I’d Rather Live as a Villain

“I’d Rather Live as a Villain – Episode 33”

(You, yes you, isn’t it?)

-The first playoff game of the season between Daeyoung Monsters and Giants! Oh, this is unexpected. That person is…

-Yes, it’s Yoon Tae-sik, the head of Daeyoung Corporation, getting ready for the first pitch. As caster Jang Jun-hyun said, quite surprising.

In the living room of Pyeongchang-dong.

Chairman Kang Ki-young and Chairman Kang Man-ho were seated on the sofa, waiting for the broadcast of the Monsters’ first playoff game of the season.

-From the Giants fans’ perspective, it must be a bit disappointing, haha. We’re more accustomed to seeing him in a Giants uniform, watching the game, but ah… today, he’s wearing a Monsters uniform, not in the stands but on the mound.

Until then, there was no particular change in expression on the faces of Chairman Kang Ki-young and Chairman Kang Man-ho.

But then…

-Oh, wait a minute, what’s this? Hahaha…

-Hahaha. He’s prepared quite an entertaining performance.

On the mound, Yoon Tae-sik tapped the ground with his spikes, suddenly took off the glove he was wearing, placed it on the ground, and began to strip off the Monsters’ baseball jacket.

At that moment, Chairman Kang Man-ho was startled.

Because his father, sitting right next to him, burst into a hearty laugh, even making a scraping sound from his throat.

“Ha ha ha ha ha… That guy, that thing… Ha ha ha ha…”

He burst into genuine laughter at the performance created by his grandson-in-law, clapping continuously.

“Ah, Yoon, that guy, he’s really something. Oh my, ha ha ha…”

Chairman Kang Man-ho himself found his son-in-law’s outfit just as funny.

But more than the humor of the situation, he pondered whether his father had ever laughed so freely and openly in recent years.

The son-in-law, with a face like a shield, began to take a pitcher’s stance with cheeky confidence.

Though he was watching through the TV, Chairman Kang Man-ho could vividly imagine the expression and determination his son-in-law had while standing there.

Then came the ceremonial first pitch!

The ball was far from the strike zone, but the catcher grabbed it and forcefully pulled it into the strike zone. Despite the slow pitch and the catcher’s fake motion, the Giants’ leadoff hitter responded with a swing and a miss.

The pitcher, expressing his gratitude to the batter, received a heartfelt salute from the batter, who showed sincere support for the Giants, tipping his helmet in thanks.

“Striiiike!”

As soon as the umpire called the unbelievable pitch a strike, the camera panned to Kang Moon-jung in the skybox, waving a lightstick while wearing a real Monsters uniform.

Neither the father’s nor the daughter’s smiles showed any sign of fading.

Chairman Kang Man-ho felt a newfound respect and gratitude for the son-in-law who had brought such a bright smile to his daughter, who usually seemed to be clad in armor.

On TV, Yoon Tae-sik, having just thrown the first pitch, bowed to the Monsters and Giants fans in turn before trotting off the mound.

The commentator continued.

“This may be one of the most memorable first pitches in the history of professional baseball in Korea.”

“Yes, indeed. Regardless of the outcome for any particular team, it seems like a wonderful first pitch that conveyed a heartfelt support for both teams and provided joy to all fans of Korean professional baseball.”

Chairman Kang Ki-young, with a pleased expression fixed on his face, said after a hearty laugh.

“I’ve been watching Yoon quietly these past few months…”

“Yes, Father.”

“He knows how to be loved, our Yoon.”

“…”

“It’s not easy for a woman to run a tough restaurant business alone, raising a child so confidently and uprightly. Seeing how she raised him all by herself, I thought she must be quite a remarkable person.”

Chairman Kang Man-ho was not unaware that he was giving the highest praise he could.

“Yes, I felt it from the first time we met.”

The live playoff game being broadcasted no longer held much significance for the two of them.

With just one performance of the first pitch by the son-in-law, the role of the Daeyoung Monsters for the year was practically over.

“She’s strong, isn’t she?”

“Very much so.”

“Yes, you may be much younger than me, but at the wedding, you seemed just as mature. Manho.”

“Yes, Father.”

In the palm of Chairman Kang Kiyoung’s left hand were two solid walnuts.

As he rotated them in his hand, massaging pressure points, Chairman Kang Kiyoung said,

“Being too cautious can lead to seriousness.”

“…Yes.”

“One must maintain a balance.”

“Yes.”

“While caution reduces mistakes, seriousness can lead to weariness and suffocation.”

“…I will bear that in mind.”

“From what I see, you’re looking for a reason to seat one man in that position, while for another, you’re seeking a justification to give it up.”

At his father’s words, Chairman Kang Manho felt a sudden jolt! A shock as if electricity coursed down his spine.

“Do those reasons and justifications not feel like stubbornness, excuses made for your own comfort?”

“Father is…”

Chairman Kang Kiyoung was not one to be at ease.

After wetting his lips with his tongue and savoring the taste, Chairman Kang Kiyoung spoke,

“Isn’t it a better deal for the Kang family name to step back in Daeyoung, rather than risking the name of Daeyoung over something we can’t easily let go of due to our stubbornness? It’s not as if our Kang bloodline is going anywhere.”

“…”

“Daeyoung is not solely our family’s possession. We must avoid choices that turn all the shareholders against us, shouldn’t we?”

“…Yes.”

“If despite the time and opportunities given, one still cannot prove oneself, it means that’s as far as they go. On the other hand, proving oneself solely through one’s own efforts means there’s still a future. Moonjung is already thirty-four.”

“…Yes.”

“You were the same age when I appointed you as the vice president of electronics.”

Of course, times have changed a lot since then.

But now that the differences have become so clear, even Chairman Kang Manho himself thought that dragging things out in the name of caution seemed pointless.

To such a Chairman Kang Manho, Chairman Kang Kiyoung spoke casually,

“But you were wiser back then. You had an eye for people.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“And more ruthless. Even more so than I, Kang Kiyoung, the most ruthless of them all.”

“…Is it Moonjung?”

Everyone has someone they can never forget until the day they die. It’s because of that gratitude that some people even leap into flames. When I was nothing, there was someone who saw me as something. And it was that someone who gave me the strength to rise up to be that something.

“…?”

“Isn’t Munjeong just that person for Yoon Seobang now? No matter what anyone says, it was Munjeong who made Yoon Seobang into something, with her ability. Without hesitation, she gives up her place beside him, making him into an indispensable, absolutely necessary presence for our Daeyoung. Where else can you find a greater quality than that?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s something even you couldn’t accomplish. Do you think Youngjin could do it? Does it look like there’s even a slight possibility?”

Chairman Kang Manho had no answer.

“I wish you wouldn’t spend your days so seriously, Manho, even if you are cautious, especially when the answers are all too clear. You’re the one leading Daeyoung at the forefront. It’s unacceptable to me that such a person can’t focus on Daeyoung because of his children.”

***

At the same time in Daejeon.

Taesik’s mother felt a tear well up as she watched her son receive enthusiastic cheers from many people on the TV screen.

She was overwhelmed with emotion.

“Ma’am, will we be able to eat today at some point?”

She had said she’d only watch her son throw the first pitch, but before she knew it, she was completely engrossed.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Is there someone you know on TV?”

“No, no.”

“You must like baseball. Even though it’s not even an Eagles game, why bother watching?”

“I’ll have it ready soon. Just wait a little longer.”

“Even the Giants are playing in the fall baseball, but these Eagles b*stards… just thinking about it makes me furious. Ma’am, can I change the channel?”

“Yes, watch whatever you want.”

“These Eagles b*stards need the chairman to take up the bat once more.”

She wanted to boast.

That her wonderful son was her own.

That she bore him, suffering through the pain.

And that she was his mother-in-law.

That such a lovely and virtuous lady, unimaginable to them, was her daughter-in-law.

Yet, Taesik’s mother was the one who hadn’t invited the people from the commercial prosperity association or the neighboring shops to her only son’s wedding.

She didn’t care about not receiving the congratulatory money she had pre-emptively spread around through mutual aid.

The difference in the level of guests from both families.

She hoped it wouldn’t reflect the difference in level between her son and daughter-in-law.

As long as my son can be happy, as long as he can live with confidence and shoulders back like now, that’s all that matters.

Taesik’s mother thought to herself, smiling as she entered the kitchen to start preparing the ordered food.

***

No longer could one find the composure in Kang Youngjin, who had always been so self-assured.

It was only now that the strangeness of the situation began to sink in.

“Do you really have to do the gallery director job?”

The anxiety her husband began to feel was quickly spreading to his wife, Juyeonhee.

“If I don’t do that, what, you want me to just stay home and take care of the house?”

“I’d rather you do the director job than tell you to take care of the house.”

“And then?”

“Try learning about planning work for once.”

“Planning work? Are you suggesting I join Daeyoung Planning?”

“You majored in advertising design in France, didn’t you? It’s perfect for planning work.”

In that moment, Juyeonhee remembered what Kang Moonjung had said to her at the Pyeongchang-dong garden party.

She had retorted to Kang Moonjung, who had questioned why she called her husband Director Yoon in such a formal setting, saying it was only natural to address him as such.

The comeback from Kang Moonjung still haunted her.

“Do you even work at Daeyoung?”

As if questioning why she would call her own husband that way if she wasn’t part of Daeyoung, Kang Moonjung had left her speechless, a nightmare now revived.

“No matter how much I think about it, it seems better for you to help me out in planning, like how Moonjung has Yoon Seobang stuck in Mulsan. Everyone in planning is my person.”

“Isn’t planning work tough? It’s famous for being a round-the-clock job.”

“Who’s expecting you to work? You just need to hold a position there like Yoon Seobang. Then President Kim or Executive Director Jung will take care of your performance. Seeing them struggle in the media like this, it seems we’ll be fools if we don’t play the game properly.”

“Before, you talked as if Director Yoon was quite capable.”

“I never said in front of you that Yoon Seobang had skills. I’ve only said that the ugliest thing in the world is to be jealous of the accomplishments of those below us.”

“So, are you being jealous now?”

“It’s not jealousy, it’s thinking… maybe it’s time to correct some bad habits.”

“Bad habits?”

“Daeyoung isn’t some neighborhood store, and there’s a tendency to use the Daeyoung name too freely to boost one’s image. How dare they ask for a ceremonial pitch? And to make such an unsightly spectacle of it.”

The next morning, the couple headed to Pyeongchang-dong.

A meal with the owners.

Yoon Tae-sik and his wife, Kang Moon-jung, were unable to attend this morning’s breakfast as they had stayed up late the previous night watching the first playoff game of the Daeyoung Monsters and had to travel back to Seoul.

Kang Young-jin thought to himself,

Thankfully.

Grandfather seems to be in an unusually good mood today.

During the meal, he stealthily nudged his wife, Joo Yeon-hee’s foot, then gestured with his eyes towards Grandfather, the great chairman Kang Ki-young.

In response, Joo Yeon-hee forced down the food in her mouth with a gulp of water and took a deep breath to compose herself.

“Excuse me, Grandfather.”

As a daughter-in-law who rarely spoke at the table unless asked a question, not only Chairman Kang Ki-young but also Chairman Kang Man-ho and his wife focused their attention on Joo Yeon-hee, surprised.

“Why?”

“Well, it’s just that I’m considering resigning from my current position as the director of the gallery.”

“It seemed to suit you well, why so suddenly?”

Having heard from her husband the previous night that he wanted her to try working in planning, Joo Yeon-hee had been pondering a proper reason ever since.

“I know the term ‘married out’ sounds awkward in this day and age, but I have indeed married into the Daeyoung family.”

Chairman Kang Ki-young nodded, listening attentively to his granddaughter-in-law’s words.

“I’ve always been concerned about being involved in my family’s business even after becoming part of the Daeyoung family.”

“Hmm. You have a point.”

“I haven’t shared my intentions with my family yet. I thought it was only right to discuss it with you first, Grandfather.”

Pleased with his daughter-in-law’s assertive handling of the situation, Chairman Kang Man-ho resumed his meal, which he had momentarily paused.

However, a mysterious smile began to spread across the great Chairman Kang Ki-young’s face.

“So, you’re quitting your job as director to focus on supporting your husband at home, is that it?”

“I haven’t ruled out that important role, but I thought it might be better to find a way to be of some help to the family.”

“A role that helps the family?”

“I would like to try working in planning, Grandfather.”

At those words, Chairman Kang Man-ho’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

Noticing the change in her husband’s expression, Koo Young-sook quickly checked her father-in-law’s face.

She tried to calm herself, seeing the smile still spread across his face, but her husband’s reaction sent chills down her spine.

Chairman Kang Ki-young said,

“Work in planning?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Koo Young-sook thought to herself.

Stop it.

It’s not time yet.

Please, stop.

But such thoughts of Gu Young-Sook couldn’t possibly reach Joo Yeon-Hee.

“Planning work requires a keen eye, kiddo. Not just the eyes, but also stamina. Planning isn’t as sophisticated as it appears from the outside.”

“I’m aware. That’s why I want to learn.”

“You want to learn?”

“Yes. I majored in advertising design in France, and I believe I’ve sufficiently honed my eye while managing the gallery.”

Chairman Kang Ki-Young briefly shifted his gaze from Joo Yeon-Hee to Kang Young-Jin and asked,

“Did the two of you discuss this before coming to me?”

Kang Young-Jin swallowed his nervousness and replied,

“Yes, grandfather. She has been expressing her desire to learn about planning for a while now.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think, Young-Jin? Do you think your wife can handle planning work?”

“Yes, as she just mentioned, her major is relevant, and more importantly, her years of experience running a gallery make me believe she could excel in planning.”

Chairman Kang Ki-Young, who had been stirring his spoon in the soup bowl, pushed his wheelchair back himself.

“Then I should see for myself how good our granddaughter-in-law’s eye is.”

Chairman Kang Ki-Young took only Joo Yeon-Hee down to the basement level one, where his collection was displayed.

Joo Yeon-Hee offered to push the wheelchair from behind, but he indicated that he could manage on his own and told her to walk ahead.

Chairman Kang Ki-Young’s passion for collecting and his love for art are so well-known that there’s hardly anyone who isn’t aware of it.

Not just the basement level one of the main house, but there’s also a separate space near the main house dedicated solely to his art collection.

The total appraised value of his collected art pieces is roughly 2 trillion won.

Among them are national treasures that were sold overseas, which he purchased for several times their appraised value.

Chairman Kang Ki-Young, who has already announced his intention to donate all 13,000 pieces of his collection to the nation after his death.

“My dear.”

“Yes, grandfather.”

“Most of the items here, I acquired by paying several times over their original value.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you can guess which one I paid the highest price for?”

Such a task was no quiz for Juyeonhee, who was living the life of a gallery director.

Juyeonhee confidently approached the moon jar white porcelain displayed inside the glass tower.

“Isn’t this the moon jar? I believe you paid over 6 billion won to acquire it.”

“That’s right. I paid more than double the appraiser’s value for this one. But there’s something here I paid several times more for.”

Something here cost several times more than this moon jar white porcelain?

I heard that the art pieces worth at least 10 billion won are kept in a separate area guarded by security company staff…

“Don’t know?”

“…Yes, I really… don’t know.”

“That won’t do. If someone who wants to learn planning doesn’t even have that quick-wittedness, it’s going to be tough.”

“Then, aside from this moon jar, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought here?”

“You, isn’t it you?”

“…Me?”

“Among everything here, there’s nothing we’ve brought into our home that we’ve valued and paid for as dearly as you.”

In that moment, Juyeonhee felt as if she had been struck on the head with a hammer.

“Because Yeongjin wanted to marry you, because he said he needed you, that’s why I, cherishing my grandson, agreed to everything your father needed, made concessions, and brought you into this house. How much do you think the concessions I made towards your family are worth economically?”

“…”

“Even if I sold everything here at the price I bought them for, it wouldn’t even be half of that. My dear.”

“Yes, yes, Grandfather.”

“Do you think your in-laws are a joke?”

“No, no, Grandfather. Why, why would you say that?”

Turning his wheelchair around to face Juyeonhe, Chairman Kang Kiyoung spoke.

“There’s not a single subsidiary of Daeyeong that isn’t our cherished project. I’ve grown Daeyeong like that. As if everything is a cherished project, each one has passed through my hands, placed in its position, and then I went on to seek another cherished project.”

“…”

“Think you’ve got good eyes because you’ve been a gallery director? Did you major in advertising design in France?”

“…”

“Forming a team with teachers worth millions per hour, receiving private lessons, and that’s how you studied abroad. Did you really study with your own hands during that study abroad? That planning work you think of trying out as a hobby. My employees who joined the company after struggling day and night, putting their lives on the line for that work, how deprived would they feel if they heard what you just said?”

“I, I didn’t mean it that way…”

“Shouldn’t I make sure that my employees don’t feel deprived by my own hand? The company isn’t a playground for this household’s people. At least your husband and your sister-in-law joined the company with some desperation. Mr. Yoon had enough skill. But what about you? Just because you wanted to try it out?”

“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I was short-sighted.”

“That’s why I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been taken for a ride, bringing you into this house.”