It was the day Suho was finally returning to the office, his empire, after so long. But this time, he was going back stronger than ever, both physically and mentally.
Right now, he sat on the edge of the bed while Hauen stood in front of him, fixing his necktie. Sleepy eyes, messy hair, a full grumpy-morning face, yet focused as if preparing a soldier for battle. She is doing this only because he had convinced her to help him get ready, with his puppy eyes and magnetic charm. And that had worked, and eventually, she gave in.
He stared at her with eyes gleaming in pure happiness.
"Stop smiling," she grumbled, tugging his tie into a neat knot.
He giggled. Actually giggled.
She shot him a look that screamed she was done.
He only reached up and squished her cheeks gently, thumb brushing her skin with that soft, yet annoying, affection of his. "My Hauenie looks mad."
Her expression clearly said, I'm done with your tricks.
"You've been demanding princess treatment these days," she muttered. "I regret helping you back then."
"And I'm very happy you helped me back then," he said, leaning closer with smug sweetness. "Because now I get this princess treatment for a lifetime."
She shook her head.
He smiled and pulled her closer by the waist.
"Stay still," she warned.
He did the exact opposite, trapping her between his legs like the adorable menace he was.
"Ya…" she slurred, exasperated.
This time, he froze, lips pressed together, trying not to laugh. He let her finish. She adjusted his collar, fixed his tie, smoothed his hair one last time, and exhaled deeply.
"Done," she announced.
He pushed his lips forward, clearly asking for a kiss. She gave him a deadpan look. "Are you serious? I didn't even brush my teeth. You assigned me work the moment I opened my eyes," she complained.
He looked at her with an apology-soft smile. "I'm sorry. You can sleep again now… just kiss me once." His lips jutted out even further.
She shook her head, held his face, and pressed a small peck on his forehead.
He frowned immediately. "I want here," he whined, pointing at his lips.
"I didn't brush, teddy."
"No problem. Do it already."
She sighed, cupped his face again, and gave him the lightest peck possible, barely even a whisper. He still frowned. "You didn't smile. It looked forced."
Her nose flared. He only pouted for the third time, waiting, hopeful, stubborn in the cutest way possible.
She finally melted, because who could resist that stubborn cuteness?
Holding his face gently, she leaned in and pressed a long, warm peck on his lips. He broke into a full, satisfied smile.
She shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"Okay, now, go to bed. I'll leave for the office." He stood, picking up his bag.
Instead of crawling back under the blanket, she followed him, hugging his arm, yawning into his shoulder.
"You really have to go this early… on your first day after so long?" she murmured, clinging to him.
"It's an important meeting, scheduled at the last minute. That person has a flight at 9 in the morning. So he asked to meet at a restaurant. That's why I'm going early. I'll have breakfast there," he explained while walking toward the car.
Mr. Lee was already seated inside, waiting.
Suho turned back to Hauen and gently brushed a hand through her messy hair. "I'll be back soon. Take care," he said, pressing a light kiss to her lips.
She smiled. "Hmm."
Then she wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice soft. "All the best. Take care of yourself."
He nodded with that warm smile she adored and pressed a kiss on her forehead before getting into the car.
She bent down, peeking into the car toward Mr. Lee. "Mr. Lee, take care of my teddy. Don't leave him… alone outside, not even for a moment," she warned, all authority wrapped in sleepy softness.
Suho let out a long sigh, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, flustered.
Mr. Lee nodded politely, amused. "Of course, madam."
She straightened up with a satisfied nod, Mr. Lee drove him away, and she stood there watching until the car disappeared from view.
Mirae office building
Mirae's headquarters hummed with the usual morning rhythm, footsteps drifting through the halls, printers purring, keyboards tapping like rain on glass. The world moved as it always did… until the air shifted.
Suho finally stepped inside. He'd wrapped up his early meeting at the restaurant and returned straight to the office.
The click of the glass door seemed to ripple across the entire floor. One by one, heads lifted. Eyes widened. Conversations paused mid-sentence.
Their boss had returned. Some employees smiled in disbelief. Some gasped softly. Others simply froze, absorbing the sight of a man they thought they'd only see again in old photos or archived press releases.
This wasn't the Suho they remembered. The cold, razor-sharp boss adored by investors but feared by staff.
This Suho looked… calm. Grounded. Powerful, yes, but in a way that warmed rather than chilled. His aura carried strength, but also softness, a quiet dignity earned through fire and survival. He stood there, handsome, magnetic, with a gentleness flickering behind his eyes.
Everyone rose instinctively.
Suho offered a small, polite smile that stunned half the crowd.
"Good Morning, everyone."
"Morning, sir," echoed back in uneven unison, like they had forgotten how to greet him with ease.
He stepped forward, hands in his pockets, voice steady and warm.
"Well, I'm back again," he began, eyes sweeping the room. "After a year… maybe a little more. Those months were difficult for me. And I know they weren't easy for you either, working without your leader at the helm."
Silence settled like a respectful hush.
"I'm grateful," he continued, sincerity anchoring every word, "for your dedication. You all held Mirae together and kept it moving forward when I couldn't be here. Today, I'm standing here with a new life, a new mindset… and I believe we are a stronger team than ever."
A soft smile tugged at his lips. "Thank you for your patience. And for your hard work."
Applause burst across the floor. "Welcome back, sir!" "Welcome back!" The room glowed with genuine affection.
Near the corner, two female employees whispered breathlessly, "Is it just me, or does he look even more handsome now?"
"I've never seen him smile like that," the other murmured.
Suho caught none of it, walking toward his cabin with composed strides.
The moment he pushed open the door, his breath eased. His office, newly renovated, smelled like a new beginning. He wanted a change. Something fresh, something that matched the way his life had turned for the better.
He let out a satisfied breath as he took in the new interior of his cabin. Clean lines. Fresh textures. Soft neutral tones that matched the calmer man he'd become. It was a space reborn, just as he was. He let his fingers brush the polished edge of the desk before sinking into the chair, releasing a satisfied breath.
And then his eyes found it. Her picture frame, placed neatly beside the files, Hauen's soft smile frozen in time, watching over him.
The familiar scent lingered in the air… her scent. He had specifically asked the staff to use the same room freshener that smelled like her, something light and warm. It made the cabin feel like she was sitting nearby, humming, teasing, pouting, just existing.
His lips curved. He leaned back in his chair, smiling helplessly. Not even half a day had passed, and he already missed her, her voice, her face, the way she fussed over him. The little sounds she made when annoyed. The warmth of her hand wrapping around his arm.
Without thinking, he grabbed his phone to call her.
Then paused.
If he called now, she'd laugh at him, call him clingy, then probably tease him until he regretted breathing.
"Later," he muttered to himself with a small, defeated sigh, forcing his phone back down.
He looked at her picture again, his heart fluttering just at the memory of her. He rubbed his forehead and muttered under his breath, "Focus, Suho."
Because work waited. Files stacked neatly. Reports from the year he was gone. Progress sheets. Records of Mirae Cosmetics are still running, steady but stagnant, under the temporary leadership.
And the expansion plan. His dream of taking Mirae into international markets paused when he had broken down, but now slowly coming back to life under his determined hands.
He straightened. He breathed deeply and focused, letting the calm determination settle in his chest.
Life as before, but rebuilt with a new fire. A new purpose. A heart rebuilt. A heart healed. A heart that finally had something, someone to beat for.
With a deep breath, he opened the first file and began.