Black Label [EN]: Chapter 238

238. Trophy Collecting (3)

The hotel hosting the 2015 France Fashion Designer Association Awards was overflowing with reporters, a veritable sea of them.

Flashes went off incessantly near the photo zone, and a constant buzz filled the air.

The noise only intensified whenever designers, the stars of the event, or celebrities who had come to watch the awards ceremony made an appearance.

And then.

A sleek sedan stopped in front of the hotel’s main entrance, and a sharply dressed Asian man in a tuxedo stepped out from the back seat, followed by a Caucasian woman in an evening gown.

It was Lee, the prodigious designer who was making headlines every day, and Ashlyn, the top model known as his girlfriend.

The appearance of the two was more than enough to cause a stir in the venue.

“Lee, you’re currently nominated in eight categories! Can you tell us what you’re expecting?”

Questions of similar content poured out from everywhere.

Jaesung, who had been silently moving forward under the escort of guards, stopped just before entering the hotel’s main entrance.

In the moment that the reporters were watching Jaesung with bated breath, Jaesung gave a short bow and began to walk towards the inside of the hotel again.

Some of the reporters clicked their tongues, unable to hide their disappointment, but it was only for a moment.

As another car pulled up, the reporters’ hands began to move busily again.

* * *

After entering the hotel lobby, Jaesung and Ashlyn had to step onto the photo zone set up in the center of the lobby before heading to the banquet hall.

As soon as Jaesung stepped onto the photo zone, straightened his clothes, and smiled, flashes of light burst from all directions.

Click, click-.

In the middle of the ongoing photo session, Ashlyn whispered softly into Jaesung’s ear.

“Lee, if I had known it would be this big, I would have been fasting since last week.”

After finishing the short photo time, the two began to walk towards the banquet hall again, following behind the guards.

Soon, one of the tall guards began to open the door of the banquet hall.

Squeak-.

The scene inside the banquet hall began to reveal itself through the slowly opening door.

Inside the spacious banquet hall, round tables were arranged closely together at regular intervals.

Of course, it was no exaggeration to say that those sitting at the tables were all famous people.

Most of the people in the hall were figures that everyone had heard of at least once in their lives, or whose faces they had seen on various media outlets.

Soon, a staff member who had been waiting approached and began to guide Jaesung and Ashlyn to their assigned seats.

At the round table where the two were assigned, there were several people who were quite close to Jaesung.

“Finally, the main character has appeared.”

Chairman Ardo initiated the conversation, and Chairman Bertheimer, who was sitting next to him, greeted him with a face full of joy.

“Lee, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Jaesung sat down in a seat and asked with a puzzled expression.

“Have you both been well? By the way, were the seats arranged by luck, or through your influence?”

Chairman Ardo smiled at Jaesung’s question and shrugged his shoulders as he replied.

“Hehe, I simply expressed my desire to sit near you. That way, I can get on camera at least one more time.”

Just as Jaesung was shaking his head as if he couldn’t win against Ardo’s persistence, Chairman Bertheimer pointed to the ceiling with his chin and added.

“Lee, would you mind looking up for a moment?”

Jaesung asked, “Yes?” before looking up at the ceiling.

He scanned the ceiling, but saw nothing particularly noteworthy.

As Jaesung wore a bewildered expression, Chairman Bertheimer smiled and elaborated.

“It may be a coincidence, but isn’t our seat directly under the batten [a strip of wood or metal used to fasten or support something] where the ‘Long-pin’ lights are installed? Perhaps the organizers cleverly arranged the seats so that Lee would get a lot of Long-pin lighting….”

As with many awards ceremonies, the moment the winner is announced, all the lights in the venue go out.

Then, a single Long-pin light [a focused spotlight] is shone on the winner.

It is a standard technique to make the winner stand out more.

Chairman Ardo smiled slyly and asked quietly.

“Hmm, I think that’s a pretty plausible analysis, what do you think?”

Just as Jaesung was about to express his opinion, a ‘thud-‘ sound suddenly rang out in the hall, and all the lights went out.

In the darkness that suddenly fell, there was a great commotion.

It was because everyone sensed that the 2015 France Fashion Designer Association Awards ceremony would begin soon.

Soon, a few lights installed in the front row of the stage began to illuminate the podium of the banquet hall.

On the podium was a presenter in a neat suit, holding a cue sheet in his hand.

– I would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished guests who have come a long way to grace this event with their presence.

As is the case with such events, a long and tedious introduction continued.

The presenter first introduced the association’s history and purpose, expressed gratitude to sponsors and donors, and finally added an explanation of the scale of this awards ceremony.

– As announced in advance, this awards ceremony will be broadcast live through several broadcasting stations in each country….

Jaesung was listening to the presenter’s words with his eyes fixed on the podium when he suddenly felt warmth in his hand. It was because Ashlyn was holding Jaesung’s hand tightly.

The warmth was the best tranquilizer. His constantly pounding heart gradually began to calm down.

How long had it been? The presenter, after taking a breath, looked down at the cue sheet in his hand and began to speak again in a tone that felt more serious than before.

– Now, let me introduce the first category to open the awards ceremony. The first is the ‘Beautiful Performance Award,’ which is given to the designer and brand that presented the most splendid and artistic stage at the collection stage and fashion week stage this year. The designers and brands nominated for the award are as follows. The first nominee is Christian Diom’s….

Soon, the names and affiliated brand lists of the nominees began to be broadcast on the large screen installed behind the podium.

Of course, the list included Jaesung and Jaesung’s brand, Wall Flower.

[ 3. Wall Flower – ‘Lee’ ]

It was only the beginning of the announcement of the nominees for the first category, but it felt like time was stretching out like taffy.

The heart that he thought had calmed down started pounding again.

Jaesung squeezed his own thigh tightly.

In fact, the result has already been decided, and the presenter is only sequentially informing everyone of the decided facts, right?

Being impatient and greedy will not change anything.

Let’s enjoy it. Let’s just think of it as participating in an ordinary event and enjoy it as much as possible.

Just as he was closing his eyes tightly and trying to hypnotize himself, Ashlyn called out.

“…Lee? Are you okay?”

Jaesung opened his eyes at Ashlyn’s call. When he opened his eyes, the hall was dark.

Except for one place, the round table where he was sitting.

Only then did Jaesung realize that a Long-pin light was focused on his seat.

‘Huh? Then…?’

At that moment, the presenter’s voice began to flow out of the speaker once again.

– 2015 France Fashion Designer Association Awards, ‘Beautiful Performance Award’ winner: Wall Flower’s Lee! Would you please come forward?

Jaesung, realizing the situation, immediately stood up from his seat and began to walk towards the podium.

Chairman Ardo’s voice was faintly heard from behind.

“Lee, you’ve managed to secure at least one trophy.”

As Jaesung stood up from his seat, magnificent background music began to play, and scenes from Wall Flower’s Paris Fashion Week show began to be broadcast on the screen.

– Lee’s Wall Flower succeeded in introducing the ‘magic’ performance to the fashion show stage for the first time through this 2015 Paris Fashion Week, drawing favorable reviews from many people. The organizers are….

Jaesung, who took his first step on the podium, smiled.

After receiving the plaque and trophy, he immediately leaned towards the standing microphone and said.

– First of all, I want to thank the Wall Flower’s VMD [Visual Merchandising] team staff, and Gwangmin, who is leading the team. I especially give this honor to Kai Green, who contributed the most to planning this show.

After finishing speaking, Jaesung bowed and was about to step down from the stage when he suddenly stopped and approached the standing microphone again. Then he added one more thing.

– But, I don’t have to come up seven more times, do I?

Soon, a faint laughter began to spread throughout the hall.

It was a provocative comment that someone might frown upon, but isn’t the arrogance of someone whose skills are guaranteed usually packaged as confidence?

Jaesung bowed his head once again and began to walk towards the stage.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time, it was around four in the morning in Seoul.

Late if you see it late, and early if you see it early.

Jaesung’s family were all sitting in front of the TV.

Even Director Song was among them.

As the translator Director Song had brought along translated Jaesung’s words on the screen, hugging the trophy and plaque, Director Song laughed out loud and added.

“Jaesung, his tongue is getting sharper; it seems like he’s relieved a little bit?”

Soon, Jaesung’s mother and father smiled brightly.

His younger sister, Seunghee, was the same, but she asked in a slightly mocking tone.

“Director, if my brother acts so cocky, won’t he gain a lot of anti-fans [haters]?”

“Well, as long as I’m alive and watching, there’s bound to be at least one.”

Director Song, who replied playfully, chuckled and began to look at the TV screen again.

He was trying to pretend to be calm, but his hands were already soaked with sweat.

He just hoped that Jaesung would win 8 awards and set a phenomenal record.

Was it to expect the effect of increasing sales? No. Now, he thought that sales didn’t matter anymore.

In fact, he thought that this was enough.

It was just because he wanted to watch Jaesung achieve more.

It was because he wanted to watch the kid who came to him wanting to buy lambskin fabric become a legend in the Paris fashion world.

“Hoo….”

Director Song, who took a long breath, looked at Jaesung’s parents with an indifferent expression and said.

“I’ll put a display case in the living room as soon as morning dawns. Jaesung is going to bring a lot of trophies and plaques, so this won’t be enough.”

Just as Director Song’s words to change the tense atmosphere were finished, the presenter on the screen began to speak again.

– Then, the next category. Next is the ‘French Fashion Development Contribution Award’. The brands and designers nominated for the award are as follows….