I’d Rather Live as a Villain

I’d Rather Live as a Villain – Episode 35

(I won’t do something as pointless as asking someone holding a broom to sweep the yard)

In the vice president’s office of Daeyoung Chemicals.

Madam Koo Young-sook sat on the main sofa with a cold expression.

Vice President Kang Young-jin couldn’t raise his head in front of his mother.

“What are you going to do?”

“What do you mean what am I going to do? I was planning to go and fetch her myself today.”

After enduring humiliating words from his grandfather, his wife had packed her bags and left for her parents’ home, even bringing up divorce.

Of course, the divorce his wife mentioned could never become a reality.

It was just her way of expressing the humiliation and insult she felt, a protest to him.

“No, what… Did you think I knew grandfather would speak so harshly?”

Kang Young-jin knew all too well the life his mother had led since entering the Daeyoung family.

Even the insults and the looks she had endured long ago, before his memory, when she first entered the Daeyoung family with him.

That’s why his mother was always a difficult, regretful, and dear person to Kang Young-jin.

But at this moment, he felt unjustly treated.

He was anxious, feeling his position was being threatened.

“So how can you still not know even that?”

“How noisy has the world been these past few days with Moon Jung and Yoon’s husband’s story?”

“It’s noisy in your world, but how many people do you think are deeply interested in that?”

Mother is a cold person.

Only in front of one person, Moon Jung, does she act warm, but even in front of Grandfather and Father, she does not hide her cold demeanor—a strong person.

In front of such a mother, Kang Young-jin could only ever feel small.

“People of the world. They’re not as idle as you think. To them, it’s just a fleeting interest that rises and quickly fades. Nothing more, nothing less, so why do you react to it?”

“So I should just watch and do nothing?”

“Of course!”

Though it wasn’t the thunderous scolding of Grandfather, one could quickly catch the disappointment and frustration in Mother’s short and firm voice.

“You should have just watched and done nothing.”

“…”

“How many times have I told you? You just need to watch quietly.”

Unable to bear the moment, as if trying to swallow the anger he had burst out with, he continued speaking calmly, but Koo Young-sook’s chin was trembling slightly.

“You’re enough just doing that. Rather, when Moon Jung stands out, just acknowledge and praise her from the side. And when Moon Jung desperately proves her abilities, you should only draw people who can prove their abilities as much as Moon Jung around you. How many times have I told you that I will take care of the rest?”

But Kang Young-jin also had intuition.

“That was before Yoon’s husband came in. What Yoon’s husband is doing at Mulsan now? He’s doing more than Moon Jung.”

“So what changes? What can a nobody like Yoon’s husband change?”

“Mom. Times have changed from the old days. I’ve been trusting only what you said, watching as Moon Jung tries hard, believing nothing would change, but look at Hwayoung Group. There, the eldest daughter received the succession. Do you think there are only one or two places like that these days?”

Koo Young-sook barely held back her rising anger at the sight of her son, lighter than a feather, biting her lower lip tightly.

“Is Hwayoung Group a house like ours where the second son receives the succession?”

“…”

“Is Hwayoung Group a house that had complications in family affairs like ours?”

“Then how should I understand what Grandfather did to that man that day? If he really intended to give me the succession, he shouldn’t have insulted him so much that day.”

“Your grandfather might choose Moon Jung over you. Why? Because he’s always valued Daeyoung more than his children.”

As if she had known all along that Chairman Kang Ki-young might lean towards Moon Jung instead of his own son, Madam Koo Young-sook said.

“But if Grandfather makes that choice, do you think your uncles and aunts will just sit by?”

“What if they don’t sit by?”

“Your eldest uncle will be the first to come foaming at the mouth to argue. ‘Is this why we entrusted Daeyoung of the Kang family to your father?'”

“…”

“Your great uncle. It’s inevitable that he would favor Moon-jung over you. But the matter of succession is different. Dae-young, who had graciously yielded to his brother, would not stand by if the family name passed on to another household in the next generation, would he?”

“…”

“Don’t you see? If your grandfather makes such a decision, it would actually be to your advantage. You don’t have to do anything; supporters will naturally rally to your side. Go to your in-laws today and bring Yeon-hee back.”

Licking his lips, Kang Young-jin reluctantly replied.

“I was planning to, anyway.”

“And start a family right away.”

“It’s not something that happens just by wishing for it, is it?”

“If you can’t even do that when you set your mind to it, then just live comfortably with your mother. Tell Yeon-hee to stay put there.”

“…”

“Otherwise, find a lady who truly matches your heart and remarry. Your father will surely take care of the finances. If you want to live that way, say it now. It’ll be easier for your mother too.”

In the face of his mother’s icy demeanor, Kang Young-jin swallowed hard.

“It’s a shame, considering I’ve endured being treated like a nobody since moving to Pyeongchang-dong, all for the sake of making you the head of this household. But if that’s what you want, I’m prepared to live the rest of my life in peace.”

“…”

“Shall we do that? Live like that? Like your great uncle and aunts?”

***

Chairman’s office at the group’s headquarters.

Kang Moon-jung, dressed in a bright beige skirt suit for a change, visited the group’s headquarters.

Today, she wanted to be seen not as Kang Moon-jung, the Chief Operating Officer of Dae-young Distribution, but as a daughter to her father.

“What brings you here? You didn’t call, yet you want to have lunch together.”

“That’s right. I realized I’ve never asked you to have lunch together before.”

Chairman Kang Man-ho smiled outwardly while inwardly pondering his daughter’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“It makes me feel quite inadequate.”

“What does?”

“Why have I been seeking approval for company matters only from my difficult grandfather, instead of from you, who’s right here in this comfortable place?”

Chairman Kang Man-ho felt he knew the reason behind his daughter’s actions.

She needs something.

And that’s what he couldn’t understand.

She had never sought him out for company matters before, never asked if he was free to meet.

“Yesterday, Mr. Yoon told me. At the breakfast table in Pyeongchang-dong, he asked if I knew how lonely you were.”

Upon hearing those words, Chairman Kang Man-ho narrowed his eyes, pondering the meaning behind the words his son-in-law had said to his daughter.

“Having lived in Pyeongchang-dong for just over three years as a personal assistant by my side, she said every morning her ears were always open to grandfather’s words, and her eyes were always watching dad.”

“Yoon, the son-in-law?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“He said he couldn’t understand. Why my brother and I would report directly to grandfather about all company matters without going through dad, and receive evaluations on the spot. Why, regarding the reports we make to grandfather, dad always seems to hear them for the first time there. It didn’t make sense to him. But after hearing that, it seems right.”

Chairman Kang Man-ho let out a light laugh and crossed his legs.

Watching her father, Kang Moon-jung thought to herself,

Yoon Tae-sik.

The more you see, the more you experience, the more astonishing facets you reveal.

Such keen insight.

But there’s something you don’t know.

People call me ‘Little Kang Ki-young,’ don’t they?

Nonsense.

I resemble dad, not grandfather.

I’ve never once imitated grandfather.

My role model as a businessperson has always been dad.

If grandfather created today’s Daeyoung, then it was dad who crafted grandfather’s image.

There’s no one in our family who doesn’t recognize dad.

How could they not?

He was unanimously named the successor in the competition with my great uncle.

It was dad who set up the system for grandfather to monitor all Daeyoung’s subsidiaries in real-time from this chairman’s office, who became grandfather’s eyes, ears, and mouth, running around the subsidiaries to make them roll as grandfather wished, ultimately building the Daeyoung Republic in this country called Korea.

Of course, there was a sharp point in your criticism.

Regarding company matters, it should have been through dad, the chairman, not grandfather.

“Did Yoon, the son-in-law, say that?”

“Yes. So, he said that from now on, even if dad talks to grandfather separately, it would be right for me to ask dad about company matters and get permission.”

Hearing this, Chairman Kang Man-ho swallowed his laughter.

After mom passed away, the kid who always wore thick armor is now grown up, imitating a seasoned businessman.

Quite convincing.

Taking this chance to subtly do some PR for her husband to dad.

She has grown up so much.

That was the thought of Kang Man-ho, the chairman of Daeyoung Group, as he looked at his daughter, and an involuntary laugh escaped him as he thought of his son-in-law, whose face was being gilded.

He was proud that she could see through such things.

Naturally, he found himself comparing her to his son and daughter-in-law, who had visited the family home in Pyeongchang-dong a few days ago.

“So, did you come to ask your dad about work and get permission? Let’s hear it.”

“You know about Draup?”

“What about it? Trouble again?”

“They’re planning to pull out of the airport duty-free shops now.”

It must be a brand he’s quite fond of.

Chairman Kang Man-ho was curious about the brand his daughter was struggling with in the department store business, yet couldn’t let go of.

He had taught his daughter to be proud rather than persistent, because she was not his son.

And he was confident that his daughter’s pride was the best in Korea.

That’s why he had no choice but to acknowledge the son-in-law who had captured that pride.

Because of just one jewelry brand, she, who had never come to his office on her own before being called, had now come all the way to his office.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

“I might have to knock down that pride a bit.”

“You’re going to keep holding onto a brand that’s caused so much trouble?”

“If we’re going to pull out, we should be the ones to do it. But it’s a brand that’s too good to let go of. I must have treated it too well. I never intended to be seen that way, but they’ve come to see Daeyoung like that.”

Chairman Kang Man-ho was curious.

Whether his daughter could indeed knock down the brand’s pride, as she had said.

What she would ask of him to try to knock down that pride.

“That won’t do. We can’t look foolish, even if we’re in the red. No matter who the opponent is. What do you need?”

“I need help from Daeyoung Planning.”

“Planning? Then you should talk directly to President Kim there, why come to me?”

“You know how it is with President Kim. We’re uncomfortable with each other.”

“So you’re going through your dad to get to President Kim?”

“No. I’m going to try to get closer to President Kim from now on. I came to ask you to arrange a meeting. I thought it might speed up the process if you were involved.”

In the end, Chairman Kang Man-ho couldn’t help but laugh in front of his daughter.

President Kim Daeyoon of Planning.

A person close to Youngjin.

Would you like to get close to such a character?

A son, slyly hiding his ambition for succession.

In contrast, a daughter who openly displays that ambition.

“I’ve thought about why Draup keeps causing disturbances on our side. Ultimately, they want something from us, that thing they desire…”

It was when Kang Moon-jung was about to explain her thoughts on Draup’s position.

Chairman Kang Man-ho raised a hand, cutting off his daughter’s explanation.

“The seat you’re sitting in now is one of responsibility, not one for giving explanations and seeking permission.”

Kang Moon-jung instinctively straightened her posture, her eyes momentarily void of emotion as she faced her father’s businesslike demeanor.

“I don’t tell someone holding a broom to sweep the yard. If you’ve picked up a broom, it means you’ve seen something that needs to be swept. Finish the sweeping you’re so eager to try, and then I’ll give you the inspection.”

With that, Chairman Kang Man-ho immediately took out his phone and made a call.

“Ah, President Kim. Do you have a prior engagement for lunch today? If not, let’s have it together. Oh, no, no. It’s not that I have something particular to discuss, but rather someone to introduce to you. No, you know this person too. Then, let’s meet at the Daeyoung Hotel Sogong-dong branch by 12 o’clock. Alright, got it. See you later.”