Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 267

As the drama neared its finale, even with the addition of side stories, KSJ Entertainment was a hive of activity, working diligently to finalize every last detail.

“The product placement from K Electronics is scheduled to air this week, correct?”

“Yes, CEO.”

“And the advertising fees have been received?”

“Yes, they arrived last week.”

“This week marks the true end, so I ask everyone to remain attentive.”

“Understood, CEO!”

With filming and broadcasting drawing to a close, KSJ Entertainment’s focus shifted. They were now busy using the drama’s success to help the company grow. was incredibly popular; everyone knew it.

It wasn’t just about the money from product placement and similar deals.

The most important thing now was to make sure the agency’s actors, who had become stars because of the drama, stayed popular.

No matter how successful a drama is, people eventually forget it.

So, before the drama’s popularity faded, it was important to strengthen the fame of the agency’s actors, like Minwoo.

‘Minwoo has received more than ten offers for variety shows, so he can afford to be selective… I should also try to get Jaeyoung and Soyoung involved, if possible.’

Sojeong, the CEO of KSJ Entertainment, who managed almost all the company’s operations herself, was busier than ever, wishing she could be in two places at once.

Of course, despite being physically tired, she was full of energy.

With things going so well, it would have been odd if she wasn’t bursting with energy.

“Has Director Lim arrived?”

“Yes, CEO.”

“The meal reservation is set, yes?”

“Yes. Um… I booked the same Korean restaurant as last time.”

“Good. Then I’ll be leaving.”

“Yes! Enjoy your meal, CEO!”

“Yujeong, enjoy your meal too!”

Humming softly, Sojeong practically bounced out of her CEO office. Her heels clicked cheerfully on the polished floor as she headed to lunch. Today, she was meeting the production team – a celebration was in order!

“CEO, why are you so late?”

“No, I came straight here after the morning meeting. What do you mean I’m late?”

“I ordered galbi-tang. Is that alright?”

“I was craving bibim-naengmyeon today, but… well, it’s fine. Galbi-tang is good too.”

However, even with everything going well and her being in such a good mood, something was weighing on her mind.

It was her ‘partner.’

The person who had helped create all this success and who supported her more than anyone else.

“Hmm, this news is coming out again today.”

“What is it?”

“That… the news about CEO Seo Woojin.”

“Ah……”

At a time when they should have been working together and enjoying their success, Woojin was facing unexpected difficulties, which worried Sojeong.

“The Architectural Association apparently filed a lawsuit yesterday.”

Startled, Sojeong asked, “A lawsuit?”

“Yes. The representatives of twenty architectural firms that participated in the design competition sued CEO Seo….”

“……!”

“I hope it gets resolved well. He must be going through a lot….”

The scandal involving Woojin, who had become as famous as an entertainer, had been causing a stir in the media and online for nearly a week.

The more people criticized Woojin, the more Sojeong’s heart ached, and she felt inexplicably sorry.

‘Our CEO Seo must be very hurt….’

Sojeong knew better than anyone that Woojin hadn’t done anything wrong.

She knew that Woojin was absolutely not the kind of person who would do such a thing.

‘If it were me, I would have had a hard time holding back my anger.’

So, Sojeong sincerely respected Woojin.

Despite the concerns of those around him, Woojin remained remarkably calm.

As she was thinking this, she heard PD Yoo In-geon’s voice.

“By the way, I hope this doesn’t cause any trouble for us with this week’s broadcast?”

“Trouble?” Sojeong asked, raising her eyebrows slightly.

PD Yoo In-geon replied in a subdued voice, “Ah, it’s nothing like that… I’m just thinking about what might happen. CEO Seo is making a cameo in this week’s Wednesday broadcast, right?”

“…….”

“If CEO Seo Woojin is really involved in corruption, we need to think of some solutions….”

Sojeong cut him off, looking displeased. “That won’t happen, and even if it does, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“……!”

“We’ve benefited a lot from CEO Seo, and if things get worse, we should be the ones helping him.”

“W-well, that’s true, but….”

“What solutions are you talking about? Are you suggesting we cut out CEO Seo’s scenes?”

Sojeong’s cold tone surprised not only PD Yoo In-geon but also Director Lim Suho.

PD Yoo In-geon’s words might have seemed heartless, but they thought it was a valid concern.

Director Lim Suho also liked Woojin, but he wanted to remove the scenes with Woojin if possible.

If public opinion of Woojin worsened, the broadcast featuring his cameo could become controversial.

Crunch-

Sojeong silently picked up a piece of radish kimchi and ate it. A heavy silence fell over the table, thick and uncomfortable.

Director Lim Suho, seeing her reaction, awkwardly changed the subject.

Judging from Sojeong’s reaction, their idea wouldn’t work at all.

“Okay, let’s stop talking about this and start discussing the promotion we were originally going to talk about.”

“Yes, good.”

“Let’s do that.”

The topic changed completely, but Sojeong’s mind was still troubled.

‘Should I call him when I get off work today….’

She wanted to go to Seongsu-dong after work and have a drink with him for the first time in a while, but she knew how busy Woojin was right now.

As she was sorting out these thoughts, breaking news appeared on the TV in the corner of the restaurant.

[ CEO Seo Woojin of WJ Studio, audit finds no evidence of corruption.]

[WJ Studio hires major law firm. Sues the Architectural Association for ‘false accusation’]

False accusation is a crime where someone is falsely accused with the intent to cause them to receive criminal or disciplinary punishment.

In other words, it’s like making a false report.

This crime, which can harm someone by unfairly framing them, is a serious offense legally.

The severity of the crime depends on the details of the false accusation, but the legal punishment is similar to serious crimes like forced molestation.

Woojin stared at the lawsuit document on his desk. *Finally*, he thought, a small smile playing on his lips. This was the trap he had set weeks ago, carefully laid and patiently waited for.

The Architects’ Group – they called themselves the Architectural Association, but Woojin knew their narrow views were anything but broad – had been so sure of themselves. They had audited him, leaked stories to the press, and now, this lawsuit. They thought they were cornering him.

Woojin chuckled softly. He hadn’t intended to go this far at first. He just wanted to push back, to make them look foolish for interfering. But their attacks, the unfair audit, the twisted stories in the news – it had ignited a cold fury in him. He would not just push back. He would dismantle them.

Woojin knew very well how troublesome and resource-intensive a civil lawsuit could be. But even enduring such hassle, he had decided to cut off the root of the problem this time.

Therefore, when the lawsuit arrived from the Architectural Association, Woojin couldn’t help but clench his fists.

“It’s finally here.”

At Woojin’s words, Jintae nodded and sighed deeply.

“It really happened just like you said. How can they file a lawsuit without even verifying the facts?”

Woojin chuckled.

“I told you.”

“What?”

“They just aren’t thinking clearly.”

“Haha.”

“How could someone with such a narrow view even become the president of the Architectural Association…….”

Woojin, as if waiting for this moment, immediately began preparing for the lawsuit.

To countersue for false accusation, the first step was to win the lawsuit filed by the Architectural Association. But in such a special case, there was no need for that.

“Finance Director.”

“Yes, CEO.”

“It seems we can now show the audit team the account.”

At Woojin’s words, the Finance Director sighed in relief and replied.

“Finally…… is it done?”

“Yes, thank you for enduring all this time.”

“Haha, it was nothing. You were the one who suffered, CEO.”

Woojin had been holding out, and the audit was nearing its end. Once it was proven that Woojin’s Spanish account was clean, his innocence would be immediately verified.

Woojin didn’t even need to appear in court; the Board of Audit and Inspection would prove the ‘false accusation’. Thanks to the Architectural Association’s media play, this case had garnered nationwide attention.

Therefore, the moment the Board of Audit and Inspection proved the ‘false accusation’ and it was reported in the media, it became nearly impossible for the Architectural Association to push forward with the lawsuit. This was why Woojin’s countersuit, under the pretext of ‘false accusation,’ could be immediately established.

“Director Yoon, is the press release ready to be distributed?”

“Yes, CEO. The preparation was completed last week.”

“Director Yoon, you’ve suffered a lot holding back.”

“Haha, it’s nothing.”

“Now, let’s turn the tables.”

In fact, when it came to connections, Woojin had just as many, if not more, than the Architectural Association. Until now, he had to lie low, waiting for the prey to step into the trap.

But the firepower he had prepared in advance far surpassed the Architectural Association’s media play. This was only natural. While Kwon Joo-yeol might have had more connections in the political and public sectors, Woojin had overwhelmingly more connections in the broadcasting and media industries.

So, when Woojin started to move, the media began to attack the Architectural Association en masse.

The Architectural Association might think Woojin was just reacting to their media attacks. But they were wrong. Woojin was playing a much bigger game. Starting with the history he had compiled during the last Seongsu District integrated design, he used the media to drop a bomb on the numerous irrational behaviors that the Architectural Association had committed over the years.

All these series of events happened in just half a day from the time the lawsuit arrived at Woojin’s office. Even Jintae, who was watching from the side, was amazed.

Click-

As Woojin sent the last email he had prepared to the press and stood up from his seat, Jintae, who was helping Woojin with his paperwork, exclaimed.

“Wow……. You had all this prepared?”

Woojin chuckled and replied.

“I said I was going to see it through to the end.”

“You really did see it through to the end.”

Woojin continued.

“They probably won’t even be able to respond.”

“Probably?”

“They’re probably thinking I’m mentally broken from the audit and media attacks, right?”

At Woojin’s words, Jintae could only nod. Even Jintae, who knew all the details of his situation, found it amazing how he could remain so calm. People who didn’t know Woojin well would never have imagined that he had prepared such a counterattack.

“Hoo-cha.”

Woojin, draping the coat hanging on the hanger around himself, grabbed his bag and began to move. Tonight’s dinner was scheduled with a partner from one of the largest law firms in the country.

“By the way, how did you contact the law firm?”

At Jintae’s question, Woojin replied as if it were nothing.

“The Finance Director helped me.”

“Does such a large law firm move just by contacting them?”

Woojin smiled and shook his head.

“Do you think I just contacted them? I threw in some bait too.”

“Bait?”

“This is actually a trial that we can’t lose.”

“That’s…… right?”

“It’s practically a guaranteed win for them, so why would they refuse?”

“Ah.”

Woojin added a word to Jintae, who was nodding again.

“I also borrowed some of Elder Hwang Jong-ho’s connections…….”

Woojin, who left the office with Jintae, took the elevator down and thought of one person’s face. The face of Kwon Joo-yeol, whom he had encountered several times through articles, filled with greed.

‘Probably within an hour or two, the news will reach his ears.’

Woojin was very curious about what kind of expression Chairman Kwon Joo-yeol, who had always been in a position of absolute power within the industry, would make when faced with this backlash.

The more someone has and the more they have to lose, the more they despair and are frustrated when faced with the reality of it collapsing.

“Yes, lawyer. I just started the engine.”

And at that very moment when Woojin was leaving for the law firm, Kwon Joo-yeol, who received the news faster than Woojin had expected, was clutching the back of his neck and collapsing from his seat.

“Ch, Chairman!”

“Is there no one outside?”

“Call 119! Quickly!”

The consequences for Kwon Joo-yeol were only just beginning.