In New York City

chapter one

It's 7 AM and Lee Jian just parks her car in front of SM Entertainment Building.

Letting out a deep sigh, Jian unfastens her seatbelt. She takes her bag and laptop before getting of the car and going straight into the building.

Two days ago, Jian got an e-mail that announced her transfer from TAEYEON's Stylist Team to NCT 127′s Stylist Team ㅡ which is the worst way to start a new year.

Lee Ji An ㅡ a twenty-one years old girl who joined the Stylist Team of SM Entertainment after she graduated from high school ㅡ broke the record of the youngest stylist in this entertainment.

When people usually start to work after they graduate, Jian has started it all ever since she was in high school.

She joined hundreds of makeup and hairstyling competitions and snatched a lot of wins from there. All of her hard work was paid because here she is now, being one of the stylists in such a big company in Korea.

But, after working here for around a year, Jian is suddenly informed about her transfer to another stylist team who takes care of NCT 127 ㅡ where the guy whom she avoids the most is working in.

"Yeah, as if I got a choice," Jian mumbles to herself as she walks through the corridor with a cup of coffee from SM SUM Cafe that she bought before going up to the 3rd floor.

She slows down her pace so she can look at every number of the room. This building is too massive for her to remember every room.

"A... B... this one," she stops right in front of the room while staring at the board where the "3C: Meeting Room" is written.

She knocks on the door and opens it quietly. Then, she bows to the five people who are already looking at her with a smile on their faces.

The girl named Choi Daeun gestures Jian to sit beside her right away.

Jian has met them twice before because they had meetings to talk about Jian's transfer. But, of course, the awkwardness between them is still undeniable.

"First of all," Kim Heena ㅡ the oldest stylist among them ㅡ starts, "We would like to congratulate you, Lee Jian."

Followed by applause from the others, Jian shakes Heena's hand while mumbling in thankfulness.

"I hope you'll find your new family here," Shin Yuri adds with a warm smile.

"And thank you," Kim Haeyeon grabs Jian's hands to hold it tightly in her hands. "Thank you for joining us, Jian-ah."

Jian shakes her head, "No, Eonnie. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I know I'll learn a lot from this team."

"So, for this welcoming meeting, we actually want to talk more about your job description and responsibilities since the tour will be started next week," Choi Daeun says, giving out some paper to Jian.

She reads what's in there as Jung Yena explains. "So, you'll be responsible to be the Head of Makeup Artist for this tour ㅡ along with me," she says.

"Hㅡ Head of Makeup Artist?" Jian frowns in confusion.

"Yes, Head of Makeup Artist," Yena emphasizes. "What's wrong?"

Jian shakes her head, but her face can't hide her confusion.

Daeun points a section of words on the paper in Jian's hands. "Here, Jian-ah. Since we're going for a tour, the company will hire extra stylists. And, since we're basically the main stylist for NCT 127 now, we have to be the head of each subteam, leading the extras that our company hires."

"I know, it's already different from what you got in TAEYEON's Stylist Team," Heena smiles understandingly. "But, since we're working for nine guys with a really tight schedule for every single day throughout 3 months, we need more hands."

Jian wants to hit herself. Of course, they do need more hands. She used to work only for a girl, meanwhile starts from now, she's going to take care of nine guys ㅡ including that one guy named Mark Lee.

Remember when she says this transfer is actually the worst way to start a new year? It's true.

Not only because her workload will be much heavier, but she also has to face Mark Lee every single day.

She's been succeeded in not seeing or even meeting him throughout her one-year career in SM Entertainment ㅡ even though she also knows that he won't remember her once they meet each other.

But, that's the point.

It's already hard for her to avoid him. Now, it will be harder for her to know that Mark doesn't remember her, that she's invisible, and that she's the only one who remembers the past.

Again, does she have a choice? Of course not. Being the youngest and the newest in this company means you have nothing but to accept every decision that this company makes for her.

"Also, we're dividing the boys into two, so you, Daeunnie, and Heena-eonnie will take care of Haechan, Yuta, Jaehyun, and Mark. Then, Yena-eonnie, Haeyeon-eonnie, and I will take care of the rest," Yuri explains furthermore.

Jian nods slowly as she tries her best to keep smiling.

As if working for NCT 127 isn't enough, now she also has to take care of Mark Lee personally.

When she thought she just escaped the past that trapped her for years, she realizes how the past will tie her even harder.

"After we're done, let's see the boys first before lunch," Heena suggests to them as she turns the page of the document in her hands.

ㅡ scribblesoasis
03/04/21