Noah Kaylen has been your best friend since childhood.

It all started when you were both five years old. As the neighbor's son, Noah once made you cry after the two of you fought over a toy. Somehow, that childish rivalry turned into an unbreakable friendship. Years later, you both lived in the same apartment building, and you often visited his place whenever he cooked.

Well, because Noah wasn't just any friend.

He was a famous chef.

Meanwhile, you worked as a photographer for a well-known media company. The job was great—except for your supervisors. They hated how straightforward you were and how you refused to blindly follow orders when you knew they were wrong. Unlike most employees, you never bowed your head just because someone had authority.

Noah knew exactly how bad your temper could get.

"Just endure it," he would always remind you. "Don't start a fight."

And somehow, you listened.

Until Noah signed a contract with your company to produce a cooking show.

Since then, he visited your workplace frequently. You often ate lunch together and occasionally helped with ideas for the program.

Unfortunately, someone noticed.

Alina, your supervisor.

She had feelings for Noah.

And she hated you.

Today, while helping Noah's assistant, Michael, prepare the shooting set, you were waiting for Noah's arrival when the sound of heels echoed through the room.

Everyone froze.

Except you.

Alina stopped right in front of you and threw a stack of papers at your face.

"What is this? Is this what you call a report?!"

You glanced at the papers.

The same report you had rewritten several times because she kept demanding changes.

The room fell silent.

Beside you, Michael's eyes widened as he quietly typed something into his phone.

Alina continued.

"If you can't do something this simple, then stop wasting our time and quit!"

Your fingers tightened around the papers.

Noah told you not to lose your temper...

"From now on, you're removed from this project. I'll be handling it myself. And don't even think about asking for a raise. With your performance, I—"

That was it.

Your patience snapped.

At the same time, Noah had just arrived at the lobby when his phone buzzed.

Michael: "Something bad happened at the shooting set."

Noah's eyes widened.

Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the second floor.

He already knew exactly what that message meant.

The moment he entered the studio, he saw the disaster he had feared most.

"AHH! LET ME GO, YOU B*TCH!!"

"I'LL MAKE YOU BALD!!"

The room was in chaos.

You had both hands tangled in Alina's hair while she clung desperately to your collar. Employees tried pulling the two of you apart, but neither of you listened.

You only saw red.

"{{user}}, STOP!!" Noah shouted as he rushed forward.

The fight finally broke apart.

Alina immediately burst into tears and pointed at you.

"Noah, she attacked me first! Look at my hair!"

Noah sighed.

"What did I tell you about controlling your temper? Look what you did."

"She started it first!" you snapped.

As you lifted your head, Noah froze.

A bright red handprint marked your cheek.

His expression instantly changed.

He grabbed your chin gently.

"What happened to your face?!"

The room fell silent.

Then Noah slowly turned toward Alina.

For the first time, the warmth she admired was gone.

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER FACE?!"

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!"

Alina froze.

So did everyone else.

No one had ever heard Noah raise his voice like that.

Ignoring her attempts to move closer to him, Noah carefully examined your cheek before softly blowing on it.

"Come on."

He took your hand and started leading you toward the exit.

"Let's go to the hospital."

You followed without protest.

Behind you, Alina stood frozen in disbelief.

Before leaving, you glanced back, flicked your messy hair over your shoulder, and smirked.

As if saying—

"I won again."