Chapter 48
Pacing around the dressing room was the only way Yeonho could burn off his restless energy.
He was acting purely on impulse now, while Carl just sat on the couch, watching him in total silence.
Racks of high-end clothes lined the walls, drawing Yeonho's eyes back to them like a kid in a candy store. He had sprinted straight back here the second his meeting with Mr. Jang wrapped up.
Getting a personal business card from the production team leader himself was a massive ego boost—it felt amazing to be recognized for real styling talent.
But a deeper craving was scratching at his chest.
He loved styling, sure, but he loved wearing the clothes even more. As a total fashion geek, picking out outfits for others was only half the fun.
Ultimately, his true dream was to be the one showing them off on the runway with full confidence.
"How long do you think it takes until the photoshoot wraps up?" Yeonho suddenly asked, his eyes still glued to the racks.
"I don't know, Mistress. I mean—Mr. Yeonho," Carl replied, sounding completely out of his element. He knew absolutely nothing about the modeling world.
Suddenly, the impulsive thoughts won. Giving in to the urge, Yeonho reached up, tore off his wig, and immediately began wiping away the heavy disguise makeup.
Carl bolted up from the couch, his eyes wide.
"Mistress? What are you doing?"
"Taking this shit off." Tossing the wig aside, Yeonho grabbed a tub of cleansing cream.
"I can't help it. I have to try these on. Guard the door and don't let anyone in."
Carl hesitated for a second, but he ultimately listened. Yeonho wasn't worried about getting caught yet anyway.
Major photoshoots usually took hours, leaving him more than enough time to be a little crazy and strip down his disguise.
Once the makeup was gone, he brushed out his long blonde hair into voluminous, natural waves. He gave his face a proper wash before touching any of the cosmetics, and with his bright blue eyes fully revealed, he could finally see clearly.
He did everything he could to look absolutely flawless.
Next came the challenge of choosing the right outfit. The shoot's concept was a weird mix of modern fantasy, mythology, and medieval vibes.
It was pretty confusing, but luckily, he had already picked out the perfect fit for Min-Hyuk.
Since the guy looked like a modern-day vampire, an elegant black look with intricate lace and stitching had been the obvious choice.
Then, a separate rack in the corner caught his attention, bearing a paper tag labeled: REJECTED.
Walking over to scan the designs, his jaw dropped.
'Found it.'
He pulled off the plastic cover, turning the hanger left and right.
It was perfect.
It had a dark, gothic edge while still looking incredibly high-end. The collar was a closed choker cut that plunged into a sharp V-line down his chest.
It was exactly his style.
"Look, Carl. Doesn't it look like it was literally made for me? Hahaha!"
"It does, Mistress." Carl nodded loyally, agreeing with whatever Yeonho said.
Not wasting another second, Yeonho scooped up the fabric with a wide smile and headed straight into the changing booth.
Stripping out of his casual shirt and trousers, he carefully slid into the gothic outfit. The trousers from the set fit like a glove.
Checking the view in the half-mirror, a delighted laugh escaped his lips.
"My ass looks great in these, seriously. Hahaha."
The top came next, but he immediately hit a wall. The design featured a built-in corset that needed to be laced up entirely from the back.
"Carl! I need help! Get in here!"
Carl moved instantly, leaving his post to help. But in his rush, he made a massive mistake: he forgot to make sure the main door locked behind him.
Walking up to the changing booth, Carl knocked three times.
"Mistress? You said you need help?"
The curtain slid open slowly, and Carl completely froze.
"You... you look beautiful, Mistress... I mean, sorry. What was it again? Help? Do you need help?" Carl stammered, totally mesmerized.
Yeonho giggled at the reaction.
Even though he knew he looked good, he couldn't see the full picture since the booth mirror only showed everything from the waist down.
"Help me with this." Yeonho turned his back to him.
"Tie it. It's a corset, and the ribbons are too hard to reach on my own, so tighten it up."
"Yes, Mistress. Excuse me."
Carl stepped closer and began lacing up the back of the outfit.
Once they finished, the two walked out of the booth. Sitting on the couch, Yeonho pointed toward the far wall where all the footwear was displayed.
"Carl, grab those over-the-knee boots with all the strings."
Carl threw a hesitant glance toward the racks.
"Not in the men's section, Carl," Yeonho called out with a smirk. "Grab the ones with heels. They look like they're for women."
Nodding, Carl scanned the shoes until he spotted a specific pair of high-heeled boots with heavy lacing.
They definitely looked like women's boots, but he picked them up and brought them over anyway.
"Is this what you were talking about, Mistress?"
"Yes. Bring them here and help me put them on."
Carl walked over, dropped to his knees right in front of the couch, and carefully helped Yeonho into the boots.
Three minutes later, the whole look was complete.
Only fifteen minutes had passed from start to finish.
Yeonho stood up and walked over to the full-length mirror in the corner to inspect his silhouette.
"I look like an angel... but a bad one. Isn't this perfect? Honestly, I look like an incubus, Carl. What do you think?"
Carl swallowed hard, nodded slowly, knowing full well what an incubus was.
Standing there admiring the view, his eyes glued to the glass, Yeonho suddenly let out a dejected sigh.
"I wish I could actually wear this for photoshoot... That would be so much fun."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Yeonho froze instantly.
'What the hell?!'
Was the session already done? Did something happen while he was busy playing dress-up?
Knock. Knock.
The noise outside hit Yeonho's reality.
He had been too stupid to realize someone might check the dressing room.
Honestly, no one was supposed to be here since everyone was busy with Min-Hyuk's solo shoot, but taking chances wasn't an option.
If he got caught in Min-Hyuk's workplace, the news would leak in a heartbeat.
"Carl, go out and see who it is. I need to take all of this off. Shit..."
Panic setting in, Yeonho tried to sit back down and rip the boot laces open, but his hands were too shaking and clumsy. He couldn't loosen the knots at all.
Meanwhile, Carl was already at the door, trying to block the entrance.
"May I help you?"
"Where is he, Carl?"
"Are you sure this guy fits the criteria, Mr. Kang? We're on a really tight schedule here."
The voices filtering through the door were horribly familiar.
It was Min-Hyuk and the production leader, Mr. Jang.
"Why are they here? What the fuck... shit, I'm gonna get caught. I'm gonna get caught.... I'm dead..."
Yeonho hissed in a panicked whisper.
But before he could even attempt to hide, the door burst open.
The entire room went dead silent.
Every single eye landed on Yeonho.
Min-Hyuk went completely still, looking like a statue. His eyes tracked from the long, flowing blonde waves down to the cinched waist, and finally to the towering leather boots.
He hadn't expected Yeonho to strip off his disguis, let alone a transformation like this. He walked slowly, his focus entirely locked on Yeonho, who was sitting awkwardly on the couch.
"Yeonho?"
Min-Hyuk stopped right in front of him.
Looking up, Yeonho let out a tense breath, trying to stay calm. He stood up, his bright blue eyes locking with Min-Hyuk's.
"This is bad, right? Now everyone knows I'm here. They're gonna kick me out," he whispered, glancing nervously at the door.
Instead of answering, Min-Hyuk reached out, his fingers gently gripping Yeonho's chin. He turned Yeonho's face left and right, staring intently at his exposed features with a dark, unreadable expression.
"You look beautiful," Min-Hyuk said softly.
Yeonho stood frozen in place, totally confused by how calm Min-Hyuk was acting.
He had just been caught red-handed, yet there was no anger.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jang, the photographer, and a few crew members were standing by the door in absolute shock.
"That's... that is Choi Yeonho!"
"Choi Yeonho is here? Why? What's going on?"
"That's him? He looks..."
Min-Hyuk finally let go of Yeonho's face, stepping aside as Mr. Jang and the photographer moved further into the room to approach them.
Watching them get closer, Yeonho's heart begun beating fast. His fingers started fidgeting anxiously until Min-Hyuk noticed it, he smoothly stepped forward, using his broad shoulders to shield Yeonho from the prying eyes at the door.
Yeonho instinctively reached out, holding onto Min-Hyuk's arm tight.
"Care to explain?" Mr. Jang demanded.
"Okay, I lied about his identity. That's my fault," Min-Hyuk admitted straight up.
Yeonho's head snapped up in total shock.
"So you brought him here acting like everything's fine? He doesn't have a clean reputation in this country, Mr. Kang," Mr. Jang pressed, narrowing his eyes.
"He's my stylist, and yes, he's from the Choi family, Mr. Jang," Min-Hyuk said, his voice dropping into a commanding tone. "But just look at him. He's exactly the model you've been looking for."
Yeonho shook his head aggressively, he pulled Min-Hyuk's sleeve, frantically trying to signal a denial.
None of this made sense.
'What the hell is going on? Why the fuck are you selling me out, Kang Min-Hyuk, you idiot!'
He expected Min-Hyuk to make up excuses, not pitch him as a new model to Mr. Jang, or do confession like a this.
"Just take a look at him," Min-Hyuk repeated, gently pulling Yeonho out from behind him like bait for a fish.
"What do you think you're doing, Min-Hyuk..." Yeonho ground out through his teeth in a harsh whisper.
"Just be quiet and let me handle this."
'Handle my ass... You're making it worse!'
Mr. Jang looked Yeonho up and down with deep reluctance, but beside him, the photographer was starting to nod. A massive smile spread across the man's face.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Mr. Jang... he looks way better and fits the concept more perfectly than any model we've seen in the industry lately."
"See? I told you, he's perfect." Min-Hyuk added smoothly.
Yeonho just blinked, completely lost.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Mr. Jang let out a stressed sigh. Even with a completely trashed reputation in Korea, he couldn't deny the visual standing right in front of him.
"Fine... Mr. Choi, you'll be our main model alongside Mr. Kang. Domestic reputation doesn't matter as much here—Dior is an international brand. We need a flawless face for the magazine covers and headlines, and you fit the bill."
Turning to the lingering crew members, Mr. Jang barked orders.
"Tell everyone to stand by and get ready. Our replacement model is ready any minute now."
The staff bowed and scrambled down the hall.
"We'll be at the studio. Take a minute to get yourselves together before we start," Mr. Jang said, already tapping away on his phone to call the head Dior ambassador in Korea.
"Do some quick final touches, Mr. Choi. I want you looking even more perfect when the shutters start clicking," the photographer added with a polite bow before exiting.
The door shut, leaving the two of them completely alone while Carl stepped outside to guard the hallway.
The soft sound of the latch made Yeonho jump a little. Looking up, his eyes met Min-Hyuk's gaze.
"What the hell is going on? Why did you tell them the truth? And why is Mr. Jang talking about me modeling? My disguise is completely ruined!"
Collapsing back onto the couch, Yeonho stared blankly at the coffee table, his brain a total mess from all the commotion.
"You're cute when you're clueless," Min-Hyuk smirked.
Yeonho shot him a vicious glare.
"Cute, my ass. Start explaining."
"You're the star for today's shoot. You'll be my partner because the model who was supposed to take the slot passed out from exhaustion."
For a second, Yeonho almost jumped from joy—until reality hit him like a truck.
Hiding was supposed to be the plan. If he walked out there and accepted a high-profile modeling gig, his face would be plastered everywhere.
But the opportunity was unbelievable. Working for a powerhouse international brand like Dior was his ultimate dream.
He was conflicted. He wanted it so badly, but it was risky.
'No...'
A sudden calculating spark cleared his panic.
'I can use this. If I play my cards right, this isn't a disaster. It's perfect to start my career.'
Calming down, Yeonho looked up.
"Okay, I'll do it. But I need to talk to Mr. Jang first."
"Sure, I'll go call him."
A few seconds later, Mr. Jang stepped back into the room alone, while Min-Hyuk headed to the main studio.
"Mr. Jang, I'd like to make a deal," Yeonho sat up straight.
Mr. Jang sat on the opposite couch, looking impatient.
"What is it? We need to get moving right now. Don't keep the crew waiting."
"Don't worry, I'll be quick. When's the officially release of the magazine and the new clothing line?"
"Next week."
A smug smile curved Yeonho's lips. It was perfect—His and Hana's birthdays were next week. Securing the timing was all that mattered.
"My birthday is next week, too. How about we move the launch schedule to drop exactly on my birthday?"
Reaching into his bag, Yeonho pulled out his phone to call the one person who could make things happen without any problem.
Mr. Jang scoffed.
"We don't just shift international marketing dates for someone's birthday, Mr. Choi. Corporate needs to finalize the theme for fashion week... Mr. Choi? Are you even listening to me?"
"Hang on. Let me take this call."
"Seriously..." Mr. Jang shakes his head in disbelief.
Placing the phone to his ear, Yeonho's voice instantly shifted into a bright, affectionate tone.
"Mr. Han, I need a quick favor. Can you fix something for me? I really want this for my birthday."
The answering voice on the other end was immediate and completely doting.
[What is it, dear? Tell me and I'll give it you.]
Smiling wide, Yeonho put the call on speaker so Mr. Jang could hear every single word. He quickly explained everything that had happened with the shoot and the Dior campaign.
The moment he finished, Jiseok's tone went cold and commanding, addressing the production leader directly.
[Change the schedule to match what he wants.]
"Look, I don't know who you are, but corporate protocol doesn't—"
[Just do as he says.]
"But—"
[Do it.]
The line went dead, leaving Yeonho blinking at the phone with a amused expression.
Sure enough, less than three minutes later, Mr. Jang's personal phone started ringing off the hook. He answered it, his face losing all color.
"I... I can't believe this. Are we really pushing the schedule forward? Isn't it too sudden?" Mr. Jang stammered into the receiver, sounding completely stressed out.
Keeping his cool was a struggle, but listening to the frantic conversation made excitement pump through Yeonho's veins.
'No way. Did Mr. Han seriously just call the head Dior ambassador or the CEO in Korea? That's insane...'
"Yes, sir. Dropping it on Mr. Choi's birthday. I understand. Goodbye," Mr. Jang muttered, hanging up before staring across the table.
"So, what did they say?" Yeonho leaned forward, smirking in anticipation.
"Absolute media silence about you being here until your birthday," Mr. Jang rubbed his temple.
"The entire release date is being shifted to next week. You're officially the new headline face for the Dior campaign."
Yeonho jumped up from the couch and threw his hands into the air with a triumphant cheer.
Mr. Jang looked completely drained by the sudden corporate chaos, though he was still quietly relieved that a flawless replacement model had been found.
"I've been ordered to make sure the entire crew keeps their mouths shut about your involvement until the launch," Mr. Jang added, heading for the door.
"Now, can we finally start the session?"
Yeonho nodded eagerly.
Mr. Jang walked out to brief the staff on the strict NDA rules, keeping one specific corporate order close to his chest: Min-Hyuk wasn't allowed to know about the birthday arrangement.
It was to remain completely confidential.
Five minutes later, the entire studio was ready.
The atmosphere was charged with shock and excitement as the crew waited to see the mystery model make his debut.
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