Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 98

The office was quiet.

A man rummaged through the closet for a coat, muttering to himself.

“Seeing it on set is a completely different feeling, definitely. I realized the actor isn’t an actor for nothing.”

It was CEO Yoo Gyu-eon.

The owner and designer of the shopping mall that recently participated in [Fashion & Fashion] as a clothing sponsor.

Clatter.

He picked up a piece of clothing as if he liked it, then turned and walked toward Lee Min-ki, saying,

“Should I call it charisma? It’s like he becomes a different person. I saw his acting skills during the audition, but on set, I felt like I was holding my breath with every line.”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

“When you watch the acting on set, you almost only see the actor.”

At those words, Lee Min-ki scratched his head, seemingly embarrassed, and said,

“It’s all thanks to the consideration of my co-stars. Since I’m the lead in the story, they helped me a lot.”

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon smiled calmly at the humble answer.

‘What should I say?’

Lee Min-ki’s unique way of speaking always brought a smile to my face.

‘To be able to consistently maintain such an attitude at that age and with that career…’

If you have consecutive hits right after your debut, it wouldn’t be strange to be full of yourself, but he doesn’t have that aspect at all.

He elevates the other person without lowering himself too much.

He even guides the conversation so that it doesn’t flow into topics that the other person would feel uncomfortable with.

“I’m lucky to be able to film a project with such wonderful people.”

Isn’t there deep consideration in that short sentence?

That’s why no matter how much you talk, you can’t help but feel comfortable.

Suddenly, a mischievous playfulness stirred in CEO Yoo Gyu-eon’s mind.

‘But what about this question?’

I know that Lee Min-ki is a good person.

But the better the person, the more you want to see a flaw in them, at least once.

I wonder if there is a bottom to the conversation with a person named Lee Min-ki.

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon cleared his throat slightly and said,

“But I want to say this. I don’t know much about acting, but even so, I felt a clear gap between you and your co-stars.”

I threw it out there.

‘How will you answer this?’

I’m implying that, in my eyes, your acting seems to be much better than the others, that’s how it looks.

Will you answer that it’s because I don’t have an eye for acting?

Or will you downplay your own performance?

It was the moment when CEO Yoo Gyu-eon posed a small challenge.

“Hmm, that’s…”

‘What should I say?’

The answer that Lee Min-ki gave back was in a completely different direction.

“It’s probably thanks to Director Hwang Eui-sung’s design.”

“Design as in?”

“From the script to all the situations on set, he guided me to be the center of attention, so that’s how it seemed. Very naturally.”

He was giving credit to the system itself.

Choosing to give credit to others without diminishing himself.

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon smiled repeatedly and said,

“But isn’t it because your skills supported it? The director knew that too.”

I know it’s a bit rude.

I know that this question forces Lee Min-ki to give an awkward answer.

But I was curious.

I was becoming increasingly curious about the limits of Lee Min-ki’s eloquence.

“Isn’t it because you’re the lead that your skills are more noticeable?”

It was the moment when the dice were thrown again.

“There must be a reason why the director chose me as the lead.”

Lee Min-ki, standing firm in the face of my curiosity, smiled softly and replied,

“But that doesn’t mean I’m the best. A paring knife and a kitchen knife are both good tools, but their uses are different, right?”

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon was inwardly impressed by that answer.

‘Ah.’

‘So this is how you gracefully sidestep it.’

The reason why he was chosen as the lead was because he was suitable for the role, not because he was absolutely superior.

It was an answer that scattered CEO Yoo Gyu-eon’s playful intentions in one breath.

‘He could be a politician.’

It was the moment when he smiled without realizing it.

Lee Min-ki cleared his throat slightly, as if he was embarrassed by this short conversation, and said,

“What I’ve felt while living as an actor, even for a short time, is that there’s nothing I can do alone on set. For example…”

Lee Min-ki, who was calmly choosing his words, raised his hand and pointed to the lighting on the ceiling.

“In order for me to look like the lead, I need lighting that draws attention to me.”

Next, he pointed to the mirror and said,

“I need the help of the filming team staff to make me look like the lead.”

Next, he stroked the chair next to him.

“These props will also be a mise-en-scène [the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play] for me, right?”

Lastly.

Lee Min-ki fiddled with the sleeves of the shirt he was wearing and muttered,

“The clothes that the CEO made are also like that. You gave me the most eye-catching clothes, right? I think each of these things comes together to make me the main character.”

Finally, it came back to CEO Yoo Gyu-eon.

He turned the potentially uncomfortable question around and around, returning it as a compliment that was as soft as a skilled Taijiquan [a Chinese martial art and form of exercise] master.

The reason why I could shine more than anyone else is because you illuminated me.

What other praise could a designer receive that is better than this?

‘I’m not a Taoist who has gained enlightenment after being reborn; I lost.’

Finally, CEO Yoo Gyu-eon gave up.

That’s not pretense.

It’s not even polished eloquence.

It was just an action that came from his innate character.

From the bottom of his heart, he sincerely respects his co-stars and, even more than that, respects all the workers in the industry.

That’s why such eloquence was possible.

‘I’m not in a situation to evaluate anyone.’

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon finally gave up on digging out even a speck of Lee Min-ki’s bad side and asked back with a gentle smile.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it would have been absolutely impossible alone. I’m always grateful.”

Lee Min-ki smiled as if he was embarrassed by the words that came out of his mouth.

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon thought that Lee Min-ki was considerate of the other person.

But in fact, this was only half right.

It’s true that Lee Min-ki’s personality itself is the type to be considerate of others.

But more than that, the questions and answers that have come out so far were extremely natural to Lee Min-ki, requiring no thought at all.

‘Even if I don’t change, my place can change if the world changes.’

It was because he had failed once.

He had fallen to the bottom for the reason that he was unlucky, even though he had worked hard enough to grind his bones to powder.

Literally, the world tormented him.

He lived like that for a long time and then returned to the past, living the same way he used to live.

What is the result?

Everyone is helping him.

The majority of the people he meets recognize him, respect him, treat him well, and make him the main character.

‘I’m just grateful.’

I’m grateful to everyone in the world.

I’m working hard too.

But it’s because the world recognizes me that I can shine in the world.

Lee Min-ki repeated that feeling.

“By the way, the clothes that the CEO made this time are all pretty.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I’m surprised too.”

In many ways.

“Even the T-shirts that pass by are like clothes made for me.”

“Because they are clothes made for the actor.”

“Ah, that’s also true, but…”

Lee Min-ki cleared his throat slightly.

‘Actually, that’s not what I was trying to say.’

Isn’t the original [Fashion & Fashion] that he remembers and this life’s [Fashion & Fashion] becoming completely different works?

Director Hwang Eui-sung rewrote most of the lines to suit him.

The scenes themselves have also changed in parts.

‘He’s optimizing each scene for me.’

Moreover, the clothing sponsorship seems to have been originally handled by another company, but this time, CEO Yoo Gyu-eon is in charge, right?

‘The clothes are really… all made completely new to fit me.’

This was the important point.

I remember.

The original protagonist’s clothes were close to typical high fashion.

But this time, it has deviated from typical model fashion, and a lot of popular nuances have been added.

‘Did it change because CEO Yoo Gyu-eon joined the production?’

In fact, this was also influenced by Lee Min-ki’s actions.

Because he succeeded, CEO Yoo Gyu-eon’s shopping mall, which hired him as a model, also succeeded.

‘What would he have been doing originally? He must have been a huge hit even before I returned to the past, right?’

No.

It’s a shopping mall that should have ended up as a shopping mall that only a few people knew.

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon was originally struggling with the operation of a shopping mall that wasn’t growing easily, and he had to abandon his stubbornness as a designer.

But this time, he met Lee Min-ki.

Thanks to that, he was able to maintain himself as a designer and, at the same time, run a successful shopping mall.

‘If I hadn’t met Min-ki, I would have made much more niche clothes.’

At the end of that, he caught the eye of Director Hwang Eui-sung.

[I judged that you have the most trendy design in Korea.]

[Fashion & Fashion] joined the production team.

They owed each other.

Also, they paid each other back.

As models and designers do, they had a mutually beneficial relationship long ago.

“Good. We’ve rested enough.”

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon clapped his hands lightly, then looked at his watch and said,

“We have another schedule soon, so let’s try on a few more clothes before the guests arrive and finish the schedule.”

“Are you busy these days?”

“Thanks to the actor.”

It was the moment when they were about to finish the short chat and return to work.

Squeak.

A person appeared in the office.

“Ah.”

“Am I too early?”

It was a woman.

A woman dressed to the nines in sophisticated clothes.

It was as if she had jumped out of the middle of a fashion show runway.

‘Is she a model?’

In the moment when Lee Min-ki was slightly surprised, the woman also lowered her sunglasses and said with a more surprised look,

“CEO, but isn’t this person… Actor Lee Min-ki?”

‘That’s right.’

‘I knew it, but I just asked.’

* * *

Runway.

A model wearing a designer’s clothes and showcasing fashion in front of the public.

If a singer has a concert, a model has a runway as their main stage.

But what is the biggest stage among the runways held in Korea?

That is…

“You came from Seoul Fashion Week?”

It was Seoul Fashion Week.

A dream stage that any fashion model in Korea dreams of at least once.

Seoul Fashion Week was where you get your name recognized in the fashion industry just by appearing, and you are recognized as a true professional.

A place where commercial fashion and high fashion come together to determine the future direction of the domestic fashion industry.

Any model wants to stand on this stage at least once.

Of course, there are many bigger stages in terms of level.

But in terms of reputation, there is no place like Seoul Fashion Week.

It’s like Japanese Koshien [National High School Baseball Championship] in baseball.

“Hehe, I’m glad you recognize me.”

Director Jung Ga-yeon of the Seoul Design Foundation, which organizes Seoul Fashion Week, smiled brightly.

“How can I not know? It’s Seoul Fashion Week.”

Lee Min-ki replied in an enthusiastic voice.

“Any fashion model dreams of standing on it at least once.”

‘I did, right away.’

I wanted to participate in Seoul Fashion Week and become a true professional.

When I was facing a wall as an actor and feeling 막막 [a feeling of being lost or helpless], fortunately, I was earning enough to pay for food with modeling work, so I looked into the fashion model path.

“Did the actor also look into it?”

“Ah, wait a minute.”

In the end, I felt a wall there too and returned to acting.

Director Jung Ga-yeon smiled slightly as if she understood.

‘Well, the higher you go as a fashion model, the more important your natural physique becomes.’

That’s right.

Lee Min-ki’s natural physical condition was a pity.

Without even going to body proportions, the immediate problem was height.

Lee Min-ki’s height is in the mid to late 170s [centimeters], which is a severely lacking figure as a male model, not to mention a female model.

Unless you have a huge background, you have to be around 183cm [centimeters] to even try to be a model if you’re a man.

‘Hmm, but the proportions are definitely good.’

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Lee Min-ki’s body is lacking as a model just because it’s not.

The world doesn’t just have high fashion models.

If it’s a commercial model, the standards become a little more lenient.

Lee Min-ki’s physical condition had aspects that attracted popular demand.

‘There’s a reason why he’s been trending recently. I remember him. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s a proportion that I want to keep seeing. It’s addictive.’

Director Jung Ga-yeon instinctively scanned Lee Min-ki’s physical condition.

‘The height is lacking and the proportions are… It’s a pity to see him as a model, but is the overall aura good?’

Aura.

A difficult-to-explain atmosphere was naturally lingering around Lee Min-ki.

Too naturally, like the growth rings of a tree.

That made Director Jung Ga-yeon smile.

‘This is an unexpected gain.’

I originally came here for other business.

I came to discuss Fashion Week with CEO Yoo Gyu-eon, but my schedule was empty, so I came early and this luck followed me.

As expected, sales are all about getting out there.

Director Jung Ga-yeon smiled slightly and looked at Lee Min-ki and asked,

“Come to think of it, did you say that the actor debuted as a fashion model at first? How did that happen? Did you originally dream of becoming an actor?”

“That’s…”

Lee Min-ki recalled the past for a moment and opened his mouth.

“At the gym.”

“Gym?”

“Yes, while I was working out hard, a member unexpectedly connected me to CEO Yoo Gyu-eon.”

“That’s right. My relative introduced me to Actor Lee Min-ki. He was unknown at the time.”

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon nodded.

“Even at that time, it was a request from an elder, so I wasn’t really happy, but meeting the actor was, what should I say? I think it was the biggest luck in my life recently.”

“Haha… CEO, I’m grateful, but if you praise me so much, people will misunderstand.”

“I’m serious. The truth is the truth, so what else can I say but the truth?”

‘Does he say thank you so much?’

His gaze towards Lee Min-ki was filled with unwavering gratitude.

Director Jung Ga-yeon was even more surprised by that appearance.

‘Does Designer Yoo Gyu-eon rate him that highly?’

It was because of Yoo Gyu-eon’s evaluation.

It’s common for a designer to rate a model they collaborate with well. In the first place, they wouldn’t collaborate if they didn’t rate them well.

But if it’s CEO Yoo Gyu-eon, it’s a different story.

‘This person is famous for having picky eyes for models. Is it not just a working relationship?’

It was because the Yoo Gyu-eon she knew was such a picky person.

There’s a story that once he meets a model, his inspiration is exhausted and he never meets them again.