Vicente Palace
I returned to the Philippines. The heavy, sweltering air of the islands felt familiar now.
The moment I stepped into the office, Sandro greeted me.
"You're back, Boss?"
"Yeah. Sorry for leaving you with all the heavy lifting while I was gone."
"Heavy lifting? Please. It's just the usual daily grind. Besides, the system is so well-established now that it's a breeze. It's not like we're out there running around on the ground ourselves."
"Still, there's always a mountain of details to keep track of. If you leave people to their own devices, they're bound to screw up."
"Heh, true enough. They sure love causing trouble."
"Did anything happen while I was away?"
"Actually, yeah."
"Really? What? Something big?"
"Oh, huge."
Sandro stood up from his chair.
"Let's go. Time to clean up the mess."
The place we arrived at was Vicente Palace—the five-star resort Sandro had mentioned wanting to buy.
"I finalized the contract," Sandro said.
"Wait, really? Incredible job. It couldn't have been easy."
"Of course it wasn't. But who do you think you're talking to? I'm Sandro. The moment I slid the contract across the table, the guy signed it right then and there."
I briefly wondered if Sandro had slid a handgun across the table alongside the contract, but I decided it was best not to ask.
Looking at the resort knowing it was actually mine changed my entire perspective. Sure, the Philippines—and Bohol in particular—was practically crawling with resorts, but this was the only one that belonged to me. Just like how a city can be packed with countless houses, yet your own home always feels uniquely special. This resort was special.
"Thank you so much, Sandro. I absolutely love it."
"You know what else?"
"What?"
"See that resort under construction next door?"
He pointed to the property adjacent to Vicente Palace. It was a massive development, nearly twice the size of our newly acquired resort.
Construction had been progressing rapidly for a while, but at some point, it had ground to a sudden halt. Honestly, it had been a bit of an eyesore for us. Guests want to look out their windows and see breathtaking natural landscapes, not a messy, half-finished construction site.
If there were an active construction schedule, we could at least tolerate it knowing there was an end in sight. But a project abandoned halfway through like this was a real headache.
"Yeah. Hasn't that construction been frozen for a while now?"
"Quite a while. Turns out the previous owner of Vicente Palace was building that one too. The second he saw me, he practically fell to his knees, begging me to buy that property off his hands as well."
"And?"
"I told him absolutely not. It's not even finished. Trying to resume construction on a half-built structure is barely any cheaper than starting from scratch. So I told him I wasn't interested."
"Ah, I see."
I didn't understand why I felt a sudden pang of regret, considering I hadn't even planned on buying it. I knew Sandro had made the right call, but a part of me still felt it was a waste. If we bought that, it would require an astronomical amount of capital and endless headaches. The scale was simply too massive for us. That unfinished resort had to be sour grapes—something I shouldn't even dream of touching.
"So," Sandro continued, "I told him that if he excluded the building and just sold us the land, I might consider it."
"Wait... what?!"
"Why the shock? I bought the land. Just the land."
"For real?"
"Technically, we should have charged him for the demolition costs... but hey, we're doing business in the Philippines, so we can't be too ruthless. I negotiated it down and bought it for just the value of the land. He wanted forty million pesos—about one billion won—which made me hesitate for a second, but I figured it was a fair price to pay."
A fair price? That's an absolute steal! We had just acquired the massive plot of land directly adjacent to our resort. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I threw my arms around Sandro in a tight hug.
"Thank you, Sandro. This is an incredible deal."
"Alex. I am currently experiencing extreme discomfort. I don't make a habit of hugging sweaty, broad-shouldered men. If you could take one step—actually, make it two steps—backward, I think my mood would improve significantly. Think you can manage that?"
"Sure, whatever you say," I replied, but I didn't let go. Instead, I squeezed him even tighter. That was how ecstatic I was.
This is going to cost a fortune.
My initial wave of excitement quickly evaporated as we began touring the properties. Vicente Palace had looked pristine from a distance, but a closer inspection revealed a laundry list of things that needed immediate repair.
It was like a new relationship. Before you start dating, everything seems perfect, but once you're together, the flaws start creeping in. Suddenly, you can only see the imperfections. This resort was no different. Now that the contract was signed, its shortcomings stood out like sore thumbs. But isn't true love about embracing those flaws? I decided to shower this resort with love. Or, to be more precise, I decided to shower it with money.
The bigger issue was the nameless, half-built resort on the newly acquired land. That place was going to be a bottomless money pit. The only silver lining was that we could design it entirely from scratch, tailoring it to our exact tastes and vision. I had to find solace in that.
Fortunately, I knew the perfect person for the job.
"You mean... here?" Kang Jae-ho gasped, staring at the resort in sheer disbelief.
"It's this massive? There have to be over seventy guest rooms here!"
"I... I don't think I can do this. The scale is just too overwhelming."
"I've never handled a project of this magnitude before. Plus, the construction and regulatory systems in the Philippines are completely different from Korea. It's too much."
"I'm incredibly grateful that you'd offer me such an amazing opportunity, but this is far beyond my capabilities. I'm sorry."
Kang Jae-ho repeatedly declined, insisting the project was too big for him to handle. Yet, despite his protests, his eyes kept drifting back to the concrete skeleton of the unfinished building. He stared at it with a lingering, wistful gaze, scanning the surroundings as if his mind were already spinning with design concepts that would fit the landscape.
"I understand your concerns, Mr. Kang," I said smoothly. "But since you've already made the trip to the Philippines, you should at least enjoy yourself. Let me know if you need anything."
"No, not at all. You've already treated me far better than I deserve."
"Then get some rest. How about we go on a tour tomorrow?"
"A tour?"
"Yes. You can't fly all the way to the Philippines and spend the whole time cooped up in a resort. Our company runs an exclusive tour that nobody else has access to. Let's check it out tomorrow."
"Alright. I'd like that."
Why had Kang Jae-ho popped into my head the moment I saw that concrete skeleton?
Sure, he had done a phenomenal job renovating the third floor of Candy Tour's Seoul office, but there was an inexplicable gut feeling beyond that. I just had an intuitive sense that if Mr. Kang took this on, he would create something truly spectacular. So, I had simply called him up. I told him I had something to discuss and show him, and invited him to come over, relax, and do some sightseeing. I even offered to cover his daily wages for the days he'd miss work back home just to get him on a plane.
The moment he arrived, I showed him the resort. I told him I had bought this concrete skeleton, and that it was time to dress it up and put some makeup on it—and who better to do that than him? I asked for his help.
Though Mr. Kang kept refusing, I noticed his hands. They were twitching restlessly, tracing invisible lines in the air. It was the hand of a creator itching to draw.
"You're up early," I greeted him the next morning.
"Yes. I had trouble sleeping."
"Why? Was the room uncomfortable? Ah, you should have told me. I'll have it changed immediately."
"No, no, the room was absolutely wonderful. I just... had a lot on my mind."
"Is that so? Well, if anything bothers you, just let me know."
"Thank you, I appreciate the thought. The resort is truly beautiful."
"The resort you're staying in right now is the one we just bought, along with the unfinished building next door. If any ideas pop into your head during your stay, would you mind sharing them with me?"
"Ah, of course. If anything comes to mind, I'll let you know right away."
As I drove, I politely asked for his understanding. "I'm sorry, but I have a quick errand to run at a hotel nearby. Do you mind if we make a brief stop?"
"Not at all. Take all the time you need."
I proceeded to make casual stops at three of the most beautifully designed hotels and resorts in Bohol. I made up all sorts of excuses: I need to pick up some documents here. I have to meet someone to grab something. The coffee here is fantastic, let's grab a cup before we head out. None of it was urgent, and none of it actually required my personal attention. I simply wanted to show those hotels to Kang Jae-ho.
"And finally, that's our office over there," I said, pointing toward the Candy Tour branch.
This person is strange.
They had only met once before, and even then, it was merely as the outgoing and incoming tenants of a commercial space. When Alex had offered to buy his old office fixtures for five million won during the lease transfer, Jae-ho had been incredibly grateful. He had been terrified that the landlord would demand he restore the interior to its original, bare state. Instead, Alex had offered to keep the interior exactly as it was, use the fixtures, and hand over five million won on top of it. A secondhand furniture dealer had only offered a measly one million won for the entire lot, leaving Jae-ho in a bind. To Kang Jae-ho, Alex was a savior.
Jae-ho had started out as a basic construction laborer. He began as a carpenter, picking up electrical work and tiling over the shoulders of veteran tradesmen. He genuinely loved working on-site. But as he gained experience in interior construction, he began to see better, more efficient ways of doing things. When he shared his ideas with his coworkers, they nodded in agreement and gave him thumbs-up, praising his ingenuity. Yet, his ideas were never actually implemented. No client was willing to listen to the suggestions of a high school dropout manual laborer. It was deeply frustrating. No matter how much he analyzed it, his methods were objectively superior—more efficient, more structurally sound, and far more aesthetically pleasing. But the clients simply ignored him.
Driven by sheer frustration, he enrolled in college. He worked manual labor by day and studied by night. Armed with a systematic education combined with years of raw, hands-on field experience, brilliant ideas began to pour out of him. He racked up various professional certifications. Upon graduation, he poured every single penny of his savings into opening his own interior design firm. His former colleagues promised to help, telling him to trust them and that they would actively promote his business. But the clients never came. The few contracts he did land were pity jobs passed down through loose acquaintances. To keep the office afloat, he had to keep taking manual labor shifts on other sites. He had to survive. Yet, the more he worked on other people's projects, the wider the chasm in his soul grew. This isn't how it should be done. If I did it my way, I could make this look so much better. But the blueprints were already finalized, and he had no authority to alter them. He endured this torture for two years before finally throwing in the towel. He closed the firm and resigned himself to being just another highly skilled laborer.
And then, out of nowhere, this young man had called him to design the third floor of his office. Now, he was asking him to design a massive luxury resort. Is this kid insane? Stop doing this to me... You're making me want to do it so badly I could die! To make matters worse, Alex had spent the entire morning driving him from one stunning hotel to another. And why on earth were these hotels so breathtakingly beautiful? Unable to contain his excitement, Jae-ho had pulled out his phone and snapped photos of everything. There were endless details to use as reference.
When they finally arrived at the Candy Tour office, a massive, winding queue of people stretched down the street.
"Mr. Alex, is that the line for the tour?"
"Oh, no," Alex chuckled. "Those are people waiting in case there are any last-minute cancellations. The actual tour bookings sold out ages ago."
"Are there usually a lot of cancellations?"
"Almost never. People fought tooth and nail to get those tickets."
"Then why are they waiting?"
"Just in case. Once the tour boats set off, their chance is gone for the day. So they cling to the hope that someone might drop out at the last second. Come on, let's head out."
Jae-ho set off on the tour with the young CEO, who insisted on being called Alex. Wherever they went, locals and staff alike rushed over to greet Alex, bowing respectfully and trying to strike up friendly conversations. It was obvious they were desperate to stay on his good side. Is he actually someone incredibly powerful? He looks way too young for that...
"This is Emerald Canyon, our exclusive tour destination," Alex explained as they walked. "That massive line you saw this morning? Every single one of those people was hoping to get a spot here and at Lumina Lake, which we'll visit later. Since we hold the exclusive rights, nobody else can enter. I thought the place was so beautiful I just went ahead and bought it."
Alex led the way, with Kang Jae-ho following close behind. Armed guards stood watch at the entrance. And the moment they stepped through, the view that unfolded before Jae-ho's eyes made his mind grind to a complete halt.
Is this place even real? Have I slipped through a rift in time and space? In an instant, he understood exactly why those tourists were willing to stand in line for hours on the off chance of getting in. He whipped out his phone and began snapping photos like a man possessed.
"The scenery changes a bit as we head further down. Shall we?"
They walked through the completely deserted Emerald Canyon. They boarded a small boat, gliding across the pristine, emerald-colored river that snaked between the towering limestone cliffs. Without a doubt, it was the most breathtaking experience of Kang Jae-ho's life.
Inspiration struck him like a physical blow. I can use Emerald Canyon as the core motif for the resort's design! He could design the exterior to flow seamlessly into the ocean, creating a unified aesthetic that tied the new property together with Vicente Palace next door. The signature color would be a deep, mesmerizing emerald—evoking a sense of refreshing coolness, mystery, and absolute luxury. The hotels he had toured that morning suddenly clicked into place as perfect references. A vivid, complete image crystallized in his mind. He felt an overwhelming, almost frantic urge to put pen to paper. The moment they left Emerald Canyon and got back into the car, Jae-ho whipped out his tablet and began sketching rough designs. He knew he would never forget this vision, but capturing it immediately was a necessity.
Then came the overnight camping trip at Lumina Lake. By the end of it, Kang Jae-ho's soul had been completely captivated.
On the drive back to the hotel the following day, Kang Jae-ho finally summoned his courage.
"Mr. Alex. About what you mentioned yesterday..."
"Yes?"
"The resort interior design project."
"Ah, yes."
"I know I'm lacking in many ways... but would you allow me to take it on?"
"Hahaha! Of course! That's exactly what I was hoping for."
"Then... I will pour my absolute heart and soul into this project."
"I'm looking forward to working with you."
The message was from La Fei, the head of the Golden Lotus (Geumryeon-bang) triad in Macau. She was complaining that I hadn't visited in far too long and that she felt neglected.
It was true that my trips to Macau had become much less frequent lately. The volume of drugs I delivered per trip had increased significantly. Since they had no idea how I managed to transport the contraband, they had initially been very cautious. Normally, the larger the shipment, the higher the risk of getting caught. That was why they had originally requested frequent, smaller deliveries. However, growing wary of my highly suspicious, frequent travel patterns, I had suggested increasing the shipment size instead. To my surprise, they had welcomed the idea with open arms. Consequently, my monthly deliveries had stretched to once every three to five months.
But that was just a convenient excuse. I had entirely different reasons for avoiding the Golden Lotus.
First, I wanted to minimize the number of people who saw me making the deliveries. While I had been forced to meet La Fei face-to-face during our very first transaction, there was no reason to keep showing my face. Though she constantly invited me to come hang out, I had absolutely no desire to do so. I wanted our relationship to remain strictly transactional—I deliver, they receive. That was more than enough.
Second, Marian was there. That made things incredibly awkward. I had no idea what I would even say to her if we met, let alone how I should act. In the end, I chose avoidance.
I typed out the noncommittal reply, my hesitation bleeding through the screen.