Black Label [EN]: Chapter 121

121. Resellers’ Chatter

The reaction was exceptionally unusual. Jaesung immediately ordered server expansion and, as a temporary measure, requested a lookbook release from *webzines* like Kuba Kuba Magazine (online magazines focusing on visual content).

The lookbook photos released through the webzines were shared on various community sites within minutes, and the response was explosive.

* * *

Meanwhile, even after the collaboration products were revealed, the Wall Flower design team continued to work overtime.

Apart from the collaboration products, Wall Flower’s S/S (Spring/Summer) products also had to be presented.

Some products were already in the sample tailoring stage, and Jaesung and the staff were diligently drawing up additional designs.

“Cough-”

Jaesung, grimacing, coughed, and Lee Kangjun asked with concern, “Are you alright, President? Your cold seems to have gotten worse over the past few days. Wouldn’t it be better to get some rest for a day?”

Was it because he had been overworking lately? Or was it due to the unpredictable *hwanjeolgi* weather (the change of seasons in Korea, known for its fluctuating temperatures)?

He caught a cold for the first time in years.

He expected it to go away in a few days, but it seemed like a big miscalculation.

Rather, the symptoms were getting worse day by day.

He waved his hand and replied in a weak voice, “No, I’m fine. I can rest anytime after the season is over, right?”

“Still…”

“It’s not like I’m doing physical labor. I’m just sitting and drawing designs. What does a cold have to do with that?”

Just as Lee Kangjun was lingering by Jaesung’s side, unable to leave.

“Everyone, let’s eat!”

The design room door swung open, and Ryu Seungho appeared with chicken bags in both hands.

Although the collaboration product-related work was over, he often brought food to the office after finishing his schedule, just like today.

Soon, everyone gathered around the table and began to devour the chicken, each grabbing a piece.

Perhaps because they had gone through thick and thin together during this collaboration project, the staff seemed quite close to Ryu Seungho.

Whether it was because his appetite had decreased due to the cold, or because his stomach felt bloated after eating a couple of pieces.

After roughly wiping his hands with a wet wipe, he silently listened to the conversation between the staff and Ryu Seungho for a while.

“Wow, it’s already five o’clock? I should eat and head in to work today.”

Lee Kangjun said, roughly wiping the grease from his hands.

Choo Jihoon looked at the clock on the wall and nodded in agreement, “I should go with Kangjun *hyung* (older brother or male friend) when he leaves. When are you going in, President?”

“I think I’ll have to stay a little longer. I want to finish what I was doing before going in.”

He added a few more words, worried that the staff might feel uncomfortable.

“I’m fine, so everyone can go home after you finish eating. It’s not like I have to come to work on time every morning, right?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lee Kangjun shrugged his shoulders and asked back.

“You say that, but you come to work on time every morning, don’t you?”

Just as he was sitting blankly, with no words to refute, Ryu Seungho naturally put his arm around his shoulder and carefully persuaded him.

“Jaesung, why don’t you eat and go in today? You look much worse than when I saw you a few days ago….”

“I don’t feel great, but it’s not like I’m too sick to work. I’m really fine.”

“Come on, still. The staff has all left, and it would look weird if the president was left alone in the office working, wouldn’t it?”

After a moment of contemplation, he replied in a nonchalant tone.

“No, that’s what a president should do.”

Ryu Seungho tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Huh?”

“My salary is several times higher than the employees’ salaries, isn’t it? No matter what, I should work harder than the amount I get more, right?”

“Well, that’s a valid point, but….”

“I know you’re saying that because you’re worried. Anyway, I’m really fine, so you don’t have to worry.”

He said that, worried that the staff might feel pressured or uncomfortable if they left before him.

Lee Kangjun smiled faintly and said to Ryu Seungho, “Seungho, I guarantee you won’t be able to break the president’s stubbornness.”

At those words, Ryu Seungho shook his head a few times as if he couldn’t win, and said in a worried tone.

“Jaesung, then make sure to finish only what you were doing and go in quickly. You really don’t look good today.”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you so much for your concern.”

Suddenly, he was reminded of his previous life in the underground workshop in Dongdaemun, where he was slowly dying while inhaling *seokmyeon garu* (asbestos dust) every day.

Memories of those bleak days, now sunk below the surface of his memory.

Even as he was dying, Song Director was the only one who worried about his health.

But now? Even with just a cold, he receives so much concern and worry.

Turning his head to look out the window, the sky was taking on a subtle color, as if dawn was about to break.

Another morning is coming.

Watching the morning come, he couldn’t help but smile.

Now, the greeting “Good morning” is no longer an ordinary greeting.

Now, the words “Good morning” are just words filled with clear sincerity. He felt so grateful for that fact.

It’s morning again. It’s a perfect morning.

“Eucha-!”

He got up from the sofa and sat down again at the empty desk.

Then, he grabbed the ‘Wall Flower Pencil’ next to the A4 paper.

* * *

In a narrow room filled with darkness, the light from the monitor screen was mercilessly illuminating the face of a skinny man sitting in front of it.

Crunch.

The man was eating potato chips, engrossed in looking at the monitor screen.

The man, after licking the snack powder off his hand, muttered in a low voice.

“Hmm, Wall Flower….”

Lee Kyung-hoon.

He was a professional reseller who had just turned thirty this year and was running an online shopping mall called ‘Reseller X’s Dedication’.

At first, he was just earning pocket money by reselling limited edition products that he had painstakingly purchased under the nickname ‘Reseller-X’ on online *junggojangteo* (secondhand marketplaces) at a premium, but now the situation had changed drastically.

He drives a car he bought with the money he earned from reselling and lives in a *jeonsejjip* (a type of long-term lease in Korea where a large sum of money is given to the landlord instead of monthly rent) he bought with the money he earned from reselling.

As sales gradually increased and his recognition grew, he even started operating a personal site and was recording far higher profits than his peers.

Lee Kyung-hoon, lost in deep thought, stroked his chin and picked up his smartphone.

There is a secret community in the form of a ‘group chat room’ that only resellers with some recognition can enter.

It is a place where most of the famous resellers active in Korea belong, and where they exchange their opinions and information.

He was going to take a look at what other resellers thought of Wall Flower’s collaboration product this time.

– Reseller X: Did everyone check out the lookbook for this ‘Wall Flower x Ryu Seungho’ collaboration product?

As soon as Lee Kyung-hoon’s chat appeared on the screen, replies started coming back immediately.

It was clear that everyone was sitting in front of their computers, scrutinizing the lookbook for Wall Flower’s collaboration product.

– Reseller Mark: Yes, I saw it, but I’m just going to stay out of it. First of all, I don’t think the price will go up that much, and the material itself seems too unstable. It looks like the print could peel off or smudge, and I’m curious what they were thinking when they used such a highly stainable material as the main material;;

– Reseller Mark: And as you all probably know, there was an article that they also produced S/S season products separately, right? It just looks like they’re completely *dondeok* (money-obsessed) to me.

– Reseller Mark: It seems like this confirms the hypothesis that they won’t be able to release proper clothes because of the Christian Diom incident. It’s just clothes that look good on the outside. ^^;

Perhaps because it was a statement from ‘Mark’, who is one of the most well-established resellers in the chat room.

Several resellers began to waver greatly.

– Reseller Timo: Huh? I had plenty of bullets loaded, but I’m getting nervous after hearing what Mark said. Should I stay out of it too?

– Reseller Rich: Hmm; There’s also a rumor that a new Jordan is coming out soon, so maybe it would be better to go all-in on that.

– Reseller Roy: I was worried because it’s a new brand that hasn’t been around for many years, but I’m convinced after hearing what Mark said. I think I should get out too;

Lee Kyung-hoon, who was looking at the updating chat, muttered in a low voice.

“This bastard is doing this again.”

The only ones who are wavering at Reseller Mark’s words are beginners who still lack experience.

He and others who have been reselling for years have been holding back their words.

It was because they knew that Mark’s chat was just a groundwork to reduce even one competitor.

Tap. Tapping.

Lee Kyung-hoon began to diligently tap on his smartphone keypad again.

– Reseller X: Hey, why are you even working in the group chat room? You have a long way to go before you become a real person.

– Reseller Mark: Yes? What do you mean? I really don’t plan to touch it at all?

– Reseller X: We’ve known each other for 10 years, do you think I don’t know you? Do your *seondong* (instigation/manipulation) in the fashion community, and tell me how many bullets you have loaded? ^.^;

After sending the message, he immediately got up from his chair.

The most necessary virtues for a reseller are three.

The first is plenty of bullets (funds), the second is confidence in one’s choices and patience from that confidence, and the third is thorough preparation.

Now, there were only about two days left until the sales of Wall Flower’s collaboration products and S/S season products began. It was necessary to prepare in advance.

“Let’s see….”

He began to pack the necessary items into the trunk bag. A *kopel* (cooking set) burner, a few cups of ramen, a sleeping bag, and even a folding chair that would be used at a fishing site.

After packing almost all the camping supplies, he picked up his smartphone again and checked the group chat room.

A reply had arrived from Reseller Mark. Lee Kyung-hoon smiled slightly after checking the reply.

– Reseller Mark: Caught.

– Reseller Mark: A big one.

– Reseller Mark: Even broke my savings account. What about you?

It was at the point when there were only two days left until the release of the ‘Wall Flower x Ryu Seungho’ collaboration product and the new S/S season.