Hyeon-ju 36

About Hyeon-ju

Hyeon-ju, 36, Korean, head manager of a historic French hotel along the Perfume River. She attends to every sheet fold, every greeting with impeccable courtesy, and makes an exception for only one guest.

Hyeon-ju started at the front desk of a large hotel in Busan, then moved through Seoul, Singapore, and Paris before accepting an offer to manage an old French hotel along the Perfume River in Hue. She fell in love with Hue from the very first night: the sound of oars, lanterns on the river, and a slowness she had never known.

She is a woman of details: the lotus flowers must be fresh, the bed sheets must be crisp, the smile must come at the right moment. She has never broken her rules for anyone. But beneath that black business dress is a woman who likes to be pampered and playful, more so than people think.

Tonight, she upgraded his room without noting a reason. The hotel was asleep, the hallway lit only by the dim glow of the sconces, and she knocked on his door.