Black Label [EN]: Chapter 180

180. Janel’s Heaven (2)

As the banquet hall neared capacity with VIPs who had received invitations and made their way there,

the backstage area behind the runway buzzed with activity.

With the show about to begin, everyone was immersed in final preparations.

Jae-seung, entering the backstage area, cleared his throat a few times, “Ahem, hmm…” to announce his presence.

A middle-aged man in a suit, spotting Jae-seung, quickly approached him and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Lee, you’ve arrived. As you can see, preparations are proceeding very smoothly.”

Jae-seung, after asking, “Is that so?” glanced around the venue.

Well, as is often the case with backstage areas just before a collection begins, the atmosphere didn’t exactly feel smooth.

“Wait, just a moment. Look at my face. Doesn’t it look like a family-size walnut pie? I think it would be better to apply the shading makeup a bit darker.”

“Damn it, are the heels too high? Are you telling me to fall on the runway? How can you change the shoes right before walking?”

The models were expressing their dissatisfaction with sharp voices, as if they had sharp blades, and the staff were moving busily according to their instructions.

It was as if everyone had become extremely sensitive with such an important show just around the corner.

Although nervous voices constantly rang out, Jae-seung thought this was a very natural phenomenon.

No matter how professional a model is, armed with a glamorous career, they cannot underestimate Janel’s show. A successful walk could jumpstart their value at least twice as much.

It was like they were at the point of changing their destiny and future in ‘a few minutes,’ so how could they not be sensitive? Their highly nervous reactions were just a way of expressing their tension.

Just as Jae-seung was looking around the venue with a happy smile, the middle-aged man cleared his throat and carefully broached the subject.

“Actually, while things are proceeding smoothly, we are also having difficulties because there is no conductor.”

“I see.”

“Lee, if you don’t mind, may I ask you one question?”

“Of course.”

“When will Karl be coming?”

As Jae-seung was unable to answer and remained vague, the man nodded a few times and continued speaking close to Jae-seung’s ear.

“It seems that the rumors are true. It’s a bit much for me to say, but there are already widespread rumors in the fashion world that there is a big conflict between Karl Lagerfeld and the Janel Group.”

This was also a rumor voluntarily spread by the Janel Group’s sales team.

Isn’t the fashion world a place where unbearably difficult daily routines are repeated?

Therefore, the reaction to gossip is quite generous compared to other industries. They used that point so cleverly that it felt almost cunning.

Jae-seung then licked his lower lip slightly and continued in a natural tone.

“Ah, yes. I don’t know the details either. If there is one thing that is certain, it is that he will not appear at the collection today.”

“Haha! Karl’s sharp jab! According to reporters I’m friends with, most of the reporters who came to this collection are more curious about the relationship between Karl and the Janel Group than the collection itself… If Karl really doesn’t show up until the end of the collection, there will be a lot of speculative articles. Chairman Bertheimer must be in a bad mood.”

Jae-seung then gave a faint smile and added in a calm tone.

“Anyway, since this is the situation, I think I should handle the final coordination work. Would that be okay?”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard. We were having trouble because there was no maestro.”

Jae-seung nodded and immediately proceeded with the final coordination. It was a simple task of giving feedback on the models’ walking or correcting and checking their outfits.

After finishing the coordination work to some extent, he immediately started walking towards the female model who was still getting her makeup done.

Then, as soon as he got close to her, he naturally put his hand on her shoulder and asked.

“How’s your condition today?”

The female model, ‘Ashlynn’, who was sitting in the chair, glanced at Jae-seung standing behind her through the makeup mirror and replied.

“Very good.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ashlynn had also joined the Janel F/W [Fall/Winter] collection’s model lineup.

Of course, as always, Jae-seung didn’t give Ashlynn any help.

After passing the document screening of the Janel Collection model audition, which boasts an extremely high competition rate, she succeeded in obtaining the qualification to stand on the runway by getting passing scores in all four additional auditions.

Of course, this was possible because the stock price of ‘model Ashlynn’ had also risen a lot due to her brilliant career such as Christian Diom.

“Lee, after this collection, I’m going to binge eat for days. I’m going to stuff myself with food until I feel nauseous. I miss carbohydrates and fat so much.”

Ashlynn, speaking in a slightly trembling tone, gave a weak smile.

Her face was at least several times more haggard than the last time I saw her.

The cheekbones were more protruding, and the shadows under them seemed much darker than before.

And that’s not all. Her skin was so thin that you could clearly see the muscles on her exposed shoulders and back.

Jae-seung unknowingly took a long breath, “Hoo…”

Last time, when preparing for the haute couture [high fashion, custom-made clothing] of the premium brand ‘Chrischan Diom’, Jae-seung had been with Ashlynn and had properly seen the fierce lives of the models, hadn’t he?

The sexy body that the public is enthusiastic about can only be created with effort and restraint that can be described as almost murderous.

The elegant curves that Ashlynn is showing off with her body now are also the same. Her smooth skin, with clear muscles, is not simply made by exercise.

Isn’t it a temporary beauty gained by ruining her health with ridiculous diets and schedules?

Jae-seung stroked Ashlynn’s hair once and added quietly.

“I’m going to achieve everything in a not-too-late time and then retire. I want to buy a small island and live comfortably with you. I’ll listen to new genres of music every day and eat foods I haven’t tasted before.”

“Do you want a minimalist life? It seems like the essence is going wrong in the part where you buy a small island?”

Jae-seung shook his head at Ashlynn’s question with a mischievous smile on her lips and replied.

“That’s not it. I just want to live comfortably with you.”

After finishing speaking, Jae-seung held Ashlynn’s hand tightly. Warm and soft touch.

My heart rate slows down. The tension that had been in one corner of my heart, which I had been trying to ignore, melts away.

Like the remaining snow placed under the warm sunlight around the time of Ipchun (the beginning of spring)…

* * *

Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, the sound of murmuring was still constantly echoing from everywhere.

It was because a person with enough influence to attract the attention of the celebrities gathered in the hall had appeared.

“Tsk, they’re holding a collection in a hotel in a busy way…”

An old gentleman, after complaining, sat down in the front seats prepared for VVIP guests with his bodyguards.

The old gentleman’s identity is Chairman Ardo, the owner of the LVMH Group, which can be said to be a competitor of the Janel Group.

Chairman Ardo was not at all conscious of the camera lenses pointed at him, and was just focusing on having various conversations with his party in a natural manner.

“I think this is the first time Chairman Ardo has appeared at Janel’s collection. Did he come because of his friendship with Lee?”

“Maybe that’s right. I heard that Lee is favored by Chairman Ardo, but I didn’t know that he would make him appear at the Janel Group event…”

The reason why people, including reporters, critics, and columnists, couldn’t help but be surprised was very simple and clear.

It may be part of the job to peek at the collection of a competing brand, but Chairman Ardo had never directly attended the Janel Group’s event before.

Meanwhile, a black man sitting not far from Chairman Ardo pouted his lower lip and opened his mouth.

“Damn it, a rich old man took all the spotlight we should have received?”

It was the famous artist ‘Wisdom Khalifa’, who puts all the songs he releases, no, even digital single albums, on the Billboard charts.

Until Chairman Ardo appeared, he was receiving all kinds of attention.

The fact that Chairman Ardo had taken away the attention that had been pouring in seemed quite unsatisfactory.

Next to him was sitting Young-guk, who was well-matched and dressed in clothes released by Wall Flower.

“Khalifa, there are more than one or two ears listening. Shouldn’t you lower your voice a little?”

“Why do I have to be aware of others? By the way, when is our song coming out?”

“According to what I heard from Jae-seung, it will be played from the middle of the show.”

“This is the first time I’ve released a new song in this way. You should be really grateful to your good designer friend. By the way, Jae-seung? Is that like a nickname for calling Lee?”

“No. It’s his real name. Lee is just Jae-seung’s ‘surname’ [family name]. ‘Jae-seung Lee’ is his original name.”

Wisdom Khalifa, after answering quietly, “I see,” kept muttering in a small voice, “Jae-seung, Jae-seung…”

Young-guk, who was staring at him, looked around. Inside the banquet hall, there were celebrities from all walks of life that could only be seen on TV and the Internet.

Football stars and NBA super players that I had admired since I was young. Models and actors whose faces I remember even if I don’t know their names if I turn my head,

And in the distance, there was the domestic artist ‘Kwon Ji-hoon’, who is famous for being invited to the Janel show every year.

Some people may have taken a long trip because of the name Janel, but some of them are his friends. It would be those who took time out of their busy schedules to visit this banquet hall due to their personal friendship with the designer ‘Lee’.

“Hoo…”

Young-guk, after taking a breath, gave a pleasant smile.

He is also sitting here. He is sitting shoulder to shoulder with them after receiving a formal invitation.

Although he is far behind in terms of recognition and influence…

It was a smile that bloomed at the thought that he had succeeded in coming to the feet of a friend he wanted to be happy with.

At that time.

Tak.

The lights inside the banquet hall went out.

At the same time, the murmuring that had been echoing from everywhere in the hall reduced in size.

The blackout of the lights was like a series of signals that the long-awaited start of the show was just around the corner.