"Hyung," As soon as the holographic screen vanished right before his eyes, Minjae turned his gaze towards Director Chanhyuk.
"Yes?" Chanhyuk's face looks expectant. "Have you made your decision?"
Minjae glanced at the proposal on the table, then at Donghyun and Chanhyuk.
A slow smile formed on his lips.
"I'll do it." Minjae's words sound determined.
Chanhyuk let out an approving chuckle, leaning back in his chair.
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
Chanhyuk clapped his hands together. "Alright, I'll finalize the paperwork and send it back to Lux&Co. You should expect to receive the project briefing soon."
"When's the shoot?" Minjae nodded.
"Two weeks from now," Chanhyuk answered. "You'll have time to prepare. But knowing you, I doubt you'll need much preparation."
"Still, I'll do my research. If I'm going to do this, I want to do it right." Minjae hummed.
"That's the spirit."
With that, the meeting wrapped up.
As Minjae stepped out of the office, he pulled out his phone and searched for Lux&Co.'s past campaigns.
- - -
Days passed, and while Minjae focused on filming his drama, the entertainment industry also continued to move forward.
The Only Way, was just a few weeks away from ending. Though the drama had generated much publicity on its early episodes, particularly from Minjae's breakout performance, it wasn't exactly taking the industry by storm.
The viewership ratings were good but not extraordinary. It maintained a solid audience from the start but it didn't increase later on. It didn't quite reach the explosive success that the production team had hoped for after getting a positive response.
Still, it was a decent drama, one that critics praised for its strong performances despite its somewhat predictable plot.
Sooyun's acting was also good. He was greatly commended by the viewers. He was also slowly regaining the followers he had lost from his previous issue with Minjae. However, it would still be long before he'd be able to come back on top once again.
For Minjae though, the drama was a stepping stone for him. It wasn't a massive breakthrough, but it solidified his presence in the industry. People were starting to recognize him.
Minjae's name was still circulating in online forums, and his fan engagement was growing steadily. Right now, he already had a growing fanbase.
Meanwhile, as November entered its last week, his first drama project, The Star's Secret, was also moving swiftly toward its conclusion.
The production team had been working tirelessly, determined to wrap up filming within the next few days. Everyone was pushing even though they were already exhausted. They knew that once the final scenes were shot, they would finally have their well-earned rest.
Of course, the break wouldn't last long.
Come mid-December, they would immediately transition into the promotion period for the drama. Press conferences, interviews, variety show guestings, everything was being scheduled already.
For Minjae, this meant that he wouldn't have much time to breathe.
Still, he wasn't complaining.
This was the life he had chosen.
And he was going to make the most out of it.
- - -
One morning, while on set for one of his final shooting days, Minjae was in the middle of a costume change when he heard a commotion outside his waiting tent.
He barely had time to step out before his manager, Donghyun, walked in. He was surprised to see that he wasn't alone.
Behind Donghyun, several staff members followed, pushing rolling racks filled with different clothing. They were also carrying bags that probably contained more.
"What's all of this, Hyung?" Minjae blinked in disbelief. His forehead creased as he stared at them one by one.
Donghyun clapped him on the shoulder with a grin.
"Your wardrobe upgrade! Courtesy of Lux&Co.."
One of the staff members, a well-dressed woman in her late twenties, stepped forward and bowed politely.
"Hello, Mr. Nam Minjae. My name is Han Yewon, and I'm part of Lux&Co.'s styling team. We're here today to introduce you to the pieces you'll be wearing for the campaign."
Minjae glanced at the racks of clothing. From a quick scan, he could tell that everything here was expensive. The clothes ranged from sleek tailored suits to casual but sophisticated outfits.
Another staff member smiled at him.
"We also coordinated with your drama's production team to incorporate some Lux&Co. pieces into your character's wardrobe."
"Wait, really?" Minjae raised an eyebrow. Their team works fast that they were able to do everything in just a few days after signing with them.
"Yeah, it was part of the deal. Since The Star's Secret is meant to have a high-fashion and luxury aesthetic, Lux&Co. saw this as the perfect opportunity for subtle brand placement." Donghyun nodded.
Han Yewon gestured toward the clothes.
"Of course, we made sure that the pieces align with your character's image and the drama's theme. We'll have a quick fitting session now so we can see how they look on you."
Minjae sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew that the process would be tedious. Just by looking at the number of clothes, he knew it would take them a whole day.
"So I have no choice, huh?"
Donghyun grinned before letting out a laugh.
"Nope."
Minjae chuckled lightly. "Alright, let's do it."
With that, the fitting session began.
As soon as Minjae agreed, the Lux&Co. team swiftly got to work.
They set up a temporary dressing area inside his waiting tent, complete with a full-length mirror and bright lighting to ensure that every detail of the outfits would be visible.
Han Yewon clapped her hands together, signaling her team.
"Alright, let's start with something simple."
A male assistant pulled out a neatly folded cream-colored cashmere sweater paired with slim-fit charcoal trousers and handed them to Minjae.
"This outfit leans toward casual luxury," Yewon explained. "It's something we plan to incorporate into your character's everyday looks in The Star's Secret."
Minjae took the clothes, nodding before stepping behind the divider to change.
A few moments later, he stepped out.
Donghyun nodded immediately. "
That suits you."
Minjae turned to the mirror, examining himself. The soft cashmere contrasted well with the structured trousers, making him look effortlessly elegant.
The Lux&Co. staff murmured in agreement, taking notes.
"The fit is perfect," one stylist commented.
"Yeah. I agree. The clothes look good on him." Another commented.