Greece
Min Soo sat hopelessly on a stone bench in the middle of a bustling Greek market square, clutching a half-empty water bottle and a single olive.
"A… Abeoji…" he croaked dramatically to no one in particular, as though his father would just teleport across the seas and whisk him back to Korea.
A kind old woman passing by gave him a pitying look.
"Phone? Call?" she offered, handing over her ancient flip phone.
"Ne… Call, call!" Min Soo scrambled for the phone like a lifeline and quickly dialed his father's number. The moment his father's gruff voice came through the line, Min Soo burst into full-on sobbing mode.
"Abeojiiiiii!!!"
A few hours later, with the help of his father's global business partners, an emergency flight was booked, a hotel arranged, and a car sent to scoop up Korea's most useless chaebol heir.
"I just… wanted to see if their water was bluer than ours…" he sobbed dramatically to the flight attendant, earning a concerned look.
---
Seoul
Eun Jung stood in front of the towering Silverline Entertainment building, nerves fluttering in her stomach.
"You're getting there, Eun Jung. Closer to your dream," she whispered to herself before stepping inside.
Inside, she was greeted by a professional-looking young woman.
"Miss Kim Eun Jung? I'm Seo Mira. It's a pleasure to meet you," the woman smiled, gesturing for her to follow.
In the meeting room, they discussed her novel's concept, the possible casting, and to Eun Jung's surprise, they offered her a spot on the scriptwriting team.
"Since you created these characters, we'd love your direct input on adapting them for screen," Mira explained.
Eun Jung was speechless but managed a grateful nod. "Thank you so much for this opportunity."
---
Two Days Later
Eun Ho returned to Seoul. As expected, Choi Minhyuk was already lounging in his living room, beer in hand.
"So how was Jeju? I heard Min Haejin was there too." Minhyuk smirked.
"News spreads fast," Eun Ho replied dryly.
"Of course. Our industry's a fishbowl. What did she say to you?"
"Why do you care?" Eun Ho asked, unamused.
"Just curious. She's still hung up on you, huh?"
Eun Ho ignored him.
"Whatever, man. I'll never understand what she sees in you. She deserves someone better. Like me." Minhyuk grinned.
Eun Ho turned the TV volume up in response.
"By the way, you visited the orphanage, right? How did it go?"
Eun Ho's expression darkened. "She was adopted."
"Adopted!? By who?"
"I don't know. The records were destroyed in a fire ten years ago."
"Yah… you should give up, man. It's been fourteen years."
"Not when I'm this close."
Minhyuk sighed. "You're pathetic, you know that?"
---
Later That Night
"Geonbae!!!" Eun Jung, Taeri, and Min Soo cheered, raising their glasses at their favorite restaurant.
"Everyone, listen up!" Min Soo slurred, already tipsy. "I've made a decision after everything I went through in Greece. From now on, I'm going to live each day like it's my last. No more water-testing trips. No more trusting strangers with fake Rolex watches. I, Min Soo, will become… Korea's National Treasure!"
Eun Jung and Taeri stared at him.
"Min Soo-ah" Eun Jung grinned
"You better not disappear overseas again chasing some nonsense, Next time you'll probably get kidnapped by Pirates"
"Hey, Don't curse my luck like that" Min Soo whined
"Besides, who told me Greece's water was bluer?"
"You told Yourself, Babo!(Fool)" Taeri scoffed flicking his forehead
"Ouch! Yaaah! You wanna die?" He grumbled rubbing his head
"Min Soo-ah, I have a question," Taeri smirked.
"Shoot."
"Now that you've flown across the seas to Santorini, tell me — whose water is bluer? Theirs or ours?"
Eun Jung burst out laughing.
"Well… I didn't make it to the beach. Got scammed before I could check. But next time, for sure."
"Aigoo… for someone whose name means 'clever and outstanding,' you missed out on both," Taeri teased.
"Yah! Gojwo! (Get lost!)" Min Soo snapped back, making faces at her.
The two bickered back and forth until Eun Jung yelled, "Will you two shut up!? We're here to celebrate, remember? Me getting a contract, and Min Soo surviving Greece. So, no fighting! And by the way — drinks are on me tonight!"
"Wait. I've got news too," Taeri announced, suddenly serious.
They fell silent.
"I got a job."
"Daebak!" Eun Jung screamed, hugging her.
"Where?"
"At Daehan Group."
Min Soo spat out his soju. "What!?"
**"Yah, what's with the reaction?" Eun Jung asked.
"Do you even know who runs Daehan Group?" Min Soo gawked.
"Yeah, it's the youngest CEO in the country. He's famous for being brilliant and… really handsome." Taeri beamed.
"Handsome, huh?" Min Soo laughed darkly. "You know he's a monster, right? Guy's a complete neat freak, fired an employee once because there was a hair in his bibimbap. I heard he made his secretary wash an apple eight times before letting him eat it."
"Yah, stop scaring me!" Taeri whined.
"I'm just saying. Good luck, Taeri-ah. You'll need it." Min Soo shrugged, then grinned. "But hey — since you're employed now, bills are on you next time!"
"Gojwo! (Get lost!)" Taeri yelled.
Eun Jung laughed, watching her two friends argue, a warmth settling in her chest.
"It's okay," she whispered to Taeri. "They'r
e just rumors. And you know Min Soo — he loves exaggerating."
But even as Eun Jung reassured her, a strange uneasiness settled in Taeri's guts