Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 105

105. A Fashion Show Fitting Room Should Be Busy, Not Violent

In a fashion show fitting room, there should be hustle and bustle, but no violence.

Instead of violence, there was verbal abuse, though not quite as severe.

“You little piece of trash, daring to flap your gums. I should rip your tongue out.”

“…….”

“Not answering me?”

“I…”

“You actually do it when I tell you to. Are you brain-dead?”

The aggressor was Heo Su-oh, a mid-tier model, and the victim was Yoo Joon-chan.

Heo Su-oh suddenly appeared from behind, glaring at Yoo Joon-chan and spewing insults.

“Hey, what’s going to happen if you get into a controversy with actor Lee Min-ki? Tell me. Let’s do it with me too. Rookie model Yoo Joon-chan fighting with Heo Su-oh—let’s do some noise marketing with that.”

“…….”

There was no way that would work.

If you got on the bad side of Heo Su-oh, who was far above you in the same industry, what would happen?

You’d be talked about behind your back no matter who you met.

Moreover, the fashion industry’s seniority system was stricter than the military.

You might not even be treated like a human being.

“Yoo Joon-chan, is actor Lee Min-ki your friend?”

“Why do you keep using honorifics like that…”

“Whether I use honorifics or not is none of your business. Ah, you’re uncomfortable because I only use honorifics for actor Lee Min-ki. Yoo Joon-chan, you genius rookie superstar, are you perhaps uncomfortable because a nobody like me is giving you flak?”

“Th-that’s…”

Amidst the torrent of words, Yoo Joon-chan looked like he was about to collapse into tears.

‘Damn it, why are you only doing this to me? He was the one who was badmouthing the actors.’

It was a clear case of double standards.

I remember it.

I clearly remember Heo Su-oh downplaying the actors as nothing special during a dinner gathering after a photoshoot with all the models.

But now he was defending Lee Min-ki.

“Oh, teacher, is your head just an accessory? You have no respect for your elders. Hey, talk informally to me.”

On the other hand, there was a good reason for Heo Su-oh to defend Lee Min-ki.

‘It pisses me off for no reason.’

That alone was enough.

He’s someone who treated me well.

I was a bit hot-headed and lost my judgment when we were fighting, but later I realized that Lee Min-ki had saved him.

Lee Min-ki is a good person.

Moreover, he’s a successful actor who’s willing to learn.

In short, he’s a good person.

Who is it that’s harassing a good person?

A bad person.

How could he not be angry when some rookie with no future dares to insult his good person?

The logic is a bit strange, but anger management isn’t logical in the first place.

Just as his anger towards Lee Min-ki wasn’t particularly logical, the anger that was engulfing Yoo Joon-chan also existed in an abstract realm.

“You’re the one who got plastic surgery, you X.”

“Sunbae-nim [term for senior colleague], cursing at parents is a bit…”

“Bullshit, what are you talking about? You cursed your parents like crazy because they didn’t pay for your nose revision surgery. Eyes, nose, and jaw. Your precious parents paid for it all, right? You unfilial bastard. Are you even human? Should I post all of this on the internet?”

“That’s supposed to be a secret…”

“I’m revealing it because it’s a secret, you idiot. Are you short-sighted? My toilet paper is smarter than you.”

“…….”

What’s dumber than toilet paper?

It was unfair.

But since he wasn’t being told to argue in the first place, it was difficult to argue back in reality.

‘Doesn’t this person care about what people around him think?’

Yoo Joon-chan looked around with resentful eyes.

Dozens of people, looking on with surprised or amused expressions, came into view at once.

That’s why he understood even less.

‘Heo Su-oh, don’t you care about what people around you think?’

Even though Heo Su-oh had seniority, there were still countless seniors above him.

He might get an earful later for causing a ruckus.

But this was a misjudgment.

If he had calculated even these minor details before causing trouble, why would he have acted that way towards Lee Min-ki at the [Fashion & Fashion] photoshoot?

Moreover, this time he had a good excuse.

“Junior colleagues are embarrassing their seniors. Who would praise you for insulting actors?”

The pretext that he had no choice but to step in because a junior was tarnishing the reputation of actors.

“…….”

Amidst the pouring scolding, Yoo Joon-chan, who had already lost his soul, stared blankly ahead.

Heo Su-oh’s resolute eyes filled his vision.

The moment he read the determination in them, Yoo Joon-chan sensed it.

He was wrong.

This person would continue to be like this forever unless he bowed his head.

In the end, the only option left for Yoo Joon-chan, who was cornered, was to:

“Sunbae-nim, I was wrong.”

Apologize.

“I will never cause trouble again.”

And do it properly, bowing his head deeply.

So much so that the other person would be embarrassed.

“You still haven’t come to your senses.”

But Heo Su-oh wasn’t going to stop his anger just because of that.

“Are you crazy?”

“Yes?”

“You should apologize to the victim, why are you apologizing to me? Why are you shitting in the Han River and taking it out on Jongno [a Korean idiom meaning to miss the point entirely]?”

“Then I’ll go apologize…”

At Yoo Joon-chan’s words, Heo Su-oh pounded his chest in frustration and said.

“Ugh, you live so comfortably in that head of yours. Hey, do you think they’ll gladly accept your apology if you go apologize now? Okay, they’ll have to accept it because they’re watching, but do you think they’ll really accept it? Your head is just an accessory.”

“…….”

Overwhelming.

Amidst the overwhelming scolding, the surrounding models fell silent.

‘This is fun!’

The seniors who were higher in rank than Heo Su-oh were simply busy watching because it was fun.

‘If I stop him, will he do that to me too…?’

The juniors who were lower in rank were busy trying to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, Lee Min-ki, who was watching the situation.

‘That person was really hot-tempered.’

He himself was feeling more embarrassed.

He was displeased with Yoo Joon-chan.

When he said he’d sell his body or whatever, he even thought about hitting him.

But from his perspective, it seemed that Yoo Joon-chan was already ostracized in the modeling industry.

No, his personality was definitely assassinated.

‘…I think this is enough.’

He thought about stopping him, but he stopped.

He didn’t think he had that much loyalty.

Why should he voluntarily become a pushover?

‘Su-oh, fighting.’

* * *

Peace roughly returned to the fitting room.

“Su-oh, let’s go outside and talk.”

Heo Su-oh barely regained his composure after his manager came, and Lee Min-ki finished his setup in peace.

‘…Should I just quit everything?’

Yoo Joon-chan sat crouched in a corner with a haggard face, unable to say anything.

It had only been a few minutes.

If there was one thing that became clear in that short amount of time, it was:

‘I need to be careful.’

‘Ugh, scary.’

That was that the voices criticizing Lee Min-ki had completely disappeared.

He didn’t particularly intend it, but as a result, Lee Min-ki succeeded in quelling the dissatisfaction within the industry.

It would probably be the same in the future.

Attacking him meant turning Heo Su-oh, the preemptive monster, into an enemy.

‘The actor definitely has good relationships. Well, I don’t know if I should call it good, though.’

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon nodded with a serious expression.

He was about to step in if necessary, but they resolved it on their own.

“Actor-nim, it’s almost your turn.”

“Yes.”

“Stay calm, don’t think about anything. Nothing happened.”

“Did something happen?”

“You’ve become more handsome than expected.”

“Ah.”

Lee Min-ki, who regained his composure through a small joke, stood up.

It was true that his emotions were somewhat chaotic due to the commotion, but it was actually better.

‘I feel refreshed.’

It was because the tension had completely evaporated.

In just a few minutes, he faced a situation where people he had never seen before were audibly badmouthing him.

He also saw a situation where someone was smashing heads with a baseball bat.

Even if the runway is nerve-wracking, how could it be worse than this?

“You must have had a hard time losing weight these days.”

“Yes, the gym manager was angry. He said I was ruining the body he worked so hard to build.”

Lee Min-ki smiled bitterly as he recalled Director Kwon Joon-yong’s words.

[Ha, are you some kind of masochist, ruining your own body? Oh my, oh my, everyone, look at our member.]

He’s been looking very gloomy lately.

It was that moment.

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon said in a firm voice.

“Let’s go eat Korean beef for dinner.”

“……!”

Korean beef.

The food that makes heaven unfold before your eyes in an instant when you lightly sear it on the grill, dip it in a little salt, and put it in your mouth.

Gulp.

Lee Min-ki’s salivary glands secreted amylase at the thought of it, something he hadn’t even thought of touching lately because he was preparing for the fashion show.

“It’s a secret, but I’ve found a fine dining restaurant that operates on a membership basis.”

“CEO-nim, I will definitely come back victorious.”

“There is no winning or losing on the runway.”

Ah, I thought I might have overdone it.

“But.”

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon smiled and said.

“If you’re going to do it, it would be nice if you won.”

“Yes!”

“Okay, go right now. It’s time.”

Lee Min-ki, whose motivation was fully charged with just a few words, walked towards the curtain with a gait reminiscent of a triumphant general.

The staff member stopped Lee Min-ki, who was too eager, and said.

“You can go in 3 seconds.”

That curtain.

A curtain that was tied to the corner so that it wouldn’t ruin the style of the model it brushed against as it fluttered.

If you cross that, it’s the runway.

The place where hundreds of people are sharply eyeing you, literally scrutinizing you from head to toe.

‘I can do it.’

Lee Min-ki finally took a step towards that dream stage.

* * *

Director Jung Ga-yeon.

A director and designer at the Seoul Design Foundation, which organizes Seoul Fashion Week.

She couldn’t calm her pounding heart as she looked forward to the upcoming runway.

‘I wonder what’s happening behind that stage. Are they working hard to decorate? How wonderfully did they decorate?’

Unfortunately, a scene of scolding is unfolding.

To a miserable extent.

‘Hoo, I’m so excited.’

There was a reason why Director Jung Ga-yeon was particularly excited about this event.

‘The new clothes designed by designer Yoo Gyu-eon were really the best.’

It was because she had the real thing.

She saw Lee Min-ki in person and felt his potential.

She witnessed a design that would maximize that potential and allow it to bloom.

The only thing she hadn’t seen was one thing.

The result that would be born from the harmony of the wonderful clothes and the model.

It’s one thing, but it’s everything.

It’s the alpha, but it’s the omega.

She decided to willingly not see it and wait until the day of the runway.

‘You have to see new clothes on the runway to really appreciate them.’

It was for the sole reason that she wanted to fully enjoy this surprise.

In fact, she can roughly guess even without seeing it.

That’s why she wanted to enjoy even the final result as much as possible with her own eyes at the best moment and in the best place.

Doo-geun [onomatopoeia for a pounding heart].

Now, the model who was proudly walking across the runway like a canvas turned around.

Doo-geun.

In a few seconds.

The imagination that had reached her limit finally becomes reality.

‘The people who treated Lee Min-ki like a marketing product will all be shocked, right?’

How hard was it to persuade them?

It was the moment she pictured in her head the scene of them being so surprised that they couldn’t close their mouths.

Ttuk-ttuk [sound of footsteps].

On the runway.

One person appeared there.

Small head.

Long legs.

Moderately long arms.

And broad shoulders.

Correct posture.

Lee Min-ki.

The moment he appeared on the runway.

“……!”

“……!”

The most sophisticated runway scene in the world spread into a scene of ink wash painting.