Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 294

The leaves outside Woojin’s office window turned a brilliant gold, another autumn arriving in Seoul. But this year, 2013, felt different. A buzz of excitement filled the air at WJ Studio, thicker than the scent of coffee that usually drifted through the halls.

Woojin leaned back in his chair, scrolling through the news on his computer. One headline jumped out at him, bold and bright:

[Seo Woojin’s WJ Studio Wins Bid for Magok MICE Complex Convention Center Design Competition!]

He smiled, a real smile this time, not just the polite one he used in meetings. Six out of ten judges had chosen WJ Studio’s design right after the final presentation. Six votes. It was a clear win.

It was rare for a design company from their country to win such a huge project, especially one funded by companies from other countries. This became a major talking point in the industry and started to spread, becoming well-known to the public.

The project’s large scale wasn’t the only reason for the buzz. The fact that WJ Studio was headed by the well-known ‘Woojin’ only added to the excitement.

[LTK Financial Group Board of Directors. “The Magok MICE Complex will be developed into one of the world’s leading business districts.”]

The marketing team at WJ Studio quickly sprang into action as the news began to spread. Within the limits allowed by the LTK Group, they even released some design renderings in articles.

[WJ Studio Selected as Designer of Magok Convention Center, Beating World’s Best Spatial Design Group .]

[Seo Woojin, CEO of WJ Studio, Hints at Gradually Expanding Business Areas Globally.]

It wasn’t difficult for the marketing team to get the word out. Seo Woojin and WJ Studio had been a hot topic for years. All they had to do was add a little fuel to the fire.

Since articles about Woojin were guaranteed to get attention, reporters naturally jumped at the chance to write about him.

[Project cost at least 1 trillion won. Design cost alone at least tens of billions? What kind of company is WJ Studio, which won the design rights for the Magok Convention Center?]

Woojin shook his head as he read these articles after arriving at work, then closed his web browser.

“Design costs are tens of billions…? I wish,” he muttered.

Among all the good news articles, one was too much. Woojin read a crazy number and laughed a little, but it was an empty laugh.

Woojin finished his coffee, stood up, and picked up the phone.

“Chief, are you ready?”

[Yes, CEO. Are you leaving now?]

“Yes. If I leave now, I think I can arrive on time.”

[Okay. I’ll go out right away.]

Woojin put on his coat and left his office with a small bag containing a smart pad. He was headed to Cheongdam-dong for a full day of appointments.

As Woojin got off the elevator, his chief of staff, who had been waiting, met him at the main gate with the car.

Woojin’s car quickly left Seongsu-dong and headed onto the Yeongdong Bridge.

Sojeong took a day off work, something she hadn’t done in a while. She had been busy with projects related to until recently. Today, she had been invited to a special event.

It was more of a party than an event, but she told her company it was a meeting.

“I can’t go to the company today because I have a meeting with actress Im Suha’s sponsor, so please keep that in mind, Chief.”

[Sponsor… meeting?]

“It’s at Cheongdam Arco.”

[Ah… !]

“I’m going to Cheongdam-dong with Suha today because there’s an event, so please put anything you need approved on my desk.”

[Yes, I understand, CEO.]

‘Well, it’s not a completely wrong story.’

The event Sojeong was invited to was a VVIP event. It invited VIPs in prominent positions in various fields, including customers who had signed contracts for , which WJ Studio had launched. The event was held at WJ Studio’s Arco Gallery in Cheongdam.

This Arco Gallery, with its interior spaces and model house showcasing the interior of Cheongdam Arco using the best materials, was the perfect venue for the VIP event. According to Woojin, exactly 100 people were invited, and over 80% had confirmed they would attend. Sojeong was looking forward to the event.

As a businesswoman, an event where she could meet so many VIPs was a great opportunity to expand her network.

As a large SUV stopped in front of the company building, Sojeong opened the passenger door. But she paused, surprised by the person in the driver’s seat.

“CEO, get in quickly! What are you waiting for?”

“What? You drove here yourself?”

“I just told my manager to take a break.”

“Aren’t you being a bit too carefree, Ms. Top Actress?”

“Anyway, the CEO of my agency is coming with us. Hee hee.”

Sojeong shook her head at Suha, who was behind the wheel. The original plan was for the manager to pick up Sojeong and go to Suha’s house before heading to Cheongdam-dong. The CEO of the agency could only sigh at Suha, who was always unpredictable, without thinking about her worth, which had become much higher.

“Okay. Well, I don’t have any other plans today besides this.”

“Aren’t we supposed to go to Woojin’s place after this?”

“What? I didn’t know about that…?”

“Oops, did I make a mistake?”

“…Representative Seo is too much.”

The two, who were close friends and business partners, arrived in Cheongdam-dong while joking around.

About thirty minutes after they left, they arrived.

The first person they met at the Cheongdam Arco Gallery was Jaeyeop.

“Oh, Suha! Hello, Representative Kang!”

“It’s been a while, Jaeyeop. How have you been?”

“Haha, nothing much with me.”

Suha asked Jaeyeop with a playful expression as he greeted Sojeong.

“Oh, what. Jaeyeop Oppa! You’re here too?”

Jaeyeop glared at Suha.

“Why? Am I not someone who should be invited here?”

“You didn’t sign a contract, Oppa.”

“Hey, I haven’t even moved into Cheongdam Clio yet, why would I buy another house.”

“You can sell that and buy it. I sold Clio this time and signed a contract.”

“Our house is a penthouse… I want to live in a penthouse once too.”

“Hmm… Okay, penthouse is impressive, I admit!”

Sojeong, who had been watching the two have a pointless conversation with a dumbfounded expression, started walking towards the gallery entrance.

Woojin had said that he had remodeled everything from the exterior with the best materials and designs, and it was clear as soon as the gallery came into view.

‘Wow, it’s really luxurious.’

Even in the eyes of Sojeong, who was born and raised in a wealthy family, the gallery’s interior was covered with clean but luxurious materials, with no detail overlooked. As Sojeong entered, an employee who had been waiting inside handed her a pamphlet.

“This is a pamphlet with today’s event schedule.”

“Thank you.”

“The internal space is open to explore, and the seminar is scheduled to begin in 20 minutes.”

“Which floor is the seminar on?”

“It will be held in the lounge on the 3rd floor.”

“Thank you.”

Sojeong’s eyes lit up as she looked through the pamphlet.

This Arco Gallery event was unique compared to other events she had attended.

‘An architectural design seminar, an investment seminar, a brand introduction, and even a dinner party…’

It was as if somewhat unrelated topics were brought together, but the unique event subtly harmonized them.

Walking up the circular stairs in the center of the lobby, Sojeong admired the gallery’s interior. It was clearly a modern and minimalist design. It was more luxurious and elegant than interiors filled with jewels and decorations.

‘Representative Seo must have designed all of this…?’

Sojeong’s eyes sparkled as she examined each design. She was not only a VIP invited to this event but also a customer who had signed a contract for . Being able to experience the residential space she would be moving into in two years was incredibly exciting and enjoyable.

By the time she had explored the interior and arrived on the 3rd floor, the seminar was starting on time. The person on the platform was, of course, Woojin.

“Hello, this is Seo Woojin. I sincerely thank everyone for coming to our Arco Gallery event today.”

Sojeong made eye contact with Woojin and winked, and Woojin smiled and gave a light greeting. Sojeong was surprised again as she walked in to sit down. The faces of the people in the seminar were mostly familiar.

‘……!’

It wasn’t that they were all Sojeong’s close friends. Of course, there were some people she knew…

“Oh, Representative Kang!”

“Jinmyung, you were invited here too…?”

“Haha, I signed a contract.”

“Really?”

“Am I going to be Representative Kang’s neighbor by any chance?”

Most of them weren’t actually close to Sojeong, but they were people whose faces were known to the media. Among them were businessmen, politicians, and even celebrities.

“Actually, I got a consultation out of curiosity, but I signed the contract that day.”

“Hehe, me too. I understand that feeling.”

“Gangnam. And Cheongdam… When will a townhouse of this quality come along again?”

“That’s right. The first time I saw it, I couldn’t help but want to live there.”

“And that Representative Seo Woojin over there… He’s such a good speaker….”

Yoon Jinmyung wasn’t as well-known as Suha, but he was still a famous mid-level actor that most people would recognize. And most of the people invited to this Arco Gallery event were even more well-known than that. Sojeong was surprised by Woojin’s ability to attract these people.

To be exact, it meant that WJ Studio and Seo Woojin had become famous enough to attract these VIPs. Sojeong laughed as she watched Woojin conduct the seminar as smoothly as ever.

‘Really… He’s amazing.’

Thanks to the efforts and preparation of WJ Studio’s planning department, the Arco Gallery event went smoothly. As the seminar continued, almost all of the invited guests arrived. All events were neatly concluded in a private setting. However, even a private VVIP event couldn’t completely block all information from leaking out.

The morning after the event, articles about the brand began to appear.