I’d Rather Live as a Villain

Chapter 64

64 I thought you should know

30 minutes earlier, at the group’s secretarial office.

Director Roh Gyu-hyung, as if visiting his parents’ home after a long time, opened the door to the planning and strategy team’s office.

“How has everyone been?”

From noble mtl dot come

Still affiliated with the group’s secretarial office, but also serving as the executive secretary to one of Daeyoung’s subsidiary company presidents, Director Roh Gyu-hyung.

Especially since that president is a contender for the successor position at Daeyoung.

No matter how much it felt like home, for Chief Roh at the moment, an unscheduled visit to the group’s secretariat was something to be cautious about.

But he was curious.

He wondered about the new faces that had joined in the meantime, and how much the office atmosphere had changed…

And having come all this way with the president, wouldn’t it be stranger to leave without greeting anyone?

After placing two boxes of vitamin drinks he bought from the company convenience store in one corner of the office, Chief Roh warmly greeted his former colleagues.

“Wow… Chief Roh Kyu-hyung!”

Chief Roh Kyu-hyung, the only colleague from his entry year and of the same age, who had no choice but to take on the role of executive secretary to President Kang Moon-jung, thanks to Section Chief Chu Jae-young.

He started approaching Chief Roh, waving one hand enthusiastically.

Watching Section Chief Chu Jae-young, Chief Roh thought.

What if Section Chief Chu Jae-young had acted a bit more cautiously back then?

He couldn’t help but think that their positions might have been reversed by now, and with that thought, Chief Roh cheerfully raised his hand towards Section Chief Chu approaching him.

Chief Yoon Tae-sik, who could no longer perform VIP protocols due to his promotion to executive director of the trading division.

The first person chosen by Team Leader Son Jung-hyun to fill his vacancy was not Chief Roh Kyu-hyung, but Section Chief Chu Jae-young.

Could there have been anyone in the group’s secretariat who didn’t understand what it meant for the famously considerate Team Leader Son Jung-hyun to appoint the strategic planning team’s top ace as the executive secretary to then-Vice President Kang Moon-jung?

Section Chief Chu Jae-young, who had such an important position and opportunity, but messed it up when it was almost a sure thing.

Of course, it was regrettable that Team Leader Son Jung-hyun, in a hurry to handle the matter, didn’t explain the specifics properly and immediately sent him to the distribution headquarters to start the handover process.

At the very least, he should have hinted to Section Chief Chu that Chief Yoon Tae-sik was going to be promoted to executive director of the trading division.

Without knowing any of this, he told the person who would become a member of Daeyoung’s ownership, “From now on, I will take over your position, so pack up your things quickly,” as if he was delivering an order.

Even though there was no overlap in their work, and even though the other party was a parachuted transfer from the trading division, that person was still a superior from the group’s secretariat in Section Chief Chu’s eyes.

And to make matters worse, President Kang Moon-jung found out about it right away.

In the end, Section Chief Chu Jae-young, who had secured the exclusive role of executive secretary to Daeyoung’s sole legitimate successor, Kang Moon-jung, was chased back to the group’s secretariat within 30 minutes of transferring to the distribution headquarters.

At that time, the only person in the group’s secretariat qualified to take on the role of Vice President Kang Moon-jung’s executive secretary was Chief Roh Kyu-hyung.

“Smoke break?”

Chief Roh Kyu-hyung asked with a smirk, mimicking smoking, towards Section Chief Chu Jae-young.

“You still haven’t quit smoking?”

“Have you?”

“I had to. I’m serving the president.”

“Tough guy.”

“Isn’t the team leader around?”

“The big boss has called. He’s gone to Pyeongchang-dong.”

“Smoke later by yourself, let’s have a coffee now.”

Deputy Director Noh Gyu-hyung and Manager Chu Jae-young headed to the cafeteria located on the first floor of the group’s headquarters.

“Ever since you became a deputy director, your fortune seems to have brightened considerably, hasn’t it?”

After all, a guest visiting their parental home after a long time.

Manager Chu Jae-young placed the coffee he bought with his own money in front of Deputy Director Noh and sat down opposite him.

“Talking about fortune, but is it okay to leave the office empty?”

“President Kang Moon-jung’s visit to the group’s headquarters. It’s definitely about a meeting with the chairman, but it won’t last more than an hour, right? That’s manageable.”

Given the time, they were the only ones using the cafeteria, but still, Manager Chu cautiously asked after looking around.

“How’s President Kang Moon-jung doing?”

“How could she be doing well? I saw her for the first time in almost a week. But she’s such a strong person. She must be pretending to be fine, but she seems to have more energy than usual. For now, at least.”

“Manager Noh. No, Deputy Director Noh.”

“What?”

“Don’t get me wrong, but listen.”

At that, Deputy Director Noh chuckled.

“Why are you laughing?”

“When someone says ‘don’t get me wrong’ or ‘don’t take it the wrong way,’ it’s all meant for your sake. But in the end, the listener tends to take it the opposite way.”

And with that, Deputy Director Noh nodded nonchalantly.

“Still, I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

“The current atmosphere at the group’s headquarters. It’s almost like the calm before the storm.”

“The calm before the storm?”

“You can hear the sound of executives jockeying for positions beneath the surface, all the way up to our office.”

Deputy Director Noh, with his coffee cup to his lips, silently waited for Manager Chu to continue.

“It’s not just any ordinary matter. Vice President Kang Young-jin of the chemical division, it’s already going to be one year and six months in his position next month. Everyone was expecting the trend to be set for the position he would move to in two years, but then this happened.”

“So, what are you trying to say?”

“Right now, at the group’s headquarters, there’s an atmosphere of expectation that Vice President Kang Young-jin’s next position will be as the vice president of the VD division. Vice President Jeong Dae-heon is currently being mentioned as the local branch manager in Texas, USA.”

“Is the group’s headquarters’ prediction correct? Or is it just your own guess, Manager Chu with the ‘shitty foresight’?”

“What? ‘Shitty foresight’?”

If what Manager Chu says is true, and such a personnel change takes place, it would create a situation unfavorable for President Kang Moon-jung.

However, Deputy Director Noh Gyu-hyung faced Manager Chu with an air of nonchalance, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.

“I had to avoid being struck by lightning, so I took out a loan to buy a house, and now I’m paying 200 in interest every month, aren’t I?”

“Hey, Deputy Manager Roh. That hurts.”

Being the only colleague in the secretarial office, such jokes were trivial enough to be exchanged without much thought.

“I saw you get burned by that cryptocurrency investment and thought, ‘Ah, if I just do the opposite of what he does, I’ll at least avoid failing in life’… I was certain of it then. Hahaha.”

“Wow, isn’t this too spicy for a reunion after such a long time?”

“Daeyoung Electronics. There are 47 vice presidents alone. It’s not even about becoming the president, but if you’re going to wear the title of vice president and move to electronics… Well, what does that have to do with me?”

Deputy Manager Roh Jae-young said in frustration.

“After all, you got your deputy manager position while serving President Kang Moon-jung. Start setting your sights on returning to the group secretariat. Foolishly sticking to unprofitable loyalties, and if Vice President Kang Young-jin becomes the successor… You could get hurt under the pretext of being part of the group secretariat. The overall atmosphere at the group headquarters is tilting back towards Vice President Kang Young-jin.”

To that, Deputy Manager Roh Kyu-hyung replied.

“Unprofitable loyalty? So far, it’s been profitable loyalty, hasn’t it? Anyway, I got to be a deputy manager faster than others.”

“Are you just going to shut your ears to the words of concern from a colleague?”

“Hey, Manager Roh. Have you ever sincerely supported someone?”

“Do I look like someone who has the luxury to do that? As you said, because of one wrong move with the loan, I’m paying 200 a month in interest. I’m the stingiest person in the world. I’m too busy supporting myself. And even without your support, there are plenty of capable people who would risk their lives to support President Kang Moon-jung.”

No.

The person Deputy Manager Roh Kyu-hyung was supporting wasn’t President Kang Moon-jung, but Executive Director Yoon Tae-sik.

Because he was someone whose circumstances were similar to his own.

Someone who started from the bottom and climbed up to that position.

Yet, every morning on the way to work, he maintained his humility.

Always saying ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry.’

To Deputy Manager Roh Kyu-hyung, Executive Director Yoon Tae-sik had become an admired role model.

There was a time he went down to Daejeon alone with his mother.

In the car, to ease the awkwardness, he made a few light jokes, and his mother soon opened up to him, asking if her son was doing well at work, if he got along well with others, if he wasn’t working too much…

His mother’s concerns mirrored those of Deputy Manager Roh’s own mother.

The side dishes that the executive director’s mother would set aside for him.

Before he knew it, Deputy Manager Roh Kyu-hyung had emotionally invested in the life of Executive Director Yoon Tae-sik and was experiencing vicarious satisfaction.

“I may not be willing to risk my life, but I think it’s worth betting my position to continue standing by our president.”

“Who could argue with that stubbornness?”

Just then, a call from the president came to Deputy Manager Roh Kyu-hyung’s phone.

Deputy Manager Roh quickly took out his phone to answer.

“Yes, President. I’ve taken your call.”

“Let’s head to work.”

“Have you finished your story?”

“Yeah, I just stepped out.”

“I’m on the first floor right now. Will you come down to the basement level?”

“Sure, I’ll do that. Let’s meet in the parking lot.”

“Understood. I’ll head down right away.”

After ending the call with the boss, Director Roh quickly gulped down the remaining coffee and stood up from his seat.

As he was about to turn around, something seemed to strike him, and he looked down at Manager Chu, who was still seated, and said,

“By the way, Manager Chu, do you know about that?”

“What?”

“You made a big mistake in distribution against Executive Director Yoon before.”

“Hey, are you targeting me today? Why are you poking at sore spots?”

“No, it’s not about poking at sore spots; I think you should know.”

“…What?”

“Back then, Team Leader Son was going to discipline you separately, but Executive Director Yoon stopped it.”

“…!”

Manager Chu felt as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head with a baseball bat.

“It’s just like that. Isn’t it too early for us to be playing the line game with our level of experience?”

Manager Chu seemed to be in shock, unable to say a word.

“Whether you can continue your life at Daeyoung until you’re ready to play that line game is uncertain. You’re all good, but the problem is your head is too smart. Just… move as your heart leads you. Ah! Don’t get me wrong. I’m saying this for your sake. I’m off. Let’s talk later.”

* * *

Great-aunt, great-aunt…

She’s definitely no ordinary person.

The few words she casually dropped by our house last week have had me pondering their meaning all week, to the point of going gray.

Like the difference between a shining person and a sparkling person, there seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words that Mulsan will soon become Daeyoung’s top blue-chip stock.

It sounds impossible, doesn’t it?

How could she say that Mulsan will become Daeyoung’s top blue-chip stock when electronics that dominate the world are firmly in place?

She’s not one to speak empty words.

But even if Mulsan merges with distribution, by my estimate, it would only be about one-fifth the size of electronics.

Daeyoung Electronics.

Even within the positioned business divisions, there are more than the combined total of textiles, distribution, and even fire and chemical sectors.

To think that with no less than 47 vice presidents, and adding fellows and masters, we’re close to 60 executive-level personnel in this behemoth organization—could textiles really become the top-performing stock?

I’ve wanted to meet my great-aunt in person just once.

How can I arrange a meeting most naturally?

Would burning the bank account—not the one with 500 million won my wife gave me, but the one with 250 million won I’ve saved up—create a justifiable reason for a natural encounter?

In truth, for me right now, that 250 million won is an amount I could burn without a second thought for the chance to meet and connect with Vice Chairman Kang Soon-im, my great-aunt.

Should I try burning it?

Burn it and give it a proper mix?

The way my great-aunt presented herself at our house that day, it seemed like she would welcome me if I approached.

It was while harboring such thoughts that I was quietly staring at the stock chart of Uiseong Cosmo.

Knock. Knock.

Joo Dong-jin opened the office door.

“Director. Director Jang Ki-won from the China division has arrived.”

“Oh, please, come in.”

Guided by Joo Dong-jin, Director Jang Ki-won entered.

In his hand was a box of coffee capsules that looked like samples.

“Did you have a good rest over the weekend?”

“You went on a business trip to Hainan and returned yesterday, right?”