Black Label [EN]: Chapter 161

161. What I’ve Set My Mind to Do

“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden…?”

After taking a deep breath to calm his excitement, Yeongguk began to explain his situation as calmly as possible.

“Wisdom Khalifa said he’d include a beat I made on his next album.”

“What? Really?”

“After I played him the album’s title track, I played him a few sample tracks that were just sitting on my hard drive, and he said they were generally good…”

Just as Yeongguk was about to continue, Jaeseung hugged him tightly and shouted.

“Hey, Son Yeongguk! Congratulations! That means a beat you made could be on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, right?”

Wisdom Khalifa is practically a guaranteed chart hit at this point.

If Yeongguk’s name is listed as the original composer of a song he sings?

He might receive even more money in royalties than he’s currently earning from performance income.

It was practically a situation promising material success on a scale that could never be considered small.

On the other hand, Yeongguk’s reaction seemed rather skeptical.

This was one of the common reactions shown by those who suddenly achieve great success.

What should I say?

It’s an extremely natural and understandable reaction, doubting whether you really deserve the success that’s shimmering before your eyes.

“I don’t know yet. I have to make a new beat that matches the vibe Wisdom Khalifa wants. And it can only be included on the next album if it meets the criteria…”

Yeongguk, who had been speaking with a hint of worry, suddenly trailed off and sighed, “Haa…”

Then, he ran his large hands over his face a few times before asking back in a trembling voice.

“Jaeseung, am I dreaming right now? If this is a dream, I don’t think I can handle the sense of loss and emptiness when I wake up…”

“Should I punch you a few times so you can feel it? If you really want, and you promise not to retaliate, I can punch you as much as you want.”

At Jaeseung’s playful words, Yeongguk gave a faint smile and replied in a low voice.

“Jaeseung.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks, and I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“It feels like I’m always just receiving help…”

“You’re talking nonsense again.”

“No, really.”

Yeongguk replied firmly, shrugged his shoulders once, and added.

“If I ever achieve great success, I wanted to do it on my own, without your help.”

“But, think about it the other way around. The beat that Wisdom Khalifa was attracted to isn’t a beat I made for you, but the product of your own efforts, right? Isn’t that so?”

“It’s nice of you to say that, but I inevitably had to receive your help in the process of talking with him.”

Jaeseung shook his head a few times.

“Opportunity only comes to those who are prepared to seize it. Even if an opportunity comes to someone who isn’t prepared, they’ll have no choice but to miss it.”

“……”

“If you’re so bothered by even this small amount of help, then try to do it on your own the next time you achieve really great success. You still have a long way to go, right?”

The road to the ‘roof’ of Billboard is high and treacherous.

The majority of artists who have silently tried to climb it their entire lives have had no choice but to give up without even seeing it.

Maybe, just maybe…

After reaching the roof, there might be no other option but to come back down to the floor.

But what’s important is whether you’ve been to the place everyone desires even once, or whether you haven’t been there at all, I thought.

Both myself and Yeongguk.

We still have a long way to go.

I’ve never walked it to the end, so I don’t know well, but I think it’s probably a bumpy, unpaved road with countless corners lurking.

I don’t know what’s lurking at the end. I just started dreaming, so I’m just continuing to move towards that end.

After being lost in thought for a long time, Jaeseung smiled and said.

“Both of us, we’re just at the starting line. We have to keep working hard. Several times harder than what we’ve been doing. You know that, right?”

“Hmm… Isn’t the starting line too far ahead? How long do I have to work hard?”

“Until I make everyone acknowledge Wallflower as the best brand, and until the host of the Grammy Awards says your album’s title name at the moment of announcing the winner.”

After speaking, Jaeseung slightly held out the champagne glass in his hand, and Yeongguk, smiling brightly, immediately clinked his glass against it.

Yeongguk, who usually turns red even after just one or two shots of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor], was drinking it coolly today, perhaps because of his elated mood.

His Adam’s apple bobs. The cool yet hot liquid flows down his esophagus. His heart beats faster. As soon as the thirst is quenched, a new thirst arises again. Suddenly, I thought the taste of champagne resembled success.

And so, another night was coming to an end.

* * *

The next morning, Jaeseung started packing his bags as soon as he woke up.

He was scheduled to board a plane to Korea with Yeongguk in the afternoon.

Before helping Karl Lagerfeld prepare for Chanel’s new season, it was to solidify the foundation for Wallflower’s current season.

While he was busy packing, he received a call from ‘Erica’, the secretary who had been assisting him throughout his journey in France.

-Lee. I’m calling about your departure schedule this afternoon. Chairman Ardo has chartered a Gulfstream aircraft for Lee’s comfortable travel.

“Yes? The Chairman’s private plane?”

-No. The Chairman’s private plane is a ‘Boeing 747’ that has been modified into a private jet. The Gulfstream is practically used for hospitality purposes.

Jaeseung couldn’t easily say anything and carefully chose his next words, muttering “Well, um…” for a while, before finally bringing up the main point with difficulty.

“So, about Chairman Ardo… He clearly received the message that I would be helping Karl Lagerfeld take charge of Chanel’s next season, right?”

-Of course. Of course. Although he showed some disappointment, he said this himself. Now that all the business has been successfully concluded, he can’t interfere with Lee’s future endeavors.

“What should I say… Um, he’s really… amazing in many ways. I should make sure to give him a call of thanks before I leave.”

Then, Erica exclaimed, “Ah!” and added various explanations again.

-The Chairman said that he spoke directly with Karl Lagerfeld. He said that he had already heard all the details from Karl, so you don’t have to worry about this business.

It seemed that Karl had sought permission from Chairman Ardo before making the offer to him.

Taking a talented director from a competing brand was practically a taboo, so it was quite a natural course of action to think differently.

“I see. Thank you so much. I feel much lighter thanks to you. To be honest, I felt a bit uncomfortable because I felt like I was betraying him.”

-Ah, and he said he would like to invite you to the Chairman’s private island for your next vacation. And your friend who visited this time as well. He also added that he would like you to keep this in mind when planning your vacation schedule.

“Private island? Does he own an island as a private property? That’s really amazing. Please tell him that I will definitely visit. Although I haven’t even started working yet, so it’s ambiguous to discuss vacation schedules.”

-I haven’t been there myself, but I heard it’s located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. I heard that only the Chairman’s closest aides or a few legendary directors who led the group’s brands to great success have been invited.

“Hmm, then can I be proud of being invited by the Chairman?”

-Of course, take pride in it. Anyway, I will pick you up at the penthouse two hours before the departure time. After stopping by the hotel where your friend is staying first.

After conveying a brief word of thanks, he immediately hung up the phone.

The sunlight seeping in from the wide penthouse window was subtly illuminating the darkened living room through the linen curtains.

Jaeseung, who had been staring blankly out the window for a while, smiled and started packing his bags again.

I just hoped that on my next vacation, I would be able to leisurely enjoy sunbathing in the middle of a Mediterranean beach full of oleander and eucalyptus scents.

Not alone, but with my loved ones.

* * *

The Gulfstream airliner was flying across the sky at an altitude of thousands of meters.

It was equipped with all the necessary facilities. A classic movie was being shown on the large monitor in front of the seat, and the slender flight attendant would often politely ask, “Is there anything else you need?”

Suddenly, I remembered my first departure. It was a boring flight where I repeatedly fell asleep and woke up in a crowded business class seat.

Yeongguk was just lost in thought, as if he had become ‘The Thinker’ by Rodin.

After sobering up, he seemed to have finally realized how big and burdensome the opportunity that had come to him was.

“Yeongguk, did you get any sleep last night?”

“Yeah. Thanks to the alcohol.”

Yeongguk replied briefly, gave an awkward smile as if he couldn’t help but feel nervous, and continued.

“I have a feeling I won’t be able to sleep for a while because I’m so nervous.”

“For a while? Why?”

“Until I get confirmation from Wisdom Khalifa.”

Then, Jaeseung, as if he had been waiting for it, wore a playful smile on his face and asked back in a sarcastic tone.

“That’s a big problem. Hmm, should I buy you a teddy bear to hug and sleep with?”

“Shut up.”

“Or should I buy you a few boxes of cookies to eat before bed? You might fall asleep if you eat them with warm milk…”

After saying, “Stop teasing me?” once, Yeongguk lightly tapped Jaeseung’s arm.

Then, Jaeseung shook the glass of on-the-rocks in his hand once and continued.

“Stop being nervous now. I know it’s a difficult task, but as you know, the answer is just to do what you always do, right? Why don’t you get some sleep first? Should I get you a shot of vodka, or should I ask for a few Tylenol pills?”

“Well? I don’t think anything will change just because I get a good night’s sleep…”

“At least you can start working in good condition, right? And what if you miss this offer? Of course, it will be upsetting, but our lives have already changed a lot, and we have plenty of time to work in the future, right? Goethe wrote Faust at the age of ninety. We haven’t even started preparing for our Faust yet.”

Only then did Yeongguk smile brightly and reply, “Okay. I’ll have a light drink and stretch out and sleep.”

Then, Jaeseung lightly waved his hand and called the flight attendant.

After naturally placing the order, I suddenly thought that humans are indeed animals of adaptation.

In other words, I felt like I had become quite accustomed to being treated well.

All this treatment and hospitality felt like a reward and prize for the time I had spent engrossed in my work.

Life was on track.

Yeongguk and I, who used to save up our allowance to buy a pair of Nike sneakers, could now open a Nike store if we wanted to.

Really…

In many ways, it’s a thrilling life.

* * *

“Is life just thrilling?”

As soon as I stepped into the Wallflower office, Director Song said with a bitter smile.

Then, Jaeseung narrowed his brows and asked back.

“It seems like it, but what are you talking about all of a sudden without even saying hello?”

“Gentlemen, welcome back to hell. Your happy time ended yesterday.”

As Jaeseung shook his head a few times, Director Song started walking a few steps ahead and continued.

“You already have a mountain of pending work, but you decided to prepare for Chanel’s new season at the same time, right? You have to take responsibility for your own choices, right?”

“Can’t I take a day off? I drank a lot of alcohol on the plane, so my stomach feels a bit…”

“Are you going to talk nonsense when you’re full? Do you know how dire the current situation is? It’s like a hole in an artery is bleeding profusely, but you’ve put on a disposable bandage.”

“Huh? Is it that serious?”

As Jaeseung and Director Song were chatting and walking towards the president’s office located inside the office.

A few new faces froze in place and began to greet him in a stiff tone.

“We will work hard so that we don’t tarnish the reputation of Wallflower and the designer!”

“I, it’s an honor to meet you! I will work really hard!”

But, what should I say? The emotions lingering above their gazes were so burdensome that it was almost overwhelming.

Then, Director Song put his arm around Jaeseung’s shoulder and whispered in a low voice.

“Sometimes throwing documents, getting angry, and so on… showing a high-handed attitude wouldn’t be bad either. Many employees have a fantasy about the eccentricity of a genius. Isn’t it one of the virtues of a celebrity not to break the public’s fantasy?”

“A celebrity? I’m just a designer. It doesn’t suit me at all.”

“If you’re a designer who freely navigates the mainstream market, it’s a common prejudice that you should have that kind of nasty temper, right? It would be a good thing to make an effort to protect it.”

After speaking, Director Song chuckled once and added again.

“Anyway, at least here at Wallflower. No. At least here in Korea, you, the president, are a more influential designer than Karl Lagerfeld. Look at the awe and respect in those eyes. This season must be a success. The public is watching us with much more anticipation than the employees.”

Jaeseung, who had reached the front of the president’s office, clenched the doorknob tightly and added in a confident tone.

“It’s a bit burdensome, but it’s not a particularly difficult task.”

Now it’s time to be swept back into the vortex of ‘work’.

As always, my heart seemed to be overflowing. With each season that ends, life is changing noticeably.

Perhaps by the end of this season, Wallflower will be a unique premium brand with no other brand to follow in Korea.

Because I’ve done everything I’ve set my mind to so far, and this time I’ve decided to make it happen.”