After LeBlanc’s fashion show ended.

News about Paris Fashion Week started pouring in, bit by bit, even to ordinary people living their everyday lives in Korea.

[Today LeBlanc fashion show crowd]

(A gif of Souffle fans occupying the streets near the museum.gif)

They say it’s the biggest crowd since the 19th century

-Whoa lololololololololol

-Those dots are all people???

-So they’ve been killing it in Europe too;

-I live in Berlin and with METRO coming out this time I’m really feeling it yeah yeah

-Biggest crowd since the 19th century lol

-Is this like “biggest crowd since the World’s Fair” or something? lol

Koreans clicked their tongues at the wave of cheering people in the gif.

‘Wow. This is no joke.’

Related MyTube videos started going up quickly in Korea, too.

-“First Korean celebrity ever” Why Japan is crying tears of blood watching Korea ‘Is this real?’

-“Do you know Korea?” What happened when we asked in front of French fans “NewBlack at Paris Fashion Week”

-America is shocked and China and Japan are jealous: the latest on a Korean celebrity

Ignoring the titles that somehow made his face heat up, he searched on MyTube.

‘I need to see Sun Wooju’s outfit.’

He was curious what kind of clothes he wore when he stepped onto the runway.

Soon, an official opening and closing video of Sun Wooju, uploaded by LeBlanc Korea, began to play.

‘He definitely wore some weird outfit.’

For a moment, he’d imagined something like a peacock with wings and a tail, or an outfit covered head to toe in feathers, or some unique costume covered in flowers.

But the instant the video started, Koreans blankly opened their mouths.

"Wow, insane...."

A statue with model makeup walked by with a blank expression.

A gasp slipped out at the scene where Wooju appeared at the center of the runway wearing a crown made of bright yellow flowers and the like.

‘No, this is insane.’

It wasn’t because of his face.

As if “clothes are wings,” Sun Wooju and the outfit he was wearing right now blended together like a painting. Even if it had been just his face, people would’ve admired it, but with a high fashion outfit that suited him to an all time level...

Even though it was just a video, it was a scene that made you swallow for no reason.

‘This is seriously insane?’

Koreans who had planned to laugh once and give a thumbs up only put their hands on the playback bar.

They jumped back to the opening and watched the walk a few times.

‘Even the walking... is he a model?’

After watching through the closing, they let out hollow laughs and admired him.

It was because of his perfect stride.

Is this what it means to watch with your soul gone? They just smiled as the model in the video made a smooth turn.

They didn’t know why, but they kept smiling. Like the way a crowd does when a soccer player shows an incredible dribble, or a gymnast pulls off a difficult move.

-Feels like the clothes and the person became one fr

-This is so damn sick lolololol

-He looks like a mannequin, insanely handsome

-If you told me he’s just a model I’d believe it

-I thought “yeah he’ll do well again” but he blew past expectations, he’s crazy good

-I watched completely spaced out, seriously

-Off stage he turns back into petty Sun Pettyju but on stage he’s a spaceship you can’t drag down

-He can’t do anything wrong, our Wooju

-But why is he so bad at games..?

Koreans who’d been repeating it like they were possessed headed to the communities.

‘I need some gifs....’

Thankfully, no matter what community you went to, there were gifs of Sun Wooju’s runway walk.

Like saving cute cat gifs or smiling pretty people gifs, Koreans saved Sun Wooju’s walking gifs.

"Wooju is... handsome...."

It was a kind of visual shock.

Like a gag character who only said nonsense in a comic suddenly showing up in a serious art style!

With an unfamiliar feeling and a kind of distance that oddly felt like disappointment, Koreans started playing gag videos.

‘I need to dilute this.’

It wasn’t that they hated it, but... it was kind of... something.

As the public started playing other videos to “get back” the national idol who felt like he’d been stolen by the fashion world—

"Wow...."

The video LeBlanc uploaded started spreading worldwide.

Wherever you went in the world, the standard of beauty was similar.

Everyone recognizes something beautiful.

‘Insane.’

Americans who came across Wooju’s fashion model gifs or photos on Twitter and the like started searching on MyTube.

"Wow...."

It was a video that made a smile draw itself on your face.

From the moment an unreal handsome man walked out from far away, a smile hung at the corner of your mouth, and when the playback ended, you’d hit replay from the beginning without realizing it.

And.

While replaying the video dozens of times, something unexpected was happening.

‘...This song is good?’

METRO, the BGM playing under Wooju’s video as he came out wearing the flower crown in the opening.

Music with an urban, modern mood.

After repeating it dozens of times, the song automatically started to stick in their ears.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, as the music kept circling in their head, people who watched the video added it to their playlists.

METRO started climbing faster and faster!

It was one of the butterfly effects brought on by Sun Wooju’s runway walk.

While NewBlack’s English track kept raising its streaming index more and more, and Wooju’s walk covered Twitter worldwide,

there was another butterfly effect brought on by the runway walk.

[It was truly impressive.]

On the video call screen, an elderly woman in a hat was smiling.

Laura McConnell.

A legendary columnist in the fashion industry, she was telling her friend about the atmosphere of the show.

[The moment he appeared, it felt like my breath stopped. Literally, for a moment I even forgot to breathe.]

"So it impressed you that much?"

[Of course. Haven’t you watched the video yet?]

"No. Not yet."

The actress, slowly swirling a wineglass, took a sip. Her red gleaming lips parted.

"Laura, it’s really fascinating that someone impressed you that much. It doesn’t happen often, does it?"

[That’s right. It’s been almost decades.]

"Now you’ve really got me curious."

[Bella, you have to see this show.]

The actress with picture perfect beauty, Isabella Doris, stroked her smooth cheek. Then she narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Because she could guess the other person’s intention.

"You want to invite him to this event?"

[Yes.]

"If it’s Laura’s recommendation, he’s welcome anytime. I was racking my brain about who to invite anyway."

Isabella Doris nodded readily.

‘If Laura recommends him.’

It was Laura McConnell, after all. Who in the world could go against her at a fashion related event?

After ending the call with Laura McConnell, who praised to exhaustion the person at the center of attention this Fashion Week—

"Hmm...."

With the Eiffel Tower visible behind her, she watched the Paris night view for a moment, then pulled out her tablet.

The search term was LeBlanc fashion show.

Watching the model who stood for the opening and closing, a strange light rose in her eyes.

‘Laura didn’t recommend him for nothing.’

He had a perfect beauty enough that even Jimmy Robbins, rumored in the industry to be a lunatic, would like him.

If it was only that he was handsome, there were plenty of similar people.

But that ability to digest even this kind of high fashion as if it were part of his body was truly...

‘This is exciting.’

It was enough to naturally make you feel anticipation.

Because a fashionista who could pull off even such unique clothing stylishly was exactly the kind of person this event needed most.

‘NewBlack....’

It was a boy band she’d already been watching.

There was Wooju’s fashion that got picked as “Best Dresser” at Teen Choice, and it was also because of the performance at the VMA.

The performance where he appeared dressed up like an alien in a fun way.

‘He has star quality. He’s interesting... he’ll definitely become a topic.’

Honestly, it was hard to say he was at the level to invite yet.

NewBlack was rising hot in America right now, but they were literally “in the process of rising.”

Compared to superstars like Hailey Blue or Mandy Spice, they were just at the level of a rookie singer with promise, but with an abnormally huge fandom.

But it also felt like a waste to leave people like this alone as “not at that level yet,” when they could digest fashion this well and had star quality.

"I should submit a recommendation to the committee."

Isabella Doris, considered one of Hollywood’s top actors.

She was one of the co hosts for next year’s Metropolitan Gala, also known as the Met Gala.

The Met Gala.

A charity fundraising party hosted every year by an American fashion magazine and the Metropolitan Museum, with admission alone reaching 30,000 dollars, the biggest fashion event in America.

Each year, the event set a dress code, and the purpose was to show off clever, unique fashion that suited it.

Even luxury designers created dresses and suits close to works of art, and celebrities competed as an arena of rivalry, trying even harder to stand out.

‘It feels like it’d be fun if he came out.’

Smiling as she remembered the video of the unique alien performance at the VMA, Isabella Doris began writing an email.

Another butterfly effect brought on by Sun Wooju’s runway.

Sun Wooju. Died from excessive bread consumption.

...He had seriously considered whether he should make that his epitaph, because yesterday ended as a bread party.

Croissants.

Baguettes.

And even unnamed breads, freshly baked and warm.

"...Ughhhhh."

Maybe because he’d starved and then suddenly overeaten, his stomach felt bad from the morning. Bloated, nauseous.

"That’s why you should’ve eaten in moderation."

A sharp face stuck to his side and nagged.

"If a doctor saw you, what would they say? It hasn’t even been that long since you got carried in for gastritis and you went and made another stomach illness."

"Ugh, nagging."

"It’s wrong that you think what I’m saying is nagging."

Ignoring the chattering, he flung the curtain wide open. Dust flew up, and Ri Hyuk recoiled in shock.

"Ah, the weather’s nice."

September weather in Paris was the best.

Under a cloudless sky, this view where you could see the landscape of Paris at a glance, including the Eiffel Tower.

"The weather is insanely nice...."

"The weather is so good, yeah? Ah, if we just had time, we could go take some pictures over there."

"We’re flying out soon!"

It was just so unfortunate that they had to head straight to Japan for the tour.

In the end, when they finished by standing at the hotel room window and taking group selfies with the younger ones—

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound.

"...."

When he listened closely, the knock went tok tok tok tok— in a METRO rhythm.

It meant it wasn’t a stalker fan, but their managers.

"Who is it?"

"It’s me."

At Seokhwan’s voice, he flung the door open.

"Bonjour, monsieur!"

"Did you sleep well."

"Uh, what about you?"

"I guess this hotel bed doesn’t suit me. My back’s killing me, I couldn’t sleep a wink."

He was smiling at the “math ghost” thumping his lower back when he noticed it.

Behind Seokhwan, hotel staff were visible. A concierge dressed like a butler stroked his mustache and greeted them.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, monsieur. What is it?"

Each hotel staff member was handling a cart.

"What is it? Did something arrive?"

"Team leader. Why aren’t you coming in?"

The underlings who’d come trotting in behind him looked at the carts with curiosity. When they turned their heads, Seokhwan explained.

"Um...."

As if he didn’t know how to explain it, Seokhwan scratched his cheek and gave an answer.

"Bread."

"Bread?"

"It’s bread. All of it is freshly baked bread."

"...?"

As they blinked, the concierge lifted the white cloth draped over the cart.

[Steam]

At the sight of the breads with steam rising, his stomach churned. The greasy smell made him crave kimchi or gochujang just from smelling it.

"...."

As they turned their heads away again, Seokhwan smiled with a strangely wistful expression.

"Let’s go in first. I’ll explain inside."

"Okay."

The TF Team staff came in, then the hotel staff came in and piled bread baskets on the table like a mountain, then left.

They stacked things that looked like gift boxes neatly, then left as well.

The moment the staff were gone, they walked up to the gift boxes.

"Hm?"

"It’s written in English... huh? These are letters I’ve seen a lot when I went to department stores with my mom!"

"They’re brands."

Biju said, impressed.

"Leroux, Clichy, Deschamps, Vertier...."

It looked like they’d sent gift boxes with cards from luxury brands everyone knew just by the name.

And the messages were written in Korean.

-Welcome to Paris Fashion Week.

-Our brand looks forward to building a beautiful relationship with you...

-Though it is a small gift, we prepared a present for NewBlack as you visit Paris Fashion Week.

The contents were mostly the same. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

In simple terms—

"They sent a friend request."

"Don’t talk about games. Maknae. My stomach is churning."

But it was an appropriate metaphor.

When they asked what all this was, Seokhwan said.

"It seems like those brands want to invite you as ambassadors."

"What’s an ambassador, Team Leader?"

At Biju’s question, Seokhwan answered.

"Simply put, a commercial model. Each luxury brand has an image it wants, and it signs contracts with celebrities who match that image."

"Ohhh... then which one do we do?"

"I don’t think you need to be tied to just one brand. Each brand wants a different image, too."

Seokhwan looked over the members as he spoke.

"Biju has a classy, sophisticated vibe, and Junhyun has a masculine but pastoral beauty. Ri Hyuk suits sharp but urban fashion, and Jiho has a young, trendy charm."

Thump thump.

Seokhwan turned his gaze.

"And your fashion is...."

"Thump thump."

"...Uh. Um. Uh...."

Seokhwan, rubbing between his brows, turned his eyes to Mingi sitting beside him.

"Team Leader Seo Mingi? Our Team Leader Mingi, say a word."

"Me? Uh...."

Um. Uh. Euh. Oh. Um.

After making those filler sounds, Mingi looked at him, eyes sparkling.

"Wooju’s fashion is, uh...."

"Uh?"

"Ugh...."

The TF Team and the underlings burst into laughter together.

He shook his head.

"Forget it. Forget it. Seriously, to get praised once, I have to suffer this humiliation...."

"Honestly, I don’t really know. Well, if LeBlanc’s head designer says you dress well, I guess you dress well."

"But fashion people here told me I dress well."

Hong Seoyeong’s hand shook and tea spilled.

People around them stared with wide eyes, then started snickering, going "Pfft!"

"Uh, Wooju."

Seokhwan said, laughing.

"By the way, LeBlanc made you a personal ambassador offer, and they attached one condition."

"Yeah."

"They said... for clothes, please wear whatever the stylist puts on you. They don’t care about any other conditions, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} but they want you to keep that one for sure."

"...."

The younger ones burst into laughter, closing their eyes tightly.

Just when he thought he might get freedom back, a promotional brand was trying to take his freedom away.

"They said they’ll sponsor your outfits insanely well, though."

"Still, if it’s Jimmy, he’s trustworthy."

"And it looks like each brand is contacting us with ambassador or promotional contract offers, so we’ll compile them. This isn’t something urgent. We need to negotiate under the best possible conditions."

They nodded.

And that was how they talked about yesterday’s fashion show.

"...The online reaction is really hot. Seriously, Twitter basically exploded about the fashion show yesterday. If you’re someone in the world who uses social media, there’s no way you wouldn’t know."

"That much?"

"Yeah, and I think there’ll be good news for METRO too. It seems like it rose by a big margin again after the fashion show."

The younger ones opened their eyes wide and high fived.

"Is it really going to hit number one this time?"

"Number one?"

Billboard Hot 100 number one flickered in their minds and everyone smiled in a good mood.

His walking had become a topic, but it also seemed that LeBlanc’s collection from yesterday was getting unbelievably good reviews among fashion insiders.

Every review from famous fashion magazines was like, “This year, LeBlanc blew it up.”

"At last, Jimmy and I have been acknowledged...."

"Don’t slip yourself in there. Old man."

That emotion was brief.

While talking about work, their eyes also drifted to the breads piled on the table.

"So these breads are...."

"Looks like rumors spread that you like bread. So each brand probably asked famous bakers and sent bread."

"I see...."

"Right...."

"...."

"...."

Silence settled.

After eating bread to the point of nausea yesterday, the TF Team and they stared at the bread with worried smiles.

"...We fly out in a few hours. How are we supposed to eat all of this."

"Should we eat what we can and pack the rest?"

They decided to eat as much as they could.

With that resolution, when they yanked off the white cloth—

"...My god."

They were horrified by the quantity and size of the bread.

One hour later.

Fans who’d gathered to see NewBlack leave the hotel had their arms draped over the barricade.

"NewBlack!"

"NewBlack is coming out!"

"Waaaaaaah!"

NewBlack waved to the cheering Souffle fans.

And.

Each NewBlack member held a bag filled with enormous breads, wearing an embarrassed expression.

Eyes framed by dark circles.

At their escaping gait that looked strangely familiar, French fans blinked.

‘I feel like I’ve seen that somewhere....’

Musical music brushed past behind the NewBlack members as they slipped out of the hotel.

A classic novel France takes pride in came to mind.

‘Jean Valjean!’

A five member group, ashamed, hugging giant bread bags to their chests as they ran.

Watching them slip away like Jean Valjean stealing bread, French fans burst into laughter.