Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 135

135

“Indeed, my eyes were accurate.”

President Yoo Gyu-eon flinched at the deep voice that suddenly came from beside him and turned his head.

Then, he opened his mouth.

“…Ah, Editor-in-Chief. You’re already here.”

That’s right.

The man speaking to President Yoo Gyu-eon was Arthur Danto.

He was the editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine [LE].

“Yes, I was standing back for a moment as you were talking to yourself.”

“Ahem, how much did you happen to hear?”

“I couldn’t understand it anyway. I don’t speak Korean.”

Right.

I was muttering in Korean.

As President Yoo Gyu-eon was about to clear his throat, Arthur Danto walked forward, calmly looking around at the clothes, and opened his mouth.

“No matter how I look at it, these are all excellent products. We could put them on the market right away.”

“Thank you.”

“I can feel the direction of this FW [Fall/Winter] season a little bit.”

At the seemingly gentle praise, President Yoo Gyu-eon repeatedly swallowed.

‘To think the day would come when I’d receive praise for my designs from Arthur Danto.’

Who is Arthur Danto?

He is one of the few moguls who determine the fashion trends in America.

Some might look down on him as just the editor-in-chief of a magazine, but absolutely not.

In President Yoo Gyu-eon’s eyes, Arthur Danto was the real power player.

‘If I can get through to this one person, I can get through to all of Hollywood.’

He was the boundary line.

A bridgehead to advance into the vast world of Hollywood.

Everything depends on a single word.

Depending on how well he wins over Arthur Danto, the fate of [Terminus] will also change.

‘Of course, the actor too.’

He couldn’t rest easy until the article came out as a tangible result.

President Yoo Gyu-eon forced himself to calm his pounding heart and said with a gentle smile.

“They’ll look even better on our model.”

“You mean Lee Min-ki?”

“Yes, it’s a bit embarrassing to say this.”

President Yoo Gyu-eon scratched his temple and said.

“For the past few years, we’ve been making all our clothes assuming that Lee Min-ki would wear them.”

That’s right.

Since hiring Lee Min-ki as a model, President Yoo Gyu-eon had been proceeding with the assumption that any clothes would be worn by Lee Min-ki.

There were no exceptions.

Even if it was clothes he wouldn’t have him wear, he had considered it at least once.

The reason he did that for a mere model, not even someone else, was because.

“I see. Lee Min-ki was your muse.”

“Yes, that’s exactly right.”

At some point, Lee Min-ki had established himself as the muse of the designer Yoo Gyu-eon.

President Yoo Gyu-eon smiled faintly and walked next to Arthur Danto.

Then, he picked up the clothes he was looking at, stroked the fabric, and opened his mouth.

“Our clothes aim to highlight the strengths of the person, rather than burying them in the clothes.”

“Romantic.”

“In that respect, Lee Min-ki is special. You could say he’s like a high standard, a benchmark? I had the intuition that if Lee Min-ki could pull off the clothes well, they would suit anyone.”

That was the characteristic of the model Lee Min-ki.

He doesn’t have a particularly striking physique that catches the eye at first glance.

But he evokes a sense of familiarity at first glance, and the more you look at him, the more his true worth shines through.

It’s not awe.

It’s longing.

‘When you see the actor’s style, you can’t help but want to follow it.’

The idol of the masses.

Lee Min-ki’s body is the best body to reach that position.

President Yoo Gyu-eon said with a bright smile.

“You’ll be surprised when you see him in person, Editor-in-Chief.”

At those words, Arthur Danto didn’t say anything, but simply stroked his chin calmly.

‘Lee Min-ki.’

A scene like a powder room unfolded in his head.

How should Lee Min-ki be illuminated?

How should his characteristics and strengths be revealed?

What is the way to sell him to the public?

‘To what extent will the power of an Asian model who doesn’t even reach 180 cm [approximately 5’11”] reach?’

It was around the time countless thoughts had passed.

‘I want to try it out.’

Arthur Danto finally opened his mouth.

“We need to bring in the best photographer.”

“Yes?”

At those words, President Yoo Gyu-eon asked back with a puzzled expression.

“Weren’t the studio and photographer already decided?”

And first-class ones at that.

LE’s exclusive studio and the photographer exclusively hired by LE.

“That was the case, but we have to change it. For the sake of the results.”

At the nonchalant answer, President Yoo Gyu-eon’s gaze was filled with even more bewilderment.

Either way, they were figures who could be called top-notch in the industry, but he was going to replace them?

President Yoo Gyu-eon wondered if he had misunderstood something and asked.

“…Excuse me for saying this, but I know that LE’s exclusive photographer is already a well-known figure in the industry.”

“That’s not wrong, but that person is now a substitute.”

Arthur Danto said in a still calm voice.

“No matter how bright the lighting equipment in the studio is, it loses its color in front of natural light. I’m sure you’ve heard the name Dominic Chen, haven’t you?”

Dominic Chen.

The moment that name, which seemed to be of Chinese descent, flowed from Arthur Danto’s mouth.

“That person…!”

President Yoo Gyu-eon widened his eyes, looked around slightly, and muttered in a skeptical voice.

“Putting aside whether we can bring him, I don’t know if he’ll even try to photograph the model.”

* * *

Lee Min-ki’s schedule in America is like this.

He rests for three days after arriving on site, and on the fourth day, he participates in an interview and photo shoot with [LE].

It might seem too late.

But this was entirely to maintain the best condition.

[Actor, can’t we just make do with retouching?]

[Well, wouldn’t better photos come out if I retouch in better condition? It’s my first debut in the American market, so I want to be seen in a great light.]

It was also Lee Min-ki’s insistence.

[Actor, debut is a word that includes the meaning of first time. It sounds like ‘reverse front’.*]

[*T/N: A Korean expression that is grammatically incorrect and redundant, like saying “ATM machine.”]

[…I thought I threw out a cool line, but can’t you cut me some slack at times like this?]

Of course, he also wanted to slowly look around America.

But perhaps it was because he unintentionally saved someone on the plane and immediately appeared on a quiz show.

And because he even won there.

[Stormbringer, Lee Min-ki]

Far from the plan to make his first impression with a photo shoot, he was gaining fame in a strange direction.

[This Last Man Standing winner is truly legendary]

[Debuted and immediately rose to the top of the entertainment industry, then saved someone on a plane and came to America and immediately did a quiz show?]

[I’ve never seen someone like this]

[Why did he come to America?]

[Is he perhaps filming a movie in Hollywood? A hero movie.]

[Is there even a need to appear in a hero movie? He’s already a hero.]

His image had improved.

That too, to a somewhat serious extent.

It was because the interview he had in Last Man Standing had spread everywhere.

Moreover, Richard Moore had barged in and directly asked questions.

He wouldn’t have had the slightest intention of doing so, but as a result, he contributed to Lee Min-ki’s popularity.

“I’m glad he’s a good person. He even took a picture, and he even took a picture, and he even took a picture.”

“You’re talking about that photo you uploaded to SNS [Social Networking Service].”

“Yes, there were already articles about it, you know?”

As Lee Min-ki said.

In the midst of Korean media spreading articles saying that Lee Min-ki was already becoming a top socialite in America.

[Lee Min-ki, Showing Off Special Connections Even in Hollywood]

[A Star Recognized a Star]

[American Advancement Imminent?]

It could be seen as a smooth road.

Was this everything?

Of course not.

‘This morning, I bought an ice cream and won the lottery.’

When I cracked an egg at lunch, there were two yolks.

When I went to the bus stop, the bus arrived in just 10 seconds.

Even when I plugged the camera USB cable into my laptop, it plugged in at once.

‘This is life.’

Lee Min-ki clenched his fist, sensing that his life was going well amidst the luck that was pouring in almost every day.

‘Now, all I have to do is take a good photo shoot.’

Just do this well.

Let’s finish it neatly and go back.

It was the moment Lee Min-ki stepped into the [LE] studio building with that thought.

“Actor!”

There was someone running towards him urgently.

“Ah.”

At that sight, Lee Min-ki smiled brightly as if he was glad.

“President! You were here?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I rested well yesterday. But right now, that’s not important.”

He stuttered as if he was rambling.

“What kind of magic did you cast?”

Magic.

At that word, Lee Min-ki was fixed to the floor like a nail and said.

“Yes? Magic?”

“I don’t understand, what on earth are you…! Is a person even allowed to be like this?”

Amidst the exaggerated reaction, Lee Min-ki wore a bewildered expression.

Did something happen?

There have been many surprising things recently.

But we already resolved all that at the drinking party yesterday.

‘Of course, I didn’t drink a single glass.’

What did I do today?

Did I do something again without even knowing it?

While Lee Min-ki was caught in doubt, President Yoo Gyu-eon grabbed his wrist and pulled him, saying.

“This is not the time to be doing this. Let’s go and finish the work before he changes his mind.”

“Changes his mind? Who?”

“Ah.”

At those words, President Yoo Gyu-eon seemed to realize that he had omitted too much explanation, quickly calmed down, cleared his throat, and said.

“The photographer. Dominic Chen. Dominic Chen is waiting for you right now.”

“Who is that?”

It was the moment Lee Min-ki asked back as if he didn’t know the situation.

Manager Park Han-mo, who had been standing quietly behind him like a bodyguard, opened his mouth.

“Dominic Chen is a legend.”

What should I say?

This time as well, he had an expression that had lost his composure.

* * *

What kind of job is a photographer, or in other words, a photographer?

It’s simple.

[If you hold a camera and take pictures, you’re a photographer.]

It’s a job that involves taking pictures.

Taking photos for a photo shoot is also being a photographer.

A war correspondent is a photographer.

Taking landscape photos is also being a photographer.

Taking pictures of design sheet samples is also being a photographer.

Even if you take pictures of food and write promotional materials, you’re a photographer.

Wedding photos, car photos, interview photos, store promotion photos.

If it falls within the category of taking pictures, anyone can be seen as a photographer.

Even the equipment is like that.

[In the old days, you had to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on equipment to get a little recognition. But these days, there are quite a few people who make money with smartphone cameras, right?]

It’s a broad job.

Unlike the external perception, the threshold to becoming a professional is not very high in today’s world.

If you have enough talent, you can become a professional by studying for just six months.

But there was also a saying that was widely applied in this photographer industry.

[Do you want to make a lot of money? Then you shouldn’t have become a photographer.]

The job of a photographer is one where the supply overflows more than the demand, and as a result, it is a very difficult job to receive proper pay.

Even if you’re a first-class photographer, earning as much as a new employee at a large company is considered good.

The same goes for photographers who have their own studio.

Do you charge a high fee?

Then the employer has only one thing to say.

[Okay, go, I can just use someone else.]

No matter how much you improve your skills, it’s a very distant industry to raise your value.

You can dare to call it a blood ocean [highly competitive and cutthroat industry].

But in this devil’s den, there was an existence that transcended the common sense of the industry.

“It’s Dominic Chen.”

“It’s the real thing.”

“As I heard, his charisma is amazing.”

Dominic Chen.

The man called the hottest photographer in the world was like that.

Whether it’s a photo shoot.

Whether it’s a movie poster.

Whatever he shoots, whatever he touches, it becomes the best.

So you can see that he is a unique existence where demand has exceeded supply.

As much as his high skills, his pride is also enormous.

[Dominic Chen only shoots the works he wants to shoot.]

[I heard that if you offend his sensibilities even a little, he packs his bags and goes back right away?]

[The employer can’t even ask for revisions]

He is now boasting both fame and infamy at the same time.

“I’ve been waiting.”

He said to a man with a very gentle expression.

“Let’s take our time shooting today. I promise you the best results.”

“Ah, thank you!”

When Lee Min-ki answered brightly, Dominic Chen also said as if responding.

“There’s no need to say thank you. This is my job.”

Something’s wrong.

It’s not like Dominic Chen.

In the face of a clearly unnatural appearance, President Yoo Gyu-eon, Arthur Danto, Manager Park Han-mo, and even the studio’s substitute writer all bit their lips.

‘Why on earth?’