Top Star by Luck

Chapter 99

“Pardon? A fashion show?”

Lee Min Ki jumped at Director Jung Ga Yeon’s sudden proposal.

“Yes, Seoul Fashion Week.”

“And I’ll be there?”

He pointed to his own face.

In that short response, Director Jung Ga Yeon’s eyes widened like a full moon.

‘As expected, he’s a bit interested in this.’

Actors are like that.

No, actually, it’s rare to find an actor who isn’t.

Their job is to appear impressive to the public, so how could they not be interested in a place where all kinds of fashion gather?

“Yes, of course. You can also participate, Actor.”

“I’m not exactly a professional model. I’ve only done shopping mall modeling, and even that was just for fitting.”

“Hehe, that’s a common misconception we have.”

Director Jung Ga Yeon chuckled softly and then continued.

“Actually, Seoul Fashion Week isn’t only for professional models. It aims to be more of a public festival. Special guests like you, Actor, are often invited.”

“But I haven’t trained for this or anything. I haven’t even properly managed my weight.”

Lee Min Ki hesitated, but Director Jung Ga Yeon smiled and said.

“Not managing yourself perfectly could actually make you look more natural, which might be an advantage.”

That was the unique feature of Seoul Fashion Week.

In overseas collections, high fashion models and commercial models are often strictly separated, and only professional models are used, but it’s a bit different in Korea.

Depending on the situation, the line between the two could easily be blurred.

‘You’re already doing fashion model work, aren’t you? You’ve got a career, so it’s not like we can’t make a spot for you.’

Some might bring it up at the committee.

Other agencies might complain about parachuting someone in.

But.

‘It’s Lee Min Ki, so what?’

It’s not just anyone, but Lee Min Ki.

Who would oppose the idea of having him in Fashion Week?

If they thought about the promotional effects, they’d probably marvel at how they managed to get Lee Min Ki on board.

“And also.”

Director Jung Ga Yeon turned to look at CEO Yoo Gyu Eon as she spoke.

“Coincidentally, this Fashion Week will feature Designer Yoo Gyu Eon’s Terminus Collection.”

“Terminus?”

What was that?

It was a word Lee Min Ki had never heard before, so he mumbled as CEO Yoo Gyu Eon slowly nodded.

“Yes, Terminus is the name of my new brand, launching this time. It will be officially unveiled at Seoul Fashion Week.”

Terminus.

It was a brand he had newly created, separate from the shopping mall business.

If the shopping mall aimed for a completely public style, Terminus leaned a bit more towards an artistic perspective.

Wearable art.

Finding that middle ground was the philosophy of Terminus.

“Since it’s Designer Yoo Gyu Eon’s clothes, they’ll undoubtedly be beautiful, right?”

Director Jung Ga Yeon interjected with a smile.

“In fact, I visited the office today to discuss matters related to the collection. Surely, you could make room for one actor, right? Actor-models often walk in collections.”

At Director Jung Ga Yeon’s continuing remarks, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon glanced at Lee Min Ki.

His gaze showed a hint of guilt.

He probably felt bad for involving him in something so troublesome when he was already busy with acting.

However, those words felt slightly different to Lee Min Ki.

‘Walking in Seoul Fashion Week? Me?’

His heart pounded wildly.

It was a stage he thought he could never reach in his life.

He was short, lacked recognition, and didn’t have the right connections.

Above all, he had no luck.

In the competitive industry, having no luck meant not receiving any opportunities.

Even though he had an interest in pursuing a career as a fashion model, Seoul Fashion Week had always been like a distant star-world existing beyond the clouds.

But now.

The chance to step onto that stage had arrived.

“Actor, it’s okay if you don’t push yourself.”

CEO Yoo Gyu Eon said with a concerned look.

He was likely referring to concerns about weight management or image management as an actor.

Some actors dislike getting too close to the fashion world.

Especially those who want to maintain a familiar image with the public.

There was also the hesitation of not wanting to seem like they were using personal connections.

But.

“Could I really challenge myself to walk the runway?”

Lee Min Ki was different.

If it was possible, he wanted to do it.

Even if it meant using connections, so what?

If they’re willing to use him while he’s hoping to be used, what would you call that?

In modern society, there’s a term for it.

[Win-win]

[Mutually beneficial relationship]

[Loyal to the boss]

Their desires aligned.

Director Jung Ga Yeon, having instinctively read the longing in Lee Min Ki’s eyes, spoke.

“You’re not the one challenging the runway, Actor.”

Just as a bit of disappointment began to appear in his eyes, she smiled and continued.

“We are inviting you, Actor.”

“…!”

Could he really walk?

Could he truly stand on the stage of Seoul Fashion Week?

Lee Min Ki’s face lit up with hope.

“Wait.”

A person suddenly spoke, out of breath.

“Let me think about it for a moment.”

It wasn’t Lee Min Ki or Jung Ga Yeon.

It was.

The one who had been keeping a step back throughout the conversation.

‘CEO Yoo Gyu Eon?’

It was CEO Yoo Gyu Eon.

* * *

In a quiet office.

A man muttered while holding a cell phone.

“So that’s what happened.”

It was Director Seo Jung Woo.

He had received a report that Lee Min Ki had been scouted for Seoul Fashion Week and was now assessing the situation.

A feeble excuse continued over the phone.

[It wasn’t intentional, but somehow the conversation led in that direction.]

It was CEO Yoo Gyu Eon.

Having unintentionally reached the point of making a famous model the face of his brand, he mumbled apologetically.

[Originally, I was just going to meet Actor Lee Min Ki and send him on his way.]

“And just at that moment, the official happened to come by?”

[Yes. Hard to believe, I know, but they were really taken with Actor Lee Min Ki.]

“That’s not hard to believe.”

[What do you mean?]

“It’s not hard to believe that they liked the actor. In fact, it’s natural.”

[…….]

CEO Yoo Gyu Eon was momentarily at a loss for words in response to Director Seo Jung Woo’s casual statement.

He also had a good impression of Actor Lee Min Ki.

But what was this trust?

It was as if he were saying, when the food is bland, just add a pinch of salt.

“This is actually great.”

Director Seo Jung Woo continued as if he didn’t understand why this situation seemed strange.

“You’ve been looking for an actor to wear your designs, and it just so happens that the actor likes your clothes too. What’s the problem?”

[Actors have to consider their image and schedules, right? I feel like I’m leaning too much on our connection.]

It seemed like this was what worried him.

The concern that he might be using his relationship with a popular actor to take advantage of their fame.

Up to now, Actor Lee Min Ki had been modeling for YU at a price far below his market value.

Director Seo Jung Woo chuckled at his innocent concerns and said.

“What’s your opinion of the actor’s fashion sense?”

[His sense?]

“He’s a model, isn’t he? Don’t you think he has his own standards when it comes to clothes?”

At that, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon fell into brief contemplation.

And soon, he came to a conclusion.

Actually, there was no need to think deeply about it.

[Better than most designers.]

“Really? Isn’t that a bit too much praise?”

[I’m just stating the facts.]

Yes.

In CEO Yoo Gyu Eon’s eyes, Actor Lee Min Ki was already ahead of most designers in terms of understanding fashion.

[Whether it’s his instinct for gauging the attitude of clothes he’s never seen before or how he uses textures. He doesn’t just wear the clothes, he interprets the philosophy within them. It’s not something just anyone can do.]

That’s why he held Lee Min Ki in such high regard.

When he wore clothes, he did so with a thorough understanding of trends.

Even with similar clothing, he considered every fold when striking a pose.

However, to be exact, this perception was slightly off.

Lee Min Ki had actually lived in a world where those clothes were widely circulated, and he knew the poses models in that world took.

“Alright, so that’s how you see the actor.”

Director Seo Jung Woo smiled faintly as he tilted a can of coffee.

Then, he casually threw out a suggestion.

“Isn’t that actor wearing your clothes right now?”

[…….]

“He’s not a child you’d leave by the water. He must have thought this through.”

Who was Lee Min Ki?

While he might seem like the type to take on any role, that wasn’t quite true.

It would be more accurate to say.

He had a knack for choosing only the opportunities that would help his career.

Thus, Director Seo Jung Woo spoke without much concern.

“Gyu Eon, I’m more worried about something else.”

[What’s that?]

“Well, if he’s going to wear the clothes and promote them anyway, wouldn’t it be better to expand in a different direction?”

After all, didn’t he shoot a fashion-related movie?

And who was the designer for the clothes in that film?

[It’s me.]

“Exactly. You, Designer Yoo Gyu Eon.”

Here, Director Seo Jung Woo had an idea

.

“What if you officially sold the clothes that appeared in the movie as collaboration products under your brand, Terminus?”

[…….]

CEO Yoo Gyu Eon was briefly speechless.

Because it made sense.

And because it was tempting.

[It would sell well.]

But at the same time.

His designer pride also lingered.

Finally, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon voiced the concern lingering in his mind.

[But then it would be hard to tell if they’re buying the clothes because they’re mine or because they appeared in the movie.]

Exactly.

Even if they were sold as a collaboration, it felt like they were just riding the wave of marketing.

Wouldn’t it seem like he was overly indebted to the great director Hwang Ui Seong and the renowned actor Lee Min Ki?

It seemed like a conscientious remark at first glance.

But.

‘So this is what his true feelings were.’

To Director Seo Jung Woo, it was merely a laughable statement.

‘I knew it, Yoo Gyu Eon.’

After all this talk about being a designer for the public, he still couldn’t let go of his clumsy artistic ego.

How long had it been since his success? Now he was wavering.

To Director Seo Jung Woo, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon’s attitude felt like a form of mental illness.

‘No matter how noble you try to appear, you’re essentially rejecting the very foundation of modern fashion.’

Why is marketing called marketing?

Most people scramble to get a good model, good sponsorship, and good ads, yet he was tying his own hands.

Running the ultra-mainstream [YU] shopping mall while acting like this was nothing short of hypocritical.

What would he have done without the remarkable fame of Actor Lee Min Ki?

‘It wouldn’t have been surprising if his business failed and he ended up on the streets. Even if things had gone well, he’d probably just scrape by.’

These were thoughts he couldn’t voice in front of the person.

But they were undeniably true.

In the past, when he hadn’t yet met Lee Min Ki, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon had ruined his business by stubbornly clinging to his principles as a designer.

His approach of wanting to be recognized solely for his talent was admirable.

But unless you’re extremely lucky, that’s not realistic.

‘If it’s not feasible, it’s just a delusion.’

While Director Seo Jung Woo felt endless regret in his mind, he swallowed those thoughts back down.

He had already repeated this conversation several times before.

CEO Yoo Gyu Eon wasn’t someone who would change based on others’ words. He had to experience and feel it himself to change.

Like how his attitude had shifted a little after working with Lee Min Ki.

“Gyu Eon, let me say one thing as a friend.”

Then.

Director Seo Jung Woo took a light breath and said.

“If you really feel grateful to Actor Lee Min Ki, isn’t it selfish to let your stubbornness ruin someone else’s opportunity?”

[……!]

With that one sentence, CEO Yoo Gyu Eon’s chest tightened, and his breath briefly halted.

In fact, he must have already known deep down.

That Lee Min Ki had great ambitions toward being a fashion model and was showing immense enthusiasm for this Fashion Week.

Yet he was still trying to block it.

“I’m not in a position to lecture others, but I guess I said too much.”

One piece of advice is enough.

Saying more would only breed resentment.

Director Seo Jung Woo chuckled lightly and said.

“Gyu Eon, I trust you’ll make the right judgment. You’re a successful CEO now, aren’t you?”

[…….]

“I’ll visit the company sometime, so let’s meet then.”

[Alright, got it.]

Click.

Thus, the conversation between two friends came to an end.

Holding the receiver in his hand, Director Seo Jung Woo remained silent.

CEO Yoo Gyu Eon was still deep in thought, unable to find the right words.

Step, step.

He wandered several circles around the underground parking lot, then gazed up at the ceiling.

And then.

‘Have I been mistaken in thinking I’m the decision-maker for this Seoul Fashion Week?’

He finally arrived at the next question.

‘Who gave me the opportunity to participate?’

There was no need to ponder the answer.

He already knew it.