I’d Rather Live as a Villain

I’d rather live as a villain – Part 1

(I can’t let everything be taken from me)

“Then how about you marry me?”

I doubted my ears.

Daeyoung Group, the leading conglomerate in the country.

Kang Moon-jung, the sole legitimate executive of Daeyoung.

Those words came from her, the woman I serve.

“What?”

She seemed displeased with my reaction.

I know it too.

Pretending not to hear and asking again, I know how tired she gets of this conversation tactic.

It doesn’t make sense for me, her executive secretary from the group’s secretariat, not to know that much.

But that was the best reaction I could show at the moment.

As if she never had a displeased expression, she smiled again and asked.

Like luring a child with a stick of candy.

“It’s fine whether you do it or not. Now, I’m not even sure if marriage is necessary, but the thought of living alone for the rest of my life feels strangely unsettling. How about trying out that marriage with me?”

Contrary to what people know, Executive Kang Moon-jung is quite introverted.

Her demeanor in business and in non-work-related spaces is polar opposite.

In business settings, she’s flamboyant and powerful, presenting herself with energy over poise, aggression over refinement, but the moment business ends, she always wants to be alone.

I’ve never seen her meet friends outside of university alumni gatherings or the social meetings of conglomerate heirs.

And now, that executive is making expressions in front of me.

She’s doing business with me.

“You’re not one to joke, so I’m asking seriously. Are you being serious right now?”

With a nod, she answered my question, leaving me speechless.

“Did you say 10 billion earlier? Just about 10 billion would be enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life without worrying about money, doing what I want. I’ll give you that money.”

“Sir, Executive Director…”

Suddenly, I began to feel scared.

The words I had casually thrown out couldn’t have been just offhand.

He’s not someone who acts on impulse, at least not in business.

His spontaneity is all an act, a calculated performance.

How meticulous he is.

It wouldn’t be a mere joke either.

He despises meaningless pranks, especially if it’s not someone he needs to step over.

Unlike his half-brother, Vice President Kang Young-jin, Executive Director Kang Moon-jung possesses what you might call the refinement of the powerful.

That’s why I was afraid.

The words weren’t just thrown out there, nor were they a joke, which meant that whatever answer I gave, our relationship could never return to how it used to be.

I joined the conglomerate as an assistant manager, skipped the manager position to become a deputy manager in the secretariat, serving as the Executive Director’s aide until today.

The past eight years under the vast umbrella of Daeyoung flashed before my eyes like a zoetrope.

“First, 5 billion won. The remaining 5 billion will be given on the day you stamp the divorce papers. Of course, I’ll also provide generous special bonuses along the way, and I’ll support the maintenance costs for the dignity befitting my side as much as you want. But.”

Honestly, I wasn’t listening to a word.

“On the condition that Deputy Manager Yoon doesn’t create any scandals that would tarnish my reputation by your side.”

I had to ask.

“Why does it have to be me?”

“Why?”

“Yes.”

“From the world’s perspective, you, Deputy Manager Yoon, would be the most shocking choice as my marriage partner.”

Shocking, to say the least.

“And with just a little bit of storytelling, you could be the most convincing candidate.”

“Convincing?”

He nodded again and continued.

“You know the atmosphere within the group, don’t you? If I don’t attract the world’s attention like this… if I don’t try something, I’ll just watch as everything I own is taken away.”

It sounded like a candid confession, using me as a last resort.

“I need an issue. An issue that will continuously remind the shareholders and the public that I am the rightful heir of Daeyoung. For that issue to arise, it needs to be backed by credibility as strong as the issue itself. Only then will the issue gain strength and last. If, when the lid is finally lifted, there’s something worthwhile inside, and it meets expectations to some degree, then a positive image is created.”

And with that, I felt a sense of dread.

Executive Kang Moon-jung.

A remarkable person indeed, and despite the image portrayed outwardly, I knew from the start that he was an ambitious individual capable of turning those ambitions into reality. But I never anticipated it to this extent.

And with the thought of fear, a smoldering desire began to rise.

Of course, there would be much to endure.

But ten billion.

Even if one were to work themselves to death for a lifetime, they could never touch ten billion. Haven’t I been promised that sum?

No matter the disdain and ridicule, or the harsh situations that await, if I just bear it as I have done so far, endure and suppress it within, fifty billion will be mine in no time.

And if I can withstand the time she needs, another fifty billion will be added.

Isn’t it a deal worth considering?

And the additional benefits to be enjoyed.

Though it’s a contractual relationship, having the backing of Kang Moon-jung, the legitimate heir of Daeyoung, I pondered the power that would come to me within the company.

The faces of just two people I yearn to trample on came to mind.

Before I could even start to indulge in the fantasy of crushing those individuals, Executive Kang Moon-jung spoke.

“I can’t just do nothing and let Vice President Kang Young-jin take everything from me.”

Suddenly, I became curious.

The words he just uttered with his own mouth.

That he couldn’t let his own brother take everything from him.

I wonder if anyone else besides me has ever heard her true feelings directly from the Executive’s mouth?

“You know what I’m talking about, right?”

He’s a lonely person.

Even as an outsider, I can see that Executive Kang Moon-jung, the rightful heir within the Daeyoung Group, has far too few allies.

“Executive.”

“Speak comfortably.”

“I’m just a bit… out of sorts right now.”

“Of course. I understand.”

“Could you give me some time to think about it?”

To that, Executive Kang Moon-jung smiled as if it were a given, as if to say that someone like you would have no choice but to seize this opportunity.

“Of course. Business aside, marriage isn’t child’s play, is it? Take your time to think. I won’t bring up this matter until you’ve sorted out your thoughts.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

“Deputy Director Yoon is someone I absolutely need.”

Unknowingly, my eyes narrowed as I looked at the Executive Director.

“What do you mean…”

“Within Daeyoung, he’s one of the few on my side, the only one who can come to me without looking at others, whenever I need him.”

It’s true.

“I don’t want to lose such a person.”

“…”

“Even if you can’t give me the answer I want, as long as Deputy Director Yoon is okay with it, please continue to stay by my side.”

Can that really happen?

I nodded deeply once as my answer, and to that, Executive Director Kang Moon-jung told me to leave.

So, I got up from my seat, bowed once more, and left her office.

***

When deep thought is needed, I go to the public bathhouse.

Immersing myself in the hot water and zoning out, I naturally sort through what needs to be pondered, what doesn’t, and what’s beyond my control no matter how much I worry.

I headed to the local public bathhouse right after work.

I started to zone out in the hot bath.

10 billion.

The concern I needed now wasn’t whether I needed this huge sum of 10 billion, whether it was worth exchanging for my marriage… such foolish worries.

It’s an amount that could change my life.

Not an opportunity that comes to just anyone.

It’s not about committing a crime, nor making money through someone else’s tears, so what’s there to worry about?

A marriage entered with the goal of divorce?

That’s not a problem.

In today’s world, having been married once isn’t a stigma.

Nor am I someone with grand illusions or compulsions about marriage.

Perhaps, with a solid asset of 10 billion in a few years, I’ll have a wider range of choices in women than the conditions I’ve awkwardly set up now?

If even then, marriage is optional, not essential to my life, yet the thought of living alone forever without trying it once feels strangely unsettling.

Besides, if I continue to work as Executive Director Kang Moon-jung’s executive assistant as I do now, there’s absolutely no way to make time to meet women.

And the sum of 10 billion, which I’ve never actually experienced, was too attractive.

But I too needed something persuasive about this marriage.

The 10 billion won that could change my current life will undoubtedly transform my future the moment I marry Kang Moon-jung, the legitimate heir of Daeyoung.

Even after divorce, the label of Daeyoung, and the name Kang Moon-jung, will be a tag I’ll have to live with for a lifetime.

This 10 billion won is, in essence, compensation for the emotional labor I’ll have to endure from the labels of Daeyoung and Kang Moon-jung after the divorce. Will the future me resent the me of now for making such a choice?

Resentment… Resentment, huh.

If I think about it, have I ever resented my past self?

Haven’t I always been grateful?

Haven’t I always felt sorry for myself, and proud for somehow crawling up to this point from such a barren environment?

Yes.

I just have to make it that way again.

I can do it.

Absolutely.

The future me will also be thankful to the me of now who made this decision, as long as I make it happen.