Black Label [EN]: Chapter 200

200. Operation

“Well? I don’t think there’s much to deliberate about, is there?”

Jae-seung, who had been staring blankly into space as if lost in deep thought, said in a very gentle tone.

A strange atmosphere flowed again for a moment. Kai Greene narrowed his brow slightly and cautiously asked, “Then…?”

“It just seems like a proposal to use the cards in hand as cleverly as possible. Am I misunderstanding something?”

“Yes? Ah, it is, but…”

Kai Greene, seemingly embarrassed, trailed off, then chuckled involuntarily.

He hadn’t expected Lee to give the okay so easily without even a moment’s hesitation.

Jae-seung tilted his head slightly and asked quietly,

“Kai, is it just that you find my way of thinking so different from the designers you’ve worked with so far?”

“Yes. That’s exactly it.”

Kai Greene replied briefly, then gave another awkward smile.

Designers with a similar reputation to Lee usually have overly firm artistic views.

He had thought that they must fear the collapse of their artistic views more than losing their lives.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to hate words like ‘numbers,’ ‘calculations,’ and ‘business’ so much.

“Actually, I was a little surprised. When other famous designers heard the proposal I made to Lee, they usually acted as if I was making a sinister offer like, ‘Would you like to sell your soul to the devil for a pile of gold and jewels?'”

Jae-seung nodded a few times and replied indifferently.

“It’s a difference in values. As you may have guessed, I think a little differently from them. If there’s a useful card, it’s right to use it somehow. You may or may not know, but all existing brands create mood boards [a collection of images, text, and samples used to define the style of a product] before designing seasonal products. It’s like drawing a blueprint before construction. ‘Trend analysis’ is mixed into that process. It’s a process of analyzing the production trends of brands around the world and conceiving the framework for this season.”

“Yes, and?”

“What’s the reason for doing this troublesome thing? It’s simple. It’s an act to capture the hearts of as many people as possible, and it’s a preparation to create a work that is recognized by as many people as possible. When you think about it, ‘calculation’ and ‘analysis’ are mixed in front of art, aren’t they? Although I don’t prefer commercial designs, I don’t think calculation and analysis are despicable and dirty things that artists shouldn’t do.”

After speaking, Jae-seung picked up the envelope containing the contract and handed it to Kai Greene, adding again,

“The most important thing for me right now is to maintain the ‘winning streak’ I’ve achieved so far.”

“Designer Lee must always achieve the best results in the future, just like he has been doing?”

Jae-seung replied, “Yes, that’s right,” and began to speak, staring intently into Kai Greene’s eyes.

“Any method that has the potential to harm others, or is excessively immoral, and finally, any method that falls under illegality. I’m confident that I can use any means that doesn’t fall into these three categories. If only I can protect my winning streak.”

He puts Wallflower’s exclusive VMD [Visual Merchandising Director] ‘Nam Gwang-min,’ whom the public is curious about, on the stage of a large-scale magazine to focus attention.

Also, after stepping down from practical work such as show displays, he focuses on marketing activities, including interviews, to raise interest.

What if other designers who prioritize their pride as artists heard this proposal?

They would have jumped up and down as if they had heard a serious insult that they could not tolerate.

They are just people who want to focus only on ‘their art.’

That’s why they pay a considerable commission to the agency or parent company and delegate the authority for non-design-related tasks.

On the other hand, Lee?

Kai Greene, who was busy organizing his thoughts while looking at his feet, raised his head and began to look at Jae-seung, who was humming a tune and reviewing the contents of the contract again.

Soon.

“What’s the reason?”

“What reason?”

“The reason you want to maintain your winning streak.”

“Who in the world wants to lose?”

Jae-seung replied in a nonchalant tone, briefly organizing the contract, which seemed to be about a dozen pages long, by tapping it on the side table, and then continued in an indifferent tone.

“My goal is not ‘simple success,’ but to sit on the throne at the top of the fashion world. Just as the vast majority of people naturally think of Michael Jordan when they think of basketball, and just as they naturally think of Tyson when they think of boxing…”

“You want to make it so that when people think of a designer, they think of Lee? That’s a great goal.”

“Well, it’s similar, but a little different. I want to make it so that people think of me even when they just hear the word fashion.”

After speaking, Jae-seung tilted his head slightly and asked cautiously.

“Kai, I’d like to ask you just one thing. I’m just curious about your subjective opinion, so I hope you’ll answer honestly. Who do you think is at the pinnacle of the current fashion world?”

Kai Greene narrowed his brow and began to hum, “Hmm…”

Names of various people repeatedly came to mind and then disappeared.

It was an issue he had never thought deeply about before.

Who could it be?

Chairman Arnault of the LVMH Group [a French multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods], who reigns over dozens of fashion brands? Or Chairman Wertheimer of the Chanel Group, who is considered one of his few rivals? Chairman Amancio of the fast fashion brand ‘Tara,’ who achieved great global success and was named one of Forbes’ Top 100 richest people?

Just as Kai Greene was lost in such deep thought.

“Perhaps most of the names that come to Kai’s mind right now are ‘capitalists,’ not designers.”

“Ah… that’s really true.”

“I also had similar thoughts to other designers. But, living as a detached artist, it seemed impossible to surpass those giant capitalists. My real competitors are them. Art is not a competition, but management is a very clear competition.”

Jae-seung finished speaking eloquently and slid the neatly stacked pile of contracts over to Kai Greene.

Without a word, Kai Greene picked up the fountain pen on the side table and began to examine the contents of the contract in detail.

But, what should I say?

He was reading the words, but it felt like the content wasn’t coming in. His heart was pounding for no reason, and no matter how hard he tried to focus, he kept having other thoughts.

The puzzle pieces that had been messily scattered in his head began to find their places one by one.

‘So, that’s why he rejected the LVMH Group’s brand acquisition offer…’

At that moment.

“Kai, if there are any conditions you don’t like, please tell me. I will consider revisions in the most amicable direction possible.”

Kai Greene exclaimed, “Ah!” and immediately began to sign, replying,

“We can be good partners to each other.”

* * *

“Lee, thank you for your hard work. I know you must be very busy with Fashion Week just around the corner, so I’m really grateful that you responded to our request.”

After the two-hour interview was over, the director of Ella magazine said in a very bright tone.

Jae-seung shook his head lightly a few times and replied with a faint smile.

“No, no. It’s okay. I always enjoy working with Ella.”

“Lee, but…”

“Yes?”

“The answer towards the end seemed a bit provocative. Is it okay to publish it as is?”

Jae-seung fiddled with the cap of the water bottle in his hand, trying to recall which answer had prompted this question.

Not long after, Jae-seung exclaimed, “Ah!” and replied in an extremely indifferent tone.

“Thank you for your consideration, but it’s okay. I’d prefer it if you wrote the interview as is.”

It seemed to be because of the answer to the question, ‘Which brand are you most wary of among the brands that will be on the Paris Fashion Week stage together this time?’

‘We are not wary of any brand. But after this Paris Fashion Week, I think all the brands in the world will be wary of Wallflower.’

The director of Ella, whose expression had become much brighter, nodded a few times and replied.

“Yes, then we will proceed as you said. I was worried that we should cut it out because it’s a sensitive part…”

“I see. Anyway, thank you for your hard work today. I’m sorry, but I think I have to go back right away because of my future schedule.”

The conversation with Ella’s director ended after a few more simple words were exchanged.

After briefly greeting the staff and leaving the studio, Jae-seung returned to the car waiting in the parking lot in a hurry.

As soon as he slumped into the extremely comfortable back seat, a sigh of relief escaped.

“Hoo-”

Just as Jae-seung was pressing his throbbing head hard with his fingers, the driver sitting in the passenger seat glanced at Jae-seung in the rearview mirror and said cautiously.

“Lee, you look very tired.”

“No, I’m okay.”

“Where should I take you?”

After replying briefly, “Just a moment,” Jae-seung carefully scanned the document containing his schedule and replied.

“I think you can take me to the Vogue magazine headquarters.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The next schedule, the schedule after that, and the schedule after that were all ‘interviews’ or ‘coverages.’

After Kai Greene joined the Wallflower VMD team, he began to handle the Fashion Week-related work, and on the other hand, he began to create issues artificially.

Of course, the process was extremely natural. He would attend interviews as usual, and when a gossipy question was asked with malicious intent, he would not miss it and give a provocative answer.

The result was not bad either. Some people frowned at the aggressive interview, but most of them seemed to think that it was an action that could be shown because they were confident in this season.

Soon.

“Lee, we have arrived.”

Squeak-

The sedan car Jae-seung was riding in stopped in front of the Vogue magazine Paris headquarters building.

After replying, “Thank you. Then I’ll be back,” Jae-seung got out of the car. Two men standing near the headquarters building began to approach Jae-seung.

It was Nam Gwang-min, standing with a pale face, and Kai Greene, who looked cheerful.

“Did you wait long? I came straight here as soon as my schedule was over…”

“It’s okay. But this friend looks like he’s dying?”

Kai Greene pointed to Nam Gwang-min’s face with his thumb.

Jae-seung turned his head and carefully looked at Nam Gwang-min’s face for a moment. He smiled and asked cautiously.

“Gwang-min, are you that nervous?”

“Yes? Yes. No, no.”

“It’s nothing when you actually experience it.”

On the one hand, he thought, ‘Is he really that nervous?’ but on the other hand, he seemed to understand.

How could he not be nervous when his first interview was with a mega-sized magazine, ‘Paris Vogue’?

Jae-seung patted Nam Gwang-min’s shoulder lightly and added quietly.

“Relax a little. If you do well, Gwang-min’s face may be plastered on the main cover of next month’s Paris Vogue issue…”

Just as Jae-seung was continuing to speak, Nam Gwang-min suddenly retched, “Ugh…” and said urgently.

“I’m sorry. I, I need to go to the bathroom for a moment…”

Since there was no way to relieve his tension with any words, I just made a joke to increase his tension instead…