The dinner rush had barely begun.
Orders moved swiftly between the dining hall and the kitchen. Knives struck against wooden boards in rhythmic precision while the constant hiss of sizzling pans filled the air. Servers moved in and out through the swinging doors with practised speed while cooks called out orders over the controlled chaos.
It was Zoya's first day.
Because she had been assigned to cover Kim Na-Ri's position for the time being, her schedule was far from ideal. Her shift ran from 8:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.—a routine her body hadn't yet adjusted to.
The hours were exhausting.
But she couldn't afford to leave this job.
It was only temporary.
Once the restaurant hired someone to permanently replace Kim Na-Ri, Zoya would be transferred to the daytime shift she had originally applied for.
That single thought made the difficult hours bearable.
She was dressed in a modest black uniform with a neatly fitted black service cap. Carefully balancing a tray, she placed freshly prepared dishes onto the service counter before another waitress carried them into the dining hall.
Everything around her moved faster than she had imagined.
Yet despite the pressure...
A small smile refused to leave her face.
This wasn't the kitchen she had dreamed of.
But it was still the beginning of that dream.
Suddenly—
The kitchen doors swung open.
Manager Choi Min-Seok entered with unusually hurried steps.
His expression immediately caught everyone's attention.
"Everyone."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet the urgency behind it was impossible to ignore.
Every chef instinctively paused.
The female chef looked up from her station.
Three male chefs exchanged confused glances.
Even the two kitchen assistants stopped arranging ingredients.
Manager Choi looked around the room.
"Leave your stations for five minutes."
Silence followed.
One of the chefs frowned.
"Manager... is something wrong?"
"No questions."
His tone remained calm.
"But I need everyone in the conference room."
Before anyone could respond, he turned toward the service entrance.
"I'll gather the front-of-house staff."
Without wasting another second, he walked out.
The moment the doors closed—
The kitchen erupted into whispers.
"What happened?"
"Did someone complain?"
"Is there an inspection?"
"Maybe an accident..."
Nobody knew.
Zoya stood quietly beside the service counter.
It was her first day.
She didn't dare ask anything.
She simply watched everyone else.
A minute later, servers, cashiers, supervisors, and kitchen staff slowly gathered inside the small conference room beside the restaurant office.
Nearly every employee was present.
The atmosphere felt unusually tense.
People exchanged uncertain looks.
Some whispered possible reasons.
Others simply waited.
A few moments later...
The door opened once again.
Manager Choi entered.
Behind him—
Mr Kang Hyun-Woo walked in.
The room instantly fell silent.
Everyone stood respectfully.
"Good evening, sir."
Mr Kang Hyun-Woo acknowledged them with a slight nod before gesturing for everyone to sit.
No one spoke.
Even he looked calmer than usual...
But there was a faint excitement hidden beneath that calm expression.
He looked toward Manager Choi.
"You can tell them."
Manager Choi inhaled slowly before looking around the room.
"I've called this meeting because we've just received unexpected news."
The room grew even quieter.
"Ten minutes ago..."
He lifted his tablet.
"I received a direct call from Mr. Jae."
Several senior staff immediately recognised the name.
Manager Choi continued.
"He is the personal assistant to Jeon J."
A few eyes widened.
Before anyone could process that information—
He spoke again.
"They have requested a private reservation."
Silence.
"For tonight."
Still...
Nobody reacted.
Then he added—
"TBS will be having dinner here after their final Busan concert."
For nearly three seconds...
The room forgot how to breathe.
"What?"
"No way..."
"Seriously?"
"You mean... THE TBS?"
Disbelief spread across every face.
Even the head chefs looked stunned.
One of the kitchen assistants almost dropped the notebook in his hands.
Zoya blinked in confusion.
She quietly looked around.
Everyone seemed genuinely shocked.
The excitement in the room rose instantly.
Manager Choi raised a hand.
"Quiet."
The whispers slowly faded.
"This reservation wasn't arranged through management."
"It came directly from TBS's side."
"They specifically requested complete privacy."
"And they reserved the entire VIP dining section."
Even Mr Kang Hyun-Woo looked thoughtful.
"In all these years..."
"They've never visited our restaurant before."
"So yes..."
"This is unexpected."
He paused.
"And we cannot afford a single mistake."
The excitement instantly transformed into determination.
Every employee straightened their posture.
Manager Choi looked toward the kitchen team.
"The menu will remain confidential until Chef receives the final request."
Then he turned toward the service staff.
"Every detail must be perfect."
"No unnecessary conversations."
"No photographs."
"No autographs."
"No interruptions."
"Tonight..."
"They are guests."
"And we will treat them exactly like every other respected guest."
The meeting ended.
Within seconds, everyone returned to work.
Only this time...
The atmosphere had completely changed.
The restaurant already carried the energy of a busy evening, but now another emotion flowed through every hallway.
Excitement.
It was everywhere.
Chefs worked with renewed enthusiasm.
Servers double-checked every table setting.
Supervisors inspected every corner of the VIP section.
Everyone wanted tonight to be flawless.
Zoya quietly glanced at the clock mounted above the kitchen entrance.
11:00 p.m.
The concert must have reached halftime by now...
The thought appeared in her mind before she could stop it.
Minji and the others must be there too...
She bit her lip.
Should I ask Minji about the dinner...?
Almost immediately, she shook her head.
No... I shouldn't.
If they're really coming here, I'll find out soon enough.
She sighed softly.
Lost in her own thoughts.
"So many questions..."
Before she could think any further—
A fellow staff member lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Hey."
Zoya blinked.
"Hm?"
"What happened?"
The girl laughed.
"Why are you talking to yourself?"
Embarrassed, Zoya forced a tiny smile.
"It's nothing."
She quickly shook her head.
"There aren't many orders here right now."
"I'll go help in the kitchen."
Without waiting for another question, she walked inside.
The moment she entered—
She almost froze.
The excitement inside the kitchen was far greater than outside.
Every chef wore an unmistakable smile.
People moved faster than before.
Someone was polishing plates for the third time.
Another chef carefully rearranged garnishes that were already perfect.
The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.
Zoya quietly watched them.
Then...
A strange thought crossed her mind.
If they ever found out...
That just last night...
I was sitting with the very people they're this excited to serve...
A shiver ran down her spine.
She immediately shook herself.
"No..."
She muttered under her breath.
"Let's not even think about that."
Unable to stay there any longer, she quietly walked back outside.
Standing near the service counter, she pulled out her phone.
After hesitating for a moment...
She called Minji.
The phone rang several times before the call connected.
"Hello?"
After exchanging greetings and asking about each other's day, Minji smiled through the phone.
"So?"
"How's your first day at work going?"
"It's going well."
Zoya answered honestly.
She wanted to ask about the dinner.
About TBS.
About whether they really planned to come to the restaurant.
But before she could say anything—
Minji spoke first.
"Oh, and listen."
"As soon as your shift ends, come straight home."
"You remember, right?"
"I invited everyone over tonight."
"We're all getting together to celebrate your new job."
Zoya frowned.
Her eyes slowly narrowed.
Wait...
She doesn't know...?
She whispered to herself.
"If she doesn't know about the restaurant dinner..."
Then where exactly was TBS planning to have dinner?
Before she could think any further, she quickly spoke.
"Minji..."
"Why don't you all come here after the concert?"
"You can have dinner here, and then we'll all go home together."
There was barely a second of silence.
Then Minji rejected the idea immediately.
"Absolutely not."
"We're together almost every day."
"But Jeon J and the others will be leaving again after this."
"So tonight we're having dinner with them."
The confusion inside Zoya doubled.
Her brows knitted together.
None of this made sense anymore.
Slightly irritated, she interrupted.
"Fine."
"I'll come after I'm done."
Without waiting for another word—
She ended the call.
She stared at the dark screen of her phone.
Should I tell Minji...?
Or should I ask her what's going on...?
She sighed in frustration.
"I don't understand."
"If TBS is coming here for dinner..."
"Then why is Minji saying they'll be having dinner at home with them?"
She rubbed her forehead.
"Ugh..."
"What is happening?"
A second later, she shook herself firmly.
"It doesn't matter."
"Wherever TBS goes..."
"Why am I even thinking about it so much?"
She slipped her phone back into her pocket and walked toward the kitchen.
Several new orders were already waiting to be delivered.
Being a waitress...
Still didn't feel right.
Every time she carried a tray instead of cooking, she was reminded that this wasn't where she truly belonged.
But she had promised herself.
Just a few more days.
Then things would get better.
As for Ji-Ho...
She hadn't told him any details.
She had simply called him earlier, informed him that she had found a job, and thanked him sincerely for everything he had done.
She didn't want to trouble him over every little thing anymore.
The hours continued to pass.
Again and again...
Zoya found herself looking at the clock.
The concert must have started by now...
A little later—
It must be halftime...
Another glance.
It should be ending soon...
No matter how hard she tried—
Her thoughts kept returning to TBS.
She couldn't focus properly.
Not because she was careless...
But because her mind refused to settle.
Still...
Today was her first day.
Making even a single mistake wasn't an option.
The pressure was already overwhelming.
One side of her mind was occupied by her new job...
The other refused to stop thinking about TBS.
She silently exhaled.
Ugh...
Why can't I stop thinking about them...?
Busan Stadium — 11:00 P.M.
The stadium had become a galaxy of light.
More than sixty thousand fans filled every seat, their synchronized light sticks painting the night in waves of silver, violet, and blue.
Music thundered through the massive speakers.
Pyrotechnics erupted across the stage.
Towering LED screens displayed close-up shots of the members as every lyric was echoed back by thousands of voices.
The deafening chants never stopped.
"TBS!"
"TBS!"
"TBS!"
It was the final Busan concert of the tour.
The energy was unlike anything the city had witnessed in months.
On stage—
Despite the bandages hidden beneath his outfit and the dull ache that still lingered in his wound.
Jeon J continued performing with flawless precision.
No one in the audience could tell he was forcing himself through every movement.
His expressions never betrayed the pain.
His smile remained effortless.
His vocals never faltered.
Yet...
His mind wasn't entirely on the stage.
During one of the performances, as the choreography carried him toward the extended platform, his gaze instinctively drifted toward the VIP section.
Almost without thinking...
His eyes searched through the seated guests.
He spotted Minji.
Beside her sat Hana.
Ruhi.
Sophia.
One by one...
He recognized every familiar face.
But...
His eyes kept searching.
His expression slowly changed.
She wasn't there.
The faint smile on his face disappeared.
A slight crease formed between his brows.
Where is she...?
For a brief moment...
His attention slipped away from the performance.
Standing a few steps behind him, Kim Joon immediately noticed.
As the choreography shifted positions, he moved closer without making it obvious to the audience.
Without changing his smile, he spoke under his breath.
"Jeon J."
"Focus on your performance."
"You already came here injured."
"And now you're sitting out half the choreography, yet you're still not focusing."
His eyes briefly scanned the audience before returning to Jeon J.
"You know what's happening out there?"
He gave a subtle nod toward the sea of fans.
"Every single person is holding a light stick in one hand..."
"And a phone in the other."
"If they had their way..."
"They'd record this entire concert from beginning to end."
Kim Joon smiled naturally for the cameras.
"So don't give them a moment they'll remember for the wrong reason."
Jeon J remained silent.
After a moment...
He simply gave a small nod.
Enough to tell Kim Joon...
I understand.
The performance continued.
This time...
His focus never wavered.
One final song later—
The stadium exploded into cheers as the first half officially came to an end.
The members waved toward the audience before disappearing backstage for a short intermission.
The deafening chants continued long after they had left the stage.
Backstage
The moment they stepped behind the curtains, the noise of the stadium became distant.
Staff members hurried from one side to another, preparing costumes, water bottles, microphones, and equipment for the final segment of the concert.
As Jeon J walked through the corridor...
He glanced toward Jae.
With a subtle movement of his hand—
He signaled him to follow.
Jae quietly excused himself from the staff and followed Jeon J toward a quiet corner away from everyone else.
Without saying a word...
Jeon J crouched beside his duffel bag.
He unzipped it.
Reached inside.
Then pulled out a cigarette.
Jae froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Jeon J calmly placed it between his lips and lit it.
The orange flame flickered briefly before disappearing.
He took a slow drag.
Exhaled.
Thin grey smoke drifted into the air.
Jae stared at him for several seconds.
"...Jeon J."
"What are you doing?"
"You still have the second half of the concert left."
"And you're smoking?"
His voice carried genuine concern.
"You were trying so hard to quit."
"If you start again like this..."
"It'll be even harder to stop next time."
Jeon J listened quietly.
Another slow inhale.
Another cloud of smoke.
Then, without even looking at him, he asked,
"Jae."
"The thing I asked you to check..."
"Did you find out?"
Jae sighed.
"...You're really going to ignore everything I just said?"
Jeon J chuckled softly.
"You know Taehyun?"
"He always says you'll never leave me alone."
"So explain this later."
"For now..."
"Answer my question."
Jae couldn't help shaking his head.
Sometimes...
Talking to Jeon J felt completely impossible.
"...She didn't come."
"It was her first day at work."
Jeon J finally looked at him.
"I already noticed."
"She wasn't sitting with Minji and the others."
He took another drag.
"The concert started at eight."
"So why isn't she here?"
Jae answered honestly.
"Minji only told me she started working today."
"And for the first few days..."
"Her shift is from eight at night until three in the morning."
"She has to adjust for now."
"Later they'll move her to the day shift."
Jeon J slowly turned his head.
His eyes settled on Jae.
The look was so intense...
That for a second, Jae felt as though he was the reason behind Jeon J's irritation.
He awkwardly looked around.
"...Why are you staring at me?"
Jeon J finally spoke.
"Where is Miss Problem working?"
The nickname caught Jae off guard.
A laugh almost escaped him.
He somehow forced himself to hold it back.
If I laugh...
He might decide I'm the actual problem.
"It's only half an hour from here."
Jae replied.
Jeon J nodded once.
"Good."
"Arrange dinner there."
"You'll personally make the reservation."
"When the concert ends..."
"We're going there directly."
He flicked the remaining ash from the cigarette before crushing it beneath his shoe.
Then he started walking away.
"Jeon J..."
Jae called after him.
He stopped.
"You should at least ask the others first."
"Yesterday you were the one who said everyone was going to Minji's place after the concert."
"So..."
"How are we suddenly having dinner somewhere else?"
For a brief moment...
Jeon J stood in silence.
Then, without turning around completely, he replied,
"Just make the reservation."
"I'll handle the rest."
With that—
He walked away toward the dressing rooms.
Jae remained standing there, watching his disappearing figure.
"...What is wrong with him?"
He muttered to himself.
"He can't tolerate Miss Problem being around..."
"And apparently..."
"He can't tolerate her not being around either."
A few seconds passed.
Then Jae blinked.
"...Wait."
He frowned.
"Why am I calling her 'Miss Problem' now?"
He let out a helpless laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Jeon J is seriously going to drive me insane one day."
"I haven't even gotten married yet."
"In fact..."
"I haven't even confessed to the girl I like."
"Meanwhile, he's over here turning one girl into a full-time problem..."
"Poor Miss Problem... she's completely innocent. Somehow, he's the one who's turned into the actual problem.
As soon as the words left his mouth...
Jae fell silent.
"...Ah."
A small, unconscious smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK