Chapter 632
* * *
The moment LMVH Chairman Bernard Erno appeared, the main hall fell silent.
Two hundred billion dollars. At the appearance of a tycoon who controlled 260 trillion won, everyone rose to their feet, tense.
He headed toward the main dinner table with an expressionless face. Erno sat down in the chair a servant pulled out for him and spoke.
“Welcome, everyone.”
Only after the host gave his permission were the guests able to take their seats. The people surrounding him were, quite literally, a collection of ruthless figures who had the world stage in their grasp.
There was the editor-in-chief of V0gue US and top editor, the head of production at Winner Brothers beside her, the chairman of a top Hollywood agency across from them, and the heads of Netholics and D-zney.
While white-gloved servants carried out the food, a brief commotion arose outside, apparently because the owner of an empty seat at a corner table had arrived.
Of course, since this was Erno’s mansion, disturbances were not permitted, and the noise quickly died down.
The first course was served.
Glasses were filled with 1928 vintage wine, marking the beginning of New York Fashion Week’s VIP dinner.
The head of production at Winner Brothers was the first to open the conversation. Smiling, he addressed Chairman Erno.
“Netholics tripled its investment in its global Asian lineup this quarter. A project that would take three years under the traditional Hollywood studio system can now ride a platform and penetrate the living rooms of 190 million households around the world in just three weeks. The world is changing remarkably fast, wouldn’t you say?”
As it happened, the signature work of the T-pany Princess who had made Erno blow five million dollars today was a Netholics Original.
At the Winner Brothers executive’s words, the D-zney representative cut in.
“I partially agree. But a platform is merely a pipeline. What matters is what you attach to the end of that pipeline.”
The Netholics side countered D-zney’s words.
“Good. What matters. We believe what matters is precisely the power that will lead the future.”
The editor-in-chief of V0gue US did not join the conversation. She merely speared a shrimp elegantly with her fork.
The representative from the top Hollywood agency watched the battle between the OTT platforms with interest.
The emergence of the streaming giant Netholics had brought about a tremendous upheaval in the market, dismantling the existing Hollywood studio cartel.
There was no one seated here who did not know that D-zney would soon be launching its own OTT service.
“The power that will lead the future.”
Erno wiped his mouth with a napkin, repeating the phrase as though intrigued.
“What pleasant words.”
Both D-zney and Netholics, who had been trading barbs only moments ago, turned to look at Erno.
“What exactly is that power?”
This gathering was practically an interview.
Because the other party was Erno.
One of the biggest factors top actors considered when choosing an OTT production was their asking price. LMVH had an enormous influence over a celebrity’s market value in terms of branding.
Then there were sponsorships. Every brand Erno owned had enough power to elevate a production by several tiers.
And finally, media value.
The absolute driving force behind virality was public interest.
Put just one LMVH brand in the thumbnail instead of the production title, and the views would immediately pour in.
In this era, when brand power had become more important than ever, Erno was not merely a wealthy man who owned fashion brands.
He was a key that could determine the future.
“Novelty.”
“Nostalgia.”
And Netholics and D-zney gave completely opposite answers.
* * *
The main course had arrived, but no one was eating.
Of course, in the case of the V0gue US editor-in-chief, it seemed less because she was focused on the conversation and more because she was saving room in her stomach for dessert.
Erno looked toward the head of Netholics as if telling him to speak first.
“The pride of knowing that humanity is advancing ahead of its time. That is precisely what modern society needs most. Fresh stories and ideas unlike anything that came before. Just as Netholics itself began.”
He seemed to have prepared thoroughly in advance. There was not the slightest hesitation in his words.
“A simultaneous worldwide release. That was a system first introduced by Netholics. Don’t you feel both astonishment and emotion at the thought of all humanity being thrilled by the same story? Everyone resonating together at the exact same moment.”
The Netholics representative looked toward Myeong Jeha.
Kim Kangil from . Conveniently, they had an excellent card right here.
“Of course, we felt two hundred million dollars’ worth of emotion ourselves.”
Having earned 200 billion won from a single production, Netholics had every reason to be proud.
Besides, even at this very moment, new subscribers were joining Netholics specifically to watch .
“I agree. It’s an important value we hold at Winner Brothers as well. Novelty. Though, of course, we preserve existing values as much as possible.”
The film side joined in. After all, Eastwood’s choice, Myeong Jeha’s next film, was going to be produced by Winner Brothers.
‘Looks like they made a verbal agreement to release it on Netholics immediately after it leaves theaters.’
Erno caught on at once.
“The Asian market will make a good friend for Netholics in that respect.”
He had already heard that Netholics was beginning to invest seriously in K-Dramas.
They seemed to assume that because of the T-pany Princess, Erno and Netholics were thinking along the same lines.
Erno looked toward D-zney.
“In a world that never stops changing, people are bound to grow tired someday. And when that happens, isn’t nostalgia what gives them the strength to keep going? Home sweet home. Everyone always has somewhere in their heart they want to return to.”
It sounded somewhat old-fashioned.
“Are you saying you place value on the glory of the past?”
“Yes. Everyone treasures the days when they shone. Provocative short-form content that ends as disposable entertainment, or fleeting trends, may lose their value after just one year, but memories don’t.”
Unlike Netholics’ argument, D-zney’s words did not particularly resonate with those seated there.
Except for Erno.
No, perhaps there was one other person.
The man wearing a Monaco chronograph on his wrist was smiling quietly.
“So. What was the best show of the past week, Annie?”
Erno changed the subject.
“Obviously M Jacobs tonight, wouldn’t you say?”
“Hmm.”
“If I were Martin, I would have killed myself tonight. You burned his show to the ground spectacularly.”
“Not at all. He would never wear an ugly burial shroud. He’ll have to prepare something to wear himself, so he’ll survive until tomorrow at least.”
Laughter erupted around them. The VIP dinner moved beyond Netholics and D-zney, and the conversation shifted toward New York Fashion Week.
The shining glory of the past that D-zney spoke of.
Erno had gone through Han Yeoreum’s entire filmography. Among it, he knew , which had caused the hottest response in Korea.
He also knew of the nationwide immersion created by the two men seated here through that production.
And before long, the entire world would be enthralled by it as well.
Erno was certain of that.
Amid the loss of tangible things, instinctive deprivation, and fear of the unpredictable, the past shone all the more brightly.
Yes.
There inevitably came a time in every person’s life when they desperately longed for the past.
When the era itself began to stagger, people would think of Han Yeoreum.
was scheduled to be released exclusively on D-zney’s upcoming OTT platform.
The man wearing the Monaco chronograph, one of its investors, was also actively pushing for it.
D-zney’s pursuit of the globally monopolistic Netholics might very well be decided by .
“Valentine’s Day will be here in a few hours.”
As the meal drew toward its end, Erno raised his glass of dessert wine. The clear glass sparkled beneath the chandelier lights.
“To a completely new America.”
At Erno’s toast, everyone drank their wine.
* * *
I returned to the room and quickly changed clothes. The moment I took off the long dress that had flowed all the way down and changed into the prepared white mini dress, Dok Gogyeol got moving.
Click! Click! Click!
Dok Gomin had been pressing the shutter the entire way back to the room. I had briefly looked at a few of the shots earlier, and all I could think was that she truly deserved to be called DaeYeJong’s genius.
The quality was unbelievable for something shot by someone who had only rushed into the country today.
My solo shots were especially good, but the two-shots with Myeong Jeha were absolutely incredible.
‘Is it because Myeong Jeha’s face naturally looks like it has a whole story behind it?’
We had only been talking about how I’d squeezed a food truck out of Senior Shin Seojin... but in Dok Gomin’s photographs, the look in our eyes was captured in a way that could easily make someone misunderstand.
‘It seriously looked like a movie still.’
So, regrettably, I’d have to crop Myeong Jeha out before uploading them.
Let’s keep the focus on me.
I took the water bottle my manager handed me and put the straw between my lips. The cold sparkling water made me feel a little more alive.
After nearly a full week of this relentless schedule, my exhaustion had reached its peak.
Dok Gogyeol quickly adjusted my styling.
“We don’t have time, so let’s go right away!”
“Already?”
“A few magazine interviews suddenly came in today.”
“Really? What kind of interviews?”
“Video clips they’ll upload to Intube and Yousta. About fifteen seconds? You just need to say a few things. We’ve been getting calls from everywhere, and it was hard enough turning down the rest.”
Exhaustion?
I take it back.
“This is... the schedule of a protagonist...?”
Me! Me! I absolutely must photograph Han Yeoreum! Move aside, our magazine has to shoot her! Hahaha, everyone, could you please form an orderly line...? We’ll be in serious trouble if the New York police show up... Ah, did something just flash from the top of that tall building...? Wait, the paparazzi are hanging off the side of the building! Everyone, that’s dangerous, please come down... I refuse! If it means photographing you, I’ll hold a camera even while hanging from a helicopter... Hahaha, hohoho, hahaha, hohoho...
“Unni. The magic spell.”
“Yeoreum, who are you?”
“Han Yeoreum, the new American rising star whom LMVH Chairman Erno personally came to see from the fitting onward, who has held first place on Netholics Global for over a month, who is currently the hottest name at New York Fashion Week, who has earned the title of T-pany Princess, and who is currently wearing a gifted necklace worth 269,500,000 won, a bracelet worth 108,450,000 won, earrings worth 87,100,000 won, and a ring worth 48,800,000 won, for a grand total of 513,850,000 won....”
“Wait, how do you even know the prices?”
“I hurriedly looked up every single one on the way here....”
Because even if the necklace wasn’t worth seven billion won, if each piece cost a billion, I thought I might need to hire armed guards out of my own pocket.
It would be a disaster if Erno’s gifts were stolen.
Fortunately, no thief at New York Fashion Week would rappel down a building or put on a silicone mask to steal jewelry in this price range.
‘Because a total of five hundred million won is relatively cheap....’
Smack.
“What are you doing! You ruined your base!”
“Yeoreum, what’s wrong?! Do you feel like you’re going to collapse?”
“Got a good shot. Mm-hmm. As expected of Dok Gomin, the genius who captures even a split-second moment.”
To think five hundred million won felt cheap.
I must have gotten far too arrogant after getting a taste of America. I slapped myself across the cheek and quickly came back to my senses.
“Good. Now it’s finally time for me to really make my move.”
“You’ve kind of been making moves this whole time....”
I headed toward the New York Fashion Week after-party. Luxury cars were already crowding the streets, creating a traffic jam.
This year’s New York Fashion Week after-party was being held on West 25th Street in Chelsea. I entered one of New York’s highest rooftop clubs, located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Renaissance Chelsea Hotel.
[Somewhere Nowhere NYC]
When I stepped out of the car, the two guards stationed at the building entrance looked at me.
“The T-pany Princess has arrived.”
There was no need to show them an invitation or have them check the guest list.
The moment they saw my face, I got a free pass.
As I walked through the neat arched passageway at the building entrance, loud music could already be heard in the distance. Long floral decorations hanging from the ceiling glittered overhead.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched Manhattan’s nighttime skyline, including the Empire State Building.
“Wow....”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t had a chance to properly admire the New York night view since arriving here.
The glittering scenery was dazzling.
Music blasted from enormous speakers, making the floor vibrate.
“Hi! It’s so nice to meet you. I’m so, so honored to have this opportunity.”
I couldn’t admire the scenery for long. As though they had been waiting for me to arrive, a magazine team immediately latched onto me.
They were filming with a phone fitted inside a ring light.
“The T-pany Princess, On Jihwa. I really enjoyed too. Oh, right. My name is Amanda.”
“Nice to meet you, Amanda.”
“Great. Just hold this champagne glass and say one thing for us. ‘New York Fashion Week, cheers.’”
I could already guess what kind of short-form video would soon be uploaded to the fashion magazine’s Yousta account.
They were going to rapidly splice together clips of different stars saying “Cheers.”
Following Amanda’s instructions, I raised the champagne glass and winked.
“Cheers.”
“Kyaaaah! Perfect, very nice. Let’s do something longer next time. Bye!”
And she immediately headed toward another celebrity nearby.
The next editor approached me at once.
The battle for views, where whoever moved fastest won, seemed even more intense in New York than in Korea.
Nobody hesitated.
“Hello, Princess.”
“We’re Girls Daily. We called you earlier. I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you!”
“I’m Chloe from Ruel New York. The T-pany you’re wearing right now looks incredible too.”
The moment one magazine finished, another immediately took its place, followed by another.
“You really are New York Fashion Week’s hottest rising newcomer. Let’s commemorate it together, princess to princess. Our concept is ‘New York’s Ultimate Girls’ Night’!”
The editor who had suddenly appeared swiftly took the champagne glass from my hand. This time, she grabbed my arm and strode off somewhere with me.
‘Huh?’
Our destination was the deepest part of the venue.
The VIP powder room.