Aurora Publishing Group – CEO Office
Rain drummed softly against the floor-to-ceiling windows as Yoon Soo-ah reviewed the latest report on the leaked chapters.
The numbers were worse than she expected.
Thousands of shares.
Hundreds of comments.
And a growing wave of criticism spreading across online platforms.
She closed the file and leaned back in her chair.
A knock echoed through the office.
"Come in," she said.
Her manager, Siri, entered with a tablet in hand.
"Ma'am, the writing company has responded to your message."
Soo-ah lifted her gaze.
"What did they say?"
"The CEO wishes to meet you personally."
"At Aurora Publishing?"
"No, ma'am."
Soo-ah raised an eyebrow.
"Then where?"
"At blue hour café, 4:00pm "
For the first time that day, a flicker of surprise crossed her expression.
"A café?"
"Yes. He chose the location himself and already sent the address and time."
Soo-ah studied the message on the screen.
The confidence in it was almost unsettling.
"Arrange the meeting," she said at last.
"Yes, ma'am."
As Siri turned to leave, Soo-ah looked back at the rain-streaked window.
What kind of man invites the CEO of a publishing group to a café during this hard time?
Blue Hour Cafe
Soft jazz played in the background as Soo-ah stepped inside.
The warm scent of roasted coffee beans filled the air.
Near the window sat a man in a dark green shirt, the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms. One hand rested around a coffee mug while the other tapped lightly against the table.
When he noticed her approaching, he rose immediately.
"Yoon Soo-ah," she said, extending her hand.
He accepted it without hesitation.
"Kim Hyun-woo. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
His handshake was firm, confident, and unexpectedly warm.
"Please," he said, gesturing toward the seat across from him. "What would you like?"
"A cappuccino."
After placing the order, Soo-ah folded her hands on the table.
"So, Mr. Kim. Why did you want to meet me?"
Hyun-woo leaned back slightly.
"Because rewriting an entire novel in twenty-four hours is impossible."
"The leaked chapters have already created public concern," she replied calmly. "If we proceed without changes, both our companies will suffer."
"I understand that. But changing a few chapters isn't enough anymore. Readers already know the direction of the story."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
His eyes met hers directly.
"Give me two weeks."
Soo-ah narrowed her eyes.
"Two weeks?"
"My writers will create a new storyline from the ground up. But your review team will work alongside us so we can move faster."
Silence settled between them.
Soo-ah studied him carefully.
Most people became defensive when she challenged them.
Hyun-woo negotiated.
"You're asking for a joint production," she said.
"I'm asking for a chance to save the project."
The waitress placed the cappuccino on the table.
Neither reached for it immediately.
"You seem very confident," Soo-ah said.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Confidence is cheaper than failure."
To her annoyance, she almost smiled back.
"I'll discuss it with my team," she said.
Hyun-woo slid a business card across the table.
"Then let me know by tonight."
As she took the card, their fingers brushed.
Both paused for the briefest second.
Neither acknowledged it.
When the meeting ended, Hyun-woo walked her to the café entrance.
"Thank you for coming," he said.
"We'll see whether this proposal survives the meeting," she replied.
His smile deepened.
"It will."
For some reason, she believed him.
Moonstone Residences
By the time Hyun-woo returned home, the city lights had begun to shimmer against the evening sky.
He changed into comfortable clothes and walked toward his fluffy Persian cat juno waiting near the kitchen.
"Hungry?" he asked.
The cat answered with an impatient meow.
After filling the food bowl, he began preparing ramyeon and bibimbap.
The doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, Ara stood there holding several shopping bags.
"Shopping again?" he asked.
"Of course. Some people meditate. I buy expensive things."
He laughed.
"Go wash up. Dinner's almost ready."
Ara disappeared into the bathroom and returned a few minutes later, eyes fixed on the food.
"You know," she said, sitting down, "if your company ever fails, you can become a chef."
"Good thing it won't."
They began eating.
Halfway through dinner, Ara set down her chopsticks.
"So?"
"So what?"
"How was the CEO of Aurora Publishing?"
Hyun-woo continued eating.
"Beautiful."
Ara blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"Professional. Cold. Elegant."
Then, after a pause:
"And strangely familiar."
"Familiar?"
He nodded slowly.
"I saw her before."
"Where?"
"At the aquarium, but that day also she look like i knew her before that also"
Ara leaned forward with sudden interest.
"The Sunday you disappeared for whole day?"
"Yeah."
His expression softened as he remembered.
"Everyone had left after the dolphin show. But she stayed behind."
"And?"
"She was talking to the dolphins and playing with them as if they could understand her. It sounds weird, but..."
"But?"
"She looked genuinely happy, not cold as today"
Ara stared at him.
"You're smiling."
Hyun-woo blinked, surprised to realize she was right.
"Am i?"
"You never smile when talking about business."
He looked down at his bowl.
"She's different."
"Oh, this is serious."
"It's not like that."
"Sure."
After dinner, Hyun-woo placed the dishes in the sink.
"Your turn."
Ara gasped dramatically.
"You're making a guest wash dishes?"
"A guest who ate half of the bibimbap? Yes."
Grumbling, she began washing while he stepped onto the balcony.
The night breeze carried the distant sounds of traffic.
He settled onto the swing as his Persian cat climbed onto his lap.
Ara joined him a moment later.
"You know," she said, "you're not a proper drama CEO."
"Meaning?"
"You're supposed to be cold, intimidating, and emotionally unavailable."
Hyun-woo looked out at the city lights.
"Why would I pretend to be empty when I still have people I care about?"
Ara fell quiet.
"People who love or care for each other," he continued "shouldn't hide it and you know what, in my company everyone thinks i am cold and emotionally unavailable, okay"
For a moment, only the wind answered him.
Then Ara stood up and stretched.
"Alright, philosopher CEO. I'm going home before you become any deeper."
He chuckled.
After she left, he remained on the balcony, absentmindedly stroking the cat's fur.
His thoughts drifted back to the café.
Why does she feel familiar?
Aurora Publishing – Night Meeting
The conference room was filled with reviewers and production staff when Soo-ah entered.
Everyone straightened immediately.
She placed Hyun-woo's proposal on the table.
"I met with Kim Hyun-woo this afternoon," she began. "He has requested two weeks to rewrite the novel."
A murmur spread through the room.
"Two weeks?" a production manager asked. "Isn't that too short?"
"It is," Soo-ah replied. "Which is why he wants our review team working directly with his writers."
"A joint production?"
"Yes." Another reviewer said.
"We'll have to work at Baekseol Press?"
"Starting tomorrow at ten." Her tone left no room for argument.
"Any objections?"
The room remained silent.
"Good. Then prepare the necessary materials. We don't have the luxury of delaying."
As the meeting ended, Soo-ah gathered her files.
Her gaze briefly fell on the business card resting beside her laptop.
Kim Hyun-woo.
For some reason, the name lingered in her mind longer than it should have.
The Beach – Midnight
By the time Soo-ah left the company, the building had fallen silent.
Only the security guards remained.
Her phone rang as she reached the parking area.
"You need to come now," a voice said. "It's urgent."
Without replying, she ended the call and drove through the sleeping city.
The half moon hung high above the dark sky.
Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the beach.
A man stood near the shoreline, waiting.
"The time has come," he said.
Soo-ah removed her heels and stepped onto the wet sand.
The water touched her bare feet.
At that exact moment, the cherry blossom tattoo on her wrist began to glow.
Above her, the half moon brightened unnaturally.
The wind rose.
The man lowered his gaze.
"Are you really want to do this?"
Soo-ah looked toward the blue ocean.
"It's not just my duty—it's also what brings me happiness. So no matter what happens, I'll do it."
She took another step into the water.
The glow spread from her wrist to all over her body.
Soo-ah closed her eyes as moonlight washed over her.
And far away, in his apartment across the city, Hyun-woo suddenly woke with the sound of girl shouting his name echoing in his ears.
To be continued...