Black Label [EN]: Chapter 269

Black Label Extra Story 20

Several days passed by in the blink of an eye….

“Hmm.”

Jae-seung, diligently working at his desk in the office, stretched and looked out the window.

“I’m tired….”

The aftermath of the success at ‘Paris Fashion Week’ was finally beginning to subside.

All the complicated and important tasks were mostly finished, and the only major task left was….

“Only the transfer of shares remains….”

It could be said that all that was left was to receive the shares of the ‘LVMH Group’ from Chairman Ardo according to the established procedure.

“In the end….”

Jae-seung wore an endlessly pleasant smile.

“I’ve come this far.”

Suddenly, he remembered when he first returned to the past.

From his previous life, which was no exaggeration to call the edge of the Endless Void….

He was suddenly given the opportunity to return to his high school days.

He was certain that he could accomplish anything.

‘However….’

He never dreamed that he would reach his current position, which was no exaggeration to call the pinnacle of the fashion world.

What should I say?

He had faith that he would do well, but he didn’t realize he would do this well.

The world is already in an uproar.

The whole world was talking about the success he had achieved this time, day and night.

[This year’s fashion trends through the brand Wallflower, which was like the main player of Paris Fashion Week.]

[Lee’s miraculous success story.]

[Brand Wallflower achieves the highest ever amount from corporate valuation specialist S&T….]

Even just looking at the present, the buzz is so intense, but what if the fact that he will soon receive the management rights of the LVMH Group is known?

“It will be chaos.”

The picture he could draw would be even more diverse.

He would be able to cherry-pick the best aspects of various brands within the group.

Collaborate with brands that have similar identities….

He was already eager to command according to what he wanted in many ways.

“Good….”

Soon, Jae-seung immediately jumped up from his seat, grabbed his coat, and headed outside.

Since it was clear that he would be much busier in the future, he planned to leave work early today.

Come to think of it….

It was no exaggeration to say that he had spent very little time with his family since returning to France.

‘I should visit Korea soon.’

Once the transfer of shares was complete, he planned to return to Korea and spend enjoyable time with his parents and his younger sibling.

“I’ll be leaving first.”

With a light heart, he left work early for the first time in a while.

He bought a bouquet of flowers for his wife and a toy for his daughter.

After leaving the brand house, he arrived home not long after.

“How are you home already?”

Perhaps because he left work early for the first time in a while, his wife Ashlynn asked in a low voice with wide eyes.

“Here.”

Before Jae-seung could answer, he handed her the bouquet and said.

“I’ve just been feeling a lot of fatigue lately, so I wanted to leave work early today.”

That’s how Jae-seung was chatting in the penthouse hallway.

“Daddy!”

Yul, who was drawing, ran out and hugged Jae-seung’s leg.

“My daughter.”

Soon, Jae-seung picked up Yul to eye level, and Yul smiled and chattered away.

“Daddy, was today really fun?”

“Huh?”

“Because I met my friends?”

At that, Ashlynn interjected.

“She went to *Ecole Maternelle* [French preschool] for the first time today.”

Jae-seung asked with a bright expression.

“Really?”

Yul nodded her head several times, saying “Uh-huh” once, and then continued.

“I made so many friends, and what did we play? We played with paint, and what else did we do….”

Soon, Jae-seung stared at his chattering daughter with a happy smile.

He had heard that the *Ecole Maternelle*, which is the equivalent of a kindergarten in France, does not teach children to read from an early age, unlike kindergartens in Korea.

They play with the ‘alphabet’ for a long time, but they postpone reading and writing until they learn it at school.

Thanks to this, he had heard that the curriculum itself was full of content that children couldn’t help but like.

“It must have been really fun.”

Because they had lived on a deserted island, which was like a resort, with their families for a long time, she had no contact with her peers until she turned four this year.

Perhaps because she made friends and did various activities together for the first time in her life, she was completely immersed in the fun of *Ecole Maternelle*.

“Yul, is there anything you really want to have at *Ecole Maternelle*?”

At that, Yul’s eyes lit up.

“What kind of thing?”

Soon, Jae-seung added again.

“Just anything.”

Yul paused for a moment, humming quietly, “Hmm….”

“Then I wish there was a swimming pool.”

“And?”

“And I wish there were many flowers.”

“Anything else?”

“I wish there were many animals.”

After speaking, Yul added.

“That’s all.”

Then, Ashlynn suddenly asked a question as if she was suspicious.

“Honey, could it be that….”

Jae-seung nodded briefly.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

He had made a lot of money.

So….

It was time to spend it.

* * *

The next day.

“We have arrived.”

Jae-seung visited the Paris *Ecole Maternelle*, where his daughter was attending, with a tax accountant from a dedicated tax law firm.

“After looking into it, I found out that although it is a public *Ecole Maternelle*, it has quite good facilities in Paris.”

It certainly seemed so.

“I see.”

Soon, the tax accountant continued.

“99% of French *Ecole Maternelle* are public and operated with state support, so most of them have similarly good facilities.”

Then, he took the lead and moved his steps, adding again.

“Of course, it is clear that the facilities and equipment in the school will be at least twice as good as they are today.”

Soon….

Knock knock-.

The two people who had arrived at the principal’s office carefully knocked on the door….

“Yes.”

As soon as the answer came from beyond the door, the tax accountant opened the door wide and said.

“I left an email yesterday….”

Soon, the principal of the *Ecole Maternelle*, where Yul was attending, asked nonchalantly.

“You promised to sponsor….”

Soon, the tax accountant nodded and took out his business card and handed it over.

“My name is Ramos, and I currently work at the law firm ‘Leadersmith.’”

“Ah, yes.”

“I am serving as the exclusive tax accountant for this person here.”

Then, Jae-seung bowed his head.

“Hello?”

At those words, the principal of the *Ecole Maternelle*, who answered, “Yes, it’s a great honor to meet you,” narrowed her eyes and muttered quietly.

“By the way, you resemble a famous person who occasionally appears on TV.”

Jae-seung asked.

“Which….”

Soon, she muttered, “Wait, wait…,” and then, putting on her glasses, asked again.

“Are you, by any chance….”

At those words, Jae-seung answered.

“My name is Lee.”

The woman who was sitting at her desk dropped the pen she was holding.

Thud-.

In the midst of the silence.

Rumble rumble-.

The sound of her pen falling and rolling was the only thing that echoed softly.

* * *

“May I ask why you decided to sponsor our *Ecole Maternelle*?”

It was a question that the principal carefully brought up after drinking several glasses of water to regain her composure.

“Oh, well….”

Soon, Jae-seung carefully added.

“My daughter is attending here.”

“Goodness….”

“Only since recently.”

At those words, she began to recall the names and faces of the children who had recently enrolled.

Paris, like New York, was a melting pot of races, with many races living together.

‘A child of mixed Asian descent….’

Soon, she snapped her fingers and quietly asked again.

“Could it be ‘Yul’?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I remember her.”

She muttered again.

“Her mother is a model from Victoria’s Secret, so I can’t help but remember her….”

The tax accountant realized that the conversation would get longer and longer if left unattended and interjected.

“First of all, the sponsorship is one million dollars.”

“One million dollars…?”

“However, there are a few conditions.”

After speaking, he added.

“We would like to adopt a contractual donation method, donating in installments on a quarterly basis for tax saving purposes.”

“Ah, yes….”

“Four times a year, $100,000 each, which is exactly two and a half years of sponsorship.”

It was the same as donating about 150 million won [approximately $115,000 USD] every quarter.

“The scale is larger than I thought….”

If this amount of sponsorship came in, it was clear that they would be able to provide much more diverse activities, as well as high-quality education and meals, than they do now.

“However, there are a few conditions.”

“What kind of….”

“Let me briefly explain.”

She thought that if they asked for biased parenting, she would have no choice but to refuse, no matter how much sponsorship they promised.

‘Education must be fair.’

Soon, she repeatedly hoped that it would not be a request for biased parenting.

“First, build a swimming pool.”

“Pardon?”

“That’s what I said.”

The tax accountant added in a serious tone.

“Build a swimming pool in the school.”

“That’s a surprisingly simple condition?”

Jae-seung interjected.

“Perhaps because she was born and raised on an island, she loves swimming.”

Then, he added awkwardly.

“My daughter does.”

She thought that this was a condition that could be sufficiently accommodated, but….

The tax accountant muttered briefly, “Ah,” as if he had missed something, and added.

“Of course, you don’t have to worry because the budget for the construction of the swimming pool facility will be supported separately from the sponsorship.”

Then, he immediately added.

“Also, would you like to create a ‘flower garden’ in the school?”

“A flower garden?”

“A promenade made of flowers and trees would be nice.”

After speaking, Jae-seung added.

“There were a lot of flowers and trees blooming on my private island where Yul was born and raised. I think that kind of thing might be helpful for education….”

The tax accountant said again.

“Of course, we will also fully support the budget for creating the flower garden.”

“Are there any other conditions?”

“I think the last condition is the most important condition….”

Silence flowed for a moment.

“We need a zoo.”

“Goodness, in the school?”

“Yes, so we can see them every day.”

Then, he took out a notebook and began to list the animals he had written down.

“Panda, lion, tiger, hippopotamus, gorilla, monkey, crocodile, and others.”

It was the moment when the principal’s eyes widened.

“We promise to support not only the cost of building the zoo, but also the salaries of professional staff and all future maintenance costs.”

Soon, she asked.

“There won’t be enough space….”

The tax accountant answered briefly as if it were not a big deal.

“Wouldn’t it be enough to buy additional land nearby?”

“This is Paris. Buying additional land nearby requires expenses….”

“The sponsor is Lee. He can buy anything if he wants to.”

Soon, she asked.

“You’re not going to support a private jet, are you?”

It was a joke, but….

“Is it necessary for school activities?”

“Pardon?”

“If necessary, we will support it.”

Jae-seung added briefly in a very serious tone.

“I happen to have a Boeing 747 airliner and a Gulfstream airliner that are not in use.”

Soon, she recited again.

“Goodness….”

She couldn’t figure out what was going on….

‘The only thing that is certain….’

The world-renowned celebrity Lee loves his daughter very much, just like any other parent.