Chapter 136
[LE] A studio set up within the company.
A place that could rightfully be called the delivery room where America's fashion trends are born.
Click!
The camera shutter sound continued to echo alongside flashing lights.
Click! Click! Click!
The man holding the camera, moving around the studio without a moment's rest and twisting his body into all sorts of postures like a pretzel, was none other than...
“This one was good. But let’s try changing the pose a bit. Straightening your back might work better.”
It was Dominic Chen.
A star maker whose touch could produce life-changing photos, he was busy snapping pictures despite sweating profusely under the heat of the lighting equipment.
“Not bad. Let’s try from another angle.”
“Yes!”
Lee Min Ki eagerly complied with his requests, twisting his posture with dedication.
The two together looked like something straight out of a passionate comic.
But from the perspective of being the subject, how should one describe Dominic Chen, the photographer?
‘He has a great personality.’
He had an exceptionally pleasant personality.
Extremely so.
‘He might rank in the top 10% for kindness among photographers.’
It was almost suspicious.
Contrary to the countless warnings Lee Min Ki had heard to the point of exhaustion from Manager Park Han Mo and CEO Yoo Gyu Eon just before entering the studio.
[Manager, is Dominic Chen really that difficult to deal with?]
[Whatever you imagined, he’s worse. If he asks for something weird, just do it. If he tells you to pose with a tuna or suddenly rip your clothes, do it.]
[What?]
[Don’t question it. Just do it. You can complain after seeing the results.]
[The manager is right. Even if his personality is strange, the results are guaranteed. If he tells you to stick chopsticks up your nose, just do it.]
[What?]
[Even if he sets a chair on fire, just go with it.]
[What? Fire?]
[If he suddenly pours iced coffee over your head, just roll with it.]
[...]
[Even if he throws knives, just smile and shrug it off.]
[That’s a crime.]
[As you know, art is often born on the edge of crime.]
Those words still echoed in his ears, making Lee Min Ki chuckle wryly.
‘They practically told me to obey him.’
Of course, despite all that caution, if Lee Min Ki were to lodge a serious complaint, they would likely take his side.
Regardless, the important part was...
“Gaze into the empty sky. A dragon is flying there. How do you feel seeing it?”
“Uh, I feel awe.”
“That’s exactly how you look right now. Your eyes are the perfect finishing touch.”
...that Dominic Chen wasn’t as difficult as they said.
He even threw in jokes during the shoot, as if trying to ease the tension.
‘He’s nothing like the person I heard about.’
Wasn’t the scene before him proof enough?
“Lift your head a little more. Perfect. Hold that. I’ll fix your outfit. Actually, let me do it—don’t move.”
He was incredibly diligent.
If that was considered a bad personality, then where on Earth would you find a decent person?
If so, Earth would be a planet mostly filled with lunatics.
‘They must’ve exaggerated out of concern for me.’
Lee Min Ki smiled deeply, dimples forming from the ease he felt.
‘I feel so at ease.’
Of course.
The others watching this scene couldn’t possibly feel the same way.
‘Am I dreaming right now?’
‘I can’t believe this.’
‘Dominic Chen isn’t just throwing commands; he’s actually interacting?’
‘Is the world ending?’
It was strange.
At least according to what they knew, it was a success if Dominic Chen didn’t storm out.
No, it was a miracle that he even showed up to the studio as promised.
Dominic Chen was notorious for only shooting what he wanted to, when he wanted to.
[I shoot when I want to. If I don’t, I won’t. That’s my principle.]
Didn’t he even brag about it during interviews?
So, what was this?
“Hm, I think the previous style was better. Hold this camera for a moment.”
Did he want to shoot?
Did he want to shoot Lee Min Ki so badly he couldn’t resist?
‘This is the man who wouldn’t bow his head to a supermodel, yet he’s being this courteous to an Asian star?’
This must be it.
Dominic Chen must be utterly desperate to photograph Lee Min Ki.
If not, this scene was incomprehensible.
Yeah, if that were the case, it’d make sense...
“Perfect!”
...Not at all.
It didn’t make sense at all.
At this point, the conclusion among the onlookers veered in another direction.
‘Could Lee Min Ki secretly be an extraordinary model?’
They started holding Lee Min Ki in high regard.
They couldn’t dismiss Dominic Chen’s credibility.
His career, polished to perfection like a diamond, was proof of his expertise.
So, what else could they think?
‘He’s not untalented.’
On the contrary, Lee Min Ki must be exceptional.
‘Dominic Chen must’ve recognized it.’
‘At first glance, he might not have noticed, but on closer look, Min Ki seems full of charm.’
‘Well, the editor-in-chief personally invited him, after all.’
As Lee Min Ki’s value soared by the second, everyone here was entertaining their own illusions.
The reason Dominic Chen was exceptionally warm to Lee Min Ki, like California sunshine, was simple.
‘A benefactor’s benefactor.’
It was because Lee Min Ki had unknowingly left Dominic Chen indebted to him.
It happened on a plane, without Min Ki even realizing it.
‘He saved Bae Jung Mun, right?’
That’s correct.
Bae Jung Mun, who had almost died on that plane, was the reason behind it all.
Back in the day, when Dominic Chen was still an unknown, Bae Jung Mun had trusted him and given him work.
‘If it weren’t for Bae Jung Mun, I’d have starved to death in a dingy basement studio or given up photography altogether.’
Bae Jung Mun was a benefactor in his life.
He could proudly say that Dominic Chen only existed today because Bae Jung Mun had recognized and supported him.
[The world doesn’t know yet, but I do. Mr. Chen, you’ll make it big.]
At the time, Hollywood was filled with blatant racism.
It still exists subtly today, but back then, it was on another level.
During meetings, people openly dismissed him for being a “yellow monkey.”
It was such a time.
Bae Jung Mun had helped, even risking being labeled as someone who only associates with other Asians, so the gratitude Dominic Chen held for him was immeasurable.
And it was Lee Min Ki who had saved Bae Jung Mun.
"I’ll stake my name on this project. No, I’ll stake my entire career."
This was why he was ready to risk it all to create a masterpiece, even if it meant biting his tongue and dying otherwise.
He had to create a masterpiece no matter what.
There was no other option.
"Think of the camera as someone you hate. Look at it as if you’re staring at trash."
"Like this?"
"Not quite."
Dominic Chen waved his hand and said.
"Min Ki, your expression is too kind. You need to hate the world a little more."
"Uh... like this?"
"Is there someone you hate the most in this world?"
At Dominic Chen’s question, Lee Min Ki thought for a moment.
Soon, someone came to mind.
'That jerk of an agency president.'
The man who had backstabbed him, exploited him with a fraudulent contract, and then vanished.
As that wretched face surfaced in his memory, anger, like the four horsemen of the apocalypse, broke the stillness in his heart.
"Good. That’s the look. As expected, since you’re an actor, your facial expression is spot on."
Click!
Dominic Chen fired the flash repeatedly, unwilling to miss the moment.
‘This will yield great results.’
In truth, even without their personal connection, photographing Lee Min Ki was a rather enjoyable experience.
‘His modeling skills are lacking, but oddly, the camera loves him.’
Checking the samples, the results were almost unbelievable—so much better than what he had captured through the viewfinder.
A good photo depended on the photographer’s skill, but a great photo was said to be a gift from the heavens.
It was as if the heavens truly favored Lee Min Ki.
‘Lee Min Ki... a subject worth remembering.’
Perhaps.
In the near future, Lee Min Ki could become Dominic Chen’s career-defining figure.
With that thought, Dominic Chen shouted again with enthusiasm.
"Let’s lay out a red carpet on the floor!"
After a short but intense photoshoot.
Dominic Chen, who could be considered the greatest contributor to this shoot, said.
"That should be enough for today. I’ll send the results via email later."
He promptly packed his things without leaving any room for further discussion and stood up to leave.
The hurried manner made Lee Min Ki try to stop him.
"Oh? Won’t you join us for a meal? Are you leaving right away?"
"I have retouching work to do. It takes quite a bit of time, and I have a tight schedule tomorrow."
"Still, it’s a bit of a shame."
"Your sentiments are more than enough, actor."
Was that so?
He had expected someone of that caliber to use raw photos without any edits, the kind of craftsmanship he imagined. But perhaps he was mistaken.
As he pondered the matter, unsure if he should ask directly, Yoo Gyu Eon seemed to read his thoughts and spoke.
"I think I should explain this."
It was in Korean.
Presumably because the subject of their discussion was present.
"It’s a misconception that photographers reduce editing. Nowadays, editing skills often define a photographer’s ability."
"Really?"
"Think of the raw photo as the ingredients, and retouching as the cooking process."
"So, if a photo is released without edits, is it no good?"
"Not necessarily. You know how sashimi tastes great, right?"
"Ah."
Even raw, if it’s delicious, that’s all that matters.
The analogy was odd but fitting.
Flounder tastes great and is rich in protein, after all.
One of the meals Director Kwon Joon Yong had approved of.
"Actor, do you understand? The journey to the final product varies, but how you take that path is ultimately a personal choice. Chen is at the top of his field in editing. There are, of course, exceptions to this."
The explanation was appreciated, but Yoo Gyu Eon seemed unusually well-versed.
Lee Min Ki had never heard the name before, but Chen must be a legendary figure among industry professionals.
As Lee Min Ki organized his thoughts, Dominic Chen suddenly joined the conversation.
"You know quite well."
"...!"
Jumping into the discussion, Dominic Chen naturally added his input.
"Some say the less editing, the better the photo, but I disagree. That’s an excuse for the lazy—outdated thinking."
As he continued, both Lee Min Ki and Yoo Gyu Eon became visibly surprised.
The reason?
‘This man can speak Korean?’
Dominic Chen was speaking in Korean.
"A photographer speaks through photos. The audience decides the evaluation. If arrogance ruins the work, that’s not professional. The same goes for models."
His pronunciation was clumsy.
His grammar frequently veered off course, akin to that of an elementary student.
But there was no doubt that his Korean was understandable.
"You... speak Korean?"
"A little."
Dominic Chen nodded slightly and said.
"There is someone I like who is Korean. I studied hard to say thank you."
"Ah."
Lee Min Ki immediately understood.
This must be it.
‘His girlfriend must be Korean.’
It made sense.
What a coincidence.
Accepting the situation in his own way, Lee Min Ki nodded.
"Be happy."
To this, Dominic Chen replied with a meaningful smile.
"You too."
After exchanging well-wishes, the two parted ways with smiles.
Thud.
After Dominic Chen quickly left the studio.
Stretching, Lee Min Ki spoke.
"Manager, CEO, how about we have steak together for a change?"
"Steak sounds good. Where should we go?"
"I know a good place nearby. I’m not sure if we can just walk in without a reservation, though."
First, food.
Since they were in America, they should enjoy what they could.
‘Once I’m back in Korea, they’ll hound me with dietary restrictions anyway.’
When Director Kwon Joon Yong wasn’t around, that was golden time.
With that thought, as Lee Min Ki held his phone.
Thud.
The door, which had just closed, opened again.
Could it be Dominic Chen?
‘Did he forget something?’
Looking up from his phone, Lee Min Ki turned his attention to the door.
And then.
At this point in time, he still didn’t know.
That America was truly the land of opportunity, and Hollywood was a place brimming with even greater chances.
Always lurking within a 30-minute walking distance for those who deserved them.
‘The editor-in-chief of LE?’
The first person to enter was Arthur Danto.
The second person was...
"..."
Unable to contain his astonishment, Lee Min Ki’s mouth gaped open.
"Emma Spector?"
One of the two major movie studios that dominated the American superhero film industry.
AST.
The head of its main studio was now standing at the door.
Emma Spector, her crimson lipstick gleaming, declared loudly.
"Found you!"