Black Label [EN]: Chapter 26

Black Label 25

26. Pleased to Work With You

Two days later, a 10-story commercial building near Madu Station in Ilsan.

With only a few stores still operating normally, it felt eerily desolate.

On the 6th floor of this building.

A small space designed for office use was the first office of ‘Wall Flower’.

“Wow, this is freaking awesome….”

With gleaming eyes, Yeongguk expressed his crude admiration and began to carefully examine the office.

“Looks good?”

“Yeah. It’s really amazing, isn’t it?”

In reality, it was a space that fell far short of deserving the adjectives ‘freaking awesome’ or ‘amazing’.

The interior wasn’t particularly impressive, and all it had were desks and chairs left behind by previous tenants, packaging materials brought from home, and a few yards of muslin fabric.

“How much is it here?”

“A deposit of 3 million won and a monthly rent of 350,000 won.”

It was the most reasonable place in many ways among the office listings currently available, both in terms of price and conditions. The actual floor space was 16 *pyeong* [approximately 53 square meters, a Korean unit of area].

It even had a small kitchenette, so it seemed possible to prepare simple meals.

The best part was that I could focus on work without having to worry about anyone.

‘Because there’s no one else on the 6th floor besides us….’

I could start working comfortably without worrying about noise or being conscious of others, even during the day.

Soon, Yeongguk put his arm around Jaeseung’s shoulder and replied.

“Wow, Lee Jaeseung. You’ve really made it.”

“What do you mean, made it?”

I suddenly wondered, ‘What is success for an 18-year-old boy?’

Is moving into an office with a deposit of 3 million won and a monthly rent of 350,000 won the standard for success? Or is it?

Or is simply pursuing a dream the standard for success?

Just as Jaeseung was lost in unproductive thoughts.

Yeongguk spoke again.

“You’re already halfway there! Don’t you know the saying that starting is half the battle?”

Jaeseung chuckled. Thanks to the unexpected wise answer to a foolish question, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Starting is half the battle? That’s right, starting is half the battle. Even if it wasn’t, I was definitely further ahead than my past self, who couldn’t even start due to various excuses.

“Yeah, that’s right. Starting is half the battle.”

Just as Jaeseung was giving a short answer, Yeongguk narrowed his brows and continued.

“Hey, Jaeseung. But shouldn’t we fix up the interior a bit?”

“The interior?”

Perhaps it was because the building itself was old, but there were several unsightly areas.

First of all, the walls were cracked and scratched in many places.

It also felt generally bland. Then, Yeongguk tilted his head slightly and muttered quietly.

“It’s supposed to be a designer’s office, but it’s too ordinary.”

“That’s definitely true.”

“Should we decorate it?”

“Hmm….”

I happened to have some free time today. Starting tomorrow, Monday, I’ll be very busy.

First, the products will come out of the factory tomorrow morning. It’s the point when the temporarily suspended product sales will resume.

Also, I have a meeting scheduled with the person in charge of the ‘KooBaaKooBaa Store’ in the afternoon.

And then?

The next schedule seemed clear.

If the store contract is signed, I’ll have to start additional production right away. I’ll also have to prepare for the new product launch and make my mother’s handbag.

Also, I was planning to meet with President Song sometime during the week for the FTV magazine interview.

‘Hmm. It seems like I won’t have time to decorate the office unless it’s today.’

Soon, Jaeseung nodded and replied.

“Okay. Let’s do it today.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

* * *

“Yeongguk, you’ve worked hard.”

“You too.”

Yeongguk and Jaeseung.

The two men’s fists met in the air, making a dull sound.

Thwack-!

Only after a full half-day was the ‘remodeling’ of the Wall Flower office completed.

In fact, it was a series of simple tasks to the point where I wondered if the expression ‘remodeling’ was too grand.

All we did was repaint the walls with black paint and draw the Wall Flower logo on the widest wall using white lacquer.

Also, I ordered a few interior decorations for the office.

A thin vase to put artificial flowers in, a stylish black cork board, a few uniquely designed frames, and an inexpensive folding bed to place in one corner of the office.

Soon, Yeongguk spoke in a quite triumphant tone, as if satisfied.

“Hey, it’s amazing. How can the feeling change so much with just this? Don’t you think?”

“Yeah, it does feel a bit more like a designer’s studio now.”

I was planning to attach the cork board to the wall and post illustrations I drew myself in the frames.

‘That’ll look good.’

At least it would definitely give off the feeling of a designer’s studio without any difficulty.

The meeting with the KooBaaKooBaa Store representative is tomorrow, so it’s impossible, but the FTV magazine interview scheduled for Wednesday could be conducted in the office.

By then, the paint will be dry, and the unique pungent smell of the paint will be gone.

Just as Jaeseung was lost in thought.

Yeongguk gave a sarcastic smile and spoke again.

“Hey, but we look terrible.”

“Huh?”

“Take a look. It’s a sight to behold.”

Soon, Jaeseung lowered his head slightly and began to check his clothes.

Paint was splattered all over the cotton t-shirt and jeans he wore as work clothes.

Of course, not only his clothes but also black paint remained on various parts of his face.

Soon, Jaeseung shrugged his shoulders and quietly spoke.

“I think it looks pretty stylish?”

“Stylish my foot….”

“Jeans were originally workers’ clothes, you know.”

“Workers’ clothes?”

Soon, Jaeseung nodded and began to speak fluently.

“Around 1850, jeans were made for miners during the Gold Rush. They were made by focusing on durability and finding fabrics that wouldn’t tear easily.”

“Really? I didn’t know that….”

Just as Yeongguk was trailing off, Jaeseung tilted his head slightly and began to look at his jeans, which were covered in paint.

‘Huh?’

Looking at the dirty jeans, inspiration for the new products to be released seemed to be pouring out.

And then.

“Ah!”

Jaeseung exclaimed and snapped his fingers. Soon, Yeongguk, who was standing next to him, was startled and asked in surprise.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

With a bright smile, Jaeseung gave an evasive answer, “No, nothing,” and then handed over a sheet of A4 paper and a pen, continuing.

“Give me an autograph.”

“An autograph? Why?”

“I’ll put it in a frame and hang it on the wall when it arrives.”

Soon, Yeongguk smiled and took the A4 paper and pen.

“Really? Then give me one too.”

“Okay, sure.”

“Let’s see….”

Swish, swish-!

Soon, Yeongguk quickly drew a plausible autograph and wrote the date and a small phrase next to it.

‘To my most precious friend, my first autograph ever.’

Soon, Jaeseung took the A4 paper and gave a sincere request.

“Be sure to succeed and become famous, so I can sell it for a high price on ‘eBay’ later.”

* * *

The next day, evening.

At the cafe ‘Huisten’ near Jeongbalsan Station, two men were sitting across from each other at a table deep inside.

It was Kim Minhyuk, the person in charge of the KooBaaKooBaa Store, and Jaeseung.

‘Hmm, that’s unexpected….’

Perhaps it’s because KooBaaKooBaa is such a free-spirited webzine?

I had expected the person in charge to be dressed in casual street clothes.

However, unlike Jaeseung’s expectations, Kim Minhyuk was dressed in a neat suit. It was also a good quality suit that seemed to be custom-made from a well-known bespoke tailor.

Soon, Kim Minhyuk carefully organized the contract he had prepared and cautiously opened his mouth.

“I heard from our staff that it was sold out in just 30 minutes after the sales started… Congratulations.”

“Ah, no. The initial quantity was too small.”

“It’s not a famous designer brand, and it’s a new brand, isn’t it? If you get that kind of response at the time of product launch, it’s a really amazing response.”

Soon, Jaeseung scratched the back of his head awkwardly and quietly replied.

“Thank you for seeing it so positively.”

“First, take a look. It’s the contract.”

“Ah, yes.”

Soon, Jaeseung carefully examined the clauses written in the contract and began to listen to Kim Minhyuk’s explanation.

“Currently, the daily sales of the KooBaaKooBaa Store average about 15 million won. It’s the result of the combined power of 56 brands.”

“I see.”

“Yes. If Jaeseung’s Wall Flower joins, there will be a total of 57 brands.”

The clauses in the contract were generally satisfactory. However, the commission deducted by the store was slightly higher than expected.

’10 percent….’

“The commission is a bit higher than I expected.”

As Jaeseung cautiously spoke, Kim Minhyuk nodded and replied.

“Yes, but I don’t think it’s an unfair condition.”

Soon, Kim Minhyuk began to explain in detail. First of all, joining the KooBaaKooBaa Store has a much greater promotional effect than hiring a typical advertising agency.

That was true.

‘Well, even just one or two years from now, whether or not you’ve joined a decent webzine store will be a measure of judging the quality of the brand….’

Furthermore, the ‘KooBaaKooBaa Store’ does not operate by randomly securing available channels.

It only accepts places where the quality of the clothes has been verified.

In other words, it is a place where only selected brands can join.

The payment system is also fully equipped, and events in the form of reserve funds, coupons, etc., which are paid for by the KooBaaKooBaa Store itself, are being planned and carried out in large quantities. After finishing the explanation, Kim Minhyuk added in a soft tone.

“For reference, we have signed contracts with three premium brands this time. Of course, the commission is the same. If you consider why they joined, it might be a little more helpful in making a decision. By the way, we haven’t proposed joining to many brands. Among the new brands, ‘Wall Flower’ is the only one.”

In short, he was saying to consider it because they were giving ‘special treatment’. It wasn’t easy to accept it happily.

If I don’t live up to expectations, a backlash as great as the special treatment will come.

Soon, Jaeseung, who had been thinking for a long time, nodded a few times and quietly replied.

“Yes, okay. Then let’s sign the contract. But….”

“But?”

“I think I’ll need a lawyer’s notarization.”

“Notarization?”

As Kim Minhyuk, the store’s entry manager, asked back, Jaeseung continued fluently.

“Yes. As you know, I’m still a minor. I think that’s the best way to reassure my parents.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. Then, if you set a date during the week, I will visit again.”

“Yes. Thank you so much for your consideration in many ways.”

After finishing speaking, Jaeseung bowed his head slightly, and Kim Minhyuk extended his hand and said quietly.

“Yes. I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to working with you too.”

After shaking hands, Kim Minhyuk collected the various handouts he had laid out and asked the usual question.

“As I mentioned several times, there are quite a few employees in the company who are interested in Jaeseung’s ‘Wall Flower’. Really.”

“That’s kind of you to say.”

“Are you preparing well for the next product?”

“Ah, yes. I accidentally caught the ‘concept’ yesterday.”

“You accidentally caught the concept?”

“Yes. Really by accident. While remodeling the office.”

Soon, Kim Minhyuk added an exclamation, “Oh ho,” as if he was interested, and began to stare at Jaeseung. He seemed to be expecting me to tell him more of the story.

A moment of silence lingered between the two. Jaeseung smiled brightly and added in a rather firm tone.

“It’s a bit difficult to say in advance, but I’ll show it to you first when the product is released.”

“Yes. I’ll look forward to it. Then let’s meet again during the week.”

“Yes, thank you so much for your hard work on the long trip.”

After seeing Kim Minhyuk off until he got into his car, Jaeseung took a deep breath.

‘Now one is finished.’

It seemed that the KooBaaKooBaa Store matter was roughly settled. Jaeseung put his hands in his coat pockets and was counting the next schedules when.

Ziiiiing-!

The cell phone he had put in his pocket suddenly started vibrating.

Soon, Jaeseung put his hand in his pocket, took out his cell phone, and checked the caller.

It was an unknown number.

“Hello?”

As soon as Jaeseung answered the phone, a fairly familiar voice came from the other side of the receiver.

– I’m calling you on the recommendation of President Lee Hyukjoon of the fabric market.

“Who?”

– Is this President Lee Jaeseung of Wall Flower’s cell phone?

“Yes, it is?”

And then.

– This is Song Inhyuk, CEO of Taeyang Corporation. I heard you were looking for genuine luxury bag brand fabrics, so I contacted you. I thought it would be faster to contact you directly.”

Jaeseung’s eyes widened.