Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 311

Hong-shik leaned back on the soft beanbag, a happy sigh escaping his lips. Sunlight warmed his face, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the small trees on his terrace. For the last few years, life had been wonderfully slow and peaceful. He was well past retirement age, and after decades of hard work, he deserved it. Right after retiring, he’d been pulled into leading the Cheongdam Seonyeong Apartment Association. Then, as soon as that rebuilding project was finished, he’d taken on another big job in Seongsu. He’d worked non-stop for years, leading the redevelopment of those areas. Looking back, he felt no regrets about those busy years.

Because he worked so hard and passionately for almost ten years after retiring, he was able to get his current wealth. He also invested while leading the reconstruction association, which increased his asset value several times over. Most importantly, because he successfully led the development of the two most popular areas in Seoul, his reputation soared.

Many apartment buildings in Gangnam that needed to be rebuilt had asked Hong-shik to work for them. He had received more than ten offers.

One apartment building in Apgujeong even offered Hong-shik an annual salary of 500 million won.

They were willing to pay that much because Hong-shik’s skills could speed up the reconstruction by even a few months.

However, Hong-shik turned down all the offers.

He had already given his children enough money to live comfortably in their old age.

So, now, time was more important to him than money.

Since the Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment Zone project was approved, Hong-shik had decided to enjoy a relaxed life.

Like Woo-jin, Hong-shik had been given a penthouse in the Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment Zone. He lived in the building right next to Woo-jin.

‘To think I’d live in a house like this… Life really is unpredictable. Haha.’

Hong-shik was enjoying his self-imposed break, and his greatest joy these days was his two young grandsons.

Since Hong-shik moved to Seongsu-dong, his grandsons seemed to visit more than twice as often.

This was partly because he lived closer to his eldest son’s house, but that wasn’t the only reason.

“Grandpa!!”

“Haha, my little generals, you’re here!”

Hong-shik’s penthouse had a terrace of over 30 pyeong, which was a bonus area. This terrace, decorated like a front yard, was the perfect place for his four-year-old grandsons to play.

“Dad, have you had lunch?”

“Not yet. Should I order something?”

“Grandpa! Jajangmyeon!”

“Okay, let’s have jajangmyeon. Haha. Is that alright with you, dear?”

“Yes, Dad. Sounds good.”

Hong-shik sat on a soft beanbag on the terrace, smiling contentedly as he watched his grandchildren running around excitedly.

He felt like he had aged ten years while working as the head of the two business associations. But this relaxed and happy life made him feel young again.

‘Five hundred million won a year or whatever. No matter how much money they give me, I can’t buy this precious time.’

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted by the high salary, but he had never regretted choosing leisure over money.

“Dad, are we going to my older brother’s place for Chuseok again?”

“Oh, I wanted to talk about that. We’re staying here for Chuseok, in Seongsu-dong.”

“Really? At your house, Dad?”

“Yes. Here.”

“Is something suddenly wrong at the main house?”

“Your uncle said he wanted to see the house.”

“Ah.”

His daughter-in-law nodded as if she understood. Then his eldest son, who was next to her, asked Hong-shik.

“So, is my big uncle coming up to Seoul this year?”

“Well, we’re not holding ancestral rites. It doesn’t really matter where we spend it.”

“Hehe, Dad.”

“What, you rascal.”

“You didn’t call him just to show off your house, did you, Dad?”

“Tsk. Show off what. It’s nothing like that.”

It was like any other lazy weekend afternoon.

Autumn was approaching, and a cool breeze gently blew on the terrace.

Hong-shik admired the peaceful scenery and leaned back on the beanbag.

“Dad, can I make a cup of coffee?”

“Go ahead. You know where the beans are, right?”

“Yes, Dad. Would you like a cup too?”

“Sure. Warm and light for me.”

“Okay. Just wait a moment.”

What could be better than lying back in the cool autumn breeze and drinking a warm cup of coffee? In a situation where he didn’t need to worry about money, wasn’t this leisure and happiness far more important?

Thinking this, Hong-shik closed his eyes with a satisfied expression and dozed off in the gently blowing cool breeze.

If his smartphone hadn’t vibrated in his pants pocket, he might have slept until his daughter-in-law brought the coffee.

Whirr!

Hong-shik grumbled as he took out the loudly vibrating smartphone.

‘Who is it at this hour? There’s no one who would call.’

But then he saw the caller ID.

[CEO Seo Woo-jin]

He couldn’t help but look surprised.

‘Hmm? What’s Seo doing…?’

Woo-jin hadn’t contacted him in a long time, not since the Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment Zone project was approved.

“Ahem.”

Hong-shik cleared his throat, got up, and sat down. He answered the call in a slightly louder voice on purpose.

He seemed to want to subtly brag to his son and daughter-in-law about his connection with Seo Woo-jin, who was now one of the most famous people in the country.

“Haha, CEO Seo. It’s been a while.”

[Haha. How have you been, Association President!]

“Oh, come on. I’m not the association president anymore.”

[Well, you may not be now…]

“And I won’t be in the future either.”

[Is that so?]

“Of course. I feel like I aged ten years while being the association president.”

[Hahahahaha.]

It was their first call in a while.

Although the two were decades apart in age, they were laughing and chatting happily.

Having been business partners for a long time, they had become close enough that the age difference didn’t matter much.

“By the way, it’s hard to see your face even though you live right next door, CEO Seo.”

[I’m just so busy with all the things I’ve started.]

“So take it easy with work… Ah, but you’re still at the age where you have to work hard, CEO Seo.”

[I’m over thirty now, Association President.]

“Oh, I told you not to call me Association President.”

Hong-shik laughed heartily for the first time in a while while talking to Woo-jin.

Seo Woo-jin was younger than his youngest son, but Hong-shik had never felt that way.

However, Hong-shik’s expression began to change little by little as they continued their pleasant conversation.

[So, Association President, Apgujeong will now begin its major transformation.]

“Is the project really… going to happen?”

[Of course. Didn’t you see how I pushed through the Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment? No, you were with me.]

“Hmm….”

[If you would come and work with me, Association President, we can start construction within three years at the latest.]

Listening to Woo-jin’s story, Hong-shik unknowingly slapped himself on the cheek and muttered to himself.

‘No. Absolutely not. You want me to go back to the reconstruction site? Give up this leisure? No way.’

Listening to Woo-jin’s words, he found himself starting to get excited.

“Even if you say that, it’s no use, CEO Seo.”

[Yes?]

“I’m the one who didn’t go even when another association offered me an annual salary of 500 million won.”

[Hmm….]

“You’re still young, CEO Seo, but I’m at an age where time is precious.”

[You still have as much time left as you’ve already lived, don’t you?]

“……?”

[Isn’t it the age of 120 now? Haha.]

Hong-shik was momentarily speechless at Woo-jin’s absurd words.

Then Woo-jin’s voice began to flow back into his ears.

[You said you rejected an annual salary of 500 million won?]

“…….”

[That’s alright. I was planning to give you much more than that anyway.]

After a while…

Click-

Hong-shik finished the call with Seo Woo-jin and couldn’t help but mutter in a small voice.

“Damn it.”

It was, after all, too much money to refuse.

In front of Seoul City Hall, there is a large square covered with green grass.

Deoksugung Palace is to the west, City Hall to the north, and Euljiro to the east.

It is a spacious square with an area of ​​4,000 pyeong.

It was June 30, 2019.

Woo-jin was there early in the morning.

He was there because he had been invited by the main person of this event.

‘The mayor’s term is already coming to an end….’

Gu Yun-kwon was the two-term mayor who was about to become the ‘former’ mayor of Seoul. He was responsible for Seoul in the 2010s.

Today was the day Gu Yun-kwon, who had served as the mayor of Seoul for eight years, was stepping down from that position.

“Oh, CEO Seo. You came.”

“Of course. How could I not come when invited to such an event. Haha.”

“Anyway, thank you so much. CEO Seo, you have made my retirement ceremony even more meaningful.”

“I am truly honored that you think so.”

Gu Yun-kwon was retiring on the exact same day as in Woo-jin’s previous life.

As in his previous life, Yun-kwon had enough support and trust from the citizens of Seoul to be a three-term mayor.

However, he was finishing his term without running in any further elections.

Some people thought that it was a step towards running for president, but that was just speculation.

In the political situation of 2019, it would have been better for Gu Yun-kwon to serve one more term in order to actually have a chance at the presidency.

Yun-kwon had already said that he would no longer be involved in politics.

The citizens of Seoul were sad about his choice.

Not many people disagreed with the fact that Seoul had developed a lot during his eight years as mayor.

However, whenever he was asked why he was stepping down, he would simply answer:

“No matter how clear the water is, it will rot if it stays still.”

“I have done most of the things I wanted to do during my eight-year term. I thought that Seoul after 2020 needed a more creative and new mayor than me.”

So, in the square of Seoul City Hall, many citizens who were sad about his departure had gathered.

Yun-kwon began to share his final thoughts with those citizens.

“Respected citizens.”

Yun-kwon’s voice was firm and serious, and he seemed a bit emotional.

“Seoul could exist because you were there. And I was able to be in this position because Seoul was there.”

Yun-kwon spoke sincerely to everyone gathered there.

“The beautiful Seoul I wanted to create… A city that can leave happy memories for as many citizens as possible.”

Yun-kwon paused, as if he was overwhelmed with emotion.

Then he slowly continued.

“I sincerely thank you for helping me create such a wonderful Seoul.”

Starting with this story, Yun-kwon’s statement flowed through the microphone and echoed in the square.

As he calmly continued the stories he had prepared, he carefully looked at the faces of the citizens gathered in the square.

Finally, Yun-kwon’s gaze reached Woo-jin.

Smile-

The two people looked at each other and smiled.

Gu Yun-kwon was the best mayor of Seoul, and he gave Woo-jin many opportunities to make his dreams come true.

Seo Woo-jin was the best architect who helped Yun-kwon create the beautiful Seoul he had dreamed of.