Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 125

Friday arrived.

The sky was still dark when Woojin arrived at the office. Actually, he hadn’t really left. He’d worked all night, only going home for a quick sleep before returning. He felt tired, but he pushed it aside.

“Ha,” he sighed, looking at the files on his desk. “Somehow, it’s all ready.”

Woojin carefully checked everything. His presentation materials were organized, just as he wanted them. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach.

Tonight was the night. He would finally show his design – the design he had worked on for months – to the important members. His future, and WJ Studio’s future, depended on this.

Woojin’s heart pounded. ‘I have to do this perfectly,’ he thought. ‘No mistakes. I can’t afford any mistakes.’ He felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him.

There were several reasons why Woojin was so motivated, but the most important was, of course, the practical benefit for Woojin himself and WJ Studio.

If they won the contract, WJ Studio’s status would skyrocket, without a doubt.

Winning this contract meant a huge amount of money for WJ Studio – billions of won. The design fee alone would be a massive boost to their income.

Design fees for big projects like this are based on a percentage of the total building cost. This project was so big, even a small percentage was a lot of money.

“Hoo.”

Woojin shook his hands to release the tension and began the rehearsal in a calm tone.

Practice to properly unleash all these preparations on the podium.

‘I can do it.’

The tension during the competition presentation was no less than today.

However, he had enough confidence to make that tension pale in comparison, and this time was no different.

There was no need to be intimidated just because the stakes were higher.

“I hope the presentation order is last……”

Woojin’s eyes, fixed on the PPT file on the monitor, began to sparkle with anticipation.

Kim Gyusik, an economic reporter for M Daily, was having another busy day.

Moving along with the interview schedule set from the morning, he was traveling to many places in Seoul and sweating a lot.

Having a lot of news material was a good thing for a reporter, but these days, he felt like he wanted to rest a bit.

But he only thought about it.

Even as the 퇴근 time approached after 5 o’clock, Kim Gyusik was heading somewhere.

He was moving hastily, worried about being late.

‘I need to arrive by 5:50 at the latest…….’

His phone buzzed as he hurried down the subway stairs. He snatched it out, answering without even looking at the name – he was too focused on getting to the meeting on time.

[Gyusik, how about a drink tonight? It’s Friday night, after all!]

“I’m busy, my friend.”

[No, being busy is one thing. You’re about to leave work, aren’t you?]

“I can’t leave work. No, I won’t.”

[What? Are you working overtime today?]

“You could say it’s voluntary overtime?”

[Crazy! Voluntary overtime on 불금, is that really Kim Gyusik I know?]

“There’s a good reason, so I’m doing it. Anyway, hanging up?”

[Hey! Wait a minute! Hey……!]

Click-

Kim Gyusik, who would normally have rushed to a drinking session with excitement, boarded the Line 2 subway heading towards Gangnam.

The scoop he had obtained today was almost exclusive.

It was too big of a news story to give up and go for a drink.

‘I was lucky. To get the qualification to enter the general meeting.’

The place Kim Gyusik was trying to cover today was the general meeting for the selection of the construction company for the Cheongdam Seonyoung Apartment reconstruction project.

A place that could be called a festival for the members, where the entry of outsiders was thoroughly blocked.

The reason Gyusik was able to obtain entry to this event was, of course, thanks to his connections.

One of the assembly delegates was a close relative of Gyusik, and he was able to create a spot after pleading.

‘Even if I record something on my laptop, no one will object, right?’

Gyusik’s eyes were full of anticipation.

The reconstruction project of Cheongdam Seonyoung Apartment was a place that anyone interested in real estate would be curious about.

In particular, if he exclusively covered the construction company selection general meeting, where top-tier construction companies were competing, the number of views of the article would be guaranteed.

The best location that everyone would want to live in.

And the best premium apartment to be built on that location.

Gyusik was confident that he could neatly publish at least three articles with this one coverage.

‘Hehe, and there was also a little extra piece of interesting news.’

One special piece of information he had obtained from an official at Chunwoong Construction the day before yesterday was also one of the factors that excited him now.

That was the fact that Seo Woojin, an expert from the hot entertainment program , would be presenting for Chunwoong Construction.

This was like a hidden card that could increase the number of views of the article.

Even people who were not interested in real estate would click on the article out of curiosity if they watched .

‘By the way, how did that friend end up in charge of the presentation at Chunwoong Construction? Wasn’t he scouted for because of his twenty-two-year-old college student concept? Was he really that capable?’

Even Kim Gyusik, who was going to cover the story, was curious about what had happened.

This was proof that it was a definite news story.

Gyusik’s steps towards the coverage site quickened a little more.

The place where the Seonyoung Apartment construction company selection general meeting was being held today was the 종합운동장 in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu.

Gyusik felt that the subway’s stopping time was even longer today.

Chunwoong Construction’s TF team had arrived at the 종합운동장 a little after five o’clock.

To set up the materials in advance and check the presentation environment before the event officially started.

Park Kyungwan and Oh Juhyung, were smoking a cigarette each on the building’s terrace after completing a rough check. They both needed this moment to calm their nerves.

“You know, it really was a good idea…”

“What is?”

“Having CEO Seo, who became famous because of the entertainment program, present our presentation.”

At Juhyung’s words, Kyungwan smirked and replied.

“It’s not just a good idea, it’s irreplaceable.”

“Hmm…….”

Even while smoking a cigarette to refresh their mood, the two’s conversation was ultimately related to today’s general meeting.

“Just the fact that he’s a familiar face will inevitably create a much better impression.”

“That’s true.”

“Of course, just because someone familiar is presenting doesn’t mean it will lead to votes, but at least they’ll be much more focused on the presentation, right?”

To be exact, it was a story about Woojin, who was practically the key man of today’s event.

“I agree with that part.”

“That part?”

“I’m just, anxious.”

Oh Juhyung, who answered with an awkward expression, took a deep drag of his cigarette.

Park Kyungwan, who glanced at him, smiled and continued.

“Hey, Oh Juhyung.”

“Huh?”

“Are you still worried?”

At Park Kyungwan’s calm voice, Juhyung opened his mouth again.

“You’re the weird one for not worrying, man. The idea itself is good, but still, it’s CEO Seo. He’s twenty-two, isn’t he?”

“Whether he’s twenty-two or forty-two. Honestly, I don’t think anyone could do a better presentation than Woojin.”

“Is it that much?”

“You know it too, you talked to him together last time.”

“That time, Seongsu Pocha?”

“Yeah, man. Don’t you remember what you said when you came back then?”

“Um…….”

“You said that when you talk to that guy, you feel like you’re being sucked in.”

“Oh, I did.”

Kyungwan patted Oh Juhyung’s back, who was scratching the back of his head.

“Among the guys I know, there’s no one who can talk as well as him.”

“Well…….”

“Besides, it’s a work that he personally designed and planned. Who could do better than him?”

“Tsk. Yeah. Well, worrying won’t change anything, right?”

Juhyung put out his cigarette in the ashtray and got up from his seat, and Kyungwan also got up following him.

Now, there were about 20 minutes left until the event started.

In fact, even though he pretended to be calm, Kyungwan was also extremely nervous.

‘Isn’t he the SPDC Grand Prize winner? He’ll definitely do at least average.’

When he clenched his fist slightly, he felt sweat on his palm.

Chunwoong Construction’s performance was important, but in fact, his promotion to executive was at stake in this project.

The day the result was decided was today, so Kyungwan couldn’t help but be as nervous as Woojin.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have confidence in putting Woojin forward as the presenter.

What he had told Juhyung were his genuine thoughts.

But that was separate from being nervous.

When Kyungwan and Juhyung returned to their seats in the field office, all the construction company officials who attended today’s general meeting had arrived.

The number of people gathered in the office was about fifteen.

But despite this number of people gathering, the room was as quiet as a mouse.

In fact, there wasn’t much to talk about between the competitors.

So, in that quiet atmosphere, about five minutes passed?

A union official, having confirmed that all the officials had gathered, appeared with a small tissue box.

“Now, one representative at a time, please come this way.”

Hearing his words, Kyungwan got up from his seat again without hesitation.

Kyungwan, who had participated in countless contract bids, knew what this meant.

‘It must be drawing lots for the order.’

The official brought a tissue box. It seemed strange, but this was how they would decide the presentation order – by drawing numbers from a tissue box! For a project worth so much money, it felt a little silly.

Kyungwan didn’t know what order Woojin would want, but he thought that drawing number 1 would allow him to present without pressure.

But the number written on the lot in his hand was…….

[Number 4]

It was number 4, the last order.

“What is it, what number is it?”

Juhyung, seeing Kyungwan’s flustered expression, jumped up from his seat and asked, and Kyungwan, instead of answering, shook the unfolded lot, showing the contents.

“Number 4? Last?”

“That’s right.”

“Ha, should I like this or not.”

The last order, which could be the best order if done well, but could easily be buried if it went wrong.

Kyungwan and Juhyung, with strange expressions, sighed deeply at the same time.

Now everything depended on that kid.

It all depended on Seo Woojin’s presentation.