Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 178

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

178. We meet again like this.

Seok-won couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the completely unexpected proposal, and he asked in return.

“Did you just say you want to make me a model?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”

Landon Shore, receiving his gaze, answered with an equally troubled expression.

“The condition for contract renewal is that the boss personally model the menswear line of the F/W collection currently in preparation.”
“What do you mean by that….”

Seok-won straightened his upper body as if the whole thing were absurd, his brow furrowing.

“You’re not joking right now, are you?”
“I would never do something so disrespectful.”
“It’s just so out of the blue. What’s the reason they want me to model?”
“The theme of this collection is called Jetset Glamour.”
“And?”

Seok-won asked with his arms crossed.

“Though I don’t know much about fashion, according to Jacob Thompson, the creative director, it represents a woman who works busily during the day, enjoys glamorous parties at night, and goes yacht sailing on weekends—in other words, a woman who possesses not just beauty, but also wealth, fame, and a refined lifestyle.”

Landon Shore shrugged as he spoke, glancing at the quietly listening Seok-won before continuing.

“The collection will embody all the lifestyle aspirations of modern women. Apparently, the boss’s confident and charismatic aura perfectly matches the essence of the main theme.”

At that, Seok-won let out an exasperated breath.

“So Bindman—or rather, Thompson—said that?”
“Yes.”
“Sigh….”

Seok-won pressed his temples with his fingers as if his head ached.
Then he lifted his head to look at Landon Shore and asked.

“Surely you’re not asking me to be the main model, are you?”

Fortunately, Landon Shore shook his head.

“Not at all. We already have a male lead model secured. You would simply need to wear a few suits as a supporting model for the advertising poster shoot. Of course, there’s no need for you to walk the runway at the fashion show.”
“I have absolutely no intention of walking a runway in front of all those people.”

Seok-won stated it flatly, his expression serious.

“Of course you wouldn’t.”

Considering his social standing and wealth alone, it wouldn’t be unusual for him to host champagne parties every day, yet surprisingly, Seok-won preferred simplicity.

‘If anything, he’s more of a workaholic.’

Moreover, he disliked drawing unnecessary attention from others, so if they’d asked him to appear in the fashion show, he would have refused outright.
His personality was utterly incompatible with the entertainment industry, where success required a certain hunger for the spotlight.
Landon Shore cleared his throat and opened his mouth again.

“After seeing the boss in person last night, Jacob Thompson apparently developed quite an interest in your appearance. He envisioned an image of dining with a beautiful woman at a high-end restaurant, cruising through New York’s night skyline in a magnificent car—that sort of thing.”
“Good grief….”
“Honestly, your appearance rivals that of most Hollywood actors, and it apparently matches Jacob Thompson’s ideal image quite well.”
“What did you say?”
“Ah, of course, as a brand model.”

Seok-won was momentarily startled, then let out a relieved sigh.

“Above all, during dinner you mentioned that Asia, particularly the Chinese market, would experience significant growth in the future. That’s when he decided that when launching the collection, he should include an Asian model to target the Asian market as well.”
“And that person is me?”

Landon Shore nodded as he spoke.

“Frankly speaking, even I can see that your appearance is more than suitable for modeling. And if we’re talking about someone who enjoys a glamorous lifestyle, well, that describes you perfectly, doesn’t it?”

Seok-won’s brow furrowed.

“I’m not particularly living a glamorous life.”
“A glamorous life isn’t limited to enjoying nightlife with women. Traveling the world on a private jet while commanding hundreds of billions of dollars—surely that’s a life everyone would envy, wouldn’t you say?”

His objection wasn’t entirely without merit, so Seok-won smacked his lips in resignation.
Watching this, Landon Shore asked carefully.

“It seemed like more than just a casual probe—quite an aggressive approach, actually. What should I tell Thompson?”
“Hmm….”

Seok-won fell silent, lost in thought.
The request had come out of nowhere and caught me off guard, but it wasn’t something so difficult that I couldn’t possibly agree to it.

‘Showing my face is a bit uncomfortable, but I’m not even the main model—just a supporting role with a few shots. There’s nothing particularly troublesome about it.’

Besides, if the shoot went poorly and the results were underwhelming, they could simply discard the footage and not use it.
More importantly, after hearing what he had said about actively pursuing marketing aimed at the Asian market, it was difficult to refuse to help.

“Sigh. This is something else.”

Smacking his lips once more, Seok-won looked at Landon Shore, who was waiting for an answer with an air of inevitability, and finally spoke.

“Tell him I’ll do it.”

Landon Shore’s expression shifted to one of surprise, as he had secretly expected a refusal.

“You’re really going to do this?”
“I’m not particularly enthusiastic about it, but Thompson is asking like this—what can I do? And since it’s necessary for marketing as well.”

Seok-won crossed his arms and let out a deep sigh.

“Gucci is my company—I own one hundred percent of it. It’s not something else; they’re working to bring in money, so I should help.”
“The boss becoming a model—I’m already looking forward to it.”
“As long as I don’t botch it and make the staff’s job harder, that’s all that matters.”

Landon Shore laughed reassuringly.

“They said it’s just a simple shoot for a poster and a few photographs, so it shouldn’t be too burdensome.”
“That’s hardly reassuring.”

Seok-won muttered flatly.

“Oh, and the female model you’ll be shooting with is Kinsley White—an American supermodel who’s been selected as Gucci’s main model starting this season. I hear she’s famous among models for her exceptional beauty.”

As that meaningful gaze fell upon him, Seok-won’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“What’s with that expression?”
“Who knows? Perhaps something fortunate will come of it.”
“Enough with the idle talk. Since both of them have accepted the proposal, finalize the renegotiation before they change their minds.”
“Understood.”
“And transfer the promised investment of 100 million dollars immediately.”
“Yes, I’ll see to it at once.”

* * *

Two days later, a studio in downtown Florence.
A slender Blonde Woman sat in a chair before a large mirror ringed with round bulbs, receiving her makeup application.
The beauty with her eyes closed, false lashes applied, receiving eye makeup from a brush—she was the very same woman whom Seok-won had rescued from nearly being pickpocketed at Piazza della Repubblica.
Then a woman with a stern expression, wearing horn-rimmed glasses and tailored trousers, entered the Makeup Room and spoke with irritation.

“Not only did they suddenly change the shooting schedule, but the male lead is a complete novice! What were they thinking!”

At that, Kinsley White, seated in a robe, cracked one eye open and looked at her manager.

“Trinity, what’s wrong?”

Trinity approached with heavy footsteps, clutching her schedule-filled diary, and promptly explained the reason for her frustration.

“It’s about the male model you’re supposed to shoot with today.”
“Why? Is there a problem?”

Trinity, with her short bob cut and multiple piercings in her ears, adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses and scowled deeply.

“Apparently, he’s never done a photoshoot before—a total greenhorn!”
“Really?”
“I’m telling you! Even if it’s not the main collection piece, it’s still going into the F/W collection lookbook. How can they do this!”

Trinity vented her frustration with fiery indignation.
Even Kinsley, who had been modeling since age eighteen and was now in her fifth year, found the situation quite extraordinary.
Especially since this wasn’t just any brand—it was Gucci, which, despite its diminished prestige compared to before, still held its place among luxury houses.

“Could he be an actor or singer?”

Kinsley White asked with a puzzled expression.
It was common for famous actors or singers to make cameo appearances for promotional purposes, so she wondered if this might be the same situation.
Trinity leaned against the makeup table and shook her head, facing Kinsley White, who sat in a chair receiving makeup application.

“No, apparently just an ordinary person.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. From what I heard, the lead designer suddenly insisted on including them.”

Trinity vented her frustrations about having to work with a complete novice who had never even stood in front of a camera.
At that moment, a staff member knocked and opened the makeup room door.

“Are you finished with hair and makeup?”

The Makeup Artist, holding a brush in one hand, looked up and responded.

“We’re almost done now.”
“Then please be on standby in ten minutes.”

After the staff member closed the door and left, Trinity exhaled a long sigh.

“Since the other person is inexperienced, today’s shoot might be a bit challenging, so mentally prepare yourself.”
“Understood.”

Kinsley White wanted to sigh as well, but such unexpected situations were commonplace in the fashion industry, so there was nothing to be done about it.
It was an industry rife with mishaps—applying wax to hair that wouldn’t wash out, or suddenly being handed shoes that didn’t fit because someone decided to change footwear right before walking the runway.
Models were often replaced even after rehearsals were completed, so dealing with an inexperienced partner model was entirely manageable.

‘They’re probably an acquaintance or perhaps the child of someone famous.’

With that thought, Trinity stood up from her seat.
Once she finished her makeup and put on the prepared outfit and shoes, Jacob Thompson, the lead designer with short-cropped hair wearing comfortable jeans, approached with the Female Assistant.

“Hmm.”

Jacob Thompson stroked his chin with one hand while slowly examining Kinsley White from bottom to top.

“The figure needs to be more defined—cinch the waist a bit tighter.”
“Yes.”

The Female Assistant beside her moved behind Kinsley White and gently pulled the waistline of the one-piece dress taut before securing it with a pin.
Thompson examined it once more with meticulous care, then gave a small nod of approval.

“Okay. Perfect.”

The dress Kinsley White wore was a form-fitting black mini one-piece.
Cut in an off-shoulder style that accentuated her sharp shoulders and collarbone, the skirt featured elegant draping from the waist down, creating a three-dimensional silhouette.
Combined with high-heeled shoes and bold accessories, she had transformed into a vision of glamorous yet sensual beauty.
Thompson regarded her with satisfaction and asked.

“I explained the collection’s concept sufficiently last time, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like you to capture that jet-set glamour—sensual yet elegant—the lifestyle modern women dream of.”
“Of course.”

Kinsley White answered with a radiant smile that was refreshing to behold.
Thompson selected a gold-toned Gucci Horsebit shoulder bag, distinctive with its signature Gucci motif, from among the spare clothing and props arranged to one side for the shoot, and handed it to her.

“This bag should complement the look perfectly.”

As Kinsley White held the shoulder bag and struck a subtle pose, Thompson nodded with evident satisfaction.

“The male model is ready as well.”
“Really?”

At the staff member’s words, Thompson quickly turned to look behind him.
There, a tall East Asian man with the handsome features of an actor entered the set, illuminated by multiple standing lights, wearing a perfectly tailored suit.
As Thompson approached him warmly to converse, Kinsley White caught sight of the man’s face and her eyes widened in surprise, a gasp escaping her lips.

“Wait, that person is—”
“What’s wrong?”

When Trinity asked, Kinsley White hastily brushed it off as nothing.

“It’s nothing.”

If she told Trinity, she knew a barrage of scolding would follow—why had she gone out alone, what if she’d been accosted by a pickpocket, and so on.
Besides, for some reason, she wanted to keep her chance encounter with Seok-won as her own secret.
Watching Thompson kneel on one knee to adjust Seok-won’s trouser length, Kinsley White felt a subtle smile bloom within her.

‘I never thought we’d meet again like this.’

Had I somehow sensed this would happen and rejected Thompson’s offer to buy me dinner yesterday?
Kinsley White’s heart began to flutter slightly.

“Thompson is treating him incredibly well. What exactly does he do?”

Trinity, who had thrown a fit upon hearing that Thompson was bringing a complete novice, seemed to have reconsidered her stance after seeing Seok-won in person, muttering with curiosity brimming in her voice.

“Hmm. Face passes. Proportions and height are perfect too… I don’t recognize him from anywhere, so he really does seem to be a complete beginner with no modeling experience. But once we position him, he’ll photograph well enough.”

Still, being a model wasn’t just about having height and a handsome face.
What mattered was how naturally one could pose in front of the camera.
Since athletes or dancers who moved their bodies well often took better photographs than actors, Trinity crossed her arms with an attitude of waiting to see how things would unfold.

“Kinsley! Come over here for a moment.”

When Thompson gestured toward her, Kinsley White walked onto the set with an unbothered expression.

“This is Park Seok-won, who will be shooting with us today. Since he’s doing this for the first time, please help him out a lot, Kinsley.”

Then, turning to Seok-won standing beside him, he spoke again.

“This is Kinsley White, the hottest model right now and the one who will become Gucci’s muse going forward.”

Upon seeing Kinsley White, Seok-won’s expression showed a hint of surprise, as if he recognized her immediately.
Despite the editorial makeup she wore now, different from their last meeting, he could never forget those brilliant, transparent blue eyes that gleamed like precious gems.
Then Kinsley White extended her hand first with a mischievous smile.

“Kinsley White.”
“…Park Seok-won.”

Seok-won took her hand and shook it.

“Well, we need to check the lighting, so let’s begin with a light test shoot.”

At the Photographer’s words, Thompson looked at the two of them and spoke.

“I’ll be watching from the back, so please do your best, both of you.”

As Thompson exited the set, the Photographer took command of the shoot.

“Alright, first I’d like Kinsley White to sit on the male model’s lap with both arms wrapped around his neck in an embrace.”

I settled into the chair positioned at the center of the set, and Kinsley White adjusted her posture according to the Photographer’s instructions.
After framing both of us through the camera lens, the Photographer raised his voice with an approving sound.

“The models have excellent chemistry together. Now, let’s have the gentleman place his hand on Kinsley’s leg and embrace her naturally.”

I placed my palm on Kinsley White’s slender, elongated leg exposed beneath her mini dress.

“A bit higher!”

As my large hand moved up to her thigh at the Photographer’s direction, Kinsley White exhaled softly.

“Is this uncomfortable?”
“No.”

With years of modeling experience, she wouldn’t be bothered by such casual contact.
Rather, it was the voice whispering near her ear that proved more stimulating.

‘Why is his voice so deep and captivating?’

Kinsley White, grumbling inwardly, naturally leaned her body against me and arched her waist slightly backward.

“Okay! That’s a great pose.”

The Photographer snapped several shots with his camera, then turned to address the staff.

“There’s a slight shadow on the male model’s face—I’ll need to adjust the lighting angle.”
“Understood.”

While the staff adjusted the lighting, Kinsley White, still maintaining her pose with her arms wrapped around my neck as she leaned against me, lowered her voice and whispered.

“We keep meeting like this.”

I lowered my gaze to meet hers.

“We do.”

Perhaps it was the angle at which I held her in my arms, gazing down—whatever the reason, a subtle tension hung between us.
Kinsley White smiled with captivating charm and spoke to me.

“I still haven’t repaid you for helping me last time. Do you have time this evening?”

When I didn’t answer her bold question, Kinsley White gave me a sly sidelong glance.

“Are you turning me down again? Fair warning—there won’t be a third time. I have my pride, you know.”

I let out a soft chuckle and replied.

“I’m fond of seafood dishes.”
“Perfect. I know a place that makes excellent vongole pasta.”
“Not somewhere featured in a tourist guidebook, I hope.”
“Of course not! It’s a genuine gem my friend told me about.”
“Then let’s see just how delicious it is.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————