Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 300

Kyung-wan was furious and felt betrayed. Calming him down was not going to be easy.

“No, Seo Woo-jin!”

“Yes, Director?”

“You definitely said it, didn’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“That we need to do a very ‘special’ project, didn’t you?”

“……”

“Damn it.”

“Could you think of this as getting ready for that special project?”

“Hoo……”

Kyung-wan needed time to get used to WJ Studio.

Cheonwoong and WJ Studio were in the same business, but their cultures were very different.

Cheonwoong was strict, while WJ Studio was relaxed. Kyung-wan had worked at Cheonwoong for ten years, so WJ Studio felt strange to him.

He had done well at work, but it took him months to adjust to the new way of doing things.

Kyung-wan was finally starting to enjoy his work.

Then, Woo-jin said he wanted to take a year off. It was natural that Kyung-wan felt let down.

“I didn’t plan this from the start,” Woo-jin said.

“Bullshit.”

“That’s why I needed you, Director.”

“……”

“Just for one year, please. Please help me……”

Woo-jin understood how Kyung-wan felt and tried to persuade him.

He explained that it was important for WJ Studio’s future that he travel the world for a year.

After listening, Kyung-wan said, “Seo Woo-jin, do you know what I’m most worried about?”

“Um……”

“I’m not worried about the work while you’re gone.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m worried about what will happen a year from now.”

“Pardon?”

“People change. Once they get lazy, it’s hard to go back to how they were before.”

“Um……”

“You might think you can work harder after a year off, but it’s not that easy.”

Woo-jin laughed.

“Are you worried I might retire?”

“Something like that. You’ve already earned enough to live on without working, haven’t you?”

“So?”

“If you rest for a year, you might not want to come back.”

Kyung-wan looked worried, but Woo-jin laughed.

“Haha.”

“Why are you laughing?”

Kyung-wan’s worry made sense, but Woo-jin thought it was silly.

“No, Director. Are you being too much?”

“Too much? You’re the one being too much. What am I being too much about?”

“How old do you think I am, Director?”

“What? Why are you suddenly asking that?”

Kyung-wan was surprised. Woo-jin continued, “I’m only twenty-six. Retirement for someone born in ’89?”

“Um……”

“Even if I take a year off, I’ll only be twenty-seven.”

“……”

“Have you ever seen anyone thinking about retirement at twenty-seven, Director?”

“Hmm, ahem.”

Kyung-wan had worked with Woo-jin for a long time and hadn’t thought about his age.

Woo-jin acted and thought like someone older. So, Kyung-wan thought about Woo-jin’s situation as if it were happening to himself.

‘That’s right. Seo Woo-jin is still in his twenties.’

He realized how amazing this young man was.

How could someone achieve so much in their twenties?

This fact, which he already knew, now felt even more powerful.

‘What was I doing at twenty-seven? Was I a new employee?’

Kyung-wan laughed at himself.

He had no choice but to agree.

“Damn it. Fine, I understand. Do what you want.”

“Hehe, thank you for understanding, Director.”

“But if you don’t come back after a year, I’m quitting too. Got it?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back in less than a year.”

After telling Kyung-wan, Woo-jin told the other employees.

They were also surprised, but no one was as upset as Kyung-wan.

“Yeah, it’s time the CEO took a break. He’s worked so hard.”

“I know, right? I hope he rests well.”

“Wow, I envy the CEO. A year-long break! Does that mean you’re really taking a year off?”

“Do you want to take a year off too?”

“Huh?”

“If you quit, you can rest for more than a year.”

“Hehe, Team Leader. Not that……”

Kyung-wan moved up the meeting about the Pyeongchang-dong Arco project to the last week of August.

Woo-jin prepared and finalized the project.

The Arco team told customers about the second Arco House, and they were very excited.

These luxury houses were near a beautiful forest. There were around 100 of them. They were just as popular with very important and wealthy people as the houses in Cheongdam Arco.

With the Pyeongchang-dong Arco project finished, Woo-jin completed all his work for 2014.

August ended, and September began.

One day in early September, Woo-jin left his house for Incheon Airport.

“Son, aren’t you late?”

“I’m not late, don’t worry.”

“What time is your flight?”

“I’ll get there in time, don’t worry, okay?”

“Still, you should go early. A plane isn’t a bus. If you miss it, it’s over, right?”

“I know. I’ll get ready quickly.”

“Are you sure you’ve packed everything?”

“Yes, I have. Why?”

“You’re going on a trip around the world. Is that small backpack enough?”

“I’ll just buy what I need.”

“Woo-jin, you’re really going on a trip, right?”

“I am. I told you.”

Woo-jin left his nagging mother and drove to Incheon International Airport.

His mother’s nagging, which he hadn’t heard in a while, had been ringing in his ears all morning, but Woo-jin was very happy.

‘This break was a good idea.’

It had been rushed.

It was hard to hand over all his work in just six months.

But Woo-jin knew he had to do it now or he might not get another chance.

It would be hard to find another time like this, when big projects were done and the company was changing.

Vroom!

Woo-jin drove onto the highway, and the car moved smoothly.

It was a weekday, so the road was empty, and the weather was sunny.

After driving for a couple of hours, Woo-jin arrived at Incheon International Airport, parked, and went to the gate.

He didn’t hesitate.

He didn’t need to check the time or how long until his flight.

“Hello.”

“Oh…! Are you Seo Woo-jin…?”

“Ah, haha. That’s right.”

“Wow! I’m a fan!”

“Thank you.”

“Can I have your autograph…?”

“Sure.”

Woo-jin hadn’t even checked in yet.

“Excuse me, what’s the soonest international flight I can check in for?” he asked.

“Yes…? What do you mean?”

“I want the flight that leaves the soonest.”

“Just a moment. I’ll check.”

Woo-jin was going on a trip around the world with only one plan.

He wanted to visit new countries and see new buildings and spaces.

He didn’t care where he went.

Well, maybe he cared a little.

“The soonest flight is at 3:13 PM,” the clerk said.

“Where is that flight going?”

“Bole International Airport.”

“Bole…?”

“It’s the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It’s the only direct flight from Incheon to Africa right now.”

“Uh, ahem……”

Woo-jin was okay with anywhere, but he needed more time to prepare for Africa.

“What’s the next soonest flight?”

“Hong Kong International Airport.”

“Oh…!”

“The time is 3:42 PM……”

“I’ll take that flight.”

That’s how Woo-jin decided to go to Hong Kong.

“Only first-class seats are available. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.”

“Then I’ll issue the ticket now……”

After getting his ticket, Woo-jin opened his phone and hummed.

‘Hong Kong is a good first stop. I’ll go to Africa next year.’

He booked a hotel near the airport and then started researching Hong Kong.

While Woo-jin was on his phone, the gate opened.

‘Am I nervous?’

Woo-jin boarded the plane.

The first-class cabin made him even more excited.

‘The flight is less than four hours. First class is a bit of a waste.’

Woo-jin leaned back and looked around. He saw magazines to his right.

Since it was a Hong Kong airline, there were magazines about local culture and tourism.

He thought about all the things he would see and do in Hong Kong. Even the smallest things seemed exciting. The plane began to take off.

Vroooom!

The engine roared, and an announcement began.

[Ladies and Gentlemen,]

[The captain has turned off the seatbelt sign……]

[……you must keep your belt fastened while seated. Thank you.]

The captain’s voice made it feel real. Woo-jin’s heart beat faster.

He felt like he was going to K University for the first time.

Looking at Incheon International Airport getting smaller, Woo-jin made a promise.

‘I will see as much as possible, hear as much as possible, and experience many things.’

At the end of this trip, he would create the best architecture that Seo Woo-jin could create.