Chapter 33: A Trip for Therapy

Words : 585 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

The summer sun was bright overhead, filtering through the tinted windows of Joon-ho’s sleek sedan. Harin sat in the passenger seat, legs folded, a light floral dress draping over her thighs. She had her sunglasses perched on top of her head and was humming along to the soft radio music. To any stranger, they looked like a couple going on a sweet weekend getaway. Joon-ho’s hands rested easily on the wheel, eyes on the road."You packed snacks like we’re going on a picnic," he teased. "It feels like a picnic," Harin shot back, pulling a bottle of iced barley tea from the bag at her feet. "Except instead of a lake or a mountain, we’re going to some private villa near the athlete village." Joon-ho’s mouth quirked. "Hardly romantic." "Could be. If you weren’t about to lay hands on some hot volleyball star," she said, half-pouting. They stopped at a highway rest area, grabbing trays of spicy tteokbokki, soondae, and fried mandoo. They found a shaded bench and dug in. "So tell me about this girl again," Joon-ho said between bites, wiping sauce from his lip with a napkin. "Name, injury, why the hell I’m needed." "You really don’t keep up with sports news, do you?" Harin laughed."Her name’s Yoo Ji-hye. She’s basically Korea’s golden girl for volleyball right now — all the endorsements, viral clips of her jump serves, fans losing their minds at every game." Joon-ho raised a brow. "And?" Harin ticked points off on her fingers."She overtrained her lower back and thighs right before the Pro League finals. They still won, but she was visibly hurting by the end. Since then, rumors say she’s pushing through pain just to keep her ranking and prep for the Olympic qualifiers next season." "So she’s coming off heavy physical strain, plus whatever psychological stress from the spotlight," Joon-ho mused. "Alright. I’ll see what her muscles and posture tell me first. If it’s mostly mechanical, we can sort it." Harin leaned in, eyes glinting over her chopsticks."And if it’s the... other kind of tension? You gonna fuck her better?" Joon-ho didn’t even flinch, just popped another piece of mandoo in his mouth."Depends if that’s what her body needs. You know I don’t push it unless it’s already asking." Harin let out a small scoff, but her lips twitched into a half-smile."You sound so casual, like recommending herbal tea for stress." They returned to the car, seatbelts clicking. As they pulled back onto the road, Harin watched the passing rice paddies and let out a long breath. "By the way," she murmured, "you still haven’t let me meet any of these ’special’ clients you keep saying exist. Aside from Madam Seo." Joon-ho smirked slightly, eyes still on the road."Worried about the competition?" "I just want to see for myself," she shot back, folding her arms. "Make sure they’re good enough for my man." Her teasing earned her a low laugh that vibrated in her chest when he reached over to squeeze her knee. They drove the rest of the way in comfortable silence. Hills rolled by, green and serene, until signs began to point toward the national athlete village. The road forked off to a more secluded lane, lined by neat hedges, that led them to the private villa Madam Seo had arranged. Whatever awaited them there — tight knots under Ji-hye’s golden skin, or something deeper and filthier — Harin would be there to watch it all unfold.

Chapter 33: A Trip for Therapy

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