Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 81

Fame and recognition. That’s what it had become.

Woo-jin, once unknown at the start of the semester, was now famous in the Design Department.

Winning the ‘SPDC New Student Award’ made him famous. Recently, a KBC TV crew even filmed at the department building.

However, that didn’t mean the students knew what Woo-jin looked like.

It was just the name ‘Seo Woo-jin,’ a freshman in the Department of Design, Spatial Design, that had become famous.

His fame wasn’t just among students.

All the professors in the Department of Spatial Design already knew about Woo-jin.

In particular, Department Head Professor Yoon Chi-hyung had been looking for Woo-jin since the start of the semester.

Professor Yoon leaned back in his chair, a frown creasing his forehead. “Didn’t that Seo Woo-jin even show up in the first week?”

“Nope,” the teaching assistant replied, popping the ‘p’. “Not a peep, Professor.”

Yoon chuckled, but there was a hint of worry in his voice. “The cheeky young lad. Just because he won that award and got on TV, I hope he’s not getting lazy with his studies?”

“I doubt it,” the assistant said, shaking his head. “From what I hear, he’s been swamped with work at WJ Studio. Apparently, that’s why he’s been absent.”

“Ah, WJ Studio,” Yoon murmured, tapping a pen against his desk.

“Yeah, and get this,” the assistant continued, leaning in slightly, “rumour has it they just moved offices. Big move, apparently.”

Professor Yoon Chi-hyung first learned about Woo-jin during the final judging presentation of the SPDC.

Hearing that the SPDC finals had the highest number of students passing in history, Chi-hyung attended the final judging with the expectation that a student from his department might win the grand prize.

At that time, he was first surprised by the fact that two teams had made it to the finals.

And he was shocked by the fact that one of those teams was made up of freshmen.

As soon as he heard that story, he checked the name ‘Seo Woo-jin’ and looked forward to what kind of presentation he would give.

And Woo-jin did not disappoint Chi-hyung’s expectations.

No, it would be more accurate to say that he showed a presentation that far exceeded his expectations.

Throughout Woo-jin’s presentation, Chi-hyung couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

‘Even while listening to the presentation, I checked at least three times. Whether this guy is really a student at our school. And whether he’s really a freshman.’

Of course, that work was created by Woo-jin, So-yeon, and Jayden together.

But Chi-hyung was certain that Woo-jin’s skills had the greatest impact.

That was evident just from the depth of the presentation.

It was a level of presentation that couldn’t be done without insight that permeated the entire work process and design.

So, Professor Yoon Chi-hyung developed a small ambition.

‘If I can nurture this kid well…….’

The Department of Design at K University is not just an ordinary four-year design program.

It was one of the best design programs in the country, ranked almost first or second.

Externally, it was also closely linked to leading domestic and international companies.

Therefore, succeeding as a teacher at this K University Department of Design meant gaining tremendous honor in academia, as well as bringing practical benefits.

If a professor is good at their job here.

Opportunities arise to be recruited as a professor at a famous overseas architecture or design university, or as an executive at a large construction company.

And the fact that this complete freshman is in the department where he is appointed as the head is.

This was a great chance for him to show how good he was as a teacher.

In Chi-hyung’s eyes, Woo-jin had the potential to become a world-renowned designer if he was nurtured well for a few years.

‘I don’t know what kind of guy he is, but……. Just based on his skills, he’s much better than a normal student.’

So, the reason he looked for Woo-jin right after the start of the semester was precisely this.

‘I need to test him directly and verify it once.’

If the work he saw in the competition was solely due to Woo-jin’s skills.

Chi-hyung thought some of the usual classes at the school were not needed for Woo-jin.

Classes like drawing, basic architecture, introduction to spatial design, and even building rules and detailed design.

Judging from the quality of the completed works and the presentation content, those were things that Woo-jin already knew.

Therefore, Chi-hyung wanted to properly confirm Woo-jin’s true abilities.

He wanted to check Woo-jin’s level and give him opportunities that suited him, thereby rapidly developing him as a designer.

‘Well, he’s still a freshman. Maybe I can think about it a little more leisurely.’

As Chi-hyung was thinking that, the teaching assistant cautiously asked him.

“But Professor.”

“Hmm?”

“How did you know that the company that friend Seo Woo-jin runs is WJ Studio…….?

“Ah, that?”

At the teaching assistant’s question, Yoon Chi-hyung burst into a light, hearty laugh.

“The SPDC Fair Judging Committee told me.”

“Yes?”

“It seems that the model Seo Woo-jin submitted to the competition was similar to WJ Studio’s work.”

“Ah…….”

“Someone complained, and that’s how they found out it was Woo-jin’s company.”

Yoon Chi-hyung’s face, explaining as if it were nothing, had a slight bitter smile.

Recalling the SPDC Fair Judging Committee.

One bad story also came to mind.

‘Hoo. That Ki-tae, he has decent skills, why did he do such unnecessary things…….’

Chi-hyung thought of Woo-jin as a bright spot, but Ki-tae was a problem.

Ki-tae had been kicked out for cheating and was so upset he even took time off school.

Ki-tae was one of Chi-hyung’s favorite students, whom he had directly taught.

Of course, Chi-hyung didn’t know the inside story between Ki-tae and Woo-jin, so perhaps that’s why he felt sorry for him.

And as he briefly thought of Ki-tae, the teaching assistant asked one more thing.

“Um…… Professor. Then, can I ask you one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“Where did you hear that Seo Woo-jin is going to be on TV?”

At the teaching assistant’s question, Chi-hyung once again shook his head and laughed.

If the previous smile contained complex emotions, this one was a pure smile.

“Do you know that?”

“Yes? What are you talking about…….”

“That TV show that Seo Woo-jin is going to be on.”

“Yes.”

“I might be on it for a bit too.”

“Yes……?”

At Professor Yoon Chi-hyung’s unexpected words, the teaching assistant’s eyes widened.

But as if he had no intention of saying anything more, Chi-hyung only smiled silently.

Every few months, Cheonwoong Construction checks how each part of the company is doing and writes a report.

In that sense, September was bound to be a very busy month for each department.

It was the third quarter of 2010, and also the last month of that third quarter.

Between the third and fourth weeks of September, the performance summary for the third quarter had to be completed.

But even in the midst of that busy schedule, the employees of Cheonwoong Construction had been looking very cheerful recently.

Cheonwoong Construction had been performing well since the beginning of the second quarter, but the performance in this third quarter was particularly good.

“Wow, if this goes well……. We might be able to move up two ranks in the construction capability ranking next year?”

Kyung-wan smiled broadly as he read the reports in his office.

Kyung-wan’s performance was at the center of these beautiful results.

Therefore, if the third quarter ended like this and the momentum continued until the end of the year, a promotion next year was by no means a dream.

‘From Mapo Clio Prestige to Wangsimni, every project sold out completely. It was incredible.’

It wasn’t that the construction industry was improving.

Especially in the apartment sales market, there were so many projects that were failing that they couldn’t be counted on one hand.

The fact that all projects were sold out within one month, not just single-digit unsold units, was truly a remarkable achievement.

Moreover, the most encouraging thing was the tremendous success of the newly launched ‘Clio’ brand.

“The construction capability ranking isn’t the issue, sir.”

“Why?”

“If we do well this time, can’t we plant a flag in Gangnam?”

At his subordinate’s words, Kyung-wan smiled and nodded.

Because he knew exactly what he was talking about.

‘Not just the edge of Gangnam, but Cheongdam-dong, right by the river. If we build a Clio apartment there, it will make our brand truly top-class.’

The project that Kyung-wan had in mind right now was the reconstruction of Seonyeong Apartment in Cheongdam-dong.

A decent-sized apartment complex with a total of about 800 units expected after reconstruction.

The fight to get the Cheongdam Seonyeong building contract was starting to get intense. But, until last year, Cheonwoong wasn’t even interested in it.

From the beginning, they thought this was a three-way battle between three construction companies.

Jeun Construction, shining at the top of the construction capability ranking, SH Corporation, aiming for the top spot right below it, and Myungsung Construction.

This Cheongdam Seonyeong Apartment, located on the Han River side of Yeongdong-daero, was a reconstruction project that all construction companies were coveting.

In fact, if those three construction companies rushed in, it would be difficult for Cheonwoong Construction to compete.

However, with the launch of the new premium brand Clio in the first half of the year, they succeeded in creating a tremendous sensation.

Thanks to that, the competitive landscape had changed a lot from last year.

Surprisingly, Kwak Hong-sik, the head of the Seonyeong Apartment association, had recently been contacting Cheonwoong.

Saying that there were secretly more and more residents who wanted the Clio brand mark.

The officials of the Seonyeong Apartment reconstruction association had the feeling that they wanted Cheonwoong Construction to bring the Clio brand and participate in the bidding.

“Cheongdam Seonyeong……. If we can win that, that would be a real jackpot.”

“I think there’s enough potential now, sir.”

“I think so too. But to be cold, that potential is still less than 10%.”

“That’s true…….”

Just because the officials of the reconstruction association want to participate in the bidding, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will choose that brand.

They knew that the more companies interested, the better deal they could get.

They were trying to encourage Cheonwoong Construction more.

Of course, it was also true that they made that suggestion because they highly valued Cheonwoong and Clio.

If weak companies joined the bidding, Jeun and SH Corporation wouldn’t even notice.

“What’s the date set for the joint presentation there?”

“Since the bidding deadline is at the end of November……. It’ll probably be in December or January.”

“Hmm, we should start preparing in earnest now.”

The battle for contracts in a reconstruction project ultimately comes down to which construction company the reconstruction association, the client, finds most attractive.

Therefore, the construction company that presents the most wonderful design at the presentation with the construction cost presented by the association is chosen.

Because the money for building is limited, there’s only so far companies can go in cutting costs.

Construction companies can’t afford to lose money on a project.

So, getting ready for this contract fight is very difficult.

Especially in workplaces where competition is fierce.

Looking at the calendar, Kyung-wan began to write the report with a serious expression.

And the contents of that report also included the contents of Cheongdam-dong Seonyeong Apartment.

The contents that must be included in the quarterly report must also include the contents of future plans.

And for some reason.

On one side of the content, the name ‘WJ Studio’ was also included.