Yeon-woo was somewhat uncomfortable around strangers.

It was especially difficult when the stranger was a man.

“……”

A sudden memory of that day made her throat constrict.

Without realizing it, she raised her fingertips and rubbed frantically at the back of her neck. Closing her eyes, she struggled to catch her breath.

‘No.’

‘I’m all right now.’

‘I’m fine. There’s nothing to worry about.’

‘Now…… I’m truly all right.’

Yeon-woo slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze met the woman reflected in the mirror.

With a trembling hand, she swept her palm over her deathly pale face.

“Lee Yeon-woo, you’re all right.”

The moment she said the words aloud, she genuinely began to feel a little better.

She forced the corners of her lips upward.

After changing her clothes, Yeon-woo stepped outside and found the trainer waiting for her.

“We’ll begin with some stretching.”

“All right.”

“Please don’t push yourself too hard. If it becomes too difficult, you must tell me.”

“I will.”

It was only exercise.

Although she had never properly exercised before, Yeon-woo suddenly felt strangely confident that she would be good at it.

That inexplicable confidence took root, and she squared her shoulders with determination.

A short while later.

“Haah…… Haah…… This is too difficult.”

“Your stamina is…… astonishingly poor.”

Collapsed on the floor, Yeon-woo struggled for breath.

“I was warned about it, but I never imagined it would be this bad……”

He had clearly said that this was just an assessment.

Yeon-woo could not understand why he had made her do so many exhausting exercises.

Her heart felt as though it were being ripped to shreds.

Frowning in pain, she clutched her chest, gasping for air as her entire body became drenched in sweat.

“Still, it’s fortunate that you’ve decided to begin exercising now.”

The trainer’s voice barely reached her ears.

All Yeon-woo wanted was to lie down exactly where she was.

“If you exercise consistently from now on, your stamina will gradually improve.”

Yeon-woo wiped the sweat from her forehead and raised her head.

The trainer was crouching before her, his expression surprisingly serious.

Only moments ago, the trainer had been pushing her relentlessly, insisting that she could complete one more repetition.

“Since you’re a beginner, I won’t give you anything too difficult. Just trust me and follow my instructions.”

Now he was gently reassuring her.

“……But even the assessment was too difficult.”

“Do you truly think I can do this?”

Yeon-woo asked with wide eyes.

“You can. I’ll make certain that you can.”

Why did she have the ominous feeling that he intended to put her through something incredibly difficult?

“Your goal isn’t weight loss. We’re focusing on improving your stamina, so make sure you eat properly, just as I explained earlier.”

“……Yes. Thank you.”

Yeon-woo was not particularly grateful, but she thanked him anyway.

“We only performed a light assessment today. Beginning with your next visit, we’ll start training properly.”

Yeon-woo stared with trembling eyes at the trainer’s radiant smile.

He had clearly promised that the exercises would not be difficult.

She did not believe him at all.

“We’ll arrange three sessions per week according to your schedule. If you’re ever unable to come, please contact me.”

“Yes…… Thank you for your hard work.”

Yeon-woo tried to rise, but her legs immediately gave way and she staggered badly.

If a simple assessment had left her in this condition, she might have to crawl out of the gym once the real training began.

“You’re welcome to use the shower facilities. Please take care on your way home.”

“……All right.”

Her whole body was drenched in sweat.

She considered showering there, but decided to save it for home instead. Instead, she changed her clothes and left the changing room.

With every careful step, her legs trembled, making her resemble a child who had just learned to walk.

It was almost unbelievable.

Now she understood why her mother-in-law had been so concerned about her stamina.

At the same time, however, Yeon-woo felt strangely proud of herself.

After sweating so much, her whole body felt pleasantly refreshed.

Upon arriving at her in-laws’ home, she dragged her heavy legs through the grand gate.

“Yeon-woo, how was it?”

“……Mother, it was exhausting.”

Yeon-woo threw herself into her mother-in-law’s embrace and complained pitifully, making the older woman laugh aloud.

“I was the same when I first began. You’ll improve.”

“My legs keep trembling all by themselves even when I’m standing still.”

“Would you like me to massage them?”

“No, they’re all right for now. But the trainer was incredibly enthusiastic.”

Several times, Yeon-woo had nearly told him that she could not continue.

However, seeing how passionately he taught her made it impossible to complain, so she had given the assessment everything she had.

“Let’s eat something delicious. I knew you would be exhausted, so I prepared healthy dishes for dinner.”

Yeon-woo was ravenously hungry after exercising.

She had recently lost her appetite due to constant tiredness, but now she felt she could eat three bowls of rice.

As she chatted with her mother-in-law and waited for dinner, a housekeeper came over to them.

“Dinner is ready.”

“Yeon-woo, let’s eat first.”

Perhaps she should not have admitted how hungry she was.

Her father-in-law and Taehyun had not arrived yet, but her mother-in-law was already suggesting they begin eating.

Yeon-woo could feel the affection behind her eagerness.

“What about Father?”

“He said he’ll be late. Taehyun should arrive shortly.”

“Even so…… Perhaps we should wait……”

“I’m hungry too.”

Her mother-in-law took her hand and led her to the dining table.

The lavish feast looked heavy enough to break the table beneath it. Yeon-woo’s mouth watered so intensely that her jaw began to ache.

“Eat as much as you like.”

“Yes. Thank you for the meal.”

For the first time in ages, Yeon-woo ate until she felt ready to burst.

“I think I ate too much.”

“Come on, Sister-in-law. You only ate one bowl. How could that possibly be too much?”

“Mother packed the rice tightly into my bowl.”

Taehyun had arrived in the middle of the meal and joined them for dinner.

Afterward, they gathered in the living room and enjoyed fruit and tea together.

“Even so, I think you need to start eating more.”

Yeon-woo smiled at Taehyun’s insistence that she ate far too little.

“Once I continue exercising, my appetite will probably improve too.”

“It would be good for you to gain a little weight.”

Yeon-woo speared a piece of apple with her fork and took a bite.

Its pleasant sweetness softened her expression.

“Huh?”

Taehyun, who was seated across from her, suddenly widened his eyes.

“Oh my!”

Her mother-in-law also looked past Yeon-woo in surprise.

Following their gazes, Yeon-woo turned around.

“Brother!”

When she looked behind her…..

“Goodness, Taecho!”

….Taecho was standing there.

Since the doorbell had not rung, he must have entered directly through the parking area.

Yeon-woo’s mouth fell open in surprise as well.

“What brings you here without calling?”

“I know. Did you arrange to meet Sister-in-law here?”

Ignoring his mother and younger brother, Taecho slowly approached.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“……Pardon?”

He was staring directly at Yeon-woo as he asked whether she was leaving.

She looked at him in bewilderment.

“Did you come to pick Yeon-woo up?”

Her mother-in-law sounded delighted.

Nothing like this had ever happened before, so both she and Taehyun appeared thoroughly surprised.

“No. I was passing nearby and heard she was here.”

‘……From me? When did I tell him that?’

Come to think of it, she had said she would probably stay for dinner.

However, she didn’t recall telling him that she would be at his parents’ house.

Besides, what would he have done if she had come home early?

His expression remained as cold and unreadable as ever.

Taecho had been staring at Yeon-woo when his gaze shifted slightly and settled on Taehyun.

He furrowed his brow.

Yeon-woo quickly followed his line of sight.

“This? Sister-in-law made it for me.”

Taehyun must have realized that Taecho was glaring directly at the handkerchief in his hand.

Then again, considering the intensity of Taecho’s stare, it would have been impossible not to notice.

“As expected, there’s nothing Sister-in-law can’t do.”

Taehyun smiled proudly.

Yeon-woo rose from her seat.

She could not leave Taecho standing there when he had come all this way to take her home.

“Mother, I should go now. Thank you so much for everything today.”

At Yeon-woo’s affectionate farewell, her mother-in-law rose and embraced her tightly.

Yeon-woo’s smile deepened.

“Sister-in-law, work hard during your training sessions.”

“Yes. I will.”

While Yeon-woo exchanged farewells with Taehyun, Taecho quietly asked,

“Training?”

“Oh, Mother hired a personal trainer for Sister-in-law.”

“Really? That’s good.”

Taecho looked directly at Yeon-woo as he spoke.

For some reason, she did not trust his words.

Feeling as though another meaning lurked beneath his claim that it was good, she narrowed her eyes.

“The male trainer is genuinely an excellent instructor, so Sister-in-law……”

“What?”

Taecho interrupted his younger brother.

“……A man?”

His head slowly tilted to one side.

Yeon-woo had done nothing wrong, yet he stared at her like a criminal.

She swallowed dryly.

His gaze immediately followed the movement of her throat.

“Yes. He’s the same trainer who teaches Mother. Apparently, his program is very systematic and effective. That’s why Mother entrusted Sister-in-law to him.”

Taecho’s eyebrow twitched as though something displeased him.

Then he turned away coldly.

‘Seriously…… He should have gone directly home instead of coming here.’

Why had he come all this way merely to make the atmosphere uncomfortable?

“Mother, I’ll call you.”

“All right.”

As Yeon-woo turned to follow Taecho, Taehyun called loudly after her.

“Sister-in-law, thank you for the handkerchief! I’ll use it well!”

Yeon-woo smiled and nodded.

She followed Taecho to the car park and they climbed into the waiting vehicle together.

Yeon-woo stole a glance at the man beside her, but he was focused on his tablet, seemingly finishing some work.

Was he unhappy that she had decided to start exercising?

The atmosphere in the car suddenly became cold and strange, leaving Yeon-woo feeling confused.

She turned towards the window and nervously fidgeted with her fingers.

The silence was so oppressive that she hardly dared breathe.

Feeling suffocated, she almost opened the window, but stopped herself.

Their house was not far away.

She decided to endure it a little longer.

Yeon-woo gazed at Taecho’s reflection in the window.

Even from this angle, he was strikingly handsome.

His high, straight nose. His firmly pressed lips. His sharply defined jaw and long, masculine fingers.

“……”

He was handsome in every way.

Yeon-woo repeatedly tried to stop herself from looking down, but ultimately her gaze settled between his legs.

Her face turned scarlet.

Just as she ran her tongue over her dry lips—

Screech—!

The car stopped abruptly, throwing her body forward.

Convinced that she was about to hit the front seat, she squeezed her eyes shut.

However, after several moments had passed, nothing had happened.

When she slowly opened her eyes, she was confused.

She was nestled securely in Taecho’s arms.

He had reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

“……Th-thank you.”

Taecho was staring at her from impossibly close range.

His dark, intense gaze made her shoulders tremble.

“My apologies! A cat suddenly ran into the road……”

“It’s fine. Keep driving.”

“Yes, sir. I apologize.”

The car began moving again.

Yeon-woo’s heart felt ready to burst.

Her entire body must have turned bright red.

She struggled to escape his embrace, but Taecho refused to release her.

“Taecho……”

Yeon-woo pressed against his chest, silently asking him to let her go.

Instead, he lowered his head.

“Gasp!”

Shock filled her face.

Taecho had buried his nose against the back of her neck and inhaled deeply.

“You smell…… different from usual.”

His words brushed directly against her neck, making her hunch her shoulders.

“Do I smell unpleasant?”

“Yes. You smell different.”

“……It must be because I exercised.”

Yeon-woo pushed firmly against his chest to escape his embrace.

Trying to create as much distance as possible, she pressed herself against the car door.

She knew she would need to shower as soon as they got home.

But she could not smell anything.

She sniffed her arms and shoulders discreetly, but could not detect any unusual scent.

She had never realized that Taecho had such a sensitive sense of smell.

She would need to be more careful.

“Shall we shower together?”

……What had he just said?

‘She must have misheard me.’

“I said we should shower together.”

Tae-choo whispered the words again, proving that she had heard him correctly.

Yeon-woo stared at him with wide eyes.

When he let out a quiet laugh, she finally realized that he had been teasing her.

Feeling anger rise within her, Yeon-woo bit down hard on her lip.