This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 470

Somehow, since it’s an opinion I proposed myself, I think I should take full responsibility for preparing it.

As if to challenge fate, the moment I nodded, Yoonseo, holding her mobile phone, began to hustle around.

Of course, despite Yoonseo’s tear-stained efforts, the results were far from promising.

In hindsight, that might have been an obvious outcome.

According to a certain photographer I’ve come to know, all studios that seem to have a decent scale operate on a reservation basis.

And what Yoonseo desired were not just any ordinary studios, but those ‘decently sized’ ones.

Yet, attempting to make a reservation on the same day… there was no way that was going to be easy.

As expected, every studio I called that seemed decent simply replied that same-day reservations were impossible.

With each cycle of checking the studio’s contact details and making inquiries, Yoonseo’s shoulders slowly sank lower.

Her voice accordingly grew more disheartened.

“Ah… Yes… I understand…”

“Why? They couldn’t accommodate you either?”

“Uh…”

If she’d ever heard even one positive reply, it might be different, but all she heard, no matter where she inquired, was that it couldn’t be done, gradually dampening her spirit.

Unlike the initially enthusiastic spirit, Yoonseo’s fingers scrolling through her mobile phone screen now moved at a much slower pace.

Seeing her like that, I decided to step in.

Of course, I wondered if my involvement would really change the situation, but seeing her so downcast, I figured I had to at least try something.

After stopping the car on the shoulder, I pulled my hand from the steering wheel and shoved it into my pocket—obviously, I intended to do just that.

‘It should definitely be in…’

The destination still wasn’t determined, but independently from that, having been on the road, I suddenly parked my car on the shoulder, took out my wallet, and started rummaging through it, probably bewildering Yoonseo.

“What are you doing?”

“Hang on, hang on, just wait a second.”

I asked for her understanding with her perplexed tone and began to search through my wallet.

Why on earth do I have so many business cards stuffed in here… It definitely felt like I needed to sort this out sooner or later.

Or maybe buy something specifically for keeping business cards.

While I was thinking that, I was checking one by one the business cards spilling out from my wallet.

Could it be that someone out there recognized Yoonseo’s anxious heart, so that by mere coincidence I found the business card I was looking for?

“I found it.”

“What is it?”

“It might be someone who can rent us a studio.”

“?”

Maybe she was curious as to how on earth I knew such a person.

Without minding her scrutinizing gaze, I quickly tapped away at my mobile phone.

I wanted to call right away, but since it had been a while since I last contacted this person, it would be rude to just jump into a call.

So I introduced myself first, asking if they were available to talk, and not long after, a call came through on my phone.

—Dogun? Is this you, Dogun?

“Ah, yes… It’s you, the photographer… How have you been?”

—Of course…

Of course?

—Not so great. I’ve been waiting for your call.

“Ahaha…”

What can I say?

The person on the other line was none other than the photographer who took the profile picture when my senior debuted as a Hero.

How did I even exchange business cards with someone like this…? That was entirely thanks to Chae-rim.

—By the way, the fact that you’re reaching out after all these years… Does that mean an opportunity has finally come my way?

The excitement in his voice hinted that perhaps the chance to photograph Chae-rim, a long-held dream of his, had finally arrived.

Thinking about stomping on that opportunity made me feel a bit guilty, but… what can one do? That’s just life, isn’t it?

“No, it’s not anything like that…”

As expected, the moment I spoke those words, his voice dropped immediately. Yet, as soon as I revealed that I was with Yoonseo, it bounced back as if nothing happened.

“So, could you possibly recommend a studio if you know of any?”

If same-day reservations were impossible, wasn’t it time to use the friend card?

I wasn’t a photography expert, but if the association trusted me with work, he must be quite well-known in that industry.

Surely, he must know contact details of studio owners too.

With that in mind, I cautiously made the request.

—Hmm…

The next sound was one I truly didn’t anticipate coming.

—So instead of going elsewhere, how about coming to my studio?

“What? Your studio?”

—Yes.

I had assumed he would have a decent standing in the industry, but owning a personal studio was unexpected.

“Is that really okay? It feels like it might be rude…”

—Well… to be honest, today was supposed to be a regular day off.

“Oh…”

—But since Yoonseo, a protégé of the Lightning Lady, is in trouble, as a fan of the Lightning Lady, I must help.

“Oh my… Thank you.”

—But!

But?

—After you take as many photos as you want, could I take a few pictures of Yoonseo too? I think it would be nice to display them in the studio… Hehe…

I had a feeling as to why he was so readily taking me up on this.

On the other hand, it must be a part of his portfolio too…

—Also, you’ll have free access to any props in the studio!

“Well, that’s what he said. What do you think, Yoonseo?”

—Yoonseo! We have so many props in our studio! You definitely won’t be disappointed!

“How many pictures do you mean?”

—Yes!!

“Then… without further ado, I’ll be in your debt.”

Thanks to the dramatic compromise between the borrowing side and the lending side, Yoonseo could rent the studio as she hoped and take photos.

They even mentioned we could borrow the camera if we wanted, meaning all we had to do was show up.

The complication was that it was a bit far… so we definitely needed to head out quickly.

With the navigation set up to guide us to the studio, I immediately started the car parked on the shoulder for the call.

*

After leaving behind Seoul, how long had we driven down the now emptied road?

According to the navigation’s guide, we arrived in front of a building in Paju.

“Oh, welcome!”

Following the photographer who was waiting to greet us, I soon discovered that this three-story building was entirely used as a studio.

So that’s why they were so confident that despite the distance, we wouldn’t regret it once we arrived.

“Here, this is our studio prop room.”

Honestly, even if we were there, using an entire floor for props and makeup was quite something.

As expected, the prop room was filled with an abundance of items.

There were even all sorts of wedding dresses and tuxedos stocked…

“What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Did you buy all of this?”

“Yes, well… yes… I find that whenever I see a wedding dress, my heart races, and I lose my bearings.”

As a result, I felt a bit uneasy.

“By the way, how are the sizes for these?”

“They’re all free size, free size.”

The longer Yoonseo lingered in front of the rack with various wedding dresses, the more I worried.

Surely, she wouldn’t be thinking of trying one on, would she…?

Of all themes, a wedding concept.

I get that if we find a concept and take photos, it would surely be fun, but isn’t that concept a bit heavy…?

Surely, it wasn’t out of annoyance at wearing formal clothes.

It was just… I was worried that the nice photos would end up looking embarrassing, akin to a black history record.

As I nervously worried, it happened to be at that moment.

“And here’s…”

Suddenly, props that made my eyes widen began to appear following the wedding dresses.