Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 212

WJ Studio started small, and Seokhyun was there right from the beginning. He was the very first person to join Woo-jin’s company.

Woo-jin’s first idea to make WJ Studio grow quickly was to build architectural models.

That’s why Seokhyun was the first person Woo-jin asked to join him.

Jin-tae was the third person Woo-jin hired, almost at the same time as Seokhyun.

He was an experienced builder with over ten years of experience. Jin-tae knew a lot about practical matters and had good connections from working at different construction companies. He was also a fast and efficient worker.

Also, Jin-tae always respected Woo-jin’s ideas, even though Woo-jin was young. This made him very important to the company at the start.

So, the two main people who started WJ Studio were employees number 2 and 3.

Now, they were both called ‘Director.’

Even though they had high positions, they were the busiest people in the company after Woo-jin.

They were both working hard today, too.

Director, we just got a new order from Chilseong Construction.

The Dongtan New City A-7 block, right?

That’s right.

What’s the size?

I heard it’s about 950 units.

The deadline is three months away, right?

Yes, Director.

It’s a bit tight, but let’s do it.

Then I’ll get started!

When WJ Studio first started, Seokhyun felt awkward giving orders to people who were much older than him.

This was because when he first started WJ Studio, Seokhyun was only twenty-two, barely old enough to be considered a young professional.

But over the past two years, Seokhyun had many different experiences working with Woo-jin.

Because WJ Studio grew so quickly, he had experienced things in a short time that he might have experienced after working for over ten years at a normal company.

Because of this, Seokhyun grew a lot and became talented. He no longer felt awkward being called ‘Director.’

Seokhyun was used to his job and could easily approve and handle tasks related to models and designs.

But today, Seokhyun looked tense for the first time in a while.

He had been given one of the few tasks he hadn’t done in two years.

What motivated you to apply to WJ Studio?

The task Seokhyun had been given today was human resources.

Seokhyun was in charge of interviewing students from K University’s design department who had applied for WJ Studio’s internship program.

Until now, Woo-jin had almost always handled the HR tasks, but he had given the work to Seokhyun this time.

Seok-goo!

Huh?

I need you to interview about twenty people today, okay?

What? Twenty people…? Are we hiring?

Listen to the HR team leader for the details, but can you do it for me?

You said you usually pick the interns yourself.

Today… I’m a bit busy…

Okay. What time does it start?

Three in the afternoon.

Okay.

When the interviews started, Seokhyun understood why Woo-jin had passed the interviews to him.

Looking at the interviewees’ resumes, almost half of them were students from the same department as Woo-jin.

Woo-jin’s classmates or younger students. There were even older students.

It would have been awkward if Woo-jin had come himself.

Also, the students were much more enthusiastic than Seokhyun had expected.

I really wanted to work at the only architectural studio in the country recognized by EAC.

Oh, um… I don’t think we’re the only one…

I really want to experience the design process of a company that started as a startup and became the best in the industry in just two years!

Top of the industry… Hmm… I see.

Even Seokhyun, who didn’t know any of the students, felt awkward and blushed during the interviews. He could only imagine how Woo-jin would have felt.

If Jayden had applied and was sitting there… that would be terrible.

Seokhyun didn’t know that Jayden had been rejected already. He was relieved that there were no British applicants.

He did his best as an interviewer until all twenty interviews were finished.

Near the end of the interviews, something unexpected happened.

Among the students who applied from other departments, there was a female student who really wanted to meet Woo-jin.

Excuse me… is the CEO in the company right now?

Pardon? Why do you ask?

I was wondering if I could meet him briefly after the interview, if possible.

Ah, he might be here, but he’s probably busy…

Could I get the CEO’s autograph, even for a moment?

Excuse me…?

I’m a huge fan of the CEO. I’m really begging you!

Seokhyun had been sweating a lot during the three-hour interview. He was exhausted after all the interviewees had left.

He had used a lot of mental energy on the interview. He also didn’t know how to choose between the candidates.

They were all students from the good K University, so no one really stood out.

Ugh, I should say I’ll never do this again. I’d rather work all night on a pavilion project…

WJ Studio was going to hire two interns this time, but he had interviewed twenty people.

It was hard to decide who to give points to.

The HR team leader will make the final decision anyway…

After thinking about it, Seokhyun gave the highest score to the female student who had made the biggest impression on him at the end.

The scores he could give for the other categories were all similar. No one was as passionate as she was.

Yoo Soo-young, Department of Fashion Design, Class of ’11

Seokhyun circled her name and suddenly had a funny thought.

He wondered how Woo-jin would react if she, who said she was Woo-jin’s fan, started working at the company as an intern.

Well, she seems like she’ll do her job well… Hee hee, this will be fun.

Seokhyun imagined Woo-jin’s surprised face and chuckled.

Woo-jin was being bothered by Jayden for the first time in a while.

Bloody Hell!

What’s wrong now?

Woo-jin is so cruel.

What is?

How could you reject this Jayden-nim in the application screening?

Application screening?

Don’t tell me you’re pretending not to know now?

No, I really don’t know. What are you talking about?

Hmph… then whose conspiracy is this?

……?

Here, look at this, Woo-jin. I got this shocking text message last Friday.

[Web발신 : Thank you sincerely for applying to the industry-academia collaboration between WJ Studio and K University.]

omitted

[Unfortunately, we are unable to have you join us for this year’s first-quarter collaboration project……]

omitted

Woo-jin saw the text message and had to try hard not to react.

He had been so busy that he had forgotten. But the conspiracy Jayden was talking about was indeed Woo-jin’s doing.

Woo-jin had given the HR team the industry-academia collaboration documents and asked them to reject Jayden if he applied.

I was wondering why he was acting like this.

Woo-jin had rejected Jayden for one reason.

The thought of Jayden, who was unpredictable, coming to the company made him feel faint.

Before, it was a small company where they made architectural models together like doing homework. It was okay to joke around and work.

But now, WJ Studio was not a small shop anymore.

Woo-jin imagined Jayden shouting “Bloody Hell! Woo-jin!” in front of all the employees, and his heart sank.

Of course, Woo-jin knew Jayden’s design skills better than anyone. But no matter how he thought about it, Jayden and an internship were not a good match.

It might have been okay if Jayden wasn’t close to Woo-jin or Seokhyun.

Bruno had problems for days because Jayden accidentally sent an important email to the wrong person. This might have also made Woo-jin decide to reject him.

Woo-jin managed to keep a calm face and spoke again.

Ah, that.

Hmm…?

Yes, I did that, Jayden.

Holy! Foolish Woo-jin!

Woo-jin quickly stopped Jayden from yelling and continued calmly.

Listen, Jayden. There’s a reason for this.

Reason?

Woo-jin started to calm Jayden down, who was about to explode.

Think about it, Jayden. You’re a great designer who’s as good as me, right?

Jayden rolled his eyes and nodded.

Yes, that’s right. Woo-jin is smart as always.

Woo-jin had calmed him down a little and continued with a serious face.

But imagine if you came to our company as an intern.

Hmm.

I can’t treat you differently from the other interns, so you’ll end up drawing blueprints all day. The department that needs an intern at WJ Studio this time is the basic design department.

Hearing Woo-jin’s words, Jayden thought about the basic drafting class and shuddered.

Basic drafting was Jayden’s least favorite class.

Holy!

Woo-jin saw that Jayden was starting to understand and felt relieved.

This is a waste of your talent. Don’t you think so, Jayden?

Jayden nodded quickly.

Of course. Of course, Jayden is good at drawing blueprints, and that work is important, but… Jayden can do other things better than that.

Woo-jin was grateful that Jayden understood and kept talking.

Anyway, that’s why I didn’t pick you, Jayden.

Jayden still looked unsure, but he nodded anyway.

If that’s the reason, I’ll try to understand, Woo-jin.

Woo-jin felt a little guilty and decided to buy Jayden a meal for the first time in a while.

He took him to the chicken restaurant near the school that Jayden liked the most.

Woo-jin was laughing and chatting with Jayden while they ate the chicken. He suddenly remembered something and asked Jayden.

By the way, Jayden.

Yeah.

Didn’t Soyeon take the class with you today?

Soyeon? Why Soyeon?

Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Soyeon at school for the past few days.

Ah…!

Jayden stopped eating the chicken leg, put it down, took a sip of cola, and spoke to Woo-jin.

Woo-jin, didn’t you know?

Know what?

Jayden said something Woo-jin didn’t expect.

The other day, UPM contacted her.

UPM as in, the Polytechnic University of Madrid?

That’s right, that place.

……?

Jayden chewed on the chicken and continued casually.

Soyeon passed the internship screening in Spain last week. She’s going to UPM as an exchange student starting this semester. I think she’s going with a scholarship too?