episode_0027

Jinha couldn’t help but be startled the moment she saw Seo-ah.

The sisters’ looks were no joke—they were both stunning.

The reason Jinha had suddenly made such an offer to Seo-ah was precisely because Seo-ah had the kind of looks that could easily pull off modeling.

Her slender figure showcased clothes perfectly, and her face—needless to say—was breathtaking.

It was almost strange she wasn’t already a celebrity.

In reality, Seo-ah was quite popular in the business school. Extremely so.

If you asked anyone in the department, young or old, male or female, to name the most beautiful person there, they’d pick her without hesitation.

She also had a solid reputation, to the point where guys occasionally mustered the courage to confess to her.

‘With looks like that, she could make a fortune just by being an SNS influencer.’

So Jinha’s thoughts weren’t unfounded.

Of course, Seo-ah herself probably just found it all bothersome.

At Jinha’s reaction, Seo-ah couldn’t help but feel genuinely flustered.

“A photoshoot? Me? I just came because you said you were taking pictures of my sister…”

“Originally, I planned to just shoot Seohyun, but… I think Seo-ah would look incredible in the clothes I’ve recently designed.”

“Uh… Is this for a magazine?”

“Yes. It’s for Ella.”

“…Wait, Ella?”

Seo-ah doubted her ears. Ella?

The magazine where the most renowned figures in Korea’s fashion industry modeled?

And she was going to be in it?

No—her sister was going to be in it?

When she stared at Jinha in disbelief, Jinha simply gazed back at her as if wondering what the issue was.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no. It’s just hard to believe. Wait, but—am I even allowed to be in something like that? I thought only really famous models were featured there…”

“I can make it happen.”

Jinha smiled.

‘Her reaction was so stiff, I thought she wasn’t interested… but maybe not?’

If anything, Seo-ah seemed intrigued.

Her hesitation seemed to stem from wondering if she was qualified—but that was the least of Jinha’s concerns.

She had already firmly negotiated her terms with Ella: in exchange for regularly contributing designs, she had full control over model selection.

“Wow…”

“If I say it’s okay, then it’s okay. More importantly, what matters is Seo-ah’s willingness.”

“I’d like to give it a try.”

“Great.”

“…But will I even do your clothes justice?”

“Of course. I must seem like I’m being reckless right now, don’t I?”

Jinha grinned playfully. Seo-ah answered honestly.

“…Yes. Frankly, I don’t get why you’d want to shoot someone as ordinary as me.”

“Haha. Ordinary? Not at all. If you were, I wouldn’t have thought of making you a model the moment I saw you.”

“I-Is that so…?”

“Yes. Have some confidence. If you had an SNS, you’d become an influencer overnight. Do you have one?”

“I do, but I’m not active. Last year, I was busy with exams, and this year, I’ve been helping my sister through her transition and keeping up with classes.”

Seo-ah answered Jinha’s question.

“May I ask which university you attend?”

“Same as my sister.”

Jinha couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at Seo-ah’s response.

These sisters were something else. Both attending Korea University, both impossibly good-looking—what a pair.

“Seohyun? I have a question.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“You mentioned you were originally male—what did you look like back then?”

“Oh, um… Pretty rough-looking. I was huge, too.”

“That doesn’t match at all… Wait, do you have any old photos?”

“Ah, sure. Here.”

Seohyun showed Jinha an old photo. It was exactly what one might imagine upon hearing the description—a face that screamed “don’t mess with me.”

But Jinha seemed to have a different opinion.

“Wow. Exactly my type… What a shame.”

“…Huh?”

Seohyun stared at her like she’d seen it all now. Jinha just smirked, unbothered.

“I have a thing for sturdy, dependable types. Rough around the edges, sure, but not bad-looking.”

“That’s a first.”

“I bet plenty of women would’ve been into pre-transition Seohyun. No dating history from school?”

“I went to all-boys schools and barely made it into college.”

“Aw, too bad. If you were still a guy, I might’ve shot my shot.”

“Haha…”

Seohyun laughed awkwardly at Jinha’s remark.

“Anyway… Let’s start looking at the clothes, shall we? First, why don’t you try them on?”

“Sure.”

“They say clothes make the man—turns out, it’s really true.”

Jinha looked me up and down, nodding with satisfaction. The outfit she’d crafted herself seemed to meet her expectations perfectly.

“Seo-ah, as expected—my eye never fails me. How does it feel to wear?”

“Incredible. Wow… How can something feel like this? Isn’t this a suit? Why does it feel as comfy as loungewear?”

Seo-ah examined herself with fascination. What we wore were sleek white suits with a restrained elegance.

The kind of outfits you’d see in a spy movie—yet they had a magnetic quality to them.

Maybe it was the subtle black flower blooming from the suit’s pocket?

I wasn’t well-versed in fashion, but I could tell—clothes really could have this kind of charm.

“That’s the signature of my designs. They’re weightless and provide extreme comfort. Do you like the aesthetics?”

“Yes. The accent details are great, too.”

“Then let’s try the next outfit. We started with a suit—now, something sporty and energetic.”

After that, we tried on countless outfits, each one earning high praise.

This woman’s talent was unreal.

Then again, given that she stood among the world’s most renowned designers, maybe it wasn’t surprising.

If not for my transition, I’d never have crossed paths with someone like her in my lifetime.

“Wonderful. As expected, my judgment was spot-on.”

Once we finished changing, Jinha observed us with evident satisfaction, as though reaffirming her flawless taste.

Seo-ah and I exchanged bewildered looks.

“The director will definitely be pleased. Honestly, you two already stand out effortlessly. Ah, Seohyun—can you extend your wings and tail during the shoot?”

“Will they even fit in the frame?”

“We don’t need them fully extended. That’ll be the director’s job to worry about.”

“…Ah.”

“Then let’s get started. Just follow the director’s cues, and it’ll be over before you know it.”

Director Ma Jinwoo arrived about ten minutes later. The moment he entered, his eyes swept over Seohyun and Seo-ah.

Then, he smiled approvingly.

From his perspective, their looks were precisely the caliber that could instantly captivate Jinha—someone notoriously picky about models.

“You’re here, Jinwoo.”

“Could’ve called me sooner—it’s been ages.”

“Haha. I hadn’t found the right muse. But… Thank goodness I finally did.”

“So today, we’re photographing these two?”

“Yes. Direct the shoot however you like. Ah—just a warning—don’t be too shocked. Seohyun will be shooting with her wings and tail exposed.”

“Ah, got it. Let’s not waste time, then. Ready to start? Oh—neither of you have modeling experience, right?”

“No.”

Jinwoo nodded.

He immediately knew how to approach this.

Shooting first-timers wasn’t new to him—working with Jinha meant dealing with this kind of thing routinely.

Having photographed many Variants before, he was used to wings and tails. Both together weren’t common, but… well, not that different either.

“Let’s start with Seohyun. Seohyun, could you spread your wings? Cross your arms lightly over your chest, tilt your head slightly… Perfect. Shooting now: one, two, three!”

Jinwoo worked swiftly.

He wasn’t the type to impose rigid posing demands on models.

That habit had long faded after working with Jinha and the Variants who wore her designs.

Wasn’t the priority simply guiding them clearly, without being needlessly strict?

The moment he started photographing Variants, he dropped his stubbornness.

Artistry was important, but survival came first.

Even the gentlest Variant could flip into brutality if pushed too hard—it was only a matter of time.

That was just how things worked in this industry. So around Variants, he always erred on the side of caution.

Though admittedly, this demeanor had inadvertently made him popular with non-Variant models too.

“Now, let’s highlight the tail. A Variant’s unique traits are incredibly captivating, after all.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course! What’s ordinary people don’t have—that uniqueness alone is worth celebrating. Can you move your tail freely?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Great. Could you wrap it around your waist, like a belt? Oh—perfect. That modest suit just got a whole new impact. Let’s capture this. Hold the pose… Shooting: one, two, three!”

With subjects this beautiful, even Jinwoo couldn’t help but get fired up.

While considering poses that highlighted Seohyun’s innate charm, he guided her—and she did her best to follow.

They also swapped outfits repeatedly. A tailored suit one moment, a sporty look the next, then casual wear, then pajamas.

About two hours later—

Jinwoo looked at Seohyun with deep satisfaction.

“This was an immensely fulfilling shoot. The results will be outstanding.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Of course, Seohyun was utterly exhausted by then.