Chapter 39: Are custom-made underwear also mass-produced?

“You’ve probably heard a lot about custom-made suits or custom-made shoes.”

Hyun, facing a flustered Youngjun, suddenly changed the subject.

The corners of her mouth slightly raised, as if she was teasing Youngjun.

“But ‘custom-made underwear’ is rare, isn’t it?”

Youngjun was flustered by the sudden talk of underwear, but he listened attentively, pretending to be calm.

There will be a time to ask about Jina.

Seeing Youngjun nodding silently, Hyun continued.

“Of course, there are people who sell custom-made underwear. But most of them are small businesses.”

Hyun sighed softly, saying that the work process is very complicated.

“To make custom-made underwear… you need sensitive body information, right?”

It’s different from asking for height, weight, foot shape, or foot size.

It’s like asking a customer you’re meeting for the first time, ‘If you don’t mind, could you tell me your bust size?’

Unless you’re a crazy person like Jina, no one in their right mind can ask this.

Even the shape of the breasts varies from person to person.

At this point, it’s like asking them to show their breasts. Even Jina couldn’t say this.

“Anyway, since we need a one-on-one consultation staff, a premium price is attached. Then it becomes a burden for consumers, and the company doesn’t get a good margin.”

“Um… I see.”

When Youngjun nodded and answered appropriately, Hyun continued in a slightly excited voice.

“But what if we apply a statistical model-based 3D human avatar and AI’s prediction system?”

“Ah… The new project that Free Rose Lingerie is preparing…”

“Yes. We are planning a system that automatically generates a list of custom-made underwear by inputting only the minimum amount of body information.”

Hyun said in a voice full of loyalty that they are preparing a kind of mass-produced custom underwear.

Youngjun was impressed inwardly.

He thought it was just an underwear company, even if it was famous.

They were planning a very forward-looking project.

“But what does that have to do with Han Ari? And more importantly, I’d like you to explain how you know about Jina.”

“If Jina was just a 3D avatar creator, we wouldn’t have been interested. But… she’s an AI researcher before she’s a designer.”

Hyun said, sliding the screen of the tablet to the side.

What appeared on the screen was an abstract of a thesis. Along with the content about AI-based human model generation, Han Ari’s avatar, ‘HANA’, was clearly displayed. It’s the very thesis that Youngjun knows very well.

‘It’s the thesis that Winter brought.’

Now, all the puzzles seemed to fit together.

“If a company has an AI research department, they will know about this thesis. Especially companies that deal with 3D models have reportedly held several internal seminars on this.”

Adding that the researchers at Free Rose Lingerie also evaluated this thesis as innovative, Hyun turned off the tablet.

On the black screen of the tablet, Youngjun’s face with a bitter smile was reflected.

Come to think of it, it didn’t make sense that someone like Jina wasn’t well known.

‘It will spread to the community soon.’

People in the internet broadcasting industry, who are not well-educated, didn’t think to look for a thesis, but experts found it right away. If it weren’t for Winter and Youngjun, who are highly educated, Cosmo Live wouldn’t have recognized Jina’s true value.

“If you found this thesis… shouldn’t you contact Jina directly by email?”

“We’ve already sent several. Dozens to her, dozens to the lab.”

“I guess there was no reply.”

“Yes. I even talked to her advisor, but he said she had already left the lab.”

Youngjun unknowingly swallowed.

‘No wonder she was working like it was her main job. She left the lab.’

While thinking that it was just like Jina to live her life as she pleases.

On the other hand, he felt sorry for ruining the life of a promising doctoral student.

…Of course, Youngjun has no reason to be sorry.

Jina left the lab long before she started collaborating with Cosmo Live.

“Anyway… So, after searching and searching for a way to contact her, I also emailed Youngjun. Cosmo Live is in contact with Jina, right?”

Youngjun nodded in confusion.

“But this is my personal curiosity, what exactly is the relationship between a virtual avatar model and custom-made women’s underwear?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected question, Hyun chose her words for a moment.

“I’m not a researcher, so I don’t know the details, but I’ll just tell you the summary I heard.”

Hyun manipulated the tablet and displayed a PPT document.

‘3D Breast Model Generation Based on Statistical Model’ is the title that catches the eye.

“…This, it’s like a top-secret document, is it okay to show it to an outsider like me?”

“I heard it’s not a particularly important document. And anyway, it’s a project that will be scrapped if Jina doesn’t join the TF team.”

Hyun emphasized several times that Jina is that important, and turned the pages of the PPT one by one.

“Researchers say that when they create avatars, they collect and learn hundreds of thousands or millions of human body information, and statistically extract the most common form.”

Simply put, it’s a modeling technique that creates a ‘standard human body’.

It was also the method Jina used to create the basic framework of the template model, ‘JINA’.

“I heard that by applying some complicated AI theory to this standard human body model, high-quality avatars can be produced quickly.”

After all, except for a few special cases, the human body can be expressed by increasing or decreasing the size of the height, weight, arms, legs, head, or chest from the standard human body.

Jina’s work know-how(?) came out through someone else’s mouth.

Of course, you can’t imitate it unless you know the real trade secret, ‘some complicated AI theory’.

Youngjun pulled the chair closer and listened carefully to Hyun’s words.

This is a very interesting topic.

“So Han Ari’s avatar, ‘HANA’, or the Seasons members’ avatars, the breasts were expressed so naturally… I guess the parameters were adjusted very finely.”

When the chest area was specifically mentioned, Youngjun unknowingly flinched.

It’s an inevitable, instinctive reaction as a man.

Hyun continued without hesitation.

“The problem is that this part is also very important for the custom-made underwear we want to make.”

Because it’s the most diverse and sensitive part of the human body.

Hyun finished the short PPT presentation, saying that there is a limit with just size or circumference, and that it is necessary to capture statistical characteristics.

“So, Jina is absolutely necessary for this project.”

Youngjun nodded slowly.

“I understand. But, well… Contacting Jina is very delicate. First of all, she is a freelancer, not a regular employee of Cosmo Live.”

“That’s right. Cosmo Live, which is at best a domestic VTuber MCN, is unlikely to embrace Jina, a world-renowned computer graphics AI researcher.”

It’s not particularly sarcastic.

It’s just a direct statement of the facts.

Jina works with Cosmo Live.

It’s only because she likes VTubers and this work is fun.

Youngjun smiled bitterly, realizing that fact again.

“…And Jina is picky about her work, so there’s a high possibility that she won’t take it.”

“That’s why I’m asking you, Youngjun.”

Hyun said, slowly leaning forward.

“If Youngjun speaks well and Jina participates in our company’s project… We’re thinking of using Summer and Winter of Seasons as the main advertising models for the new product line.”

To be precise, she continued, they will use Summer and Winter’s avatars as advertising models.

“You don’t have to worry about the pay. We’ll match it to the highest level in the industry.”

Youngjun silently pondered Hyun’s proposal.

It’s a very tempting condition.

It’s not just about the pay.

The history of being the ‘main advertising model for Free Rose Lingerie’ itself is a stepping stone to enter the major leagues.

‘I think the current main advertising model for Free Rose Lingerie was the leader and main vocalist of the hottest girl group these days?’

It’s that big of a brand.

If Summer and Winter follow suit, it was obvious that Cosmo Live’s status would become enormous.

Even if it’s just a virtual avatar, not a human.

“I’ll try to persuade her.”

“Persuade! That’s a really good word. I think I can communicate well with Youngjun.”

“Of course, I can’t guarantee a good answer.”

Do your best. Oh, and I’ll also send you the PPT I just showed you by email. I think it would be good to show it to Jina.
“

Hyun smiled brightly, and Youngjun sighed and got up from his seat.

Youngjun paid for the coffee.

It was a good thing to have the meeting at a cafe instead of a high-end restaurant.

He can afford to buy two cups of Americano.

“Let’s do it.”

[…Yes?]

Youngjun’s flustered voice came over the smartphone.

“I looked at the materials you sent me and it looked interesting. Youngjun, could you give me the contact information of the person in charge?”

Jina said, looking over the PPT document again.

Jina. It’s a little strange for me, a Cosmo Live employee, to say this, but if you’re taking the job because of Summer and Winter…

“It’s not. You know me, Youngjun. I don’t even look at things I don’t want to do.”

Haha. I’ll contact you if I need any additional information, Youngjun hung up the phone.

“I think I can just use the ‘JINA’ model as it is?”

Jina put down her smartphone and muttered to herself.

“Let’s see… Roughly excluding the time to discuss the project, and the time to pretend that it’s a bit difficult… The actual work days… At most, two days?”

A meaningful smile hung on Jina’s lips as she tapped the mouse.

“This, I might be able to get away with it?”

It’s new, but Jina is also a bit of a snob.

Of course, she also has the tendency of a quirky researcher who is only immersed in what she is interested in.

She also cares about the VTubers she created.

“But how can I resist this, they’re just throwing money at me?”

She can afford to pick up a lottery ticket that has fallen on the ground.