Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 302

It was a warm autumn afternoon, with sunlight streaming down.

Clang- Clang- Clang-

The sound of metal echoed from the large construction site that stretched far into the distance.

This wasn’t a construction site with just frames and excavators. It was nearly finished, with tall, beautiful buildings almost ready.

The site looked truly amazing.

A green park stretched along a wide river flowing through the city.

The beautiful park connected smoothly to the impressive buildings with glass walls that stood tall behind it. The buildings and the park together looked amazing.

Tuesday, September 1st, 2015.

The new area of the city being built, constructed with the underground project, had only one week left until it was done.

“Hey, what’s the date? Why isn’t the gate finishing work done yet?”

“You there! Move it, move it! If we don’t meet the deadline, are you going to take the fall for me?!”

The site was very busy. There were many small things to take care of before finishing.

With only a week left, everyone had to work as hard as possible.

“Site manager, you have a visitor.”

“Huh? Who is it?”

“Director Park Kyung-wan from WJ Studio…”

“Ah, Director Park! Tell him to come in.”

WJ Studio had an important job at this huge site.

WJ Studio was the company that designed all the buildings. Their construction team was also doing some of the inside work.

Because it was such a big project, many construction companies worked on it together. WJ Studio was in charge of helping the companies work together smoothly.

With the end so close, the people at WJ Studio had to rush around.

“Welcome, Director.”

“Haha, Site Manager. Is the work going well?”

“Heh heh, of course. It’s a bit tight, but we plan to finish all the finishing work by today.”

“Please try to make sure there aren’t too many mistakes.”

“Well, some mistakes are inevitable… but I’ll try to work as hard as possible.”

That’s why Kyung-wan, as a director, was there in person.

“Director! Schedule check is complete!”

“Good work, Hyung-wook.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t seem like there are any particular problems, right?”

“I think so.”

“Wow, it feels like just yesterday we started building here…”

“Come to think of it, it was built really quickly compared to the size of the project.”

“I know, right? It was only possible because many companies worked together.”

Kyung-wan left the site office in the underground parking lot and walked around the complex with Hyung-wook, his assistant.

This project was important to him.

When the building first started, he was a director at one of the construction companies and went to the first ceremony. Now, as it finished, he was the director of the company that designed and oversaw the whole project.

This was not something that happened often, even after many years in the business.

‘It’s really built magnificently. Just like Seo Woo-jin said, it’s really going to become a landmark of the city.’

Apartment buildings in the city are usually limited to 35 floors.

But this new area was allowed to have buildings up to 49 floors because of a special plan, which made it stand out.

Also, because there weren’t many tall buildings in that district back then, it would be even more noticeable.

Of course, the special, modern design on the outside walls, which made it look futuristic, also helped a lot.

“Wow, Director.”

“What?”

“The members of this association must be really happy.”

“Who? Our CEO?”

“Gasp. Does the CEO have a stake here too?”

“I think it’s more than just a stake. I heard he’s getting a penthouse.”

“Really…? A penthouse?”

“Yeah. That penthouse.”

“Wow, what would it feel like to live in that 50th-floor penthouse…”

“I wouldn’t know, I’ve never lived there.”

As Kyung-wan walked and talked with Hyung-wook, he suddenly thought of someone.

Someone who had given Kyung-wan a lot of work and then disappeared.

‘Anyway, that Seo Woo-jin. It feels like it’s about time he came back…’

Looking back, the past year had gone by quickly, but Woo-jin was still annoying.

So many things had happened, but doing the tax paperwork without Woo-jin last year was incredibly difficult.

‘How can someone create this much work in a year…? It was almost amazing when I was doing the settlements.’

There were good things too.

Spending a year without Woo-jin had made Kyung-wan learn everything about WJ Studio.

It was different from when he was a director at the construction company, and it helped him grow.

But even so, he didn’t want to do it again.

‘Is it about fifteen days left now? Seo Woo-jin, you better not be late.’

Kyung-wan grumbled and got into the car, having thought about Woo-jin for the first time in a while.

But Kyung-wan looked happy.

Because he had been running around all morning, he had finished checking the project.

So, he could relax a little before his important afternoon meeting.

“Hey, Kim Hyung-wook.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Are you coming to the JK Securities meeting too?”

“Hehe, of course. Where else would I be if not by your side, Director?”

“Then let’s grab some food before we head out.”

“Yes, sir!”

The project was a five-minute drive from WJ Tower, so they went back to headquarters and ate at a noodle soup restaurant.

It was Kyung-wan’s favorite restaurant in WJ Tower.

Kyung-wan knew that Woo-jin’s mother worked there, but that wasn’t why he liked it.

He just loved the simple, traditional food.

“Krooooh…! This is the taste.”

Kyung-wan looked even happier after finishing all the spicy broth.

The meeting was at four o’clock, and there were still two hours left, so he thought he could review the project and have a cup of coffee.

‘Ahem. Anyway, today’s meeting is important… I need to land a big deal like this to brag to Seo Woo-jin when he gets back.’

Today’s meeting was about building the Korean office for an international financial company.

The site wasn’t huge, but it was in a good location, so it was an important project that would bring in a lot of money.

‘Those finance guys are going to be incredibly picky…’

Kyung-wan picked up a piece of kimchi and took out his phone.

He needed to check one thing with the planning team before the meeting.

Thud-

But Kyung-wan looked surprised when he picked up his phone.

Vibrate-!

His phone started vibrating loudly.

“What? What amazing timing.”

The person calling him was the head of the planning department, whom he was about to call.

“Oh, Young-joon. I was just about to call you.”

[Ah, is there something you need?]

“Yeah, the JK Securities meeting is later.”

[Yes, Director.]

“So, I was going to ask you to prepare some materials I need. Hyung-wook and I are heading up now.”

But what happened next was even more surprising.

[Ah, Director. If it’s about the JK meeting materials, you don’t need to.]

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

From the phone, he heard something unexpected.

[Actually, the reason I called was because the JK Securities meeting was canceled.]

“What? What do you mean? Canceled?”

[I just got a call from the person in charge.]

“Saying what?”

[They said the company selection was already completed at headquarters, and they’re canceling all project meetings?]

Kyung-wan started to get angry.

“What? What kind of unbelievable people are they?!”

[No, Director. Please calm down for a moment… ]

“Calm down? How can I calm down? Because of that project, huh? The design team worked overtime until yesterday, huh?”

[So, this is… ]

“Aargh, I’m getting heated up for the first time in a while. If they were going to do this, they should have told us at least a week before the meeting!”

The planning director tried to say something, but had to wait until Kyung-wan calmed down.

After a while.

[Have you finished venting…?]

“No, give me the contact person’s number. I need to call and argue with them.”

[… ]

“Don’t worry. Do you think I’m going to swear at them?”

[Then what are you going to argue about?]

“It’s frustrating that we prepared so much. I need to get paid for the design work.”

[Um… ]

“These unfair people, are these international securities companies canceling projects right before the meeting because they don’t want to spend a few pennies?”

The planning director’s calm voice continued, directed at Kyung-wan, who had finally calmed down a bit.

[First of all, you don’t need to do that.]

“Why?”

[We’ll get the design fee anyway.]

“What? Are they that conscientious?”

[No, I don’t know if they’re conscientious, but they have to pay it.]

“Yeah. They have to pay it, but…”

[The company that the headquarters selected is us.]

“What… did you say?”

Kyung-wan was speechless at the planning director’s words.

First of all, the situation was a series of unpredictable twists and turns, and it made no sense at all to Kyung-wan.

‘What kind of situation is this?’

The headquarters of the financial group is in the United States.

Also, this is the first time they are opening an office in Korea.

In other words, it’s a company that has no connection with WJ Studio at all.

‘The headquarters selected us? Why?’

There’s another question.

The planning director clearly said ‘selected,’ which means it’s already confirmed.

But the fact that WJ Studio, which was selected, is finding out about it by receiving a phone call, it was impossible to understand how this could happen.

“I didn’t hear wrong, did I?”

So, Kyung-wan had to ask again, and the planning director smiled and replied.

[Yes, of course. Would I joke with you about something this important?]

“Then how is that possible?”

[Pardon?]

“I haven’t approved it yet, so how can they contact us saying the company selection is complete?”

Without Woo-jin, Kyung-wan had most of the power to decide how projects went.

Of course, he had to talk to the other directors, but Kyung-wan was the one who made the final decision.

So, Kyung-wan’s question was natural, but the answer was simpler than expected.

[Oh, so I asked the person in charge about that… ]

“And?”

[They said the CEO signed it himself.]

“What… did you say?”

[I don’t know what happened, but the CEO’s seal is on it.]

……?

[I received a copy of the contract by fax.]

“No, what…”

[They even said he went to the headquarters to sign it himself?]

Kyung-wan, who had his phone to his ear, now looked completely blank.

And he heard the cautious voice of the employee at the counter.

“Sir, are you going to pay…?”