Chapter 135
“Indeed, my eyes were correct.”
At the sudden sound of a deep voice beside him, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon flinched and turned his head.
Then, he spoke.
“...Ah, Editor-in-Chief, you've arrived already.”
It was true.
The man who had just addressed CEO Yoo Gyu Eon was none other than Arthur Danto.
He was the editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine [LE].
“Yes, I was standing a little away, as you seemed to be muttering to yourself.”
“Ahem, how much did you hear?”
“Not much. I don't understand Korean, after all.”
Oh, right.
I was mumbling in Korean.
As CEO Yoo Gyu Eon cleared his throat, Arthur Danto walked over, calmly looking at the surrounding clothes, and spoke.
“Each product here is excellent, no matter how I look at it. They could go straight to market.”
“Thank you.”
“I can sense a bit of the direction for this FW season.”
At the faint but genuine compliment, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon swallowed hard once again.
‘To think that Arthur Danto would ever compliment my designs.’
Who was Arthur Danto?
He was one of the few key figures shaping fashion trends in the United States.
Some dismissed him as merely a magazine editor-in-chief, but that was absurd.
From CEO Yoo Gyu Eon's perspective, Arthur Danto was a powerhouse among powerhouses.
‘If I can win over this one person, I can reach all of Hollywood.’
He was the gateway.
A bridge to the vast world of Hollywood.
A single word from him could change everything.
How they managed to influence Arthur Danto would determine the future of [Terminus].
‘And, of course, the actor's future too.’
Until the article came out as a tangible result, there was no room for complacency.
Forcing his pounding heart to calm down, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon smiled softly and said.
“Our clothes would look even better on our model.”
“Do you mean Lee Min Ki?”
“Yes, it’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but...”
CEO Yoo Gyu Eon scratched his temple as he spoke.
“For the past few years, we’ve designed all our clothes with the assumption that Actor Lee Min Ki would wear them.”
Indeed.
Ever since they had hired Lee Min Ki as a model, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon had designed every outfit with the thought of Lee Min Ki wearing it.
There were no exceptions.
Even for pieces that he wouldn’t actually wear, they had been considered with him in mind at least once.
And why would they put so much thought into an individual model?
“I see. Lee Min Ki is your muse.”
“Yes, that perfectly describes it.”
At some point, Lee Min Ki had become the muse of Yoo Gyu Eon as a designer.
With a faint smile, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon walked over to Arthur Danto’s side.
Then he picked up one of the garments Arthur Danto was observing, gently feeling the fabric as he began to speak.
“Our clothes aim to highlight a person’s strengths rather than burying them beneath the clothing.”
“Romantic.”
“In that sense, Actor Lee Min Ki is unique. Would it be fair to call him the standard? I’ve always had an intuition that if Lee Min Ki could pull off an outfit well, it would suit anyone.”
That was Lee Min Ki’s characteristic as a model.
At first glance, his physique didn’t seem particularly extraordinary.
But his approachable appearance grew more likable the longer one observed him, and his true charm deepened upon closer inspection.
It wasn’t awe.
It was admiration.
‘When you see the actor’s style, you can’t help but want to emulate it.’
He was the public’s idol.
The perfect body for ascending to that position belonged to Lee Min Ki.
Smiling brightly, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon said.
“You’d be amazed if you saw him in person.”
At those words, Arthur Danto didn’t respond and simply stroked his beard calmly.
‘Lee Min Ki.’
In his mind, a scene resembling a powder room began to unfold.
How should Lee Min Ki be illuminated?
How could his features and strengths be emphasized?
What would be the best way to market him to the public?
‘How far can the influence of an Asian model who doesn’t even reach 180 cm extend?’
Amidst countless considerations, a thought crossed his mind.
‘I want to test it.’
Arthur Danto finally spoke.
“We’ll need the best photographer.”
“Pardon?”
At his words, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
“Hasn’t the studio and photographer already been decided?”
And with first-class choices at that.
LE’s exclusive studio and their in-house photographer.
“Yes, but we’ll need to change it for the best results.”
Arthur Danto’s calm response left CEO Yoo Gyu Eon more bewildered.
Both choices were considered top-notch in the industry, yet he wanted to replace them?
Feeling as though he might have misunderstood something, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon asked.
“...Forgive me, but isn’t LE’s in-house photographer also known to be among the best in the industry?”
“That’s not incorrect, but now he’s a substitute.”
Arthur Danto replied in his usual composed tone.
“No matter how bright the studio lighting, it pales in comparison to natural light. Surely, you’ve heard the name Dominic Chen?”
Dominic Chen.
The moment that name, which sounded Chinese, came out of Arthur Danto’s mouth.
“That person…!”
CEO Yoo Gyu Eon widened his eyes, glanced around, and muttered skeptically.
“Whether we can even bring him is one thing, but whether he’d agree to shoot our model is another...”
Lee Min Ki’s U.S. schedule went as follows.
After arriving, he would rest for three days, then on the fourth day, he would proceed with an interview and photoshoot with [LE].
It might seem like a late start.
But this was entirely to ensure he maintained optimal condition.
[Actor, wouldn’t editing suffice?]
[Hmm, but wouldn’t better photos come from being in top condition? Since this is my first debut in the U.S. market, I want to leave a good impression.]
It was partly because of Lee Min Ki’s insistence.
[Actor, ‘debut’ already implies a first. It sounds redundant like saying ‘ATM machine.’]
[...I was trying to say something cool; could you just let it slide for once?]
Of course, he also wanted to take his time exploring America.
However, starting with his unintentional heroics on the plane, then appearing on a quiz show immediately after.
And even winning it.
[Stormbringer, Lee Min Ki.]
What was supposed to be a quiet first impression through a photoshoot had spiraled into an unexpected kind of fame.
[This Last Man Standing winner is truly legendary.]
[Debuting, rising to the top of the entertainment world, saving someone on a plane, and then winning a quiz show as soon as he arrives in the U.S.?]
[I’ve never seen someone like this.]
[Why did he even come to the U.S.?]
[Are you planning to shoot a film in Hollywood, by any chance? A superhero movie?]
[Does he really need to star in a superhero movie? He’s already a hero.]
His image had improved.
To a rather serious extent.
It was because the interview he gave on Last Man Standing had spread everywhere.
Moreover, the fact that Richard Moore had intervened to personally raise the issue added to the buzz.
Even if that wasn’t Richard’s intention in the slightest, it had ultimately helped boost Lee Min Ki’s popularity.
“It’s a relief that you’re such a nice person. You even took a photo with us, and then took another, and another after that.”
“Oh, you mean the photo I uploaded on SNS?”
“Yes, it’s already made the news, hasn’t it?”
As Lee Min Ki said, that was true.
Korean media outlets were already reporting on how Lee Min Ki was rapidly building connections in the U.S.
[Lee Min Ki flaunts his special network in Hollywood]
[A star recognizes another star]
[Countdown to U.S. debut?]
It was smooth sailing, to say the least.
But was that all?
Of course not.
‘This morning, I bought an ice cream, and I won a prize.’
At lunch, he cracked open an egg and found two yolks.
When he arrived at the bus stop, the bus arrived in just 10 seconds.
Even plugging a USB cable into his laptop had worked perfectly on the first try.
‘This is what life should be like.’
Surrounded by such relentless good fortune, Lee Min Ki clenched his fist with determination.
‘All I have to do now is take great photos.’
If he could just nail this, everything would be perfect.
Let’s finish this cleanly and head back.
With that thought in mind, Lee Min Ki stepped into the [LE] Studio building.
“Actor!”
Someone rushed toward him in a hurry.
“Oh.”
Seeing them, Lee Min Ki smiled brightly and greeted them.
“CEO! You’re here?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I rested well yesterday. But right now, that’s not the issue.”
The person stammered, almost babbling, before speaking.
“What kind of magic did you perform?”
Magic.
At that word, Lee Min Ki froze in place, as if nailed to the floor.
“Pardon? Magic?”
“I don’t understand. Actor, what on earth…! Can someone even be like this?”
Amidst the exaggerated reaction, Lee Min Ki wore a puzzled expression.
What was going on?
There had been plenty of surprises lately, sure.
But hadn’t they cleared everything up during yesterday’s drinking session?
‘Of course, I didn’t drink a drop.’
What had I done today?
Could it be that I’d done something without even realizing it?
While Lee Min Ki was caught up in his doubts, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon grabbed his wrist and began pulling him along.
“There’s no time to waste. Let’s take care of this before anyone changes their mind.”
“Changes their mind? Who?”
“Oh.”
Realizing he had been too vague, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon quickly calmed himself, coughed, and clarified.
“The photographer. Dominic Chen. Dominic Chen is waiting for you right now.”
“Who’s that?”
Just as Lee Min Ki asked, cluelessly, someone spoke up.
It was his manager, Park Han Mo, who had been standing quietly like a bodyguard.
“Dominic Chen is a legend.”
How should one put it?
Even his expression, usually composed, betrayed some astonishment this time.
What exactly is the job of a photographer?
It’s simple.
[If you hold a camera and take pictures, you’re a photographer.]
It’s a profession that involves capturing images.
Taking pictorials makes you a photographer.
War correspondents are photographers.
Landscape photography also makes you a photographer.
Even shooting sample sheets for design projects qualifies you as one.
If you take food photos for promotional purposes, you’re still a photographer.
Wedding photos, car photos, interview photos, store promotional photos.
If it falls under the category of photography, anyone can be called a photographer.
Even the equipment has evolved.
[In the past, you had to spend hundreds to thousands on equipment just to be taken seriously. But these days, there are people making money with smartphone cameras.]
It’s a broad profession.
Despite public perceptions, the threshold to becoming a professional isn’t exceptionally high in today’s world.
With enough talent, one could become a professional photographer with just six months of study.
But there was also a widely known saying in the photography world.
[Want to make a lot of money? Then don’t become a photographer.]
Despite high demand, the profession was oversaturated, making it incredibly difficult to earn proper pay.
Even top-tier photographers were doing well if they earned as much as a new hire at a major corporation.
Photographers with their own studios weren’t much different.
Charge high fees?
Then the employer would simply say:
[Fine, go ahead. I’ll just hire someone else.]
No matter how much skill you developed, increasing your value in the industry was a distant dream.
You could even call it a blood-red ocean of competition.
But within this treacherous industry, there was someone who defied all norms.
“Dominic Chen.”
“It’s him, in person.”
“Just as they say, his charisma is incredible.”
Dominic Chen.
A man hailed as the hottest photographer in the world.
Whether it was pictorials or movie posters.
Whatever he captured or worked on became the best.
Demand for him exceeded supply, making him a singular presence.
His skill was matched by an unparalleled arrogance.
[Dominic Chen only works on projects he wants to.]
[If you upset him even slightly, he’ll pack up and leave immediately.]
[Employers don’t even dare to ask for revisions.]
Yet this infamous figure was now.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Speaking to a man with an unusually soft expression.
“Let’s take it slow today. I promise you the best results.”
“Ah, thank you!”
When Lee Min Ki answered brightly, Dominic Chen responded in kind.
“No need to thank me. This is my job, after all.”
Something was strange.
This wasn’t like Dominic Chen.
In clear defiance of worldly logic, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon, Arthur Danto, Manager Park Han Mo, and even the studio’s substitute writer all bit their lips in bewilderment.
‘Why on earth?’