Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 15

Maybe the best business for Woojin would be to start his own architecture company.

In his past life, he worked as a carpenter and knew everything about building, from designing to actually making it.

Plus, Woojin knew what kind of interior designs would be popular in Korea for the next 20 years.

Starting an architecture company would definitely give him a good chance of success.

‘I’m really going to start a business.’

But the business Woojin was planning was a bit different from a full architecture company.

Even if he started small, there were many things that made it hard to open a real architecture company.

‘I don’t have much time, and I need more money… Starting an architecture company right now would be crazy.’

He might get 30 to 40 million won (Korean money) from his apartment investment. But even with that money, it was impossible to open a full architecture company.

He could open an office that only did designs, but Woojin didn’t want to do that.

Woojin wanted to design spaces that he had created himself.

‘I need to study design more… I won’t open a real office until I do.’

Woojin decided to focus on his studies for now.

So, the business he was about to start was related to his studies.

“Hehe. This way, he could study and make money at the same time.”

For university students studying arts or science, schoolwork usually means studying from books.

But for design students, it was a little different.

Of course, they still had to study and think hard.

But most of the important classes that decided their grades were hands-on.

For example, making architectural models, which the freshmen stayed up all night doing for Design Night.

Woojin was planning to open a ‘workshop’ that made these kinds of models.

‘If I can get some construction companies to make models for their buildings… I’ll make a lot of money.’

So, Woojin needed a place to open the workshop, tools, and some equipment.

Once he started getting a lot of work, it would be too slow to only use simple tools like knives or scissors.

He could use the equipment to make money and also do his school projects more easily.

Woojin thought this business was the best choice for him right now.

And to make it even better, he wanted to find a workshop near his school.

So, Woojin registered his business and took the subway back to Gangbuk, a city near his university.

He wanted to visit a real estate agency and look at places for his workshop.

“Heh, I’m seeing the whole city today.”

Woojin found a real estate agency near the back gate of the school and went inside.

A middle-aged woman, who seemed to be the owner, greeted him kindly.

“Oh, student, you’ve come to the right place. There’s a small apartment near the back gate that just became available.”

“Ah, I’m not looking for an apartment.”

“Oh… really? What kind of place are you looking for then?”

“I need an office space to use as a workshop. About 50 square meters would be enough… and it can’t be in the basement.”

“Basement? Half-basement?”

“Yes. Good airflow is important, so I’d like it to be on the second floor or higher.”

The real estate agent nodded after hearing what Woojin needed.

“You must be a design student?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

She had been running the real estate agency near K University for over ten years and often helped art students find workshops.

So, she knew what Woojin wanted and quickly started looking for places.

There weren’t many apartments available right before the new semester, but there were a few places that fit Woojin’s needs.

“What’s your budget for monthly rent?”

“I’d like to keep it under 700,000 won.”

“Hmm, that’s a little low… but we should have some options. Let me check.”

“Thank you.”

She showed Woojin about three places, all with similar monthly rents.

Woojin quickly picked one.

“This place looks good.”

“Really?”

“First, it’s the closest to the school… and it has two rooms, so someone could live there.”

“That’s true. It’s not really for living, so it might not be perfect… but you’re right.”

The place Woojin chose was the most expensive of the three.

But Woojin didn’t have much choice.

It was the only place he could afford with a deposit of less than 2 million won.

“Thank you. Please text me when you talk to the owner.”

“Okay, I like your quick thinking. I’ll contact you soon!”

Woojin paid the deposit and left the real estate agency feeling relieved.

Even though he had left home in the afternoon, the sky was already dark when he finished everything.

“Oh, am I going to be late…?”

Woojin checked his watch and looked worried.

He was meeting his friend Seokhyun in less than 30 minutes, and that was the last thing he had planned for the day.

It would take at least 40 minutes to get there.

He was going to be late.

“Well, nothing I can do. I’ll have to buy him something good to eat.”

Seokhyun was one of his best friends, but they hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

Seokhyun hadn’t seen Woojin in about six months, but for Woojin, it was different.

‘It’s been almost 10 years, hasn’t it?’

Before he went back in time, he hadn’t talked to Seokhyun in almost ten years.

And today was the first time he was seeing him again.

Woojin thought about his friend Seokhyun and smiled as he headed to the subway.

Woojin and Seokhyun first met in the second grade of elementary school.

He had always liked drawing and building things.

Seokhyun also wanted to be a designer, so they became best friends.

Seokhyun’s parents, who were teachers, didn’t want him to study art, so he went to engineering college, but he still loved building things.

Even in his past life, he would often call Woojin to make plastic models until he was almost thirty.

Woojin wanted to be an architectural designer, and Seokhyun wanted to design cars.

‘If Seokhyun’s family hadn’t moved away back then… we would still be close.’

They had been best friends for over ten years.

Even though it had been a long time since he had seen Seokhyun, Woojin didn’t feel awkward at all.

“Hey, Woojin! I heard you got out of the army last month. Why are you calling me now, you jerk!”

“Last month? It’s only been 3 weeks.”

“Whatever.”

“Okay, let’s eat, Seokgu. I’m paying today.”

“What? You’re paying?”

“Yeah. You paid last time when I was on leave.”

“Oh, right.”

“So, let’s go. I know a good place.”

Seokgu was Woojin’s nickname for Seokhyun.

It didn’t really mean anything.

He had just started calling him that.

Woojin knew one thing for sure.

It’s great to have a friend who you can meet after a long time and not feel awkward.

“Hey, are you sure? You have to pay for school, too.”

“Hey, stop with the crazy talk and just eat your food, you goofball!” Woojin said, grinning at Seokhyun. “I’m doing really well these days, you know.”

Seokhyun raised an eyebrow. “Really well? What do you mean? You just finished your army service!”

Woojin leaned in, a playful look in his eyes. “Don’t you know?”

“Know what?” Seokhyun asked, taking a bite of grilled pork.

“The best time in a man’s life is when he’s a sergeant!” Woojin declared dramatically.

Seokhyun chuckled. “You’re not a sergeant anymore, you idiot.”

“Hey!” Woojin protested, but he was still smiling.

Unlike Woojin, Seokhyun came from a comfortable middle-class family.

They weren’t rich, but they lived comfortably in a busy city area.

The fact that Seokhyun’s entire family moved to the United States when he was around thirty years old said a lot about their situation.

So, when they met up, Seokhyun usually paid for meals when they were younger.

That’s why Woojin really wanted to treat Seokhyun today.

He remembered feeling bad whenever Seokhyun had paid for him in the past, and he was happy to finally return the favor.

“Krah…! This grilled pork is so good!”

“The stew here is also spicy and delicious.”

“But why do you cut the fat and put it in the stew?”

“Ha, you don’t know anything about good food! It’s so delicious to eat it like this, you’re missing out!”

“What? You don’t know anything about good food? What’s that?”

“Anyway, it’s a thing.”

Woojin mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed because he had used slang from his past without thinking.

“By the way, why did you only call me? If we’re going to meet up, we should’ve called Youngjoon and Ho-eon too.”

“Ah, I should see them together next time.”

“Tch. If the four of us gathered after a long time, it would be perfect to eat and then play some games.”

“I’m not going to a game room today, Seokhyun.”

“Huh? You’re not going to a game room?”

“Yeah, I’m not.”

“Hey. If you’re not playing games, what are you doing? Wanna play a round of billiards?”

“Why do you keep saying that word?”

“Tch.”

“I have a lot to talk about today. No time to do anything else.”

Seokhyun’s hand, which was grilling pork, stopped for a moment when he heard Woojin’s unexpected words.

He realized that Woojin was about to say something serious.

“What is it? Do you have any worries?”

At Seokhyun’s question, Woojin smiled and shook his head.

“No, what worries? I’m doing pretty well these days, you know?”

“What is it? You were acting serious, but is it another joke?”

Seeing Seokhyun’s surprised expression, Woojin straightened up.

With a truly serious expression, he carefully began to bring up the story he wanted to tell.

“Hey, Kang Seokhyun.”

“Why.”

“Do you want to work with me?”

“Work? What kind of work?”

“Let’s make some pocket money.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Even though Seokhyun’s family was well-off, he didn’t have a lot of money himself.

Seokhyun’s parents, who were both high school teachers, were strict.

So, the allowance Seokhyun received was only enough for transportation.

His parents wanted Seokhyun to earn money by working part-time.

“I have a good business idea.”

“Hey. You’re not trying to do anything weird, are you?”

Seokhyun was usually cautious, so he couldn’t help but react negatively to the word ‘business’.

At twenty-two, he didn’t have much experience, so the word ‘business’ sounded dangerous to him.

“What weird thing are you talking about? Don’t you know me?”

“Hmm……”

However, as Woojin continued, Seokhyun’s thoughts began to change.

Woojin, whom Seokhyun knew, was also usually cautious.

And the story Woojin was telling was very interesting.

“It’s not a business that needs a lot of money or is particularly dangerous, you goofball.”

“Then?”

“We have something we like to do.”

“What do we like?”

“Making things.”

“……?”

As Woojin continued to speak, Seokhyun’s eyes began to light up.

Seokhyun was smart and got good grades in engineering.

He also still dreamed of becoming a ‘car designer’ like he did when he was a kid.

“So, you’re saying we’re going to make a model workshop?”

“That’s right!”

“Then are we going to do design students’ assignments for them?”

“Not exactly doing them for them. They’ll do the concept and design, and we’ll just make it.”

“Ah, I see.”

“We don’t know enough to do all their assignments anyway.”

“That’s true.”

Also, Woojin’s plan, which included a small lie, sounded possible.

“And a senior I knew in the military works at an architectural firm, and he’s already promised to give us work.”

Even though Seokhyun was cautious, he couldn’t help but be interested.

“Really? But is there anything we can do for an architectural firm?”

“We’re making models. What have you been listening to?”

“Huh……?”

“It seems like there’s a lot of work making architectural models. We’re good at making models, aren’t we?”

“Oh, that’s right!”

There were many things that were difficult to explain, like the money needed to start, but Woojin used the excuses he had prepared to persuade Seokhyun.

Since they were talking about business, he had to explain how they would make money.

“Hmm……. If things go as you say, we can earn about one or two million won a month, really?”

“Yeah. You alone can earn that much.”

“You’re saying I only have to work for four or five hours after school?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, I have nothing to lose…….”

Seokhyun thought hard about it.

After a while, he nodded and spoke again.

“Okay. Let’s do it. What’s there to lose?”

“Krah, that’s my Seokhyun!”

That’s how Woojin successfully persuaded Seokhyun to become his business partner.

Instead of going to a game room after meeting for the first time in a while, the two spent the night talking about business.

And the more he talked to Seokhyun, the more Woojin realized one thing.

‘I have to get this guy out of engineering somehow.’

He was sure that his plan to work with Seokhyun was a good idea.