I’d Rather Live as a Villain - I’d Rather Live as a Villain chapter 66

66 What does your aunt like?

“Hyung-jun Lim asked if it would be possible to brand the capsules by mid-June, but I said that would be difficult.”

For some reason, Hyung-jun Lim, the meticulous and principled head of distribution, gladly accepted the conditions we proposed.

“It’s tough. We need to register the trademark, and we need to pass the Food and Drug Administration’s inspection for import and export.”

Director Jang said that shouldn’t be a big problem.

“The China division is looking into it continuously, but the inspection for powdered products isn’t too strict. As for coconut milk, there’s already a brand in Korea, so we can use their products in a pinch. Right now, the only things we need time for are the farm-related contracts and the branding, just that part.”

The best China expert I know is Director Jang Ki-won.

If he says something is possible, then it must be possible.

I personally had a hard time getting olive oil through the FDA, so I thought that would be a hurdle, but he said that part wouldn’t take up much time.

“It seems like they want to test the waters in the Korean market first. And they also asked about the Marco machines.”

“Are they asking if we can put the machines in China with the same margin?”

“Yes.”

“You can promise them that part. And whether it’s the Haikou, Shanghai, or Shenzhen branch, wherever they prepare, just have the warehouse ready to send the machines. Then, our Italian branch will systemize the process to send the shipments directly to China without going through Korea.”

“Yes, I also think that part won’t be a problem, so I responded as positively as I could.”

“Did you make it clear that Goldline is willing to collaborate with the China division for their market entry?”

At that question, Director Jang Ki-won swallowed his answer for a moment and said to me with a serious expression,

“Just as you said, Director Lim Hyung-jun is quite a detailed character. In conversation, every other sentence would be about principles or fundamentals.”

“Working together, there might be times when you feel suffocated. But if you look on the bright side, he’s someone who definitely doesn’t make mistakes.”

“Yes, such words came from that character.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that, from his perspective, this is the best he can do right now.”

“What does that mean?”

“The FP side is willing to take a certain level of risk for the China expansion, so don’t feel too pressured and do your best to target the market as soon as possible.”

That was something Director Lim Hyung-jun would never say.

“He also mentioned that he could see the balance that had been established… suddenly tilting significantly in the opposite direction.”

He must be talking about the succession structure.

“He said he would try to be brave once. He’s also relieved that such an offer came to his side in this situation.”

“Hmm…”

“But you don’t need to think only in that direction. He seemed to be considering our proposal after weighing all the options.”

I didn’t care about the reason.

So what.

I too, when thinking about this project, was eager to show the entire group the synergy that could be created by a collaboration between our commodities and distribution.

“First off, they said they would send the Xinlong coffee beans within this month. They want to create their own menu and test it in the Korean market before the summer season starts.”

“Can the coffee beans pass the Food and Drug Administration’s inspection quickly?”

“That’s what the name Daeyoung is for. If we mobilize all the lines we have there, we can get approval in less than two weeks.”

“Let’s split the cost related to capsule production with our European division.”

At that, Director Jang chuckled and said,

“Why don’t we just cover all of it?”

“Ah…”

“The European division isn’t putting in the machines, are they?”

“Who makes money selling machines? It’s all about making money with the capsules that fit those machines.”

With a bit of his characteristic slyness, Director Jang seemed to be asking for just that kind of favor.

I know it’s a bit shameless to ask, but for the coffee… haha, please let us have it all.

“Wow, from my perspective, having thrown in the initial plan, I feel like I’m at a loss?”

“In return, our China division will really put our lives on the line to try and penetrate the Chinese market. We’ll ensure that more units are sold there than the Marco machines currently flooding the Korean market.”

“Of course. You should definitely do that. I was just joking. What else have I done besides throw in an idea? But you really have to make sure we can pull those machine units out.”

“Yes. If it weren’t for the director, we wouldn’t have been able to renew the contract next quarter. It’s still just a stay of execution, as we haven’t received a definite answer about the renewal. With this in mind, I’ve thrown myself into this project as if it’s my last at this company. If I can’t make this work, then I’ll have to step down out of pride.”

* * *

After receiving a notification that the camping chairs, table, and barbecue grill I ordered online had arrived, I left work an hour earlier than usual.

At home, still awaiting my wife’s return, I changed into something comfortable and began preparing an event for her.

First, I removed the painting given by Vice President Kang Young-jin from the conference room space on the third floor, which my wife had decorated.

In its place, I hung our wedding photo, which had never been displayed before.

As I expected, the sizes matched well, and it felt incredibly natural, without any sense of dissonance.

Now it finally feels like a newlywed’s home.

Out of the four camping chairs that arrived, I set up two on the balcony of the third floor with a table.

The other two chairs, the remaining table, and the barbecue grill were taken to the garden on the first floor to create a camping atmosphere.

“What’s all this?”

My wife, having returned from work, stood at the front door, looking at the camping equipment I had set up in the garden, and asked without even coming inside.

“How is it? Doesn’t it look quite decent now that it’s all set up?”

“No, it’s not about whether it looks decent or not, what’s with this sudden setup?”

“It just looked too plain.”

“So you bought camping gear we won’t even use?”

“Who says we won’t use it? We’re going to use all of it.”

“This? Here?”

“Of course. Where else would we use it, inside?”

“What are you saying? Why are you doing something you never do?”

My wife entered with a look of incomprehension, furrowing her brow at how I had decorated the garden.

I took her up to the third floor, hastily rearranged the furniture, showed her the wall where I had hung our wedding photo after removing the gifted painting from Vice President Kang Young-jin, and the terrace I had cozily set up with camping chairs and a table.

“What’s all this? When did you do it?”

“Just sit here for a moment.”

I seated my wife on one of the camping chairs on the terrace, then sat down beside her.

Together, we looked down at the garden on the first floor and I said.

“Sometimes, even with a heart full of feelings, one finds it hard to express them honestly.”

“What do you mean?”

“During the time I’ve spent by your side as Assistant Manager Yoon for over three years, my heart was like a chimney, full of emotions. But I held back, afraid of crossing a line or being seen as overstepping.”

“Like what?”

“Just to be at ease for a moment, even if it’s brief, to do nothing and just relax.”

It was the moment her eyes narrowed.

“And I wish you’d find happiness, even if it’s just occasionally.”

I asked my wife if she knew.

“You really are a nice boss. Clear-cut, and sometimes strict, but as much as you’re strict, you’re equally generous. A boss who knows how to take care of their people, rewarding them appropriately for their performance. But as flawless as you are in your work, that’s what makes you an uncomfortable boss to have.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s how it should be. The company isn’t a playground. Wow… so this is why they say people change after they visit the restroom. Are you coming out with this now?”

I gently brushed my wife’s fallen hair behind her ear and said,

“In the life of someone named Kang Moon-jung, there seems to be nothing but work and Dae-young. For the subordinates who personally like you, that’s an uncomfortable sight. Many people who support and cheer for you probably feel the same as I do. They wish for your happiness.”

I took my wife’s hand.

And then, after that big event, I conveyed the feelings I had deliberately held back for the past few weeks to my wife.

“I have no friends other than you, no hobbies other than morning exercises. Even after a long day of hard work, I come home to this place, where I should rest, and yet I’ve turned it into a meeting room, plotting strategies.”

From noble mtl dot nete

“…”

“This weekend, let’s grill some beef over there. I’ve bought all the charcoal. I want to go to the theater with you, watch a movie together, and someday, I want to take you night fishing. I’ll definitely do it. And teach me golf.”

“Golf?”

“You play golf, right? I want to learn golf while accompanying you. Do you know how many people are worried about you?”

“I know.”

“Not those bat-like people who stick here and there depending on the situation, but there are still many on your side who support you.”

“I know.”

“But why aren’t you on your own side? Shouldn’t you be the one most concerned and caring for yourself?”

With that, I held her hand in mine and gently stroked it several times.

“In that sense, shall I make you a cup of Shinlong coffee?”

“Lee… I knew you’d do this again. So that’s your real motive? If I keep falling for this, there must be something wrong with my intelligence.”

“Only now you realize?”

My wife bit her lower lip hard and hit my shoulder with a weak punch.

After flashing a playful smile at his wife, he spoke seriously again.

“Just kidding, just kidding. That project has already left my hands. It was initiated by the China division, and I trust the head of the China division.”

Then, looking down at the garden on the first floor, he said to his wife,

“Let’s grill some beef in the garden this weekend. By then, we’ll have finished the goat soup your great-aunt sent us. We can enjoy it together, whether with wine or beer. It’s because you, the actual homeowner, only think of this place as a house, that I end up feeling the same.”

“Wine sounds good. Let’s go with wine.”

“Deal.”

“But I won’t lift a finger. If you agree to prepare everything, cook, and even clean up afterward, then it’s a deal for me too.”

“Aren’t you trying to have it too easy?”

“In return, I’ll buy the meat.”

“Then, of course, I shouldn’t do anything.”

“Puhahaha.”

While laughing, he put his arm around his wife’s shoulder and said,

“And I was thinking of visiting your great-aunt this week, what do you think?”

“The great-aunt? Why her?”

Leaning on his shoulder and looking up at him, his wife opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“I thought I should do it since you never bother with such things.”

She probably knew what he meant.

Her self-esteem was so high, she rarely bothered with pleasantries or visiting influential people.

Of course, he was someone who valued his wife’s pride and self-esteem very highly.

He hoped more than anyone that she would maintain that pride and self-esteem, so he decided to fill in the gaps she left, starting now.

“If you say not to do it, I won’t.”

“Well… there’s no particular reason to tell you not to.”

With that, he chuckled at his wife’s response and asked,

“We can’t just visit empty-handed. What does the great-aunt like?”