Black Label [EN]: Chapter 278

Black Label Episode 277

Black Label Side Story 29

A week passed by in Korea like that….

“I’ll be heading back now.”

Jae Seung, holding his suitcase, said at the entrance, to which his mother replied softly.

“Okay, make sure you eat well….”

His father chimed in.

“Next time, we’ll come visit.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Work is important, but your health comes first.”

After speaking, his father approached him, smoothed out his clothes, and personally brushed off the dust from his shoulders.

“Lee Seung-hee.”

At Jae Seung’s call, Seung-hee, who had been standing blankly to one side, nodded.

“Yeah.”

Jae Seung added, as if reminding her.

“Call me if anything happens.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Do well on your interview and let me know the results.”

“Don’t worry.”

Jae Seung looked over his family members once more before continuing quietly.

“I’ll come again next time.”

With those words, Jae Seung left his family behind and headed straight out of the house.

“Welcome, CEO.”

The chauffeur, assigned by President Song, opened the back door wide, took the suitcase, and carefully placed it in the trunk.

How long had it been?

Jae Seung was leaning comfortably in the back seat, gazing intently at the house visible through the window.

“Then, we’ll depart.”

The chauffeur, after checking Jae Seung’s expression in the rearview mirror, gently pressed the accelerator, and the car slowly moved forward.

The thought of returning to France and being swept up in the vortex of ‘work’ left him with mixed feelings.

‘Still, it was a good rest….’

When would he be able to set foot on Korean soil again?

Even at the earliest, it would probably be around the beginning of next year.

By then, his parents would be even older and frailer.

Tock, tock, tock-.

Jae Seung tapped lightly on the armrest of the car seat, lost in thought.

‘It’s not just the kids who grow up fast….’

Even his daughter, Yul, seemed to grow noticeably every time he pulled himself together, often surprising him.

His parents were no different.

For some reason, every time he saw them, they seemed older and frailer than before, causing a pang in his heart.

“Time really flies.”

He spoke, feeling anew how merciless time was, to which the chauffeur nodded once and continued.

“People who handle schedules as demanding as yours always say that.”

Then, he added again.

“Even ordinary people like me feel time passes quickly, so I can’t even begin to imagine how it must feel for someone like you.”

Jae Seung replied briefly.

“We all live the same day, don’t we?”

“Yes? Well, yes, but….”

“It’s probably a similar feeling.”

These days, he sometimes forgets that the life he’s living now is a ‘second chance.’

What should he say….

It’s as if the memories of his wretched past life feel like nothing more than a *butterfly dream* [a fleeting, illusory experience] now.

Looking back, his past life was the same.

Although it was a completely different life from now, he was always chased by time, then and now.

He was a terrible son.

A lousy brother….

A wretched life.

Jae Seung gave a bitter smile and closed his eyes, and the driver, sensing this, turned on the radio without saying anything more.

Yes, so much has changed.

Compared to his past life, where he had to cling to work he didn’t even want to do just for money, wasn’t this a truly happy life?

Yes, let’s work.

No….

Let’s make history.

After returning to France and finishing up various arrangements, he planned to immediately begin preparing for the project he had conceived in Korea.

『 Cardo 』

A brand name with special meaning, created by combining the names of his one and only mentor, Karl Lagerfeld, and Chairman Ardo.

A channel to release products that combine only the advantages of over 60 premium brands under the LVMH Group [a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate]….

A bold and innovative new brand that would be remembered as unprecedented in the entire history of the fashion industry.

‘After making history….’

He thought he should enjoy his next vacation a little longer.

‘It would be nice to bring my wife and child and relax much more leisurely then.’

Nothing collapses just because you put it down for a while.

That was the biggest lesson he had learned through two lives.

* * *

After returning to France, Jae Seung didn’t start working right away but took a day off.

“Lee, I’m not sure if you’re forcing yourself to make time….”

Jae Seung, holding his daughter Yul in his arms, shook his head and replied in a gentle tone.

“I’ve spent over a week in Korea, so I should at least go on a date with the women I love before starting work.”

In fact, it was just an ordinary day, nothing extravagant.

First, they all went to see an exhibition by a famous artist.

Then, they stopped by an ice cream shop that was very popular these days.

“Abba [Korean for Dad].”

Yul handed Jae Seung her cone of ice cream and said.

“Want to eat… ?”

At those words, Jae Seung asked softly, “Huh?” and glanced at Yul’s expression.

“If you want to eat, I’ll give it to you….”

But, why was that?

‘She looks like she’s about to burst into tears if I say I want to eat it.’

Jae Seung smiled and replied.

“No, Daddy’s okay.”

Only then did Yul gently stroke her chest and let out a sigh of relief….

“This is delicious?”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s really strange.”

She licked the cone of ice cream in her hand, her eyes sparkling.

Next, they enjoyed dinner and wine at a fine dining restaurant….

“Abba, look at that.”

As the sun completely set, they walked along the Seine River and watched the fireworks.

It was an endlessly peaceful and happy day, so luxurious it felt extravagant.

A day that was probably the last holiday of the year was coming to an an end.

* * *

It was a long-awaited day back at work.

“Good morning.”

The top floor office of the Wallflower brand house.

Although the space was spotless, without even a speck of dust….

He pretended to dust the desk with his hand.

“Good….”

Then, he immediately began writing emails to the designers belonging to the LVMH Group’s brands.

It would have been much easier and simpler to send emails in bulk, but because the matter was important, he sent individually detailed emails.

The content was simple.

He was planning to launch a new brand called 『Cardo』, and he wanted to introduce it in time for the next season….

It would be a fairly innovative brand that sells products that combine the advantages of all brands under the LVMH Group.

To do so, ‘your’ help is essential, and for that reason, he would like to take the time to talk.

Of course, towards the end of the email, he also wrote that before disclosing this fact to anyone, he hoped they would recall the ‘confidentiality clause’ in the contract they had signed with LVMH.

In other words….

It was a ‘threat’ to remain silent about this fact unless they wanted to compensate the group with a huge amount of penalty fees.

How long had it been?

In less than a day, designers from several brands had given quite positive answers.

It was a project they had been waiting for, they definitely wanted to participate, they hoped to be of help….

But, as expected, not all of the answers were so positive.

– I’m not sure if I have the ability to catch two rabbits [handle two tasks simultaneously]. I won’t be able to help.

– Lee, I’m sorry, but I don’t have two bodies. I don’t know if I’ll have the capacity to help. I probably won’t.

– To be honest, I feel like you’ve become a ‘businessman’ in the past few days. I think it’s a terrible idea.

– I don’t know who put you up to this, but you’re a designer, not a businessman with a brain full of crap, right?

All of these were expected scenarios.

‘Some designers are bound to be skeptical….’

Jae Seung first started making appointments with the designers who were on the side opposing the launch of 『Cardo』.

Eight out of 60.

Fewer people opposed than he had thought, but they were all people who had established a significant presence in the industry.

‘First….’

He was thinking of paying them an amount equivalent to the ‘contract termination penalty’ so that they wouldn’t be dissatisfied, and terminating the contract between the group and them.

Of course, it might not be the case that all 60 designers belonging to the group’s brands had to participate.

Jae Seung thought that the symbolism of 『Cardo』 would only be complete if there wasn’t a single person among the 60 designers who opposed it.

“Good….”

After individually organizing the contract amounts to be offered to those eight people, he entered the scheduled meeting dates on his planner.

“Now one is finished….”

Next, he selected a date when the designers who had expressed their approval could gather in ‘one place’ to talk.

End of this month.

On that day, 52 designers who lead the overall trends of the global fashion industry, and himself, were scheduled to gather and plan for the future.

“It’s quite a big event….”

It felt too bad to just let it pass by vaguely.

But he couldn’t announce the launch of a new brand….

“What to do….”

Jae Seung muttered lowly and added.

“Ah, that’s right.”

A flash of inspiration swept through his mind.

“There was that method….”

A method that Jae Seung had used several times in the past.

The delivery of information is slow, but the effect is certain marketing.

“This is me.”

Jae Seung immediately picked up the internal phone….

“Could you find a broadcasting station to record the project I’m leading as a documentary by this evening?”

Jae Seung’s decision was….

『Cardo』

A method of recording the process of launching a new brand in the form of a 「documentary」, without missing a single detail.