Black Label [EN]: Chapter 40

Black Label 39

40. The Person I Know…

“Jaeseung, aren’t you going to eat?”

“Ah, I should eat.”

A snack bar located on the first floor of the office building. A hearty spread of simple foods like tuna kimbap, ramen, and rabokki [a popular Korean dish combining ramen noodles and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)] was laid out.

Just as Jaeseung was about to pick up his chopsticks, Yeongguk tilted his head slightly and asked,

“How’s it going these days? Is the office running well without me?”

“Yeah. It’s running even better without you.”

Jaeseung replied curtly, and Yeongguk narrowed his brows slightly, playfully retorting, “What?”

Jaeseung then gave a faint smile and asked back,

“How about you these days, Yeongguk?”

“I’m just swamped, you know.”

Yeongguk replied briefly, then began to lament in a nonchalant tone.

“I wonder if the day has always been this short. By the time I finish at the academy and mess around with the MIDI program at home, it’s like four or five in the morning.”

It was something he could completely relate to. Like Yeongguk said, a day spent passionately always feels short.

He couldn’t help but feel a little proud, thinking that he was spending every day fiercely.

Jaeseung smiled brightly and asked,

“You’re working hard, huh? What’s your goal for this year?”

“It’s nothing big…”

Yeongguk trailed off, then smiled awkwardly and replied,

“My goal is to release a proper song.”

“A proper song?”

“Yeah. A proper song where I do everything myself—the beat, the lyrics, the rap.”

“Are you even going to register it as a track?”

“No.”

Yeongguk replied curtly, then started fiddling with his smartphone and continued,

“I didn’t know, but there’s a site called ‘Hiphop Player.’ I’m thinking of uploading a song I made there.”

“Is just uploading it the end of it?”

“Yeah. If the reaction on the site is good, sometimes big agencies or famous crews will reach out. That’s what I’m aiming for, I guess.”

Jaeseung nodded a few times, and then Yeongguk continued in an indifferent tone.

“I’d like to register it as a track too, but it seems like there are some high barriers in reality.”

“Huh? Why?”

He was about to offer to help if it was a matter of cost, but he swallowed the words for now.

It wasn’t too late to bring it up when the time came.

“It’s not just the cost, but they say that even if an individual registers a track, it doesn’t really change much.”

Yeongguk said with a bitter tone, then immediately asked a question.

“By the way, who were you talking to on the phone? It seemed like quite a serious conversation.”

“I was talking to the person in charge of Kuba Kuba Store. It wasn’t that serious, but why?”

“You’ve been spacing out ever since you finished the call.”

“Was I?”

Yeongguk nodded and replied, “Yeah, you were,” then continued,

“What’s going on? Talk it over with your older brother here.”

“Yeongguk, do you happen to know a brand called ‘Hips Board’?”

“I know it, why?”

“Well, they offered us a collaboration.”

At those words, Yeongguk widened his eyes and asked back,

“Really…?”

“Would I lie?”

“Isn’t that a good thing? Why are you looking so glum?”

“I accepted it, but I’m worried.”

It was an opportunity he didn’t want to miss. He knew very well what a collaboration with a skateboard brand meant.

‘If I can make the most of this opportunity, our position as a street clothing brand will become even more solid…’

However, the problem was ‘time.’

From the next new product release, they were planning to proceed with production in the same way as other brands.

They were planning to produce at least ten pieces and up to thirty pieces of clothing, and even create and distribute a ‘look book’ [a collection of photos displaying a fashion designer’s new collection].

Before the product release, they intended to pre-release the types of this new product and model cut photos.

‘Hmm, if I want to complete all the products by mid-March, the time is quite tight…’

Unlike the way they used to release products, the risk to be taken was very high.

If they get a good response, they will be able to gain profits and recognition that cannot be compared to before.

But what if the response is not good?

They could suffer losses that would impact the brand’s operation itself.

He was worried that he had created something that would unnecessarily consume his energy in the midst of a major event.

“I don’t know, I’ll have to face it. Let’s eat first.”

“Yeah. You always do well on your own…”

Throughout the meal, they exchanged a lot of small talk.

What exactly are you learning at the practical music academy, what songs have you been deeply impressed with lately, what songs do you want to make, and what ‘crew’ [a group of artists or musicians] do you want to belong to later, etc.

Yeongguk was talking, and Jaeseung was listening, repeating the situation over and over again. Jaeseung nodded in agreement and stared intently into Yeongguk’s eyes.

It was because Yeongguk’s eyes, which were rattling off all sorts of things, were sparkling. It was also a look that couldn’t be found until a month or two ago.

Originally, the eyes of a dreamer have a beautiful light. Especially when they talk about their dreams, even more so.

Fortunately, Yeongguk’s eyes were exactly like that now.

“You’ll do well.”

At Jaeseung’s sincere words, Yeongguk gave a faint smile.

* * *

The next day, near quitting time. Jaeseung began to prepare to leave the office early under the guise of ‘outside business.’

“For dinner tonight, feel free to eat whatever you want.”

At Jaeseung’s words, along with his credit card, a roar of cheers echoed throughout the office.

Then, the oldest of the employees, ‘Nam Gwangmin,’ carefully asked.

“Boss, can we eat something expensive?”

“Of course. Absolutely.”

Jaeseung replied curtly, then snapped his fingers once and added.

“Go to the Korean beef restaurant in front of here and eat beef. I went there last time and it was good.”

At Jaeseung’s words, the employees began to cheer again. He thought that even if he saved the country, he wouldn’t get this kind of enthusiastic response.

“Beef! Beef! Beef!”

“Nice!”

“Our boss, hooray!”

Leaving behind the employees who resembled a group of zombies, Jaeseung picked up his coat and said,

“Think of it as a company dinner to celebrate winning the ‘Hips Board’ collaboration offer, and eat as much as you want.”

The Hips Board representative was scheduled to visit the office by noon tomorrow.

Although it was still a verbal agreement, tomorrow they would be officially starting the collaboration.

Then Jaeseung added again.

“Anyway, don’t worry about the amount and eat as much as you want. I’ll go in first because of the meeting.”

Just as Jaeseung was about to leave the office. Lee Gangjun said quietly with a faint smile on his lips.

“Boss, will the meeting end late?”

It was a bit ambiguous to call it a ‘meeting,’ and he had a dinner appointment with Professor Kang Hyungrok.

He was going to talk about studying abroad and ask for various advice on new products.

He couldn’t give a definite answer because he didn’t know how long the story would be.

“Well, I don’t know, I’ll have to go and see, why?”

“I’ll wait, so please come.”

Starting with Lee Gangjun’s words, other employees began to chime in one by one. Starting with “That’s right! Please come even if it’s late,” to “I’ll wait until sunrise!”

“Understood. I’ll definitely come, even if it’s late, so enjoy your meal.”

Before leaving the office, he glanced at Lee Gangjun. *He’s quite a considerate fellow*, he thought. *He also seems to navigate social life quite skillfully. I can’t help but feel drawn to him.*

After leaving the office, he immediately got into the elevator.

He straightened his clothes while looking in the mirror. Soon, the moment he stepped out of the commercial building.

He spotted a black sedan parked with its hazard lights on.

And next to it, Professor Kang Hyungrok, leisurely smoking a cigarette.

“Professor, how are you?”

“Good, how have you been?”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Professor Kang Hyungrok tossed the cigarette butt into the trash can and continued.

“First, take a look at this. I found something quite interesting today.”

Professor Kang Hyungrok immediately opened the trunk of his car. Inside, there was a box containing a few clothes.

“Take a look.”

The clothes in the box were all ‘paint jeans.’ For the record, they weren’t Wall Flower products. At a glance, they looked shoddy.

Jaeseung widened his eyes and asked, “Professor, these clothes… could they be…?”

“Haha! Congratulations on becoming a leading figure in Dongdaemun [a major fashion district in Seoul].”

They were copied clothes that seemed to be imitating a no-brand clothing company.

It was a novel feeling. He had spent his entire life copying other people’s designs, but now someone was copying his designs.

“There isn’t a single small shop in the Dongdaemun clothing town that doesn’t have paint jeans.”

“It’s a place where trends move very quickly.”

Jaeseung, replying nonchalantly, began to carefully examine the clothes in the box.

Among the things he had heard before, one stood out.

Perhaps the place where trends move the fastest in the world is ‘Dongdaemun.’

He didn’t think it was just baseless rumors. When a specific brand releases a ‘look book’ [a collection of photos showcasing a brand’s new collection], Dongdaemun starts copying it in less than 30 minutes. At one time, that was his job.

Jaeseung was looking at the ‘copied paint jeans’ with a faint smile when Professor Kang Hyungrok narrowed his brow slightly and spoke.

“Hmm, this is disappointing?”

“Yes?”

When Jaeseung asked in surprise, Professor Kang Hyungrok said with a deep smile, “Because the reaction is much more subdued than I expected. Usually, when people see products of their own design being copied and circulating, they get quite upset.”

After finishing his words, Professor Kang Hyungrok added, “Of course, at first.”

Jaeseung gave a wry smile. Copying clothes that were eliciting good reactions. Wasn’t that the act that he had built his career on in his past life?

If the degree is excessive, such as copying the label or the brand logo itself, he would naturally take legal action…

At this level, he could turn a blind eye to it as a minor offense.

“Well, I’m not entirely upset. It’s proof that it’s going well.”

“Hahaha. Yes, yes. That’s a good mindset. What about dinner?”

“I haven’t eaten yet. How about you, Professor?”

“Me neither. How about Japanese food?”

* * *

A Japanese restaurant not far from the office. As if it were a regular haunt, Professor Kang Hyungrok ordered *’Omakase* [お任せ: a Japanese phrase meaning ‘I’ll leave it to you,’ where the chef selects the menu]’ as soon as he entered the restaurant.

The chef’s carefully selected dishes came up to the table one by one. The two continued to talk while continuing their meal.

Most of it was related to Wall Flower’s future plans and schedule.

“Since I’ve decided to release clothes on a seasonal basis, I’m thinking of at least ten new products for this S/S [Spring/Summer] season. At most, about thirty.”

“Hmm, then we’ll have to make a ‘look book’ too.”

“Yes. That’s right. I’m worried about making a look book for the first time.”

Professor Kang Hyungrok nodded and continued quietly.

“If it’s okay, I’d like to help with the look book production a little.”

“Really?”

“Well, it’s not a difficult task.”

“Ah, thank you!”

“But from at least ten to at most thirty pieces… Can you handle it alone?”

It seemed to be a question asked considering that there was not much time left until the release.

Jaeseung, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook his head and replied.

“I’m confident that I can proceed alone, but I probably won’t be alone.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’m thinking of receiving submissions from the design team employees I hired this time. If there’s a good design, I’m planning to select it and include it in the new products.”

At Jaeseung’s answer, Professor Kang Hyungrok smiled with interest and asked, “Really? It seems that the employees’ skills are quite good.”

“I don’t know about their skills yet, but their passion is great.”

Jaeseung, who gave a short answer, smiled. The sight of the employees who volunteered to work overtime every day flashed through his mind.

“I’m thinking of promoting the employee whose design is selected this time to a ‘formal designer.’ I’ve only told them about the bonus and that their name will be included in the look book.”

Professor Kang Hyungrok shrugged and asked, “Are you trying to build a foundation?”

“Yes?”

“In my opinion, it seems like you’re trying to build a foundation so that it can be operated smoothly even while studying abroad.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. There is such an intention.”

In fact, if he used the ‘Wall Flower Pencil’ that had returned to the past with him, he would definitely be able to release new products smoothly even while studying abroad.

However, he was determined not to rely on the power of the pencil as much as possible, so he needed talented employees.

*If I set the concept, I need employees who can come up with plausible designs….*

For the time being, he was planning to develop the abilities of the employees currently working in the design team, and at the same time, hire a few designers with proven skills to the extent that funds allowed before going to study abroad.

After a moment of silence, Professor Kang Hyungrok opened his mouth in a rather serious tone.

“Hmm, I’m actually a little worried.”

“Yes?”

The part that Professor Kang Hyungrok was worried about was not different.

Even if you only look at the rising average daily sales, or even if you only look at the collaboration proposal that the skateboard brand gave first, you could feel that the size of the brand was growing day by day.

*Maybe the scale will be much larger just before Jaeseung goes to study abroad….*

In the meantime, what if Jaeseung, the CEO and chief designer, leaves his position? He judged that many parts would inevitably be shaken.

“Jaeseung. Even if the design side is like that, how are you going to solve the brand ‘management’ problem while studying abroad?”

Jaeseung nodded and replied.

“Actually, there is one person I have in mind.”

“Huh?”

“One person I have in mind, just one person who I can trust and entrust with the operating rights.”

President Song.

He was going to recruit President Song. Before President Song started producing imitations in earnest, he was going to recruit him first and put him in the position of ‘CEO’ of Wall Flower.

What Jaeseung needed was not a capable manager. He desperately needed a trustworthy manager.

Although he may not be as efficient as a ‘professional manager,’ standing in the sun with him was one of Jaeseung’s long-held dreams.

Professor Kang Hyungrok asked, stroking his chin with a dubious look, “Can I ask who it is?”

“He’s the president of a sample factory I know personally.”

“Hmm….”

It was a sigh that clearly conveyed his anxiety. After maintaining silence for a while, Professor Kang Hyungrok opened his eyes clearly and asked again.

“Is he a trustworthy person?”

*Is President Song a trustworthy person?*

Among those who were working together at the time, he was the only one who felt guilty about Jaeseung’s ‘present’.

Because of that guilt, he was the one who created and brought work to him, who was treated as a has-been.

He was the one who suggested that he give him funds and make proper clothes, not knockoffs, just before he was about to lose his name.

*Is he a trustworthy person?*

Yes.

At least, President Song, who he knows, is such a person.

Jaeseung spoke the truth in a very indifferent tone.

“Yes. At least, he’s not the kind of person who would throw away something that money can’t buy because of money.”