I’d Rather Live as a Villain - I’d Rather Live as a Villain chapter 47

47 “That might be a bit difficult, grandfather.”

“…Along with the core businesses of Daeyoung Distribution, which are department stores, duty-free shops, and hotels, we have also seen great success in the Mongolian market over the past three years with convenience stores and supermarkets. With these experiences, we will develop and expand more of Daeyoung’s brands and business sectors through the FP Business Division, aggressively pioneering the global market.”

As the presidential candidate’s speech concluded, a thunderous applause erupted within the general meeting hall.

My father-in-law to my right, and my aunt to my left, both contributed to the applause with measured movements.

The image of her struggling to memorize the speech the night before, feigning distress that wasn’t entirely feigned, overlapped in my mind. In the end, she maintained her composure as I had anticipated and delivered the speech flawlessly, which made me feel inexplicably proud.

Shortly after, the current president of Daeyoung Distribution, who was chairing this meeting, proceeded with the public questioning of the presidential candidate.

“Yes, could we please pass the microphone over there?”

The session began very smoothly.

At the chairman’s direction, a meeting facilitator handed the microphone to none other than President Min Byung-jin of our Mulsan company.

He posed a question that was akin to spoon-feeding rice directly into Ms. Moon’s mouth.

It was as if he was saying that such talents should be publicly known through this platform, and Ms. Moon perfectly digested and responded to the question.

Subsequently, somewhat childish and thus slightly embarrassing questions were raised here and there during this shareholders’ meeting, all seemingly aimed at further highlighting the figure of Kang Moon-jung.

But just then.

“Let me ask a question too!”

From the far end of the hall, an incongruous, impassioned voice of an elderly man flowed out.

Simultaneously, the expressions of the chairman and the IR staff began to sour.

“I’ve been raising my hand like this for a while now, why do you only select questions from the front! Is it okay to ignore shareholder rights like this!”

The appearance of a general meeting disruptor.

Entities that enter the meeting hall with just one share, intent on wasting the time of busy people or trying to exert influence.

While Daeyoung had not seen much of this behavior, in some cases, groups enter with the purpose of paralyzing the meeting itself.

Their goal, of course, is money.

And perhaps they feel a great thrill when they see the company’s representative, or someone of similar influence, squirm and bow before them.

If their unreasonable demands cross a line, it’s customary for the IR staff to discreetly call them aside and hand them a sum of money as ‘hush money’ to ensure a smooth meeting.

However, if such tacit negotiations fail, it’s almost always because they have been paid a certain amount by external forces to deliberately delay or disrupt the meeting.

What could be the nature of those who appeared in today’s meeting?

Are they simply beings who make a living by roaming corporate meetings with a heart of stone, or are they influenced by external forces that have seeped into this meeting?

“…Yes, could we please pass the microphone to that person?”

Eventually, the chairman had no choice but to instruct the facilitators.

“I’m Kim Won-man, who came up from Suwon.”

Indeed, their pattern was just as I had heard.

I had never actually seen a shareholder activist before, but their notoriety was so well-known that it felt like I had.

“I hear our candidate grew up so privileged and without want, that they don’t even consider billions of won as money, having no fear of the world…”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The chairman had to intervene.

But a few words of restraint were unlikely to stop such entities.

“What do you mean, ‘wait a moment’? We haven’t even started yet?”

The epitome of stubbornness.

I quickly glanced at Moon Jung, standing alone and isolated on the stage.

For a brief moment, she looked back at me, struggling to lift the corners of her mouth.

Yet, no dimples could be found on her face.

“I heard that since being nominated as a presidential candidate, an individual audit of Executive Kang Moon Jung has begun at the group level.”

An impossible event was unfolding.

“In the process, it was discovered that a transfer of 5 billion won had been made from Executive Kang Moon Jung’s personal account to her husband Yoon Tae-sik’s account. We need an explanation for this!”

Isn’t this strange?

Too strange to be true.

Daeyoung Group has been live-streaming all subsidiary shareholder meetings online, without distinction between regular and extraordinary, for the past four years.

How many people, how many shareholders, could check the scene of this meeting if they wished, even if they couldn’t make it to the meeting hall themselves?

Sitting between my father-in-law and aunt, I wasn’t concerned with the content spouted by that shareholder activist grandpa.

Instead, I was more curious about how he knew such confidential information.

Daeyoung Group.

A leading conglomerate in South Korea.

Not just any conglomerate, but the number one group in the country.

Would such a group’s headquarters audit office leak this information carelessly?

Or would external forces extract such information from the fortress-like audit office?

Could such a thing be possible?

Suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had last week with Manager Son, who visited the trading division.

“The matter will definitely be mentioned at the shareholder meeting, which is convened for the president’s inauguration, separate from the audit.”

How did Manager Son know that the content confirmed by the fortress-like audit team at the group’s headquarters, especially details that should never be included in an audit, like personal accounts and private assets, would definitely be mentioned today at this meeting?

His tone was one of certainty.

Thinking about it now, it was a tone of absolute assurance.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s mentioned, but does that include the content of the gratitude?”

“Isn’t it about the amount?”

Why the amount?

Whether I sent 50,000 won or 5 billion, what does the amount have to do with anything?

In my common sense, I couldn’t understand why that would be a problem, so I didn’t take it seriously, but suddenly, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was strange.

I quickly checked the expressions of my father-in-law and aunt.

My father-in-law had an expressionless face, fixated on his daughter on stage, and my aunt, too, was snickering in a way that didn’t fit the current situation, turning her gaze towards the old shareholder.

“Why can’t you answer? Try to answer.”

The shareholders’ meeting began to stir.

And then, on stage, she took a deep breath, licked her lips, and prepared to respond.

“I would like to correct just one expression from what you just mentioned.”

It was a voice with a strange power to focus the restless atmosphere of the hall onto herself in an instant.

“What?”

“Exposed. Don’t we usually use the word ‘exposed’ when someone’s wrongdoing is discovered or revealed? I have never done anything legally or morally wrong. And the matter in question is strictly my personal, private affair.”

“How can that be a private matter!”

Eventually, the chairman warned the old shareholder.

“The matter in question is not a pre-notified agenda item. And as Executive Kang Moon-jung previously mentioned, it is strictly her personal, private domain. Please stop.”

“Do you think I’m someone who has to stop just because you say so? Are you ignoring me now because I’m a small shareholder?”

“Shareholder!”

“Shareholder, what?”

The tension and embarrassment that had been felt for a moment slowly lifted, and a sense of ease finally began to appear on Ms. Moon-jung’s face.

She raised her hand towards the chairman, then gestured to continue granting the old shareholder the right to ask questions.

Then, she turned to the white-haired old shareholder with a relaxed smile and said.

“Could you please make your question a bit more specific?”

I thought it was remarkable.

It was somewhat disheartening to realize that someone could have such high resistance to stress.

Would I have been able to respond as calmly as that if I were on that stage right now?

Of course, I would have restrained myself as much as possible, but at the very least, I would have started by questioning how and through whom the matter came to light.

But then again, that would only serve to expose the vulnerabilities of the organization called Daeyoung to all the shareholders.

“If you could specify exactly what part made you so angry, and what exactly you want to ask, I will answer each question sincerely.”

“Start by telling me whether it’s true you transferred five billion to your husband.”

There seem to be too many monstrous people around.

Why do they think it’s their inherent right to know?

Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like they’re just expecting a small allowance. It’s clear someone’s pulling the strings behind this villainous act, and whoever’s behind it or the emotionless villain carrying it out, they’re both incredibly cruel.

“Yes, I sent it. It’s true.”

“How much is Kang Moon-jung’s current salary as an executive in distribution?”

“It’s 190 million won.”

“With that salary of 190 million won, it’s impossible you’ve amassed five billion on your own over the past three years. Ultimately, you’ve inherited a vast personal fortune through various hereditary routes because you’re an owner of Daeyoung, haven’t you! How can you stand so proudly before us shareholders, who own even a single share of Daeyoung? Do you think you have the right to be so confident?”

“As you all know, my mother passed away about twenty years ago.”

Facing the shareholder who attacked her illogically and relentlessly, Executive Kang Moon-jung lowered her tone slightly and continued calmly.

“And then, six years later, my maternal grandfather passed away. When he did, the inheritance he intended for my mother, his eldest daughter, came to me.”

“…”

“In a way, it’s no different from the inheritance I would have received from my mother, who passed away before my grandfather. So I couldn’t invest that money in real estate or stocks. Some might call it foolish. But I believed it was right to use that inherited money where it meant the most to me, and I had never touched it until I transferred a portion to my husband’s account.”

My heart was heavy.

Was that the nature of the money?

She had sent me such money without a second thought?

Was this her way of holding onto Daeyoung, something she didn’t want to lose?

“Are you curious about the reason for the transfer?”

“That, that’s…”

“That’s a very personal matter, isn’t it? To answer that, I’d have to mention my husband’s family affairs, which would mean infringing upon the dignity of my husband, who is hundreds of times more precious to me than any shareholder here. Should I really discuss that here?”

“Cough, cough…”

“Shareholder, do you have any other questions?”

The meeting room was silent as a grave.

In that awkward silence, she didn’t rush.

Instead of trying to break the ice by looking for another questioner, she gave the old man time to ask another question.

But the old man couldn’t move his once supple lips any longer.

“Anything is fine. I won’t hide anything, and if you need proof of anything, just ask, and I’ll provide it.”

“Cough, cough…”

“The person who wants to sit in the president’s chair, responsible for preventing and overseeing any misconduct by employees, shouldn’t just shut up in front of the shareholders’ doubts, even if they themselves are innocent. Feel free to ask about anything.”

“…”

“Do you have any more questions?”

“That’s all. No more.”

In the end, the old shareholder, who wasn’t even forced to take a seat, reluctantly handed over the microphone he was gripping tightly as if he would never let it go, to the staff and quietly sat down.

* * *

It’s already been a week since the shareholders’ meeting, and yet, there’s been no change.

At the very least, a few severe penalties from the audit team should have been issued by now regarding the leak of Moon-jung’s personal account details.

Especially since it involved a shareholder who wasn’t a high-ranking executive but someone whose only aim seemed to be to pocket a few tens of thousands in travel expenses.

Initially, I suspected Vice President Kang Young-jin.

But the more I thought about it, the less he seemed like someone who would take such a risky gamble.

Then, could it be Madam Gu Young-sook?

That made even less sense.

She’s been living a quiet life in Pyeongchang-dong for over 20 years, as if she barely existed.

Her self-control is not that of an ordinary person.

I can’t help but understand her position the best.

After all, she’s the one whose path to becoming part of Daeyoung’s ownership was most similar to mine.

And if it had been one of those two, by now, there should have been several severe penalties handed down from the group’s headquarters’ audit team.

Despite my doubts, I can’t help but keep suspecting Pyeongchang-dong.

Team Leader Son, who came with the proxy of the chairman’s shareholders’ meeting.

Looking back, he seemed to know that such an incident would occur at the shareholders’ meeting.

And the way my father-in-law and aunt looked at Moon-jung on stage, handling the old shareholder’s stubbornness.

To me, they didn’t seem like ordinary people at all.

“What are you brooding over so deeply?”

She approached me, who was lost in thought with the remote in hand, not even thinking of turning on the TV, and sat down beside me on the living room sofa.

“Has there been no word from Pyeongchang-dong yet?”

“What do you mean?”

“About the 5 billion. Haven’t they asked you why they sent it to you?”

“They haven’t asked.”

“Nobody?”

“Nobody.”

“Don’t you find that strange?”

“What’s that?”

“I honestly find you a bit strange too?”

“So what is it?”

Am I the strange one for finding this situation odd?

“Such personal, sensitive information leaked from the audit team. Not any other department, but from the group’s audit team. And yet, they haven’t even started looking for the person who leaked it. You’re too nonchalant about it. You should be the most upset.”

It was then she spoke as if she had just realized what I had been pondering silently for over 30 minutes.

“Did you ever consider that the information didn’t leak from the audit team, but rather, was inserted from the outside?”

“What do you mean…?”

“On the day of the general shareholders’ meeting, I suddenly remembered an anecdote related to my uncle. It helped me regain my composure that had been shaken.”

“My uncle?”

Ms. Moonjeong lifted one leg onto the sofa, sitting cross-legged, and turned to face me.

“That’s the kind of man grandfather is. He could easily have passed the president’s appointment through the board, but he insists on going through the general meeting. He throws you into extreme stress, and it’s up to you whether to break through head-on, turn away, avoid it, or… collapse like my uncle did. He watches to see how you handle it.”

“…?”

“I heard that at the time, my uncle was caught up in a scandal with a woman. But grandfather isn’t one to focus on the problem itself. He looks at how you solve it, your approach, your attitude, and he takes issue if you can’t resolve it.”

“So that cruel moment was actually a test by grandfather?”

“He often faces more cruel moments, and sometimes has to make even more ruthless decisions for the position he’s choosing someone for.”

She looked at me as if I should have known, and said,

“The closest position to that. The position where you always have to practice and wait. That’s the heir to Daeyoung. I thought you knew grandfather better than anyone, but maybe that’s not entirely true?”

“I honestly didn’t expect you to be this… serious. This is really…”

“You look disgusted?”

But I couldn’t back down now.

“No.”

“No?”

“You haven’t said a word about your granddaughter sending five billion won to her future husband’s account before marriage. Not even your father-in-law.”

“…?”

“This makes my role all the easier.”

From noble mtl dot nete

“What do you mean?”

“As long as I package you as someone who would do anything for Daeyoung. Don’t get me wrong, though. I don’t actually wish for you to become that person.”

I’d rather become that person myself while staying by this woman’s side than let her make me into that. It really didn’t seem appealing.

I hoped she would live a life knowing more than just Daeyoung, a life of happiness.

“You should go on a date with me once in a while.”

“Sigh…”

The next day, as soon as I arrived at work, I instructed Joo Dong-jin to summon the Protocol Team Leader and the Head of the European Division to my office.

“Dong-jin, you sit down too.”

“Me as well?”

“We’re going to schedule a tour of the European branches.”

Right there, I asked the Protocol Team Leader to draft two members who could accompany me on a 5-night, 7-day tour schedule of the European branches.

I instructed Chief Choi Jang-ho to contact each overseas branch to ensure that the branches, and the branch managers, would have their schedules cleared for the duration of the visit.

A week passed, and Ms. Moon Jung and I were called to Pyeongchang-dong for breakfast.

Vice President Kang Young-jin and his wife were not present at the breakfast table.

“What’s the matter? It seems like we only hear good news from the trade sector these days?”

After a spoonful of soup, Grandfather spoke.

Quickly, I praised the performance of Jeon Chung-heon, the head of the Overseas Construction Division.

“The Overseas Construction Division seems to be doing well lately. I heard they’ve just secured a 400 billion won resort project in Singapore. It looks like they’ll manage to do good business this year too.”

Grandfather looked at me as if to say, ‘Why are you directing the praise I was about to give you to someone else?’

“I hear that this year, unlike last year, the turnover of the Overseas Construction Division and the European Division is expected to be comparable. Some even say that the European Division might surpass the Overseas Construction Division for the first time in eight years.”

“I don’t know who said that, but if it was said with intent, it’s undoubtedly to make me feel pressured.”

“Such wit. Moon Jung, do you find the president’s office sofa uncomfortable?”

“That’s why I never sit there. I don’t even have the leisure to sit.”

“That’s right, it will be like that for a while. That position is not a comfortable one. Everyone wants to sit there, but once they do, their thoughts change. Whether those thoughts evolve constructively or they draw their own limits. Isn’t that the difference, Mr. Yoon?”

I quickly placed the side dish I was about to eat back onto the plate in front of me and answered.

“Yes.”

“Listen while you eat.”

I hurriedly put the side dish into my mouth.

Was it amusing to see me still disciplined at the dining table of this house?

He watched me quietly and smiled.

But right now, I’m just acting as if I’m still nervous, when in fact, this place is no longer as daunting or an object of curiosity and envy as it was during my days as an executive secretary.

I could act naturally if I wanted to, but this act must continue until I completely win over Grandfather and my father-in-law.

“What will you do for the Lunar New Year?”

I started chewing quickly to swallow the food in my mouth as fast as possible.

Even the sight of it seemed amusing to him, and he bought some time before continuing.

“On the day itself, even if you go down to your mother’s house in Daejeon, I’d like you to come up with Moon-jung the next day or so. There are people who come to greet us every year, and I thought it would be nice to get to know each other on this occasion.”

“That might be a bit difficult, Grandfather.”

“Really? The holiday is long this year. Can’t you come for at least one day?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Not even one day? Mr. Yoon, isn’t your family not the kind to hold ancestral rites?”

“If it’s possible to come, one should come, Grandfather.”

But I already know what you like.

With those words kept inside, I looked at Grandfather and my father-in-law in turn before speaking up.

“No, it’s not because of that, I’ve scheduled a business trip because this Lunar New Year’s holiday is as long as five days.”

“A business trip? What kind of business trip?”

“I’ve arranged a tour schedule to visit each of the European branches during the Lunar New Year holiday.”

I briefly held Moon-jung’s hand under the table before letting go.

My father-in-law asked.

“Why did you schedule such a tour during the Lunar New Year holiday?”

“Didn’t you do the same when you were the vice president of the trading company, Father-in-law?”

“What?”

The father-in-law tried to suppress his laughter as if he was taken aback, and a proud smile spread across Grandfather’s face.

“Here, it’s a holiday period, but in Europe, it’s a normal working day. There might be slight differences between branches, but most Korean employees, except for the local staff, are expatriates, and they would inevitably miss Korea and their families back home during the holidays.”

At that moment, Moon-jung was the first to grab my hand that I had dropped under the table.

“How could I, sitting in a position that’s too much for my abilities as the head of the European division, rest just like everyone else during the holidays? At least on such days, shouldn’t I encourage them with my presence and ask them to work a little harder for the company?”

“Ha, ha, ha, ha…”

It was the sound of my father-in-law’s laughter.

As if reminiscing about his own past in the trading company, the father-in-law simply nodded his head.

“It might be difficult for me because of the business trip schedule, but maybe this person can spend the holiday here as usual? I can just go down and greet my mother beforehand.”

“Yes! Of course! Who would stop you when you’re going on a tour with such a commendable thought? Father.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Prepare a few envelopes separately to send with Mr. Yoon on his tour.”

“Yes.”

“He’s going to cheer up our employees and revive their spirits, so as an in-law, I should at least boost my son-in-law’s morale. It would only make the branch staff uncomfortable if he visits empty-handed, wouldn’t it? Pack a generous amount for each branch’s dining expenses and send it with him.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll do that.”

Mrs. Koo Young-Sook, too, forced a smile on her face, though it was a weary one, in an effort to match the mood.