Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 129

“You’re amazing!” Kyungwan shouted.

“Why am I amazing?” Woojin asked, grinning.

“You’re incredible! Just plain incredible!” Kyungwan replied.

“Haha,” Woojin chuckled.

“You did it! You wonderful devil, you!” Kyungwan exclaimed.

This happened the moment Cheonwoong Construction’s victory was announced.

Kyungwan jumped up from his seat, filled with excitement, and embraced Woojin tightly.

He believed they had prepared as thoroughly as possible.

Woojin and WJ Studio had certainly put in the effort, but Kyungwan and the TF team had worked incredibly hard for long hours.

For the past month or two, they had practically poured their lives into this project.

Kyungwan and the Cheonwoong Construction staff had given their absolute best.

But giving your best doesn’t guarantee a positive outcome.

The best effort doesn’t always produce the best result.

So, when this most desired outcome finally came true, Kyungwan was thrilled and deeply moved.

This result was more than enough to make up for all their hard work.

“Hng, hng……!”

Seeing the redness in Kyungwan’s eyes, Woojin smiled with amusement and felt a sudden urge to tease him.

Woojin grinned. “Sir, are you crying?”

Kyungwan’s eyes widened, though they were still a little red. “Crying? Me? Never!” He puffed out his chest.

Woojin pointed gently at Kyungwan’s cheek. “Then what’s that… water in your eyes?”

“It’s… it’s just the heat!” Kyungwan blustered, wiping his cheek roughly with the back of his hand. “Sweat, you idiot! Hng!”

Woojin raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his face. “Sweat… on your cheekbones in December?”

“Damn it!” Kyungwan exclaimed, but a smile was starting to twitch at the corner of his mouth. “Just… just say it’s sweat, okay?”

Woojin chuckled, enjoying Kyungwan’s flustered reaction. “Actually,” he said, his voice still light with amusement, “there’s nothing there at all.”

“What?” Kyungwan blinked, confused for a moment.

“No sweat,” Woojin confirmed, grinning wider. “I was just teasing you, sir.” He chuckled again.

Kyungwan stared at him for a second, then a slow smile spread across his face. He had been teased, he realised, but he couldn’t possibly be angry. Not today.

“Hooo……. I’ll ignore it since I’m in a good mood today,” Kyungwan said, still smiling.

Kyungwan thumped Woojin on the back with a hand that looked as big as a pot lid, the force of it almost making Woojin stumble. Then, Kyungwan pulled a handkerchief from his inner pocket to dab at his eyes.

Following this, the two of them stepped onto the platform with the other Cheonwoong representatives to offer their gratitude to the members who had trusted them with their votes.

Cheonwoong Construction had secured a contract large enough to practically guarantee a substantial portion of an average construction company’s annual revenue.

The representatives bowed deeply to the members, and Woojin, looking slightly awkward, joined them.

It was a common sight to see the winning construction company bowing to the members after a successful bid, so Woojin didn’t feel particularly resistant.

He had experienced it many times in his past life.

Besides, weren’t these the members who had brought WJ Studio billions in revenue?

‘I could bow not just once, but two or three times,’ Woojin thought.

Thus, in this pleasant atmosphere, the general meeting came to a close.

The members were the first to leave the assembly hall.

As Woojin and Kyungwan were about to head outside, Chairman Kwak Hongshik approached them.

“Are you two busy?” Hongshik asked.

Kyungwan smiled cheerfully and replied, “Haha, what could we possibly be busy with? The general meeting is over.”

“Isn’t Cheonwoong Construction having a company dinner right away?” Hongshik inquired.

“Well, yes, that’s true, but…….” Kyungwan responded.

Hongshik smiled and spoke again. “Could you talk for ten minutes?”

“That’s not a problem,” Kyungwan said.

Hearing Kyungwan’s answer, Hongshik turned his gaze towards Woojin and asked, “President Seo, would that be possible for you as well?”

Woojin nodded.

The reason Hongshik had called the two men was not for anything extraordinary.

He had a few questions about the surprise plan that Woojin used at the last moment of the presentation, the plan to minimize the additional contribution burden on the members.

Although the construction company selection general meeting, one of the biggest events in reconstruction, was over, the big challenge of planning what to do next still remained.

So, Hongshik wanted to hear a more concrete plan regarding the measures Woojin had mentioned.

He was planning to submit the management and disposal plan by the end of December.

Therefore, the first topic Hongshik brought up was this.

“You said you would reduce the burden on the members by raising the sale price as much as possible, correct?” Hongshik asked.

Woojin replied, “I did.”

“And you said that if unsold units occur, Cheonwoong would take them on, correct?” Hongshik continued.

This time, Kyungwan nodded. “That’s right.”

After a moment of silence, Hongshik slowly opened his mouth again. “Then, what is the maximum sale price that Cheonwoong can handle?”

“Pardon?” Kyungwan asked, confused.

Hongshik spoke again. “I plan to submit a sale price proposal to HUG* [Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation] sometime next week.”

“That quickly?” Kyungwan asked.

“We need to act quickly. It’s important to move fast in reconstruction,” Hongshik replied.

At Hongshik’s words, Woojin looked slightly surprised.

He had already sensed that he was a capable chairman, but he didn’t expect him to be discussing the next step so soon after such a major event.

However, the rapid progress of the project was good for Cheonwoong and Woojin, so Woojin answered with pleasure.

In fact, he had already considered the answer to Hongshik’s question.

“The maximum sale price I’m considering is 39.5 million won per *pyeong* (a Korean unit of area, roughly 3.3 square meters),” Woojin stated.

This time, Hongshik couldn’t help but ask back with a shocked expression. “Excuse me……?!”

The sale price of 39.5 million won per pyeong that Woojin suggested was a whopping 6.5 million won higher than the 33 million won the association had originally considered.

For Hong-shik, who thought 3,500 was the highest price Woo-jin and Chun-woong could manage, this number was beyond his wildest dreams.

Kyung-wan seemed to have already discussed it with Woo-jin, remaining calm. Woo-jin continued, speaking to the surprised Hong-shik.

“Even if we could handle up to 3,950, getting approval at that price is unlikely. HUG has been generous lately with sale price estimations, but even then, this is an unusually high price.”

Woo-jin spoke calmly. Hong-shik listened, understanding again. He nodded and then spoke.

“CEO Seo is right. Even around 3,600, HUG would likely hesitate a lot.”

HUG helps by guaranteeing the sale for construction companies.

A sale guarantee helps protect people by returning their money if the construction company has problems, like going bankrupt. Or, HUG can take over the project and finish the building.

It’s how pre-sales work, where you sell before the building is even built.

So, HUG worries more when the guaranteed amount is larger.

Hong-shik explained this, and Woo-jin continued the conversation.

“So, if the chairman can negotiate the highest possible sale price with HUG, we will match it.”

“……!”

“Even if you get a high sale price of 3,950, we will accept it.”

Woo-jin’s offer was amazing. It was a completely new idea, something no one expected.

A sale price of 39.5 million won per square meter was very high. Chun-woong was willing to risk unsold units, even at this price, after the sale.

Also, if that sale price was approved, the members’ extra payment could be cheaper than other construction companies’ plans.

“Are you… sure?”

Hong-shik was worried about Chun-woong Construction because this offer was so new and different.

But Woo-jin had a good reason for suggesting such a high price.

Woo-jin knew the sale price of Cheongdam Artia Riverview, which was built by fixing up Seonyeong Apartment in his past life.

‘The Artia’s sale price was about 34.5 million won per square meter back then. People talked about it being a high price, but it sold out, and many people wanted to buy it.’

Cheongdam-dong really wanted new buildings.

Seocho Banpo and Gangnam Yeoksam Dogok were changing with new buildings, but Cheongdam hadn’t been redeveloped yet.

And if the special design made by Woo-jin and Chun-woong was marketed well…

Woo-jin thought it would sell out completely at around 36 million won per square meter.

Woo-jin secretly hoped the chairman would get approval for a high sale price of over 37 million won.

That way, there would be some unsold units, and some of it would come back to Woo-jin.

‘Even at around 38 million, it’s about 1.3 billion won based on 34 pyeong. Even if I think about it roughly three years later, it’s a very good business.’

So, Woo-jin said confidently.

“Yes. It’s okay, so don’t worry about us… Try to get the highest sale price from HUG.”

“……!”

“Now, reducing the members’ payment depends on what you can do, Chairman.”

Hong-shik was amazed. He didn’t know what Woo-jin was really thinking, but he saw the kindness in his offer. His eyes showed deep gratitude.

“Really… Thank you, CEO Seo.”

Hong-shik held Woo-jin’s hand tightly with his old hands. Woo-jin and Kyung-wan smiled and quickly left for the dinner.

As they rode in the taxi to dinner, Kyung-wan suddenly spoke up, a grumpy tone in his voice. “Hey, Seo Woo-jin,” he said, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten you making fun of me for crying!”

“What.”

“Our Chun-woong is taking the risk with the high sale price, but why are you getting all the credit?”

Woo-jin chuckled and shook his head.

“If there are unsold units, I’ll be the first to buy ten of them, you know?”

“You’re lying again.”

“I’m serious…”

“Ugh, you liar.”

“No, how can someone over forty call someone a liar?”

“I learned it from my wife’s nephew.”

“…….”

While they argued, the taxi arrived at the dinner place. That day, Woo-jin and Kyung-wan drank a lot.

Woo-jin didn’t usually drink much, but the alcohol tasted very good today. The WJ Studio employees at the dinner kept him company.

It was late, past three in the morning, when Woo-jin got home.

Woo-jin arrived home to his small apartment, the city lights still shining outside his window. He was so tired he just fell onto his bed, clothes and all.

He was very tired from work and the alcohol made it worse. He fell asleep right away.

While Woo-jin was sleeping soundly…

Little did Woo-jin know, the night was just the beginning of something much bigger. Several articles posted online early in the morning were becoming very popular.

[“Why Did You Come to My House” Expert Seo Woo-jin. Leads the Gangnam Reconstruction Project to Victory.]

[Cheongdam Clio Summit! Who is Seo Woo-jin, who designed the best premium apartment?]

[“Beautiful architecture is a promise of a happy life.” About the architectural philosophy of expert Seo Woo-jin.]

Even the short videos of Woo-jin in the articles were quickly spreading online.

WJ Studio’s year-end in 2010 was amazing.

WJ Studio was growing fast already, and winning the Cheongdam Seonyeong project made it almost as well-known as a big design company.

Also, the Cheongdam Seonyeong project wasn’t the only success.

The Garosu-gil Cafe Fresco’s second store was almost finished, and Seok-hyun’s model sales were much higher than expected.

The big increase in model sales was more of a reward from Park Kyung-wan than Seok-hyun’s skill.

Seok-hyun had earned about 100 million, but Kyung-wan had given almost 300 million worth of architectural model work from Chun-woong Construction.

It was a reward for Woo-jin’s great presentation at the project announcement.

“So, Seok-gu. This bet is off.”

“Ah, what do you mean, CEO! You have to keep your promise!”

“It’s not the sales you made, but what the manager gave you!”

“Still! The result is the same.”

“Hoo. If you like free stuff so much, you’ll go bald?”

“Hee hee, I’ll work hard again after the vacation. So, let’s go as promised this time.”

“Okay. Then let’s agree to rest until Christmas. Including the weekend, it’s almost a week. Okay?”

“Holy s**t! Call!”

Seok-hyun and the model team were happy to get almost a week’s vacation, like the construction team. Another week passed quickly.

With some big projects done, Woo-jin had some free time.

But even with free time, he was always thinking.

‘Next year will be busy with the Wangsimni project.’

The day after the meeting to choose the construction company, Woo-jin visited Bruno’s office with a hangover.

The designs he got from Bruno that day were making him think a lot.

‘Well, there’s still time… I’ll think about this case next year.’

Next year was only a week away, but Woo-jin told himself it was okay.

On December 24, 2010, Friday afternoon…

In the evening, with Christmas songs playing, Woo-jin was going to Sinsadong.

Golden Print