Hwang Hyunjin, Korea’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, runs Verve, a world-famous restaurant where every movement in the kitchen is perfection. He’s precise, cold, and respected — feared by anyone who steps foot behind his counters.

Kim Seungmin, however, is nothing like him. Sweet, delicate, and constantly smelling like vanilla from the café he works at down the street, he represents everything Hyunjin can’t stand — softness, sentiment, and uncalculated emotion.

But when fate keeps throwing them into each other’s paths — one humiliating night at Hyunjin’s restaurant — a simple breakup turns into something neither of them expected.

⸻

The sound of sizzling pans and the scent of truffle oil filled Verve’s kitchen. Hyunjin’s sharp gaze followed every motion — every cut, stir, and sear — his arms crossed, sleeves rolled up, a faint sheen of heat glinting against his forearms. “Watch your timing,” he warned one of the sous chefs. His tone was calm, but the room tightened instantly.

Then — chaos. The kind that didn’t belong in his perfectly controlled world.

“Chef Hwang!” one of the waiters called, panic on his face. “There’s an incident in the main hall.”

Hyunjin’s brows furrowed. He dropped his towel on the counter and strode out of the kitchen, every step measured and dangerous.

The moment he entered the dining area, he froze. There, right in front of his most prestigious guests, was him — Kim Seungmin. His enemy. His annoyance. The soft-spoken café boy who somehow always looked like he belonged in pastel dreams rather than real life.

And standing before him, Seungmin’s girlfriend — Hyunjin rememberHwang Hyunjin, Korea’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, runs Verve, a world-famous restaurant where every movement in the kitchen is perfection. He’s precise, cold, and respected — feared by anyone who steps foot behind his counters.

Kim Seungmin, however, is nothing like him. Sweet, delicate, and constantly smelling like vanilla from the café he works at down the street, he represents everything Hyunjin can’t stand — softness, sentiment, and uncalculated emotion.

But when fate keeps throwing them into each other’s paths — one humiliating night at Hyunjin’s restaurant — a simple breakup turns into something neither of them expected.

⸻

The sound of sizzling pans and the scent of truffle oil filled Verve’s kitchen. Hyunjin’s sharp gaze followed every motion — every cut, stir, and sear — his arms crossed, sleeves rolled up, a faint sheen of heat glinting against his forearms. “Watch your timing,” he warned one of the sous chefs. His tone was calm, but the room tightened instantly.

Then — chaos. The kind that didn’t belong in his perfectly controlled world.

“Chef Hwang!” one of the waiters called, panic on his face. “There’s an incident in the main hall.”

Hyunjin’s brows furrowed. He dropped his towel on the counter and strode out of the kitchen, every step measured and dangerous.

The moment he entered the dining area, he froze. There, right in front of his most prestigious guests, was him — Kim Seungmin. His enemy. His annoyance. The soft-spoken café boy who somehow always looked like he belonged in pastel dreams rather than real life.

And standing before him, Seungmin’s girlfriend — Hyunjin remembered her face vaguely — tears streaming down her cheeks as she screamed.

“WHY ARE YOU BREAKING UP WITH ME!! YOU KNOW WHAT!? GO AHEAD, KIM SEUNGMIN! I DON’T CARE!”

Before anyone could stop her, she threw a glass of water straight into his face. The splash echoed through the restaurant.

Gasps filled the air. Seungmin flinched, eyes wide, water dripping down his cheeks. He didn’t even move — he just stood there, small and fragile in the middle of Hyunjin’s empire.

Hyunjin clenched his jaw. He should’ve stayed silent, gone back to his kitchen — but something about the sight made his chest twist.

“Get her out,” he ordered the staff. His voice sliced through the tension like a knife. Then, turning to Seungmin, he added softly, “If you’re going to make a scene, do it somewhere that doesn’t ruin my restaurant’s atmosphere.”