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CH178 | GSI
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 03:40:01 +0000 UTCCompletely caught off guard by the unexpected conversation, Seok-won revealed his slight bewilderment as he asked again.
"Did you just say they want me to be their model?"
"That's correct."
Receiving Seok-won’s gaze, Landon also responded with a troubled expression.
"The condition for renewing the contract is that the boss takes on the role of the male model for the upcoming F/W collection."
"Wait, what…?"
Seok-won, seemingly dumbfounded, straightened his upper body and furrowed his brows.
"You're not joking, are you?"
"Why would I be so rude?"
"It's just so out of the blue. What’s the reason behind this? Why me?"
"The theme for this collection is 'Jetset Glamour.'"
"And?"
Seok-won asked, crossing his arms.
"I’m not well-versed in fashion, but according to Creative Director Tom Ford, 'Jetset Glamour' represents a woman who works hard during the day, enjoys glamorous parties at night, and sails on a yacht over the weekend. In other words, it's a term symbolizing not only physical beauty but also wealth, fame, and an extravagant lifestyle."
Landon shrugged as he explained, sneaking a glance at Seok-won, who was listening in silence, before continuing.
"The collection aims to encapsulate the lifestyle that modern women dream of. The confidence and charisma you exude perfectly align with the essence of the main theme."
At this, Seok-won let out a sharp exhale.
"Landon—no, Ford actually said that?"
"Yes."
"Ha…"
Seok-won pressed his fingers against his temples, as if feeling a headache coming on. Then, lifting his head, he looked at Landon and asked,
"You’re not seriously telling me I’m supposed to be the main model, are you?"
Fortunately, Landon shook his head.
"Not at all. The main male model has already been cast. You would only need to wear a few suits and participate in a photoshoot for the advertisement posters. There's no need for you to walk on the runway."
"I would never even consider walking in front of a crowd like that."
Seok-won stated firmly, his expression serious.
"Of course, I figured as much."
Considering his social status and wealth, it wouldn't be surprising if he threw champagne parties every night, but surprisingly, Seok-won preferred a more ordinary lifestyle.
‘More of a workaholic, really.’
On top of that, he wasn’t fond of unnecessary attention. If he had been asked to walk the runway, he would have turned it down instantly.
Unlike the entertainment industry, where a certain level of attention-seeking was necessary for success, he simply didn’t fit that mold.
Clearing his throat, Landon spoke again.
"After seeing you in person last night, he seems to have taken quite an interest in your appearance. He said the image that immediately came to mind was that of a man dining with a beautiful woman at a high-end restaurant, driving a sleek car through the illuminated New York skyline."
"Good grief…"
"To be honest, your looks are on par with most Hollywood actors. According to Tom Ford, you're quite close to his ideal type."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, of course, I mean as a brand model."
Seok-won, momentarily taken aback, let out a relieved sigh.
"More importantly, during dinner, you mentioned that the Asian market, particularly China, is poised for major growth. That got him thinking that including an Asian model in the collection would be a strategic move to target that market."
"And that model is supposed to be me?"
Landon nodded.
"Honestly, even from my perspective, your looks are more than suitable for modeling. On top of that, if we’re talking about a wealthy individual who embodies a luxurious lifestyle, isn’t that basically you?"
At that, Seok-won furrowed his brows.
"I wouldn't say I lead a glamorous lifestyle."
"Living extravagantly doesn’t necessarily mean partying with women every night. Flying around the world in a private jet and managing billions of dollars is also an enviable and extraordinary life, wouldn't you agree?"
Seok-won smacked his lips, unable to refute the statement.
Seeing his reaction, Landon cautiously asked,
"He wasn’t just throwing the idea out there—he was quite persistent. What should I tell Ford?"
"Hmm..."
Seok-won fell silent, lost in thought.
The sudden request caught him off guard, but it wasn’t something entirely impossible.
‘Revealing my face like that is a bit uncomfortable, but I'm not even the main model, just a secondary one for a few shots. It’s not like this will turn into a big deal.’
Worst case scenario, if the shoot didn’t turn out well, they could always scrap the photos and not use them.
More importantly, Ford had mentioned taking a more aggressive approach to marketing in the Asian market after hearing his thoughts. Refusing to help in that situation felt unreasonable.
"Haah, seriously..."
Clicking his tongue, Seok-won glanced at Landon, who was patiently waiting for an answer, then finally spoke.
"Tell him I’ll do it."
Landon, who had half-expected a rejection, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Are you really agreeing to this?"
"It’s not exactly something I’m thrilled about, but if Ford is asking so earnestly, what choice do I have? And since it’s for marketing, I might as well help."
Seok-won sighed deeply and crossed his arms.
"Gucci is 100% my company. They’re working hard to bring in more profit, so I should do my part to help."
"The boss stepping in as a model—this is already shaping up to be exciting."
"As long as I don’t mess up and make things harder for the staff, that’s all that matters."
Landon laughed reassuringly.
"It’s just a few simple shots for posters and a photo spread, so it shouldn’t be too overwhelming."
"Oh yeah, that’s so comforting," Seok-won muttered sarcastically.
"Ah, and the female model you'll be shooting with is Kinsley White. She was selected as Gucci’s main model for this season. She’s an American top model, famous for her stunning looks."
Noticing Landon’s meaningful glance, Seok-won narrowed his eyes.
"What’s with that look?"
"Who knows? Something good might come out of this."
"Cut the nonsense. Now that I’ve agreed, let’s hurry up and finalize the contract before I change my mind."
"Understood."
"Oh, and transfer the promised $100 million investment immediately."
"Yes, I’ll take care of it."
* * *
Two days later, at a studio in Florence.
In front of a large mirror surrounded by round vanity lights, a slender blonde beauty sat in a chair, having her makeup done.
With her eyes closed, she was getting eyeshadow applied after having false eyelashes put on. The woman was none other than the one Seok-won had saved from a pickpocket at Piazza della Repubblica.
Just then, a stern-looking woman in thick-rimmed glasses and a tailored pantsuit entered the dressing room, irritation clear on her face.
"Changing the shoot schedule at the last minute was bad enough, but now they’re pairing you with a complete amateur? What were they thinking?!"
Kinsley White, who was wearing a robe while getting her makeup done, slightly opened one eye and glanced at her manager.
"Trinity, what’s wrong?"
Trinity stomped toward her, heels clicking against the floor, holding a schedule planner in one hand.
"It’s the male model you’re shooting with today."
"What about him? Is there a problem?"
Trinity, who had a short pixie cut and multiple piercings in her ears, adjusted her glasses and frowned deeply.
"Apparently, he’s a complete rookie with zero modeling experience!"
"Really?"
"That’s what I’m saying! Even if he’s not modeling the main outfits, these photos are still going into the F/W collection campaign. How could they do this?!"
Trinity fumed, clearly unhappy.
Even Kinsley, now in her fifth year of modeling after starting at eighteen, found the situation unusual.
Especially considering that this wasn’t just any ordinary brand—while Gucci’s reputation had declined somewhat over the years, it was still a luxury fashion house. The idea of bringing in an amateur for the shoot was baffling.
"Is he an actor or a singer?" Kinsley asked, puzzled.
It wasn’t uncommon for brands to feature celebrities in cameos as part of their marketing strategies. She wondered if that was the case here.
Trinity leaned against the makeup counter and faced Kinsley, shaking her head.
"No. Apparently, he’s just a regular guy."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. From what I heard, the head designer suddenly decided to add him in."
Trinity continued venting her frustration, wondering how they were supposed to work with a complete rookie who had never even stood in front of a camera.
At that moment, a staff member knocked on the door and peeked inside.
"Is hair and makeup finished?"
The makeup artist, still holding a brush, looked up and responded.
"Almost done."
"Great. Please be on standby in ten minutes."
After the staff member left, Trinity let out a long sigh.
"Since you’ll be working with a total beginner, today’s shoot might be a bit of a struggle. Just be prepared."
"Got it."
Kinsley wanted to sigh as well, but unexpected situations like this were a common occurrence in the fashion industry.
After all, this was a field where stylists would apply wax that wouldn’t wash out, where models would be handed ill-fitting shoes at the last minute because someone suddenly decided to switch them out before a runway show.
It wasn’t unusual for a model to go through an entire rehearsal only to be replaced at the last moment. Compared to that, working with an inexperienced model was hardly the worst thing that could happen.
‘He’s probably someone’s acquaintance or the child of a famous person.’
Trinity had already come to that conclusion as she stood up from her seat.
Once Kinsley had finished with her makeup and changed into her designated outfit and shoes, Tom Ford, the head designer, approached her alongside a female assistant.
“Hmm.”
Ford stroked his chin, scanning Kinsley from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze.
“Tighten the waist a little more to accentuate her figure.”
“Yes.”
The assistant moved behind Kinsley, adjusting the waist of the dress slightly before securing it with pins.
After another careful inspection, Ford nodded in approval.
“Okay. Perfect.”
Kinsley was dressed in a form-fitting black mini dress.
The off-shoulder design highlighted her sharp, straight shoulders and delicate collarbones, while the draping from the waist down created a sculpted, three-dimensional silhouette.
With high heels and bold accessories completing the look, she transformed into a vision of elegance and seduction.
Ford, clearly satisfied, turned to Kinsley and asked,
“I went over the concept for this collection with you last time, right?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to capture the essence of jet-set glamour—the sensual yet sophisticated lifestyle that modern women aspire to.”
“Of course.”
Kinsley answered with a bright, effortlessly charming smile.
Ford scanned the extra outfits and accessories laid out for the shoot before picking up a gold-hardware horsebit shoulder bag with Gucci’s signature monogram.
“This bag should complement your look perfectly.”
As Kinsley took the bag and struck a subtle pose, Ford nodded in approval, clearly pleased.
Just then, a staff member approached and informed him, “The male model is ready.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Ford immediately turned around, directing his attention toward the set.
A tall, strikingly handsome East Asian man, dressed in a sharply tailored suit, was walking into the studio, where several stand lights had been arranged for the shoot.
As Ford greeted the man enthusiastically, Kinsley caught a clear view of his face—and her eyes widened in shock.
“Wait, that’s—”
“What’s wrong?”
Trinity, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Kinsley quickly composed herself and brushed it off.
“It’s nothing.”
If she mentioned anything, Trinity would surely launch into a lecture—asking why she had gone out alone, warning her about the dangers of pickpockets, and so on.
Besides, for some reason, Kinsley wanted to keep her chance encounter with Seok-won as her little secret.
Watching Ford kneel down to personally adjust the hem of Seok-won’s trousers, she couldn’t help but smile slightly to herself.
‘I never expected to meet him again like this.’
Had he somehow known this would happen when he turned down her dinner invitation yesterday?
Her heart began to beat just a little faster.
Meanwhile, Trinity, who had been outraged about working with an amateur, now seemed slightly intrigued after seeing Seok-won in person.
“Ford is treating him like royalty. Who is this guy?”
Her tone, now filled with curiosity, contrasted sharply with her earlier frustration.
She tilted her head and examined him more closely.
“Hmm… The face? Approved. His proportions and height? Absolutely perfect. I don’t recognize him, so he’s definitely new to modeling, but at least he looks good just standing there.”
Of course, modeling wasn’t just about having good looks and the right height.
The real challenge was how naturally someone could pose in front of the camera.
In fact, athletes and dancers often performed better in fashion shoots than actors, thanks to their body control and awareness.
With that thought in mind, Trinity folded her arms, deciding to wait and see how things played out.
“Kinsley! Come over here for a moment.”
As Ford gestured for her to come over, Kinsley walked into the set with an unaffected expression.
“This is Park Seok-won, your partner for today’s shoot. It’s his first time modeling, so Kinsley, make sure to guide him well.”
Then, turning to Seok-won, Ford added with a proud smile,
“And this is Kinsley—one of the hottest models right now and Gucci’s future muse.”
The moment Seok-won saw Kinsley, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Even with the heavy editorial makeup, there was no mistaking those striking, crystal-clear blue eyes—he remembered them vividly from their last encounter.
Noticing his reaction, Kinsley flashed a playful smile and extended her hand.
“Kinsley White.”
Seok-won hesitated briefly before shaking her hand.
“…Park Seok-won.”
Just then, the photographer holding the camera called out.
“Alright, let’s do a quick test shoot while we check the lighting.”
Ford nodded at the two models.
“I’ll be watching from behind, so do your best, both of you.”
With that, Ford stepped out of the set, leaving the photographer in charge.
“For the first pose, Kinsley, sit on his lap and wrap your arms around his neck as if embracing him.”
Seok-won took a seat on the chair at the center of the set, and Kinsley moved in to follow the instructions.
Peering through the camera lens, the photographer let out an impressed “Oh!”
“You two have great visual chemistry together. Now, Seok-won, place your hand on Kinsley’s leg as if naturally pulling her in.”
Seok-won hesitated for a fraction of a second before resting his palm on Kinsley’s long, slender leg, which was exposed beneath the hem of her mini dress.
“A little higher!”
As Seok-won’s large palm slid further up her thigh at the photographer’s instruction, Kinsley let out a quiet breath.
“Does this make you uncomfortable?”
“No.”
She’d been modeling for years—there was no way a little skinship would make her uneasy.
If anything, it was his deep, velvety voice whispering near her ear that felt far more provocative.
Why does his voice have to be so low and smooth?
Grumbling inwardly, Kinsley naturally leaned into him, arching her back ever so slightly.
“Okay! That’s perfect!”
Click. Click.
The photographer snapped several shots before turning to the crew.
“The male model’s face is catching a bit of shadow. Adjust the lighting angle slightly.”
“Got it.”
As the staff busied themselves with the lights, Kinsley, still draped in Seok-won’s arms with her hands resting around his neck, lowered her voice in a whisper.
“We meet again.”
Seok-won tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto hers.
“We do.”
Maybe it was the way he held her, or the angle at which he looked down at her, but there was a subtle, undeniable tension between them.
Flashing a bewitching smile, Kinsley teased,
“I still haven’t repaid you for helping me the other day. Are you free for dinner tonight?”
When Seok-won didn’t immediately respond, Kinsley narrowed her eyes at him in mock offense.
“Are you going to turn me down again? Just so you know, there won’t be a third time. I have my pride, you know.”
At that, Seok-won let out a quiet chuckle.
“I like seafood.”
“Perfect! I know a place that makes amazing vongole pasta.”
“It’s not one of those tourist-trap restaurants, is it?”
“Of course not! My friend introduced me to this real hidden gem.”
“Alright, then. Let’s see just how good it is.”
Comments
Jarod lane
Hmmm MC getting a bit of personal life now I like it
Karma1997
Who is Kinsley white? I couldn't find her online.
Taniv Tanveer
I can't wait 😭 for the next chapter
Rivo
"But why male models?" So, is Seok Won finally going to get a girlfriend?
