Jin-woo checked the time on his watch; it was 5:00 a.m.
He looked at the exhausted but proud team standing before him and spoke with authority.
"Okay, everyone. The modeling is complete, and we've double-checked the systems for the fire festival. We will review everything one last time this evening, and then we are ready for the festival tomorrow."
A chorus of "Yes, Boss!" echoed through the morning air.
Jin-woo offered a rare, small smile. "Everyone, take a rest today and enjoy your time here in Jeju."
With the work finalized, he headed toward the area where his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was waiting to shuttle him back to the hotel.
He finally arrived at the hotel lobby at 6:30 a.m., feeling the heavy weight of sleep deprivation and a gnawing hunger at the same time.
Exhausted, Jin-woo began dragging his body toward the North Wing to find his room and some much-needed sleep.
On the other side of the hotel, Eun-soo had also been up since the early hours.
She was focused on her tablet, meticulously checking the room numbers for the VVIPs and the specific preparations required for each suite.
She had just finished inspecting the North Wing and was heading back toward the main lobby.
As she reached the lobby and turned toward the private elevators, she didn't see the man approaching from the opposite direction.
Suddenly, she collided head-first into someone and felt herself losing her balance, dropping her tablet as she began to fall toward the floor.
Jin-woo, whose eyes were heavy with fatigue, hadn't been looking forward properly either when Eun-soo crashed into him.
As they fell, Jin-woo's instincts took over; he reached out behind him to absorb the impact of the floor, while his other arm instinctively wrapped around Eun-soo's waist to break her fall.
They landed in a very odd, intimate position: Jin-woo was flat on the floor, with Eun-soo sprawled directly on top of him, held firmly in his embrace.
Eun-soo was still wearing the blue dress from the night before when she had been playing with Hajun, looking soft despite the chaotic morning.
Jin-woo looked up at the woman in his arms and found himself completely dazed to see it was Eun-soo.
Her hair had fallen over his face in the tumble, and as he tried to catch his breath, the sweet, clean scent of jasmine filled his nose—likely the scent of her shampoo.
Eun-soo was equally frozen; she could feel the strength of Jin-woo's arm around her waist and the heat of his body so close to hers.
Her face was pressed against his chest, where she could hear his heart beating—a steady, rhythmic thrum she remembered vividly from their airplane ride.
For a long moment, both became like statues, unable to move or break the gaze.
A few nearby hotel staff rushed over to help them up, breaking the spell.
Jin-woo was the first to speak, his voice slightly raspy. "I am sorry... I wasn't looking where I was going."
Eun-soo quickly stood up, smoothing her dress. "No, I am the one who should be sorry. I was too focused on my tablet."
She turned to the gathering staff and offered a professional smile. "It's alright, everyone. You can go back to your work; everything is fine here."
Once the staff dispersed, Eun-soo looked at Jin-woo's tired eyes. "Are you just now coming from work at Saebyeol Oreum?"
Jin-woo nodded slowly. "Yes, we finished early this morning. I thought I'd catch some rest."
Eun-soo nodded in understanding. "Have you eaten anything yet?"
Jin-woo shook his head. "Not yet. I was going to call room service after I got to my room."
Listening to this, Eun-soo made a suggestion. "Let's go to the second-floor restaurant instead. Breakfast should be ready there by now."
Jin-woo considered it for a moment, then looked down at his slightly disheveled clothes. "How about we meet after I take a bath?"
Eun-soo nodded in agreement, a light blush touching her cheeks. "That sounds good. I'll take a bath as well. I've been busy all morning with the VVIP room arrangements."