I’d Rather Live as a Villain - Chapter 68



68 From Mr. Yoon’s perspective, he’s the ultimate joker.

My wife asked me, who had said we should meet the great-aunt,

“Why.”

“Why?” she asked.

I couldn’t help but think it was so typical of Kang Moonjeong.

Even as the movement to recommend Vice President Kang Youngjin as the vice president of the VD division was gaining momentum at the group’s headquarters and electronics side, my wife was the kind of person who needed a reason why I wanted to meet the great-aunt.

Close as family, but from Daeyoung’s standpoint, a major shareholder who holds a large amount of stock in electronics, distribution, chemicals, and Mulsan.

Strictly speaking, the great-aunt was someone who, even deliberately, had to be kept at a business-like distance.

That was it.

My wife was wary of the great-aunt’s excessive intervention in Daeyoung’s succession competition, her growing influence.

On the other hand, Vice President Kang Youngjin, who hoped the great-aunt would intervene in his favor, had a completely different perspective on the succession than my wife, Kang Moonjeong.

How could I not fall for someone like Kang Moon-jung?

Such a remarkable person.

Not only in the succession competition, but also in controlling the aftermath, my wife’s demeanor showed why she had been the sole legitimate successor of Daeyoung all along.

And I must place my wife, Kang Moon-jung, at the very top of Daeyoung’s pyramid, no matter what.

“If it’s not your aunt’s voluntary support, but rather support you have to seek out by visiting and winning favor, then it’s better not to have such support at all. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

That’s what she told me.

If you’re going as the head of Mulsan to meet with a major shareholder who has purchased a large amount of Mulsan stock, then go empty-handed and just talk business. But if you’re going as a nephew-in-law to ask for support in the succession, then don’t go at all.

Hearing this made my heart swell with pride.

After enduring such hardships, I felt like Kang Moon-jung had returned, upgraded to an even stronger version of herself.

Of course, I, who knew Kang Moon-jung better than anyone and had perfectly analyzed the balance of power within the Daeyoung family, never intended to make such a risky move in this sensitive succession competition, especially not with my great-aunt.

The energy and effort it would take to win over my great-aunt could be better spent winning the favor of my father-in-law, which would be a hundred times more effective and a wiser choice.

Even just considering the justification, it’s much more natural for a son-in-law to try to win over his father-in-law than to win favor with my great-aunt, who has not taken a clear stance between the two nephews.

“It seems like you’re continuously giving us hints.”

“Hints?”

“I’d like to meet not as a nephew-in-law, but as the head of Mulsan. Don’t worry.”

I believed there was a hint in my aunt’s words that Mulsan would become Daeyoung’s top blue-chip stock in the future.

It couldn’t have been just a casual remark, and it certainly didn’t mean that Mulsan would realistically surpass electronics to become Daeyoung’s top blue-chip stock…

From noble mtl dot come

So I visited the vice-chairman’s office of Yuseong Cosmo.

My great-aunt offered me a seat on the sofa and had her secretary prepare coffee.

We began our conversation over coffee.

“So, how is Moon-jung doing?”

“She’s spirited.”

“Spirited?”

I wanted to make my wife, no matter who she faced, a strong person by my own hands.

“Yes. She’s naturally strong. I haven’t delved deep enough to know her innermost feelings, but she is indeed spirited.”

Upon hearing this, my great-aunt nodded several times, indicating she would not inquire further about the uncomfortable subject.

“So, what brings our nephew-in-law to see me? Not as a nephew-in-law, but as the head of Mulsan?”

“There are a few things I’d like to explain and a few things I’d like to ask.”

“Decide for yourself where to start.”

“Then I’ll start by explaining some of the projects Mulsan is currently involved in.”

Major Shareholder.

Naturally, one must approach with caution and reverence.

If it concerns the stocks of Yoo Sung Cosmo currently secured, a sudden withdrawal of such volume would inevitably impact the stock price significantly.

I first laid out the matters requested by President Min Byung-chul to my great-aunt (a kind of sales pitch to the major shareholder).

From the current overseas construction division’s turnkey-style skyscraper complex bid in Dubai, worth seven trillion won, to the projects we’re touching in the materials and renewable energy sectors, and even the grand vision of the Xinlong Coffee Project that our European and Chinese divisions are currently collaborating on…

“This year, if Yoo Sung Mulsan can neatly gather all the business ventures it has spread out, it will be praised by the landlord of Pyeongchang-dong for farming the year thriftily.”

So, I asked.

“Auntie.”

“Yes.”

“Up to here, I’ve been explaining and selling to the major shareholder the projects that Yoo Sung Mulsan is currently focusing on, under the direction of the president, as the head of the division.”

“From now on, as a nephew-in-law?”

“Do we really need to draw such lines? I’ll just say it’s something I’m personally curious about.”

My great-aunt nodded once, her expression already anticipating the question.

“When you visited our house before, didn’t you say something to President Kang Moon-jung and me?”

The reason I referred to my wife not as ‘my wife’ but as ‘President Kang Moon-jung’ from that point on was to make it clear that I was asking not as a nephew-in-law but as the head of Yoo Sung Mulsan.

“What did I say?”

“That Yoo Sung Mulsan will become Daeyoung’s top blue-chip stock.”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I bought as much of Yoo Sung Mulsan’s stock as I could within my means.”

“I can’t quite grasp the meaning behind those words.”

I told her honestly.

I had pondered over the meaning of those words for several weeks, but I couldn’t understand them at all.

Whether it was just a casual remark that I took too seriously, unable to get out of its grasp, or if there was a hidden meaning like when you said not to become a ‘shining person’ but a ‘sparkling person’ instead.

“So, you didn’t just let the words about not becoming a ‘shining person’ but a ‘sparkling person’ pass by?”

“Because it was you, Auntie, who said those words to me. And you said them in the presence of my father-in-law. I thought they couldn’t have been just any words.”

“That too?”

“Yes. You came all the way to our house to say it. I believed there must be a hidden meaning that I’m currently unable to grasp. But like the words about not becoming a ‘shining person’ but a ‘sparkling person,’ it’s not easy to interpret.”

At that, my great-aunt’s expression turned quite serious as she said,

“I hold you, my nephew-in-law, in very high regard.”

“Thank you.”

“You know how to take to heart the words people say.”

It couldn’t be helped.

It wasn’t that I carved them into memory; it was that only the words meant to be engraved were spoken.

“We haven’t met many times, and this is the first time we’ve arranged to meet alone like this, but when I see Mr. Yoon, it’s clear he’s someone who puts in a lot of effort.”

Goosebumps began to rise on my forearms as my aunt continued.

“Imitating someone you admire, trying to follow in their footsteps. That too requires effort.”

“Yes?”

“Your father, I mean, the landlord of Pyeongchang-dong. Mr. Yoon has been imitating him quite a bit. While he was establishing himself in the business world.”

Suddenly, I was at a loss for words!

“It’s something I can’t help but notice. Just look at the recent advertising mix-up in distribution. Was it a distribution ad or group PR? It was evident that Mr. Yoon’s coaching had a hand in it.”

“……”

“It’s not just his speech or behavior, but the fact that he can imitate to such an extent in business means he has studied a lot. And having studied that much means it’s no longer imitation; it’s Mr. Yoon’s own skill.”

Wow, how did she really know?

How on earth did my great-aunt know that I was storing the images of my grandfather, Chairman Kang Ki-young, in my eyes and mind, and using them whenever necessary?

And with such conviction…

“Doesn’t that mean you’ve taken to heart the words your grandfather has said, not just as idle nagging?”

Seeing my flustered expression seemed amusing to her, and with a slight smile, my aunt continued.

“But Mr. Yoon. Do you know what’s interesting?”

“……I’m not sure.”

“I’ve seen the real person, Kang Ki-young, in Mr. Yoon’s imitation of my father several times.”

“……”

“Mulsan was the holding company of Daeyoung before electronics.”

Who wouldn’t know that?

“If electronics ever falters, it could become Daeyoung’s holding company again. A person who’s the spitting image of Chairman Kang Ki-young is rapidly emerging as the top talent in such a Mulsan. With the powerful distribution network of Daeyoung Distribution behind him.”

Without realizing it, saliva was pooling in my mouth.

“For investors like me, a blue-chip stock isn’t just one with a high market cap. It’s about how much profit it brings compared to the investment, how stable the dividends are. I assure you, the returns and dividends Mulsan will bring to our side this year will be at least twice that of electronics.”

Was that what it meant?

But then…

“And there’s one more decisive thing.”

I focused again and looked at my great-aunt.

“The decisive thing?”

“President Min Byung-jin.”

What is this now?

“Who else has been president for 8 years across all affiliates of Daeyoung?”

“That would be unique to President Min, excluding the owner family, throughout the history of Daeyoung.”

“Would President Min not know how to row when the water comes in? Mr. Yoon.”

“Yes.”

“The reason you came to me not as my nephew-in-law but as the head of Mulsan. I should be perceptive enough to figure that out.”

“……”

“I don’t want to be a petty aunt meddling between two nephews. But I must say this. It seems only fair to correct the tilted balance. At least take care of the fare for coming here.”

“What kind of……”

“President Min. You’re the ultimate joker to Mr. Yoon.”

“A joker?”

“Yes, a joker who can fit anywhere and bring the best results no matter how you use it.”

This aunt.

Making me think again.

Of course, she won’t tell me the meaning right here and now.

Knowing that, there’s no point in staying long.

“Yes, I will take that to heart as well. Thank you, Aunt.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way now.”

“Leaving already?”

“It seems I’ve already taken too much of your precious time?”

As I was about to stand up, my aunt asked me.

“So what is this pride that Munjeong and Mr. Yoon speak of?”

She must be referring to the department store and duty-free shop ads created by distribution.

I sat back down on the sofa and answered carefully.

“I honestly don’t know about President Kang Munjeong’s thoughts.”

“And what about Mr. Yoon’s pride?”

“I’m not sure about pride… but after all the hardships, I don’t want to leave President Kang Munjeong as just Daeyoung’s Kang Munjeong. My goal is to make it Kang Munjeong’s Daeyoung.”

Upon hearing this, my great-aunt intentionally took a deep breath as if to show me, then exhaled it slowly with a smile.

“When I come to greet you next time, I’ll bring the chestnut jelly that auntie likes and come with my wife.”

“Please take good care of Moonjung.”

“Yes. Thank you for your precious time today.”