Taeyeon's mind replayed Jimin's words over and over as she headed to meet Ki-joo. His parting line echoed in her head: "I'm your manhwa hero, remember." It felt both teasing and sincere.

(The above picture is just for reference.)

By the time she reached the bar, she saw Ki-joo where Ki-joo was waiting, but she was still lost in thought. She walked in, scanning the room, until her eyes landed on Ki-joo, who was sitting in their usual corner spot, looking slightly annoyed but also relieved to see her.

"There you are!" Ki-joo exclaimed, standing up as Taeyeon approached. "I was about to come drag you out of that office myself."

Taeyeon gave an apologetic smile, sliding into the seat across from her. "Sorry, I got caught up in... well, a lot," she said, her thoughts still lingering on Jimin.

Ki-joo narrowed her eyes, immediately sensing that something was off. "You're acting weird," she said bluntly. "Spill it."

Before Taeyeon could respond, Ki-joo leaned in with a playful glint in her eyes. "Hey, is it true that your company is going to work with JM and you are included, huh?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Taeyeon let out a soft sigh, her watermelon-shaded lips curving into a faint smile. "It's not like that, Ki-joo," she said, her tone carrying a hint of exasperation.

Ki-joo leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Yah! Is that how you reacted when you met your favorite, inspiring artist?" she teased. "I thought you'd be over the moon!"

Taeyeon's faint smile faded as she glanced down at the table. "You remember the guy I told you about? The one from that night. in Tokyo?"

Ki-joo's smile turned into frown, remembering his name "Yeah, his name is something like... Jmin...J..." 

"Jimin" Taeyeon said. 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. What about him?" Ki-joo asked, shoving her hands and leaning back on the chair.

Taeyeon nodded, her hands fidgeting slightly on the table. "Well, it turns out Jimin is JM, the artist we're working with. So, he's not just some random guy from that night—he's my new guest artist."

Ki-joo's eyes widened in shock, her mouth dropping open. "No way! You're telling me that JM, your favorite artist, is the same guy from that night?!"

"That's what I have told you."

Ki-joo leaned back in her chair, still processing the information. "That's insane! I mean, of all the people, it had to be him." 

Ki-joo's serious expression quickly melted into laughter, her amusement bubbling over uncontrollably. "I can't believe this! Out of all the men in the world, it had to be him! This is like some crazy plot twist in a drama!" she exclaimed, wiping away tears of laughter.

Taeyeon stared at her in disbelief, her own frustration rising. "Yah! This isn't funny!

Ki-joo finally calmed down, taking a deep breath. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. But seriously, Taeyeon-ah, this is wild. You couldn't make this up if you tried. How are you going to deal with this?"

Taeyeon sighed, leaning back in her seat. "Honestly, I have no idea. I just want to focus on the project and keep things professional, but... it's complicated." She also said what he had told her before she was here.

Taeyeon sighed and added, "He said not to act so awkward and weird around him. And then he called himself my 'manhwa hero' before walking off with that smirk on his face."

Ki-joo's eyes widened, and she let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh my god, he really said that?!" She burst into laughter again. "This is too good! Your 'Manhwa hero'! He's practically flirting with you!"

"Shut up!" Taeyeon groaned, feeling her cheeks heat up as Ki-joo's laughter echoed through the bar. "It's not like that."

Ki-joo wiped away a tear from laughing so hard, shaking her head. "Oh, come on! How can you not see it? "

Taeyeon sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "I just don't want things to get complicated. This is work, Ki-joo. I don't need any distractions."

Ki-joo smirked, taking a sip of her drink. "You say that now, but what if this 'manhwa hero' ends up becoming the real deal? You never know, Tae."

Taeyeon shot a glare at her. "I'm not here to live out some manhwa storyline in real life. Let's just focus on surviving this project."

Ki-joo chuckled, bringing her glass forward. "Just make sure you are keeping these all safe from your brother."

"Oh, trust me, keeping this from my brother is priority number one. If he ever found out... I can't even imagine."

Ki-joo smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, he would probably go into full protective mode. You know how he is about you—he wouldn't let this go easily."

Taeyeon let out a small sigh, her thoughts drifting to her overprotective brother. "He means well, but I just don't want to complicate things any more than they already are. I need to focus on this project and not let anything—especially this—get in the way."

Ki-joo's eye softened, and she reached out her hand to Taeyeon's. "Don't worry; whatever happens, I'm with you."

Taeyeon smiled, her heart warming at Ki-joo's words. She squeezed her friend's hand gently. "Since when did our Ki-joo become a softie?"  

 Ki-joo rolled her eyes, which Taeyeon chuckled at. 

After a long evening of drinks and laughter, Taeyeon and Ki-joo finally left the bar. The night air was crisp and refreshing. They walked together, their steps slightly uneven, talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

When they reached Taeyeon's apartment, Ki-joo nudged her with a playful grin. "You better get some rest for tomorrow. I don't want you to show up looking like a zombie in front of your manhwa hero."

Taeyeon rolled her eyes and snapped, "Shut up," as she entered the passcode to her apartment. The door clicked open, and she stepped inside, turning back to give Ki-joo one last playful glare.

"Come in, idiot," she added, holding the door open for her friend.

Ki-joo grinned and followed her inside, kicking off her shoes as she made herself comfortable. "I missed your house a lot." 

Taeyeon chuckled as she closed the door behind them. "You always say that."

Ki-joo flopped onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. "Finally home. It's been a hectic day."

"Good night!" Taeyeon said, lying down near the couch

Ki-joo stretched out and looked over at Taeyeon, who had settled down on the floor near the couch. "Good night!" she replied, her voice warm and reassuring.

Taeyeon gave her a sleepy smile. "Sleep well," she said, closing her eyes.

Jimin Pov:

Jimin walked out of his shower, a towel draped over his shoulder, while he used the other end to dry his hair. The steam from the bathroom clung to him, and he looked relaxed and refreshed. As he walked into his room, he noticed his phone buzzing on the nightstand.

He grabbed it, noticing a message from his manager about the upcoming project and a reminder for the next day's schedule. Jimin sighed and set the phone down, heading to his wardrobe to pick out some comfortable clothes for the evening.

Jimin sat at his desk, pulling out his drawing tablet and setting it up. He took a moment to review the latest sketches and notes for the project. As he began to work, his mind wandered back to the conversation with Taeyeon earlier, a smile tugging on his lips.

The way she was  peeking out and then looking up at him when he stood in front of her, her innocent eyes, and those pink lips he barely controlled to remain not the Tokyo night.

He couldn't shake off her speechless reaction when he called himself her "manhwa hero." Her eyes had widened in surprise, and the way her lips slightly parted as she tried to process his words was etched into his mind.

His smile turned into a chuckle; she didn't know just one night with her would heal him from his heartbreak. It's true what elders say; we meet the right person at the right time, but for him, it was more than just a saying; it was a reality he was living.

He still doesn't have an idea what it's called, but he enjoyed the sensation but was determined not to let it interfere with his work. After being away for four years, Jimin was focused on concentrating fully on his projects and ensuring that his return to work was a successful one.

Next day

Taeyeon Pov:

The next morning, Taeyeon woke up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through her curtains. She groaned as she stretched and checked the time. She turned her head to the couch but found Ki-Joo nowhere.

Taeyeon looked at her phone, which buzzed with a message from Ki-joo. The text read: "Morning! I just left for a quick errand. Don't worry, I made you breakfast before I left. You should find it in the kitchen. Have a good day, and don't let the JM thing get to you too much."

A small smile appeared on Taeyeon's face. She got up, feeling the ache in her neck from sleeping on the floor, and stretched out her limbs.

Taeyeon took a refreshing shower, letting the warm water ease her sore muscles. After getting dressed and feeling more awake, she headed to the kitchen. Ki-joo had left her a very tasty breakfast waiting for her.

(Outfit)

As she ate, she reviewed her schedule for the day. After finishing her breakfast, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. 

Taeyeon called out as she stepped outside, raising her hand to hail a taxi. A cab quickly pulled over, and she got in, giving the driver her destination.

"Thank you," she said with a sweet smile after paying off and going into the company. 

As she walked in, to her luck, the lift was empty. She happily slid and pressed 14 floor. The elevator doors slid open once more as a hand wedged between them. Taeyeon looked up to see Jimin stepping inside, his expression neutral but his eyes catching hers.

"Good morning," he said with a polite nod, his voice smooth and calm.

Taeyeon managed a small smile, feeling a flutter of nerves. "Good morning, Jimin-shii."

Jimin Pov

Jimin kept stealing glances at Taeyeon, a smile playing on his lips as he admired her. He thought to himself, Beautiful. He lowered his head slightly, trying to hide his smile but failing to suppress the warmth it brought him.

As the elevator reached the 3rd floor, a rush of people squeezed in, causing Jimin to be pushed closer of Taeyeon. The proximity made him acutely aware of her presence, and he could smell the faint hint of her perfume.

Jimin leaned in slightly, his voice barely audible over the hum of the elevator. "Sorry," he whispered, his tone sincere and gentle.

Taeyeon looked up, catching his eye and giving a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay," she replied softly, her voice barely rising above a whisper as well. 

On the 11th floor, the crowd thinned out, giving Jimin and Taeyeon a bit more space. 

Minji, who had just stepped into the elevator, called out with a surprised and cheerful tone, "Oh, Jimin-shii!"

Jimin turned, a bit startled but quickly regaining his composure. He smiled and waved slightly. "Good morning!"

Minji's eyes lit up as she noticed Taeyeon. "Taeyeon!"

Taeyeon gave her a smile.

"So we have a team here," Minji said, to which Jimin shrugged.

Taeyeon and Jimin stepped out of the elevator, and Taeyeon gave a quick wave to Minji as she headed in her direction.

Jimin watched Minji disappear around the corner before turning to Taeyeon. He saw Taeyeon tune her heels to leave.

Jimin called out as Taeyeon began to walk away. "Taeyeon-shi!"

Taeyeon stopped and turned back as Jimin approached with his usual smile. "I need some assistance with the script. Would you mind providing it for me?" he asked.

"Sure," she said, and she followed him.

Jimin led Taeyeon down the hallway to his office, where he gestured for her to sit. "I need help with a few revisions to the script. It's mainly about the character development and some dialogue adjustments," he explained as he handed her a draft.

Jimin noticed the surprise on Taeyeon's face as she processed the script. He could sense her surprise at how quickly he had reviewed the script and already requested adjustments.

 "I like to get feedback early to make sure everything aligns with the vision we have," he added.

Taeyeon nodded, still a bit taken aback but appreciative of his thoroughness. "I see. Well, let's make these changes and see how it flows."

As they worked together, Taeyeon found herself more engaged in the project, with the pace picking up quickly. Jimin asked for numerous changes, and while Taeyeon tried to keep up, she occasionally received judgmental looks from him, which made her feel a bit self-conscious.

"Sorry if I'm being too demanding," Jimin said after one particularly detailed round of changes. "I just want to make sure we get this right."

Taeyeon Pov

Taeyeon knocked on Jimin's office door, taking a moment to steady herself. When she heard his voice calling her in, she opened the door and stepped inside, holding the revised script.

"Jimin-shii, I've made the changes you requested. Could you please review these?" she said, handing him the updated script.

Jimin looked up from his desk, taking the script from her hands. His eyes scanned the pages as he flipped through them. She can tell by his expression that he isn't satisfied.

Jimin looked up from the script, shaking his head slightly. "This is the character design, but the script doesn't match the female character at all," he said, his tone revealing his dissatisfaction.

"Look, when the character description doesn't match the design, it's a waste of time, Taeyeon," he added, his frustration evident.

Taeyeon took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "I understand,-"

Jimin cut her off, saying, "Make another draft. I want this to be perfect."

Taeyeon felt a pang of frustration but nodded. "I'll get right on it," she replied, her voice steady despite the tension.

As she turned to leave, she couldn't help but feel the pressure mounting. Jimin's perfectionism was pushing her limits, but it's also her work to prove herself.

Is this how it feels to work with him? she thought, frustration bubbling in her mind. She had heard stories about Jimin's dedication and high standards, but experiencing it firsthand was something entirely different. If the start is like this, what about the coming days?