I’d Rather Live as a Villain

69 Today, I must be bold.

“The appointment of the vice president will smoothly pass in the direction of being settled within the electronic board.”

Daeyoung Chemical Vice President’s Office.

Kang Youngjin was ambivalent.

Should he be happy about this now, or should he feel regret…

He had expected to enter the electronic board with a position around the level of Director of Business Support (President).

Of course, for such a position, the approval and support of his father, the group chairman, were absolutely necessary.

Although it was slow to climb the ladder in the traditional way, there was no doubt it was the safest path.

He should continue to produce meaningful results and maintain the position of vice president of the chemical division for about another year, then naturally move to the group headquarters or the electronics side. However, now was the time for Kang Youngjin himself to throw a game-changing move.

Kang Youngjin sat in the main seat of the vice president’s office.

And Nam Geunwoo, the president of Daeyoung Chemical, who had been effectively serving as Kang Youngjin’s right-hand man for the past two years, came directly to the vice president’s office instead of his own and sat on the meeting sofa, turning his body towards the main seat.

Kang Youngjin showed a lukewarm response to President Nam Geunwoo’s words.

“There are 47 vice presidents in electronics alone. It has to be sorted out within the board, of course.”

Indeed.

For Kang Youngjin, the position of vice president of the electronics VD division was essentially to solidify the tide of the succession competition flowing back in his favor, not that the position itself was attractive.

Nevertheless, a vulnerable, perhaps even decisive, weakness of his younger sister and her husband had been exposed.

Bat-like people were once again flocking towards him with their embarrassing flapping, and even such bat-like people had to be embraced to the maximum so that they could lend their strength when it really mattered.

That’s why he was entering electronics.

“How about arranging a personal meeting with Kang Cheoljin, the owner of the Monsters club, before the founding anniversary event?”

At President Nam Geun-woo’s suggestion, Kang Young-jin’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

Brother Cheol-jin…

He is, of course, someone who must be drawn to his side eventually.

Justification.

In this damned succession battle, there’s so much to take care of, nothing can be neglected, but among those, justification is especially something that needs careful attention.

It’s absolutely essential.

Based on Grandfather, the eldest grandson of the Kang family is, without a doubt, the eldest son of the great uncle, Kang Cheol-jin.

After shaking his head briefly, Kang Young-jin said,

“That brother needs everything set up before meeting him, so it’s easier to talk. Not now.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to establish a relationship with Club Owner Kang Cheol-jin now, before the founding anniversary event? It would look good to others too, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s something you don’t understand, President.”

Kang Young-jin, confident that he was several steps ahead of President Nam Geun-woo in political savvy, continued,

“Becoming the Vice President of Electronics is something we’ve calculated amongst ourselves, it’s confirmed, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“But to establish a relationship with that brother before that? Even for a scene that will briefly show during the founding anniversary event? If we do that, from his perspective, he might later delude himself into thinking he played some role when I enter Electronics.”

Taking a short breath, President Nam Geun-woo nodded.

“Once I move up to Electronics, that brother won’t have any other choice. Loyalty is something you can keep only when your belly is full. It’s not like his family and ours are on such good terms that he’d risk his own livelihood for it. Why do you think he’s been on Moon-jung’s side all this time?”

Kang Young-jin knew the reason all too well.

The first thing he learned as soon as he started living in Pyeongchang-dong was how to read the room.

To survive, to avoid hatred, to not be called an outsider brought into the family…

“Creating noise.”

“Noise?”

“His father is the eldest son of the family. Ultimately, he’s the eldest grandson. When Grandfather passes away, they’ll have to hold the ancestral rites at their house. That Grandfather. He excluded his daughters from succession because they’re women, and he cut off the eldest son cleanly for causing an indelible stain on the company’s image due to a woman issue. But let Moon-jung try to take over the succession. Then contradictions to Grandfather’s decisions will pour out. Ultimately, what that brother wants is this, this.”

Kang Young-jin curled one corner of his mouth and made a gesture with his thumb and forefinger to signify money.

“How can he make sure more crumbs fall to his family’s side in this succession battle… That’s all he’s thinking about.”

“But Club Owner Kang Cheol-jin is also important publicly…”

“That’s what I’m saying. I know. He’s someone I absolutely need. But not now. The contact with that brother should start slowly once I’m up in Electronics. If I contact him now, there needs to be a reason for the meeting, but if I do it then, just having a meal together is reason enough.”

A sip of coffee.

Then Kang Young-jin spoke again.

“And at that founding anniversary event, that brother, who’s just holding the club owner position, won’t stand out much. Right? More than that, it’s President Kim Dae-yoon of Planning. How about you try to arrange a meeting with President Kim?”

Vice President Kang Young-jin is most upset with President Kim Dae-yoon of Daeyoung Planning, isn’t it something President Nam Geun-woo would know?

For the first time, President Kang Moon-jung of Distribution executed an advertisement related to Daeyoung Distribution’s department stores and duty-free shops, and it was produced by none other than Daeyoung Planning.

Moreover, it wasn’t Distribution who proposed first but won the advertisement through an open bidding with several agencies.

Even the advertisement received feedback from the group’s headquarters that it greatly helped not only Distribution but the entire group’s image.

“Anyway, since we’ve become closer through my aunt, I understand if there are hard feelings, and I’ll try to go along as much as possible.”

“Then I’ll arrange a meeting.”

“Let’s have dinner together. Rather than me contacting directly to set up a meeting, it’s better to consider President Kim’s judgment to see if it’s a suitable occasion.”

“Understood.”

* * *

The evening two days before the founding anniversary of Daeyoung Group.

Strictly speaking, the day Daeyoung Industries, the original company that made today’s Daeyoung Group possible, was founded 74 years ago, is considered the founding anniversary of the current Daeyoung Group.

That’s why people often get confused about it.

Why on the group’s founding anniversary, the president of Daeyoung Trading, not Electronics, the group’s top business division, declares the opening ceremony, and the event proceeds with the history of Trading, which is 14 years longer than the actual history of the group.

It was the evening two days before such a founding anniversary of Daeyoung Group.

In a special room of a high-end Korean restaurant where every table was already set.

Vice President Kang Young-jin was leisurely waiting for his counterpart, looking at his phone.

He had arrived 20 minutes before the scheduled time on purpose, and the person he was supposed to meet hadn’t arrived yet, but the meal was prepared in advance.

Yet, he didn’t even glance at the fully set table and was only checking the stock chart of Daeyoung Trading on his phone.

Rustle…

The sliding door, covered with paper on wooden frames, opened, and President Kim Dae-yoon of Daeyoung Planning entered, guided by an attendant.

Kang Young-jin quickly put down the phone he was looking at onto the table where the setting was finished and stood up.

President Kim Dae-yoon of Planning felt only burdened by the sight of Vice President Kang Young-jin of Chemicals.

“Have you arrived?”

“I hurried to arrive first, but you’re already here.”

Kang Young-jin began to pressure his counterpart with his characteristic smile.

“Of course. I’m the one who arranged to meet first, so naturally, I should wait.”

The table setting was complete, even with the hot pot ready.

Yet, he hadn’t touched anything and seemed to have been waiting for him to arrive.

President Kim Dae-yoon, hiding his discomfort, took the hand that Kang Young-jin extended.

“It seems it’s been almost five months, hasn’t it?”

They sat facing each other.

As Kang Young-jin lifted the soju kettle in front of President Kim Dae-yoon, he said,

To which President Kim Dae-yoon, slightly lifting himself from his seat, extended a soju glass towards Kang Young-jin, who was nearly twenty years his junior.

“Ah, don’t bother.”

But Kang Young-jin quickly waved his hand, signaling for him to sit and receive the drink comfortably, showcasing his magnanimity.

“Why do that? I’d have to stand up too. Just take it easy, take it easy.”

After filling each other’s glasses, they exchanged a brief conversation with their eyes amidst a moment of silence.

“Is this the first time we’ve met since we went out for that round?”

“…Yes.”

“How have you been since then? I’ve been quite busy. It’s been hectic. My wife got pregnant, and work has been demanding. I’m sorry. I should have reached out more often to check on you…”

President Kim Dae-yoon felt like he was caught in a trap.

The thought that he had been so blatantly distancing himself all this time made the atmosphere feel unbearably tight.

“No, it’s my fault. I should have been more attentive…”

From noble mtl dot come

“Oh, about the distribution side advertisement.”

Was this what he had been anticipating?

President Kim Dae-yoon sighed just enough not to be noticed and looked at Vice President Kang Young-jin with as much confidence as he could muster.

“Yes.”

“It was very impressive. I was envious the moment I saw that advertisement.”

“Envious?”

“Of course. Does our chemical division make TV commercials like distribution does? Among the Daeyoung affiliates, only electronics, distribution, fire insurance, and card services make TV ads. Just those four.”

At this, President Kim Dae-yoon could not respond and simply poured the contents of his glass into his mouth, matching the level shown by Kang Young-jin.

“I think I’ll be moving up to electronics soon.”

“The reason we took on the distribution advertisement was…”

Kang Young-jin maintained an indifferent expression and smiled faintly.

Then he said,

“Where’s the reason? It’s the first half of the year’s distribution advertisement. A 20 billion won billing, naturally, you should take it if you can.”

President Kim Dae-yoon had to close his mouth powerlessly in front of Kang Young-jin, who cut off his words abruptly.

“And personally, I’ve come to see the talent of our Daeyoung Planning again. It’s needless to say that the skill is outstanding, but when we shoot our own ads, doesn’t the authenticity just shine through?”

Once again filling President Kim Dae-yoon’s glass, Kang Young-jin said,

“From now on, I intend to entrust all the electronic display advertisements to Daeyoung Planning without exception.”

Kim Daeyoon, the president, couldn’t possibly be unaware of what that meant.

“I plan to do so, but what are your thoughts, President?”

“If there has been any disappointment, I will apologize.”

“No, no.”

With his hands dramatically sweeping in front of his chest, Kang Youngjin spoke.

“I believe it’s due to my lack of ability that has caused you concern. Therefore, I intend to conduct myself in a way that will prevent any worries in the future.”

“……”

“When shall we go for a round of golf together? The weather is perfect for it these days.”

“I will arrange for a round as soon as possible.”

“Let’s have a meal.”

* * *

Today is the day of the group’s founding anniversary event.

My wife and I have been quite preoccupied for the past few days preparing the outfits, shoes, and hairstyles to wear for today’s event.

A gathering of executives from all subsidiaries.

Especially since it’s my first time attending.

Moreover, it’s the first time my wife will make a public appearance at an official group event since that painful incident.

We wanted to attend with a strong and confident presence.

“Go ahead and help the group’s secretarial team with the event preparations. Once most people have arrived, give me a call.”

My wife sent Deputy Director Roh Gyuhyeong to the venue first.

That was the instruction I had given.

At today’s event, it was crucial for my wife and me to show the executives from all subsidiaries that we were unphased and confident, but at the same time, it was paramount to definitively conclude the identification of friend or foe.

Those who had hastily withdrawn their support for us immediately after the incident.

Those who had outright sided with Vice President Kang Youngjin, bolstering his position.

An opportunity to confirm the definitive stance of such individuals, a chance to properly identify allies and adversaries.

While my wife attributed more significance to it, frankly, I saw this year’s group founding anniversary event as just that.

Soon, a call came to my wife from Deputy Director Roh Gyuhyeong, who had entered the venue earlier.

“Oh, okay, got it. I’m heading in now.”

After ending the call with Deputy Director Roh.

“Everyone’s taken their seats. Let’s go in now.”

Walking through the underground parking lot with my wife, I said.

“Grand dreams always come with great risks, and it’s quite difficult to be bold when you’re concerned about those risks,” my grandfather used to say. Do you remember?”

“Today, I need to be bold.”

I smiled, realizing that my wife also harbored the same determination as I did.

Elevator corridor.

Despite being the corridor connected to the underground parking lot, event staff had set up tables and were distributing name cards.

It seemed like a lot of effort was being made because people were coming from both the first floor and the underground parking lot to the event on the fifth floor.

An event staff member quickly found the name cards with my and my wife’s names and handed them to us.

My wife and I hung the cards around our necks.

Then, in front of all the event staff, I joked with my wife.

“Shall we go in, Madam President?”

“Shall we, Executive Director Yoon?”

With that, my wife and I exchanged pleasant smiles and entered the elevator that the staff had opened for us.