Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 312

Time kept moving, just like always. Across the busy city of Seoul, people rushed to work, answered phones, and typed on computers. But in his quiet office, high above the city, Seo Woo-jin felt a different kind of movement. He looked out at the skyline, a smile touching his lips. Back in 2018, he had already achieved something incredible – building a stunning tower right in Gangnam, the beating heart of Seoul’s business world. It was a dream come true. And yet, Woo-jin wasn’t one to stop. He stood up from his desk, a familiar energy filling him. He walked forward with confidence, as he always did, ready for the next challenge.

You could say Woo-jin had already reached his dream back in 2018. He was working in Gangnam, Seoul – the heart of the city’s business area! This was a huge achievement.

He had designed the best design he could, one that satisfied him, and had begun to build it.

Of course, his dream wouldn’t be truly finished until the building was done. But for now, Woo-jin had done all he could. All he could do now was wait.

News articles praised Woo-jin’s work. Headlines announced, ‘Samsung Global Business Tower, current construction progress 56%!’ Others read, ‘What new winds will SGBC bring to the Samsung International Business District?’ and ‘5,000 jobs? Mammoth-sized business facility SGBC!’

Cheon Jong-geol, Chairman of Cheonwoong Construction, was quoted as saying, “With Cheonwoong’s name on the line, we will build SGBC into the best building.” Director Song Ju-bin from KCA Investment added, “There are no problems with the fundraising plan… SGBC could be completed a little faster than expected.”

But even though he had virtually achieved his dream, Woo-jin silently moved forward.

In fact, it was only natural.

Achieving a dream did not mean that all the work was done.

Rather, it meant that Woo-jin had taken his first step onto the stage he had so dreamed of: becoming an architect who could receive commissions from anyone, and who could do any kind of architecture.

Now, the architect Seo Woo-jin had proudly made his name as one of the world’s leading architects.

News articles continued to highlight his success. Headlines announced, ‘Korea’s Largest Art Gallery, H Art Center, to Begin Construction!’ It was going to be built in Hannam-dong, a very expensive part of the city. Lim Seok-ho, CEO of H Art Center, said, “I sincerely thank CEO Seo Woo-jin for designing the best art gallery.” The articles also mentioned, ‘The first work to be housed at the H Art Center is ‘Seo Woo-jin’s Pavilion’’ and showed ‘The beautiful bird’s-eye view revealed!’

Woo-jin continued to design and continued to build.

But things were different now. Before, he had been rushing, focused only on the next project. Now, Woo-jin was truly enjoying the process of creating buildings.

The 101 Plaza in Shanghai, China, a multi-purpose cultural space, had opened in the winter of 2020.

Designed by world-renowned Korean architect Seo Woo-jin, the design concept was based on traditional Chinese architectural styles. Nevertheless, Seo Woo-jin described 101 Plaza as “the most modern and most restrained space.” This building, built on a vast space of tens of thousands of square meters from the 1st basement floor to the 5th floor above ground…

Meanwhile, the building owner Luhan praised Seo Woo-jin’s architecture. He is said to have said the following in a local interview: “I received the most beautiful plaza built in the highest place from architect Seo Woo-jin.”

Woo-jin’s stage was no longer limited to Korea.

WJ Studio, which established a global business division in 2018, expanded its business rapidly, establishing local corporations in various countries around the world.

As the number of projects naturally increased, Woo-jin adhered to one principle.

That was the principle that Woo-jin would participate, even if only a little, in the concept planning stage of every project.

So, as the company grew, Woo-jin continued to get busier.

After his break, he gave many of his old tasks to the management team.

Now, he was so busy with just ‘design,’ not corporate management, that he didn’t have enough hours in the day.

Thus, in the spring of 2021…

And so, on a spring day in 2021, Woo-jin found himself at Incheon Airport, pulling his suitcase behind him.

Woo-jin was boarding a plane to Spain to attend a new project that would begin in Barcelona, Spain.

As Woo-jin put his luggage in the overhead compartment and sat down, the design team leader, Yoo Soo-young, sat next to him. She smiled brightly, looking out the window with excitement.

“The weather is really nice, CEO.”

Woo-jin nodded with a smile.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had yellow dust, the sky is really clear.”

The design team leader sitting next to Woo-jin was Yoo Soo-young, who had joined WJ Studio as an intern nine years ago.

She admired Woo-jin from university and had joined WJ Studio because of him.

Since then, Yoo Soo-young, a designer who had grown up with WJ Studio for nearly 10 years…

The nervous intern who was once afraid to even go on a site visit with Woo-jin was gone.

Soo-young was now an outstanding designer who would be recognized and coveted anywhere, even if she wasn’t at WJ Studio.

Of course, that didn’t mean Soo-young would ever leave WJ Studio.

She thought to herself, ‘Why would I ever leave? As long as CEO Woo-jin is here…’

WJ Studio is now one of the best design studios in the world.

Besides, her idol was still working in the field.

And it’s not like her salary was less than the industry standard.

While Soo-young was thinking that, an exclamation burst out from the seat right behind her.

“Wow, Spain!”

At that familiar voice, Soo-young turned her head and asked.

“Mr. Kim, is this your first time in Spain?”

“Yes, Team Leader. I’m so excited right now.”

Looking at Mr. Kim, who was staring out the window with sparkling eyes, Soo-young’s mind flashed back to a memory.

‘I used to be like that too.’

Soo-young had definitely gone on an overseas business trip for the first time.

And at that time, she had felt the same way as Mr. Kim on the departure flight.

So, Soo-young chuckled and turned back to her seat.

Then, she smiled at Mr. Kim and said.

“Mr. Kim, you might be missing Korean food in just two weeks, you know!”

“Yes…? That can’t be.”

“If you eat salty food in Spain and work on drawings for a month, you’ll know what I mean.”

“Eek…! Don’t ruin my excitement, Team Leader!”

At the two’s conversation, Woo-jin, who had been staring out the window, chuckled.

‘Mr. Kim is very excited.’

Woo-jin understands Mr. Kim’s excitement.

Woo-jin looked around at his team. They weren’t just here for a quick meeting. They had big suitcases and the whole design team – more than ten people – was here. This was a serious trip.

Woo-jin was going on a business trip for a month, just like Mateo had come to Korea years ago, for a project.

This was a trip to win the chance to design a huge, amazing cultural center in Spain.

“Alright everyone,” Woo-jin said, smiling at them. “Try to get some rest on the plane. We’re going to be very busy from tomorrow.”

“Yes, CEO.”

“Hee hee. Okay, CEO.”

This project was a super-large project comparable to SGBC to some extent.

For Mr. Kim, a designer who had only been working for two years, being part of this important mission was incredibly exciting.

Woo-jin felt a surge of pride. Being chosen for this assignment was a big deal.

He hadn’t told the staff, but Woo-jin believed only the most skilled designers at WJ Studio were picked for this. In a company full of amazing designers, selecting a second-year employee like him for this project was truly special.

“If we win this project,” he thought, “we can really grow our business in Europe.”

*Rumble!*

The plane roared down the runway, the vibrations shaking Woo-jin in his seat. He closed his eyes, the rumble a comforting sound of adventure beginning. He was excited about this trip to Spain, imagining the sunny streets of Barcelona and the important meeting ahead. This project felt like a chance to prove himself and take WJ Studio to a new level. He was as excited as everyone else on the plane.

Barcelona, a city famous for tourists, had a modern industrial area on its outskirts called the ‘New Business District’.

This area used to be an old industrial zone named ‘Innovation Zone’, but it changed completely because of city improvements and new plans. Now, shiny buildings stood neatly in rows, like a brand new city. Many companies had offices here, making it a busy place with people working from all over the world. Every day, people came and went for business, and many meetings happened in the cafes here. Because of this, most cafes in the business district had meeting rooms.

“Hello. I have a meeting room reserved…”

“May I have the name, please?”

“It’s not under my name. It’s reserved under ‘EL Company’.”

And this cafe, El Nomade, was one of the largest cafes on the main street of the business district. A newly built cafe with a modern design, located on the corner of the main street, in a very easy-to-see spot. Therefore, most outsiders visiting this place for the first time would arrange meetings here. The design was clean, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the coffee wasn’t bad either.

“Ah! I found it. But you’re a little early?”

“Yes, I suppose I am…”

However, this woman who had come to ‘El Nomade’ early in the morning didn’t seem like an outsider visiting for the first time.

“Are you sure I’m not taking up a spot because I came too early?”

You could tell because the manager, who had appeared beside her while she was talking to the cashier, suddenly cut in.

“Of course not. Don’t you often come this early?”

“Oh, Manager. You’re here early today?”

“I have some things to do in the afternoon, so I came in for the morning shift. Haha.”

The manager, who greeted the woman warmly, tapped the menu board and continued.

“You came early to have brunch before the meeting, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“The usual?”

“Please.”

After placing her order, she walked to the meeting room guided by a staff member.

Click- Clack-

Seated, she first set up her small laptop, and in the meantime, the brunch she had ordered arrived. What she loved was a warm latte and a Croque monsieur, golden brown and bubbling with melted cheese that smelled wonderfully rich.

Click-

Picking up the Croque monsieur with one hand, she looked up to check the wall clock.

‘There’s still about 30 minutes until the meeting…’

But as she took a large bite of the bread.

Zzzzzing-

Her smartphone, placed on the table, began to vibrate noisily.

“Huh?”

She tilted her head, thinking there was no one who would call her, but she couldn’t help but smile at the caller ID that appeared on the screen. The person who had called from early in the morning was none other than the one she loved the most.

“Grandma!”

Of course, the place where the call came from would already be in the evening, though.

[“Are you doing well, Soyeon, my dear?”]

From her mouth, as she answered the phone, came Korean, which was out of place in the cafe’s atmosphere.

“Of course, I’m doing well! Our Grandma, you must have called because you miss your eldest granddaughter?”

[“Of course, I do.”]

“How are you feeling, Grandma?”

[“Grandma is fine, except for missing her grandchildren.”]

“Hehe. I’ll definitely go back to Korea during this summer vacation.”

Even while stuffing bread and coffee into her mouth, she didn’t hang up the phone. Her grandmother’s voice, which she hadn’t heard in a long time, was something she missed so much.

[“This summer, are you going to show this grandma your future husband, Soyeon?”]

“Ah, Grandma, you always…”

[“My dear Soyeon, you are thirty now, you know! It would be so good for you to have someone special in your life, especially with your busy job.”]

The call was about the same thing as always, but she still liked it. She knew that this story of her grandmother’s contained the most concern for herself than anyone else.

Soyeon glanced at the clock and continued the call. She thought she could talk a little longer until 10 minutes before the meeting.

“Are Gayeon and Ayeon doing well too?”

[“Of course. Gayeon is doing well at her company, and Ayeon is doing well at school.”]

“I see.”

[“Ayeon says a blue-eyed brother-in-law would be nice too. Got it?”]

“Ah, Grandma!”

Her voice, Soyeon’s, was not that loud. But since it was early in the morning, the cafe was very quiet, and she was the only one speaking Korean in here. So her voice echoed noticeably in the cafe, but she didn’t seem to be aware of it.

It wasn’t because she was focused on the phone call. With her smartphone propped up on her left shoulder, she was busily tapping on her laptop to set up the PPT for the meeting.

“Grandma, I have a meeting now.”

[“Alright, do well at work.”]

“I’ll call you back soon.”

[“Grandma knows that her eldest granddaughter is the best, right?”]

“I know. Hehe.”

But when she finished talking to her grandmother and hung up the phone.

‘Hmm…?’

Soyeon couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. She felt someone’s gaze beside her as she was tapping on her laptop. So she reflexively turned her head, and in the next moment, she couldn’t help but drop the smartphone she was holding.

“The call’s over?”

There, sat a man she had missed so much.