FCND, a domestic fashion brand you might have heard of, even if you’re not into clothes.
Although it sometimes got dismissed as a “school lunch pick,” it still held a significant share in the domestic fashion market with reasonable prices, decent quality, and honest intentions.
And then there was a shooting studio in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul.
Son Joo-hyuk, a staff member of the FCND marketing team, was browsing the internet to pass the time.
Meanwhile, the newly joined female new employee, Kim Joo-young, couldn’t hide her excitement and was fidgeting restlessly.
A smile slipped onto his lips at Kim Joo-young’s cute demeanor.
“Are you really that happy?”
“Come on, it’s Do-hee! Lee Do-hee!”
No wonder, given that recently the formerly promising Yellow Chip has now become a blue-chip advertising model as FCND’s exclusive model!
Kim Joo-young showed him an article on the screen.
[Which Female Celeb Did Entertainment Reporters Pick as ‘The Best in Real Life’?]
“Seven’s Lee Do-hee has ranked first among active idols chosen by entertainment reporters.”
Reporters… YTV Star’s Kim Ah-hyun recounted, “I met her during a recent interview, and her face was so small. She was really pretty, and her proportions were out of this world.”
Additionally, Jo Hyun-woo, another reporter, said, “I met her on the red carpet, and when she wore a dress, I thought a Barbie doll was walking out. All the reporters were in awe of Do-hee’s beauty…”
“I get that it’s your first shoot and you’re excited, but honestly, celebrities aren’t that big of a deal.”
“Oh, come on! But I feel like someone like Lee Do-hee would be different.”
Definitely, since it has been less than a year since her debut on screen last May.
It’s safe to say there’s hardly anyone in the entertainment industry who doesn’t know the name Lee Do-hee.
Beyond her visuals, she had become a hot topic as the ‘perfect daughter’ image.
Even a friend of his, who had no interest in idols, casually brought up the topic of Lee Do-hee.
“She definitely was sensational, wasn’t she?”
Especially among students.
She owned overwhelming recognition among current teenagers.
“That’s also why she was chosen as FCND’s exclusive model.”
He mentally sketched Lee Do-hee’s face.
“A youthful yet striking face. A mix of cuteness and glamour.”
That’s why students were so crazy about her.
But in the end, celebrities are just people too.
“Seriously, celebrities aren’t that special after all.”
The celebrities he had met mostly flaunted their beauty under the support of filters and lighting.
He had even seen some celebrities who looked worse than regular people.
“Of course, I haven’t seen top-tier celebrities, but they probably wouldn’t be that different.”
“Surprisingly, you might be prettier than Do-hee Lee, you know?”
The new employee Kim Joo-young, who was flirting with him, definitely had the looks to be called a goddess of her department.
Kim Joo-young lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Ah~ Manager, what are you talking about? I don’t believe it!”
Still, it seemed she was secretly pleased and was grinning away.
“Do-hee is coming up soon. I’ll do a final check!”
The filming location became busy.
“Oh, she’s here!”
Son Joo-hyuk, who had been casually flirting with Kim Joo-young, turned his head at those words.
“Hello! I’m Seven’s Do-hee Lee. I look forward to today’s shoot!”
Then she blurted out.
“Wow… what the…”
It was an utterly pure aesthetic admiration that sprung from instinct.
Having seen many celebrities…
It was only now that he understood the article he had seen earlier about an amazing celebrity.
“Freaking hell…”
“Hey, take a picture!”
She was undeniably a fresh-faced 16-year-old girl who had debuted less than a year ago.
Her lively expression mixed with an oddly mature tone and atmosphere exuded a distinct aura.
“Wow, she’s really beautiful…”
Hearing the admiration from behind, he turned to look at Kim Joo-young.
Unconsciously nodding in agreement with what Kim Joo-young had said.
Just moments ago, the features of the woman who had seemed the prettiest were suddenly looking bland.
‘The celebrities I’ve seen were merely entertainers.’
He later found out that Do-hee looked like she had barely put on basic makeup.
*
“Do-hee, are you ready?”
“Yes~ I’m coming~”
Quickening her steps to the voice of Manager So-young Unni calling from the front door.
She was the manager of the Topist rookie development team, also responsible for ‘selfie lessons.’
So-young Unni’s reason for being here today was simple.
Since there was support from the agency for personal schedules.
They had decided the studio would handle not only hair but makeup as well, so she was heading straight to the studio without stopping by a shop.
As fatigue washed over her, she closed her eyes for a moment when So-young Unni quietly spoke.
“Do-hee, are you sleepy? Should I grab you some caffeine?”
“Oh, then I want an energy drink.”
In two days, it would be music video shoot day.
Before that, the members had been practicing choreography day and night.
On top of that, there were album jacket shoots.
The accumulation of fatigue was inevitable.
‘At least it’s not as hectic as music broadcasts.’
“I think you’re drinking too much caffeine.”
She playfully replied to So-young Unni’s worried tone.
“I guess I have no choice since the world wants me~ Hoo~”
That’s how Seo-yoon Unni’s expression brightens.
“You know you shouldn’t act like that outside, right?”
“Of course.”
When I arrived at the filming set, I was greeted by a rabbit-shaped cake prepared by FCND.
“Wow! It’s a rabbit, right?”
It was a welcome cake that I had received during the last body lotion advertisement, but the culture still felt unfamiliar.
I wondered if being celebrated this much made celebrities such a big deal.
I couldn’t help but feel like I was starting to understand why celebrities get high and catch the star disease.
“They said you’re called a rabbit~”
Rabbit…
Yeah, I guess it just turned out that way.
“Thank you! The rabbit is so pretty!”
The problem was that I was slowly starting to like this nickname as I got used to it.
*
“Hello, Shabenu. Today I’m here for the FCND shoot. I’m now an FCND model, and I’m so excited to be a model not just in Korea but across Asia as well. I’ll do my best. Fighting!”
Chatting with the camera for a behind-the-scenes video that will be uploaded on the official Seven YouTube channel.
– So lovely~
Is this right?
– Good!
I don’t think so.
– So pretty!
That part is right.
– Oh, so charming!
No.
As I posed to match the director’s endless compliments, the ad shoot surprisingly wrapped up earlier than expected.
I thought changing into hot outfits would take more than half a day.
However, since everything proceeded without delay, we finished in 9 hours.
Yet, exhaustion washed over me as I leaned back in my chair, and Seo-yoon Unni, who had just finished talking to the director, gently ruffled my hair.
“The director said you looked really pretty today. You worked hard.”
“It’s nothing. The older sister waiting had it harder.”
I was so engrossed in posing that I didn’t notice the time passing, but just waiting is usually a pretty tiring task.
After saying goodbye to the staff, it was time to head to the practice room.
I took out my phone and checked the stacked KakaoTalk messages.
The group chat for Seven was filled with messages encouraging everyone to come to the practice room because everyone seemed to be having fun.
On the other hand, the private chat was different.
[Seo-ra Unni: I miss you, Do-hee…] +7
[Kim Seo-yoon: Help me, lol, I need saving, lol] +5
[Ha-rang Unni: Oh no. Hana is in angry mode. Please help.] +2
[Gong Chae-rin Unni: I recommend coming slowly.]
Lin Unni: I recommend coming slowly.
[Ye-eun Unni: (Crying puppy emoji)] +10
[Hana Unni: When is our youngest the king? Hehe] +3
“…Unni, shall we grab a late-night snack together after a long time?”
“Shall we?”
“Yes, we definitely should.”
I guess I’ll have to enter the practice room late.
*
I really didn’t want to go into the practice room.
So I pretended to be busy and turned on WE Live.
[I’m a rabbit…? (Rabbit emoji) This is Do-hee Lee. WE Live]
As soon as I started the live, there was a brief delay.
Comments started rolling in.
“Uh… Hello~”
– Omg, what a sudden fortune at this hour
– Do-ha~
– Did you turn it on to show off your cute side!?
– I love you
“It’s not like I turned it on to be cute.”
Why do they ask for cute stuff every single live?
– T.T Do-hee would be a corpse without cute stuff
– Show your cute side!
– Host, I’m dying
– Today you’re alone, hehe
– Holding my breath until you show your cute side
Go die.
To change the subject, I read other comments.
“Are you alone right now? Yes, I’m at the dorm but I’m alone.”
– Where are the other kids?
– Hahaha it’s quiet at the dorm today
– It’s strangely not noisy today, haha
“The other members will be here soon! They’re probably still practicing.”
It was currently midnight.
After a little legal escape with Seo-yoon Unni, it was almost time for practice to end.
Our practice usually ended around 1 AM, so I just came back to the dorm early.
Midnight is fine, right?
Right?
– Hahaha Do-hee why aren’t you practicing?
– Youngest is playing hooky alone, haha
“The reason I’m alone is that today I became the exclusive model for FCND, so I just shot a commercial! Clap clap!”
“Oh! And today’s live title is ‘I’m a Rabbit,’ right?”
I turned on the gallery photos to show a picture of a rabbit cake in front of the camera.
“This is the cake that the FCND staff gave me as a gift.”
At that moment, my phone buzzed.
A message notification popped up on the screen.
[Hana Unni: I’ll give you 5 minutes, hurry up.]
She really is obsessed with practice.
So annoying.
“Because of Do-hee, we have to practice more. It’s irritating. Ex.”
“Thanks to our lovely youngest, we can practice more and show a perfect stage to the fans. I’m really happy. Yes.”
“Stop being ridiculous.”
“Shut up.”
This is too much.
Anyway, thanks to me, practice time was extended until 3 AM.
Everyone was happy to be able to show a perfect stage to our fans.
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