Taeyeon's Pov:

3 weeks have passed since that day, and Taeyeon has shared what happened with Ki-joo, as she always does. Ki-joo was really as surprised as Taeyeon, and moreover, Taehyung knows JM is Taeyeon's favorite artist, but he has never told him it's none other than his best friend.

Ki-joo has blamed Taehyung for not saying or introducing any of his friends, Taeyeon, just because of the reason being protective, but she didn't slip her tongue about Taeyeon's secret, which is only known to her.

At the company, rumors had spread like wildfire. The first was about Do-yoon and Taeyeon, with many speculating that they were dating. The second rumor involved a love triangle between Taeyeon, Jimin, and Do-yoon. However, these rumors had not gained much traction due to the company's focus on a major project.

Taeyeon had been working tirelessly on the manhwa script, even helping with the drawings alongside Jimin. Do-yoon had been overseeing the editing process, while Minji had been arranging the lettering. The entire team had put in countless hours, and finally, the day of the manhwa's release had arrived.

The only thing that remained unfinished was the title of the manhwa. The team had been brainstorming ideas for weeks, but they couldn't agree on anything.

As Taeyeon sat alone in her office, pondering the title, she couldn't help but think about the things that had happened over the past few weeks. She knew that she needed to focus on the task at hand, but her thoughts kept wandering back to Jimin.

She shook her head, determined to push the distractions aside. "Come on, Taeyeon, focus," she muttered to herself. The knock on the door had caught her off guard, and she wasn't sure she was ready to face anyone, especially Jimin.

"Come in," she called out, trying to steady her voice, though she could feel the nervous energy coursing through her.

The door creaked open, and Jimin stepped inside, his ever-present smile lighting up the room. There was something different about his smile lately—brighter, more frequent. It was a shift that Taeyeon couldn't quite figure out, and it only added to her confusion.

"Busy?" he asked, his voice a soft caress against the cool air. His eyes were a deep, captivating shade of brown, staring only at her, almost as if he could see right through the walls she had been trying so hard to put up.

Taeyeon's heart pounded as she fumbled with her notepad; the mess of ideas scribbled and crossed out was a testament to her creative block. "J-just trying to come up with a title," she stammered, feeling a bit flustered under his scrutiny.

He chuckled, walking to her. "Hmm," he said, leaning in closer and peering over her shoulder. His gaze lingered on the page, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Let's see," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

Taeyeon felt a shiver run down her spine as his warm breath brushed against her ear. Her cheeks flushed and her ears redden at the closeness while his finger tracing the words written in book

"Hm... A chance at us," he murmured, his voice barely audible. His gaze met hers, and for a moment, it was as if the rest of the world disappeared.

She blinked a few times, her heart pounding in her chest. Turning her gaze back to the words on her notepad, she whispered, "A chance at us?" Her voice was barely a breath, but it seemed to echo in the quiet room.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice still soft but with a hint of conviction, standing straight and leaving a little space

"It fits, don't you think?" Jimin asked, a subtle yet reassuring smile curving his lips. His tone was light, but his eyes held a deeper meaning.

Taeyeon tilted her head to the side, her breath catching. "How?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Jimin stepped closer, his smile deepening. "Like a second chance," he began softly, his eyes searching hers. "At something more. At letting go of the past and seeing what could be, if we just take a leap."

Taeyeon's heart pound in her chest. She'd never imagined hearing these words from Jimin. They felt like a confession, a promise. "Sometimes," he continued, "we miss out on things because we're too afraid to take that chance. But maybe this is a way to say we're ready to see what happens if we do."

"I mean, they suit the plot of the manhwa," he said, straightening up.

Taeyeon blinked, trying to steady her racing heart as Jimin's words settled in. The way he spoke, it felt like he was revealing something far more personal, but his sudden shift back to the project caught her off guard.

"Of course, the plot," she repeated, her voice a little unsteady. She cleared her throat, trying to mask the emotions that were bubbling up inside her. "It really does suit the story we're telling."

Jimin nodded, his expression now more professional, but the intensity in his eyes hadn't fully faded. "It captures the essence of the journey our characters are on—the idea that they can find something new, something better, if they're brave enough to take that step."

Taeyeon gave a barely perceptible nod, her gaze shifting away from his. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes again, not with the lingering tension that seemed to crackle in the air between them. Her heart was still racing. 

"Yeah," she murmured, her voice soft as she focused on the notepad in front of her. "It's definitely the right title."

"Then let's go," Jimin said, turning on his heel. He paused, turning his head to the side. "You're the only one who's late there," he said.

Taeyeon's eyes widened. She quickly edited the title on the cover page of the manhwa, making everything ready.

Jimin watched Taeyeon work, a soft smile playing on his lips. He was struck by her dedication and the way she threw herself into her work, even when she was clearly still a little flustered.

"You have a real talent for this," he said, his voice low and warm. "I can see why they chose you for this project."

Taeyeon looked up, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Thank you," she replied, her voice a bit breathless.

--------------------------

As they walked out of the cabin and towards the conference room, Taeyeon felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Her head spun, and she stumbled slightly, her hand reaching out for Jimin's arm to steady herself.

"Are you okay?" Jimin asked, concern etched on his face.

Taeyeon gave a slow nod. "Yes, I am," she replied, her voice a little shaky.

Jimin nodded, though he wasn't entirely convinced. As they opened the door, all eyes turned to them. Some team members were excitedly whispering to each other, while others were focused on the upcoming release of the manhwa on their website.

"Oh, Taeyeon-ah!" Minji called out, approaching her. "Where have you been? You took forever!" she whined.

"It just took a while to choose the title," Taeyeon replied, her voice a bit strained.

Minji rolled her eyes. "Well, hurry up and get ready for the launch. We're running out of time."

Taeyeon nodded and quickly made her way to her seat. Jimin watched her, a concerned expression on his face. He knew she was pushing herself too hard, but after working with her for three weeks, he also knew that she was passionate about her work.

Jimin's  Pov:

While Jimin stared at her, she was wearing a cream blouse with a black floral pattern, neatly tucked into a black pencil skirt with a front slit. The soft elegance of the blouse contrasted with the modern, stylish edge of the skirt. Nude-colored flats with a small bow detail completed her look in a way that made it hard for him to tear his gaze away.

But he also couldn't help but notice how pale Taeyeon looked. She seemed to be fading before his eyes. He was worried that she might collapse. As the launch began, Taeyeon sat at her desk, her hands trembling slightly. Jimin sat beside her, noticing her trembling hands and shaking legs—a habit he'd observed since spending time with her.

The chairperson of K-Toon Factory, who was eagerly awaiting the reality of their company's huge project, stood in the conference room alongside Namjoon. and everyone else. Including the guest artist, Jimin himself, everyone stood up and bowed to the older man.

The older man was touched by the modesty of his guest artist. "Please be seated," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

3rd person Pov

Taeyeon's eyes widened suddenly as Jimin's hand found hers, unnoticed by others. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "It's okay; don't be nervous."

Taeyeon nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to focus on the launch, but her mind was racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. But Jimin's hands on hers make her feel warm, giving her the assurance along with a tangle that wasn't noticed by anyone in the room.

Finally, the launch was a success. As Taeyeon tried to slide away to her cabin, her head throbbed a lot, but Minji stopped her.

Minji grabbed Taeyeon's arm, Minji's big doe eyes wide with excitement. "Taeyeon, it's a huge success! The website is crashing from all the traffic!"

Taeyeon smiled weakly, trying to hide her pain and tiredness behind her ever-sweet, half-boxy smile, which was shared by Taehyung by birth. 

"That's great," she replied, as her voice is a bit low.

Minji didn't even notice Taeyeon's weak response and continued talking to her. Do-yoon joined their conversation, and soon, some of the team members started discussing how Do-yoon and Taeyeon interacted with each other.

Jimin's Pov:

Jimin noticed them, but he was more concerned about Taeyeon than the team members' words. She looked pale; her almond eyes show the tiredness in them.

"Ahem," he said, clearing his throat as he walked to them.

"Oh, Jimin-shii," said Minji immediately after noticing Jimin. "You are the main one, our guest artist," she added.

"Yeah, that's true, but still, our Taeyeon had worked harder," said Do-yoon, looking away, not interested in speaking to Jimin, which Jimin didn't even care about; instead, he agreed.

"Yeah, if it weren't for Taeyeon creating a perfect script to match my imagination for the manhwa, I couldn't have done it," Jimin said.

"Also, she even helped me to finish half of drawing work," he added with a huge smile as his small eyes disappeared in that smile.

Minji and Do-yoon looked at each other, surprised at Jimin's agreement. Of course, who wouldn't if they knew how humble he was? They wouldn't be surprised, but as they didn't have any idea, they were just surprised, including Taeyeon.

"You're right," Minji admitted. "Taeyeon's script was amazing."

Jimin smiled at Taeyeon. "You're a talented writer," he said. "Your work is invaluable."

Taeyeon blushed. She was touched by their compliments and smiled, which slightly brought light into her brown eyes.

"Um, Taeyeon-shii, would you mind helping me with some adjustments for the remaining chapters?" Jimin asked, making an excuse to take Taeyeon aside.

Taeyeon didn't hesitate and nodded. "Sure, I can help," she replied in a low voice. 

Jimin's heart melted at her nod, like she was even ready, even though she didn't feel good. Her beautiful face and her smile hid all the tiredness, but her eyes betrayed her to hide them in front of Jimin without knowing to her. 

Before they both were about head, a team member interrupted, "Jimin-shi, the Hwe-jang-nim wants to see you."

Jimin's expression shifted slightly, masking the irritation he felt at the interruption. But he quickly composed himself, giving a polite nod. "Of course, I'll be right there," he replied, maintaining his professional demeanor.

Jimin excused himself and headed toward the chairman's office. As he entered, he found the chairman seated comfortably in their chair, a warm smile creasing their wrinkled faces. Namjoon stood beside them, his arms crossed.

"Park Jimin," the chairman said, their voice gruff yet welcoming. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Namjoon has told me so much about your work."

Namjoon couldn't hide the shy smile that spread across his face. "He's taken on a lot of responsibility since becoming CEO," the chairman added.

Jimin bowed deeply, his heart pounding. "Thank you for having me, Hwe-Jang-Nim. I'm honored to be a part of this project with this company."

3rd person POV:

Mr. Kim, the grandfather and founder of K-Toon Factory, has loved Manhwa since he was a teenager. His family owned a bookshop, and he would read a whole manhwa in just one day. When he grew older, at the age of 25, he decided to start his own company to create Manhwa.

Mr. Kim's passion for manhwa led him to establish K-Toon Factory at the age of 25. The company started small, but with his dedication and love for the art, it quickly gained popularity. K-Toon Factory became known for producing some of the best manhwa in the country, capturing the hearts of many readers.

However, as the years went by, the company faced challenges. New technology and changing trends in entertainment led to a decline in manhwa sales. K-Toon Factory struggled to keep up with the times, and the business started to suffer. There was a period when the company almost went under, with many people thinking it wouldn't survive.

But Mr. Kim didn't give up. He believed in the power of storytelling and decided to adapt. With the help of his grandson, Namjoon, who took over as CEO, they began to modernize the company. They embraced digital platforms, collaborated with new artists, and focused on creating stories that resonated with younger audiences.

Thanks to their efforts, K-Toon Factory has regained its popularity. Today, it's once again a leading name in the manhwa industry, loved by readers both old and new. 

Jimin Pov

As the chairman, Mr. Kim, delved into the history of the company—its rise, fall, and eventual resurgence—Jimin listened attentively, nodding at appropriate moments. Mr. Kim's passion for the company was evident, and Jimin respected that, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Taeyeon.

He unconsciously traced a small circle on the table with his finger, a nervous habit he'd developed lately.

'Is she okay?' he wondered, the image of her pale face and tired eyes lingering in his mind.

"...and that's how we managed to turn things around," Mr. Kim concluded, his voice pulling Jimin back to the present.

Jimin blinked, quickly refocusing on the conversation. "That's an incredible journey, Hwe-Jang-Nim. Your leadership and now Namjoon's guidance have truly made a difference."

Mr. Kim smiled, clearly pleased by the young man's words, letting out a heartfelt laugh. He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of him. "It's all about having the right person at the right place, and I'm confident that with talents like yours, we'll continue to thrive."

Namjoon was obviously inherited from the chairman, whose smile caused his dimples to deepen. 

Jimin nodded, forcing a smile, but his thoughts remained on Taeyeon. He wanted to know is she okay or not.

As the meeting wrapped up, Mr. Kim's words barely registered in Jimin's mind. The older man stood, signaling the end of their discussion. "Oh, it's already late; we'll meet again next time," Mr. Kim said, his smile widening.

Jimin bowed respectfully, a polite smile on his face. "Thank you, Hwe-Jang-Nim. I look forward to it."

As he turned to leave, Jimin couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him. The moment he stepped out of the chairman's office, his thoughts were consumed by Taeyeon. He needed to check on her to make sure she was alright.

Without another moment's hesitation, Jimin headed straight to Taeyeon's cabin, probably thinking that she might have been working, his pace quickening with every step.

Jimin halted, his breath catching in his throat. He ran a hand through his long blonde hair, smoothing it back, then adjusted his clothes. He wanted to appear calm and collected, but a flicker of worry danced in his eyes.

He rapped his knuckles against the cabin door, but there was no answer. A second knock met with the same silence. Just as he was about to try a third, Minji interrupted him.

"Oh, Jimin-shi! Taeyeon just left a moment ago. Do you need any help?" She asked, her smile bright.

She has already gone? In that state? Jimin frowned, turning to face Minji. He shook his head, forcing a smile.

"It's okay. There is not plenty to do. Thank you," he replied.

As he was about to walk away, his steps faltered as Minji's words reached him, making him stop in his tracks. The question hung in the air, laced with something more than mere curiosity. He turned slowly, his face carefully neutral, though his mind raced.

"You know Taeyeon even before you collaborated with this company, don't you?" Minji's smile was sweet, but there was an undercurrent in her tone that set off alarm bells in Jimin's mind. It wasn't the usual lighthearted way she spoke; it was something entirely different.

Jimin raised an eyebrow, his expression giving nothing away. He'd always been good at reading people, a skill further developed through years of understanding characters and emotions in his art. Minji's tone was a giveaway—there was something behind her words, something she wasn't saying outright.

He offered a polite smile, but there was a careful distance in it. "I've known Taeyeon for a while only by this collaboration," he replied, keeping his tone even.

"Why did you ask that?" he added casually.

Minji's smile didn't waver, but Jimin could see the faint flicker of something in her eyes—suspicion, maybe even jealousy.

But for what?

She shrugged lightly, as if brushing off her own question. "Oh, just curious. You both seemed to have a close, that's all. It's rare to see you show so much concern."

How did she even know that I was worried? he thought

Jimin kept his expression calm, though his mind was on high alert. "It's important to have a good working relationship, right?" He said it smoothly, not giving away anything more than necessary.

Minji nodded, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than felt comfortable. "Of course. I didn't mean to imply anything else, but..."

Jimin's eyes narrowed slightly at the word "but," sensing that Minji was about to say something that could shift the conversation in an unexpected direction.

"But," Minji continued, her tone now slightly more cautious, "I've noticed that you've been more... attentive toward Taeyeon than with others. It's just something I picked up on, and I can't help but wonder if there's more to it."

Jimin remained composed, though his mind raced. He wasn't sure what Minji was trying to get at, but he knew he had to tread carefully. "Taeyeon is a crucial part of this project," he replied, his voice steady. "If she's not at her best, it affects all of us. I believe in looking out for my team members—nothing more."

Minji seemed to consider his words, her eyes searching his face for any sign of weakness. "Of course," she finally said, her smile returning, though it didn't reach her beautiful deo eyes. 

"I just wanted to make sure there were no misunderstandings. There are some rumors out there that might effect this project and even yours."

Jimin already knew about that and nodded, though his guard was now fully up. "Thanks for your concern, Minji-shi. There is no need to worry about that." 

"I know how to handle these types of rumors and all," he continued as his plump lips curving into a smile, which is more like a smirk.

Minji's smile faltered for just a moment, catching the subtle shift in Jimin's tone. It was clear that while he remained polite, there was an underlying message in his words—one that told her to stay in her lane.

"Of course," she said, her voice a touch cooler now. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

Jimin gave a slight nod, maintaining his polite demeanor. "Thank you, Minji-shi; I have to go now."

Jimin couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that Minji's questions had stirred in him. As he walked away, her words echoed in his mind, leaving a bitter taste. She had been fishing for something, but what exactly? Was she trying to figure out the type of his relationship with Taeyeon, or was there something more to her probing? 

What exactly does she want to know?