It is Easiest to be Obsessed by Everyone

Ruéz Gym positioned itself as a high-end fitness center.

Everything from the location and facilities to the interior, trainers, and system aimed for the very best.

The gym occupied four floors:

– The first floor featured a swimming pool,

– The second a screen golf area,

– The third was for Pilates,

– And the fourth housed weight machines and treadmills.

With such a high-end concept, the gym catered to residents of nearby luxury apartments.

At 2 million won per month, the steep membership fee was actually a draw for these residents, as the cost itself helped maintain an exclusive environment free from the typical crowd.

It was a popular spot among the residents of three upscale apartment complexes nearby.

As I entered, a bell rang.

“Welcome!”

The female trainer at the fourth-floor lobby greeted me with a big smile, but her face froze almost immediately.

“I’m here to inquire about a new membership. Could I speak with someone?”

Her first thought was, ‘How can a person look like that?’ followed by, ‘Is this insanely good-looking guy actually thinking of joining our gym?’

Just the thought of what could happen next made her heart race.

“Oh, yes, of course! Let me show you to a consultation area.”

She guided me along, and I noticed that everyone—men and women, young and old, clients and trainers alike—had stopped mid-workout to stare at us.

——

The trainer introduced herself as Park Seung-ae.

She seemed to be in her late twenties, but I didn’t bother to ask.

Nervously, she began explaining the gym’s facilities and benefits.

I cut her off.

“Let’s start with the most important thing. How much is the membership?”

“Oh, our standard fee is 2 million won per month, though we offer discounts for longer commitments…”

“Wait, what? 2 million won?”

That was just too much.

I knew the place looked luxurious, but 2 million won was beyond what I expected.

I figured it might be a bit pricey, given the location and facilities, but that’s nearly what I’d make in three hours.

“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t align with what I was thinking. I’ll be heading out.”

Time to get up and leave smoothly.

I’d check out my second-choice gym instead.

“Wait a moment! That’s just the base fee. We have special rates for new members!”

“And how much would that help? Besides, I don’t plan to work out here for just a month or two, and I don’t have that much extra cash lying around.”

I could technically afford it, but—seriously—why would I?

It would be better to save that money and find a new place to live as soon as possible.

“Wait a moment! The manager will be here shortly; could you please wait just a bit? We offer incredible benefits for handsome members like you!”

‘Hmm. It they can cut the fee down to a standard gym rate, that would be great since the location and facilities here really are top-notch.’

A moment later, a muscular man in his late 30s appeared.

He looked like a bodybuilder—solid build and all.

As soon as he saw me, his jaw practically dropped open, reacting just like people typically do when they see this face for the first time.

“Welcome! I’m Manager Hwang Seok-jin.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

“Did Kim here say something wrong? If she did, I’ll make sure she hears about it, so feel free to tell me.”

‘Please don’t laugh so loudly… It’s not easy to be comfortable when someone says they’ll get in trouble because of me.’

“Oh, she just mentioned that you’d be able to give someone like me a good deal…”

“We’ll set your membership at 100,000 won.”

“Oh, that’s an amount I could consider.”

“I mean, we’ll pay you 100,000 won.”

“… What?”

What kind of new and unusual proposition is this?

“You’re going to pay me 100,000 won a month?”

“We’ll pay you 100,000 won for every hour you work out, though the payment will be at the end of each month.”

“I don’t think I understand… Why exactly?”

“With someone like you consistently working out here, it’s great for our business, even just by being present.”

Ah, so that’s what it is. A human ‘totem.’

The same role I was playing at the cafe right now.

“You didn’t know? Top gyms regularly hire or even keep good-looking men and women on staff to work out. If someone like you came in on your own, we’d be nothing but grateful.”

“…”

“I’d love to pay you even more, but for now, I’d need permission from our investors.”

The manager rubbed his hands together, looking eager.

“Our base model fee at this gym is 100,000 won per hour. I’ll try to talk to the investors later about increasing it for you.”

What kind of life are attractive people leading?

Every day, I was shocked by something new.

Restaurants give me free menu items, banks let me skip the line, and now the gym is willing to pay me to work out.

“Just one thing—I’m not planning to work out alone; I’ll be coming with my girlfriend.”

“Oh, well, in that case—”

“She doesn’t need model pay or anything. It would just be great if her membership fee could be covered…”

“I hate to ask, but… Is she pretty?”

“To me, she’s the most beautiful in the world.”

“Apologies for the request, but could I maybe see a picture?”

I was happy to oblige.

I showed him a recent selfie Hyen had sent from work, as well as a full-body shot of her in a business suit that we’d taken last Friday night.

The manager seemed utterly entranced. He was practically drooling.

“Since you’re such a handsome gentleman, I thought your girlfriend would be beautiful too, and I was right. In that case, I’d be happy to extend the same offer to her.”

“Great! I really like the facilities here, but that 2 million won was just too much.”

“Just one thing… I’d appreciate it if you could keep one thing in mind.”

“Of course, I won’t mention the special deal to other members.”

I assured him, understanding that some people might feel resentful if they found out we were being paid to work out.

“Ah, that’s part of it, but there’s something else. If you could also keep your relationship private, that would be ideal.”

“Sorry?”

“If you could pose as family or siblings, it would be really helpful.”

At first, I was a bit taken aback by the odd request, but then it dawned on me.

They were paying us to play this totem role, and if people knew we were a couple, it might ruin the visual appeal.

I thought about it for a second and realized it wasn’t a big deal, so I nodded.

“We’re only here to work out for an hour or two a day, so sure, that’s fine.”

“Just as I thought—very kind of you.”

It’s not like we’d be getting too close in a public place anyway.

And while it might be a bit disappointing that we couldn’t be affectionate, my main goal was to help Hyena build stamina, so we’d just stay focused on working out while we’re here.

“So, when would you like to start?”

“Would it be okay if I started right now? I’ve actually never worked out before.”

“Certainly! Let’s get you registered.”

I completed the registration, which included the unique experience of writing down my bank account number so they could deposit my ‘model fee.’

This gym even sold high-quality workout gear in various styles and designs.

“Feel free to pick out two outfits. Those are on the house as well.”

“Thanks.”

“When your ‘sister’ comes in, she can pick out hers too.”

I went to the locker room to change into my new workout gear.

——-

When the handsome young man emerged in his workout clothes, a wave of quiet awe swept through the middle-aged women in the gym.

His face was exceptionally handsome, almost too perfect to seem real, and his lean, well-proportioned body looked like that of a model.

Though he wasn’t the rugged, masculine type, he had a delicate, almost princely appeal that captivated everyone.

“Is he a celebrity?”

“Must be.”

“I’ve never seen him before. Has he been living in our apartment complex?”

“Well, he might not live here.”

“Oh my… I once saw Choi Sung-min at a premiere and thought he was stunning, but this guy makes him look average.”

“That handsome?”

“Yes, that handsome.”

“Wow.”

It wasn’t just the older women who were captivated.

Young female members also paused their workouts, captivated as they watched the handsome man receiving guidance from the trainer.

“Is he really a new member?”

“Looks like it. Does that mean he’ll be coming regularly?”

“Do you think he’ll keep coming at this time?”

“Hey, we need to split up and come at different times for a while. We have to figure out his schedule.”

“Got it.”

The gym manager demonstrated the pec deck fly (chest exercise machine), and then the handsome man took a seat.

Several women discreetly moved closer, hoping to overhear their conversation.

“How does it feel? Do you feel the resistance?”

“Not really.”

“Wow! For someone who says he hasn’t worked out, you seem to have quite a bit of muscle development. Let’s increase the weight a bit.”

The handsome man pushed the weights with ease, barely breaking a sweat.

Impressed, the manager gradually increased the resistance, but the man continued without struggle.

“Incredible! You don’t look particularly muscular, but it seems like your strength is highly compacted. You’re sure you haven’t worked out before?”

“Yeah. Though I have been told I’m naturally pretty strong.”

“Then let’s try adding a bit more weight…”

As the weights increased, more women casually lingered nearby, pretending to lift dumbbells, get water, or mix protein shakes, all while keeping an eye on the handsome man.

“Wow! His strength is unreal.”

“Imagine what he’s like in bed…”