“Then do you think this Ryu Risa is really— seriously— going to dress you in exactly what you want? If she’s working for free, she better at least get some fun out of it.”
Joo Junseo fired off sharp criticism from behind.
“She says she’s busy, but she sure looks like she’s got time to spare. What is this, some variety show? Giving you missions like this? Ridiculous.... At her level, she should take one look at someone’s face and instantly output what suits them. What is she even doing....”
“Shh. Junseo. Those thoughts are supposed to stay in your head.”
“I said it out loud on purpose. Noona, you’re being a bit shameless right now, dumping this on a kid. Don’t tell me you called her here through the agency just because you wanted to do this? If you wanted her at the office, you could’ve just said so. I was wondering why you were acting like this.” fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
I took a brief look around the showroom. A massive, seemingly endless space filled with rows upon rows of clothes.
From global luxury brands everyone knows to designers I’d never even heard of.
The sheer volume was overwhelming. Hard enough just to remember each item, let alone choose one. My hand didn’t instinctively reach for anything.
“Why? Can’t do it?”
But here’s the thing.
“No. Give me thirty minutes.”
I already know all the upcoming trends. Even the ones that haven’t hit the public yet.
There was no way I was going to miss the chance to work with Ryu Risa for free.
If anything, I should be thanking her.
I wanted Ryu Risa to take an interest in me. I wanted every hanger she lifted to be for Han Yeoreum.
My heart pounded.
Right now, what’s the best way to catch Ryu Risa’s attention...?
The calculation surfaced unbelievably fast. I headed straight for the stairs.
[Eye wear & accessory] 2F
* * *
“...Hey.”
Joo Junseo followed Han Yeoreum up the stairs. Contrary to his expectation that she’d start browsing from the first floor, Yeoreum went directly to the second floor where the accessories were.
“Don’t mind what that person said earlier. She’s skilled, sure, but her personality’s a mess. And you know... if you’re not confident picking something, I’ll just choose for you. Something that matches my outfit. I’ve worn thousands of outfits as a model—picking women’s accessories isn’t going to kill me.”
Between the stairs hung advertisement frames put up by the agency.
From Eun Baekhap to Do Gyeoul.
Yeoreum stared at the moments when they had been chosen as Best Dresser, and only then turned toward Junseo.
“Did you choose your outfit?”
“Well, roughly. Clean black suit. If you also wear a simple black dress—”
“Then can you match any accessory I pick to your outfit?”
Maybe it was because she was standing higher on the stairs.
Yeoreum’s voice seemed to resonate through the showroom. Her words, delivered with precise diction, felt less like a suggestion and more like an order.
“...Yeah. I’ll match it.”
“Anything I pick?”
Junseo nodded obediently. He had worn every type of outfit imaginable as a model. Yeoreum’s request was nothing difficult.
Also... I owe her.
Since she was the one who’d made sure he received acting lessons.
Yeoreum smiled, apparently pleased with his answer.
“Do you have a brand you want? Tell me, and I’ll pick something that suits you.”
“I already picked my accessory.”
“...Without even looking?”
Yeoreum emphasized the word accessory and stared straight at him.
“Senior. Go back down to the first floor and start fitting your suit.”
“What?”
“Hurry!”
Then she sprinted up the remaining stairs without looking back. From afar, I heard her asking a staff member:
“Where are the brooches?”
* * *
“Twenty-five minutes.”
Humming happily, Ryu Risa checked the new arrivals for the week.
Normally, with her years of experience, these small errands to and from the agency were things she’d delegate to assistants. But Ryu Risa never neglected the rounds herself.
Who would hand something this fun to someone else? I’m doing it.
New clothes, accessories, shoes, bags—every one of them made her heart race.
Imagining how the same outfit could transform depending on the wearer was Ryu Risa’s entire way of life.
She recalled Joo Junseo heading upstairs after fitting his outfit.
What on earth is she trying to bring that she made him fit his outfit for it?
A clean black suit. The guaranteed winning choice at any awards ceremony. And on a model like Junseo, there was no way it wouldn’t look good.
Meanwhile, picking Yeoreum’s outfit was bound to be tricky.
“This shop doesn’t carry dresses in the first place.”
Awards ceremony → most people picture a dress. To get one, you’d need to go to a dress shop behind this area, where the bridal brands and eveningwear were.
Bridal White, or Layer House—shops like that. But this place specialized in daily wear.
“Putting casual wear next to a suit would look off—”
No matter what was chosen, getting a perfect 100 would be difficult.
Even so, Ryu Risa was curious. About newcomer actress Han Yeoreum, supposedly handpicked by the money-crazed Dok Gogyeol and the money-mad Jegal Rok.
“What is she going to bring me?”
She just hoped Yeoreum wouldn’t bring something that was expensive purely for the logo. Logo play was one of Ryu Risa’s biggest pet peeves.
“Twenty-nine minutes.”
And then, with exactly one minute remaining, the sound of footsteps descending from the second floor echoed.
Ryu Risa deliberately didn’t turn around. Something tickled her stomach—like the feeling a child gets right before discovering something fun.
“I’m turning around now, okay? Hm? Is it safe?”
“Yes. You can turn around.”
With effort, she tightened the corners of her mouth, keeping a straight expression before turning around—she didn’t want Yeoreum to think she liked the item prematurely.
“...This? This is what you brought?”
In front of her was something unbelievable.
“Yes. I want to wear an outfit centered around a brooch.”
An antique-style brooch rested on her small palm.
“And one that pairs well with my partner standing here.”
Next to her—
“...”
Expressionless Joo Junseo. Perfectly dressed. The ultimate accessory, really.
* * *
They didn’t have any dresses here.
I scanned everything the moment I walked in.
Not even mini dresses. And of course, none of the classic “awards ceremony dresses.”
I’d heard the brand’s name a thousand times, but this was my first time seeing the interior. Even before greeting Ryu Risa, I took in # Nоvеlight # every item on display.
So what I need to do is not—
—not choose an awards ceremony outfit myself.
I needed to make Ryu Risa want to “bring” a dress from somewhere else.
With just her name alone, she can borrow anything from any luxury brand.
Something far rarer and more beautiful than anything hanging here.
And I happen to know what’s about to trend.
I might not know the details of every garment, but accessories? I have that down. Soon, everyone will be wearing brooches again.
I placed the brooch onto Ryu Risa’s hand. And then the extra preparation:
An accessory with impact far beyond the brooch itself.
“Since I’ll be walking the carpet with Senior Joo Junseo, I chose something formal in style.”
It was Junseo, covered densely in tattoo stickers across the back of his hand.
Wearing black-rimmed glasses and a sharply fitted suit, he looked neat, but the innate sharpness in his features couldn’t be hidden.
So I added details that match the atmosphere he naturally gives off.
Lettering tattoo stickers on each knuckle, and a small tattoo just below his ear.
Dok Gomin, Dok Gogyeol—every genius finds inspiration in the smallest detail.
Ryu Risa would be the same. I looked above her head at the glittering stat window.
Artistry: S+
Higher than anyone I’d ever met.
Ryu Risa looked at me, looked at Junseo, looked at the brooch in her hand—back and forth, again and again.
“....”
Then, as if genuinely shocked, she froze with her mouth slightly open, like a paused frame.