Victoria was seated, waiting for the camera setup to be completed. She was in the midst of a photoshoot for an LV Winter collection. She had just finished her make up and outfit change and was told to relax for a bit before they continued the last portfolio concept. It was another brief time of idleness and she again drifting to her thoughts.

A week had passed since Nichkhun had walked out that fateful morning, leaving Victoria in a state of confusion and turmoil. She couldn't help but feel a whirlwind of emotions, torn between blaming him for leaving (he agreed to forget it all, didn't he?) and blaming herself for pushing him away. "He's always very carefree. Like he's just going wherever the wind blew. Was this how always started a relationship with women? Sleeping with them?"

Victoria asked herself as she fixed her eyes on the crew laying down the luxurious carpet set prop on the terracotta tiled terrace of the vineyard mansion. The carpet was red. Nichkhun's favorite color. The same color shirt he was wearing when she over heard his conversation with WooYoung (yes, it was WooYoung's voice). He was in the upstairs bedroom facing the balcony. "Ya! So you're gonna have to get Victoria to bed, man?". She was at the top of the stairs, sneaking quietly as she was going to call him to share a cake that the WGM staff brought for their afternoon shooting break. He would be surprised because she'd already said goodby a while ago and he thought she'd already left. She stopped, shocked when she heard Nichkhun reply -- "Of course! This one's no different. Vic is in the bag." She didn't know what to say but quietly retreated downstairs.

Because of that, no matter how sweet and caring the actions that Nickhun showed, she'd become more guarded. There was a time that she felt she could no longer contain her growing feelings for the guy but she never heard words of assurance from him, that maybe, even just slightly, she could be a bit different from the rest -- not just one more item in his list of conquests.

But then, on hindsight, having her own share of younger male cousins, from whom she'd heard such crass conversation at times, and she scolded them badly so she knew that young boys could have their "wild phase" in life and most outgrow that. 

She thought things were different this time. They were both mature enought that they could at least maintain a decent friendship for old times' sake. She did miss the laughter they shared and the warmth of his presence on set before that whirlwind of a night together turned her world upside down. Now, there was only silence. Were they cursed and could never work together? After WGM, they became estranged before. After a scorching summer of filming of "Heart Rumble", was this their new reality -- enemies? She didn't want that. She was glad when they were finally starting off with a clean slate. He was part of her life and was happy to be good acquaintances at least. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life having this unresolved issue with Nichkhun. Life is short and though the story with Sulli was different (their relationship was OK, just that busy lives and work got in the the way of nurturing it by spending quality time together), it taught her how regret could be one's worst enemy. She was very tempted to text him a casual message just to clear the air and free her mind.  Besides, why would she shrink away from him just because she "gave in"slept with him? She would show him she could also be perfectly non-chalant about a one-night stand. She could keep it cool.

But as she thought of how to get Nichkhun's contact (she didn't even have his number because filiming usually was done in a closed location with all actors together for an entire month or two, there was just no need because they saw and talked to each other daily on set), this image of her and Nichkhun was conjured up in her imagination: they were in Wuxia fantasy clothing, standing across each other in a vast bamboo forest and giving each other icy gaze, both ready to draw the razor sharp sword on their side. The wind blew, both flew to the air, crystal clinking sound of blades was heard among the swishing steady sounds produced by the rustling bamboo leaves... Victoria shook her head quickly. "Am I becoming violent as I age now?"

But summer is over. Autumn had finally arrived, and she was determined to immerse herself in her career. Her phone rang.

"Qian Qian. I booked you a flight early tomorrow morning. I'm sorry for the red eye flight but there's a change in schedules for you."  It was Xiao Li, her manager who remained in Beijing to take care of her studio commitments that she couldn't handle since she prioritised this photoshoot. To be honest, she wanted to get away from Beijing for a while after what happened. 

Xin Hui contacted her manager because there was now a sudden shift in plans meant that their drama's release had been moved up to coincide with the mid-Autumn festival.

Xiao Li added: "Apparently Nichkhun has been posting behind-the-scenes selfies on Instagram and the fans are going crazy. Khuntorians are ecstatic." The company wanted to cash in this sudden spike in the two stars' popularity, hence the early release. "So you're both gonna have to do the promotions tour earlier"

"I understand. Don't worry, Xiao Li. Thanks for arranging this for me. Bye, I'll see you soon!" She was more determined to get this photshoot wrapped up. Work had always been her solace, and her staff, who felt like family, provided comfort, although she hadn't yet told Xiao Li what had transpired between her and Nichkhun that night.

Victoria remembered tealling Xiao Li "I went home to my apartment". It the first time she ever lied like this. Good thing Min Jae told everyone that Nichkhun had left due to a family emergency and that had provided a convenient cover story. As for Aimi and Dawei, who had been with them that night, remained blissfully ignorant, thanks to their own inebriation.

"I got this!" She said, as she got up from her chair as she saw the production team wave at her at the terrace overlooking the gorgeous vineyard which was their shooting location. The hours passed quickly and Victoria, as always, gave her 1,000%.

"That was phenomenal! We have so much good content -- I can't believe it myself!" The photographer said.

"Indeed! I don't think we're gonna have to edit out any of these at this rate! Awesome job, Victoria!" The art director complimented Victoria. She smiled, albeit a bit tired, but she was glad it was over. "It was a pleasure to work with you and your talented team", she replied.

As she stepped into the service van that would bring her straight from the country side location of the photoshoot to the airport in Florence, Victoria couldn't help but think about the next challenge that she was about to face: the impending duel, err, meeting ("Why am I suddenly to hung up with macabre thoughts these days?" she asked herself) with Nichkhun that she couldn't escape any longer.

With Xin Hui Entertainment wanting early to capitalize on the surge in "Khuntoria" popularity, the promotional tour for the drama was set to begin—TV guestings, interviews, photoshoots, the whole shebang. That meant that Nichkhun would likely be back in her life, in close proximity.

The thought of facing him, after that morning and their unresolved feelings, left her feeling vulnerable and uncertain.

Back in Hua Hin, early the next day, just a few hours after Victoria turned off the reading light to her seat on a plane homeward bound, Nichkhun received a call from Park Jin-Young with the a news and instructions as conveyed by Xiao Li to Victoria.