Taeyeon Pov:

Taeyeon's heart was still pounding in her chest as she sat in the dimly lit office. She took a deep breath and leaned forward, forcing herself to focus on the screen in front of her.

But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting back to Jimin—JM—the man who was now her collaborator on one of the most important projects of her career. The man with whom she had shared a night she barely remembered.

A soft knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Startled, she looked up to see Minji, one of her co-workers, peeking in.

"Hey, Taeyeon, are you okay? You look a little out of it," Minji asked, stepping inside.

Taeyeon quickly straightened up in her chair, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... a lot on my mind. You know how it is."

"Wanna join today's party?" Minji asked.

Taeyeon shook her head vigorously. "No, I won't, and I never," she said firmly.

"Oh, come on, Taeyeon-ah! You've always been so dedicated to work. I thought you wouldn't come to the party when we went to Tokyo, but you did. So, what's different about this one?" Minji asked, sounding a bit disappointed.

Taeyeon closed her eyes, trying to steady her emotions. I feel that day was the worst decision of my life, she thought.

"Look, Minji-shii, back then everyone insisted, so I attended the party. But this is Seoul, and it's a whole different story. My brother would find out if I went to a party, and he doesn't like me attending them," Taeyeon explained, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Hey, come on, do you share every detail with your brother?" Minji asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I mean everything?" Minji asked again, pressing on the 'everything' part

Taeyeon hesitated, her gaze shifting as she weighed her words. "Well, it's not like I share every single detail, but—"

Minji cut her off, pressing further. "But what? Do you share the important stuff with him or just the little things?"

Taeyeon took a deep breath, her mind drifting back to that night. She sighed, yet she lied: "Yes, I do share a lot with him. He's been very protective, and he does tend to get involved in my personal life more than I'd like."

"Well, poor girl," Minji said sympathetically. "Then see you tomorrow."

As Taeyeon sat back in her chair, a mix of relief and anxiety washed over her. Her brother had always been her biggest supporter, pushing her to follow her dreams while being fiercely protective. It was comforting to know he had her back, which also made it so tough for her to share about Tokyo Night, which is very complicated.

She looked at her desktop screen, which displayed a photo of two children with similar boxy smiles—one boy with an even more pronounced grin and a girl with a softer version of the same smile. The image reminded her of the simplicity and warmth of childhood, in stark contrast to the complicated adult emotions she was experiencing at the time.

"I miss you, oppa," she whispered, her voice barely audible as a lump formed in her throat.

The knock on the door startled Taeyeon, pulling her out of her thoughts. She quickly wiped away the stray tear that had escaped and cleared her throat before calling out, "Come in."

Jimin's Pov:

"Hey," Jimin said softly, but with his usual charisma. He looked around the office before his gaze settled on Taeyeon.

Jimin's smile faltered as his eyes landed on the picture of two kids on Taeyeon's desktop screen. The image seemed innocent enough, but something about it unsettled him.

Is she already married? He thought the question was creeping into his mind before he could stop it. But she doesn't look like that at all. Maybe it's her and... her brother? 

He hesitated, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to make sense of the situation. Yet Taeyeon didn't give off the vibe of someone who was married or even in a relationship. Also, the boy looks quite similar to someone he knows.

Before he thought too deeply, Taeyeon's voice interrupted him. "Do you need any help?" she asked, her tone polite but slightly wary.

Jimin turned his gaze to her, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head. "No, I just wanted to check in about the project," he said.

Jimin could feel the tension between them, thick and unspoken. A part of him wanted to keep things professional, just like Taeyeon, but there was another part that couldn't let go of the questions swirling in his mind. Why had she left without saying anything after that night? 

Jimin decided to let it go, at least for now. It was his first day in his profession after a long four-year  break, and he didn't want to complicate things further. He took a deep breath, pushing the lingering questions to the back of his mind.

"So, about the project..." Jimin began, clearing his throat as he felt a slight soreness. "I want to meet our whole team."

"I have talked about that with Namjoon. He told me that you would be the best person to handle that," Jimin continued.

Taeyeon nodded her head hastily; he knew she had no option left because of the order from her boss.

"I'll infrom to-" 

"First, how many members are in this team?" Jimin asked before Taeyeon could finish.

"Ten," she said.

Jimin raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That's quite a large team," he said. His tone can say he is satisfied with the number of members in the team. For him, the team must be 10 or more than 10 because it's not as easy to make a manhwa as it looks. For character design, coloring, and script checking, there will be a lot of processes if it's a huge project.

"Can you arrange them all in place?" he said, leaning in with his hand on the desk and directly meeting her gaze.

Taeyeon felt a slight shiver run down her spine at the intensity of his gaze. She nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes, I will," she replied, taking her phone out and starting to type a message to coordinate the meeting.

Jimin noticed Taeyeon's legs tapping under the table, a clear sign of her nervousness, but he remained standing and stepped back, making sure not to add to her discomfort.

After a moment of silence, Taeyeon finally looked up and said, "We can go now."

She paved the way for him, as he is new to the company and a famous guest artist with whom she had to work. The meeting room was just a short walk away, and within five minutes, they arrived at the door.

Taeyeon opened it and gestured for Jimin to enter first, for which Jimin gave a smile in return and said, "Thank you, gentlewoman." 

For the first time after seeing him, she smiled a bit more naturally than awkwardly, which melted Jimin's heart for no reason. Inside, the team members were already seated, some chatting quietly among themselves. They looked up as Jimin walked in; he could just say how curious they were about their new guest artist. 

Though Jimin had collaborated with numerous companies over the years, his privacy was always meticulously guarded. Companies were instructed never to take pictures of him, keeping his true identity a mystery. It wasn't just his art that fascinated people; it was the enigma surrounding the artist himself.

His sharp yet soft features—the delicate balance of cute and charismatic—immediately drew attention. He caught the subtle gasps of a few team members as they realized that the mysterious JM wasn't just a talented artist—he looked like an idol straight out of a music video.

Taeyeon cleared her throat before she started to speak. "Everyone, this is JM, our guest artist for the upcoming project," Taeyeon introduced, her voice steady despite the nerves she felt. "JM, this is our team."

 Jimin leaned in and whispered in her ear. "You can just introduce me by my name, Taeyeon-shii," he said softly.

Jimin could see that slight flush creep up her neck as he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

She nodded quickly, her nerves spiking again. "Sorry," she muttered under her breath before addressing the team once more. "Everyone, this is Jimin. He'll be our guest artist for the upcoming project."

Jimin chuckled lowly and turned to face the team, who were all staring at him with a mix of awe and curiosity. He could feel the weight of their expectations, but he wasn't fazed. After years of being in the spotlight, even behind the veil of amino, he knew how to handle the attention.

Jimin smiled at the team, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Nice to meet you all," he said, his voice calm yet captivating.

"I've heard great things about this team, and I'm looking forward to what we'll create together."

Some female employees just kept staring at him. On the other hand, among male employees, some are really pleased, while others are a little envious of him, not because of his looks but for his fame. Jimin can sense that, as he has worked with many people like them. 

After a few introductions, Jimin has to know that in that team there are only 4 members in the creative department, 4 in productions, and 2 in the support department, and some are additional members who are to assist them. 

"JM-shii," a soft female voice called, causing Jimin to turn around. He saw a woman with short, bobbed hair and a sweet smile on her cherry-nude-shaded lips.

"I feel like I've seen you somewhere?" she asked, her brows furrowing in thought as she tried to place his face. Jimin quirked an eyebrow in response, intrigued by her statement.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kang Minji, assistant editor," she added quickly with a small bow, her smile widening as she glanced at him expectantly.

"Nice to meet you, Minji-shii. You can just call me Jimin; I'm fine with it," Jimin replied with a warm smile.

Minji seemed taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting such informality from him. "Oh, okay, Jimin-shii," she corrected herself, her smile growing even wider.

Minji's continued, "Oh, I get that. Have you been to Tokyo recently, or maybe before?"

Jimin blinks, surprised by the sudden question. "Yeah, I've been to Tokyo before," he replied cautiously, not entirely sure where this conversation was going. "Why do you ask?"

Minji shrugged with a playful glint in her eyes. "I think I might've seen you there; we went to Tokyo with our team on some projects. You just look really familiar. Maybe it's just a coincidence, though."

Jimin's mind raced as he processed Minji's words. So, she wasn't alone that night? The thought lingered as he glanced over at Taeyeon, who was engaged in a conversation with a male colleague. Is that why she left without saying anything?

Jimin managed a neutral response: "Oh, maybe."

Minji tilted her head slightly, seeming to ponder his reaction. "Maybe," she said, her tone still light. "Also, Taeyeon must be really excited to work with you. It's like a dream come true," she added with a laugh.

Minji covered her mouth with her hand, leaning in slightly, though maintaining a safe distance. "Though it's kind of an open secret, Taeyeon is actually a huge fan of yours and your work," she said with a playful tone.

Jimin glanced back at Taeyeon, who was engaged in conversation with her colleagues. Her genuine admiration was clear, and he couldn't help but wonder how things might have been different if they hadn't crossed paths that night in Tokyo.

"I see," he replied.

Jimin continued to watch Taeyeon, who was still engaged in conversation with her colleagues. As she turned her head, her hand partially covering her face, their eyes met. Her frown softened into a smile, but the moment was undeniably awkward.

Taeyeon Pov:

"So are you happy to finally meet... and work with your favorite artist?" Doyoon asked, and Taeyeon turned her attention to him, who had just spoken.

Taeyeon hesitated for a moment, her mind still racing with the day's events. She managed a smile, though it felt somewhat forced. "Yes, I am. It's an exciting opportunity, and I'm looking forward to it," she said, her voice steady but not entirely convincing.

DoYoon seemed to sense the underlying tension. "You sure don't seem as thrilled as you would be," he said.

DoYoon's observation made Taeyeon's smile waver slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to mask her anxiety.

"It's just been a bit overwhelming today," Taeyeon said, her voice softening. "But I'm genuinely excited about the project. It's a great chance to work with someone I've admired for a long time."

DoYoon studied her for a moment, then gave a nod of understanding. "I get it. Starting a new project, which is huge, can be a lot to handle. Don't worry, I know you can do your best." 

His words are both encouraging and make her wonder if he really skipped the drink that night. Why would you do that? for what? She can definitely say it's not the effect of alcohol that day because she is not someone who can just forget what happens the next day after a kiss or lose control over herself to kiss some stranger who she has just met and talked with. 

She shook off her thoughts. "Thank you so much, DoYoon-shii," she replied.

After all the discussions and details about the project, Taeyeon finally had some time to head back home. She walked into her cabin, sinking into her chair with an exhausted sigh.

The project was a romantic and comedy manhwa, a romantic story about two people who find love after overcoming the trials of their past. 

The female lead was strong yet vulnerable, hiding her scars behind a facade of confidence. The male lead, on the other hand, was emotionally distant due to a past relationship that had left him shattered. Their chemistry was evident, and they were brought together by a sequence of unexpected events.

Just as she was about to start sorting through her notes, her phone buzzed with a new message. She picked it up, hoping for a distraction or perhaps a comforting word from someone she trusted.

"Hello ki-" "YAH! WHERE ARE YOU? HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PICK THE CALL? I CALLED YOU MORE THAN 10 TIMES!"

Taeyeon held her phone away from her ear, wincing at the loud burst of frustration from the other end. The notification on her screen showed a staggering 15 missed calls from Ki-joo, making her eyes widen in surprise.

She took a deep breath before bringing the phone back to her ear. "Ki-joo, I'm sorry, I've been caught up with work," she said, trying to sound clam.

Ki-joo's voice, still tinged with annoyance but slightly quieter, came through. "You finally answered! Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for ages. Just come to our usual place."

"I'm waiting for hours for you; it's already 8 pm" ki-joo added

Taeyeon's eyes widened at the mention of the time. She glanced at the clock on her desk—8 PM already. "Oh no, I completely lost track of time," she said, her voice tinged with regret.

Ki-joo sighed on the other end. "We both knew it. Come fast; I'll be waiting. Bye," she ended the call, not letting Taeyeon speak.

Taeyeon winced as Ki-joo ended the call abruptly. She quickly gathered her things, glancing around her cabin one last time to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything important.

Han Ki-joo is her most trusted and supportive person, a strong pillar on which she can rely, and she never hides anything important to her. She is her only best friend. 

After packing her things, she peeped out her head, checking if there was Minji or not, as she declined her offer to go on a party with her. She sighed, closing her eyes, as Minji was not there. When she opened her eyes, they landed on two legs; they wore Saint Laurent Wyatt leather Chelsea boots, and her eyes flicked up from the shoes to the person. 

To her surprise, it was Jimin. He stood there, looking around as if waiting for someone.

Jimin's eyebrows quirked upward; seeing her like that, she straightened. With a playful smile, he said, "Sneaking like a cat, huh?"

Taeyeon straightened, slightly taken aback by his comment. "Oh, I didn't mean to startle you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassment. "W-what are you doing here?"

He sighed before he started to speak. "Finally, alone to speak," he said with a smirk playing on his lips. 

"Sorry?"

Taeyeon's eyes widened slightly as Jimin took a step closer, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, my dear fan, don't act like we never met before," he said.

She felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew exactly what he was referring to. It was their chance to finally address it that night. 

"Look, Jimin-shii, I understand it's totally wrong."

Jimin's smirk widened as he interrupted her. "Wrong? About what?" he asked

Taeyeon took a deep breath, her hands slightly trembling. "About that night in Tokyo,. I know it was unexpected, and things got out of hand." Her voice wavered slightly as she continued, "I just wanted to apologize for any confusion or discomfort it might have caused."

Jimin's gaze was intense as he focused on Taeyeon. "I still wonder how you remember me, even after a year," he said with a sarcastic chuckle leaving from his lips

Taeyeon gathered her courage to speak, "Look, Park Jimin, it's a mistake; we both were not on the right mind at that time, and I still don't understand how that really happened. Now please don't make it-"

Jimin took a step forward, causing Taeyeon to instinctively step back, not letting her finish her sentence. "Do I look like a person who would use those reasons to suppress someone?" he said.

He then stepped back, creating some distance between them. "So, stop acting so nervous and feeling awkward around me. Be like a manhwa artist, not like a manhwa reader," he added with a smirk.

Taeyeon was surprised at first but realized he was right; she had assumed he would act like the typical CEOs or other heroic figures from Manhwa, following the usual tropes.

As Jimin turned to leave, he paused and glanced back at her. "I'm your manhwa hero, remember," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. Then, with that same smirk, he walked away, leaving Taeyeon standing there, speechless.