Prologue : (Rewritten)

In front of me stood a grand hotel, its name boldly displayed on a placard hanging from a neighboring wall - "Hotel de Luna." The sight of it stirred contradictory emotions within me, a mixture of heartache and hope. With trepidation, I made my way towards the entrance, the weight of anticipation hanging in the air.

The door let out a creak as I pushed it open, revealing a scene that felt strangely familiar. And there, before me, stood someone I knew well, peering at me with curiosity.

"You're not a ghost, are you?" he quipped, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Here are our lodging prices, sir." With a quick gesture, he slid a card across the counter towards me.

Without uttering a word, I pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him close.

"I'm so glad to see you, Ji Hyun," I whispered, my voice filled with genuine delight.

Yes, he was the receptionist at Hotel de Luna - Ji Hyun-joong. I released him from my grip and handed him a card, which he accepted with care.

"Ah, so you're the manager," he beamed, motioning for me to enter the elevator. "I'm not the manager, just a visitor," I replied, though deep down, the thought of managing this hotel and working alongside Jang Man-wol, the love of my life, filled me with excitement.

As I stepped into the elevator, Ji Hyun-joong followed closely behind me.

..........................................................................

When the elevator doors opened, I was greeted by a man in his sixties - Manager Noh. As you might have guessed, he was the one who had requested my presence.

"I see you've come at my behest after all," Manager Noh remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

"Yes, I've thought long and hard about it, and I'm seriously considering becoming the manager of this hotel. I'm in your hands," I replied, clasping Manager Noh's hand firmly.

It felt surreal to interact with characters I had only seen on the show, now standing before me in real life. But seeing Manager Noh, who had limited time left, tugged at my heartstrings. In the performance, he had expressed his love for Jang Man-wol, yet departed the world without uttering a word. Why did the show have to be so heart-wrenching?

"Greetings from the hotel management," I said, turning to face two familiar figures who had just approached - Kim Sun-Bi and Choi Seo-Hee.

"Good day, new manager. It's a pleasure to meet you," Kim Sun-Bi greeted, extending his hand, which I gladly shook.

"I'm delighted to meet all of you. My name is Koo Chan-Sung," I introduced myself, feeling a rush of excitement.

Manager Noh then guided me, and as we exchanged a few more words, I couldn't help but ask him a question while we strolled through the hotel corridors.

"Where exactly are we heading, Mr. Noh?" I inquired, curiosity piqued. He came to a halt, turning to face me before answering,

"Miss Jang Man-Wol wants to meet you first. I'm taking you to her."

My heart quickened at his words, a mix of nervousness and anticipation coursing through me. Yes, I was finally going to meet my beloved Jang Man-Wol.

After traversing the hallway adorned with countless rooms, we arrived at our destination. Manager Noh gestured for me to proceed and spoke with a hint of anticipation, "Go ahead, Mr. Ko. I'll wait outside for your arrival." This was it - I was about to meet Jang Man-Wol.

My breath quickened as I stepped into the room, a surge of emotions washing over me.

"I see you've returned, after all," Jang Man-Wol remarked, her voice laced with a touch of amusement as she sat on the sofa, nonchalantly tending to her nails.

"I..." I began, but my voice caught in my throat.

"What is it?" she asked, her gaze focused on me.

"I've missed... I've missed you," I managed to say, my emotions overwhelming me. Seeing her again in person, beyond the confines of the television screen, brought healing to the wounds inflicted by the show.

"Why are you suddenly sobbing? And what's all this talk of missing me?" Jang Man-Wol inquired, her tone a mix of curiosity and exasperation.

As I wiped away my tears with a handkerchief from my pocket, I replied, "It's nothing. I've chosen to work for your hotel, starting now, and my salary will be twice as much. Does that make sense?"

"Goo Chan-Sung, don't you dare get cheeky with me," she retorted, her face flushing with a mix of anger and affection.

Oh, how I had missed this banter. May she never fall in love with me, yet grant me the courage to stay by her side until my last breath.