Black Label [EN]: Chapter 117

Black Label 116

117. Collaboration

That evening, Jaeseung headed to a Korean BBQ restaurant near the office with the Wallflower design team.

Sizzle…

The thick slices of pork belly on the grill sizzled, slowly cooking to perfection.

For a moment, the only sounds were of people swallowing their saliva. Then, Choo Jihoon, who was meticulously grilling the meat, cautiously spoke up.

“…It’s ready.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the employees sitting around the table exclaimed in unison, “Thank you for the food!”

Immediately, more than a dozen chopsticks began to crisscross over the grill. Everyone was busy moving their chopsticks, and Jaeseung, his eyes shining, shook the water off the lettuce he was holding tightly.

He placed a perfectly grilled piece of pork belly on it, along with kimchi, garlic, and a touch of ssamjang [Korean spicy dipping sauce], then put it all in his mouth without hesitation.

The reason Jaeseung chose a Korean BBQ restaurant for the company dinner after nearly a year was simple.

From the pork belly to the well-fermented kimchi and the spicy soybean stew bubbling deliciously.

It was a place where he could instantly taste the flavors he had missed so much while abroad.

‘Yes, this is it….’

Jaeseung had a look of pure bliss on his face. Director Song, who had been blankly watching him, clicked his tongue and said sarcastically,

“Hey, Choo Jihoon. What are you doing? Hurry up and order more pork belly. At this rate, your boss will eat the plate too.”

Choo Jihoon replied loudly, “Yes, sir!” and immediately ordered more pork belly.

Director Song shook the soju [Korean rice wine] bottle on the table and spoke again.

“Hey, boss. Anyone would think you’re starving. You make so much money, what do you spend it all on? Eat well. We all work to live, after all….”

“Do you know what Korean food I missed the most when I was in the States? Pork belly, pork belly.”

Jaeseung wiped the grease from his mouth with his thumb and added, “Let me pour you a drink.”

A pleasant ‘glug-glug’ sound echoed softly as Director Song’s glass filled with soju.

Director Song smiled and asked quietly,

“You’ll have a drink too, right?”

“Of course.”

This time, Director Song poured Jaeseung’s drink. Jaeseung stared blankly at the liquor filling his glass, a faint smile appearing on his face.

It wasn’t extravagant, but it was the drinking session with Director Song that he had been eagerly anticipating.

In his past life, he and Director Song would sit face to face at the end of each day, sharing drinks.

They would comfort each other in silence and plan for a better tomorrow.

What about now?

The group was much larger. They were all allies and colleagues, chasing after success together.

Just considering this, he felt like he was living a better life than in his past life.

Of course, he was much busier than in his past life, so he couldn’t have such gatherings every day, but he thought this was a good change too.

Because these moments felt even more special since they couldn’t happen often.

While Jaeseung was lost in deep thought,

Director Song was busy filling the design team’s glasses, offering words of encouragement like, “Good job, everyone, today.”

Clink-!

Soon, several glasses clinked in the air, creating a cheerful sound.

Jaeseung immediately poured the liquor in his glass into his mouth.

A warmth spread down his throat and through his body. He grimaced, enjoying the pleasant warmth.

“Boss, have some.”

Lee Kangjun, who was sitting right next to Jaeseung, carefully brought a lettuce wrap to Jaeseung’s mouth.

Jaeseung replied, “Thank you,” and readily accepted Lee Kangjun’s wrap like a baby bird.

Director Song, who had been silently watching the two, picked up another lettuce leaf and spoke.

“Oh? Hey, hey, Lee Kangjun.”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you treat me with such devotion?”

Director Song paused, saying, “Make me a wrap, give me affectionate looks….” He shook his head a few times and added,

“Your boss is leaving for France again at the end of the year, and I’ll be here with you guys. Right? Isn’t that right?”

“Director, you always say that to survive in this industry, you have to look further than what others see….”

Lee Kangjun trailed off, smiled, and continued,

“If I look further than others, as you said, wouldn’t it be a better choice to side with the boss…?”

Jaeseung and the design team chuckled.

Director Song also laughed heartily, his face already slightly flushed, and said in an excited tone,

“Our boss is really good at picking employees, you know? See? They’re all smart friends who understand ten things when you tell them one.”

Just from a few words exchanged here, one could get a clear sense of the current atmosphere in the office.

Director Song’s tireless efforts had certainly contributed to creating this amicable atmosphere.

It was a pleasant time. Although it was a simple and modest get-together, this was exactly the kind of gathering Jaeseung had wanted and missed.

A casual drinking session that felt like similar gatherings had taken place yesterday and the day before.

The conversation continued, with the sound of clinking glasses interspersed like sound effects.

Before long, everyone’s faces were as red as autumn leaves.

“I’m sorry to dampen the mood, but can we start talking about work now?”

Jaeseung’s tone was calm and composed.

The employees sat up straight and silently looked at Jaeseung.

After laughing and chatting for a while, it was time for an important announcement. Jaeseung cleared his throat a few times and carefully brought up the main topic.

“Actually, after much deliberation, I’ve made a big decision. It looks like we’ll be opening Wallflower’s offline store within this year.”

As soon as Jaeseung finished speaking, a heavy silence filled the room for a moment.

Then, the employees, realizing the situation, began to shout with excitement.

Nam Gwangmin and Lee Kangjun, who seemed quite drunk, hugged each other tightly and yelled with joy, while Choo Jihoon stood up and started dancing awkwardly.

Only the intern employees who had recently joined the company politely clapped.

Director Song, wearing a pleased smile, said, “Hold on….” and immediately added,

“You guys can’t be this happy already, can you?”

Just as the atmosphere that had suddenly heated up began to cool down, Director Song gestured slightly to Jaeseung.

Jaeseung took a breath and continued in a gentle tone.

“As Director Song said, it’s still too early to be happy. Actually, the place where the offline store will be located isn’t just one place.”

Jaeseung slowly looked at each of the employees’ faces.

It was a silence that heightened anticipation. Finally, Jaeseung spoke again.

“Myeongdong, Itaewon, Gangnam, Hongdae, and lastly, Yeonnam-dong. Wallflower’s offline stores will be located in a total of five places.”

Perhaps it was because it was an unexpected matter?

The employees began to react differently than before.

As if they had made a promise, they simply stared blankly at Jaeseung with their mouths wide open.

Jaeseung slowly continued in a serious tone.

“I still vividly remember the day we moved into the ten-pyeong [approximately 33 square meters] office and posted our first job advertisement… Before I knew it, Wallflower had already come this far. I think it was a result of everyone’s hard work.”

Jaeseung revealed his inner thoughts quite calmly and added, “Really.” He was sincere. He always felt grateful and sorry to the employees.

They had been working without complaint, even without proper holidays or meal times.

Without them, Wallflower would not have been able to show such rapid growth.

Looking at the employees’ faces, they all seemed to be reminiscing about the past days when they had been running breathlessly. Indeed, the employees must have had deep feelings as well.

Most of the design team employees sitting here had been with Wallflower since it first opened its store on Coupable web store and sold only a few types of clothes. In other words, they had been with him from the ‘starting point.’

“Actually, I think of this offline store opening as an investment for the future. I think it’s time to aim higher.”

Choo Jihoon tilted his head slightly and quietly asked, “Aim higher?” Jaeseung nodded and continued smoothly.

“First, after finishing Christian Diom’s haute couture project next summer, I will focus solely on expanding Wallflower’s size by staying in Korea. From then on, we will maintain the current street line and establish a ‘Premium Line.’”

Some employees nodded as if they finally understood.

To establish a premium line meant to elevate Wallflower to the ranks of a premium brand.

In order to realize this goal, it was certainly necessary to have the necessary elements and build a foundation in advance.

If Wallflower really succeeded in becoming a premium brand?

The employees who currently held the position of official designer at Wallflower would naturally gain the golden career of being an official designer for a premium brand.

It was a very attractive plan with a sweet scent.

“Anyway, even if it’s delayed, the first goal is to have Wallflower stores in every famous department store brand boutique within the next two years. Director Song and I will diligently worry about the methods, so you just need to do your best every season as you have been doing.”

A gleam appeared in the employees’ eyes. Jaeseung’s words had played the role of oil poured on their already burning passion.

“First of all, it’s important to get the first button right, right? I’ve come up with a few ways to help with the success of this S/S [Spring/Summer] season, which is like the first button….”

As Jaeseung trailed off and shifted his gaze to the entrance of the Korean BBQ restaurant, the employees also turned their heads in the direction Jaeseung was looking.

A long-haired man was standing near the entrance, looking around as if searching for someone.

But, what should I say? The deeply pressed hat, the large sunglasses, all the attire seemed to be exclaiming, ‘I’m not an ordinary person.’

Jaeseung smiled and continued the words he had swallowed.

“It seems the main character of the first plan has arrived.”

The identity of the man who had just entered the store was the celebrity ‘Ryu Seung-ho,’ who was close to Jaeseung.

Soon, Ryu Seung-ho, who had just spotted Jaeseung, waved his hand and said,

“Wow, Jaeseung!”

“You’re here?”

The first plan to solidify the success of this season was a collaboration with the self-proclaimed fashionista, ‘Ryu Seung-ho,’ with whom he had previously collaborated.