In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

"Just walk from that end to here."

Long legs in high heels traced an imaginary line across the floor.

Cha Suyeon measured the distance and said,

"LeBlanc’s runway is especially long. Much longer than places like Bertier or Leroux."

"Yes. I saw that while researching."

"We’ll look at your pose first. Starting with the top pose. You know what that is, right?"

"Yes!"

The top pose was what we called the model pose, taken at the end of the runway. After that came the turn back, and there were dozens of different types of turns.

"You’ll be opening, so come out to the center."

"Yes."

After giving detailed direction, Cha Suyeon snapped her fingers.

"Alright. Go!"

The lackeys formed camera frames with their hands and started imitating photographers, making clicking sounds.

Click! Click!

I pressed down the corners of my mouth to suppress a smile.

Closing my eyes gently, I imagined this place as a runway. A dark studio, lights shining down, countless people seated and watching me.

"Hu...."

I took a calm breath and opened my eyes.

Then I stepped forward.

This is serious.

Concern flickered across Cha Suyeon’s face.

With her arms crossed, she scanned Sun Wooju from head to toe.

The conditions are perfect.

It would have been nice if he were a bit taller, maybe high 180s, but around 180 was still sufficient.

His proportions were perfect.

If Leonardo da Vinci were resurrected and saw Sun Wooju, his body would have fit inside that famous human proportion drawing. He was a top tier idol with proportions ideal for modeling.

Of course, it was not all advantages.

He is almost too handsome.

A huge strength as a celebrity, but surprisingly not ideal in modeling.

The clothes must draw attention. If everyone stares only at the face, what designer would like that?

She shook her head.

Still, it’s Jimmy Robbins.

LeBlanc now was different from when she had walked its runway.

The new chief designer Jimmy Robbins was known as the pinnacle of excess, loving flashy, glittering fashion.

With that kind of fashion, that face would harmonize well.

"Hmm...."

At her low murmur, Hong Seok’s eyes shifted.

"What’s wrong, noona?"

"I’m just wondering if this is really okay. It’s not just any brand. It’s LeBlanc’s opening and closing."

One of the top five global luxury brands.

Even if he was a celebrity whose walking was not the main focus, he still had to meet a solid standard.

"He has to do more than the basics. The best models will be there."

"But?"

"He said earlier he didn’t have enough practice time. Runway training isn’t something you can master quickly...."

Hong Seok chuckled.

"What?"

"He tends to exaggerate. He says that, but the moment it was confirmed he’d walk the runway, he probably stayed up every night practicing."

"He clearly said he didn’t have enough time."

"That’s probably by his standards. During last year’s Mister Producer special, I watched how he lived."

Hong Seok smiled at the memory.

"He’s terrifyingly intense. I’m not someone people say lacks drive, but after watching him, I surrendered completely. If there’s something he has to accomplish, he’ll make it happen no matter what."

"Really?"

"He must’ve practiced like crazy this time too. Definitely."

At that expectation, Cha Suyeon turned her gaze back.

... I’m not sure yet.

You could tell a model just by watching them walk. Their basic posture alone was different from other professions.

To her trained eye, Sun Wooju’s posture was simply good.

Model like feeling...?

"Huh?"

That was when it happened.

Sun Wooju, who had been standing with his eyes closed, opened them and began walking.

For a brief moment she admired his confident gaze with a faint smile, but as the walk began, her eyes widened.

"Huh?"

The exclamation slipped out aloud.

As he walked, his shirt fluttered softly, and strands of hair brushed against his forehead. His gaze was steady, fixed straight ahead.

There was nothing to criticize about the walk.

He placed his weight on the soles of his feet and took long strides with elegance.

The essence of LeBlanc’s core concept—splendor and nobility—was reflected in his expression.

"My goodness...."

There was not even a single common mistake beginners often made.

No bobbing head or shoulders. No nervous twitching hands.

It was not just perfect.

He is one of us.

Her mouth fell open.

If he suddenly removed a face mask like in a spy film and said, "Hello, I’m Italian model Venecio," she would believe it.

This was not something that came from practice alone.

There were things practice could and could not achieve. That required innate sense and instinct as a model.

Genius really exists.

She had heard stories before.

Someone walking casually like a stroll through the neighborhood, and a foreign designer saying, "You know how to walk," and casting them.

"Wow...."

Wooju stopped exactly at the line she had drawn and struck his pose.

Perfect!

She clenched her fist.

Now if the turn is perfect too....

He did not disappoint.

With his left foot slightly forward, he paused for two beats, then turned his head to glance over his shoulder at the audience.

Smoothly.

He rotated with his hips, shoulders, and feet aligned, lifting his right foot and returning to where he had started.

"Kuh...."

She nearly applauded unconsciously.

Even his attitude was flawless.

After nailing the top pose and turn, rookie models often showed emotional fluctuation. They might wiggle their hips on the way back.

Or walk with slight excitement.

But Sun Wooju maintained consistency even while exiting.

"Wah...."

Murmuring a small "Bravo," Cha Suyeon applauded, her eyes already filled with affection.

Is this what it feels like to see a rising star in the modeling world?

She whipped her head toward Hong Seok.

"Seok. I understand what you meant. He’s this good, so you—"

"...."

But Hong Seok was standing there with his mouth wide open.

The relaxed smile from earlier—Don’t worry, he’s hardworking—had vanished.

"I, no... how is that possible... how does that even... with that time... what am I...."

Watching him ramble, Cha Suyeon smirked and looked back at Wooju.

"Bravo!"

As she applauded, NewBlack’s members cheered and clapped too.

"That’s our Woojusun."

"We need to add model to Wooju hyung’s AntWiki job section. Composer, manager, Taiwanese person, academy director, goblin...."

"Hyung! That was amazing!"

The lackeys bounced as if they had accomplished it themselves.

The serious atmosphere from moments ago was gone, and Wooju laughed brightly.

"Wow."

Cha Suyeon clicked her tongue and clapped again, even raising her thumb.

"This is insane. Absolutely insane."

"Did I do well?"

"Not well. You’re already a model."

The lackeys erupted in cheers.

"I sincerely guarantee you won’t be overshadowed at LeBlanc. If anything, people around you will be shocked. I’m already excited."

"Woooooo!"

Wooju ran toward the lackeys shouting, "Guys!" and they ran back yelling, "Hyuuung!"

"I got praised!"

"Success!"

As Cha Suyeon smiled warmly at the sight of the national idols jumping like children—

"We’re ready to film!"

Everyone snapped back to reality.

"Oh right, this was for NewBlack TV."

"That’s right."

And today’s filming goal was announced.

"Today’s NewBlack TV special is learning model walking from models!"

"...."

"...."

Cha Suyeon blinked.

There’s nothing to teach.

Looking between the fully set up staff and NewBlack, she smiled.

"NewBlack."

"Yes!"

"I think you can go home."

The five handsome young men and staff burst into laughter.

The special learning model walking from models—

"...ends here, everyone."

"It ended before it even started."

At our solemn faces, the two models burst into laughter.

Fortunately, anticipating this, our staff had filmed pre shooting practice with a handy cam.

"So without even properly introducing our two guests, we’ll end recording...."

"Noooo!"

"Introduce us properly~!"

The camera turned to the models waving their hands.

We introduced them smiling.

"Yes! A senior model who made a mark in Korean modeling history. The youngest muse of Cliche! Ranked by Forbes among the highest earning supermodels—pride of the modeling world...!"

"I’m Cha Suyeon. Nice to meet you."

Then we turned to the bright eyed young man with orange hair.

"And this is senior Hong Seok."

"Why...! I have a long career too...."

"Self introduction is NewBlack TV tradition~!"

Hong Seok bowed to our fans and introduced himself.

Though Cha Suyeon’s career overshadowed him, Hong Seok was also well known in modeling.

He had simply shifted to variety and television.

After introductions and small talk, a short silence passed.

"So what do we do now?"

"Right. There’s nothing more to teach Wooju...."

"Should we recommend good restaurants in Paris?"

We brightened at Hong Seok’s suggestion.

"Yes!"

"In Paris, it’s croissants. Or freshly baked baguettes."

We listened to recommendations from models who /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ frequently visited Paris.

With time still left, Cha Suyeon looked at the others.

"Do the rest of you want to learn model walking?"

"Yes!"

"We want to learn!"

Thus, I stepped aside and the members took lessons.

And they finally understood just how much praise I had received.

"No! Not like that! Ri Hyuk! Why are your left and right arms moving together? Are you a nutcracker?"

"...."

"Uh... Ri Hyuk, are you crying?"

"...Something just got in my eye."

Nutcracker Ri Hyuk.

"Jiho, that pose was too much. If you did that on a real runway, that would be your last show."

"You only praised Wooju hyung! Praise me too...!"

"Praise is for those who do well."

Whiny Jiho.

"Junhyun, you’re walking too grandly... walking is not marching. Marching is marching! That’s not walking."

"I always walk confidently. I learned this cabbage field walk from my grandfather."

Confident Kim Junhyun.

"Biju... hmm... you’re okay."

"Can I stand on the runway with Wooju hyung?"

"Hmm...."

Biju, who received the most tolerable evaluation.

With each comment from Cha Suyeon, the younger ones abandoned their modeling dreams.

A top model who believed there was no joking in one’s profession coached them strictly, and tears nearly flowed.

"I’m not becoming a model."

"We’re never stepping near modeling."

"You praised Wooju hyung so much...."

Ten minutes later, the lesson ended.

Cha Suyeon relaxed and looked flustered.

"Oh my... I got too serious. Am I going to gain a million haters? My entertainment career just started blooming...."

"It’s okay."

I smiled reassuringly.

"Our fans believe in raising us tough. They don’t indulge whining...."

"We’re weed like idols. That’s us."

While we wondered what to do next, Hong Seok suggested,

"Since we’re here, why don’t you teach Wooju some advanced skills? Things he can use on stage."

"Oh! That’s good."

Immediately, the one day teachers began teaching poses and turns from modeling textbooks.

Each time I picked one up, reactions came instantly.

"That’s it!"

"Perfect!"

"Oh my! You did that in one go? Have you really never considered modeling? I mean, you’re already at that level...."

"Wooju! Where did this talent come from!"

Excited, Cha Suyeon grabbed my hand.

Her eyes blazed.

"Seriously, have you considered modeling? No?"

"Well...."

"If you became a model, you could succeed globally!"

"I’m already doing well globally...."

"Ah."

She released my hand, licking her lips regretfully.

"You’re truly someone our industry needs...."

"Haha."

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

The lackeys’ eyes sparkled.

"If you model... do you earn a lot?"

"If you succeed, a lot. But that’s hard."

"Ooooh."

Seeing Ri Hyuk already tapping a calculator on his phone, I clicked my tongue.

Ignoring the persuasion, we wrapped up filming.

"Meat! Let’s go eat the meat CEO Heo promised!"

"KM Entertainment’s magical buffet!"

"I say buff, you say et! Buff!"

"Et!"

Joyful scenes that ignored the fasting eldest.

"Ugh. Disgusting...."

After taking commemorative photos and signing for her daughter, Cha Suyeon said,

"Anyway, I’m really looking forward to it. LeBlanc, and the celebrities attending too."

Her eyes shone with anticipation.

"They’re all going to be shocked."

"I hope so."

I nodded with a smile.

After finishing the one day model special,

we headed to Incheon Airport to fly to Paris.

"Second place again."

"Are we destined to end at second...."

We stroked our chins while looking at our phones.

Billboard Hot 100

Second place for three consecutive weeks.

Human greed truly has no end.

When we first reached number two, we were so happy. But 4-2-2-2, three consecutive number twos, left a strange sense of regret.

Of course, competing at this level with Cold Brown, who was dominating North America, was an honor. He was a top of the top rapper even in today’s American hip hop dominated industry.

Still, what if we could get number one once...?

"It would be nice to have some kind of trigger."

Thanks to the intense impact of the VMA Awards, we had debuted at number four, but something felt just slightly lacking.

Like a rocket needing escape velocity, we were missing two percent.

"Hyungs, we’re here."

"Shall we get off?"

Incheon Airport, third floor departure area.

As we prepared to step out, we froze at the crowd across the crosswalk.

The moment the doors opened, shutters flashed and cheers erupted.

"Gruuuuu!"

"Kyaaaaa!"

Several times larger than usual.

There were many reasons, but first—

"Happy birthday, Kim Junhyun!"

"Junhyun! I bought farmland! Marry me!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Junhyun!"

Souffle had gathered for Junhyun’s birthday.

As Junhyun waved like a bear paw, cheers roared.

His shirt reading Today Is My Birthday made his face even brighter.

"Oh!"

At a nearby voice, I turned.

An unfamiliar middle aged man and his family stood there.

He asked brightly,

"Kids! Where are you going?"

"We’re going to Paris for Fashion Week. I’m walking the runway at a fashion show."

"Fashion Week? Hahahahaha! What a joke!"

It’s true....

As his daughter said, Dad, we don’t know them, and he went, Huh?, I smiled.

"Waaaaaaaaa!"

The crosswalk turned green, and the airport became chaos.

With the help of dozens of bodyguards, we moved forward as reporters shouted urgently.

"Wooju! Lemon Entertainment released a statement saying you’ll walk the runway! Is it true?"

"Yes!"

Another reporter popped forward.

"Really? Really the runway?"

"Yes!"

Another leaned in.

"You’re truly walking the runway?!"

"It’s true!"

"Wooju! Are you really modeling for LeBlanc, one of the world’s top five brands as stated in the press release...?"

"...."

Why does nobody believe me?