Only a short distance away from the concert venue stood Harbor Lane Kitchen, one of Busan's most prestigious fine-dining restaurants.
Even at that late hour, its warm golden lights illuminated the elegant stone façade, while the restaurant's signature name glowed softly above the entrance.
Inside...
Everything had been prepared long before the guests arrived.
Every table had been checked.
Every glass polished until it reflected the lights like crystal.
Every chair aligned perfectly.
There wasn't a single detail that had been left to chance.
Tonight, Harbor Lane Kitchen wasn't simply welcoming celebrities.
It was welcoming honoured guests.
Outside...
The quiet streets were suddenly interrupted by the low hum of approaching engines.
One after another...
A convoy of sleek black vehicles turned into the entrance before coming to a smooth stop outside the restaurant.
The security team stepped out first, instinctively scanning the surroundings before opening the vehicle doors.
Kim Joon was the first to step onto the pavement.
He glanced at the restaurant before adjusting the sleeve of his jacket.
"So this is the place."
Taehun climbed out behind him, letting out a tired sigh as he stretched his shoulders.
"I honestly don't care what they're serving..."
"...just bring me food."
Yomin laughed while closing the car door.
"You've been talking about food ever since the concert ended."
"Because I'm starving."
The others chuckled as they made their way toward the entrance.
A moment later...
Jeon J. stepped out of the last vehicle.
His expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever.
Without saying a word, Minji naturally fell into step beside him.
Sophia, Hana and Ruhi followed a few steps behind, chatting softly among themselves as they walked.
To them...
Harbor Lane Kitchen was simply the restaurant Jeon J. had reserved for dinner.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
No one paid any special attention to it as the group approached the entrance together.
Before they could reach the doors...
They opened from inside.
Manager Choi Min-Seok stepped forward first, a warm yet professional smile resting on his face.
Standing beside him was the owner of Harbor Lane Kitchen...
Executive Chef Kang Hyun-Woo.
Dressed in an immaculate black chef's coat embroidered with the restaurant's emblem, he carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone who demanded excellence without ever raising his voice.
Both men bowed respectfully.
"Welcome to Harbor Lane Kitchen."
"It's an honour to have all of you with us this evening."
Kim Joon smiled warmly before returning the bow.
"The honour is ours."
One by one...
The members greeted them politely before stepping inside.
The moment the doors closed behind them...
The atmosphere within the restaurant shifted.
The employees who had been waiting patiently immediately bowed together.
"Welcome."
Their voices blended into one respectful greeting that echoed softly through the elegant dining hall.
The evening shift had gathered to receive them.
Waitresses stood neatly in line near the reception.
Service supervisors waited beside them.
Kitchen helpers had stepped out from the preparation area.
Senior chefs.
Section chefs.
Even a few members of the kitchen brigade stood near the open kitchen entrance, offering polite bows before quietly returning to their stations.
Excitement was visible in almost every pair of eyes.
After all...
Standing before them were the seven members of TBS.
Artists admired by millions around the world.
Yet despite the excitement...
Not a single employee crossed the line.
No one asked for a photograph.
No one requested an autograph.
No one interrupted them with unnecessary conversation.
Every smile remained professional.
Every greeting remained respectful.
Their responsibility as hosts came before their admiration as fans.
Taehun glanced around the restaurant before leaning closer to Kim Joon.
"I was expecting at least someone to ask for a selfie."
Kim Joon smiled faintly.
"I think that's exactly why this place has such a good reputation."
Manager Choi gestured politely toward the private dining area.
"Please follow me."
The group began walking deeper into the restaurant.
As everyone admired the elegant interior...
One person barely seemed to notice it.
Jeon J.
His pace never changed.
His expression remained composed.
Yet his eyes moved quietly around the restaurant.
A waitress carrying a tray of freshly polished glasses walked past.
Not her.
Another employee adjusted the floral arrangement near the reception desk.
Not her.
A chef emerged briefly from the kitchen before disappearing inside again.
Still not her.
His gaze continued moving across the restaurant with such subtlety that it almost seemed unconscious.
He never stopped walking.
Never turned his head for too long.
Never allowed his expression to betray what he was searching for.
Only...
For the briefest moment...
The faintest line appeared between his brows.
Gone almost before it could be noticed.
Almost.
Jinhun, walking only a step behind him, caught the tiny change without saying a word.
His eyes quietly followed the direction of Jeon J.'s gaze before drifting across the restaurant himself.
A thoughtful look crossed his face.
Then...
Just as silently...
He looked away.
Meanwhile, Hyun-Woo continued speaking in his calm, professional manner.
"We've prepared a private dining room to ensure complete privacy throughout your visit."
"If there's anything you'd like changed or adjusted..."
"Please don't hesitate to let us know."
Jeon J. gave a polite nod.
"감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) Thank you"
His voice was as steady as ever.
Calm.
Controlled.
As though nothing occupied his thoughts.
Yet once again...
His eyes instinctively swept across the dining hall.
The reception.
The service stations.
The open kitchen entrance.
Nothing.
She wasn't there.
For a fraction of a second...
The crease between his brows returned.
Then disappeared just as quickly.
His face settled back into its usual unreadable calm before anyone else could notice.
Anyone...
Except Jinhun.
He didn't ask.
He didn't smile.
He simply watched Jeon J. in silence.
Because by now...
He was almost certain...
Jeon J. hadn't chosen Harbor Lane Kitchen for the food alone.
The private dining room had been prepared long before the guests arrived.
Unlike ordinary dining halls, this room reflected the quiet elegance Harbor Lane Kitchen was known for. Warm ambient lighting spread softly across the wooden interior, while floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering nightscape of Busan.
Instead of conventional dining chairs, a long handcrafted wooden table was surrounded by low lounge sofas, upholstered in soft beige fabric. Their height was only slightly above the polished wooden floor, allowing guests to sit comfortably or lean back after a long day.
It was a small detail...
Yet one that immediately caught everyone's attention.
The moment Manager Choi slid the glass door open and politely gestured inside...
A collective sigh escaped almost every member.
"Please make yourselves comfortable."
The words had barely left his mouth when Taehun let out a dramatic breath.
"Finally..."
"I'm alive."
Without waiting for anyone else, he practically dropped himself onto one of the low sofas.
Within seconds...
The others followed.
Kim Joon loosened the collar of his shirt before quietly settling into the corner.
Hosu leaned back, resting one arm across the backrest.
Yomin didn't even bother sitting properly.
The moment he reached the sofa, he leaned against the cushion, closed his eyes and stretched his legs comfortably.
Even Jeon J., who usually maintained perfect posture, allowed himself to relax against the backrest.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
For almost an entire minute...
The room fell into peaceful silence.
Months of schedules.
Weeks of rehearsals.
Hours of performing beneath blinding stage lights.
Every ounce of exhaustion finally settled over them.
Meanwhile...
Just outside the room...
Minji stood with her phone pressed against her ear.
"I'll be right back," she said before stepping aside to make a call.
The ringtone echoed once...
Twice...
Three times.
No answer.
She frowned slightly before ending the call.
"I'll try again later..."
Quietly slipping her phone back into her pocket, she made her way inside.
At the same time...
Inside the room...
Hana looked around before lowering herself onto the sofa beside Ruhi.
She blinked in surprise.
"...Why does everyone look like they're about to fall asleep?"
"I seriously thought tonight was going to be full of super reels."
Ruhi leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"I know, right?"
"I even had a few ideas ready."
Without opening his eyes...
Minjo spoke lazily from the opposite side of the table.
"Don't even think about it."
He lifted one eyelid just enough to look at the two girls.
"Today's not the day."
"You'll spend hours making reels..."
"...and then these cruel people won't even let you post them."
He pointed dramatically toward Kim Joon, Hosu and Yomin.
The three didn't even react.
Kim Joon had made one rule painfully clear from the very beginning.
No stories.
No live videos.
No reels featuring TBS outside official schedules.
It wasn't because they disliked social media.
It wasn't even about protecting themselves.
The rule existed to protect the girls standing beside them.
The moment people realized they were regularly seen with TBS...
Curiosity would follow.
Questions would turn into attention.
Attention would become intrusion.
Their names...
Their universities...
Their workplaces...
Their everyday lives...
Nothing would remain private anymore.
Ever since what had happened to Zoya...
They had all become far more cautious.
Kim Joon avoided unnecessary public outings whenever he could.
Unfortunately...
Their schedules—and fate—had a habit of making those gatherings happen anyway.
Minji could somehow manage the attention.
By now, many fans simply recognized her as Jeon J.'s close friend.
But Hana...
Ruhi...
Sophia...
Zoya...
They deserved the chance to live ordinary lives.
And Kim Joon intended to protect that normalcy for as long as he possibly could.
Hana pouted dramatically.
"Fine."
"But one day..."
"When we're finally allowed to upload them..."
"I'm posting every single reel."
She grinned mischievously.
"I'm going to show all my friends."
"And make them jealous."
Ruhi immediately nodded.
"Exactly."
"They're going to regret laughing at us."
Soft laughter spread through the room.
Even Hosu smiled without opening his eyes.
Just then...
The door slid open quietly.
Minji stepped back inside.
Jeon J.'s eyes instinctively lifted toward her.
Only for a second.
He didn't ask anything.
Didn't even speak.
Yet the glance didn't escape Jinhun's notice.
He looked from Jeon J. to Minji before asking naturally,
"So?"
"Did Zoya answer?"
Minji shook her head while sitting down.
"No."
"She didn't pick up."
"She'll probably call back once she sees the missed call."
She sighed softly.
"She should've reached home by now."
"I told her we'd already be back..."
"...but look at me."
She looked directly at Taehun.
"This is all your fault."
Jeon J. quietly closed his eyes.
He already knew what was coming next.
Taehun immediately straightened.
"Why is it always me?"
"What did I even do?"
"You made this dinner happen."
"I..."
"I..."
Taehun looked around helplessly.
"When did I—"
His words got stuck halfway.
The room burst into laughter.
Even Minjo couldn't hold it in anymore.
He chuckled before shaking his head.
"I'm kidding."
He waved a dismissive hand.
"Leave him alone."
Then, with perfect timing, he added,
"It wasn't even Taehun."
He pointed across the table.
"It was Jeon J."
"He insisted."
"We honestly didn't want to come."
"In fact..."
He glanced around the room.
"We were all ready to head straight back to the hotel."
"We're exhausted."
Everyone instinctively followed his gaze.
Kim Joon's head had tilted against the cushion.
Hosu's cap covered half his face.
Yomin...
Well...
Yomin had completely surrendered to sleep.
The faint sound of his soft snoring filled the room.
Silence followed.
Then...
Everyone laughed again.
Only one person didn't.
Jeon J.
His eyes rested quietly on the three members.
For the first time since leaving the concert venue...
A trace of guilt settled inside him.
They were tired.
Far more tired than they had admitted.
Yet...
Not one of them had refused his suggestion.
Not one had complained.
Simply because...
He had wanted to come.
And that realization weighed heavier than he expected.
For several long seconds...
Slowly...
He pushed himself up from the sofa.
The movement caught everyone's attention.
Hana paused mid-conversation.
Ruhi tilted her head curiously.
Even Minji looked over.
Without saying a word...
Jeon J. walked towards the opposite side of the table.
He stopped beside Yomin first.
A few strands of hair had fallen untidily across Yomin's forehead while he slept.
Jeon J. reached out quietly...
Brushing the messy strands away from his face with surprising gentleness.
Yomin didn't even stir.
A tiny smile unconsciously appeared on Jeon J.'s lips.
He then turned toward Hosu.
The black cap resting crookedly over Hosu's eyes looked uncomfortable.
Carefully...
Jeon J. lifted it off his head before placing it neatly on the table beside him.
Hosu shifted slightly in his sleep but didn't wake up.
Finally...
He walked over to Kim Joon.
There was just enough space beside him.
Without asking...
Jeon J. lowered himself onto the sofa.
Kim Joon remained motionless, his head resting against the back cushion, eyes closed.
For a brief moment...
Jeon J. simply looked at him.
Then...
Like a younger brother seeking comfort without needing permission...
He leaned sideways.
His arms slipped around Kim Joon's waist from the side.
Resting his forehead lightly against his shoulder.
The unexpected weight caused Kim Joon to shift.
His brows twitched.
Slowly...
He opened his eyes.
The room was slightly blurry at first.
Then he looked down.
Jeon J.
Still leaning against him.
Kim Joon blinked once.
A sleepy smile naturally found its way onto his lips.
"What happened?"
His voice came out hoarse from exhaustion.
"You suddenly became this clingy?"
Laughter immediately echoed around the room.
Hosu finally opened one eye.
"I knew I wasn't dreaming..."
"I actually saw Jeon J. acting cute."
Taehun dramatically placed a hand over his chest.
"Someone record this."
"No..."
He looked around.
"Actually don't."
"The world's not ready."
More laughter filled the room.
Even Minji smiled.
Jeon J. ignored every single comment.
Instead...
He quietly shifted again.
This time resting his head against Kim Joon's chest.
"...Let's just go back to the hotel."
The words came out so quietly...
That they sounded more like the tired confession of a younger brother than a genuine suggestion.
The laughter slowly faded.
For a second...
Everyone understood.
He wasn't talking about the hotel.
He was blaming himself.
Kim Joon understood it immediately.
Without saying anything...
He gently placed a hand on the back of Jeon J.'s head.
Ruffling his hair softly.
Then he sat up a little straighter.
"No."
His tone remained light.
"We've only just arrived."
"If we leave now..."
"We'll end up ordering room service."
He counted on his fingers lazily.
"Then we'll wait for the food..."
"Eat half asleep..."
"Leave the trays lying around..."
"And tomorrow morning our rooms will smell like food."
Another chuckle escaped the members.
Kim Joon smiled.
"So..."
"We're eating here."
"Then we'll go back and sleep like normal people."
The heaviness inside the room disappeared almost instantly.
Jeon J. looked up at him for a second.
Kim Joon smiled as though nothing unusual had happened.
No lectures.
No teasing.
Just...
Understanding.
Jeon J. silently nodded.
"...Okay."
Across the room...
Jinhun watched the interaction quietly.
Sometimes...
Kim Joon didn't even need words.
He always knew exactly what everyone around him needed.
A gentle knock sounded against the glass door.
Before anyone could answer...
The door slid open.
Manager Choi entered first.
Behind him...
Several waitresses carefully pushed elegant serving carts into the room.
Large ceramic dishes were placed one after another across the long wooden table.
The rich aroma instantly filled the private dining room.
Freshly grilledSamgyeopsal (thick slices of Korean grilled pork belly) sizzled softly on a heated stone platter.
Beside it sat beautifully prepared Yangnyeom Chicken (Korean double-fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy glaze).
A generous serving of Dak Galbi (stir-fried spicy chicken with vegetables) released clouds of fragrant steam.
Bowls of fluffy steamed white rice followed.
Then came glossy Japchae (sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and beef),
crispyHaemul Pajeon (Korean seafood and scallion pancake),
freshly fermented Kimchi (spicy pickled napa cabbage),
an assortment of Banchan (traditional Korean side dishes),
bubbling Doenjang Jjigae (rich soybean paste stew),
baskets of fresh lettuce leaves served with ssamjang dipping sauce for wrapping the grilled meat.
Alongside the feast, chilled bottles of premium soju and Korean lager beer were placed neatly across the table.
Kim Joon quietly poured the first round while the others casually refilled their own glasses between conversations.
Ruhi and Sophia politely declined the alcohol, choosing iced barley tea instead, its gentle aroma a comforting contrast to the lively dinner.
Now and then, the soft clink of glasses blended with laughter as the evening slowly settled into an easy, relaxed rhythm.
Within minutes...
The once-empty table had transformed into a feast.
Outside the room...
Two young waitresses quietly watched through the half-open doorway while arranging the final trays.
One of them lowered her voice.
"Who are those girls sitting with TBS?"
The other glanced towards Minji, Hana, Sophia and Ruhi.
"I'm not sure..."
"I think they're part of their staff."
She smiled faintly.
"You know how humble TBS is."
"They always take good care of the people working with them."
"Hmm..."
Before the conversation could continue...
Manager Choi gently cleared his throat.
The two waitresses straightened immediately.
"We're sorry, sir."
Quickly picking up the empty trays, they bowed before leaving the room.
Manager Choi stepped forward with his usual professional smile.
"I sincerely hope everything is to your liking."
Jeon J. looked up politely.
"There is one thing."
Manager Choi immediately gave him his full attention.
"Of course."
"Please tell me."
Jeon J.'s voice remained calm.
"We're all quite exhausted after today's schedule."
He offered a courteous smile.
"So... I'd appreciate it if our privacy could be maintained."
"If anyone comes to meet us..."
"I don't think we'll have the energy to refuse."
Manager Choi smiled reassuringly.
"Please don't worry, sir."
"We've already made all the necessary arrangements."
"No guests will be allowed anywhere near this private section."
"You may enjoy your dinner for as long as you wish."
"No one will disturb you."
Satisfied...
Jeon J. inclined his head slightly.
"Thank you."
After Manager Choi excused himself and quietly left the room...
Silence lingered for only two seconds.
Then...
Clap!
Hosu slowly applauded while looking at Jeon J.
"Well..."
"Someone's surprisingly straightforward today."
Everyone turned toward him.
"First..."
"First you told RAMY they could record later, but to enjoy the concert first... and now you're being this straightforward again?"
He gestured toward the closed door.
"That."
Taehun nodded dramatically.
"Our quiet prince is evolving."
Jeon J. merely shrugged one shoulder.
"So?"
The single word made everyone burst into laughter.
Minjo pointed toward the still-sleeping Yomin.
"Before your evolved prince starts eating..."
"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty first."
Everyone looked toward Yomin...
Who continued sleeping peacefully...
Completely unaware...
That the entire table had already started laughing at him.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK