novellhall 22. Im Yoon-a's phone call
22. Im Yoon-a's phone call
Lying in bed before sleep, Lee Kyung-sung searched for CJ online. As the information that popped up unfolded, he truly realized that this was no ordinary entertainment company; it was a complete behemoth in the Korean entertainment industry, encompassing everything from film investment, film distribution, and theater chains to television stations, variety show production, and artist management—virtually controlling half of the Korean Peninsula's entertainment industry.
Seeing all this clearly, he did feel a slight pressure creeping in. But having been a carefree optimist in his previous life, and with the system backing him up in this one, the pressure quickly dissipated. Sleepiness washed over him, and he soon drifted off to sleep.
It was not even seven o'clock in the morning, before the alarm clock had even gone off, when my phone suddenly rang.
Lee Kyung-sung groggily fumbled for his alarm clock, but when he opened his eyes and saw it was an incoming call from Im Yoon-ah, and glanced at the time again, he was instantly wide awake, speechless, "What the hell?"
Lee Kyung-sung sighed softly as he answered the phone. Yoon-ah's soft, concerned voice immediately came from the other end, "Kyung-sung, are you all ready? Would you like to come to my beauty salon? The makeup and styling here is exceptional. I'm sorry, I didn't even think of that last night."
Although he was abruptly woken up, the other person was none other than Lim Yoon-a, whom he was currently trying to win over, and who meant well. His morning grumpiness vanished instantly. Lee Kyung-sung smiled and politely declined, "Do I need to put on makeup? From every angle, I'm a true national heartthrob, a 360-degree viewer."
Although Lim Yoona agreed, her response was extremely perfunctory, "Oh, yes, yes, but the Korean Peninsula places great importance on basic etiquette, which is considered fundamental manners and professional conduct, especially for job applicants, as it reflects their attitude towards valuing this opportunity."
You should really tidy yourself up. You saw me yesterday without makeup, so I bet you're planning to do the same for your interview today.
"Yes, because I don't know how to put on makeup."
"I've sent you the address of the beauty salon!" Yoona's tone suddenly hardened, and she hung up the phone.
Unable to refuse such hospitality, and after considering the rules of the Peninsula, Li Jingcheng felt they made perfect sense. After receiving the location, he first took a shower, figuring that for a top-tier company like CJ, wearing a suit for the interview was definitely the safest bet.
After he finished getting ready, he drove very fast. The road conditions were still very good, and he arrived at the beauty salon in just over ten minutes.
The beauty salon is located in a quiet commercial and residential building in Cheongdam-dong. The storefront is not large, but the interior is decorated elegantly and cleanly. Light beige soft furnishings are paired with soft warm lighting, soft music, and a faint scent of hair oil and aromatherapy in the air. It is quiet and professional, and it is obviously a private makeup and styling shop frequented by celebrities.
When Li Jingcheng pushed the door open, Lin Yoona was sitting in front of the mirror getting her hair styled. Her hair was half-tied up by the beautician. As soon as she looked up, she caught his reflection in the mirror. She froze instantly, her eyes lighting up as she stared at him, unable to look away.
He wore a well-fitting, crisp charcoal gray suit with a clean and sharp cut. It was understated yet exuded an aura of power, perfectly highlighting his tall and slender figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
"Come sit here!"
There was an empty leather chair of the same style next to her. Another beautician stepped forward and was about to speak when her gaze fell on Li Jingcheng's face. She paused noticeably, recognized the man who had recently become very popular at a glance, and her eyes flashed with amazement. She praised him softly and sincerely, "Wow, you are really good-looking in person, and your skin is also very good. You must look especially good on camera."
Im Yoona then added, "Unnie, he has a very important interview today, so please make sure he looks presentable, but not too heavy."
Lee Kyung-sung's gaze remained steadily fixed on Lim Yoon-a's face in the mirror. She was sitting there getting her hair done, her long, black hair being gently combed by the beautician, the ends slightly curled, making her neck appear slender and fair. Her face wore light, sheer makeup, her eyebrows soft and natural, her eyes slightly upturned, giving her a more refined look than when they first met. A simple off-white knit sweater made her appear gentle and clean, sitting quietly like a soft painting.
From the moment Lee Kyung-sung walked in, Lim Yoona had been secretly observing him in the mirror. She caught the undisguised admiration in his eyes and secretly rejoiced. "You're so smug!" she thought. She was still bothered by the fact that she had rushed out without makeup yesterday.
"Do you have any plans today? It's so early." Li Jingcheng leaned back comfortably in his chair, letting the hairstylist style his hair, and took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
A sly smile curved Lim Yoona's lips. She glanced at him lightly, her tone sweet and playful, "You won't be waking up much earlier in the future. Besides, didn't you already check my schedule?"
Although he didn't finish his sentence, Lee Kyung-sung felt Yoona's glance out of the corner of his eye and understood what she meant. However, he had searched her schedule once before just to see her, so why would he search her schedule again for no reason?
Even the two beauticians present sensed the change in atmosphere. They exchanged a quick glance and, with tacit understanding, remained silent, refusing to continue the conversation.
About an hour later, Li Jingcheng's makeup and styling were finally completed.
His already deep and defined features were subtly enhanced by a light and even foundation, concealing minor imperfections and giving his skin an even and radiant complexion without appearing mask-like. His eyebrows were neatly shaped with a slightly upturned arch, adding a touch of masculinity. His hairstyle was a refreshing Korean side part, with a few wisps of hair falling naturally across his forehead, partially obscuring it. The hair on both sides was neatly combed, neither greasy nor forced, with a slight volume at the top, making his face appear even smaller and more delicate. A well-tailored charcoal gray suit perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, highlighting his tall and slender figure. His shoulders were clean and straight, and his waistline was toned. Paired with a crisp white shirt, the collar slightly open, he exuded an understated yet powerful aura.
Yoona's gaze swept over his face carefully, from his eyebrows and eyes to his jawline and overall figure, and she nodded in satisfaction. "That puts my mind at ease. Going to the interview looking like this will definitely leave a good impression on the interviewer."
Li Jingcheng smiled and raised his eyebrows, his tone confident, "Don't worry, I definitely won't let you down. Just wait and see if you'll treat me to dinner."
"I didn't agree," Lim Yoona pouted, but her eyes were full of laughter. Her tone was serious. "If it really works out, I'll treat you! I'll take you to my favorite Korean restaurant, it's amazing. Don't be too nervous during the interview, just relax. You're so talented, you'll definitely be fine."
Lee Kyung-sung smiled and agreed, "I know, thank you for Yoona's encouragement."
Yoona glanced at the time, stood up, grabbed her bag, and said, "I have to go back to the company. I have a schedule to catch up on. Good luck with your interview!"
"Okay, be careful on the road."
Watching Lim Yoona leave, Lee Kyung-sung checked his phone: 7:21 PM. The makeup and styling had taken over an hour, so the cost must have been high. But since Lim Yoona paid for it this time, he could reimburse her for other expenses next time.
He figured he had plenty of time, with an hour and a half until his CJ interview. He figured he might as well find a breakfast place nearby to grab a bite before the interview, without considering that sitting for a long time on an empty stomach might cause swelling.
He then pushed open the door and walked out of the beauty salon, navigated to the location of the CJ actors' department, and decided to find a breakfast shop along the way to grab a bite.