Black Label [EN]: Chapter 241

241. The Most Powerful Competitor (2)

“Goodness, how can the luck of the draw be so extreme? Last time, we were the very first, and now we’re the very last…?”

Director Song said it with a deliberately grumpy tone, but really?

It was more like she was trying to suppress a constant smile, her cheekbones twitching incessantly.

From the collection date to the time slot, and even the stage itself.

It was no exaggeration to say that everything was perfect.

“Director, by the way, the ‘Diamond Look’ is right before us, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. I think Kang Jun is quite lucky with the draw.”

“There’s an old saying about beginner’s luck, isn’t there? It’s no good if you have to go through hardships from your debut stage.”

Jaeseung nodded in agreement and began to slowly look around the cafe.

The cafe was more crowded than expected for an early morning.

Silence flowed between the two for a moment. Director Song, who was savoring the aroma of the coffee, opened her mouth as if muttering, “Ah, right.”

“Check this out.”

With those words, Director Song handed her smartphone to Jaeseung, who immediately began to examine the internet page displayed on the screen.

What appeared on Director Song’s phone screen was none other than a part of a certain brand’s ‘Lookbook.’

But, for what reason? The expression on Jaeseung’s face, as he scanned the lookbook photos of the other brand, gradually darkened over time.

“Pretty good, right?”

To Director Song’s question, Jaeseung replied, “No,” and added.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

The designs he was currently looking at were not something that could be evaluated with words like ‘pretty good.’

They were trendy designs that captured all the popular elements.

However, it didn’t feel like they were made solely to chase trends and commercial elements.

It felt like they were cleverly twisting clichés with an amazing level of wit.

But, why?

They were clearly designs from an unfamiliar brand he was seeing for the first time. Even the brand logos inscribed on some of the products felt completely foreign.

Nevertheless, they felt strangely familiar.

As Jaeseung was lost in thought for a long time, he twitched his eyebrows once and asked back.

“Diamond Look?”

To Jaeseung’s question, Director Song snapped her fingers with a ‘snap-!’ sound and answered.

“Bingo.”

Jaeseung couldn’t help but let out a sigh of disbelief.

He had never expected Lee Kang Jun to have prepared such a solid design lineup.

Of course, he didn’t expect Lee Kang Jun to fail miserably at this Paris Fashion Week.

He knew his skills well, and in his life before regression, Lee Kang Jun was a designer with solid skills, ranked in the top 5 in the country.

However, the designs he had just witnessed were at a level that was more than enough to make him feel ‘reflection.’ [Meaning, they were so good they made him question his own abilities.]

His heart was pounding. It felt like something was slightly constricting his heart, and tension began to fill his entire body.

Come to think of it, he had felt something similar a few times before.

When was it…?

Yes. He remembered.

The emotions he was feeling now were the same emotions he had felt in his life before he encountered the bizarre phenomenon of regression, when he saw innovative designs released by top-tier designers.

Just as Jaeseung was biting his lower lip, Director Song clicked her tongue and continued.

“Lee Kang Jun, I expected him to be filled with poison after missing out on the Saint Laurent sub-director recruitment, but….”

“He was really sharpening his knife properly.”

“Come to think of it, he was originally a talented guy, wasn’t he? From my short-sighted perspective, I think Lee Kang Jun might gain considerable fame starting this season.”

Jaeseung nodded in agreement and added.

“Yes. I think so too. I think his whole life will change starting with this Paris Fashion Week.”

“If the president says that, it must be really good.”

Jaeseung, who was looking at the air for a moment and carefully choosing his next words, quickly scrolled down the smartphone on the table with his index finger and answered.

“It’s just a part of the lookbook, isn’t it? Like we always do, the main design lineup is hidden, right?”

What brand would show off all the cards in their hand and show off their power before the real competition even begins?

Director Song, who muttered, “Well…,” narrowed her eyes and asked in a low voice.

“Hmm, I’m curious about your honest assessment. How do you see it? Is Lee Kang Jun’s Diamond Look this season at a level that can be an enemy of our Wall Flower?”

Once again, silence flowed for a moment.

Jaeseung, who said in a low voice, “Well, in my opinion…,” paused for a moment before continuing.

“I think it’s the most powerful competing brand among all the brands participating in this season’s Paris Fashion Week.”

It was a clear sincerity.

* * *

Time passed quickly, and many scheduled things began to be resolved sequentially.

First of all, the ‘Wall Flower Watch Pre-Order Sale Event’ conducted by the department store brand under the LVMH Group was also successfully concluded.

The event was held for a day, or, to be more precise, for only about nine short hours, and succeeded in recording an amazing sales volume of 12,000 pieces.

– Hahaha! Lee, with this level of sales, can we take a little bit of power out of the ‘clothing business’?

Those were the words he heard as soon as he received a call from Chairman Ardo on the evening of the event.

Considering that the total annual production of ‘R Company,’ which has the most distinct popularity among premium watch brands with hundreds of years of tradition, is about 500,000 pieces?

The results of this pre-order sale event were clearly a great achievement for Wall Flower, which is practically a new brand.

Thanks to this, Director Song was very busy.

While handling tasks related to the brand house, she had to hold her cell phone all day to improve facilities for the smooth production and distribution of watch products.

In addition, matters related to the ‘Brand House’ remodeling were also being resolved smoothly.

“How is it? Isn’t the lineup amazing?”

Jaeseung, who was looking at the documents he received from Director Song, couldn’t help but sigh, “Huh….”

This was because the names and contract conditions of famous artists from all walks of life who were invited for this remodeling work were written all over the place.

Starting with ‘Philip Pitt,’ a world-renowned store architect, as well as installation artist ‘Liu Quate,’ and even masters in various fields….

He told them they could use the budget as they pleased, and it seemed like they were really spending a lot.

Jaeseung raised one hand and placed it on his throbbing forehead, and Director Song sat down on a chair that was placed alone on the first floor of the brand house and said gruffly.

“I said you could spend as much as you want as long as the results are good, don’t tell me you’re regretting it now?”

“It’s not that, but I think the expenses will be bigger than expected. The construction cost is separate, right?”

Director Song, who answered, “Of course,” shrugged her shoulders once and added.

“First of all, the lineup is solid, so the results are guaranteed, right? And there’s no need to regret it. If you look closely, the amount paid is actually part of the marketing cost.”

“Part of the marketing cost?”

“Yes. Imagine the articles and columns about the brand house that will pour out after it’s completed. If it’s mentioned a few times in the domestic media, which likes to get involved and exaggerate, it might be considered a must-see tourist attraction in Paris.”

Jaeseung nodded a few times as if agreeing.

Although it was a much larger expenditure than expected, it seemed that it was not an expenditure to regret, as Director Song said.

The fees of the hired artists included the cost of purchasing the ‘story’ and ‘atmosphere’ of the brand house, as well as various ‘issues.’

“So, how about opening the first floor of the brand house? In the form of providing free coffee, snacks, and space to customers who are wearing Wall Flower products or have a purchase receipt, regardless of which store in the world. Of course, access to the second floor of the building, which is the work space for employees, is strictly controlled.”

After finishing speaking, Director Song asked, “What do you think?”

“Not bad? I think it’s much better than a closed-off mysterious concept.”

Jaeseung, who answered in a calm tone, slowly began to look around the spacious first floor of the brand house.

Originally, the first floor of other brands’ brand houses is empty with only a few guards or a few employees at the information desk.

But, what if it goes according to Director Song’s idea?

A lobby crowded with customers who have a liking for the brand.

The scent of coffee beans that constantly wafts as long as the door is open.

Even if he didn’t know, he seemed to be convinced that this would be much better than maintaining a completely empty state.

Jaeseung, who was organizing his thoughts for a moment, muttered, “Ah,” and then began to continue.

“Ah, right. I brought the recorded file of the rehearsal scene.”

At Director Song’s urging, Jaeseung took out his MacBook and pressed the power button.

Currently, Director Song is not involved in any work related to this Paris Fashion Week, so she seemed to be unable to shake off her curiosity about the progress of the stage.

Soon, Jaeseung executed the video file on the desktop and immediately pressed the play button.

At the same time as the video started, Director Song was only focused on staring at the monitor screen with shiny eyes.

Soon, just as the runtime of about dozens of minutes was over and the video ended.

Director Song raised one corner of her mouth and asked back in a slightly trembling tone.

“At this rate, we’ll be able to keep the No. 1 title this year, right…?”

Jaeseung shrugged his shoulders once and answered.

“I don’t usually do anything other than No. 1.”

Director Song, who asked back, “What?”, narrowed her brows and continued.

“A few days ago, you were shrinking because of Lee Kang Jun’s Diamond Look, but now that the results are coming out, you’re feeling better.”

“If we were to pick the most powerful competitor on our side, it would be the Diamond Look, but if we were to pick the most powerful competitor for the brands participating in this Paris Fashion Week….”

Jaeseung, who paused for a moment, smiled with satisfaction and added.

“Of course, it’s us.”