Fashion Show
“Good work.”
“Ugh… yeah.”
“Ahyeon, wipe your drool here.”
I'd flown into Paris for the fashion show.
The schedule here was pure hell.
Not just any hell—the hell of crowds.
Shoved between people, shuffling this way and that.
Skin care, changing clothes.
Change again, photos, change again.
And these weren't ordinary outfits. They were runway candidates, so each one had to be handled with kid gloves—nothing less.
On top of that, a visit to Andel's Paris HQ after two months apart, catching up with the team.
Meetings, concept briefings.
Briefings and reviews on my runway walk, more meetings.
Interviews afterward, dinner schedules confirmed…
All of it piling on the fatigue.
But amid it all, one inescapable truth wrapped around me like a vice.
“Ah… I wanna play games.”
I couldn't game.
In RPG terms, it was like a debuff steadily draining my HP—with no potions in sight.
I could've brought my laptop and gamed in the hotel, but come on.
How do you game on a laptop?
For a desktop purist who doesn't touch mobile games, it was pure torture.
Anyway, the fruits of that hellish two-week ordeal?
“How's that girl from earlier? They say she's Andel's new face!”
Just like Roselia said.
Model Ahyeon had firmly etched herself into the industry as Andel's fresh face.
*
FW Paris Fashion Week, packed with big brands and top models.
This event sets global trends for fall/winter, drawing massive attention from fashion insiders worldwide.
And among them—not the top spot, but one Asian girl had stirred up quite the buzz, or so I'd just heard from Roselia.
“Andel's new face?”
I almost thought, What a grandiose title…
But models are a brand's face, so it made sense.
“Not even that long since signing…”
Still, hearing it after just my first fashion week post-contract? Pretty daunting.
That said, the title and the vibe suggested it was my looks grabbing eyes.
Expected that.
This face had been scouted by agencies since I was a kid.
Nothing shocking about turning heads on looks now.
I'd been a child model since age six, face out there.
From the big three agencies everyone knows, to mid-tier powerhouses where Asung trained—multiple offers.
I turned 'em all down, building my modeling career back then.
Looking back, smart move.
Modeling's niche to the public, right?
Even with international hype and contracts, no TV means few recognize you.
They say the best rich folks are the ones nobody knows by face.
Heading to the convenience store mask-free? Huge perk.
Sure, low public profile makes earning tough at first…
But not for me, famous among insiders.
“Staff say the mood at Andel is great. Looks like it went exactly as planned.”
“No wonder they're so keen on the contract.”
Listening to Roselia, I recalled the outfits from the show.
Yeah, lots seemed tailored to highlight my features.
Especially the opening look—felt like frost was wafting off it.
Wait, was the fabric actually chilly? Catch a cold like that?
“Check this out.”
As I revisited those machine-like changes in my mind, Roselia shoved her phone at me with an article.
Show barely over, and articles were already up.
There I was, mid-stride.
Pale makeup, eyes cast low.
The icy expression they ordered—did that really look like me?
Whatever. Article calling me an "ice princess" or whatever? Impression stuck.
“You okay with this? It's all about your looks.”
“I like it.”
Truth is, models might hate hearing looks over walk or posing.
But I didn't care.
Isn't that a good thing?
Models are all pretty by default.
Standing out among 'em? Jackpot.
Sure, downside: less eyes on the clothes. That's on Andel.
I didn't sign masked.
They picked me knowing this.
Anyway, ugly vs. less modeling cash? Pick the latter.
I blew up on looks anyway.
Posing and walking? Honestly lacking.
Got called out at my international debut.
Not blaming my frog-in-a-well teacher Han Seonghwa for bad lessons.
Some things you're born with.
Street-cast newbies train quick and get hype over vets sometimes.
Anyway… on that note.
“Ahem, ahem… Ahyeon?”
At this post-show model party, the girl addressing me in French was one of the naturals.
“Célina.”
“S-sorry about last time. I misunderstood…”
Célina—the French model from Andel's Christmas charity party.
Brief spat back then.
She'd drawn solid attention this show too.
“Yeah.”
She takes my flat acceptance, her gaze all weird.
“Y-you can say whatever.”
Learned her name now.
Exclusive for a brand rivaling Andel.
Her bold walk and poses turned heads.
Sure, runway demands confidence—but she nailed it best.
“Ah, Ahyeon?”
But now? That boldness was nowhere.
Apologizing first, probably got reamed post-party.
Makes sense—insiders everywhere.
Brand chewed her out, manager too.
And it was Andel's event.
Trouble with Andel's next exclusive at their party?
Oof, brutal.
“It's fine, Célina.”
So I smiled softly.
Our haughty model Ahyeon doesn't smile much—but that's what makes it hit harder.
“Everyone slips up.”
Wasn't mad about that day anyway.
I didn't raise my voice; getting pissy over a kid's whine is lame.
Real rage? When crews hog gear and don't return it.
Especially on yarikkiri days—knock out quota early, head home. Delay the job? Fists fly.
“Your walk today was great, really helpful—”
So I spoke gently.
Warmly.
The young French model lit up, touched.
“Ahyeon…! You're so kind…?”
Max expression for her age.
She's 21, adult.
Though same age as Asung, so kid?
**
Boarding the plane, pre-airplane mode.
Phone screen message made me smirk.
“What's so funny?”
“Made a friend.”
Show her the message; Roselia across business class chuckles too.
“Friend in that time?”
“Parties are for that.”
Haha-ho-ho spots, right?
Business mainly, but friend-makers for young models.
“No overseas trips back home now?”
Overseas sucks.
Christmas was rough; two weeks? Near death.
“Probably till summer?”
“Summer…”
“Events then. If Andel asks, we'll review.”
“Haa.”
Sighed, reclined the seat.
Last year was chill; contracts suck.
But pay's different.
Contract figures, bank deposits—energy surges.
Stay positive.
Big event down.
Show success, new French friend.
Andel loved it—shopping bags full of gifts.
Smooth start to the year.
So, brimming with satisfaction, back to Korea…
“Wha—?”
Didn't last.
Because…
[Viewers: 154]
“My chat's dead...?”
Two weeks off, stream tanked.