In the early morning, James woke up after only five hours of sleep.
The girl beside him was still sound asleep.
Last night had been an intense affair, and her cheeks still carried a faint blush.
She was sleeping soundly, her lips curved into a slight smile, as though she were dreaming of something sweet.
That contented smile radiated an alluring charm.
Every time James woke up next to her, he had the urge to do push-ups.
But today, he resisted the temptation.
He realized that not only could he now control his desires, but his mind also felt clearer, free of the usual grogginess he used to wake up with.
Perhaps this was another benefit of Super Physique.
Getting out of bed, he grabbed his phone and ordered an expensive breakfast delivery.
Then, he stepped onto the balcony to test his physical condition.
Starting with push-ups, he began.
One, two...
His stable core allowed each push-up to be perfectly executed, as easy as jogging.
After a hundred consecutive push-ups, he felt only a slight sheen of sweat.
His heart rate was still low, and the powerful beats of his heart effortlessly pumped blood throughout his body.
Push-ups didn't seem to challenge him anymore, so exercises like squats or other bodyweight movements probably wouldn't either.
Standing up, James glanced at the ground below where he had jumped last night. That's when he rememberedâhis injured ankle hadn't even been treated.
He rested his leg on the railing to inspect it, only to discover that it had miraculously healed.
The swelling was gone, and there wasn't even a hint of pain.
So this is what 5x regeneration feels like?
James was amazed.
An injury that would've taken at least a week to heal in a hospital had completely recovered overnight.
He marveled at his newfound powers, his eyes drifting to the grass below. He couldn't help but feel tempted to jump again.
The scars had healed, and now his skin was itching for action.
This time, he didn't use his hands to brace himself for the jump.
Instead, he leaped off using only his legs.
James stepped onto the railing for extra height, pushed off confidently, and soared through the air in a perfect arc.
"Thud."
With a soft sound, he landed steadily on the grass, not even swaying a bit.
Across the street, a man out for his morning jog froze in shock.
It was as though he had just seen a ghost.
Someone had just jumped from the third floor, landed without bending their knees, and stood there like a zombie.
The jogger rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
He hesitated, debating whether to go over and check, but fear of being "eaten by the zombie" held him back.
While he was still deliberating, James began to jog, his pace smooth and powerful.
Seeing James run eased the jogger's mind a little. If he can run, he's not a zombie.
But then James's sprinting speed made him question his reality all over again.
Does this mean cultivators really exist?
The blur James left behind as he sprinted made the jogger's eyes widen further, his longing for immortality growing stronger.
He resolved to buy a book on spiritual cultivation and try meditation and breathing exercises.
No, not tomorrowâhe'd go buy it now.
Abandoning his third day of jogging plans, the man hurried home.
James, unaware that his actions had been mistaken for those of a celestial being, did notice a few people peeking at him from beyond the gate.
He realized his speed might have been a bit alarming.
Estimating roughly, his 100-meter sprint probably only took four or five seconds.
With proper training, he could likely go even faster.
Not wanting to draw too much attention, he slowed down and returned to the villa.
He called Winnie Morgan, instructing her to send someone to fix the door.
Then, he headed up to the third floor and into the bathroom for a shower.
Running his hands over his rock-solid muscles, James couldn't stop smiling.
This body was incredible.
Sure, it couldn't stop bullets, but regular knives and swords would probably be ineffective against him.
As long as he avoided vital areas, he'd be fine.
With this, his next goal was to unlock the rewards from Amanda or Shirley Taylor.
Once he did that, nothing in this world could scare him anymore.
Between an indestructible resurrection item and a biochemical bodyguard, he figured the latter might actually be more important.
The resurrection item could save his life, but it wouldn't guarantee the safety of the women he cared about.
If something happened to Tailsa, knowing this system's quirks, it might even revoke his rewards.
James couldn't bear the thought of losing Super Physique.
Thinking back to how the system had temporarily revoked his reward last night, James brought up his grievances.
If affection drops result in losing rewards, what happens when I have a harem? If they meet each other, see I'm not being exclusive, and all start losing affection points, won't I revert to being a normal human?
At that point, why even bother building up affection? I might as well just spend money on them, enjoy the moment, and let things fall apart afterward.
[System Notification: Affection levels above 100 indicate undying love. Unless a major event occurs, affection will not easily decrease.]
James read the system prompt, rubbing his chin thoughtfully under the showerhead.
So affection above 100 is a threshold. It would take something extreme to make it drop.
He recalled how Tailsa hadn't dropped below 100 affection even when she was mad at him.
But when he said, "If you leave, I won't come looking for you," that's when she truly lost hope.
And even when Tailsa had seen him kissing Amanda, her affection hadn't decreased.
So...
Was this my fault?
No way! How could I be wrong? This is clearly the system's fault.
[Gentle Reminder: The system does not make mistakes. The host's behavior last night was excessively reckless.]
"..."
The system's retort hit him harder than he wanted to admit.
James had no choice but to face the truth.
In reality, he had gotten too full of himself.
After receiving the reward, he'd felt invincible and couldn't help but push the boundaries.
While some men forget a woman after putting their pants back on, he hadn't even bothered putting his pants back on before...
Truly, arrogance leads to ruin.
James resolved to be a better personâor at least a better scoundrel.
He would treat all the women in his life well.
Now that the system guaranteed the stability of affection levels above 100, his next target was Amanda.
James already had a plan in mind, though it would take some time to execute.
Feeling cheerful, he finished his shower and stepped out.
Tailsa was awake.
She gazed at him sleepily and stretched her arms out.
"Honey, carry me," she murmured.
James laughed, walked over, and bent down, letting her wrap her arms around his neck.
"Good morning, Princess," he said playfully.
"Mmm"
She nuzzled against his face, mumbling something incomprehensible.
James stood up straight, but she didn't let go, clinging to him loosely as she swayed in his arms.
Playfully, he patted her lightly and teased,
"Didn't get enough to eat last night?"
Tailsa, still half-asleep, wanted to respond with another "Mmm," but the soreness in her body reminded her she couldn't handle any more.
Reluctantly, she let go and crawled back under the blanket, leaving only her almond-shaped eyes peeking out.
"I'm full," she said shyly, gazing at James.
"Good. Want some more? I mean breakfast, of course," James teased, laughing.
"My clothes are all ripped. How am I supposed to eat like this?" she pouted.
"Don't worry. I've already asked Ms. Morgan to bring some over," James said with a gentle smile.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Tailsa's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
She slipped a hand out from under the blanket, gently holding James's hand, her face glowing with happiness.
"Later, if there's anything you want to add to the house, let her take care of it. I'm giving you five millionâspend it however you like," James said, pinching her nose affectionately.
The way he handed out money made him seem almost radiant.
Tailsa, who had already been feeling a bit enamored, couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled James down onto the bed and, ignoring her soreness, threw herself into his arms.
"I love you, honey," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
James, wearing only a bathrobe, felt the tie come undone from the movement, revealing his toned chest.
Their skin touched, and soon, their passion reignited.