"Scheming Opportunists."
Kim John silently labeled the executives attending the meeting with those words.
When he had chosen the muse, they had all insisted that designers must have autonomy in their decisions.
And now, they were making complaints.
Why?
Because they had ulterior motives.
"An Asian in a fashion show... Well, I believe proof is necessary, yes, proof."
"Of course. Honestly, being a muse means being the face of Louis Vuitton. This is serious business."
"If someone is made a muse, shouldn’t they fulfill their responsibilities? Why hasn’t he walked in a fashion show yet?"
They wanted to see him.
Kim Donghu, the man whose perfect blend of raw masculinity and beauty had once made every luxury brand clamor to collaborate with him.
That’s who they were desperate to meet.
And so, they threw out absurd suggestions.
"As you know, I’ve already explained that this matter requires patience until next year, given my authority."
He reminded them that Korea was a country with mandatory military service obligations.
Until next year, they would simply have to wait.
Everyone had agreed to these terms.
Though he couldn’t participate in major events, it had been decided that he would collaborate diligently in other areas.
"How greedy can they get?"
The executives were practically salivating at the thought of showcasing Louis Vuitton’s muse to the world.
They wanted to flaunt the fact that they had successfully secured Kim Donghu in the fierce competition among rival brands.
The Western world still buzzed with talk of “The Meteor of Boxing,” Kim Donghu, and they wanted to capitalize on it.
"After all, there was that Arthurian meme."
The meme that had gone viral, showing Kim Donghu standing over heavyweight boxers, wielding a sword, as if inheriting the throne.
It had circulated widely, and Louis Vuitton’s stakeholders had celebrated it.
Regardless.
What exactly were they after?
How much longer were they planning to beat around the bush?
As Kim John quietly listened, one executive finally spoke up:
"So, how about including Kim Donghu in the Louis Vuitton x Supreme collaboration lookbook?"
"The lookbook?"
"Yes. It’s set to release in June, so there’s about two months. If we shoot separately and add him in, there’s plenty of time."
Although this kind of decision typically fell under Kim John’s jurisdiction,
he couldn’t ignore the growing pressure to utilize Kim Donghu.
This time, he decided to compromise.
"Alright, I’ll discuss it."
The moment those words left his mouth:
"Fashion Week is understandable. Asian Games, wasn’t it? He needs to secure that gold medal."
The executives looked visibly relieved, as if all their concerns had been resolved.
After all, winning a medal was a vital part of his role as a muse.
Gold medal. Louis Vuitton.
Golden fists. Louis Vuitton.
The association between these two ideas was too good to pass up.
Overwhelmingly number one.
The fist that conquered the world.
That value translated directly into the brand’s prestige.
This was an unprecedented approach for Louis Vuitton.
For so long, the brand’s image had been tied to its value, craftsmanship, and price.
Now, they were breaking new ground by merging the raw aggression of boxing with the elegance of a luxury brand.
And the man embodying this innovation had the perfect looks, character, and physique to carry it off.
"The lookbook... It might be better to shoot it in Japan. It’s closer for everyone."
"There’s also the popup store opening in June. He could make a brief appearance there."
Just imagining the possibilities made them salivate.
"Scheming opportunists."
In the end, all they wanted was to work with Kim Donghu.
And yet, they’d spent so much time on grandiose preludes to make their point.
They were the very definition of insidious.
****
April 1st, Saturday, 9 PM
The perfect golden hour for a drama premiere.
The first episode of Our Fake Wedding aired, following an aggressive final push in its promotions.
"Zuhahaha! Kim Donghu Magic! Kim Donghu Magic!"
Crunch.
Inside the KBC drama director’s office,
Kim Cheoldo chomped on a sweet cherry pie while watching the show.
"The chemistry between the actors is so good, the show practically runs itself!"
The first episode served to establish the drama’s premise and its world.
And what better way to do that than through the protagonists' costumes and appearances?
"The way they look speaks volumes about the characters!"
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Kim Donghu appeared onscreen.
He perfectly embodied the image of the dream art student that writer Lee Minha had envisioned in her sleep.
Broad shoulders, a solid chest, and a sharply defined silhouette.
Even in just a plain white T-shirt and jeans, his presence was undeniable.
"Zuhahaha! Kim Donghu! I’m so thrilled to see you back on KBC screens!"
Crunch.
Han Doyun, waking up leisurely despite being late.
And Jung Subin, reacting to his tardiness as if the sky had fallen.
The contrasting personalities were captured perfectly in the split-screen framing.
"A great composition. It instantly shows who’s the male lead and who’s the female lead."
"Our director really knows what he’s doing."
As the episode progressed,
Kim Cheoldo casually opened his phone and logged into Kim Donghu’s fan café.
Checking the ratings could wait.
For now, the real-time reactions were his priority.
Fan Reactions
Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēewebnovel.com Only.
[Kim Donghu’s Art Student Look Debuts ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]
ㄴWow... this is going to set impossible standards.
ㄴWhere can we find an art student oppa like this? lmao
ㄴ*(Returning art student: Olympic gold medalist)*
[The dialogue is kinda cheesy though lol]
ㄴ*"Oh, he draws? A guy? Must be weak then." (Heavyweight boxer)
ㄴThey said he retired amateur boxing undefeated~
[The guy’s reaction during that line (slow-motion GIF, data warning)]
ㄴ*“Weak”? Him? Me? Say that again with a straight face.*
ㄴHis body looks seriously angry at that line.
ㄴKim Donghu hasn’t officially measured his lifts, but he could definitely wear Under Armour.
ㄴWho’s brave enough to test him though?
ㄴAnyone trying would probably end up a pancake lol.
[Real-time: Kim Sujin and Kim Donghu’s First Meeting Scene]
ㄴEvery frame is a magazine cover.
ㄴAnd Kim Sujin? Even in deliberately shabby clothes, she still looks stunning.
ㄴKim Donghu... you were never meant for boxing. Your place is on the screen.
ㄴAgreed.
ㄴDonghu, please focus on dramas and movies. No more risking that national treasure face in sports.
ㄴBut he still has to compete in the Asian Games lol.
ㄴSorry, but if no one’s on steroids, he’ll clear it all in round one.~
[The Final Scene Ends Perfectly]
ㄴThe requirements are intense.
ㄴAnyone else would’ve been rejected and called crazy on the spot.
ㄴLooks really do solve everything.
ㄴLife is easier when you’re handsome, huh?
ㄴStep 1: Propose marriage.
As Kim Cheoldo scrolled through the comments,
he couldn’t help but smirk.
"The reactions are as good as I expected."
*****
"Hmm, Not Bad at All."
The members of the fan café were naturally engaged,
and the buzz on community sites showed they were watching intently from start to finish.
With all this excitement, curiosity about the ratings began to grow.
Thump-thump-thump.
Finally, the drama ended, and even the commercials were over.
About five minutes later—
Bang!
The door to the drama director’s office burst open,
and Kim Youngmo, the PD, entered like a triumphant general, wearing a bucket hat.
"The first episode! The ratings! Twenty percent!"
"What?! Twenty percent? Twenty percent?!"
This wasn’t just because the drama was good.
It was the result of relentless promotion, the hype surrounding Kim Donghu’s return,
and the attention-grabbing fact that this was a drama starring an Olympic gold medalist.
There’s hardly anything with the mass appeal of the Olympics.
Still, twenty percent was staggering—a number far beyond "a good start."
"...We might actually have our celebration dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant."
Kim Cheoldo calmly pulled out the company card from his pocket.
"For now, eel—no, never mind. Just eat whatever you guys want."
With a 20% starting rating,
how much would the incoming ad revenue amount to?
Crunch-crunch-crunch.
The cherry pie kept disappearing.
"Zuhahahahaha!"
The laughter wouldn’t stop.
He made a declaration once more.
From this moment forward—
"Weekend dramas belong to KBC!!!"
The era of KBC dramas had begun.
++++++
『Kim Donghu’s Spectacular Return: Our Fake Wedding Premieres with 20% Ratings!』
『An Unstoppable Force: Will Ratings Hit 40%? How Far Can It Go?』
"Wow, the articles are blowing up!"
The morning after the premiere of Our Fake Wedding,
Choi Seokho checked the articles, his excitement making him wiggle in his seat.
"The momentum’s great."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted.
Glance.
Choi Seokho’s eyes locked onto the ongoing shoot ahead.
Although a few minor scenes were left to film,
Director Lee Seong-deok had prioritized finishing the major scenes back-to-back.
"Today’s scene..."
The confrontation between the police and the Hero.
It was time for Han Taegun and Kim Donghu to face off in an intense acting duel.