The team filtered into the reserves courtyard, emerging from their assigned rooms, now dressed down and visibly energized by the fresh, crisp air. Min-su stood under the eaves of a sleek, open-air structure, blueprints and a his tablet in hand, a wide smile on his face. People chatted quietly as they found seats on the low stone benches arranged in a semi-circle, ready for the orientation. Do-yeon waved Seo-jin over, gesturing to a vacant spot beside her.

Seo-jin joined the group, her eyes, out of habit, immediately scanning the space. Her gaze swept past the gathered colleagues, past the intricate timberwork of the pavilion, and landed, with a subtle clench in her stomach, on the empty parking area. No Hyun-woo. His bike was gone too, vanished as if he had ridden off as quickly as he arrived.

Min-su began, his voice clear and resonant in the open air, gesturing toward the structure’s elegant frame behind him. "Magnificent isn’t it? This is the orientation pavilion. The core axis of this particular project. Passive cooling design, rotational symmetry, and open exposure to the forest..."

His voice became a muted drone beneath the ambient sounds of the gently swaying trees and the restless fidgeting of the team. Seo-jin’s gaze flicked to the car park again, a quick, almost unconscious movement. Still nothing. Of course not. She’d only just looked. She forced her attention back to the presentation, nodding absently, though her focus wavered, a persistent hum of anxiety just beneath her composure.

Then, a faint rev of an engine. Not loud, just enough to cut through the air.

Heads turned, a collective, almost involuntary shift in attention.

Hyun-woo rode into view, parking his motorbike in the same spot he’d left it before. He moved with an unhurried, composed grace, stepping off the bike and placing his helmet onto the seat with deliberate calm.

Min-su paused briefly in his presentation, a tight smile on his face, before smoothly continuing his explanation as if there had been no interruption.

Seo-jin didn’t react, her expression a carefully constructed mask. But Do-yeon, always watching, caught the subtle stiffening of Seo-jin's back, a tiny tremor that belied her outward calm.

Hyun-woo walked up the path, quiet and self-possessed. He took a spot at the edge of the group, slipping in as if he’d been there the whole time. No one said anything, no one directly acknowledged his arrival, maintaining the professional facade.

But everyone felt it. His presence. The shift in the air.

A few minutes later, the orientation concluded, and the group began to disperse, some heading toward the cabins, others lingering to admire the structure's intricate details. Min-su walked over to Hyun-woo as he approached him. Their voices were low, nothing audible to the rest of the group, a private conversation.

At first, Min-su’s brows furrowed in confusion, a slight frown crossing his cheerful face. Then, his eyes widened, a dawning comprehension, followed by genuine surprise.

"Wait, really?" Min-su asked, his voice barely a whisper, laced with disbelief.

Hyun-woo gave the smallest, almost imperceptible nod, his hands tucked casually into his jacket pockets. Unbothered. Min-su’s reaction was a burst of delighted disbelief, a short, sharp laugh.

"That’s incredible. I couldn’t convince her," Min-su exclaimed, shaking his head.

Hyun-woo offered a light shrug, the picture of nonchalance. "Figured the architecture shouldn’t be the only thing nourishing them."

Min-su clapped a hand to his shoulder, beaming, a wide, appreciative grin on his face. "You dark horse. First you disappear, now you arrange a guest chef?"

Hyun-woo glanced past him, toward the distant line of trees, his gaze steady. "She’s not a guest. She’s a local with a connection to us too."

Min-su shook his head, still grinning, clearly impressed.

Nearby, Seo-jin stood with Do-yeon, watching the exchange from a distance. All she could discern was Min-su’s surprised smile, Hyun-woo’s characteristic stillness, and the muted, conspiratorial nature of their conversation.

"That’s new," Do-yeon murmured, her eyes narrowed in speculation.

"What is?" Seo-jin asked, her voice flat, still watching.

"He made Min-su smile without even trying. Might be some kind of personal record," Do-yeon observed, a faint amusement in her tone.

Seo-jin didn’t respond, her expression unreadable as she continued to watch Hyun-woo quietly, a familiar tightness in her chest. As the group thinned out around them, Min-su stepped forward, clapping his hands together to regain everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, please, listen up. Before we dive into site exploration, I have a surprise for you all... and me!"

People paused, turning toward him, their curiosity piqued. Do-yeon raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eyes. Seo-jin watched, mildly curious but still distracted, her gaze occasionally flickering to where Hyun-woo had, once again, subtly distanced himself from Min-su, standing at the edge of the group.

"I’ve been informed that we will have a guest chef visiting tonight," Min-su announced, his voice beaming with satisfaction. "Local. Award-winning. And cooking for us."

Scattered reactions rippled through the group – intrigued murmurs, surprised glances exchanged. Sang-wook let out a low whistle of appreciation. "Not bad, Min-su. Pulling strings already?"

Min-su simply grinned, not correcting him, allowing the assumption to stand. "You’ll see for yourselves. Just know, this is real food. No soulless hotel buffets."

More chuckles rippled through the group. Seo-jin barely reacted, her face a mask, but Do-yeon tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp, clocking something in the air.

Her eyes drifted to Hyun-woo, who stood at the edge of the group, composed, silent. He didn't react, didn't outwardly acknowledge the news in any way. But he watched Min-su announce it like it was nothing, a subtle, almost imperceptible satisfaction about him. Min-su clapped his hands again, a final, enthusiastic gesture.

"Please take your time exploring and experiencing the surroundings and settle into your rooms. We’ll regroup for a formal tour before sunset. So you’ll need an appetite!"

As the others began to disperse, eager to explore the grounds, Hyun-woo and Min-su started to approach each other again, their private conversation about the chef seemingly set to continue.