Chapter 47: A Walking Luxury (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: A Walking Luxury (2)
Fashion brands strictly control the number of customers allowed inside their stores. This is to prevent overcrowding and ensure a pleasant shopping experience.
For instance, if the maximum capacity is fifteen people, the sixteenth person must wait in line outside.
However, the moment Lee Yu-jin and Jang Ji-hye stepped inside, the store manager immediately ordered a restriction on further entry.
“Pardon? Manager, we can still accommodate at least five more customers.”
“I know, but just lock it for now. That customer... there’s something extraordinary about her. Just look.”
The employees understood the manager’s words instantly.
The customers already inside were staring as if possessed, trying to sneak photos of Lee Yu-jin, only to be stopped by the employees’ polite but firm, smiling glares.
While photography wasn’t strictly prohibited inside the store, blatantly taking pictures of another customer was a serious breach of etiquette.
“Does anyone here speak French?”
“Is that French? I don’t speak it fluently, but I know a little... it sounds more like Italian to me?”
“Does anyone know Italian?”
While Lee Yu-jin and Jang Ji-hye slowly browsed the displays, the front desk was a flurry of activity as they scrambled to find a staff member who could communicate with them.
The idle employees whispered among themselves as they stood by.
“Seeing that silver hair makes me think of Yeon Si-ho.”
“You mean the actress Lee Yu? But that was just stage makeup. This customer looks like she’s actually of Northern European descent.”
“Don’t you think her pale skin and gorgeous face look like Lee Yu, though?”
“No way. Didn’t you see the photos of Lee Yu taken on set recently? Her hair was black.”
“She’s beautiful in a way that makes her look like a different species, just like Lee Yu, but the vibe is completely different. Lee Yu feels pure, fragile, and like someone you want to protect—very high schooler-like. But this person has such a powerful image...”
The silver hair that recalled Yeon Si-ho’s final moments in the drama, her tall and slender frame, and her impossibly small, pale face.
Overall, it was easy to be reminded of the actress Lee Yu, but the heavy smoky makeup gave her eyes a completely different feel, creating a distinct separation.
And then...
“Haec vero Latina est antiqua; ut hoc intellegatur, cardinalem arcessere oportet. Itaque gestibus tantum utar.”
(“This is Classical Latin; you’d need to summon a Cardinal to translate this. I’ll just use gestures.”)
“Uh, that accent is something I’ve never heard before... What dialect is that? Italian regional dialects are so different they’re practically separate languages.”
The Italian-speaking employee asked cautiously.
“Di quale zona del nord è...?”
(Which part of the north are you from...?)
Lee Yu-jin thought to herself.
‘Huh? They can speak Latin? But it seems like it’s changed a lot.’
Classical Latin had been used for official church documents and hadn't changed for a long time. Since Italian originated from Latin, Yu-jin could partially understand what was being said.
‘North, came? Are they asking if I’m from a Northern European country?’
The employee meant which region of Northern Italy she was from, but Yu-jin roughly understood it as which Northern country. It was a misunderstanding born from the changes wrought by time, even if the roots were the same.
When Yu-jin looked over, Jang Ji-hye, recognizing the pre-arranged signal, stepped forward with a smile.
“You can just speak to me.”
“We deeply apologize for not being able to provide the best possible service, ma’am.”
The store manager personally stepped in to escort them.
Whenever Lee Yu-jin pointed at a bag, Jang Ji-hye would turn pale and shake her head vigorously.
Then, Yu-jin would chuckle and point at the item for the manager.
“Hoc mihi date.”
(Give me this.)
The manager, catching on quickly, signaled the staff, who promptly prepared the items.
Bags, bracelets, scarves, tops, bottoms, shoes, wallets, belts, watches...
She was being fitted with a full ensemble of items that cost millions of won each right then and there.
Since she put them on right in front of the staff, it radiated the relaxed confidence of someone who didn't even consider things like refunds or exchanges.
They tried to create a membership card for her, but Yu-jin coolly shook her head.
“Ah, my friend says she doesn't need one. She’s the type who doesn't even take Starbucks discount cards.”
Thud!
It felt like a stone had dropped on the manager’s head.
‘To think... our Chanel is being treated on the same level as Starbucks...’
This was a customer who had spent over 100 million won in a single day.
Yet, she seemed completely uninterested in customer registration. Usually, people insisted on it so their purchases would count toward their VIP status.
‘A customer like this is the true VIP.’
She even declined the packaging.
Leaving behind the brand’s gift boxes and exclusive shopping bags, she changed into her new clothes on the spot and walked out.
She carried only a single shopping bag containing her original clothes.
It was the true dignity of a VIP.
*
“It’s such a waste that we threw away the boxes and shopping bags. Those are basically trophies.”
“Did you see the bulk? How were we supposed to carry all that?”
“But is it really okay to spend this much money?”
“Tell me about it. If I’d received it as a salary, I could have cut the cost by more than half.”
“Heehee, I’m still not taking a salary. I’m not losing my spot as your friend. Never.”
“Actually, the 670 million Envidium I put in from my Quarter 2 appearance fees is already worth 900 million.”
“Ack! Is that why you spent so much? I’m touched.”
Shouldn't one be able to deck out a friend in luxury goods at least once in their life using profits from a lucky stock?
Especially a friend who followed her everywhere, from school to the film set.
“There, I bought you everything. Happy? Now, let’s go home—”
“What are you talking about? The shopping is just getting started.”
“I just changed you from head to toe, what do you mean—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll use my card from now on.”
“No, no. Today is strictly 'Empty the Friend's Card' day...”
A very excited Jang Ji-hye grabbed my wrist and dragged me along. I sensed that I was in deep trouble.
‘Ah, this reminds me of the nightmare of coming to the department store with my mom back in the day.’
*
I was currently sitting in a men’s auxiliary chair, waiting like all the other men.
The fitting room door opened, and Jang Ji-hye appeared.
“How’s this?”
“Dea bona, quam pulchra es! Me occidis! Praeclara est!”
(Good goddess, you’re beautiful! You’re killing me! It’s magnificent!)
“It’s not great, right?”
“Iam duas horas transierunt! Quaeso, miserere mei!”
(Two hours have already passed! Please, have mercy on me!)
Jang Ji-hye heartlessly began picking out another outfit, and I hung my head low.
A man waiting for his girlfriend, who had become a permanent resident of the fitting rooms, cautiously approached me.
“Excuse me, but aren't you the actress Lee Yu who was in Hwan’s Torch?”
“Linguam Koreanam bene scio; sed, quaeso, Latine me interroga.”
(I know Korean well; but please, ask me in Latin.)
“Ah... you just look like her. Sorry, sorry.”
Seeing the doubt vanish from his eyes, I suddenly remembered something PD Jang Hyun-soo had said.
「Yu-jin, you’re a unique subject who amplifies and reflects the ideal image the viewer wants to see.」
He had said my face was one that people perceived according to their own desires.
Because I was wearing heavy smoky makeup and speaking Latin, he readily accepted that I wasn't the actress Lee Yu—even though I was walking around in a blatant silver wig.
‘This is a great harvest for today.’
I felt certain now.
If I wore a black wig for official acting activities and used my natural look with smoky makeup and Latin for my private leisure time, no one would suspect a thing.
‘My Mock Exam Grade 3 brain is actually useful. I can even come up with ideas like this.’
But Ji-hye.
When are you going to let me go home...?
I bought you a full outfit, I listened to you chatter for two hours over tea in the lounge, I did everything...
*
“Let’s just take one quick look around the luxury hall before we leave.”
“We’re not going inside, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. We’ll just look around.”
Phew, thank goodness.
Jang Ji-hye dragged me along, with shopping bags from regular brands hanging from both her hands.
Where did this stamina come from? I felt like I was about to collapse.
“Yu-jin, Yu-jin, but why didn't you buy anything for yourself?”
“I can just buy stuff online.”
“Luxury goods should be worn by someone like you, not me... Ah, I guess it doesn't matter what you wear since you’re a walking luxury yourself.”
Jang Ji-hye suddenly burst into a giggle.
“Did you see the employees at the stores we visited? Since I was decked out in Chanel, they thought what you were wearing was some ultra-high-end Hermès fashion from a world they don't know.”
“This t-shirt, these pants, and these shoes? The whole outfit cost less than 100,000 won.”
“It’s because the design is simple and has no logos. It fuels the fantasy. They think, ‘Wow, that must be the kind of stuff only the truly rich wear.’ Plus, Yu-jin, your face is quite flashy, isn't it?”
“I knew that deal was coming. I’m not taking any damage this time.”
“Was the build-up too obvious?”
“There are days like that.”
The luxury hall was quiet, with very few people walking around. It was the perfect place to organize one’s thoughts while browsing.
Just then, I sensed danger from a distance.
I made Jang Ji-hye stop and spoke in a low voice.
“Careful. There’s a group of suspicious, burly skinheads moving together.”
“Huh?”
Five burly, skinheaded white men.
They were wearing high-quality suits, and four of them had in-ear monitors.
No matter how you looked at them, they were suspicious...
“Kyaa! It’s Chris Hertiland! The Hollywood star!”
“Chris? Who? The one not wearing an earpiece?”
“Yeah, yeah! Oh, he’s coming this way!”
“Don't be scared. I can take down a private army like that by myself.”
“No, why are you thinking about fighting...? And they’re bodyguards, not a private army. Are you still immersed in your Yeon Si-ho character?”
We stepped to the side.
I remained completely tense so that I could protect Jang Ji-hye at any moment.
It was a habit from surviving countless battlefields.
When I encountered a dangerous physical presence, I didn't let my guard down until they had passed.
The man Ji-hye called a Hollywood actor suddenly walked right up to me and spoke.
“Pardon me, are you an actress? May I know your name?”
I didn't know English, but I could understand that much.
I gave an exaggerated shrug.
“Anglice loqui non possum; Latine, quaeso, mihi dic.”
(I cannot speak English; please, speak to me in Latin.)
Skinhead Chris’s face froze for a moment, then twitched.
“Eh... estne lingua illa... Latinus... vetus?”
(Uh... is that language... Old... Latin?)
Wow, his pronunciation and expression were a total mess.
As a former Heretic Inquisitor who had been force-fed education through beatings, I couldn't stand it.
“Non Latinus vetus, sed lingua Latina antiqua dicendum est. Et... stude diligenter.”
(You shouldn't say 'Latinus vetus,' but 'lingua Latina antiqua.' And... study hard.)
The surprise in his eyes grew.
It was like looking at a Grandmaster player who was astonished by my laning phase.
‘Seeing as he’s an actor who even learned Classical Latin, he must be a devout Catholic.’
I tried to leave with Jang Ji-hye without hesitation.
“Hey, hey! Just a minute, please!”
Ugh, how annoying...
I looked at him with as much boredom as I could muster, and like the Hollywood actor he was, he caught on immediately and flinched.
Just as I was about to walk away again, the man urgently shouted and held out a business card.
I figured if I took it, he’d feel relieved and go on his way, so I accepted it. It wasn't the first time I’d dealt with something like this.
Once I took the card and tucked it away, the man indeed looked relieved and said goodbye with a smile. I gave a brief farewell in Latin and turned around.
Once we were completely out of earshot.
“Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Yu-jin, did you just get a casting card from Chris Hertiland? Whoa! I saw it happen in real time! What an honor! Ah, I should have filmed this!”
“Don't tell anyone.”
“Why? This is such a huge thing to brag about.”
“I have no intention of going to America anyway, so it’s useless.”
“You’re not going to try for Hollywood? Later, when you’re famous...”
“It’s a country with gun freedom where shootings happen whenever people are bored. How could I go to such a dangerous place?”
That was also the reason my family had never once gone on a trip to the US.
*
Chris Hertiland was still buzzing with excitement.
“That was such a sophisticated Classical Latin accent. It felt even more refined than Cardinal Karsh—no, even more high-class than his. I wonder who she is?”
“Could she be a young lady from a European noble family visiting South Korea?”
“That’s possible.”
He had wanted to pour out every proposal he had right then and there.
But the moment he saw those eyes full of ennui, a warning bell rang, telling him not to annoy her any further.
“Still, it shouldn't be hard to find out who she is, so she’ll probably get in touch. Just trust and wait.”
“I hope so. Ha, really, that fantastic face and aura, and that ability to speak sophisticated Classical Latin...”
Chris couldn't calm down, repeatedly letting out sighs and exclamations of admiration.
“What if we cast her as the Inquisitor for Season 1 of Game of Sins, which is currently in production?”
“Pardon? Wasn't that role already promised to Dniper Rodricks? And it’s a male character to begin with.”
Chris, who was both an actor and a producer, stroked his chin, his imagination running wild.
“That’s true, but I think putting that face in the role would be much, much better.”