Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 198

The EAC event was planned for two days and one night.

The first day was mostly presentations, about four or five hours long. Then, in the evening, there was a chance for everyone to meet and talk.

The next day was shorter, with a three-hour discussion in the afternoon. It ended with a short and simple closing.

For those two days, Woo-jin was rushed off his feet. He was so busy, he barely had time to breathe.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that almost half of the people at the EAC wanted to talk to Woo-jin.

The design Woo-jin presented was groundbreaking and impressive.

A tall, elegant woman with silver hair extended her hand to Woo-jin. “Welcome, Woo-jin,” she said, her voice warm. “Your presentation today was truly inspiring. The way you use parametric design… it’s revolutionary.”

Woo-jin felt a flush of pride, but kept his voice humble. “Thank you,” he replied, shaking her hand. “It’s an honor to be here at the EAC. I’m still learning so much from everyone.”

“Tell me,” she leaned in slightly, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Do you have any buildings built using your parametric designs yet? I’m eager to see them in reality, not just on screen.”

“We have several projects in development,” Woo-jin explained, “but sadly, nothing completed yet. It takes time to convince clients to embrace such new ideas.” He chuckled softly. “Sometimes, I feel like I’m speaking a different language to them.”

“Ah, I understand that struggle,” she laughed. “And your projects are all in Korea, I presume?”

“Yes, for now,” Woo-jin nodded. “But I hope to expand internationally soon.”

“Then I must make a trip to Korea next year,” she declared. “To see your work and experience your country.”

“If you do,” Woo-jin said with a genuine smile, “I would be delighted to treat you to a proper Korean meal. I know a place that serves the most incredible kimchi stew.”

“Haha, thank you,” she chuckled, her eyes twinkling. “I may just take you up on that offer.”

Although the ‘E’ in EAC stood for Europe, designers from all over the world gathered, as Woo-jin had.

Thanks to this, Woo-jin was able to make many connections and gain diverse experiences.

As everyone was a world-class architect, Woo-jin had much to learn.

In truth, the fields related to digital architecture that Woo-jin presented were new and groundbreaking at this point.

When it came to experience in traditional architecture, most of the architects at the EAC were definitely more experienced than Woo-jin.

So, as he left the AA School after all the conference events were over.

The first thing that came to Woo-jin’s mind was this:

‘The world is truly vast, and there are so many outstanding architects.’

It was a fact he had felt countless times during his twenty years in the industry, including his past life, but it seemed he had never felt it so deeply as this time.

Just before getting into his car in the parking lot, Woo-jin said goodbye to Bruno and Matteo for the last time.

“Thank you both for your hard work.”

In response to Woo-jin’s greeting, both men smiled and replied cheerfully.

Bruno chuckled, maybe because Woo-jin looked tired after talking to architects for two whole days.

“Woo-jin, you’re the one who worked hard. Haha.”

Matteo, who had been even busier than Woo-jin at this conference, looked sheepish.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t look after you better. Thanks to Woo-jin, I was able to stand on the stage at the EAC for the first time in a while.”

As Matteo scratched the back of his head, Woo-jin waved his hand.

“Oh, it’s not because of me! I’m the one who had an amazing experience thanks to you both.”

Of course, Matteo had benefited from Woo-jin as well, but in the end, Woo-jin had gained more.

By participating in his design, he had already been named as a stadium designer and received a generous design fee, and thanks to that, he was able to present at the EAC.

So, Woo-jin looked very embarrassed, and Matteo chuckled at him.

“I’d love to have dinner with you before you return to Korea.”

“I’d like that.”

“Your return is scheduled in a few days, isn’t it?”

“I’m returning on the afternoon of the last day of the month.”

Matteo turned on his smartphone to check the calendar and nodded.

“The last day of the month is Wednesday… Even excluding that day, there are still about three days left.”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll contact you again.”

“Thank you!”

After saying goodbye to the two Spanish architects.

Woo-jin exchanged greetings with various people he had met at this conference.

After spending about twenty minutes saying goodbye to people in the parking lot, Woo-jin finally got into his car, feeling completely drained.

It was now time to return to Jayden’s house.

“Oppa… are you alright?”

So-yeon asked with a worried expression, looking at the slumped Woo-jin.

Woo-jin felt all the tiredness hit him at once, now that the event was over. But he still managed a smile.

“Of course. I think I just need to go and rest for the day.”

“Okay, you’ve worked hard.”

So-yeon looked at Woo-jin for a moment, her eyes soft. Then, in a quiet, almost shy voice, she added,

“And yesterday and today, you were really amazing, Oppa.”

The remaining days in England passed by in an instant.

The 26th, the day after the conference ended, was spent lying down like a dead man.

On the 27th and 28th, he enjoyed sightseeing in England with Jayden, Seok-hyun, and So-yeon.

Jayden and Seok-hyun had already been having fun for the two days Woo-jin was attending the conference, but their energy seemed to last until the very last day.

“Woo-jin, shall we go to the Harry Potter theme park tomorrow?”

“No. I have an appointment tomorrow.”

“What? Did you have a friend in England, Woo-jin?”

“Of course not. I’m just having dinner with Matteo.”

“Then I’ll come too!”

“I’ll ask Matteo.”

“Holy! Woo-jin is such a liar.”

“What again?”

“You’re already being nice to Jayden.”

“……?”

“If you cared about Jayden, you should have said something already!”

Woo-jin shook his head at the furious Jayden.

“Just go to Hogwarts with Seok-hyun.”

“Bloody Hell!”

Tuesday, November 29th.

In the end, Woo-jin’s last schedule in England was to accept Matteo’s invitation together.

Mateo was very kind. He booked a famous seafood restaurant in London, inviting Bruno and many other Spanish architects.

Jayden and Seokhyun also came to the lovely dinner. This was a nice end to Woojin’s trip to see London.

Then came November 30th, the day his flight back to Korea was booked.

It was his last day in England.

Jayden’s parents drove him to the airport, so Woojin got to Heathrow easily.

Before he got on the plane, Woojin had lunch with Jayden’s family at the airport.

“It’s been a fun week, Woojin, Seokhyun, and Soyeon,” Sujin said.

“Thank you so much for everything. We had such a great time. You really made us feel at home,” Woojin replied.

Then Colton spoke.

“We’ll see you again soon, Woojin,” Colton said with a smile that hinted at something more.

Woojin looked puzzled at Colton’s words.

Now that he was going back to Korea, he would be very busy with work. He wasn’t sure when he could visit London again.

“Soon…? I’m not sure when I’ll be able to come to England again….”

But Colton smiled.

“Sujin and I will probably go back to Korea next year.”

“Oh…! Really?”

“Until then, please take good care of our Jayden,” Sujin added.

“We’ve always been worried about Jayden, so it’s a relief that he has such good friends.”

Jayden rolled his eyes and made a funny face at his parents’ words, but no one paid attention.

And so, the four of them boarded the plane back to Korea.

Woooong-!

Woojin listened to the loud airplane engines and looked out the window.

He gazed out the airplane window as London spread out below. He saw a patchwork of green parks and buildings, stretching all the way to the hazy horizon. He knew he would remember this view, this trip, for a long time.

Woojin had only good memories of London, and he returned to Korea.

Min Jooyoung, CEO of Bellostones, had been very busy lately.

Her business had been growing steadily until 2010, but this year, it was growing very fast.

Her small office in Incheon was now too crowded. Boxes of samples were everywhere! She needed a bigger office in Seoul, and fast.

Every month, two or three new companies were asking Bellostones for materials.

The Living Fair at COEX this year was very successful, and this helped a lot.

‘If we saw such a big effect at an ordinary fair this year… I can really look forward to next year,’ she thought.

The COEX Living Fair was the biggest interior design show in Korea. But she called it ‘ordinary’ because the Living Fair in 2012 would be even bigger.

The 2012 Living Fair would have many international companies and buyers. It would be bigger than any Living Fair before.

The Seoul Design Foundation, the Korea Creative Content Agency, and the new Mayor of Seoul were all helping a lot with the event.

It was much bigger than the regular, yearly fairs.

‘It’ll be at least three times the size of this year’s,’ she thought.

Bellostones had the main booth at this fair, so Min Jooyoung knew it would have a big impact.

‘This is much bigger than I expected,’ she thought.

So, Min Jooyoung was working hard to make the most of this great chance.

She was getting better materials and creating fancy designs to show to other companies.

She also wanted to grow her business into the construction industry, so she was finding ways to get more work.

To build everything and grow her business, she had to spend all the money she had earned. But Min Jooyoung didn’t hesitate.

She had grown her business like this before, and she didn’t think this was a big risk.

She trusted several things, but Woojin and WJ Studio were the most reliable.

Min Jooyoung thought that bringing Woojin into this project was a great idea.

‘Thanks to CEO Seo, we have a stronger connection with the Seoul City side… We even have a link to the content industry now,’ she thought.

Jooyoung was very grateful to Woojin and wanted to repay him by working hard.

Today, she had gone to Italy to find a new way to get high-quality marble.

She was at a bright white quarry in the green hills of a small city in southern Italy. Dust hung in the air, and the sun beat down on the marble blocks.

“Berta, nice to meet you. I’m Min Jooyoung from Bellostones. I emailed you,” Jooyoung said.

Jooyoung spoke Italian like a local.

She was good at English, but she was even better at Italian.

She had studied abroad for many years and worked hard for her business.

The distribution business makes less money when you add more people. So, if you couldn’t speak Italian, you couldn’t create a good marble distribution channel.

“Nice to meet you, CEO Min. I got your email. I didn’t expect you to come so quickly,” Berta said. She was friendly and warm.

“Thank you for welcoming me. The sample you sent me last time was so good that I rushed here,” Jooyoung said.

“CEO Min, you have an eye for quality,” Berta replied.

They had already talked about most things in the email, so Jooyoung relaxed, drank coffee, and talked with Berta.

She now liked Italian espresso, even though it was so bitter it tingled her nose.

“So, we’ll have to wait until next spring to get the full amount?”

“That’s right, CEO. We haven’t made enough yet.”

“That’s okay. I think we can meet the schedule,” Jooyoung said.

Min Jooyoung had achieved her goal and felt good. She went back to the airport to return to Korea.

She bought very expensive plane tickets for a quick trip, but she didn’t regret the money.

Opening a new local business like this was worth more.

“Ugh, I’m tired……. I’m glad there are no more overseas trips for a while,” she said to herself.

Min Jooyoung finished her departure procedures at the airport lounge and stood in line with her carrier to enter the gate.

She also bought a magazine from the local area to read on the long flight.

It was an Italian magazine that Jooyoung loved. It showed the latest trends in architecture and interior design every month.

Her hobby was to look at many architecture magazines every month.

‘I hope there’s a good design this month that I can use,’ she thought.

She turned the pages of the glossy and colorful magazine and slowly walked, then boarded the plane and took her seat.

But then…

“Huh……?”

Min Jooyoung’s eyes widened as she stared at one page of the magazine.

Golden Print