LOVE YOU RIGHT | ONEW - LEE JINKI

14: Tightening the Loose Ends

The morning sun streamed through the windows of Hwayoung's apartment, casting a warm glow over the minimalist décor. She sat at her small kitchen table, nursing a cup of tea as she scrolled through her phone. The notifications were endless—messages from friends, comments on her social media posts, and articles from various outlets covering the previous night's event.

Hwayoung's heart swelled with pride as she read the headlines:

"Hwa Restaurant Stuns at Prestigious Gala with Exquisite Cuisine"

"Young Restaurateurs Seo Hwayoung and Kim Jinhwan Impress High Society"*

"An Evening of Elegance: Hwa Restaurant Takes Center Stage"

Each article praised the food, the presentation, and the overall atmosphere that Hwayoung and Jinhwan had created. Even more, there was a noticeable shift in tone regarding her presence at the event. Where once she might have been dismissed or questioned, the journalists now spoke of her with respect, acknowledging her hard work and talent.

As she scrolled, one particular notification caught her eye—a text from a number she didn't recognize. Opening it, she was surprised to find that it was from one of the journalists she had met the previous night.

"Good morning, Ms. Seo. I hope you've had a chance to rest after last night's success. I wanted to follow up on our conversation—our publication would love to feature your story in an upcoming issue. We believe our readers would be very interested in your journey and the success of Hwa Restaurant. Let me know if you're open to it. Best, Park Sungho, Senior Editor, Tatler Asia for Korea."

Hwayoung stared at the message, her mind racing. She had always dreamed of Hwa Restaurant being recognized on a larger scale, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. The thought of sharing her story with the world was both exhilarating and terrifying. There was so much to tell, so much that people didn't know about her struggles, her journey, and the people who had helped her along the way.

Before she could overthink it, another message popped up on her screen. This one was from Jinki.

"Morning, Hwayoung-ah. I hope you're feeling good today. I saw some of the articles—they're all raving about last night. I told you, you're doing amazing. Let's celebrate properly, my treat."

A smile spread across Hwayoung's face. She could almost hear Jinki's calm, reassuring voice as she read the message. He had been right—last night was a success, and she had every reason to feel proud. But more than that, she felt grateful. Grateful for Jinki's support, for his belief in her when she doubted herself, and for the way he had protected and guided her through the challenges.

"I'd love that," she replied. "Thank you for everything, Jinki-ssi. I don't know what I would've done without you last night."

She could almost picture his gentle smile as she sent the message.

Feeling a renewed sense of purpose, Hwayoung quickly replied to the journalist, agreeing to the interview. It was time to share her story—not just for herself, but for everyone who had supported her along the way: her mother, Jinhwan, Yonghwa, and now, Jinki.

"Nuna, nuna!" Yonghwa burst into the kitchen, his eyes wide with excitement. "Did you see the news? Daebak!" He gasped in amazement. "Did they photoshop your picture? How could you be this pretty?" He didn't miss the chance to tease her.

"Yah!" Hwayoung playfully raised her hand to swat at him, but Yonghwa was quicker, rushing forward to wrap his arms around her in a tight hug. The embrace was more than just sibling affection—it was a moment of shared relief, warmth, and unspoken understanding. Hwayoung could feel the weight lift from her shoulders, sensing that her success had finally brought Yonghwa the peace and recognition he had longed for on her behalf.