Sure. That sounds nice."
They began walking, the three of them.
As they walked, Lee Hye-jin couldn't help but notice how perfectly they moved together. Han Joon-seong and Cheon Seul-ah walked in complete sync — their steps matched, their rhythms aligned. When Han Joon-seong adjusted his pace, Cheon Seul-ah adjusted hers without a word. When she turned to look at something, he turned with her.
They looked like a perfect pair.
Lee Hye-jin noticed the way Cheon Seul-ah carried herself — confident, composed, like she belonged anywhere she went. She noticed the way Han Joon-seong interacted with her, familiar but comfortable, like they'd been doing this for years.
It made her feel uneasy.
"So," Lee Hye-jin said, trying to sound casual, "how long have you two known each other?"
Han Joon-seong glanced at Cheon Seul-ah. "Not long. A few days, actually."
"Really? You seem pretty comfortable with each other."
Cheon Seul-ah smiled again. "We got along quickly. Sometimes that happens."
Lee Hye-jin nodded, forcing another smile. "I guess it does." she wanted to be more unconfortable, but she also had only known Han Joon-seong for a couple days.
She watched them walk side by side — their shoulders almost touching, their movements fluid and natural. Like a dance they didn't even know they were performing.
Lee Hye-jin bit her lip.
'They're really close,' she thought. 'Like... really close.'
She shook the thought away. No. That was ridiculous. They already said they were just colleagues.
And another weird thing... Was the way Cheon Seul-ah looked at her — warm, affectionate, almost intimate, that wasn't how you looked at someone you just met, she was pretty sure og it.
"So, Lee Hye-jin," Cheon Seul-ah said, her voice light and friendly, "You mentioned business administration. What's your favorite part of it?"
Lee Hye-jin blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, uh, I like the organizational side, I think. Figuring out how to make things run smoothly. It's satisfying when everything comes together."
Cheon Seul-ah nodded approvingly. "That makes sense. Systems and efficiency — that's important."
Han Joon-seong chimed in. "She's really sharp. I could tell when we first talked about it."
Lee Hye-jin's heart fluttered at the compliment. "I— it wasn't much, really."
Cheon Seul-ah smiled, her expression warm. "Don't sell yourself short. We could use someone who understands that kind of thing."
Lee Hye-jin felt a strange warmth spread through her chest. She looked at Cheon Seul-ah, then at Han Joon-seong, then back at Cheon Seul-ah.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
But also... she couldn't quite bring herself to mind.