Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 83

In the world of construction, a strong brand and instant recognition were everything.

Woo-jin stared at the document. “This is…”

Kyung-wan grinned, leaning back in his chair. “That’s right, CEO Seo. A design competition.”

Woo-jin frowned slightly, thinking. “Cheongdam Seonyeong… isn’t that the apartment complex being rebuilt south of the Yeongdong Bridge? Didn’t they get their permit earlier this year?”

Kyung-wan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “You really know your apartments! How do you know all that?”

“Of course not. It’s just that Cheongdam Seonyeong is a pretty famous project, so I happen to know about it.”

“Hmm. I suppose so.”

Kyung-wan nodded, still looking amazed. Knowing about an apartment was one thing, but being aware of the reconstruction progress was another matter entirely.

Kyung-wan thought, ‘He knows too much about this project for it to be just work. He must be investing.’

He shook his head and continued, “Well, it’s easier to talk since you know about it.”

Woo-jin immediately picked up the thread. “So, this design competition… Chunwoong wants designs from outside companies for the Seonyeong Apartment bid, right?”

“You catch on quick, as always.”

Woo-jin looked slightly surprised, not by the fact that they were soliciting designs, but that Chunwoong was even participating in the Seonyeong reconstruction bid in the first place.

“Is Chunwoong participating in the Seonyeong reconstruction bid?”

Kyung-wan nodded. “We’re going to give it a shot.”

Woo-jin knew Cheongdam Seonyeong Apartment well. To be precise, he knew the luxury apartment complex that was built on the site after Seonyeong Apartment was reconstructed, called ‘Cheongdam Artia Riverview’. Artia was an apartment brand that SH Corporation had started pushing from 2005. So, in Woo-jin’s past life, SH Corporation had won the bid for this Seonyeong Apartment reconstruction.

The reason Woo-jin remembered this so clearly was because the result of this bid had caused the construction ranking between Jeun Construction and SH Corporation to change. Jeun Construction was already a slowly setting sun, and SH Construction would hold the top spot for almost 20 years from the 2010s. Still, the fact that Jeun Construction had lost its number one position was quite a hot topic back then.

However, the reason Woo-jin had paused for a moment now wasn’t because these past memories had surfaced. Woo-jin was surprised because he realized that the future had changed once again.

‘Chunwoong participating in the Cheongdam Seonyeong bid… I never imagined this development…’

In Woo-jin’s past life, Chunwoong Construction had been focusing all its efforts on clearing out the unsold Mapo Clio apartments around this time, so they wouldn’t have had enough resources to participate in a prime reconstruction bid in Cheongdam-dong. Therefore, Woo-jin could instinctively tell this was also a future that had been changed by Woo-jin himself.

‘This is an opportunity. I don’t know if I can pull it off, but… if I do, it’s an opportunity to gain so much.’

Usually, when a construction company selects a design to bid on a reconstruction or redevelopment project, they often rely on the internal design team rather than outsourcing to an external architectural firm. Design outsourcing was also a cost and, in some ways, a risk, so it was natural to want to solve it internally if possible.

However, as the class of the bid went up to the top tier, external design competitions became quite common. This was especially true for premium apartments built in the most upscale areas of Gangnam, like Cheongdam-dong. Since it was a wealthy neighborhood from the start, the members of the homeowners’ association had their eyes set high, and if they built it well, it could become a landmark-level building in itself, so construction companies had no choice but to put in as much effort as possible.

Therefore, giving WJ Studio the qualification to participate in this design competition was truly an exceptional event. If it was a bid that a construction company was so determined to win that they decided to hold an external design competition, they often commissioned famous overseas architectural firms. From the perspective of WJ Studio, which had just begun to grow, it was more appropriate to call it an undeserved opportunity.

“What’s wrong, CEO Seo?”

“Yes?”

“I was just thinking.”

“You’re not lacking confidence, are you?”

Kyung-wan provoked Woo-jin with a meaningful expression. He was sure that Woo-jin would participate in this competition, but he also thought that it would be difficult to make a decision so easily when it came to such a big project. Seeing Woo-jin looking surprised was quite amusing for Kyung-wan.

“When is the deadline for Chunwoong Construction’s internal competition?”

“It’s not that long.”

“About two or three months?”

“No, about a month and a half.”

“It can’t be helped, even if it’s tight. The bid deadline is at the end of November. After the design comes out, we have to create perspective drawings and information booklets… the schedule is tight.”

Designing an apartment complex is a very labor-intensive task. Of course, the design that goes into selecting a construction company didn’t need to be at the level of the construction stage design, but still, a month and a half was bound to be a tight timeframe.

Kyung-wan continued, “You only need a concept design for the internal competition. After all, our design team will be working with you from the detailed design stage.”

After hearing that, Woo-jin was finally able to nod. If the detailed design part was excluded, it was a schedule that seemed possible.

‘It’s an opportunity that I don’t know when I’ll get again… there’s no option to refuse…’

Woo-jin closed his eyes for a moment and considered WJ Studio’s already scheduled internal schedule. Fortunately, there were no schedules that Woo-jin had to run around for a while, but on the other hand, the problem was that there was no one among the internal staff who could dedicate themselves to this.

‘I can’t meet the schedule with just myself, I’ll have to bring in people from the outside after all….’

For a short time, Woo-jin’s head started spinning, and the next moment, Woo-jin, who had let out a short sigh, slowly nodded to Kyung-wan.

If Chunwoong didn’t choose Woo-jin’s design, it would be a waste of valuable time and money, but it wasn’t an opportunity to give up on because he was afraid of that. That would be like being afraid of maggots and not being able to make soy sauce.

“I’ll do it.”

As soon as Woo-jin’s answer fell, a sinister smile burst out from Kyung-wan’s mouth.

“Hehehe. I knew it.”

And after seeing that, Woo-jin couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

“Hoo. You’re giving me a gift that’s almost like a bomb.”

“But you know that I’m the only one who cares about CEO Seo, right?”

“Yes, yes. I’m always grateful to you, Manager.”

“Something about CEO Seo’s expression looks dissatisfied….”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“Pfft, haha.”

Woo-jin, who had thought about the upcoming schedule, closed his eyes tightly once again. He even thought that he should have taken a semester off, as his classmates had suggested.

‘Well, if I do it, something will happen… shouldn’t I reduce my sleep by two hours?’

After giving Woo-jin a lot of anguish, Kyung-wan sat in the lobby and chatted excitedly, and returned to Chunwoong Construction almost at the end of his work hours.

Woo-jin felt a thrill of excitement mixed with nervousness. Just as he started to think about the design, his phone rang.

Whirr!

He had to stop thinking about the schedule for a moment and answer the phone.

[KBC_PD Gong Jin-young]

“Hmm? What’s wrong with PD all of a sudden?”

The caller of the suddenly received call was as important a person as making a design schedule.

[Ah, Woo-jin! How have you been?]

“Yes, PD. I’ve been well. But what’s going on…?”

Woo-jin couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed. He had recently finished the second filming of neatly, so he thought that he wouldn’t be contacted by PD Gong for a while.

[Heo, I’m disappointed. Aren’t we close enough to share a friendly phone call?]

“I don’t think you’re calling for a friendly chat, so tell me what’s up.”

[Hehe, you’re sharp.]

But Woo-jin’s embarrassment had only just begun.

[I’m calling to give you some good news.]

“Good news?”

[Yes. That’s right… the news that Woo-jin will be on TV ‘a little’ earlier than expected.]

“What…?”

Woo-jin, with a bewildered expression, reflexively asked back into the receiver. Toward him, PD Gong began to tell shocking stories.

[Originally, our first episode was in December, right?]

“Y-yes, it was.”

Woo-jin nodded, flipping through the calendar in front of him. He had just thought that it was fortunate that the first episode was after the design schedule was over, so he was able to recall the date without difficulty.

PD Gong continued. [But that date has been moved up a little. So, about 50 days.]

“What?!”

[Approximately… early October. To be exact, the first episode is scheduled for the Saturday night of the week after next.]

“W-why all of a sudden?!”

A loud voice burst out from Woo-jin’s mouth, who was very embarrassed, and PD Gong, who thought it was a happy scream, smiled and opened his mouth again.

[Hehe. The time slot is also much better than the original schedule. It’s a Sunday night at nine o’clock entertainment show.]

“No… so….”

[How is it? Are you happy? So, we have to meet right away, no later than next week. That means the fourth filming schedule has been set. No, is it the third filming for Woo-jin?]

“Why on earth….”

[The date is Wednesday. Or Friday. Woo-jin can choose the time. When should we do it?]

Woo-jin felt like the voice of PD Gong, which was heard over the receiver, was gradually fading away. In fact, it wasn’t PD Gong’s voice that had faded away, but Woo-jin’s head was turning white and paralyzed.

[Um, Woo-jin? Can’t you hear my voice? What’s wrong? Why is my cell phone suddenly like this?]

But in the end, Woo-jin had to accept this harsh reality. The arrow had already left the bowstring. Unless he gave up the design competition, Woo-jin had no choice.

“Okay, PD.”

[Oh, I can hear you!]

“That’s great.”

[Why does Woo-jin’s voice sound so weak?]

“Because I’m so happy….”

Woo-jin thought that he might completely ruin his grades in the second semester of his freshman year. In the first semester, he had achieved all A+ in major practical skills and barely reached a GPA of 4.0, but in order to handle all the schedules that were filled in the calendar now, he would have no choice but to put down some of the school assignments. The grades of the Department of Design were not structured in such a way that high grades could be achieved by doing well on the final exam.

‘Okay… as long as I don’t get academic probation. Just academic probation….’

Woo-jin sighed, thinking that his grades this semester might be similar to the eyesight of his right eye. The only consolation was that Woo-jin’s eyesight was very good.