I’d Rather Live as a Villain - I’d Rather Live as a Villain chapter 53

53 In this house, the only support I can offer you is just that.

The AI video prepared by Daeyoung Planning played, and within just 3 or 4 seconds, President Kang Moon-jung had to lean deeply back into her conference chair.

What would she have felt if she had seen that video without such a question from her husband?

Even if she had, could she have felt the weight of the Daeyoung brand logo as heavily as she did now?

President Kang Moon-jung was having a very different experience.

Apart from the AI video she was watching, the nagging she had heard from her grandfather was being interpreted in a completely new way.

“You are not the ones who farm directly. You are the ones who expand the land and provide stable water so that the employees can harvest more crops.”

She had thought it was just a vague meaning, urging her to refine herself to do higher-level work.

She had thought it meant that she should ponder and fulfill the role of expanding the fence of Daeyoung so that the employees could create more businesses within it.

She had misunderstood, thinking that her grandfather considered farming a trivial task that anyone could do and that people could be hired for it whenever necessary.

She had thought of her grandfather as a cold-blooded person who would treat people like parts of a machine for the sake of business, and that to stand at the apex of the Daeyoung pyramid, she would have to develop such a trait.

In front, I would say, “I understand,” “I will do so,” “I will try my best”… Yet, deep down, there were many times I couldn’t fully accept my grandfather’s words.

But after being asked a piercing question through my husband, and reflecting on the story Grandfather told with Vice President Kang Young-jin, I realized its meaning was entirely different.

The task of expanding land and securing stable water.

The true meaning of those words was to become an existence like ever-expanding land for the employees.

To become like endless agricultural water that they could draw upon whenever needed.

Wasn’t it a warning against setting limits on one’s own growth?

A presentation video.

The Rockefeller Center in New York’s Times Square appears on the screen.

The brand logo of Daeyoung fills the long LED billboard that follows the shape of the building.

The AI dolls passing by no longer marvel or wonder at Daeyoung’s brand, embroidered in the heart of the world.

An AI doll waits for the traffic light while talking on a Daeyoung smartphone, others sit in a cafe, unfolding a Daeyoung laptop, discussing business – the brand is not a subject of curiosity but has become something so natural and obvious.

Yet, at this moment, to President Kang Moon-jung, the brand Daeyoung, its logo, felt strangely unfamiliar.

Had the world of Daeyoung, which had always felt so natural and obvious, started to take on a different meaning?

Soon, President Kang Moon-jung was overwhelmed with indescribable emotions.

The brand logo of Daeyoung embroidered on the left arm of the club captain’s uniform, lifting the Champions League trophy.

That image was clearly a scene of South Korea’s pride, soaring high with the league trophy.

The bright smile and dignified ceremony of the LPGA winner, wearing a white hat embroidered with Daeyoung’s brand, after a successful putt.

The twin buildings representing Paris Saint-Germain.

Daeyoung’s smartphone and the world’s first transparent OLED TV display advertised on the giant billboards atop each building.

The unprecedented crowd of 500,000 over two days at the concert of South Korea’s leading girl group in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The event’s organizing AI dolls proudly wore the brand Daeyoung around their necks.

The images of Daeyoung, which had naturally become a familiar brand to people worldwide, were reflected in the video that suddenly moved through space with a camera move to Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the advertisement copy mentioned at the beginning of the presentation came out with the narration.

[The pride of South Korea, becoming your pride.]

The dynamic images of Daeyoung, having traversed the world, now showed dolls shopping with dignity at Daeyoung’s duty-free shops and department stores, representing the matured image of Daeyoung after growth.

Even after the AI video ended and bright lights returned to the conference room, silence lingered for a long time.

There was no sound of applause from the competing teams, which would have been customary after other teams’ presentations.

“The so-called MZ generation, born after the year 2000 in South Korea, is said to be unaware of such feelings,” the presenter spoke comfortably yet confidently from behind the podium, beginning to explain the concept and planning of the advertisement.

“They don’t know, or they haven’t experienced it. For them, these things have always been too obvious from the beginning. But for the previous generations, those born in the ’90s, the ’80s, and before – who actually possess substantial purchasing power – it’s a completely different story. I remember feeling awkward and suddenly proud when I saw a Korean brand car pass by during my studies in France. That car company hadn’t done anything for me, but for some reason, I felt grateful in that moment. Have any of you ever felt that way?”

The other teams, already anticipating the outcome, had lost their sharp gazes and were now displaying calm expressions.

It was the early days of 2G phones, and I remember when my roommate boasted about buying a new flip phone from Daeyoung, asking me if I knew which country the maker was from. “Isn’t it Japanese?” they said. “Are you joking? What are you talking about? Daeyoung is a Korean brand. You buy it, brag about it to me, a Korean, without even knowing that? Nine out of ten Koreans use that phone.” At that moment, I vividly recall the confidence I felt, the pride that was filling up within me, as I faced my roommate who had absolutely no understanding of Korea.

Before long, people here and there, having departed from the ad bidding, began nodding their heads as if they too had similar experiences.

“Those of you who have had an experience like mine, or even a memory slightly resembling it, the first brand that comes to mind. The brand you can’t help but think of. Isn’t it Daeyoung? There’s no doubt about it. Daeyoung is the pride of South Korea. Furthermore, it’s the pride of Koreans who can confidently explain South Korea to the whole world. No one can deny that. There are certainly a few things that the animal known as human doesn’t give up easily. I believe one of those things is pride. This concludes Daeyoung Planning’s presentation.”

* * *

After a very long time, my wife’s face was bright.

The worries that had clouded that small face seemed to have cleared up somewhat.

“What’s this smell? There’s a delicious scent of oil wafting through the house?”

I had come home from work, and for some reason, my wife was preparing something in the kitchen.

“I thought you’d be late, so I was lazily waiting, but you came back earlier than expected?”

My wife greeted me dryly, without even a glance in my direction, focusing solely on the frying pan.

As I entered the kitchen, I asked.

“I rushed back as soon as I could, curious about the good presentations at today’s bidding. But what is this real smell?”

“Green onion pancakes.”

“Green onion pancakes?”

“Yes. Seafood green onion pancakes. They looked delicious, so I thought I’d have a drink of makgeolli with you. Hurry up, change your clothes, and come down.”

After changing, I came down to find a somewhat clumsy dinner table set by my wife, complete with soup and side dishes prepared in advance by our aunt, and the green onion pancakes she had bought on her way home from work, now warmed up and ready to be enjoyed with makgeolli.

As soon as I took my seat, my wife quickly showed me the presentation videos from today’s bidding on the prepared tablet.

“Oh…”

The last team’s presentation video.

It was prepared by Daeyoung Planning.

“Oh…”

Without realizing it, I straightened up and pulled my chair closer to the tablet.

“How is it?”

She hadn’t asked this question after the presentations of the other three companies had ended. How is it?

I could tell that my wife’s heart was already leaning this way, just like the emotion I was feeling now.

I overlaid the word “pride” with the image of my wife, envisioning her at the pinnacle of the great pyramid that is Daeyoung.

“It’s good.”

“Is it okay?”

I nodded once and then asked.

“Daeyoung’s pride?”

With a brief nod, his wife responded.

“Rather than that meaning, I first approached the public’s concerns about the fourth-generation management.”

She was clear-headed.

“In Korea, all the conglomerates, the founders are sufficiently recognized just for the fact that they started a business. The first generation of founders, the entrepreneurial spirit… those kinds of expressions. As it passes to the next generation, the moral standards expected by the world become stricter, and the competencies demanded become more challenging.”

“That’s true.”

“Great-grandfather cultivated the land, grandfather built a house on it, and father put a roof on it. Until you asked that question, I thought all I had to do was safely protect that perfectly built house.”

I was curious about the answer my wife had found for herself to the question I had posed.

“I thought it wouldn’t be easy either. But the next generation’s Daeyoung should be someone who can raise the value of the house that great-grandfather founded, grandfather built, and father roofed.”

“…”

“Like the copy from this presentation, Daeyoung is already a company representing Korea. Pride. The work that can raise the value of that pride. Ultimately, it’s about turning the brand Daeyoung into a luxury image going forward. Not making each product a luxury, but making the corporate brand Daeyoung itself a luxury and passing it on to the next generation.”

“So, should I look forward to you fulfilling that role from now on?”

With a sly smile, his wife replied.

“The first thing that came to mind right after the presentation was a cool makgeolli with this seafood pancake, and having this conversation with you.”

“Oh, right!”

I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with my mother during lunchtime.

“Did mom call you during the day?”

“In the daytime?”

My wife knew too.

Mom wouldn’t call first for fear of disturbing her son busy with company work unless it was something significant.

“A friend’s son is getting married in Seoul this Sunday?”

“Oh, is she coming to Seoul then?”

I just nodded.

“Then I’ll tell Manager Roh to go down to Daejeon and bring mother up.”

“No, the groom’s side has already chartered a tour bus. It seems she will come with people she knows on that bus.”

“Is she also going down on that bus?”

“Mom’s thinking that, but…”

“Ah, it’s not right for her to come all the way to Seoul and just go back after seeing what she needs to. And she hasn’t even visited our house yet.”

That was why I brought it up.

She’s coming all the way to Seoul where her son lives; I couldn’t just tell her to take care of her business and go back.

“Even if she comes up that way, tell her to spend a day here before she goes.”

“That’s correct, isn’t it?”

“You know that’s right.”

“It’s not a house I live in alone. Of course, I should tell you in advance.”

A moment later, my wife, her eyes twinkling with mischief, said to me.

Even her hidden dimples were showing.

“Try speaking informally to me.”

“Informal speech?”

“Don’t awkwardly switch back and forth, just say it refreshingly for once.”

“I’m actually really good at this kind of thing, you know?”

“Don’t just act tough with words.”

“……”

“Hey, Taesik?”

“Taesik?”

Her tone was so cute that I had to pretend to keep a straight face and act, but I couldn’t quite manage it.

“Why? We’re the same age. You’re older by four months.”

“Wow. But doesn’t that make ‘Taesik’ a bit too casual? And ‘you’? Did you just call me ‘you’?”

“Aren’t we friends after all? We’re a couple. From now on, you should speak casually too. Try calling me ‘Munjeong.’”

“Should I call you that from now on?”

“No, just for now. I like it when you call me ‘you.’ Just for now, say ‘Munjeong.’”

“Why, Munjeong.”

“After we finish this, and before your mother comes up to Seoul, take all your stuff from your room and move it to mine.”

I was momentarily speechless and just stood there.

“Just for now, or are you saying we should continue to share a room?”

“Continue. Why? Do you dislike it?”

“To share a room with someone who gets up at 4:30, 5:00 in the morning to exercise?”

“That’s perfect. From now on, you’ll join me for morning exercises.”

“Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?”

“Isn’t being a couple about adjusting to each other’s discomforts? I’ll put up with your snoring, so from now on, you’ll join me for morning exercises. That’s the only support I can offer you in this house.”