Chapter 627

The entertainment reporters of South Korea received an email. With Fashion Week just around the corner, it was only natural for press releases to arrive so they could prepare their articles in advance.

“Who all went this time? Besides the <Seoul Metropolitan City> cast.”

“Seo Eden went because he’s an ambassador for M Jacobs, and Kwon Junhyeok... where was he again?”

“Hmut Lang.”

“Ah, right. And Ji Haebeom went for R Floren. Come to think of it, Shin Seojin didn’t go?”

“Shin Seojin’s in the middle of his overseas fan meeting tour.”

The reporters chatted among themselves about the upcoming Fashion Week as they checked the press releases that had arrived.

“Huh?”

“What the?”

“Is this for real?”

And every single one of them was bewildered. The same email arrived at Daily Media, located in Jongno District. The sender was JC ENM.

[This material is being distributed in accordance with the global simultaneous timeline agreement with the New York headquarters of D-ol and T-fany & Co. Any leak prior to the embargo time may result in restrictions on future coverage of all JC ENM productions as well as legal liability....]

“What the hell is this about?”

Wi Jaehwi indifferently read through the email, which emphasized the importance of the embargo two or three times over, and scrolled down.

Then, a moment later, her eyes widened. It was a succession of sentences she never could have imagined.

[...In particular, at this event, Han Yeoreum will wear a masterpiece from T-fany & Co.’s highest-tier high jewelry line, the <Blue Book> collection. The necklace, set with a one-of-a-kind 35-carat Flawless diamond and valued at approximately 7 billion won, is considered a treasure, and it is reported that an armed security team from the New York headquarters and special protocol measures have been mobilized....]

She read the words on the screen very slowly. It was unlike an entertainment reporter who had developed a habit of speed-reading.

“This is actually legit?”

Clothing sponsorships and jewelry sponsorships were on entirely different levels.

And this was not just any jewelry.

Tiffany’s <Blue Book> collection. A one-of-a-kind diamond masterpiece worth around 7 billion won.

“Senior. Is this really true?”

“Yeah... I can’t believe it either....”

Even after seeing it with her own eyes, Wi Jaehwi still could not believe it, so she asked the senior sitting beside her. Even that was not enough, and she blankly mulled it over once again.

Ten years as an entertainment reporter. Wi Jaehwi searched through her memories.

It was not uncommon for high-end jewelry brands, including T-fany, to sponsor celebrities.

But that was only for products within the range ordinary customers could actually purchase.

“They don’t lend something like this to just anyone, do they?”

Jewels of that caliber were in a realm where, because of the risk of loss or damage, they would not casually be lent even to top white Hollywood stars or Oscar nominees.

Realizing that all over again, Wi Jaehwi’s fingertips trembled.

“Right. Even if you’re an actor who’s made it into Hollywood, they’d still have to think twice about it.”

Her senior’s voice was trembling slightly more than usual as well. Any entertainment reporter would understand what the extraordinary move LMVH was making right now meant.

The greatest fashion group in the world.

It meant LMVH had its eye on Han Yeoreum.

“And they’re being blatant about it too. Hey, doing this at New York Fashion Week, not Paris? What is this?”

“You’re right.... Because it’s New York....”

The true high-end world was Paris and Milan. A world of the very top A-list actors, Oscar winners, global top idols, and other stars treated almost like state guests.

Paris Fashion Week was the kind of place that made you understand how fashion had established itself as art without anyone needing to explain it.

New York Fashion Week, by contrast, was relatively commercial.

It showcased ready-to-wear clothing that people could actually wear, street fashion, and the immediate convergence of popular culture and media.

The only places appropriate for showcasing ultra-high-end jewelry like that were Paris Fashion Week or award ceremonies on the level of the Oscars or Cannes.

Which meant Han Yeoreum appearing at New York Fashion Week wearing a T-fany necklace worth around 7 billion won was—

“Has LMVH lost its mind?”

“What are they doing, acting like some obsessive helicopter parent?”

It was practically a declaration of war that they intended to turn every other attendee into a mere supporting extra.

“Has anyone ever gone to New York Fashion Week wearing jewelry like that before?”

“No.”

“Not even one person?”

“Not one.”

Every reporter’s mouth fell open. LMVH apparently intended to go all the way.

“This is seriously going to explode on the day....”

They could already see the future in which not only the Korean media but the American press would cover it extensively.

* * *

I was busy right up until Fashion Week. Once again, there were pictorial shoots and interviews. The <Seoul Metropolitan City> cast had their schedules arranged as a team.

‘That necklace yesterday was seriously gorgeous....’

Even with Do Gyeoul in my field of vision, I was still in a fantastic mood.

‘Even Do Gyeoul has probably never had the chairman of T-fany personally come over to fit a necklace on her.’

The greatness of T-fany was beyond anything I had imagined. Every time I saw sparkling lights, the brilliant glow of the pink diamond came back to me.

“What are you so happy about?”

Myeong Jeha sat down beside me. I pressed my lips tightly together. The corners of my mouth kept creeping upward, making it hard to control my expression.

“Should I tell you or not?”

“What is it?”

There was an embargo, but surely it would be fine to tell the old man, right? I spoke quietly.

“This is seriously a secret. Do you know who I met yesterday?”

I whispered while controlling my voice, which kept threatening to grow louder from sheer excitement.

“You know LMVH, right? That company with nothing but insanely expensive luxury brands.”

“Yeah. LMVH.”

“The chairman came to see me. Isn’t that insane?”

Now that bragging time had begun, I could not hold myself back. I started explaining everything in such detail that it almost felt as though I were back there yesterday.

“So, I went to D-ol. It’s four stories and absolutely huge. And I was just about to put on this dress, right? Then suddenly, a call comes in from somewhere. Seonhye unni’s face goes completely pale.”

“Yeah. And then?”

“Turns out the call was from T-fany. They said they wanted to sponsor a necklace for me!”

I sincerely lamented the fact that Myeong Jeha had not seen the luxury jewelry in person. You really had to see something like that with your own eyes.

“Three cars showed up, and this whole crowd of people got out carrying a chained-up case.”

“They did?”

“And then they opened the box, and oh my god... I thought you could only see things like that in museums. You know what it looked like?”

I had never seen an article saying Eun Baekhap, Hong Suryeon, or even Dong Baekyeong had been sponsored a 7-billion-won necklace by T-fany.

Han Yeoreum was the first.

Realizing that again made my heart pound wildly.

“Anyway, so at the end I put on this champagne-gold dress, and that old jewelry expert said it looked good. I wanted to take a selfie, so I finally worked up the courage to ask, and he said yes. But I meant a selfie, and the old man....”

Ever since learning that the person I had met at T-fany was the head of LMVH, I had been struggling with an overwhelming impulse.

I wanted to grab even some random person walking down the street and brag about it. I was practically dying to open SNS and hint at it, even if only subtly.

Youstastory

(T-fany mint-colored background.jpg)

Only paying attention to me...♥︎

Yeah. I wanted to act like I was posting a Lovestagram. I had nearly died from wanting to shout it through a megaphone to everyone in the neighborhood—and everyone in the entire world.

“Yeoreum! Hold it in!”

“Unni. I can’t. I’ve lost all impulse control!”

“What are you going to do if they suddenly cancel the sponsorship!!!”

“SuddenlyMyImpulseControlIsWorkingPerfectly.”

If Ryu Risa had not stopped me, I might actually have uploaded it.

“You’ll get to see it tomorrow, okay? You’re going to be shocked when you do. It was seriously so pretty.”

“Yeah. I’m sure it’ll be pretty.”

“I’m telling you, that kind of reaction isn’t enough for this necklace. It literally leaves you speechless.”

Now that I had at least told Myeong Jeha, I felt much better. Good thing I had resisted uploading that SNS story yesterday.

“You like it that much?”

“Of course I do. I love it.”

Myeong Jeha looked at me with laughter in his eyes. I declared confidently,

“You can look forward to it. I’m seriously going to look incredible.”

At that, Myeong Jeha burst out laughing. Every time he laughed, his prominent Adam’s apple moved.

“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”

* * *

“WhatTheHellWereTheyTalkingAboutToLaughLikeThat?”

Manager Na of Noble Actors was even more on edge after coming to the United States. His route did not overlap much with Han Yeoreum’s, who had to arrange and move through her schedule faster than anyone else, but he was still anxious.

‘I need to know what the hell is going on inside this bastard’s head...!’

To anyone else, he might look like an easy actor to work with and manage—someone who never caused scandals and never abused his power—but in Manager Na’s entire career, he had never encountered a human being this difficult.

“Hmm. Who knows....”

Manager Na firmly suppressed his trembling heart at the half-hearted answer.

“We need to do the final outfit fitting, so shall we go now?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

The one saving grace was that once this New York Fashion Week ended, there would be no reason for Myeong Jeha to return to Korea for a while.

‘There’ll be no point of contact! None. Yeah.’

His schedule would be chaotic once filming began in earnest, and even Myeong Jeha would not be able to remain as relaxed as usual after being thrown onto a Hollywood set for the first time.

Han Yeoreum, meanwhile, would have to push through her Korean drama filming and other schedules, so Manager Na took comfort in that.

‘Yeah... just until today....’

Myeong Jeha dressed in a T-Ford suit gently melted away Manager Na’s accumulated stress.

“....”

The employees from T-Ford headquarters nearby appeared to feel the same way. They silently admired Myeong Jeha.

They stared at him with such intense concentration that their eyes seemed to burn, as though trying to engrave the sight directly onto their corneas.

“I think this should do it. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like anything else needs alterations.”

Wearing a watch, Myeong Jeha raised his arm and checked the lengths of his shirt and jacket. Manager Na, who had briefly gotten lost in admiration himself, came back to his senses.

“Yeah. You can go like this.”

“Ah, I’ll change just one thing.”

Myeong Jeha skillfully removed the existing tie pin. Then he pointed toward a box nearby.

“Just the tie pin. I want a different one. It’s from the same line, so that’s fine, right?”

“Of course. Anything you want.”

The T-Ford employees looked as though they would obediently comply even if Myeong Jeha told them to bring him an entirely different outfit right this instant.

An employee took the pin he had just indicated out of the box and moved to attach it immediately, but Myeong Jeha stopped their hand and put it on himself.

“I like this one.”

Smiling as though satisfied with his choice, Myeong Jeha certainly looked impressive enough that the chairman of T-Ford would probably give him a standing ovation if he saw him.

A silver tie pin gleamed across his deep black silk tie.

“Huh? But....”

Manager Na felt an odd sense of déjà vu.

At the NetHolics schedule they had attended in LA, it had been a navy suit with a purple handkerchief. What he had chosen now was a tie pin with a purple spinel.

“Did you always like purple that much?”

At Manager Na’s question, Myeong Jeha thought for a moment before readily nodding.

“Yes.”

Then he added, as though the realization were new even to him,

“I guess I do. Apparently, I like it.”

As though something had come to mind, Myeong Jeha even chuckled softly. The prominent Adam’s apple visible above his shirt collar bobbed pleasantly.

Manager Na was certain he had asked about the tie pin, yet somehow it felt as though the other man had answered a completely different question.

Manager Na trembled in fear.

‘This isn’t a dating scandal, right?’

* * *

At last, the day of New York Fashion Week arrived.

From the early hours of dawn, long before sunrise, the artists had to be constantly on the move. Every hotel near the New York Fashion Week venue buzzed with tension.

Every window was brightly lit. Not a single person was asleep.

“There can’t be any wrinkles!”

“We’ll depart in forty-five minutes.”

Two assistants from the wardrobe team tended to the dress with gloved hands. Using an ultra-fine steamer, they smoothed out every silk crease down to a fraction of a millimeter, while the hair and makeup staff worked ceaselessly on the star seated before the mirror.

The Fashion Week venue was already packed with reporters who had begun waiting in advance.

“Is that really true? About T-fany.”

“There’s no way it’s just a rumor. If it were, do you think LMVH would stay quiet?”

“Wow... I still can’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

What the reporters were anticipating most was the Korean actress who had come from abroad. Before they knew it, she had acquired a new title beyond On Jihwa from <Seoul Metropolitan City>, the work currently displayed across New York’s Times Square.

“If it’s true, doesn’t that practically make her T-fany’s princess?”

As though to prove those words, three limousines came to a stop side by side at the intersection of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York.

Across the road from Aman New York, mint-colored lights shimmered beneath the stone façade of T-fany’s New York flagship store.

The limousine doors opened, and men carrying locked velvet cases stepped out.

For the star of today’s New York Fashion Week.