Tai Jun's thoughts: You saved the hotel...

The battle line has been drawn and I knew the war was on. However, the attack came sooner than I anticipated.

I have warned Manager Wu not to do anything rush. He did not listen, and went ahead to remove Shin Dong Xian’s luggage from Sapphire. Now, the enemy is at the doorstep.

In the meeting room, there we sat: me, Madam Cui, Shin Dong Xian and his partner Leo.

Shin Dong Xian came prepared but I could not see through him at all. He was after something, but I did not know what.

Madam Cui apologized for the incident, guaranted to our guest that it was a misunderstanding, and would not happen again.

Leo, on behalf of Shin Dong Xian, was threatening legal action."... because of information leak, we can sue the hotel for one billion US dollar..." A chill went down my spine.

Madam Cui panicked even more, and kept apologizing for the inappropriate behavior of our hotel staff.

"...we can take action soon..." Leo continued, but Shin Dong Xian interrupted him, "Let me make this clear. With a click of a button, I can shutdown the operation of your hotel for a month. As the hotel is surviving day by day ..."

"Why are you here at all, what do you want?" In total panic, Madam Cui questioned him and I was already too late to stop her.

"General Manager, well done for stopping her in time!" Our guest at Sapphire smiled," My last advice for you: get the very best lawyers to help you fast. Even so, you cannot beat me." He made his point clear, stood up, and left with Leo. I was frozen on my chair.

"He does not look like he was joking..." Madam Cui enquired.

I looked at her worried face. With no experience running the hotel, it must be a very heavy burden for her, having to take over as the President of the hotel when late President Cui passed away suddenly.

I would choose not to lie, but there was little other choice. I have to tell her that Shin Dong Xian was only bluffing, and the matter would be resolved in no time; even though both of us knew I was lying.

On the way to the manager's office to see Manager Wu, I kept asking myself: what was Shin Dong Xian really after? If he wanted to sue us, he needn’t meet us with Leo today. What would he be after?

Wu obviously felt that he was in the right as he showed no sign of remorse. The hotel was in all sorts of troubles already, and now, he managed to offend the enemy of the hotel. We started arguing, and he punched me. In defense, I threw my punch back at him. You and a few colleagues pulled me back.

I saw you in pain, behind me. Why do things go in the way it is now? You must have been asked yourself million times. I could not bear to see this, and went back to my office.

I saw little choice but to see Shin Dong Xian again as I needed to know what he was after exactly. When I got into Sapphire, he was standing in the balcony, with his back facing me. He knew I have come in, but he deliberately not turn around. I put the gifts down on the table, and he turned.

"Sorry, sir", I apologized and guaranteed that this would not happen again.

He walked in front of me and picked up the flower basket from the table, dropped the basket, stamped on it, and turned round. I frowned. He tried to provoke me, but I had to swallow.

Then, he picked up the champaign bottle, looked at it, and emitted a chilling smile. The bottle shattered when he threw it onto the wall, and a piece of broken glasses hit my forehead. I should feel the pain from the cut but was somehow numbed.

Continued on, he moved to the fruit basket, "Please give this to your diligent staff who worked so hard in moving MY luggage from MY room. Please, take it out."

"Sorry, sir", I humbled myself and apologized again, as the GM, that was all I could say.

"General manager, I have made myself clear already. You'd better be prepared if you want to fight with me".

So, this was what it was about: the war between me and him, the war that he is confident in winning.

"Sorry, sir", I humbled myself yet again, and apologized yet again. If it was about the war, it would be the hotel, and you.

Finally, he admitted, "Manager Xu Zhen Yin. Tell her to come over here. If you want to be forgiven, get her here fast." He turned and walked away. Before he slammed the door shut, he made it clear, "I only wanted to see her".

It was a long walk from Sapphire back to my office. I saw the picture of the late President Cui in my office: how can he do this kind of work, day in day out for 30 years, always smile, always show such courtesy to the guest?

Han Tai Jun, you still had a long way to go. The other day I was yelling at you for slapping the guest, and tonight, I almost punched him.

What should I do now? I am tired and exhausted. Whatever it is, I can't let you know what happened, I could not give you up and let you go. Now, the cut on my forehead started to get painful...

Somehow you found out, and I ran to Sapphire as fast as I could. You were outside the door, leaning against the wall: have you gone inside yet? Did you just come out? Was I too late already?

"What are you doing here? Who told you to be here?" I would like to say something nice to show my concern, but could not think of anything.

You turned away, wipe off your tears, but did not say anything. Was I too late already? What had he done to you? I was going to rush into Sapphire, but you pulled me back.

"Nothing happened, really nothing..." you almost whispered, in pain, "I am fine. The hotel will be fine too."

Am I still a man? How can I let you do this for me, and for the hotel? But if you did not come, how can I deal with Shin Dong Xian? All he wanted was you. Why couldn't I even protect the woman I love and in return, she has to take care of my business for me? Feeling weak and helpless, I walked you back, down the driveway in front of Sapphire. No one said anything.

"Tai Jun, I am fine", you said it again in front of the staff changing room, "really nothing happened."

I was not myself when I bluntly said: "Do not interfere with the business in the hotel anymore."

That was really not what I meant. I meant to show appreciation for what you did for the hotel, I meant to show appreciation for what you did for me, but the words just came out that way.

You stood there, looked like you wanted to say something. At the end, you did not say anything, and went into the changing room quietly. 

Zhen Yin's thoughts: Dilemma...

I was in the staff office when you stormed in. Anger was on your face. You went straight to Manager Wu and confronted him. He is our guest. Regardless of what he has done, Manager Wu shouldn’t has thrown him and Leo out of Sapphire. You flew into a rage as Manager Wu has no idea about the disastrous consequences his juvenile actions could cost Hotel Seoul. You dodged Manager Wu’s attack and gave him some punches. The staff and me pulled you and Manager Wu apart.

Equipped with flowers and champaign, Xuan Zhe and you left for Sapphire to apologise. If Leo and him checked out of Sapphire now, and in this situation, Hotel Seoul will be in great crisis. I am worried. Again, I asked myself, "What do things turn out this way?"

Xuan Zhe and you were back to your office. I paced outside your office anxiously. I am worried about the tense situation. I forced the truth out of Xuan Zhe. He has only one demand - he wanted to see me, to see me alone. There is no other way to save Hotel Seoul except meeting his only demand.

I took a peep into your office. You were facing the window, back-facing the door. You must be vexed. You didn’t even want me to know his only demand. I left quietly.

I made a decision — I shall meet him, for the sake of the hotel. He has been gentle to me, and should always be.

I reached Sapphire. Again, I paused at that door. I entered, with a heavy heart and the most conflicting emotions in my mind. I took almost everything he said as orders, as demands. I wouldn’t appear weak in front of him. "Hurt and confusion" could be close but inadequate to describe my feelings. Hotel Seoul is where my ambition lies. When I look at him now, I seemed to have betrayed Hotel Seoul. He promised me that Hotel Seoul will be fine.

He repeatedly confessed about his sincere feelings for me. Deep in my heart, I have already believed in him, in his sincerity to me. If only I could convince myself not to believe, then it wouldn’t be as painful as now. Witnessing his tears pained me. Warm tears rolled down my cheeks too … I hope … I hope I could hold him, comforting his heart as well as mine … but I can’t, I can’t … I escaped out of Sapphire again.

I didn’t return to the staff office immediately. I am not in the condition to face anyone now. I stood by the wall. You came, and asked if I am all right. I wiped away my tears. "Nothing happened" … "He didn’t do anything to me" … "I am fine. The hotel will be fine too", I heard myself saying.

I followed you back to the main building. I took a backward glance at Sapphire. Sapphire means him. We didn’t say a word during the journey.

Outside the changing room, you instructed me, the manager of Hotel Seoul, not to interfere with the hotel matters. I just parted sadly with him for the hotel and now you asked me not to interfere with the hotel matters? I paused, didn’t really know how to explain coherently. Finally, I turned and walked into the changing room.

I sat on a deserted seat in the changing room. I held my face with my hands. It is clear to me now that the hunter is him and his prey is Hotel Seoul. It is clear to me now that he and I have fallen for each other. It is also crystal clear to me that I am now trapped between the hotel that has been part of me, and him, who is the man I love.

I don’t know what else can I do in this dilemma. Why do I have to meet him now, here and in such a way? … Then, my heart cried along with me.