Violet stepped out through the iron gate, looking completely different from her usual self. The black gate creaked slightly as it opened, as if it too witnessed the drastic change in the girl once known for her grace and elegance.Normally, she would appear immaculate—matching dress, neat hair, flawless poise.But not today. She was still in her pastel-colored pajamas, the simple pattern giving off a relaxed, almost careless vibe. Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail, a few strands falling freely across her cheeks.Her face was bare—no makeup, no effort to conceal the puffiness around her eyes. She didn’t even try to hide that she’d been crying.Eric was waiting outside, standing tall and composed. When Violet walked closer, her steps were hesitant, caught between wanting to hide and knowing she couldn’t.Eric’s gaze never wavered. A soft smile curved his lips, calm yet piercing. He looked at her as if nothing in the world could distract him. That unwavering stare made Violet’s ner

Eric felt as if lightning had struck him straight through the chest.He definitely didn’t want to die a stupid death — not after finally getting a girlfriend. The last thing he wanted was to get electrocuted into oblivion by that damned System.So, even though pain still racked his body, Eric clenched the pull-up bar with trembling hands and forced himself up again.He pulled his body upward with all his strength, then again, grimacing through the burning strain.But unlike before — when he had managed eight reps without stopping — this time, by the sixth pull, his muscles screamed in rebellion.His grip gave way. He dropped to the floor, gasping and heaving for air.Every inch of him hurt.He laid down flat on his back, chest rising and falling rapidly, swallowing hard to keep his dry throat from closing up.“This is… really damn hard,” Eric muttered, his voice broken between gasps.He knew his body was at its limit. Every fiber of his muscles begged him to stop, to rest.And to make

The air froze.Violet quickly lowered her gaze, trying to hide her expression, while Eric awkwardly dried his half-naked body with a towel.The tension in the room was thick enough to slice. Violet glanced at him once—too quickly—and then turned her head away again, her lips twitching into a faint smile she tried to suppress.“Sorry for startling you,” she murmured.“No, no, it’s fine. I mean—I'm glad you’re here. It’s just… I look a bit embarrassing right now.”“Not at all,” Violet said, smiling shyly. “You just… look different. Healthy, strong. Yeah, that’s it…”Before the awkward silence could stretch longer, Eric’s phone rang.It was Chelsea, one of his trusted subordinates in charge of meal preparations.She reported that everything her boss requested was ready—and that for tonight’s dinner, a professional chef from a five-star restaurant would personally cook for him.Naturally, that news made Eric grin in satisfaction. “Good job! You never disappoint me.”Still half-wrapped in

When Violet stepped into Eric’s room, her eyes widened in awe.The interior was stunning — spacious, clean, and surprisingly refined.She couldn’t hide her admiration.“Um, Violet,” Eric began awkwardly, scratching his neck, “I think I’ll count on my own this time.”Violet, who had just settled on the sofa, tilted her head. “Why?”“Well… I actually did this physical training yesterday. So it’s fine if I handle it myself.” He didn’t want to trouble his girlfriend over something as trivial as pull-ups.“Then what am I supposed to do while you’re working out?”Eric sat beside her, his tone soft. “You can relax, read a novel over there at the reading nook, or maybe watch a movie, play some music. Or if you’re tired, don’t hesitate to lie on the bed. Just treat it like your own.”Violet’s cheeks instantly flushed red. His words could easily be taken the wrong way.“Ah— I mean— you can sleep if you want! Don’t hold back. Even if you want to read while lying there, that’s fine. Really, I did

Violet bit her lip, visibly torn—should she stay by Eric’s side or continue her practice?Should she tell him to stop before he overdid it, or should she support him until he finished?Before she could decide, Grace gently patted her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts.“Don’t worry, Miss Violet. Mr. Eric looks strong—he knows his limits. And besides, our time is limited. If, when he’s done, he finds you’ve actually improved, that’ll be good news for him.”Violet nodded slowly. “You’re right. I should focus on my golf training too.”She went back to her practice with Grace, more determined this time. She wanted to make Eric proud—he’d gone through so much effort to help her learn.When she swung her golf club again, the ball nearly made it into the hole. Violet groaned in frustration. “Ah! Just a little more!”“It’s alright, Miss. That was very good,” Grace encouraged her with a smile. “If you stay focused, I’m sure the next one will go in.”“What a pity,” Violet sighed, her fa