You can start," Cha Jinhwan said, adjusting his glasses as he leaned back in his chair.
Taeri inhaled sharply, then looked down at her tablet. "Okay, so... every freshener currently approved under Daehan Corporation has been categorized by type, primary scent profile, target demographic, and intensity rating."
She tapped the remote, and the first slide popped up.
"This one," she pointed, "is 'Morning Breeze.' It's a citrus-forward scent with subtle notes of mint and eucalyptus. Marketed mostly towards households with kids and pets, because it neutralizes odor without being too strong."
Jinhwan gave no reaction.
She continued, moving through slides like her life depended on it. "Next is 'Evening Whisper'—it has a lavender and sandalwood base. Mostly used in hotel lobbies and upscale salons. Daehan rates it as 'calming with a touch of luxury.'"
She flipped again.
"This one is... 'Cotton Bloom'—honestly smells like a laundry basket in heaven. Most commonly used in spas, laundry services, and sometimes in car fresheners for premium customers."
Slide after slide, she presented, adding her own comments here and there, throwing in subtle jokes—though Jinhwan's expression remained unreadable the entire time.
"And lastly," she concluded, "we have 'Ocean Storm.' This one is… aggressive. Like—don't spray it in a small room unless you want your lungs to file a complaint. But it's the bestseller among bachelors and gym-goers. No offense."
Still nothing from him.
She lowered her tablet and looked up. "That's the last one, sir."
"Is that all?" he asked dryly.
"Yes, sir," she said, trying not to let the disappointment show.
"Okay."
"...Okay?" she repeated, blinking.
"I'll review it," he added vaguely. "Take this file to Assistant Manager Kang in Sales. I need those contracts processed by 2 p.m."
He handed her a thick file that looked like it had been assembled with rage.
Taeri took it silently.
"Oh, and clean up the samples you left in Meeting Room B. They're starting to smell like a flower shop exploded in there."
"Yes, sir."
She turned to leave, muttering under her breath, At this rate, I'll develop scent-induced migraines.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, Park Eun Ho was lounging on his couch. A script rested in his lap, half-read, and beside him sat a cup of Ramyeon—its steam gently rising.
He glanced at the timer. Almost done.
His phone buzzed. A message from Minhyuk lit up the screen:
> "Bro, sorry I forgot to tell you. I'm on tour — out of the country for a few weeks. Don't miss me too much, okay? Hehe"
Eun Ho scoffed.
"Who's missing you?" he muttered, tossing the phone aside
He leaned forward, peeled back the lid of the Ramyeon, and—
"HYUNG!" Minjae's voice echoed as he burst through the front door.
Eun Ho jumped.
"What—"
"Is that Ramyeon?!" Minjae's eyes widened as he made a beeline for it.
"Yah, I haven't even eaten it yet—"
"That's the problem!" Minjae snatched the cup like a soldier on a mission. "Do you know how many calories this has? If Baek Dong Min finds out, we're both dead. I'm your manager, not your enabler!"
"It's just one bite—" Eun Ho protested.
"No. You're not eating this. Let's make you something healthy."
"Ah, and by healthy, you mean feeding me vegetables like I'm a goat again?" Eun Ho Said
"And what's wrong with goats? They're lean and live long. You want to be fit or not?" Minjae huffed as he made his way to the kitchen.
He flung open the fridge and froze.
"Yah... what is this?"
"What?" Eun Ho asked innocently.
"You only have beer and bottled water in here! What are you, a college frat boy?!"
Minjae opened the freezer. Same thing.
He stalked to the cupboard. Rows and rows of Ramyeon packs stared back at him.
"Don't tell me... you've been living on these!" he exclaimed.
Eun Ho said nothing.
"Ahhhh, hyung! Wae?! You're gonna ruin your digestive system! This is so bad—I'm going grocery shopping."
He marched toward the door, already pulling on his shoes.
"I'll be back soon. And don't you dare touch that Ramyeon," he added with a glare sharp
"Okay, okay," Eun Ho said with a sigh.
The second the door clicked shut, he looked at the half-soggy Ramyeon on the table.
He picked it up.
"Ahh... it's all mushy now," he sighed, still taking a big slurp.
He leaned back into the couch, eyes half-closed.
"Ramyeon is life," he murmured to himself
---
Back at Eun Jung's apartment, she was hunched over her desk, fingers flying over the keyboard as she worked on the first draft of the drama script. The early morning coffee had worn off, but adrenaline and stress were keeping her awake.
The doorbell rang.
She stretched, pushing her chair back. "Coming!" she called out.
She padde
d over to the door, yawned, and pulled it open.
The second she saw who was standing there, her jaw dropped.
"Kim... Su-ho?!"