Kim_Alice_

Minji and Minho shared a bond that was impossible to ignore as children, but life pulled them in different directions. After fifteen years apart, fate brings them back together under unexpected circumstances. Minji, now a successful fashion designer, finds herself in a meeting with none other than Minho—the CEO of a prominent company, and the boy who once made her heart race with the simplest of gestures.

But the years between them have created a distance that neither knows how to bridge. Minji’s been busy building a career, leaving the past behind, but when Minho walks back into her life, old feelings resurface—feelings she’s spent years trying to suppress. Minho, now a powerful and enigmatic businessman, has never forgotten Minji, the girl who once captured his heart with her kindness and grace. Though he’s achieved everything he ever wanted, he’s never quite moved on from her.

As they work together on a high-profile collaboration, the lines between business and personal blur. There’s a magnetic pull between them, one that neither can deny. But with both of them carrying scars from the past, they must decide if love can be rekindled or if the years of separation have changed them too much to ever return to what they once had.

In this second-chance romance, Minji and Minho must navigate the complexities of their newfound relationship while balancing their careers, ambitions, and the weight of their shared history. Will the love they once had be enough to overcome the distance of time, or will it be lost forever?

secret crush from childhood

The soft glow of the restaurant lights still warmed Minji's cheeks as she stepped outside. The night air was cooler than she expected, brushing against her skin like a secret. Minho walked quietly beside her, his jacket casually slung over one arm. He didn't offer it to her — not because he didn't want to, but because somehow, he knew Minji would refuse.

When they reached her car, she turned to him, offering a small, polite smile. "I'll drive myself," she said firmly.

Minho hesitated, glancing at her before speaking. "Are you sure? I could drive you home."

Minji shook her head, the faintest glimmer of a smile tugging at her lips. "I'm fine, really."

Minho didn't press. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. "Okay," he murmured, stepping back.

Her car door clicked shut as Minji slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a soft hum. For a moment, she just sat there, looking ahead, as if trying to collect her thoughts. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate his company, but there was something inside her, an unspoken feeling that kept her from lingering too long. She wasn't ready to understand it, but it was there.

Minho stayed where he was, watching her for a few seconds. He didn't say goodbye, just gave a small nod in her direction. His hand lifted, as though reaching out for something he couldn't touch, before falling back to his side.

Minji drove away without a second thought, not noticing the quiet ache that lingered in his chest as he watched her disappear into the night.

The office buzzed with its usual energy. Minji, dressed sharply in a crisp pink blazer, walked into the building with Jiwoo, her secretary and close assistant. Jiwoo carried a stack of documents, already briefing her as they crossed the lobby.

"Today we have the collection meeting at ten, Miss Minji," Jiwoo said cheerfully. "Also, Mr. Hyunwoo confirmed the supplier's visit at noon."

"Good," Minji replied, her tone focused and neutral. She wasn't thinking about last night, not really. She was on autopilot now — work first, always.

Across the building, Minho entered with Hyunwoo, discussing numbers and upcoming deals. Their eyes met for the briefest second across the busy lobby. Just a flicker. Just a heartbeat.

Neither of them smiled. Neither of them said anything.

But for Minho, the air between them felt different. There was an unspoken tension, something that had shifted — not in Minji, but in him. He watched her briefly before returning to the conversation at hand, hiding the strange pull he felt inside.

Minji, however, didn't feel it. She walked on, her mind occupied with the day's tasks. She hadn't thought of Minho's gaze, hadn't thought of the moment they shared last night. She was just... focused.

Chapter 8: After the Dinner