Black Label [EN]: Chapter 75

Black Label 74

75. Germination

To recruit me into the Atelier? Upon hearing those words, Alexander King smirked and replied,

“I’m sorry, but that might be difficult.”

John Galliano, after pausing to ask “Excuse me?” nodded a few times before responding,

“Well, a Meister [master craftsman] with this level of skill must already be receiving tremendous treatment…”

Even Christian Dior, where he worked as the head designer, was like that.

The annual salary of the top-tier Meisters affiliated with the Atelier far exceeded the imagination of ordinary people.

This was not only because they were irreplaceable but also because each of them possessed unique characteristics and strengths.

Alexander King gently shook his head and carefully revealed the truth.

“No, that’s not what I meant. He is also an owner-designer of a brand.”

“Excuse me? So, you’re saying it wasn’t a Meister’s work but a designer’s?”

A deep shadow fell over John Galliano’s brow as he quietly questioned. His gaze then returned to the fake bag on the table.

‘Was there a designer with Meister-level sewing skills…?’

From the exquisitely elegant curve finishing to the perfect seam lines, even the incredibly complex ‘*pattern*’ was perfectly copied.

What kind of bag was in front of him right now?

It was a bag with such a high level of difficulty that even Meisters with decades of experience shook their heads when the Atelier first received the diagrams.

A master craftsman.

That was the word that could summarize the skill of the Meister, whose face and name he didn’t know, in just one word.

A heavy silence lingered for a moment.

“Galliano, have you ever heard of a brand called ‘Wall Flower’?”

John Galliano mumbled “Wall Flower, Wall Flower…” several times, rummaging through his memory, before shaking his head and replying,

“No? That’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Is that bag made by the owner-designer of that brand?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s the work of a designer named ‘Lee’.”

“Lee? Is he Chinese?”

“No. He’s Korean.”

Nodding, John Galliano replied, “I see, I’ll have to look into it…” as he picked up his coffee cup and became lost in thought.

Wall Flower.

No matter how much he searched his memory, it was a name that didn’t exist. It suddenly occurred to him.

Perhaps he wasn’t making the most of his ‘talent’.

Just then, Alexander King swept his hair behind his ear and reopened the conversation.

“Galliano, there’s an even more surprising fact.”

“Tell me.”

No sooner had John Galliano replied curtly than Alexander King continued,

“Lee’s Wall Flower’s minimalist clothing, which was showcased last F/W [Fall/Winter] season, succeeded in creating a sensation in his home country, Korea.”

After saying, “I guess this year is the year of minimalism,” Galliano quickly added,

“In any case, it proves that his capabilities as a designer are considerable, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. What’s even more surprising is that his brand was a street brand until last S/S [Spring/Summer] season.”

“A street brand? So, he read the trends and transformed the brand concept.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was proof that he had not only the capabilities as a designer but also the ‘eye’ that is one of the essential elements.

Alexander King then continued, in a triumphant tone as if it were his own achievement.

“For your information, I first heard his name through Geraldine Saglio’s column.”

“He probably didn’t receive good reviews. Geraldine is quite a picky editor…”

“No, Geraldine also didn’t spare her praise. She even visited Korea to see Lee’s show.”

John Galliano then narrowed his brows in disbelief and asked,

“Good heavens… Geraldine not only gave him favorable reviews but also didn’t spare her praise? I really wonder why I’m only hearing about such a designer now.”

The curiosity about the mysterious man named ‘Lee’ was growing more and more.

Alexander King nodded slightly and continued his explanation in an indifferent tone.

“In fact, if you only look at his design skills, it feels like he’s just ‘1%’ short. How should I put it? It feels like he’s not quite ripe yet.”

“And yet he received praise from Geraldine? Even Dekarden, the genius of ‘Balmung,’ couldn’t avoid harsh criticism last season…”

After humming “Hmm…,” Alexander King flicked his eyebrows and said,

“It’s just a guess, but Lee’s ‘potential’ probably played a big role.”

“Potential? Geraldine Saglio gave him favorable reviews just because of that reason? That’s an incomprehensible decision unless that designer ‘Lee’ is in his teens.”

After finishing his sentence, John Galliano said, “Well, of course, that’s unlikely,” and began to drink his coffee.

A heavy silence descended in the room for a moment. Alexander King, who had been blankly staring at John Galliano, let out a hollow laugh and replied,

“That’s right. Lee is only 18 years old. He’s also scheduled to enter Parsons School of Design next year.”

At that moment.

“Pfft-!”

The drip coffee in John Galliano’s mouth sprayed out into the air.

It was the most surprising story he had heard today.

While Alexander King was busy wiping the coffee particles that had soaked his face with a handkerchief he had just taken out of his pocket,

John Galliano, in a slightly trembling voice, said, “I’m really sorry, Alexander,” and quickly added,

“Alexander, if it’s not too much trouble, could you introduce me to him?”

‘Christian Dior,’ a prestigious brand that has been continuing its history for more than half a century.

How could one put a monetary value on the worth of that name?

A place that everyone dreams of but not just anyone can set foot in.

John Galliano, the head designer of such a Dior, was eagerly hoping to meet Jaesung.

“I’m asking you a favor.”

* * *

“Achoo-!”

Jaesung, who was lying comfortably on the hotel bed reading a book, suddenly sneezed.

As Jaesung gently rubbed the bridge of his nose, Ashlynn, who was lying next to Jaesung in her underwear, asked with concern,

“Jaesung, are you okay?”

“Of course. No problem.”

Jaesung had been spending hectic days copying new products from several brands over the past few days.

Starting with Alexander King, Christian Dior, and finally ‘Saint Laurent….’

He had no choice but to suffer from overwork because he was doing the work all at once in a short period of time.

His eyes were so dry, and he was suddenly suffering from chronic fatigue, so he hadn’t been able to take a single step out of the room for two days, let alone go sightseeing.

Of course, Ashlynn was with him.

There was one thing he learned while spending time with her over the past few days.

She seemed to have a much more liberal way of thinking than Jaesung had expected.

Ashlynn had repeatedly emphasized that she wanted to “keep things casual.”

The reason was that it was too early for her to fall in love properly.

In fact, Jaesung was in the same position, so he was even grateful for those words.

Also, her ambition for her career and her desire for success were also attractive.

‘Yeah, Ashlynn is right. There’s no point in becoming shackles for each other….’

Although he doesn’t know what it will be like now, what will it be like when the short vacation is over?

Will he have time to devote to the feeling of love at that time?

He has to go through the Parsons School of Design admission process and prepare for the new season’s new products.

Moreover, thanks to President Song’s proposal to create a new ‘Street Line,’ the amount of work has doubled.

Well, anyway….

The important thing is to be faithful to the moment.

Although he’s not really in his twenties, he’s decided to think more like he’s in his twenties.

Jaesung, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded slightly and opened his mouth.

“Ashlynn. How about eating out tonight instead of ‘room service’?”

“Outside?”

“Yes. I’m going to do some shopping and take a walk. I’ve been stuck in the room for days, so I’m feeling stuffy.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

Jaesung got up from the bed first. He was planning to spend a leisurely time until today and then look around the nearby attractions he wanted to see from tomorrow.

Just as Jaesung was getting up.

Ding-!

A clear notification sound rang out from the cell phone he had placed on the cabinet next to the bed. It was a reception notification sound indicating that a text message had arrived.

‘Hmm?’

Jaesung immediately picked up his cell phone and checked the contents of the text message that had just arrived. It was a text from Alexander King.

– Lee, would you like to have dinner with me tonight? There’s a friend who wants to see Lee.

After thinking for a moment, Jaesung looked at Ashlynn, who was stretching on the bed, and carefully asked.

“Hey, Ashlynn. How about having dinner with Alexander tonight?”

“Of course, I’d love to. Friendships with designers are something you can’t buy with money.”

“Is it okay if there’s a friend too?”

“Of course. It doesn’t matter at all.”

Ashlynn, who had replied briefly, kissed him and headed to the bathroom first.

Jaesung, with a faint smile on his face, was writing a reply to send to Alexander King.

Ding-!

Once again, the notification sound rang. Jaesung, who had checked the sender, muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

The sender was none other than ‘Young Guk.’

He had only seen the name, but he felt strangely happy.

That was because he hadn’t been able to contact him even once since the short phone call at the airport just before leaving Korea.

Jaesung, with a pleasant smile on his face, began to check the contents of the message sent by Young Guk.

– Jaesung. Thank you. Thank you so much. Please call me as soon as you can. I’ll be waiting.

After muttering, “Huh…?” once, Jaesung hurriedly started calling Young Guk.

He had heard the word thank you hundreds of times.

At least, it wasn’t a situation where he would suddenly contact him and say thank you out of the blue.

Not long after wondering, ‘What’s going on?’ various guesses filled his head.

Also, at the same time, his heart started pounding.

Soon.

“Hello?”

Just as the call was connected.

From beyond the receiver, a familiar, thick voice began to be heard. Moreover, it was even the sound of sobbing sadly.

– Sniff… Jae, Jaesung… Thank you, thank you so much….

Jaesung then smiled like a wildflower in May, full of freshness.

It was because he had a clear ‘conviction’ as soon as he heard Young Guk’s voice.

That a series of changes had come to his friend, who had been wavering between dream and reality.

He could intuitively sense that the ‘opportunity’ he had been longing for so much had come.