Smoke rolled through the restaurant in slow gray waves when Ji-Ah pushed through the door.
She immediately covered her nose with the sleeve of her shirt.
"Ugh—"
Her eyes watered.
The air tasted like burnt oil and panic.
But when she squinted through the haze she realized something.
"…This fire is tiny."
The flames were mostly trapped in the kitchen area.
The problem was the smoke.
And the worst part?
The fire had spread just enough to block the small storage door.
Right where the fire extinguisher should have been.
"Great," she muttered.
She waved her hands in front of her face, trying to push the smoke aside like it was a curtain.
It didn't help much.
She moved deeper into the kitchen.
Metal pots clanged softly as heat warped them.
"Hello?!" she shouted hoarsely.
Then she heard it.
A small voice.
Crying.
"Sir… please wake up…"
Ji-Ah turned the corner of the kitchen.
"Aiko!"
There, crouched on the floor near the counter, was Aiko.
Her eyes were red.
Her nose red.
She was coughing badly.
And beside her—
Collapsed on the floor—
Was Ha-Joon.
His glasses were crooked.
His face flushed red.
Dust clung to his suit.
His eyes were closed.
"Aiko!"
Aiko looked up instantly.
"Ji-Ah!"
Ji-Ah rushed over and dropped to her knees beside them.
She shook Ha-Joon's shoulder.
"Sir!"
Nothing.
She tapped his cheek lightly.
"Hey! Tyrant! Wake up!"
Still nothing.
His breathing was uneven.
Ji-Ah looked at Aiko quickly.
"What happened?"
Aiko wiped her face with the back of her hand, coughing again.
"He… he had a panic attack…"
She pointed weakly.
"The fire… he saw the flames… then he collapsed…"
Ji-Ah glanced around the smoky kitchen.
Then stood abruptly.
"Hold on."
She ran to the sink.
Turned the tap.
Cold water splashed loudly.
She grabbed a cloth, soaked it quickly, and hurried back.
"Move a little."
She wiped Ha-Joon's face and neck with the wet cloth.
"Come on, Sir."
He coughed suddenly.
"Cough—!"
His chest jerked as he sucked in air.
"Good," Ji-Ah said quickly. "That's good."
He coughed again.
Aiko looked hopeful.
"Is he waking up?"
"Maybe."
Ji-Ah glanced toward the doorway.
Smoke was getting thicker.
"We need to get him out."
She crouched beside Ha-Joon again.
"Aiko, help me."
They each grabbed one of his arms.
Ji-Ah slid his arm over her shoulder.
"Okay," she muttered, adjusting his weight. "On three."
Aiko did the same on the other side.
"One… two… three."
They lifted him carefully.
Ha-Joon was taller and heavier than he looked.
The moment they stood up he stirred weakly.
His eyes fluttered.
"…Fire…"
His voice was shaky.
"Fire…"
Then suddenly—
His arms tightened.
He grabbed Ji-Ah tightly.
Like someone clinging to a life raft.
Ji-Ah froze.
"…Sir?"
Ha-Joon's breathing sped up.
"Fire… don't—"
He pulled her closer, gripping her like the world might collapse.
Ji-Ah blinked in shock.
Her face turned slightly pink.
"…Whoa."
Then she glanced at Aiko.
"…Your boss is hugging me."
Aiko coughed again.
"Ji-Ah… please…"
Ji-Ah sighed.
"Right. Focus."
She shifted his arm back over her shoulder.
Although his grip on her sleeve stayed tight.
"Seriously though," she muttered under her breath while walking, "why are you afraid of fire if you own a restaurant?"
She paused.
"…Actually wait."
She squinted at him.
"…Do you even cook?"
She had never seen him cook.
Not once.
"Let's go," Aiko said weakly.
Ji-Ah nodded.
Together they carefully carried him out of the smoky kitchen.
Step by step.
Through the restaurant.
Through the doorway.
Fresh air hit them like a wave.
Outside, everyone gasped when they saw them.
"Sir!"
"Boss!"
An ambulance was already waiting.
Paramedics rushed forward with a stretcher.
They gently laid Ha-Joon down.
Ji-Ah stepped back, catching her breath.
But when the paramedics lifted the stretcher into the ambulance—
She climbed in after them without thinking.
The doors shut.
The ambulance drove off.
Outside, Min-Jea watched it disappear down the street.
He sniffed slightly.
"Well…"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"That was something."
Nearby, firefighters continued spraying water into the kitchen.
Smoke slowly faded into the sky.
Then a man hurried over.
Hoseok clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone calm down."
The employees turned toward him.
"I'll speak with the boss about the situation."
He gestured toward the restaurant.
"For now, please go home."
"We'll handle everything from here."
The workers nodded slowly.
One by one they began dispersing.
The night finally grew quiet again.
------
The living room of the Kim residence was calm.
Too calm.
Soft lamps glowed against polished wood walls. The large television played quietly while the family relaxed after dinner.
On the couch sat Arisoo with a book in her lap, though she had stopped reading minutes ago.
Across from her, Min-Hyuk was lazily scrolling on his phone.
Near the window, Yoo-Na sat elegantly with her legs crossed, pretending to watch television while actually thinking about the argument earlier with Ji-Ah.
At the center sofa sat Madam, calm as ever, sipping tea.
The TV droned quietly.
"…and now to breaking news tonight."
Arisoo's head lifted slightly.
The news anchor continued.
"A small fire broke out earlier this evening at Hanryeon Foods, one of the major restaurants under Kim Group."
Madam's teacup paused mid-air.
The screen suddenly switched to footage.
Flashing lights.
Firefighters.
Smoke pouring from the restaurant.
Min-Hyuk straightened instantly.
"…Wait."
The reporter continued.
"According to witnesses, the company's CEO, Ha-Joon Kim, entered the building during the incident to rescue an employee."
Yoo-Na's eyes widened.
"What?!"
The screen showed paramedics carrying someone on a stretcher.
Ha-Joon.
His face pale.
Oxygen mask over his mouth.
Min-Hyuk jumped to his feet.
"That's hyung!"
Arisoo dropped her book.
"What happened to him?!"
The news clip replayed the moment again.
Smoke.
Firefighters shouting.
Ha-Joon being loaded into an ambulance.
Madam slowly stood up.
Her face had gone pale, but her voice remained controlled.
"…Turn up the volume."
Min-Hyuk grabbed the remote immediately.
The reporter continued.
"Paramedics transported the CEO to the hospital after he reportedly collapsed inside the building. Officials say the fire has now been contained."
The room exploded with voices.
"What do they mean collapsed?" Min-Hyuk demanded.
Arisoo pressed a hand to her mouth.
"Was he injured?"
Yoo-Na stood abruptly.
"He went inside a fire?!"
Her voice carried disbelief.
"Why would he do something so reckless?!"
Madam's expression hardened.
"He would never act carelessly."
Her mind was already racing.
"Someone must have been trapped."
Arisoo nodded slowly.
"That sounds like him."
Min-Hyuk grabbed his jacket.
"We need to go."
Yoo-Na was already reaching for her bag.
"Yes, we should go right now."
Arisoo turned toward Madam.
"Mother…"
Madam had already started walking toward the door.
"Prepare the car."
Her tone allowed no delay.
Min-Hyuk hurried after her.
Arisoo followed quickly.
Yoo-Na lingered only a second longer, staring at the frozen image of Ha-Joon on the TV screen.
Then she grabbed her purse and rushed after them.
Within minutes the house emptied.
The television continued playing the news report to an empty room.
Smoke.
Sirens.
And the flashing headline:
"Kim Group CEO Hospitalized After Fire Rescue."