After their morning gym session on the weekend, Kai, Bryan, and Tyler were chilling at a café across the street. The three of them had been close friends since high school. Bryan’s dad owned an IT company, and Bryan worked there as a supervisor. Kai also joined the company thanks to Bryan’s recommendation and now works as a senior developer.

As for Tyler, he’s a personal trainer and owns his own gym. Bryan and Kai get free memberships to train there. At the very least, they always work out together on weekends—just like today, chatting while hanging out.

Kai: I'm so done... I think we went way too hard on leg day. He was rubbing his thighs, which were still trembling a bit. Tyler laughed and teased him like always.

Tyler: You're just weak, dude. Stop sitting in front of the PC all day—how the hell are you ever gonna get a body like mine? He flexed slightly, showing off his ridiculously fit body—muscular, but not too bulky.

Bryan: Oh, by the way, Kai... I'm sorry, but management turned down your raise. I know it’s my dad’s company, but there’s not much I can do. Really sorry, man.

Kai: It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t expecting much anyway.

He chuckled casually—but deep down, he’d been hoping for it hard.

Two months ago, Fei—Kai's girlfriend—suddenly asked him for help. Her parents were struggling badly with their house payments. The debt had piled up to something crazy—like almost two years' worth of combined salary between him and Fei. Fei worked from home as a virtual secretary. Her income was actually pretty decent, and they’d just bought a new apartment, not cheap either, meant for both of them to live in.

Bryan: So... about Fei’s parents. You guys gonna be okay?

Kai: Hmm... we’ll figure something out, I think. Haha...

His laugh came out a bit forced.

Tyler: Hey, no pressure or anything, but... why doesn’t Fei just open an OnlyFans? Or sell photo sets or something? I’m not being rude, but she’s a f*cking 10, bro. That’s easy money.

Kai: You know how she is—super shy and introverted. I brought it up once, and she was completely against it.

After hanging out for a while, they all went their separate ways—Tyler had a personal training session with a client, and Bryan had a meeting. On the way home, Kai couldn’t stop thinking about how to make more money. He had already tried picking up freelance gigs, but the deadlines were brutal—totally unrealistic.

When he got home, Fei greeted him with her usual bubbly voice.

Fei: Bbyyy~ how was your day?

Her smile instantly melted him. All the stress from earlier just disappeared.

Kai: Good, babe. Mmm, smells amazing. Let’s eat?

After lunch, they snuggled up on the couch like usual. The TV was on, but neither of them was really paying attention. Kai’s head rested on Fei’s lap while she absentmindedly played with his hair. The scent of garlic butter chicken still lingered in the air. Everything felt calm… but Fei’s mind was clearly somewhere else.

She bit her lower lip, hesitated, then finally spoke softly.