Black Label [EN]: Chapter 81

Black Label 81. The World of Adults

Throughout both of my lives, this was the first time I’d ever set foot in a broadcasting station. It was bound to be a rather novel and special experience.

“Hello, I’m designer Lee Jae-seung. Please take care of me.”

As soon as I stepped into the studio inside the EBN broadcasting station, I politely greeted the staff.

Going to each one, doing my best with sincerity.

I even went around offering takeaway coffees from the cafe on the first floor of the broadcasting station.

This was to reflect Director Song’s opinion that words alone might not be enough to express sincerity.

Doesn’t the saying go that first impressions determine success?

It was an opportunity to make a good impression without much difficulty.

I thought it was a much more rational choice than just sitting around in the waiting room.

After greeting all the staff members one by one, there was only about 30 minutes left until the rehearsal.

Standing on the outskirts of the studio, I watched the staff diligently preparing for the shoot and started chatting with Director Song.

“You don’t look so good? Don’t tell me you’re nervous?”

“I am nervous. It’s my first time filming a broadcast….”

“Should I get you some calming medicine?”

Director Song asked in a playful tone, chuckled once, and then began to rattle off some unhelpful advice.

‘What’s so special about broadcasting? Just think of it as an interview. There’s no need to be nervous,’ and so on….

I wondered if he would be able to maintain such a carefree attitude even if he were the one standing in front of the camera.

“Oh, right. And that ‘Director’ you’re filming with today?”

“Yes, what about him?”

“When I was introducing myself to the staff earlier, I looked into him a bit.”

After finishing his sentence, Director Song looked around once and then added in a low voice, “I looked into what he does and his background….”

Jae-seung nodded slightly and carefully asked back.

“And? Did you find out anything?”

“Yeah. You know the brand ‘Double Eight’?”

“Isn’t that a large SPA brand [Specialty store retailer of Private label Apparel; a fast-fashion brand]?”

“Yeah. Apparently, that Director used to work in their design department.”

Director Song’s explanation continued. He said that the person was put in as a ‘problem solver’ in the Double Eight design department, a SPA brand under a large corporation.

‘So, he must be capable….’

He solved the management crisis, stepped down from the front lines, and took on the position of director at the Korean Designers Association.

“Anyway, the rumors about both of them aren’t great. Both that Director and the association.”

Director Song took another sip of his coffee and slowly began to continue speaking.

“Anyway, it seems like it would be best not to get too involved? I heard they put pressure on young designers and steal their designs.”

“What? Not just forcing sales, but actually stealing them?”

“Yeah. I don’t know the exact details….”

Director Song, who was about to continue speaking, suddenly started coughing as if he had choked. “Cough! Keh!”

Jae-seung, with a smile on his face, said, “Take your time,” when.

“Are you designer Lee Jae-seung?”

From behind, a dignified voice was heard. Jae-seung immediately turned around and began to examine the owner of the voice.

A kind-looking man in his late 40s was standing there with a bright face.

Neat suit, luxurious tie pin, shiny shoes….

What should I say? It felt like the scent of ink [a metaphor for being cultured or intellectual] was wafting from him.

Anyway, the definite fact was that he belonged to a slightly different category than himself. He felt more like a seasoned businessman than someone in the industry.

“Yes, that’s me. Excuse me, but who are you…?”

The middle-aged man immediately took out a business card from his suit pocket and handed it over.

– Korean Fashion Designers Association (KFDA)

– Director: Kim Geun-tae

It was the moment when the identity of the person from the Korean Fashion Designers Association, who was said to be appearing on the EBN educational program together, was revealed.

Jae-seung checked the affiliation, title, and name written on the business card he had just received and replied with a bright expression.

“Ah! It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Lee Jae-seung. I look forward to working with you today.”

“Haha! No, the honor is all mine to be filming with a rising designer.”

As if he had oiled his tongue [speaking smoothly and charmingly], the business talk flowed smoothly without hesitation.

After shaking hands once, I looked over Director Kim Geun-tae’s appearance again.

Well? For now, his appearance seemed impeccable. He didn’t particularly look like a bad person either.

However, there was one fact that I had been able to thoroughly realize through my life before regression.

So-called scammers tend to have clean impressions.

Rather, people with a rough appearance reminiscent of ‘real potatoes’ [genuine and unpretentious people] like Director Song often turned out to be much more genuine once you got to know them.

‘I’ll have to wait and see….’

Director Kim Geun-tae continued speaking in a gentle tone with a faint smile.

“Haha, anyway, I’ve been looking for you for a while. I thought you’d be in the waiting room.”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes. I thought there was something important we should talk about before filming.”

Director Kim Geun-tae smiled again after finishing his sentence. Was it because of prejudice? I felt an unnecessary sense of rejection from his smile.

Jae-seung took out his smartphone and carefully replied.

“I’m not sure what’s so important, but well? I don’t know if time will allow it. I think there’s only about 20 minutes left until the rehearsal….”

Director Kim Geun-tae looked at the luxury watch on his left wrist and replied quietly.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I asked for the rehearsal start time to be pushed back a bit.”

As soon as he heard those words, a dark shadow fell over Jae-seung’s brow.

To say that the rehearsal time was pushed back was the same as saying that his quitting time was pushed back, so it was a natural reaction.

Jae-seung, with cold eyes, began to stare intently at Director Kim Geun-tae.

You’re messing with my quitting time?

After taking a deep breath, I replied in a low voice.

“Should we go somewhere quiet first? I think the waiting room for performers would be appropriate, how about it?”

“Yes, that’s good.”

Director Kim Geun-tae, who had replied briefly, looked at Jae-seung and exclaimed, “Ah!” and immediately added.

“If you’re upset that I arbitrarily adjusted the filming schedule, I apologize.”

“No, it’s okay. But I’m still curious about what you need.”

Director Kim Geun-tae paused for a moment at Jae-seung’s rather eerie words and asked, “Yes…?” At that moment, Jae-seung forced a smile and immediately asked back.

“Isn’t it unusual to delay filming time without even a word of consultation?”

“Ah, that’s….”

“Of course, you must have taken such measures because you had something important to discuss.”

After finishing his sentence, Jae-seung asked, “Right?” and Director Kim Geun-tae replaced his answer with an awkward smile.

As Jae-seung started to move forward, Director Song, who was closely following, smiled and said in a low voice.

“Jae-seung. It looks like the old man is quite flustered? Shouldn’t we at least hear what he has to say?”

“Yes, I have to listen first. That’s why it ended at this level.”

You may be able to control the filming schedule, but not me. If you thought so, you’re really mistaken.

If he made a proposal that seemed really beneficial? I was willing to form a strategic alliance at any time.

But, if he approached with the intention of sticking a straw in me [exploiting someone for personal gain]?

It’s not what I want, but I’ll have to let him know that I’m not an easy target.

It’s an organization that I’m bound to have contact with several times in the future.

* * *

First, I moved to the performers’ waiting room with Director Kim Geun-tae.

Only after sitting face to face with the coffee table in between did the conversation begin again.

“I’ve been watching designer Lee Jae-seung’s performance from the start. I’ve been secretly cheering you on from behind.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

“After looking through the magazine interviews, it seems like you have a lot of trust from your employees? That’s amazing.”

Director Kim Geun-tae leaned back and added, “I’ve been in the design team, so I know it’s not easy to handle subordinates.”

It was a formal ‘lip service’ [insincere flattery] time before the negotiation.

Jae-seung nodded once and replied in a gentle tone.

“No, I didn’t do anything special. Anyway, thank you for your kind words. I also sometimes think that I was really born with ‘good fortune’ thanks to my employees.”

“Haha! If you have any tips, please let me know?”

“Tips, well….”

Jae-seung trailed off and stared intently at Director Kim Geun-tae’s eyes and asked back.

“Director, I’m sorry, but can I hear what you need first?”

“Ah, yes.”

Director Kim Geun-tae cleared his throat a couple of times and slowly began to continue speaking.

“Actually, this time, there was a proposal to give designer Lee Jae-seung full support.”

“To me? What kind of support?”

To be exact, it seemed like they wanted to ‘invest’. It seemed like everyone was drinking the soup before the rice cake was even offered [acting prematurely before anything concrete is offered].

Director Kim Geun-tae slowly began to continue speaking.

“First of all, the main focus is on financial aspects… For example, we can fully support tuition fees, living expenses needed for studying abroad, and expenses needed for creative activities. In fact, there are already many designers who are receiving such support from the association.”

Well? It wasn’t a very tempting condition right now.

I had succeeded in creating enough travel expenses to not have much difficulty in studying abroad.

Jae-seung tilted his head slightly and asked.

“I see. Then what price do I have to pay?”

“Price….”

“You’re not going to support me for free, are you?”

Director Kim Geun-tae smiled faintly and continued speaking.

“Good. Let me be straightforward. Just maintain a ‘partnership’ with the association.”

“Partnership?”

“Yes. If you maintain a friendly attitude and follow the association’s requests well, you’ll be able to run on a much more stable path to success. The financial support I mentioned earlier is just the beginning.”

Director Kim Geun-tae’s explanation continued.

First of all, it started with giving various benefits when entering domestic as well as overseas fashion weeks.

If you want, after gaining some experience, they could put you in a senior position in the design department of a large SPA brand.

He even listed several designers who are quite influential among active designers, and told me that they also had contracts similar to the association.

“As designer Lee Jae-seung knows, there can be no ‘eternity’ in this industry. There’s no guarantee that ‘Wall Flower’, which is currently raising its stock price, will be able to maintain its current momentum forever.”

“Yes. I guess so.”

“At that time, we can help you find new avenues. We can introduce you to stable clients, and you can receive a stable salary. To put it simply, you can think of it as a concept of ‘insurance’.”

How can the charm of the word stability be expressed in words?

Director Kim Geun-tae is now saying that he will guarantee such stability.

It’s a very sweet word.

Jae-seung was nodding repeatedly.

Perhaps gaining strength from Jae-seung’s appearance, Director Kim Geun-tae continued speaking in an even more excited tone.

“Also, you’ll be able to easily avoid meaningless conflicts with some brands.”

“Conflicts?”

“If the association’s hands are on the brand, we can go through various adjustments in advance.”

In short, he was saying that he would use the power of the association’s executives, that is, the ‘vested interests’ of the fashion world, to create various favorable situations and add stability.

Jae-seung raised his eyebrows once and asked back as if he was puzzled.

“I’ve heard well what benefits come with it. But I don’t think I’ve heard what I have to do yet.”

“Just become the association’s mascot. So… just move as if you’re one with the association. Whenever you make a decision, just decide after consulting with the association. Of course, the association will put designer Lee Jae-seung’s interests first.”

Jae-seung unknowingly let out a laugh.

It was no different from saying that he would promise a certain amount of success, so become a loyal ‘minion’.

I didn’t bring up the story right away, but later I would add clauses related to profit sharing.

Using the power of vested interests, I wouldn’t spare any threats.

“I thought it would be ambiguous if I only said this, so I have one thing I’ve prepared. Would you like to check it out first?”

Director Kim Geun-tae took out a bundle of A4 paper from his briefcase and handed it over.

“What is this?”

“It’s a script.”

“A script?”

Jae-seung, who had asked back quietly, began to examine the bundle of A4 paper he had just received.

It seemed that the association had arbitrarily created a list of expected questions and model answers that he might receive during today’s educational program recording.

In short, it was a script written in such a way that the current achievements could be achieved with the help of the association.

“It’s not difficult. Most of the ways to maintain a partnership with the association are like this. Then you can receive all the support I listed earlier.”

“Wait a minute. Then are you saying that I should lie like I’ve been supported by the association all along? Even on TV?”

To think that he would try to stick a straw in so openly! As Jae-seung showed his rejection, Director Kim Geun-tae scratched his chin and gave an answer.

“Hmm, rather than lying… let’s just say we’re forming a strategic alliance for the future of both sides.”

Silence flowed for a moment.

“It’s a common occurrence in the world of adults.”

With that one word, it seemed that I could clearly know how the association, or at least Director Kim Geun-tae, thought of me.

The world of adults….

Jae-seung put the bundle of A4 paper back on the coffee table and replied in a gentle tone.

“It seems that these things often happen in the world of uncool adults.”

“Yes?”

“I refuse.”

As soon as Jae-seung’s words ended, the air in the waiting room became endlessly cold.