episode_0098

It’s already been a week since I caught my subordinate’s inappropriate connection at the sudden wedding. Finally, the day has arrived.

“Hoo, hoo.”

I take a deep breath as I’m feeling a bit nervous and my breathing is a bit fast.

“Oh, you’re here!”

A sturdy man with a strong physique running towards me from afar. It was my personal trainer, Yeongsoo. I’ve only seen him at the gym before, so seeing him outside in casual clothes was a bit unfamiliar, but not unappealing.

With a body like his, anything he wore seemed to fit him well, and his fashion sense wasn’t bad either. Maybe if I had worked hard on my body before changing, could I have looked like that?

Well, it’s all pointless now.

Anyway, I greeted Yeongsoo warmly as he approached, patting his shoulder.

“Wow, I bet you’re popular with the ladies.”

I wish I could use a younger expression, but oh well, what can I do. My appearance may be like that, but my content is closer to a middle-aged man.

“Oh…thank you.”

He scratches the back of his head blushing, his expression a bit awkward. I hope he doesn’t misunderstand.

“Ma’am, did you leave your car?”

“Yes, you told me to leave it yesterday. But if you call me ‘ma’am’ outside, won’t people find it strange?”

There’s something about visible appearance. I usually try to avoid standing out, so we needed to sort out our titles.

“Well…then, what should I call you?”

“Let’s see…calling you ‘customer’ seems a bit strange, and…hmm…”

I realized there wasn’t a fitting title for me.

Of course, that was just my one-sided thought.

“Then let’s just go with ‘nunim.’ Haha. Many older female customers call me ‘nunim’ like a younger brother, so it’s fine.”

Nunim…it didn’t seem strange at first glance, but hearing that title made me feel awkward.

But there wasn’t really an alternative.

“Shall we…go with that?”

“Yes, nunim. Oh, feel free to speak comfortably. Think of me as your younger brother. Haha.”

It was scarier to think of us as peers.

I hesitated a bit, but since I was the one who brought it up first, I followed his suggestion.

Anyway, Yeongsoo guided me to where his car was parked, opened the passenger door for me, and drove me to the studio. It wasn’t in our neighborhood but in the next one. When I asked why we chose a place so far, he explained.

“The owner there is a friend of our boss. He’s actually quite skilled and has won various awards in photography competitions. Even I, who doesn’t know much about photography, can tell that he’s good.”

Whether it was just a compliment or if he really had skills, I wasn’t sure. But just the thought of having to pose in front of strangers in just underwear was already a mental burden.

Of course, there was a female trainer from the gym accompanying us (the CEO attached her as she had experience with body profile photoshoots), but the pressure was still there.

Taking a deep breath, I sighed.

“If you feel uncomfortable with me being here, I can step out…”

“No, it’s just that this is new to me, so I’m a bit nervous.”

No matter what, he’s the one who has guided me up to now. I wonder how curious he is about how well his own work has been carved?

I did make an effort, but there were times when I caused trouble with cheating days in between. I feel sorry for that. But he never gave up on me and somehow led me through, so if I’m not grateful for that, it would be a lie.

“I heard Da-yeong was going crazy wanting to come along yesterday. How did you manage to leave her behind today?”

“Well, you know.”

She was insisting on coming along in the morning, and I really broke out in a cold sweat. At first, I firmly refused, but she kept saying she would come anyway, lying down in protest. It was only when Davin was involved that I could finally manage to leave. Well, actually, Davin also seemed like she wanted to come along, but when she saw that I didn’t like it, she just accepted it and became my ally. I should buy her something delicious later.

“Haha, Da-yeong really… has quite a stubborn streak.”

“That’s right. I wonder who she takes after.”

As we chatted casually, we arrived at a building with a studio and parked the car underground.

And then, I…

“Sister? Aren’t you being too stiff? Relax. You’re not going for surgery or anything.”

“I’d rather have surgery… at least I won’t remember anything if I’m under anesthesia. Just thinking about posing in front of others in my underwear with a clear mind already makes me sick…”

If someone asks why I’m so fussy about changing in the dressing room and taking a shower with others all the time, it seems like I’ve started to perceive women as the same sex when it comes to changing clothes. If I imagine myself as still a man and the staff all women, taking pictures of underwear breezes, that would also be quite embarrassing.

“Phew!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve lived as a man for almost 40 years, and now I’m starting to see men as women? That feeling itself was so unfamiliar and alien that it made me laugh.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it seems like you’re a little more relaxed now?”

With a smile on his lips as if he were relieved, Kwon Young-soo started walking ahead. He grabbed the elevator and started walking. I decided to put aside the unfamiliarity and awkwardness for a moment and focus more on what was in front of me.

Although I have no immunity to this kind of thing and it’s my first time, isn’t it giving something in return for the service? Yes, this is work. And I’ve been in the workforce for 15 years. So, you could say I’m a professional.

Yes. I am a professional. I will go like a professional.

With determination, I waited for the elevator to arrive at the studio.

-Ding! Third floor.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a bright space in front of me. The sign ‘Yoon Studio’ was visible in front of me, and a woman in her late thirties with sharp eyes was standing with her arms crossed, looking at us.

“Oh, Director Yoon. Long time no see. How have you been?”

She glanced at me and Kwon Young-soo as we got off the elevator, then lowered her gaze and fixed her eyes on something, her pupils shaking excessively.

Yes, without a doubt, it was my chest.

“Wow….”

An unintentional exclamation of pure admiration.

I also looked down to see her chest….

“Why, what?”

She reacted so strongly that she almost used informal language on our first meeting.

A woman… right?

Her flat chest was so flat that it almost made me think she was a woman.

“Um… Director Yoon?”

Kwon Young-soo, who greeted her first, looked at her with confusion, and she quickly regained her composure, putting on a smile and responding.

“Oh, haha. Young-soo, long time no see. How have you been?”

“Yes. Have you been well, Director Yoon?”

They exchanged light greetings and briefly discussed today’s schedule.

“Nice to meet you. So…”

“My name is Jeong Doyeon. Please take care of me today.”

“Oh, I see. Doyeon, I’ll be counting on you. Let’s create a great piece of work together.”

“Ahaha… Yes. It’s fortunate.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I thought you were just another male CEO, but…”

Understanding my words immediately, CEO Yoon burst into laughter and patted his thigh.

“Hahaha! Oh, I see. It can be intimidating.”

Then, he turned his head to look at Kwon Youngsoo and asked, “Didn’t you explain it to him?”

“Well… Yes. I’m sorry. It’s the first time we’re selecting models at our center. I was a bit flustered too.”

From what I gathered, usually trainers are the ones involved in these types of shoots, or occasionally if there’s someone noticeable among the members, like me who has a modeling contract, but it seems that I’m the first one to be selected at the center managed by Kwon Youngsoo, where I go.

“Well, it’s not something you need to apologize to me for. You should apologize to Mr. Youngsoo’s member, right?”

“Oh, right. I’m sorry, sir.”

Apologizing, Kwon Youngsoo bowed his head.

“Oh, no. It’s fine. It might be more of a burden for you than anything else.”

I comforted Kwon Youngsoo and patted his back.

Anyway, a body profile shoot was fundamentally closer to renting out a location and personnel, which meant time was money.

In other words, there was no time to waste.

“Come on, let’s finish up quickly.”

CEO Yoon skillfully led the people as the shoot began.