Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 47

Woojin was busy from the morning.

He had promised to go to Cheongdam at 10 a.m., when the promotional hall opened, to help Im Suha with her contract.

He also had to get ready for a trip related to a contest in the afternoon before he left.

His schedule meant he had to be busy starting at 8 a.m.

“If I leave now, the timing should be just right, shouldn’t it?”

Actually, helping Im Suha with her contract wasn’t really part of Woojin’s job as a construction representative.

But he could easily explain this away.

He had already told Park Kyungwan that he was helping someone he knew with a contract.

No one would think it was strange.

[Well, that’s not difficult. I’ll make sure to tell the consultation desk in advance.]

“Thank you, Manager.”

[By the way, this apartment is 53 *pyeong*… are you sure this size is okay?]

“Goodness. I’m telling you it’s fine. You’ve already agreed, why are you so worried?”

[Hehe. You’re funny. Houses are expensive, you know? Only someone unusual like you would think about it so casually.]

While talking to Kyungwan, Woojin asked about some details.

This information would help him assist Im Suha with her contract.

“How did you handle the options?”

[Almost all the options. This time, we are really focusing on luxury, so we priced everything at the lowest possible price, from the air conditioning to the built-in furniture, which is included from the start.]

The call with Kyungwan started as he got on the subway and continued until he arrived at the promotional hall.

He had planned for a short call, but they chatted about different things for almost twenty minutes.

[By the way, I thought you were trying too hard to please the boss last time.]

“Trying too hard? That’s a bit harsh.”

[How can someone only twenty-two years old be so good at flattering the executive director?]

“It’s not like that. I just said the facts.”

[What did you say again? That the premium brand is the best new thing Cheonwoong has done? And that Jeun Construction and Myungsung Construction, which are slow and old-fashioned, will be passed soon, right?]

“Indeed, just as they are.”

[Seriously, Seo Woojin… you sly fox.]

“Anyway, I’ll visit you soon, Manager.”

[Alright. We’ll see each other during the next contract, right?]

“Perhaps?”

Woojin smiled slightly as he walked.

Somehow, his friendship with Park Kyungwan had become even stronger than it was after nearly ten years in his past experience.

‘What a cute old man.’

Woojin put on his name tag and went into the promotional hall.

A short while later, he got a call from Im Suha, saying she had arrived.

[Director, I’m coming in now!]

“Yes, Actress. Please come inside. Come to window number 7.”

Actually, signing a contract to buy an apartment before it’s built is not very complicated.

After carefully looking at the contract and the apartment number she was assigned, all she had to do was follow the steps set up by the construction company, choose the options, and sign the contract.

So, the only way Woojin could really help Im Suha was by helping her choose the extra options.

If there were still many apartments available, like before, he could have helped her pick a different apartment.

But, the Clio Apartment complex was already completely sold out. So, the person buying the apartment didn’t have any other choices about which apartment to buy.

“First, let’s get air conditioning in every room.”

“The living room, three rooms, and even the kitchen… you’re saying to install five?”

“If you save a little money now and don’t get air conditioning, the rooms without it will become like storage rooms in the summer heat.”

“Hmm…”

“Even if you don’t live there and rent it out, apartments with air conditioning always get the highest price and are rented out the fastest.”

“Still, isn’t the kitchen a bit much?”

“Well, you can remove it there if you want. If you like cooking and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it’s good to have, but…”

“Okay. I understand. Let’s just put it all in.”

“Yes.”

Im Suha, who had seemed worried last time, now seemed very excited, maybe because she had decided to sign the contract.

“This balcony expansion, it’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?”

“The expansion is a must. It’s not really a choice, it’s essential.”

Usually, shopping for anything is fun. But this shopping was about getting a luxury home by spending a lot of money, almost all of her savings.

It wasn’t strange that she was excited.

“Whew. It’s finally over.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“What hard work did I do? You’re the one who worked hard explaining everything, Director.”

Woojin looked again at Im Suha’s apartment number in the contract, nodded, and said to himself.

‘Because she was chosen early, she got a really great apartment.’

An apartment on the 20th floor or higher, in a building very close to the subway station.

Woojin was sure that in just two more years, the apartment Suha had bought would easily be worth around 300 million won more.

Maybe by then, even a smaller 25 *pyeong* Clio apartment would cost more than what Im Suha paid for her 43 *pyeong* apartment.

‘Hmm. There really isn’t a better investment than this. I wonder if anyone will cancel their contract.’

Woojin, who didn’t have any money to invest right now, clicked his tongue and started walking.

He talked with Im Suha as they left the promotional hall.

“It ended earlier than I thought.”

“Yes. It’s because you agreed without hesitating much, Actress…”

“At first, I was a bit unsure about signing the contract, but after coming back to the promotional hall today and looking around again… I just naturally decided to do it.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“I liked everything from the materials to the way the house was built… so I just went for it. Our director said the investment is sure to be good, too.”

Seeing Im Suha wink playfully, Woojin smiled.

“That’s right. If I had the money, I would have bought one too.”

“Hearing that makes me feel even better.”

“Still, you know that you’re always responsible for how the investment turns out, right?”

“Of course. I’m not that reckless.”

It was an investment that was likely to succeed anyway, but Woojin mentioned the uncertainty on purpose.

If he kept talking like it was guaranteed to be successful, he might seem like he was just trying too hard to sell something.

“But Director, shouldn’t you go back inside?”

“Ah, no. I have another appointment… I have somewhere to go.”

“Oh, is that so?”

While they were talking, they had reached Im Suha’s car in the parking lot.

Her car was a bright red German SUV that looked sporty and stylish, perfectly suited to her image.

“You drive a nice car.”

“What about you, Director?”

“Ah, I don’t have a car yet.”

Suha looked surprised at Woojin’s answer.

“Really? That’s unexpected?”

“Why?”

“Since you’re a director, I thought you’d drive a nice car.”

“Haha, I’m planning to rent a good car soon, using the company’s name, but I haven’t had time yet.”

Suha got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and asked Woojin.

“Where is your next appointment?”

At Suha’s question, Woojin answered without much thought.

“Bulgwang-dong.”

“Bulgwang-dong… That’s Nokbeon, Yeonsinnae, around there?”

“Oh, you know the area well.”

But then, Woojin was a little surprised.

“Of course, I do. It’s the road I travel every day.”

“Yes…?”

“Come on, get in. I’ll give you a ride since I’m heading that way.”

He hadn’t even imagined he’d get a ride in the actress’s car.

Im Suha’s words that she traveled near Bulgwang-dong every day were indeed true.

“Where are you headed, Miss Im?”

“KBC in Ilsan.”

“Ah, so that’s why….”

“These days, I have a lot of schedules in that direction, so I go back and forth about three times a week.”

KBC’s Ilsan headquarters was located in Samsong-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang City.

And to get there from Seoul, one inevitably had to pass through ‘Tongilro’.

A long national highway stretching northwest from near Gwanghwamun all the way to Panmunjom.

This Tongilro was a road that ran along the outskirts of Seoul following the Line 3 subway line, and therefore, it also passed directly through Bulgwang Station.

Woojin had a small doubt before. But now it was gone.

Woojin, who had briefly wondered if she might be interested in him, chuckled and shook his head.

He forgot for a moment about the age difference. Im Suha was almost ten years older than him.

“Do you pass through Tongilro every time?”

“Pretty much, yes.”

“That place is a real hell during commuting hours….”

“You’re right. So, I try to avoid those times as much as possible.”

Suha smiled and continued.

“But today, it won’t be that bad.”

“That’s just wishful thinking, isn’t it?”

“Ha, haha….”

Suha looked at the navigation screen stuck to the dashboard. Tongilro was marked in bright red, like a line of fire. She laughed, a little awkwardly. “Oh dear,” she said, “Looks like we’re really stuck in traffic.”

The estimated time to reach Bulgwang was a whopping one hour and twenty minutes.

“Still, it seems faster than going by subway.”

“That’s certainly fortunate.”

Woojin, sitting in the passenger seat, had a relaxed expression.

His morning schedule had finished earlier than expected, so he still had plenty of time before his appointment.

So, the two of them, unexpectedly spending a long time together, were able to have quite a few conversations.

“So, you run a construction company connected to Chunwoong Construction, Mr. Woojin?”

“Yes. Well, something like that. You can think of it that way.”

“Wow, you’re really amazing at such a young age.”

“Wait,” Woojin said, a small smile playing on his lips. “Have I even told you how old I am?”

Suha laughed lightly, glancing at him. “No, but… I’m guessing. Around twenty-eight?” She looked at him, a playful glint in her eyes, as if daring him to disagree. “Am I close?”

Woojin was quite shocked inside, but he didn’t bother to correct her guess.

‘Do I look that old…?’

It would be easier to talk if she thought he was around that age anyway.

All these things made her think he was twenty-eight.

But regardless of that fact, Woojin, who was taken aback, changed the subject.

“By the way, Miss Im, have you decided on your next project?”

“No, not yet. Why? Do you have a project you’d like to recommend?”

“Oh….”

Woojin hesitated for a moment, then continued talking.

“I’m not involved in the entertainment industry… How would I recommend a project? Haha.”

“I thought you knew everything, so I figured you’d have an answer for that too.”

Woojin, who had brought up the topic of projects to change the subject, was smiling on the outside, but he had to breathe a sigh of relief inside.

‘I almost made a slip of the tongue.’

Woojin knew about a project that Suha would be filming soon.

A mega-hit project that would be released around 2012 and attract ten million moviegoers, .

He knew about a project that would make Suha an overnight star, so he had unconsciously almost blurted it out.

‘That could have been unnecessarily troublesome.’

If he said the movie title, she might think he was more than just someone selling medicine. She might think he was a fortune teller!

This was the first movie she had ever received a lead role offer for.

Moreover, the title of this project was not yet known to the public.

If this name came out of Woojin’s mouth, it could be a very difficult situation.

Woojin, thinking that he should be careful with his words in the future, thought of a different story instead of the project.

‘But I guess I can tell her this much.’

Woojin, recalling a few memories about Suha, opened his mouth again towards her.

“By the way, Miss Im, have you ever thought about doing variety shows?”

“Why variety shows all of a sudden?”

Woojin continued, towards her, who was tilting her head with a puzzled expression.

“Just because. These days, many actors appear on variety shows.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“If you get the chance, try it. You have a great sense of humor… I think it would be fun to watch Miss Im on a variety show.”

“Really?”

“Let’s just say it’s something like a fan’s heart.”

This show would make people all over the country love her. She was funny and natural, not trying to be someone she wasn’t.

The variety show Suha appeared on at that time was Season 2, but Woojin had wondered what it would have been like if she had debuted on variety shows a little earlier.

For example, on Season 1 of , which would start at the end of this year.

‘Even if the order of the movie appearance is changed, it doesn’t mean the sense of entertainment she has will disappear. She’ll be able to rise to fame faster, so there’s no reason for the actress to dislike it. is also a variety show that will be a big hit from Season 1.’

There was also a bit of personal gain involved.

By the end of the year, Woojin was confident that he would have grown WJ Studio much larger.

If Im Suha were to appear on at that time, he would be able to receive quite a large amount of crumbs.

was a variety show closely related to Woojin’s business.

Woojin really wanted to say it, so he just said it.

“Be sure to do a variety show within this year, Miss Im.”

“Oh my, why are you being so proactive all of a sudden? Anyone would think you’re my manager.”

“It’s just a feeling. And my gut feeling is usually pretty good.”

In the end, Woojin, due to personal motives, chose the path of a fortune teller.