Black Label [EN]: Chapter 19

Black Label 18

19. “Here’s a sample. Would you like to take a look?”

Boil, boil—.

Chicken bones, green onions, ginseng, and more. A milky white broth, flavored with all sorts of ingredients, bubbled vigorously.

A whole chicken was submerged in the constantly boiling broth. It was ‘Chicken Noodle Soup,’ one of Dongdaemun’s specialties.

“Hey, Jaeseung. What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing.”

Perhaps it was because of President Song’s business card he had received earlier, but all sorts of distracting thoughts [japnyum] kept flooding in.

‘…Let’s eat first.’

Jaeseung forcibly shook off the thoughts of President Song and picked up a ladle, stirring the pot roughly.

In winter, he and President Song used to visit this place almost every other day.

They would soothe their stomachs with the cool broth, exchange shots of soju [Korean distilled spirit], and empty several bottles in no time.

Come to think of it, this place, too, was filled with many memories.

Jaeseung, with a satisfied smile, looked at Yeongguk and said quietly.

“Let’s eat quickly, Yeongguk. This place is really delicious.”

“Looks like it. I’ll enjoy the meal.”

“Yeah. You worked hard today too. Eat a lot.”

* * *

After returning home, Jaeseung took out ‘Taeyangsa’s’ business card again.

‘Song Inhyuk, Song Inhyuk, Song Inhyuk….’

He repeated the name a few times and then put the business card deep into his pencil case.

In any case, wasn’t he currently swamped with a mountain of things to take care of right now?

Visiting President Song and building a relationship was something for later.

However, when that time came, he was planning to move very thoroughly.

It was an opportunity he really didn’t want to miss. That’s why, even more so, he was going to approach it carefully.

He wanted to build a solid relationship and establish himself as someone in his circle.

He wanted nothing.

Just to be someone he could rely on when he was having a hard time.

That was all. Just like he had been there for him in his past life when he was losing his eyesight and hope at the same time.

Ziiip-!

Jaeseung, having closed the zipper of his pencil case, looked at the calendar on his desk.

Since it was past midnight again, there were only 5 days left until the meeting date.

It was clear that it was a tight schedule to complete two types of samples.

Jaeseung shook his head a couple of times and muttered to himself.

“Haa… let’s do it.”

A busy and hectic daily life was expected to unfold.

* * *

Several more days passed, and it was the day of the meeting between the editorial team of ‘F Trend View’ magazine and Jaeseung.

“Manager Min, this is the place we were supposed to meet, right?”

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok, who had just gotten out of the car, asked with a puzzled expression.

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

The meeting place was a cafe called ‘Huisten,’ located near Jeongbalsan Station in Ilsan.

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok immediately entered the cafe. Perhaps because it was Friday evening, the cafe was crowded with people.

While Manager Min was ordering, Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok began to look around for Jaeseung.

‘Hmm? Is that him?’

Soon, his eyes caught sight of a young man sitting alone in a corner, drawing.

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok cautiously approached him and asked quietly.

“Are you by any chance from ‘Wall Flower’…?”

Finding someone in the industry at once. It was a kind of ‘ability’ that had developed from working in the editorial department of a fashion magazine for a long time.

Jaeseung quickly stood up and offered Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok a handshake.

“Ah, yes. That’s me. I’m Lee Jaeseung.”

“Ah, yes. I’m Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok from the FTV editorial department, who emailed you before. Nice to meet you.”

“Thank you for coming all the way. Please, have a seat first.”

In the brief moment when the two people shook hands, Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok’s eyes scanned Jaeseung’s attire several times.

‘Hmm? A jacket and pants made of dark-colored coated denim fabric…?’

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok started a casual conversation to ease the atmosphere and took a seat.

“I was really surprised when I heard from our contact person that you were a high school student.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I thought you were a college student majoring in fashion design [paedi] or someone working in the industry.”

“Thank you.”

When Jaeseung replied briefly, Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok responded again in a gentle tone.

“Your remake skills, the content and level of your column, it was hard to think you were a high school student. Anyway, you’re really amazing at a young age.”

Although it also contained the intention to ease the stiff atmosphere before the meeting started, it was a sincere compliment. Jaeseung smiled faintly and replied.

“Thank you. I’ll work harder.”

“Well, shall we talk about work first?”

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok asked quietly and immediately continued his explanation.

“As you briefly heard from Manager Min, we are planning to scout several places besides Jaeseung’s Wall Flower. We are preparing to scout a few unknown designers who are mainly engaged in clothing remakes.”

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok’s explanation continued in detail. He didn’t forget to mention that if he agreed to the interview, he would include his story and the address of his blog, so he could get some promotion [hongbo] effect.

Just as Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok’s explanation was about to continue.

“Excuse me, Team Leader.”

When Jaeseung interrupted, Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok straightened his back and replied in a gentle tone.

“Ah, yes. Please speak.”

A subtle smile appeared on his lips after he finished speaking.

It was a smile full of deep composure, seemingly confident that Jaeseung would soon express his intention to accept.

But the answer that came out of Jaeseung’s mouth in the next moment was an answer that completely overturned his expectations.

“Actually, I think it might be a little difficult.”

“…Yes?”

Not only Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok, who asked back in surprise, but also Manager Min, who was just about to join the table, seemed unable to hide her surprise.

Both of them had not considered the possibility of ‘rejection.’

Because it was such an attractive offer. Jaeseung’s explanation followed.

“It’s an opportunity I really don’t want to miss, but I don’t think I meet the standards of the special edition [teukjip] you’re planning.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Actually, today, I’m about to post a notice on my blog that I’m going to stop selling remake clothing.”

As soon as Jaeseung’s words ended, Manager Min took out her cell phone. It seemed like she was trying to check it with her own eyes.

Team Leader Kwon Hyungmok took a long breath and asked again.

“Are you perhaps going to close your blog?”

He thought that he might because he was a high school student. He thought that academics would be the most important thing right now.

Moreover, if he was about to enter his senior year of high school, it was even more likely.

“No. That’s not it.”

“Then…?”

“I’m going to start selling self-produced [jache jejak] clothing now.”

“Yes?”

Jaeseung took off the denim jacket he was wearing and handed it over, adding again.

“This is the ‘sample’ of the first product I just finished yesterday. Would you like to take a look? The pants are the same, but it’s a little difficult to take them off right now.”