Black Label [EN]: Chapter 249

249. Please

Time flowed quickly and indifferently, as it always did.

The temperature of the wind on the skin, and the seasons, changed repeatedly.

*Ding-.*

Director Song, having just stepped out of the Wall Flower headquarters elevator, was on the phone, holding his smartphone to his ear and speaking in an indifferent tone.

“Okay, I’ll check it right away.”

After finishing his sentence, he entered his office, sniffed once, and barely sat down at his desk when someone cautiously knocked on the office door.

*Knock, knock.* Soon, Director Song replied in a nonchalant tone, “Come in.” A female employee in a neat office attire carefully entered through the slightly open door and began to speak.

“Director, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor? Who is it?”

“That’s…”

Just as the female employee was about to continue speaking, a young man standing behind her peeked his face in and said.

“Director, can I come in?”

The unexpected visitor to the office was Lee Kang-jun, one of Wall Flower’s founding members, the owner of Diamond Look, and a world-renowned designer.

Director Song immediately stood up from his seat and exclaimed with obvious delight.

“Hey! You rascal, without a word…!”

“Have you been well?”

“Of course, sit down. Sit down.”

Director Song, speaking in a highly excited tone, glanced at the female employee and quietly added.

“Sorry, can you bring us two coffees?”

As the female employee replied, “Yes, I understand,” and left the office.

Lee Kang-jun moistened his lower lip once and carefully asked.

“First of all, congratulations.”

“Huh?”

“About Forbes.”

Director Song, after asking, “Ah, that?” rubbed his nose with his index finger and replied gruffly.

“Is that something I should be congratulated for? It’s our wayward CEO who should be congratulated.”

“I’d love to do that too, but I can’t even reach him to congratulate him.”

Director Song chuckled and began to look out the office window.

Several years had passed since Wall Flower had established itself as a premium brand through the Paris Fashion Week stage.

And recently, Jaesung succeeded in achieving another milestone.

[Lee, the owner and designer of the premium brand Wall Flower, surpasses the Tara family of fast-fashion brands to rank second among fashion tycoons. The undisputed number one is Chairman Ardo of the LVMH Group [LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a French multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods].]

In fact, he achieved the feat of ranking second in the Forbes fashion fortune ranking.

This was possible because Wall Flower’s clothing products, as well as watches and other daily necessities, recorded astonishing results each time they were released.

“Anyway, it’s a strange thing. To see money rolling in on its own to someone who doesn’t seem to have any interest in making money.”

Lee Kang-jun asked with a faint smile.

“Come to think of it, I saw another news article recently? I heard you’re preparing to establish a school in another underdeveloped country….”

“Yeah, that’s right. You could say our CEO’s interests are completely leaning in that direction these days.”

Four years ago, Jaesung suddenly announced his intention to establish a children’s clothing line.

Moreover, it was not a line established for the purpose of generating profit.

The plan was to invest the profits earned from sales entirely into producing more children’s clothing and to distribute the additional children’s clothing free of charge to childcare facilities across the country.

Numerous people opposed it, but it was impossible to break Jaesung’s stubbornness.

Although hundreds of millions of won in losses were occurring every year, the children’s clothing line was steadily maintained.

Was that all? Jaesung began to establish a ‘school’ in an underdeveloped country every year.

This year was no exception. The construction of ‘Wall Flower School’ was in full swing near Yamadougou, located on the opposite side of the world.

‘At this point, I feel like money isn’t being earned, but rather following me. So, from now on, I want to think about how I can use the money I have in a more valuable way.’

One day, Jaesung suddenly brought up those words at a Samgyupsal [Korean grilled pork belly] restaurant.

All the things listed above were promoted after Jaesung said those words.

Director Song was lost in thought.

Lee Kang-jun nodded a few times and replied.

“I really think it’s a CEO-like move.”

“That’s right.”

“Anyway, I’m disappointed that I have to go back without seeing you again this time.”

“We’ll see each other in Paris soon anyway, right?”

“That’s true, but….”

Lee Kang-jun trailed off and gave a bitter smile.

“I’ll get up now.”

“Are we only seeing each other at this fashion week?”

“Probably?”

“Okay. Take care going back.”

“Yes, please take care of your health, Director.”

“Okay.”

Lee Kang-jun, who had left the office after bowing, began to walk away, lost in thought.

Meeting Jaesung had become as difficult as picking stars from the sky.

Was it because Jaesung had transformed into a living legend in the fashion world?

No. If he were the type of person to change after being intoxicated with the wealth and fame he had gained, he would have changed a long time ago.

He disappeared as soon as he married Ashlyn, or rather, to be more precise, as soon as they had their second child.

According to Director Song, he was even sending design schematics via email every season.

When the date of Fashion Week approached, he would briefly appear in Paris, but as soon as the schedule was over, he would leave again.

There were only rumors that he was spending his time leisurely on his island near the Mediterranean, avoiding contact related to work.

“Hoo-.”

Lee Kang-jun, who had stepped outside the headquarters building, tightened his scarf even more.

The scenes from Wall Flower’s past collections were being broadcast on the electronic display attached to the upper part of the headquarters building.

Lee Kang-jun smiled faintly and began to walk again.

* * *

– Lee, here’s the next question. This is a part that many people are curious about, and it seems like it could be a sensitive question. Why didn’t you patent the watch products and provide licenses to Swiss premium watch brands for free?

In the electronic display, Jaesung paused at the anchor’s question and asked back in a serious tone.

– The license that the Wall Flower technology team developed on its own was innovative. At the time, it was an amazing system that was 2 or 3 years ahead of the technology of all watch brands around the world. Of course, we could have accumulated much more wealth if we had monopolized this system, but well? Thanks to Wall Flower not monopolizing the license, even more innovative technologies are being developed now. The reason why we released the Wall Flower license is simple. You can’t patent the sun. We are satisfied with the current situation. We have already recorded overflowing sales, and the competition has become more interesting.

New York citizens who had stopped walking and looked up at the electronic display began to go their separate ways again.

Professor Edin Thomas, representing Parsons School of Design, was also mixed in with the crowd.

‘Lee….’

A young designer who was once his student and is now a living legend in the fashion world.

Professor Edin Thomas smiled faintly and began to walk.

Instead of dry content, today’s class will be about a memorable ‘Asian student’ who submitted his brand as a portfolio along with his application.

It was about the exploits of the most special student ‘Lee’, who has now become a legend.

* * *

The hot sun was pouring down on the sandy beach.

From the gently fluttering cool breeze to the calmly lapping waves, to the pleasant scent of oleander and eucalyptus.

A man was lying on a lightly swaying hammock, enjoying it all.

At least, until now.

“Lee, how long are you going to lie down?”

At Ashlyn’s call, who had approached nearby, Jaesung struggled to open his eyes, which were half-closed due to drowsiness, and replied.

“Just 5 more minutes….”

“No.”

Soon, a young girl held in Ashlyn’s arms babbled, “Papa, Papa….”

It was a child with a high nose resembling Ashlyn, but with black eyes resembling Jaesung.

Jaesung took the child in his arms and said in a slightly trembling voice.

“Yul, my baby.”

Jaesung began to look at his daughter ‘Yul’ with sparkling eyes.

Giving birth to his own child. It was the most mysterious and ecstatic experience in the world.

He realizes the greatness of life, and the shell of the world he knew breaks thanks to a few words that the child struggles to utter, moving his small mouth intricately.

And a new world appears within it.

The identity of a young man disappears, the identity as a father begins to be established, and he becomes able to feel what he had not felt before, and he becomes able to see what he had not seen before.

It was definitely the most amazing and wonderful experience in his entire life.

No, it was a ‘blessing’.

Just as Jaesung was staring intently at his daughter Yul in his arms.

Ashlyn carefully opened her mouth.

“Lee. The manager ‘Sarah’ says that 66 calls came in today. Of course, everyone is looking for Lee.”

Jaesung, after asking, “Really?” made a serious expression.

Dozens of calls come in every day.

Jaesung avoided most contacts and only occasionally contacted his parents, Director Song, or his closest associates, including those in England.

Nevertheless, people from all over the world were trying to contact him every day, and countless people were hoping for his return.

They are longing for him to reappear on the surface of the mainstream market and show the same unstoppable moves as before.

He was feeling that it was time to return to his place.

Yes. Come to think of it, he might have spent quite a long time just leisurely and relaxed.

Of course, he didn’t just rest on this island.

He drew dozens and hundreds of schematics every season and sent them by email.

Also, before the Wall Flower collection date, he would visit France to take charge of DP [Display Presentation] and collection stage composition.

Of course, he entrusted all other matters to Director Song and other executives.

Yes, he couldn’t just stay like this forever. The time has come.

Let’s go back.

According to the will of an unknown being who gave him the strange phenomenon of regression, it was time to move diligently again and write new history and legends.

Jaesung, who had risen from the hammock, stepped lightly on the sandy beach and began to speak.

“Ashlyn, I think I’ll have to go back to France tomorrow morning.”

“Huh? So soon…?”

“Yes. I’ll go first, so prepare slowly and come over. I’ll send you a private plane to match your schedule.”

Ashlyn tilted her head slightly and asked.

“It’s really great that Lee is officially returning to the front lines, but I didn’t expect you to decide so suddenly….”

“Yes. I wanted to build more achievements before Yul grows up.”

After finishing speaking, Jaesung stared at the baby in his arms and began to walk towards the mansion located not far away.

A second Coco Chanel? A second Dior? A second Karl Lagerfeld?

There are no more people who call Jaesung that.

Everyone is calling Jaesung a ‘living legend of the fashion world’.

A living legend of the fashion world.

The largest shareholder of the Chanel Group.

Ranked 2nd in fashion tycoons by Forbes.

The owner of the world’s top watch brand and the owner designer of Wall Flower, which is considered the number one most valuable brand in the current fashion world.

Ashlyn’s husband and Yul’s father.

All of these were the modifiers that represented Jaesung.

All the things he had achieved by returning to the past when he was dying while losing his sight every day.

These things don’t matter.

If I can live happily and devote myself to creation like now.

If I can look back on my precious ones every day and live in communion with them, nothing else matters.

It may be an excessively extravagant wish, but I earnestly hope.

May this daily life last forever.

Please….

Black Label (End)