“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“The colours look amazing today. I’m surprised at how beautifully the pink and purple blend together.”

“I’m not sure they really go well together.”

Her head was a mess and she felt as if she had arranged the flowers carelessly.

“It is a perfect match! The host of the banquet asked us to pay special attention to this. By the way, I saw that man earlier. He really does look Korean, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, he does.”

“Oh my God, he’s incredibly handsome! I really thought a film star had walked in! When he walked in, it was like there was a halo of light around him, like the sun was shining right behind him!”

“……Ah… yeah…”

“Seriously, I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as him. Don’t you think?”

“Absolutely!”

The team members eagerly agreed and continued to exchange their admiration for the man.

“Somehow it feels like today is his official debut in Korean high society.”

“Look at tonight’s guest list. Practically every major figure in Korean politics and business is here. Maybe it hasn’t happened before, but this is the first time in recent memory that the Clitie Hotel has had so many distinguished guests. There are so many five-star hotels in Seoul, but they chose ours – that alone is a great honour”.

“Of course!”

For a high-profile guest to choose a hotel that’s over 40 years old over a newly built five-star hotel just 10 kilometres away was a rare opportunity.

“Enough with the chitchat. Let’s decorate this better. Tell the party team to pay special attention to this.”

“Yes, Chief!”

As Soo-min carefully cut the flower stems with the scissors, her hands remained busy with work, but her mind was still filled with the image of that man. At the same time, the pain of a love that had ended painfully burrowed deep into her heart.

‘Junhwan… Junhwan… I saw a man who looks just like you…’

***

The banquet was scheduled for 6pm. Just as they had finished the flower decorations on time and were finally able to relax, a team member suddenly came running in a hurry.

“Boss, we’re missing a flower!”

“What? Where?”

“The focal flower for the top arrangement – it’s supposed to be there, but… what are we going to do?”

“How could such a mistake happen?”

The top arrangement was the centrepiece. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of a missing flower in such an important place, so she was confused.

“I’m sorry. I thought Jeong-ah took it… but the guests are arriving.”

A team member came out of the workroom with a flower basket.

“Give it to me.”

“A-are you going yourself?”

“It’s my team’s fault, so as the one in charge, I should take responsibility.”

Soo-min moved quickly, carrying the flower basket. As the corridor was crowded with guests, she hurried through the staff corridor.

‘The host probably hasn’t started their speech yet, so if I bring this over quickly… I just need to act naturally….’

The arrangement was so large that she had to hold it with both hands, making it difficult to see ahead. However, as she knew the layout of the hotel by heart – even with her eyes closed – she walked carefully, taking care not to damage the flowers.

Just then, something suddenly jumped out and collided with the basket.

“Ah!”

She tried to catch it before it fell, but the flowers spilled onto the floor.

‘Oh no… the flowers… they fell on the floor?!’

She fell to her knees, touching the broken flowers in a daze as a long shadow loomed over her.

“What is the name of this flower?”

“……!!”

The sound of the voice sent shivers down her spine.

‘That voice… That voice!’

‘Jun… Junhwan-…’

Her mind went blank and she felt dizzy. Slowly her head tilted upwards, her movements stiff and unsteady.

‘It was him.’

The Korean-Russian man who looked just like him.

But no matter how similar their faces were, their voices couldn’t possibly be the same… could they?

Her vision blurred, making it impossible to think clearly. Tears began to well up in her eyes.

The man she had loved, the one she had been forced to bury deep in her heart, was alive.

“J-Junhwan… Is that you?”

Without realising it, Soo-min suddenly grabbed the man’s hand.

“What do you think you’re doing?

“Junhwan. It’s you… isn’t it?”

It felt like a miracle – Junhwan had returned to her side. Tears streamed down her face.

But then she winced at the coldness in his expression.

Slap.

He brusquely slapped her hand away.

At the same time, his icy gaze cut through her like a sharp blade, freezing her in place.

“How unpleasant. Mistaking me for someone else…”

Soo-min finally snapped back to reality, startled.

‘He’s… not Junhwan?’

Her throat tightened painfully.

‘W-What do I do? Did I just make a huge mistake?’

“I-I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

The man looked down at the fallen flowers.

“You still haven’t answered my question. I asked for the name of the meaning of this flower.”

“…… That’s…”

Her mind went blank.

Staring at a man who not only looked like Junhwan, but even had the same voice, left her speechless.

No matter how much someone looked like someone else, how could their voice be identical? Is he really… not Junhwan?

‘If I touch him… No, if I find any trace of Junhwan… I would have to sleep in the same bed with him.’

Soo-min bit down hard on the inside of her cheek.

That’s a crazy thought.

When she remained silent, unable to answer, the man spoke.

“Rosa campanula means unchanging love, anemone means betrayal, and baby’s breath symbolises a promise – but it can also mean death.”

“……!”

“Oh dear, the stem of the Rosa Campanula is broken. What a shame.”

The man smiled faintly, and even that smile looked just like his. Without thinking, she instinctively reached out to stop him from leaving.

“W-Wait a minute.”

“Why?”

“Your name… If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me?”

“Do you really need to know my name? We’re just strangers passing through.”

“But still…”

‘I have to ask.’

Could he have a twin in Korea?

No, even if they were twins, their expressions and voices couldn’t possibly be identical. And yet, if they weren’t twins, there was no other explanation for what she saw.

The man looked at his watch and frowned.

“I know you don’t have much time. But I really need to know your name.”

“Since I ruined the flowers you worked so hard to arrange, I suppose I owe you that much. My name is Beom Yuhyeon.”

‘Beom Yuhyeon.’

She had never heard that name before.

Even if Junhwan had a twin, their surnames were different…

“C-Could it be… that you have a twin from whom you were separated at an early age?”

“…….”

The man stared at her as if she had just said something ridiculous. Under his piercing gaze, she felt her face heat up involuntarily.

“There’s no need to approach me like this. If you need a one-night stand, I’m in the suite. Feel free to drop by.”

“W-What… a one-night stand…?”

His eyes swept slowly over her body, making her tense.

Why did she feel exposed even though she was fully clothed?

“You’re not really my type, but who knows? If I get drunk, I might want to have s*x.”

“D-Don’t misunderstand! That’s not my intention.”

She couldn’t really tell him that she wanted to see what was in his trousers just because he looked like her former lover.

Her face burned with embarrassment.

“Then why do I get the feeling that your intentions aren’t so pure? You seem very interested in me.”

As he came closer, Soo-min’s heart dropped.

‘Too close.’

She wanted to make some kind of excuse, but no words came out.

Instead, she found herself staring at his face, unable to look away despite the inappropriateness of it all.

His eyes, nose, lips, philtrum and jawline – she examined every feature.

‘He looked the same.’

So much so that she felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch him.

‘If even his presence felt the same… wouldn’t it be easy to believe that Junhwan had come back to life?’

Soo-min found herself unconsciously looking for Junhwan in him.

She kept telling herself that it couldn’t be true, but the man who resembled Junhwan kept occupying her thoughts.

‘No. Stop thinking about it. He’s already dead, isn’t he?’

This man is even taller. About 190 cm? No, maybe 192 cm?

He was so tall that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes.

‘…But can’t you increase your height by wearing high heels? What am I thinking? Am I being followed by a ghost?’

The tension grew so intense that it felt like her breath was being cut off.

Soo-min’s eyes drifted down to the man’s lower body. She swallowed hard, the dry lump in her throat making her even more anxious.

“The initials engraved on his p*bic bone… If that’s in there, then he must be Junhwan for sure.”

“So this was a deliberate approach? You’re quite brave. You seem to be curious about what’s in my trousers.”

“Ah, no! I’m sorry!”

Soo-min recoiled in surprise and hurried away.

When she reached a secluded area with few people around, the tension finally eased. Her heart still pounding, Soo-min slapped her cheeks a few times.

“Get a grip on yourself. You’re causing unnecessary misunderstandings. They’ll think you’re a strange woman.”