Seo Jin wasted no time as he followed along.
They walked to the car before slipping in.
As they all settled down, Seo Jin couldn't help but ask, "Is the last debtor?"
"Mm," So Jeo hummed.
Seo Jin sighed in relief. He was so tired and stressed. He wasn't used to all this at all.
So Jeo was focusing on the window, but his left eye couldn't help but sneak glances, and catching those expressions made him almost chuckle.
But that was very unlikely for him.
"Cough." He instead let out a cough.
"Bless you," Seo Jin blurted out without thinking twice. He had always been taught from a young age to say "bless you" when anyone sneezed or coughed beside him.
So today was no different, but after thinking about it a few minutes later, a curse slipped from his lips.
So Jeo wasn't just anyone.
He pressed his lips down, nervous, hoping it would die down.
Until—
"Thank you."
The driver at the front, who was supposed to be driving and "focusing" on the road, couldn't help but step on the brake because of the word he had just heard.
"The boss? Big boss? So Jeo." It kept ringing in his head, shocked. Did he just hear his boss say thank you?
He sneakily looked at the rearview mirror. Lo and behold, his boss was giving him a death stare.
"Sorry, sir." The driver quickly drove off.
Even Seo Jin, to whom the words were directed, was a little shocked but didn't think much of it. Maybe he didn't hear clearly.
So Jeo felt a little embarrassed, but his cold face remained expressionless as he looked straight out the window, not turning his head.
Noticing the movement, Seo Jin looked at So Jeo, a little confused and worried as he caught a slight redness on So Jeo's ear, but he shook the thought out of his head.
Who was he to be worried, especially about such a scary person like So Jeo?
The driver, still nervous at the front, made sure to drive faster. The faster he got home, the better.
The car finally slowed down in the parking lot. Without wasting much time, as soon as the car was properly parked, Seo Jin quickly got out.
The driver hurried out to open the door for So Jeo.
So Jeo stepped out of the car without looking or saying anything to Seo Jin and walked straight in.
Seo Jin, who stood waiting for any order, was left speechless. But what could he do or say?
He had no choice but to walk in. Before he could step inside, his collar was pulled. Shocked, he tried to steady himself.
"Clumsy, off guard. What does the boss see in you?" the culprit asked as he pulled Seo Jin's collar.
Seo Jin didn't need to see his face to know who it was after hearing the voice.
Kang Dae.
Seo Jin almost felt like crying. Just a few steps and he would have been in his room sleeping.
But knowing Kang Dae, it wasn't possible.
And he was right.
"Let me train you," Kang Dae ordered. His tone made it clear it was not an option but an order that must be followed.
Seo Jin wanted to refuse but held it in.
"Obviously not asking for your opinion," Kang Dae added, dragging Seo Jin by the collar to the training ground.
But the place was different from the last training ground. It was empty, no people, enclosed, but equipped with exercise equipment like punching bags, weights, etc.
"Let's start with your muscles first," Kang Dae said, poking Seo Jin's arm in disgust. "So thin."
Seo Jin quickly pulled his arm back, slightly embarrassed.
"Pick up the weight," he ordered.
"Okay," Seo Jin said, voice filled with reluctance as he walked to the weights and picked the biggest one, thinking it wasn't that hard.
But as he gripped the iron in his palm, "Mm," he groaned in pain.
Kang Dae clicked his tongue and let out a mocking chuckle. "Overestimating yourself?"
Seo Jin rolled his eyes secretly.
"I can see you," Kang Dae exposed him. "Pick the smallest one."
Seo Jin picked up the smallest weight, and it felt light in comparison.
"It's also not about the weight but control," Kang Dae said as he stepped closer. "Arm forward."
Seo Jin adjusted his position.
"Don't lock your elbow," Kang Dae added. "Loose, not stiff."
Seo Jin let out a breath and tried again, holding it properly.
A few seconds passed.
"Now lift it slowly."
Seo Jin raised it once.
Then lowered it.
Kang Dae watched silently. "Again."
Seo Jin repeated it.
Again and again.
After a while, his arm began to feel heavy—not from the weight, but from the repetition.
His breathing slowed.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
"Stop," Kang Dae finally said.
Seo Jin stopped immediately, lowering his arm.
Kang Dae pointed at his stance. "You rely too much on your manpower when you have no foundation or stamina."
Seo Jin didn't say anything.
"We have to fix that," Kang Dae continued.
"Fix what?"
"Your endurance and stamina."
"Run."
Seo Jin frowned at the response, stepping back slightly.
"You will run ten laps," Kang Dae pointed at the track outside the window.
"Ten laps?" Seo Jin asked, making sure he heard correctly.
"Yes."
"From when?" he asked, hoping.
"Now," Kang Dae's expression didn't change. "Unless you want to remain standing with the weight in your hand."
Seo Jin sighed, dropping the weight. They both walked to the track.
He exhaled softly before he started running. The first round was fine.
But after the second round, his breathing began to fluctuate.
Third round, his chest tightened.
Fourth, his legs felt heavier.
He looked to his left where Kang Dae was watching him. He stood with his arms crossed, no sympathy—only observation.
By the sixth lap, his steps slowed a little, but he didn't stop. He kept running. He might be weak, but giving up was never, and would never be, in his dictionary.