Black Label [EN]: Chapter 201

Black Label 200

201. Operation (2)

“Lee, you seem much more masculine than the last time I saw you?”

Geraldine, who hadn’t seen Jae Seung in months, greeted him with a voice full of delight as soon as she spotted him.

Jae Seung responded with a bright smile and asked in a gentle tone,

“Geraldine, how have you been?”

“I’m always the same.”

Geraldine muttered cutely, “Work, work, work…” and then added,

“Of course, Lee is probably no different.”

Jae Seung responded with a “Bingo-” and then looked around before asking,

“By the way, about today’s interview, is the 담당자 [dangdangja: person in charge]…?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

“Isn’t it rare for a senior editor to conduct the interview directly?”

“The story changes if the subject is a big-name designer.”

“Excuse me? I’m not exactly a big-name designer…”

“Lee, don’t you feel the gazes of the staff?”

He was already aware of it.

What to say? It was hard to pinpoint, but he had a strange feeling that most of the Vogue magazine staff in the room were glancing at him out of the corners of their eyes.

“Lee, our Vogue magazine staff work in a place where they inevitably encounter several so-called ‘famous designers’ or ‘famous models’ every day. Thanks to that, everyone has a resistance to celebrities, so it’s common not to give a second glance to most designers. But right now, the staff are…”

“Well? That seems like a bit of an exaggeration…”

As Jae Seung trailed off, Geraldine cut him off with a firm “No” and pointed to the end of the hallway, adding,

“I’m not just calling Lee a big-name designer because of the staff’s curious gazes. Look over there. There aren’t many designers in the world who can make ‘Emanuel’ rush out of the editor’s office, are there?”

Across the hallway, ‘Emanuel Alt,’ the editor of Paris Vogue magazine, was approaching with hurried steps.

Even with an exaggerated and artificial smile that felt overly affected.

“Oh my gosh, Lee! It’s been so long!”

Emanuel Alt.

She was also one of the famous figures in the fashion world, and they had met several times at various events and collections.

Judging by the clothes and items she was wearing, she seemed to maintain a brilliant sense of fashion despite being well over ‘fifty’.

Reaching within close proximity, she hugged Jae Seung ‘tightly-!’ without a moment’s hesitation.

After the somewhat intense hug, she didn’t forget to hold Jae Seung’s hands tightly.

She shook Jae Seung’s hands up and down lightly, continuing to talk without giving him a moment to interject.

“Lee, was your trip here okay? Oh, right! Food! What about food? If you’re okay with it, I’ll have a meal prepared in the interview room. What menu would you like? By the way, what is everyone doing? They should have reported to me as soon as Lee arrived…”

“Wait, just a moment. Emanuel, it’s okay. I think you should calm down a bit.”

Emanuel nodded a few times and said,

“Ah! Right! Let’s go to the interview room first.”

After speaking, Emanuel called a female employee who was busy at her computer and whispered,

“Elisha, can you prepare a meal for three people?”

“What menu…”

“While you’re at it, why don’t you ask me what socks to wear today?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll prepare it myself.”

Then, she looked straight at Jae Seung and put on a fake smile again.

“This way, please.”

Just as Emanuel started walking a few steps ahead, Kai Green asked Jae Seung in a low voice.

“Lee. Is that woman the editor of Paris Vogue, ‘Emanuel Alt’?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“It’s just like the rumors I heard.”

Kai Green added quietly after speaking.

“I heard she’s grumpy to everyone, but endlessly kind to ‘major artists’ like Lee.”

Jae Seung then scanned the interior of the Paris Vogue magazine headquarters.

When he first received the email from Paris Vogue, didn’t the name feel so lofty and grand?

But now? It felt like looking at the schoolyard of his old elementary school.

Just as the schoolyard, which once felt so big and wide, feels so narrow and small when you return to it later, the sense of intimidation he felt when he heard the name Paris Vogue had completely disappeared.

As if it had never been there in the first place.

Has he really become a major artist?

Major artist.

It was a somewhat burdensome and excessive title, but it didn’t seem like a title he particularly disliked or disliked at all.

* * *

On the spacious table in the center of the Paris Vogue magazine interview room, plates filled with various foods were laid out.

Starting with a salad menu that looked fresh at a glance, to veal steak that was still steaming, salmon fillet cooked to a golden brown, mashed potatoes, and soup…

Even if he didn’t know well, it was clear that the food was made by the hands of an expert.

It also seemed clear that it was too lavish a feast to be eaten in the interview room of a magazine headquarters building.

Just before Nam Gwangmin put the pasta noodles twirled around his fork into his mouth, he whispered in a small voice.

“President, I never even imagined that the day would come when we would enjoy a feast in the Vogue interview room… I think I should buy a sketchbook on the way back to the 숙소 [sukso: lodging].”

“Why a sketchbook?”

“Since I couldn’t capture this historic moment with a photo, I was wondering if I should draw a picture diary out of regret.”

Editor Emanuel sat across the table with her chin resting on her hand, staring intently at Jae Seung and his party’s dining scene.

But what to say about her gaze? It was almost like the gaze of a mother bird watching her baby birds eat their feed.

Anyway, it just felt like a burdensome gaze that made the meal itself difficult.

“Lee, and everyone. If you need anything else, please feel free to tell me.”

“This is enough. But…”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Emanuel, are you also attending the interview?”

“No. I’m really sorry, but I don’t think I can attend due to my next schedule.”

“I understand. We’re fine, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Kai Green then whispered very quietly into Jae Seung’s ear.

“That’s a relief. I was worried that she would be watching us with such a burdensome gaze throughout the interview.”

After speaking, Kai Green smiled at Emanuel and added, “I was just saying that the food is really excellent. It’s really delicious.”

At that moment, the door of the interview room opened, and Geraldine Saglio appeared.

After giving a smile, she placed a stack of A4 papers on the outside of the 협탁 [hyeoptak: side table] and opened her mouth quietly.

“It would be good if you could take a look through it after you finish eating.”

“It’s a list of 예상 질문 [yesang jilmun: expected questions].”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Jae Seung then took a large spoonful of mashed potatoes and started to slowly browse through the list of expected questions while chewing.

What is the motif for this season, what are the main products, and where did you get your inspiration, etc…

In the beginning of the interview, it seemed that only ordinary questions were written.

Jae Seung, who was scanning the interview question list with a slight frown, suddenly let out a “Oh?”

From the middle, quite stimulating questions began to appear.

“Lee, if there are any questions that you are uncomfortable answering…”

“No. It’s okay.”

After speaking, Jae Seung gave a smile and added,

“I think it would be okay to add a few more stimulating questions.”

* * *

As soon as they finished eating, Editor Emanuel left.

Of course, before leaving the interview room, she added in a tone that felt somewhat overly friendly, “Lee, I’m just sorry that I can’t be with you until the end. I hope to see you again soon,” which she didn’t forget to add.

Then, after a simple setup such as placing a few cameras, the interview started right away.

Contrary to expectations, the interview proceeded smoothly.

Jae Seung and Kai Green, who had a lot of similar experience, approached the interview with a fairly skillful attitude, and thanks to Jae Seung’s smooth transformation of Nam Gwangmin’s clumsy answers through the process of 통역 [tongyeok: interpretation] with his own 각색 [gaksaek: dramatization](?), it was possible.

Sometimes, he even translated it into a completely different answer.

“So you didn’t major in a related field. As you know, it’s not a typical case, so it’s a bit surprising. Famous VMDs usually come from famous design schools.”

When Nam Gwangmin answered in a barely audible voice, “But if I do my best, I wonder if I can overcome that part…” Jae Seung nodded once and dared to mistranslate it into a completely different word.

“Yes. That’s because I didn’t feel the need to go to a famous design school. I thought it had no special features other than being ridiculously expensive. I think my skills have already been proven through various stages.”

Of course, Geraldine, who was completely unaware of this fact, was only busy exclaiming, “Wow…”

Questions related to the stage display of this collection began to follow in succession.

“You will be presenting the collection as the first order on the first day, do you have any psychological burden?”

This time, Kai Green answered.

“Burden… Well? We actually think it’s a good thing. We’ve prepared an amazing show. To say a word through the VMD team of other brands, you should be nervous. We have prepared such a fantastic and amazing show that the entire Paris Fashion Week schedule may become a ‘solo stage’.”

Geraldine, who nodded a few times, asked Jae Seung this time.

“Lee. I heard that in a recent interview with another media outlet, you answered, ‘There are no suitable competing brands at this Paris Fashion Week.’ Can I ask about the circumstances that led you to say that?”

“It’s simple. That’s because I was convinced that there would be no brand that contained a message similar to our ‘Wall Flower’.”

“Could you tell me more about it?”

In response to Geraldine Saglio’s question, Jae Seung nodded once and answered.

“I think there will be quite a few people who know the street brand Wall Flower, but the premium brand Wall Flower is making its name known for the first time through this Paris Fashion Week. We have been 고민 [gomin: worrying] for a long time about what *아이덴티티* [*aidentiti*: Identity] Wall Flower should have in order to survive. And we decided to participate in Paris Fashion Week because we found the answer to that.”

“That’s a great answer. If you don’t mind, can I ask what answer you found?”

“I would like to give the answer to that through this Paris Fashion Week collection. To tell you the definite point, I think the only thing is that Wall Flower has ‘something’ that differentiates it from the countless fashion brands that exist around the world.”

Geraldine nodded once and asked again.

“Lee. Recent interview content has been a big topic. Are you aware of that part?”

“Of course. I try to monitor related columns and posts as much as possible immediately after waking up and right before going to bed.”

“Then you must also be aware of the existence of brands, designers, and the public who are expressing 반감 [bangam: antipathy] towards it.”

Jae Seung gave a relaxed smile after answering “Yes. That’s right” once.

It was because he had a strong feeling that the next question would be quite stimulating.

“I know that there are some designers and critics who point out Lee’s aggressive interview as an example of ‘wrong marketing’. If you have anything to say to them in this 자리 [jari: place]?”

“I don’t say things I can’t take responsibility for. Whether in private or in public. The reason why I’m conducting aggressive interviews is simple. That’s because I’m so confident in this season.”

After speaking, Jae Seung took a sip of water and added.

“Paris Vogue magazine readers, I hope you will watch it carefully. As they have done so far, the great 독설가 [dokseolga: caustic speakers] will be busy changing their words as soon as our show is over.”

“That’s a Lee-like answer. So, what should I say… You’re really confident this time, as always.”

Jae Seung nodded once and shifted his gaze to meet the eyes of Nam Gwangmin and Kai Green, who were sitting side by side next to him.

This interview was sure to be a big topic, no different from the interviews he had gone through before.

The 판 [pan: board, plate, table] has been set, so now all that’s left is to show it on the day of the Fashion Week collection.

Everything is, as planned.