Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 79

Seok-jung began, “Actually, Director Seo, there’s something I wanted to ask you. That’s why I invited you here today.”

Woo-jin paused, his hand still for a moment. The cafe was bustling with activity, the aroma of coffee filling the air. It wasn’t a serious tone, but it wasn’t lighthearted either.

Woo-jin nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, please tell me. If there’s anything I can help with…”

Seok-jung looked at Woo-jin, his eyes bright. “It’s about what you said during our first meeting.”

“Yes, Director Seo?” Woo-jin asked, curious.

“You mentioned that branding is like tempering metal.”

“Yes, I remember saying that,” Woo-jin confirmed.

Seok-jung paused. “That story really stuck with me.”

He continued, “These days, I’m working with my team to update our branding strategy.”

Woo-jin was surprised. He had been passionate at the time, but he didn’t expect Seok-jung to remember it so well.

He thought, ‘Seok-jung is more impressive than I realized. He’s willing to listen to someone younger like me.’

Seok-jung continued, “This cafe business’s branding… I realize it’s closely tied to the interior design.”

“That’s true. Cafes are about more than just coffee now,” Woo-jin replied.

Seok-jung nodded. “Exactly. The cafe business, as I see it, sells experiences. It’s the taste of the coffee, a comfortable place to relax, and a space to make memories.”

Woo-jin nodded in agreement.

Seok-jung added, “So, my team and I think that space and branding are connected. That’s why I invited you here today, Director Seo. Cafe Fresco is now linked to the space you designed.”

Woo-jin waited, intrigued. He had an idea of what Seok-jung was going to say. ‘Is he going to offer a long-term contract?’

Woo-jin’s goal was to make Cafe Fresco successful and have WJ Studio design all of its stores.

If Cafe Fresco became popular, there could be thousands of franchise cafes. If WJ Studio designed them all, it would mean a huge amount of money.

Woo-jin thought Seok-jung was about to propose this. The conversation seemed to be heading that way.

‘Of course, I’d be happy to accept…’

However, Woo-jin was surprised by Seok-jung’s next words.

“So, I’d like to ask you to outsource the branding of Cafe Fresco.”

“Excuse me?” Woo-jin asked, confused.

“I’m not saying you’ll handle all the branding, but I’d like your help in creating our branding strategy.”

Woo-jin was puzzled. If he were a branding expert, this would be a great offer. But that wasn’t his area.

“Could you explain that in more detail?” he asked.

Seok-jung nodded, as if he expected the question. “I’ve looked into it, and there aren’t many contracts like this in the industry.”

“That’s probably true. Design firms don’t usually do branding,” Woo-jin agreed.

“Haha, but we can always create a contract if needed. We can decide the value based on what benefits us both. That’s the good thing about business, isn’t it? We can create deals that work for everyone.”

Woo-jin was intrigued. Seok-jung then explained his main idea.

“At first, I thought about giving you a set payment to help until our branding strategy was done.”

The fact that he said ‘thought about’ meant he wasn’t planning that anymore. Woo-jin’s curiosity grew.

“And?” Woo-jin asked, waiting for the real offer.

Seok-jung’s eyes gleamed. “The offer I’d like to make is a long-term franchise interior design contract with branding support.”

Woo-jin finally understood what Seok-jung wanted. He admired his business sense.

‘He’s like a true chaebol family member,’ Woo-jin thought. (A chaebol family is a very rich and powerful family that controls big businesses.)

Seok-jung’s offer was good for Woo-jin, and Seok-jung would also benefit.

‘He’s trying to get what he wants since I don’t plan to bid on the long-term contract anyway.’

Seok-jung planned to give WJ Studio all the interior design work for Cafe Fresco’s stores.

However, this was a valuable business opportunity, so he couldn’t just give it away. He had received help from Woo-jin, so he couldn’t ask for a separate payment.

So, he combined the long-term contract with the branding help under the guise of a ‘request.’

Getting ‘help’ with branding from Woo-jin, who wasn’t an expert, was hard to put a value on.

‘Besides, if I have the long-term contract, WJ Studio’s sales will increase as the brand becomes more successful… So, I have no choice but to help diligently.’

“Haha,” Woo-jin laughed, pleased.

Branding wasn’t a hard job.

Getting a long-term contract quickly would really help WJ Studio.

Having a contract gives a company much more freedom to work than not having one.

Even if Seok-jung hadn’t planned to give a ‘branding guarantee’, raising the design fee in the contract was a very good offer.

This clause would stop those problems, so Woo-jin agreed.

The new office building Woo-jin had rented in July was finished.

Actually, the old workshop was mostly for the model team. The construction team usually worked at different building sites.

“It’s not about the title… It’s just you keep calling me Seok-gu.”

“Very well, CEO Kang. Since you’re offering a long-term contract, it’s only right that we help you out.”

Seok-jung, who had anticipated Woo-jin’s response, smiled and nodded.

“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”

But Seok-jung’s story didn’t end there.

“In return for you granting my request, I’d like to offer you a gift.”

“A gift… ?”

“I’ll increase the design fee we agreed upon for the first branch by an additional five percent.”

“……!”

“While it’s tricky to set a branding guarantee, I believe I can offer this much. What do you think?”

Woo-jin’s eyes widened.

Even if Seok-jung hadn’t planned to give a ‘branding guarantee’, raising the design fee in the contract was a very good offer.

Unlike construction costs, design fees had a very high net profit margin.

Increasing it by five percent in the long run could result in a significant profit, potentially reaching billions.

“Really? You’d do that?”

Seok-jung nodded.

“Of course. If I wasn’t going to do it, why would I bring it up?”

This felt less like a transaction within a business relationship and more like a gift, as Seok-jung had said, which made Woo-jin very happy. Woo-jin’s smile widened, and he felt a warmth spread through him.

“That’s a wonderful gift. I won’t refuse it if you’re offering.”

“Come now, shouldn’t you decline at least once?”

“What if you change your mind? I can’t allow that.”

Woo-jin and Seok-jung looked at each other and laughed heartily.

“However, I’d like to add one clause to the long-term contract.”

“What kind of clause are you referring to?”

“Whether it’s our side or WJ Studio’s, if either party is dissatisfied with the cooperative relationship, the contract can be terminated immediately.”

If Woo-jin only focused on the contract and the construction quality of WJ Studio continued to decline…

Cafe Fresco would have no choice but to suffer significant losses against their will.

This clause would stop those problems, so Woo-jin agreed.

“Alright. But even if the contract is terminated, all payments for the construction already started must be paid in full. Conversely, I will also be responsible for completing all ongoing projects.”

“Of course.”

Seok-jung extended his hand towards Woo-jin with a pleased expression.

Woo-jin firmly grasped his hand.

“I look forward to working with you in the future, CEO Seo.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

With this, WJ Studio was able to lay the foundation for another significant leap forward.

August, which had not much time left, quickly passed by.

And as September arrived, Woo-jin’s busiest schedule was not related to the start of school. Woo-jin couldn’t even attend the first week of classes.

“Move all the items from the model section over here! Ah! That belongs to the construction section. Over here!”

“Please put my belongings in here. This is the CEO’s office.”

The new office building Woo-jin had rented in July was finished. As soon as the move-in period began, Woo-jin immediately relocated all the offices in front of the school.

The existing office felt far too small as the construction section rapidly grew. Actually, the old workshop was mostly for the model team. The construction team usually worked at different building sites.

Now that the construction team also needed sufficient space, the move was a natural course of action. It had only been three or four months since the office was expanded due to being too small.

“Wow, it really feels like a company now, Manager.”

“Indeed. With the complete interior design, it looks really plausible and nice.”

Jin-tae, who had been called foreman or site manager until now, also received a new title: ‘Construction Management Director.’ Now that there were more than ten employees in the construction section alone, Jin-tae, as the person in charge, needed a proper title.

And it was only natural that Seok-hyun, the chief manager of the model section, also received a title.

“Hey, Team Leader Kang!” Jin-tae called out, grinning.

Seok-hyun puffed out his chest a little. “Yeah, Team Leader Kang now. Make sure you remember it.”

“Team Leader, huh?” Jin-tae chuckled. “You like that title, don’t you?”

Seok-hyun rolled his eyes. “It’s not about the title. It’s just… you keep calling me Seok-gu! It sounds like a dog’s name.”

Jin-tae laughed. “Okay, okay, no more Seok-gu in front of the team. But hey,” he clapped Seok-hyun on the shoulder, “Team Leader, we need your help with these boxes. Team Leader *Seok-gu*.” He whispered the last part with a wink.

Seok-hyun groaned, but a small smile played on his lips. “Fine, fine. But you owe me coffee, *Director* Jin-tae.”

Woo-jin was deliberately calling Seok-hyun that to tease him, but in front of the employees, he naturally didn’t use the name Seok-gu. Just like Jin-tae always addressed Woo-jin as CEO in front of the employees.

However, when there was no one else around to hear, Woo-jin couldn’t resist the fun of teasing Seok-hyun.

‘It seems like things are slowly getting organized.’

As all the belongings were brought into the office and it began to take on a plausible appearance, Woo-jin glanced at the clock hanging on one wall.

‘If I leave now, I’ll be a little late… but I should still go to school today, right?’

The most inconvenient thing after moving the office was the distance from the school, but that wasn’t a big problem either. After all, just because they moved to Seongsu, it didn’t mean they had gotten rid of the workshop in front of the school.

He planned to use that place as Woo-jin’s assignment workshop and sub-model production room for the time being.

However, with the move to Seongsu-dong, there was one employee who unexpectedly benefited from living close to work.

“Oppa, you’re going to school today, right? Shouldn’t you be leaving soon?”

That was none other than So-yeon, the part-timer(?), whose house was a 10-minute walk from the relocated office.

Golden Print