Black Label [EN]: Chapter 195

Black Label – Episode 194 (195/299)

195. If You Grind Him

Beep- Beep- Beep-

In the pitch-black darkness, the monotonous ringing tone repeated for a while.

As soon as Jaeseung opened the refrigerator door in the living room, bright light spilled out, slightly dispelling the darkness that had settled in the house.

Soon, Jaeseung, his face etched with fatigue, picked up a can of beer from the refrigerator.

-Oh, hello?

From beyond the receiver, the voice of his close friend, ‘Youngguk,’ began to be heard.

Jaeseung opened the can of beer and asked in a nonchalant tone.

“I saw a missed call. I was in the middle of a schedule earlier, so I couldn’t answer the phone.”

-I figured. It’s nothing special, I was just wondering if you’re doing well.

Jaeseung fumbled for the living room light switch, turned it on, and sat down at the marble dining table, answering quietly.

“I’m doing well, thanks to you.”

-What do you mean, thanks to me……

“How about you these days?”

At Jaeseung’s question, Youngguk paused for a moment, humming “Uh……,” before continuing in a soft voice.

-I’m doing well thanks to you too. Well, it wasn’t exactly intentional, but my schedule has become even tighter since the last diss track was released. Thanks to that, I’m postponing the preparation for the new album day by day…….

Jaeseung smiled faintly and took a few sips of the canned beer.

Looking back, it occurred to him that the biggest beneficiary of this domestic major department store cartel might be ‘Youngguk.’

Now, with each song release, Youngguk has gained enough influence to easily dominate the top spot on domestic music charts, hasn’t he? This diss track was no different.

Despite being released as a *digital single* (a single album sold in file format) rather than a proper album release, it achieved the remarkable feat of topping all domestic music streaming sites.

Of course, the ‘aggressiveness’ and ‘interesting elements’ inherent in the song itself certainly played a significant role.

The bold disclosure of the names of major domestic department stores had made headlines through various media outlets, including public broadcast news.

Contrary to concerns, the public’s reaction was also enthusiastic. Everyone praised Youngguk, saying that the number of artists who are not afraid of capital, like ‘JESY.KUS,’ should increase to expand the pie and broaden the spectrum of domestic art.

Well……

It seemed like nicknames such as ‘poison-tongued,’ ‘sniper,’ and ‘fact-bomber’ were added as a bonus.

“Anyway, thank you so much for helping me. I’m using the car you gave me really well.”

-I still have a long way to go to repay your kindness, so don’t be so grateful with just that. That’s fine, Jaeseung. By the way, isn’t Paris Fashion Week coming up soon? When are you going back to France?

Jaeseung fiddled with the calendar on the table and replied.

“Tomorrow.”

After a moment of silence, a bewildered voice came from beyond the receiver.

-What? Tomorrow?

“No, it’s past midnight, so it’s today.”

-Today? Why are you telling me now?

“It’s not that I’m telling you now, but that I’m telling you even now.”

After muttering “I see……,” Youngguk asked again.

-But isn’t there still about three or four weeks left? Is there a lot to prepare before that?

“Yeah. It would be different if it were just a normal show, but this is the first time I’m officially participating in ‘Fashion Week.’ I don’t know the atmosphere on site, and I need to coordinate with the staff in various ways… Considering these and other variables, I thought it would be better to move quickly.”

-Yeah. It’s much better to prepare in advance than to be rushed and anxious. By the way, you’re getting the title of a designer participating in the world’s four major fashion weeks now? Even if you have a steel heart, you must be very nervous this time?

Jaeseung chuckled and retorted.

“Hey, have you ever seen me nervous?”

-As expected, you have no humanity at all…….

“Okay, I think you’re in the middle of a schedule, so let’s wrap it up.”

-Yeah. I think I have to go back to filming now anyway. Give me a call whenever you have time. Anyway, I’ve cleared my schedule for that day in advance, so let’s see each other then. Finish it well this time too.

“Okay. Thanks. I feel reassured.”

Jaeseung finished the remaining beer in the can in one gulp and gently rubbed his chest.

Then, he began to mutter in a voice so small that only he could hear.

“Haa, that’s strange. Why am I so nervous…….”

He was finally able to stand on the stage of Paris Fashion Week, known as one of the world’s four major fashion weeks, as the owner and designer of ‘Wall Flower.’

How could he not be nervous when the dream he had so strongly desired was really within reach?

Jaeseung sighed deeply once and then smiled pleasantly again, starting to walk towards the bedroom.

* * *

“Wow, you really do live to see the world. The day has come when I get to ride a private jet…….”

Director Song, who had been quietly marveling, began to gaze at the Boeing 747 passenger plane parked in front of him.

On the side of the passenger plane, Janel’s brand name was largely engraved, along with its signature logo.

It seemed that Director Song was not the only one who couldn’t hide his surprise.

The other employees who had joined this trip to France were also staring intently at the passenger plane, which was showing off its magnificent appearance in front of them, with their mouths wide open.

“You’ll probably be even more surprised when you board.”

The Boeing 747 passenger plane parked in front of them was the most valuable and expensive among the private jets owned by the Janel Group.

That was because it was the ‘private jet’ of Chairman Bertheimer, who could be said to be the owner of the Janel Group.

According to Chairman Bertheimer himself, it was a passenger plane made using only the most expensive and best-performing products, even down to a single screw or bolt.

That was probably not wrong. Not to mention the built-in electronic equipment, even the headsets were said to be high-end products costing millions of won [thousands of US dollars].

Moreover, it was said to be fully equipped with works of art that should be in a museum, as well as high-end liquors that could not be purchased even with money. It was truly a super-luxury passenger plane.

Director Song, who had been staring at the passenger plane for a long time, continued to speak again in a slightly trembling voice.

“President. It seems we’ve really entered the path to success. The numbers written in the sales column are just numbers, so I didn’t feel much, but this time it really hits my heart…….”

Jaeseung smiled faintly and replied in an infinitely serious tone.

“Director. Please wait just one year. I’ll make sure you can depart next year around this time on a passenger plane with the Wall Flower logo largely printed on it.”

After finishing speaking, Jaeseung took a big step forward and began to board the passenger plane.

Director Song, who had been blankly watching Jaeseung’s back for a long time, looked around at the faces of the employees standing behind him and said quietly.

“What is it? It seems like everything the president says comes true? Everything our president says will come true…… Why are you all standing there blankly? Let’s go experience high society quickly.”

* * *

“Honey, I’m just asking in case, but it doesn’t have a ‘transformation function,’ does it?”

It was a question asked by Director Song in an excited voice, lying comfortably on the limousine seat of the passenger plane.

His eyes were already half-closed, probably because he had been drinking alcohol continuously, and his face was flushed red as if it would burst at any moment.

Jaeseung shook his head a few times and asked quietly.

“Like in the movie ‘Transformers’?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course not.”

“I know, you idiot.”

Director Song, who had replied briefly, pointed to the bottle of ‘Glenfarclas 50 Year Old’ whiskey in front of him with his chin and said, “Give me another drink.”

It was a Scottish whiskey, costing 13 million won [approximately $10,000 USD] per bottle.

It was a high-end liquor that Chairman Bertheimer enjoyed drinking while traveling, and the flight attendant explained that Chairman Bertheimer had prepared a dozen bottles for Jaeseung’s share.

As Jaeseung filled Director Song’s glass with alcohol, Director Song smelled the aroma of the whiskey and continued to speak quietly.

“You must really be Janel’s hero. He readily gives you his chairman’s private jet and even this expensive alcohol.”

“I guess so. By the way, are you really okay? If you’re forcing yourself to pour it in just because it’s expensive alcohol……”

“Just let me be for today. When else would I pour whiskey worth the price of a car into my stomach?”

Jaeseung smiled and picked up his glass, starting to look at the blue sky visible through the window.

Was it because of the alcohol? Suddenly, a sentimental thought began to rise, that he seemed to be living a truly grateful reality.

He was flying thousands of meters in the sky on a super-luxury passenger plane with colleagues who had grown the brand together, sharing tens of millions of won worth of alcohol.

The altitude of his life had reached a considerably high point.

In the process of climbing from the bottom to here, he had achieved all the things he had dreamed of one by one.

If he continued to do things slowly and silently as he had done so far…….

‘……It’s not far off.’

He had a happy thought that launching Wall Flower’s ‘Black Label’ product would not be too far off now.

* * *

However, things related to Paris Fashion Week did not seem to be going smoothly.

After arriving in Paris and unpacking at the accommodation, he received unexpected bad news from a Fashion Week official.

“Excuse me? ‘*Tuileries Garden*’……?”

At Jaeseung’s question, the official on the other end of the receiver replied quietly in a gloomy tone.

-Yes. The Tuileries Garden is not a bad place either. Many brands prefer it, and it is also a place that is imprinted on many VIPs as a Fashion Week landmark.

“Yes, I know that, but it seems clear that it is not a place that suits us. I need to inspect it directly to know exactly, but I can’t shake the worry that there will be considerable limitations in terms of performance.”

-Lee, it’s really unfortunate that you don’t like the place. But what’s even more unfortunate is that I can’t help you much. As you know, the venue is selected fairly through a program, so I can’t change it for you.

Paris Fashion Week is not held in one place, but in several places around Paris, centered on the city. Starting with the Tuileries Garden, where Wall Flower will be showing its show, there are also the Louvre, Vendôme, Invalides, Bercy, etc…….

Unfortunately, he was going to showcase his collection show in the most avoided place.

Nam Gwangmin, Wall Flower’s exclusive VMD (Visual Merchandising Director), who had been listening to the conversation right next to Jaeseung, swallowed once and asked only with his mouth.

‘Tuileries Garden?’

Jaeseung nodded once and replied only with his mouth, just like Nam Gwangmin had done.

‘Please take good care of me this time too.’

He had an evil smile on his face.

What should I say? Although it was not a situation that could be viewed optimistically, it could only be said that he seemed to be engulfed in the thought that if he pushed Nam Gwangmin hard enough, he might be able to do something about it somehow……?