Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 16
You said you really liked me.
And you even suggested that we should meet more often.
Chairman Kang Ki-young, who never indulges in empty flattery or excessive praise, regardless of who he’s speaking to.
The moment I heard him say we should meet more often, two thoughts crossed my mind simultaneously.
One was that my judgment to unconditionally place Executive Director Kang Mun-jung in a superior position in our relationship was spot on.
The other was that if I could catch Chairman Kang’s eye, perhaps all the games would be over.
I found myself wanting to delve deeper into Chairman Kang Ki-young’s heart.
And then I start to get confused.
Is this desire to penetrate deeper into his heart truly only because of Executive Director Kang Mun-jung?
Though it was nothing but verbal praise and recognition, and the acceptance of his heart, I already know that under the roof of Daeyoung, there’s nothing bigger than that.
Chairman Kang, who did not hide his satisfaction with my very existence, and Chairman Kang Man-ho, who opened up his heart to me even more than he had at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant that day.
The dinner, which started with drinks and progressed very slowly.
After all, how much could the elderly drink or eat?
It was not yet 8 PM when I left the main house in Pyeongchang-dong.
With such a vast garden, it’s quite a walk from the entrance to the garage building.
Executive Director Kang Mun-jung walked with me down that path.
“Was it a bit moving earlier?”
Was it because I had something I wanted to say to the Executive Director, or did he also have something to say to me?
As if we had reached an agreement, we both started to slow down our pace.
“Sagong, Seonju. I didn’t expect you to make such a direct frontal assault, but when I think about it, there was no surer way. Indeed, at times like this, Executive Director Yoon’s quick thinking ... No matter how much I ponder, it seems too precious to give away.”
Thanks to the pleasant start and smooth end of the dinner, it seemed the Executive Director was also at ease.
Judging by the slightly excited look on his face and the jokes he was making.
He should have worn a jacket...
“Aren’t you cold?”
“It’s April. Who would say they’re cold in this spring breeze?”
“That’s why you always cough when the seasons change. I told our mother that you’re quite high-maintenance.”
Suddenly, he halted in his tracks! After stopping abruptly, the executive rolled his eyes.
Of course, in this atmosphere, serious disappointment doesn’t fit.
It was just a playful expression he made.
“In fact, I started talking to my mother about the executive quite a long time ago.”
“How long ago? How much time are we talking?”
“Probably ... since you first came to the company as a manager?”
“Why?”
“Even if my apartment complex is home to professional baseball players, it’s common for people like us to brag about who lives in our complex, Mr. Executive.”
“Oh, right! Do you like baseball, Executive Yoon?”
“All of a sudden?”
“No, no. Sorry for interrupting. This isn’t immediately important, let’s talk about it next time. So? What were we just talking about?”
At times like this, he seems so distracted.
Indeed.
Considering he spends more than half of his 24-hour day as the sole heir of Daeyoung, wearing a stiff suit and maintaining tension, he should loosen up a bit now and then.
I started walking again, and the executive matched my pace.
“I just told her that the son works for the same department where Daeyoung Group’s Chairman Kang Kiyoung’s granddaughter, Chairman Kang Manho’s daughter Kang Moonjung, came in as a manager to learn about business management. I tried to impress upon her that the department where her son works is this important within Daeyoung Group. Ha ha.”
“Executive Yoon, even though you’re a son, you often share stories about work with your mother? Usually, sons, men, don’t talk about things that happened outside when they’re at home, right?”
“She’s the only family I have.”
“...”
“I’m the only family she has too.”
At that, the executive nodded as if he understood.
“How surprised she must have been? To hear that you’re going to marry such a person.”
I smirked at the executive, who was playfully exaggerating as if to say, ‘This is the kind of person I am.’
And I continued speaking.
“I told her that you, the executive, rely on me a lot for work, and ask for help.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“No, not just when I’m serving you directly ... but since the time you were at the company.”
I’m in the midst of a rather embarrassing confession.
“So, it seems I told her that you always try to assign me big tasks whenever you see me, and that I’m tired because Kang Moonjung relies on me too much for work. My mother doesn’t know ... that I had such an unpleasant experience at the company.”
“...”
“I kept saying no, but they insisted I transfer to be an executive assistant. I had no choice but to change positions. The conglomerate tried to keep me, but the executive was so adamant...”
With a bitter smile, I stopped in my tracks.
Today, I did my best to make you stand out in front of your family. Now it’s your turn to do the same for me, I said, implying the meaning with my words.
“The only son. Always worried about being overshadowed or having to be subservient, I wanted to reassure them with that lie.”
“Now that I see it, Executive Yoon has a surprisingly tender side?”
“Mother is quite tender-hearted. That’s why I have to pretend to be strong. So, I’m confessing to you first, to ensure my lies remain undiscovered by her. Would you like to come with me to Daejeon this weekend? It’s something we have to do eventually, and it might not be bad to get it done before work gets busy.”
At that moment, my phone rang.
It seems the chauffeur has arrived.
The garage.
I pressed the button on the wall.
The shutter of the Pyeongchang-dong garage slowly rose and then opened completely, lying flat.
The chauffeur was waiting in front of the open garage.
“I think Saturday will be fine. Please check if that day works for Mother.”
“Saturday? Yes, I understand.”
“Take care on your way in.”
“You too, Executive.”
“Oh, right! Don’t forget to take a picture of your outfit before coming to work tomorrow morning and text it to me for approval.”
Saturday in Daejeon.
I felt as if I were laid bare.
In front of Executive Kang Moon-jung, who had brought me home to introduce me to his mother, and in front of Manager Roh Gyu-hyung, who was waiting in the apartment complex parking lot.
It was a moment that starkly revealed my background.
But it was okay.
The 5 billion won that flew into my account, the promotion to an executive position at the conglomerate.
It’s a 10 billion won deal, what can’t I do?
Yet...
Still, the neighbor’s toddler tricycle and stroller sprawled haphazardly in the hallway were quite annoying.
I could somehow understand the delivery boxes, but why pile up such waste in a shared space?
In this moment, even the mundane sight made me feel exposed, and the presence of the neighbor felt irritating.
“Hello, Mother. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Kang Moon-jung.”
Mother.
Wow, this is really...
It felt as if two different worlds, with their immense disparity, were merging into one, didn’t it?
Surely, these two worlds are where I, myself, exist simultaneously.
The world where my mother and I live together.
The world where I and Executive Kang Moon-jung coexist.
Have I ever considered the possibility of these two worlds coexisting, even for a moment?
Out of sheer embarrassment, my hands and feet curled up, and my whole body seemed to twist in this awkward and uncomfortable air.
“Come inside. Why did you bring all this?”
The moment I stepped into the living room, I could tell how much effort Mom had put in.
The indoor slippers had been replaced with new ones.
They must have been worn for years, right?
She had thrown away the old ones and prepared new ones.
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