Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 136

136

[LE] The studio was prepared inside the company.

A birthing room where American fashion trends are born, as it should be.

Click!

Along with the continuous sound of the camera shutter, flashes went off.

Click! Click! Click!

The man who didn’t let go of the camera in his hand for a moment, scurrying around the entire studio and twisting his body like a pretzel in all sorts of poses, was none other than…

“That was good. But let’s change the pose for a moment. It might be good to straighten your back.”

It was Dominic Chen.

A star maker who produces * 인생* [life-changing] photos with just a touch, he was busy moving his fingers while sweating profusely from the heat of the lighting equipment.

“That’s good. Let’s try it from a different angle.”

“Yes!”

Lee Minki responded to his requests, diligently twisting his pose.

The combination of the two looked like something out of a passionate comic book.

But what should we say about Dominic Chen, the photographer, from the perspective of the subject?

‘He has a good personality.’

He was a person with a good personality.

An incredibly good one.

‘If we’re talking about friendliness among photographers, he’s definitely in the top 10%.’

It was almost suspicious.

Unlike the warnings that he had heard so much from manager Park Hanmo and CEO Yoo Gyueon before entering the studio that his ears were about to fall off.

[Manager, is that Dominic Chen person that picky?]

[Whatever you imagine, it will be beyond that. If he asks you to do something strange, just do it. Even if he tells you to take a picture holding *참치* [tuna], even if he suddenly tells you to tear your clothes.]

[Yes?]

[Don’t doubt it. Just do it first. It’s not too late to argue after seeing the results.]

[Manager is right. Even if his personality is strange, the results are guaranteed. Even if he tells you to stick chopsticks in your nose, do it.]

[Yes?]

[Even if he sets fire to the chair, just go with it.]

[Yes? Fire?]

[Even if he suddenly pours an Americano over your head, you have to go with it.]

[…….]

[Just laugh it off even if he throws a knife.]

[That’s a crime.]

[As *배우님* [esteemed actor] knows, art is originally born on the edge of crime.]

Those words were still vivid in his ears, and Lee Minki gave a bitter smile.

‘It was almost at the level of demanding obedience.’

Of course, even after warning him so much, if Lee Minki sincerely protested, they would actually take his side.

Anyway, the important thing is.

“Look at the empty space. There’s a dragon flying in the sky. How do you feel seeing the dragon?”

“Oh, I feel awe.”

“That’s how *배우님* [esteemed actor] is now. Your eyes are the *화룡점정* [the final, crucial touch that brings something to life].”

Dominic Chen was not that picky.

He even mixed in jokes to ease his tension during the shoot.

‘He’s a very different person from what I heard.’

Isn’t the scene in front of me proving it?

“Raise your head a little more. Good. Stay still like that. I’ll fix your clothes for a moment. Ah, rather, I’ll do it, so don’t move.”

He’s so sincere.

If that’s a quirky personality, then who in the world isn’t quirky?

Then Earth would be a planet full of mental patients.

‘Did everyone say that because they were worried about me?’

Lee Minki smiled deeply, with dimples, filled with ease.

‘It’s comfortable.’

Of course.

Those who were watching this scene could never feel that way.

‘Am I dreaming right now?’

‘I can’t believe it.’

‘Dominic Chen is interacting, not just throwing words unilaterally?’

‘Is the world ending?’

It’s strange.

At least according to their common sense, it was a success just that Dominic Chen hadn’t stormed out of his seat.

No, it’s amazing that he even came to the studio as promised.

Dominic Chen is truly someone who only shoots the works he wants to shoot on that day.

[I shoot when I want to shoot. If I don’t want to shoot, I don’t shoot. That’s my motto.]

Hadn’t he said that proudly in an interview?

But what is this?

“Hmm, I think the previous style is better. Wait, hold this camera for a moment.”

Does he want to shoot?

Does he want to shoot Lee Minki to death?

‘A person who is stiff in front of *슈퍼 모델* [supermodel] is being so polite to one *동양* [Asian] star?’

That’s it.

He’s crazy about shooting Lee Minki.

If not, this scene is absolutely unacceptable.

Yeah, if that’s the case, I can understand it…

“Perfect!”

*기는 개뿔이* [bullshit].

I don’t understand at all.

At this point, the conclusion reached by the people on site flowed in a slightly different direction.

‘Lee Minki, actually, isn’t he an incredibly great model?’

They were highly praising Lee Minki.

At least, they can’t look down on Dominic Chen.

The career he has built in the industry is as perfect as a diamond crafted by the hands of a master.

Then what can we do?

‘He’s not lacking in skill.’

On the contrary, Lee Minki must be really good.

‘Dominic Chen recognized it.’

‘I didn’t know at first, but when I look closely, he seems to be full of charm.’

‘Well, the editor-in-chief invited him himself.’

Lee Minki’s value is soaring infinitely by the *초* [second], right now.

Everyone here was making their own *착각* [misconceptions].

The reason why Dominic Chen is especially warm to Lee Minki like the *햇살* [sunshine] of California.

That’s because.

‘He’s the *은인* [benefactor] of my *은인* [benefactor].’

Recently, Lee Minki left Dominic Chen with a debt of gratitude.

Even without knowing it, on the plane.

‘This person saved *배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun].’

That’s right.

*배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun], who almost died on the plane, was the cause.

Because a long time ago, *배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun] was the *은인* [benefactor] who believed in him when Dominic Chen was unknown and gave him work.

‘If it wasn’t for *배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun], I would have starved to death alone in an underground studio, or I would have given up being a photographer and succumbed to reality.’

*배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun] was the *은인* [benefactor] of his life.

He could confidently say that Dominic Chen exists now because *배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun] recognized him and led him.

[The world doesn’t know yet, but I know. Chen, you will be great.]

At that time, Hollywood was full of *인종차별* [racial discrimination].

It still exists *은연중에* [subtly], but it was on a different level back then.

The words that he didn’t like him because he was a *옐로우 멍키* [yellow monkey, a racial slur] came out right in front of him during the meeting.

That was the time.

*배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun] helped him even while taking the blame for *동양인끼리 붙어먹는다는* [sticking together because they are both Asian], so the gratitude that Dominic Chen felt was as vast as the sea and could not be measured.

Lee Minki saved such *배정문* [Bae Jeong-mun].

‘I’m putting my name on this work. No, I’m putting my entire career on it.’

That was the reason why he was *터뜨리는* [bursting] the camera with the determination to bite his tongue and die if it wasn’t a masterpiece.

He has to make a masterpiece no matter what.

There is no other way.

“Think of people who hate cameras. Look at it as if you’re looking at trash.”

“Like this?”

“That’s not it.”

Dominic Chen waved his hand and said.

“Minki, you have a kind impression, so you need to hate the world a little more.”

“Uh… like this?”

“Do you have someone you hate the most in the world?”

At Dominic Chen’s question, Lee Minki recalled his memories for a moment.

Soon, one person came to mind.

‘The CEO of the agency, that XX [expletive].’

The man who *후리고* [swindled] him in the past and used him with a fraudulent contract before disappearing.

As soon as he thought of that sly face, anger like the four horsemen of the apocalypse came to his peaceful heart like a lake.

“Good. That’s the expression right now. As expected, your facial expressions are good because your *본업* [main job] is *배우* [actor].”

Click!

Dominic Chen repeatedly *터뜨렸다* [burst] the flash as if he wouldn’t miss that moment.

‘The results will be good.’

In fact, even if it wasn’t for the *인연* [connection], shooting Lee Minki was quite enjoyable.

‘His *숙련도* [skill level] as a model is low, but the photos *이상할 정도로* [strangely] come out well.’

When he looked at the samples he had checked, he couldn’t believe the results after shooting through the *뷰파인더* [viewfinder].

Good photos are *개인의 기량* [individual skill], but the best photos are a gift from *하늘* [heaven], right?

Lee Minki seemed to be loved by *하늘* [heaven].

‘Lee Minki, a *피사체* [subject] worth remembering.’

Maybe.

In the near future, Lee Minki might become his *대표* [signature] career.

Dominic Chen shouted repeatedly with that in mind.

“Let’s lay out a *레드 카펫* [red carpet] on the floor.”

* * *

After a short but intense shoot.

Dominic Chen, who could be said to be the biggest contributor to this shoot.

“That’s enough for today. Then I’ll send the results by email later.”

Without leaving any room for discussion, he immediately packed his bags and got up from his seat.

His appearance seemed a bit *급하게* [hurried], so Lee Minki asked as if to hold him back.

“Oh? Aren’t you going to have a meal with us? Are you leaving right away?”

“I have *후보정* [post-processing] work to do. It takes quite a bit of time, and I have a shooting schedule tomorrow, so I’m *촉박합니다* [pressed for time].”

“Still, it’s a bit of a shame.”

“*배우님’s* [esteemed actor’s] heart is enough.”

I see.

I expected some *장인정신* [artisan spirit] like using the *날것* [raw] he shot as is, but is it a bit different?

He was *고민하고 있으려니* [pondering] because it was *애매해* [awkward] to ask the person himself, but CEO Yoo Gyueon opened his mouth as if he had read his mind.

“I should explain this.”

It was Korean.

Maybe it’s because the person is in front of him.

“It’s a *편견* [bias] to say that photographers reduce *보정* [editing]. These days, on the contrary, *보정* [editing] skills are becoming the photographer’s skills.”

“*호오* [Oh].”

“If the original RAW file of the photo is the *재료* [ingredients], *후보정* [post-processing] is the *요리* [cooking].”

“Then is it not good if you put it out without *보정* [editing]?”

“I can’t completely *단언할 수 없는 게* [say definitively], *회* [sashimi] is delicious, right?”

“Aha.”

Even if it’s *날것* [raw], it’s *장땡* [the best] if it tastes good.

The *비유* [analogy] is a bit strange, but it’s *찰떡 같다* [perfect].

*광어* [Flounder] is delicious and rich in *단백질* [protein].

It is one of the *식사 메뉴* [meal menus] recognized by Director Kwon Junyong.

“*배우님* [Esteemed actor], do you understand? The process of getting to the results is different, but how to go that way is entirely a matter of *개인의 선택* [personal choice]. Chen is a person who *달리는 탑* [is top-tier] in the field of *보정* [editing]. The opposite is not *없지는 않습니다* [nonexistent].”

I’m grateful for the explanation, but you really know it in detail.

I’ve never heard of his name, but he must be a *전설적인* [legendary] person among *업계인* [industry people].

Lee Minki was *정리하고 있는 생각을* [organizing his thoughts] that way.

“You know it well.”

“……!”

Dominic Chen suddenly *끼어들더니* [interjected] the conversation and *자연스럽게 거들었다* [naturally chimed in].

“Some people say that the smaller the photo, the better the photo, but my *생각 is 다름* [thought is different]. That’s a *변명* [excuse] of *게으른 자들* [lazy people]. *시대에 뒤처졌습니다* [It’s outdated].”

The more the words *이어지면* [continued], the more Lee Minki and CEO Yoo Gyueon were *놀랐다 일제히* [surprised simultaneously].

Why.

‘This person, can speak Korean?’

Because Dominic Chen is speaking Korean right now.

“*사진가는 사진으로 말한다* [Photographers speak with photos]. *평가는 독자에게 이루어짐이다* [Evaluation is done by the audience]. If you *망친다면 빠져 자만심에* [ruin it by falling into arrogance], that’s not a *프로* [pro]. *모델도 그러하다입니다* [The same goes for models].”

The *발음* [pronunciation] is *어눌하다* [awkward].

The *문법* [grammar] also *꾸준히 이탈한다* [steadily deviates] like that of an *초등학생* [elementary school student].

But it was *명백했다* [obvious] that it was Korean that had no problem understanding the *뜻* [meaning].

“Korean… you knew how to speak?”

“*조금은* [A little].”

Dominic Chen *작게 고개를 끄덕이더니* [nodded slightly] said.

“*제가 좋아하는 사람 중에 한국인 있습니다* [There is a Korean among the people I like]. *열심히 공부했습니다* [I studied hard]. I want to say *고맙다고* [thank you].”

“Ah.”

*딱 감 왔다* [I got it right away].

This is that.

‘His girlfriend is Korean.’

Then I can understand.

This is quite a *우연이네* [coincidence].

Lee Minki, who had *받아들인* [accepted] the situation *나름대로* [in his own way], *고개를 끄덕였다* [nodded].

“*행복하세요* [Be happy].”

Dominic Chen also *지으며 미소를 의미심장한 답했다* [gave a meaningful smile] to that *말* [word].

“*당신도* [You too].”

The two people, who *주고받은 덕담을 엇갈린 서로* [exchanged blessings with each other], soon *흩어졌다 with a 미소* [parted with a smile].

*쿵* [Thump].

Dominic Chen *재빠르게 떠나고 스튜디오를 남은 자리* [quickly left and the studio remained].

Lee Minki *기지개를 켜며* [stretched] said.

“*매니저님, 대표님* [Manager, CEO], then shall we *썰어 스테이크* [cut into steak] *모처럼 저희끼리는* [just the three of us]?”

“Steak is good. Where should we go?”

“I’ve *알아봐 뒀어요 좋은 가게를* [looked up a good place] around here. I don’t know if we can *들러 바로* [drop by right away] without a *예약* [reservation].”

First of all, it’s food.

We came to *미국까지* [America], so shouldn’t we *먹고 go* [eat] what we can *먹을 수 있는* [eat]?

‘어차피 한국 가면 쪼일 텐데 식단 관리한다고 [Anyway, when I go back to Korea, I’ll be restricted with diet management].’

*권준용 관장이 없을 때가 골든 타임이다* [When Director Kwon Junyong is not around is the golden time].

Lee Minki was *붙잡고 핸드폰을* [holding his phone] with that *생각* [thought].

*쿵* [Thump].

How long has it been since the *문이 닫힌 도로 열렸다고* [door that was closed reopened]?

Is it Dominic Chen?

‘Did he *놓고 가다 뭐라도* [leave something behind]?’

Lee Minki *다시 들어 올려 시선을 바라보고 있던 핸드폰을 문 쪽을* [raised his head again and looked at the door from the phone he was looking at].

And.

이 시기의 그는 아직 모르고 있었다 [He didn’t know it at this time].

미국은 기회의 땅이 맞으며, 할리우드는 그중에서도 더더욱 폭넓은 기회가 도사리고 있다는 것을 [America is indeed a land of opportunity, and Hollywood is a place where even wider opportunities lurk].

그 자격을 갖춘 사람을 언제나 도보 30분 거리 안에서 호시탐탐 기다리며 말이다 [It is always waiting for someone who is qualified within a 30-minute walk].

‘LE’s 편집장 [LE’s editor-in-chief]?’

The 첫 번째 사람 들어온 문을 아서 단토였으며 [The first person who entered the door was Arthur Danto].

The 두 번째 사람 [second person].

“…….”

차마 놀라움을 참지 못한 이민기의 입이 떡하니 벌어졌다 [Lee Minki’s mouth dropped open, unable to contain his surprise].

“엠마 스펙터 [Emma Specter]?”

영화사 중 하나 양분하는 영화계를 히어로 미국의 [One of the film companies that divides the American hero film industry].

AST.

그 메인 스튜디오의 수장이 지금 문 앞에 나타났다 [The head of that main studio has now appeared at the door].

엠마 스펙터가 붉게 칠한 립스틱을 한껏 반짝이며 외쳤다 [Emma Specter shouted, her red lipstick sparkling].

“찾았다 [Found you]!”