THE Runway

Chapter 3: On Thin Ice

The elevator arrived. Jian’s eyes snapped open, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Moving sluggishly, she stepped inside.

Right then, a man’s urgent yet gentle voice caught her ear.

“Hold the door, please!”

She instinctively pressed the open button, and soon, a man carrying a box in one hand while holding a little girl’s tiny fingers in the other stepped in. He gave Jian a polite nod.

“Thank you. Sol, say hello.”

“Thank you very much!”

The little girl, with her big round eyes, neatly braided pigtails, and an adorable dress, made Jian smile instantly.

“I love your outfit.”

She crouched down to meet Sol’s eyes, and the girl beamed, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

“My daddy bought it for me!”

“Wow, you’re so lucky!”

Straightening up, Jian finally met the man’s gaze. And for a moment, her eyes widened.

This was the second time today she had encountered such outstanding genetics—the first being her encounter with Editor-in-Chief Hyunmin.

Her professional instincts kicked in automatically, and without even realizing it, she started scanning the man before her.

His slightly wavy hair, artfully tousled, framed his forehead, the soft curls at the ends adding charm to his look. His warm brown eyes held a gentle, relaxed intensity, and the way his lips curved ever so slightly at the corners suggested it was a natural habit.

Through the undone buttons of his shirt, she caught a glimpse of his sharp Adam’s apple—and just below that... she quickly looked away before her gaze wandered anywhere it shouldn’t.

No wonder the girl is adorable. It’s all in the genes.

The girl looks to be around five years old... But this guy seems a bit too young to have a child that age.

Did he marry young?

The thoughts raced through her mind in seconds before she snapped back to reality.

“Oh, where are my manners? What floor?”

The elevator dinged as they reached the 10th floor, and just as the doors slid open, the man smiled slightly.

“You already pressed it for me.”

“Wait… Don’t tell me you live in 1003?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Oh! The same-sex couple!”

“What…?”

The man looked at her with obvious confusion. Just then, Sol tugged on his sleeve and whined, “Daddy, when’s Daddy coming home?”

I knew it. Two dads.

Jian nodded, smiling.

His expression contorted in sheer panic. He glanced down at Sol, then back at Jian.

“Uh... it’s not what you think...”

The man stammered. Before he could explain, Jian clapped her hands with a cheerful grin.

“Oh, don’t worry! I’m not homophobic or anything. I have absolutely zero prejudice against same-sex couples. I actually think it’s really awesome. I totally support it!”

“Support…? Support what...?”

His voice trailed off, but Jian had already given him a polite nod before stepping into 1004.

Left standing in front of her closed door, Haejun blinked in stunned silence before letting out an incredulous chuckle.

Wait… is that what everyone in the building thinks?

* * *

THE Runway hit the stands on the 20th of every month, which meant the 15th was their do-or-die final deadline.

The planning meeting for the November issue was scheduled for the 14th, meaning as soon as they wrapped up one issue, the next would immediately begin.

And this time, it was their first meeting with Editor-in-Chief Hyunmin Shin, so all the editors were on edge.

This was a man who had led the fashion world in Paris, the heart of global trends. A former Fashion Director at VOGXE PARIS.

They had all witnessed how brutally he’d put Jian in her place on day one.

There was no guarantee they wouldn’t be next.

“My babies! Did you miss me?”

A 5’8” woman, draped in a long coat with sunglasses perched on her head, strutted inside, rolling her suitcase behind her.

“Whoa! Ms. Seol!”

Miae Seol, the Deputy Editor, had just returned from her Milan business trip.

“Ms. Seol! We missed you so much!”

The sheer enthusiasm from the staff made Miae arch a skeptical brow.

“What’s up with this reaction? Something feels off. Did something happen while I was gone?”

No one dared say, It’s the new Editor-in-Chief. Instead, they forced awkward smiles, their lips cramping under the pressure.

“Oh! We have a new Editor-in-Chief, don’t we? Where is he? In his office?”

Leaving her suitcase behind, Miae marched straight to Hyunmin’s office.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

After the third knock, she turned the handle and pushed the door open.

Perched on the edge of his office desk, casually flipping through the final October issue of THE Runway with an unreadable expression.

Wow. He looks like he just stepped out of a magazine.

She was genuinely impressed.

A Korean-born talent who had actually risen to Fashion Director at VOGXE PARIS. There weren’t many who had pulled that off.

Fashion Directors were essentially the top of the hierarchy in the editorial world.

Naturally, he was already a legend in the Korean fashion industry, someone everyone looked up to.

Still… she couldn’t help but wonder, why had a man with limitless potential chosen THE Runway of all places?

“Hello. It’s an honor to finally meet you. I’m Deputy Editor Miae Seol.”

Hyunmin tossed the October issue onto his desk, got up, and walked toward her, extending a hand.

“Nice to meet you. Hyunmin Shin.”

She took his hand.

His handshake was firm. His gaze, unwavering.

Miae instantly sensed his powerful aura.

Of course. That was exactly the kind of person who became the youngest Fashion Director at VOGXE PARIS and then took the reins as THE Runway’s Editor-in-Chief.

“It’s an honor to work with you. I hope to learn a lot from you.”

“Hmm. not sure you need much teaching.”

“Was that a compliment?”

“Figured you’d pick up on that. I’d expect nothing less from the Deputy Editor.”

Hyunmin let out a dry chuckle, then casually picked up the October issue again, waving in his hand a few times before muttering under his breath in French, “C’est le pire.”

Translation? “This is a disaster.”

* * *

Because of the welcome dinner for the new editor-in-chief, they got to leave work earlier than usual.

The venue was a Michelin-starred restaurant on the 81st floor.

Only someone from Vogxe Paris would get this kind of treatment.

Just how much did the CEO value him to throw a welcome party in a place that charged 200,000 won per person?

The editor-in-chief had left separately, but he still hadn’t arrived. Meanwhile, some employees stood by the window, taking pictures of the night view with their phones—but their faces didn’t exactly scream excitement.

“See? Money buys the good life. I heard the top floors are private residences. Imagine getting to see this view every night—for free, from your own place.”

“Eh, bet it’d get old after a day or two.”

“Even so, I wouldn’t mind living in this building. Do you think I’ll ever be able to afford my own place before I die? Oh, right! You took out a huge loan, didn’t you? Think you can handle it?”

“I’ll manage somehow.”

“There are so many apartments turning into money pits these days. Why are home prices in this country so damn expensive?”

At Yura’s sharp remark, Jian let out a small laugh.

“Yura, I’ll be right back. I need to use the bathroom.”

“Alright, hurry back.”

Sliding the doors open, Jian stepped out of the private dining room, eyes fixed on her phone as the click of her heels echoed against the marble floor.

Maybe it was because they were brand-new, but her shoes felt unbearably tight tonight, pain shooting up from her soles to her ankles.

Then—bam! A small child darted out of nowhere and crashed straight into her.

Because she’d been too distracted by her phone, Jian hadn’t seen the little one coming. The child stumbled backward and fell, hitting the floor with a loud thud.

“Waaaaahhhhh!!!”

“Whoa! Sweetie, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”

Panicking, she crouched down and reached for the child, but the moment she lifted him, her high heels wobbled beneath. Just as she was about to fall, a strong hand shot out, gripping her arm firmly and keeping her steady.

“Thank y—”

She looked up—and froze. It was Hyunmin.

His gaze met hers, sharp and unwavering. Jian felt a sudden pressure and was the first to break eye contact.

“You’re here...”

Without a word, Hyunmin shifted his attention to the crying child in her arms. He gently took the boy into his own embrace.

“And what’s this handsome little prince’s name?”

“Waaaahhh! Yul…”

“Alright, And where does it hurt?”

“Waaaahhh!! Here…!” The boy pointed to his forehead.

“Oh, you bumped your head? Do you feel dizzy? Like you might throw up?”

“Huuuuhhh… No…”

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

Hyunmin held up two fingers, and Yul sniffled, his eyes red and puffy, before mumbling: “Two…”

“Smart boy.”

Jian watched, her lips parting slightly in surprise. With his cold, intimidating aura, Hyunmin seemed like the last person who’d be good with kids.

But the way he handled Yul was so effortless, like he’d done this a thousand times before.

“He hit his head, but I don’t see any signs of a concussion for now. But if anything seems off later, don’t hesitate to call anytime.”

After making sure Yul was alright, Hyunmin approached the boy’s parents, handed them his business card, and gave them a polite bow.

Jian quickly followed suit, bowing as well before trailing after Hyunmin as he made his way back toward the dining room.

She knew a scolding was coming, and sure enough, she was right.

Just before opening the sliding door, Hyunmin turned his head slightly, casting a look down at her.

“Looks like my first impression of you in Paris was spot-on. Unfortunately.”

He spoke with a sharp, unforgiving edge that could cut anyone down, then smirked with cold sarcasm.

What was it that he’d said about me back in Paris?

Oh, right. That she was careless. That she was unprepared.

“I’m sorry…”

“You should be. Since yesterday, I haven’t found a single thing about you that I like. I warned you, didn’t I? I told you not to get on my bad side.”

It was clear what he meant—she was on thin ice.

Jian felt a wave of defeat wash over her.

* * *

Dinner with the editor-in-chief was pure agony.

Jian spent the entire meal questioning whether the man sitting across from her was the same one who had once clinked glasses with her in Paris.

Sure, people wore different faces in different settings.

At work. With family. With a lover. With close friends.

But his flawlessly polished facade, without a single flaw, felt eerily unfamiliar to her.

At least that night in Paris, he seemed… human.

“Excuse me, Mr. Shin.”

It was Gibaek Lee from the Features Team—probably the most sociable and outgoing employee at THE Runway. Struggling with the suffocating atmosphere, he finally broke the silence.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Hyunmin set his fork and knife down. He calmly dabbed his lips with a napkin before lifting his gaze to meet Gibaek’s.

The cold smile that followed made the hair on everyone’s arms stand on end.

“I fail to see how that’s relevant in a professional setting. Does knowing whether I’m in a relationship somehow improve your job performance? If so, I’ll tell you.”

“Uh, well... It’s not really about work. I just thought it’d be nice to get to know you better.”

Up to that moment, everything was still fine.

But then, Deputy Editor Miae chimed in and threw fuel on the fire.

“Mr. Shin, I suppose you’re not too familiar with Korean office culture yet, given how long you’ve been in France. Here, it’s common to ask personal questions during company dinners. It’s a way for colleagues to bond.”

“Ah. Is that so?”

His tone was laced with sarcasm.

Jian noticed the cynical glint in his eyes.

“Then I suppose I should play along, Mr. Gibaek Lee.”

“Yes…?”

“First of all, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Oh, I see.”

“By the way, Mr. Gibaek Lee.”

“Yes…?”

His gaze flickered briefly to Miae before settling back on Gibaek.

Actually, it was unclear who the question was meant for.

“When did you lose your virginity?”

“Pfft—!”

Someone spat out their drink. Another knocked over a water glass. A third started choking on their food.

The once-elegant private dining room, where soft classical music played in the background, had turned into a complete disaster zone.

“What’s with the overreaction? I’m just trying to get to know my employees better.”

No one dared to say what they were all thinking:

How the hell is that the same level as asking if you have a girlfriend?!

But they all understood.

His wildly inappropriate question was a warning. A way of making sure no one ever pried into his personal life again.

Vzzzz. Vzzzz.

Jian’s phone vibrated on the table.

The contact was long deleted, leaving only an unsaved number on the screen. But she recognized it instantly. How could she not?

Seongmin Lee. The man who had once been her fiancé. The reason she’d fled to Paris.

Had she loved him too much?

They say time heals all wounds. But if that were true, why did this one still feel like a nail lodged deep in her chest, refusing to budge?

“…”

Jian stared at the screen, her jaw tightening. Then, biting her lip, she flipped the phone over.

Hyunmin had been watching her, noticing every little detail.