Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 30
“I was so out of it on my wedding day, I couldn’t even greet everyone properly.”
“Not at all. It happens to everyone. This gathering was arranged by the chairman so we could properly exchange those missed greetings. The couple couldn’t be more perfect.”
Kang Cheol-jin, owner of the Daeyoung Monsters.
With his help, I was able to naturally exchange greetings with many people.
“Brother.”
As I was about to follow Owner Kang Cheol-jin to greet others, Vice President Kang Young-jin approached us, champagne glass in hand.
Vice President Kang Young-jin.
A man more remarkable for his savvy than his skills.
During my three years living in Pyeongchang-dong, the Vice President Kang Young-jin I observed was certainly a man with many rough edges, yet in front of others, he knew how to hide those flaws, a sort of actor in his own right.
Because he was adept at navigating situations, he naturally possessed political power.
But...
But what should I say, that he tries too hard to cover his lack of ability with just his savvy? That he seems to run his business too politically?
That’s the strong impression he gives.
Such was Vice President Kang Young-jin, calling Owner Kang Cheol-jin ‘Brother’ as he came over to us.
“I’ll borrow our dear Yoon for a moment.”
In contrast, Owner Kang Cheol-jin was a figure without fault in both skill and savvy.
If the second son, Chairman Kang Man-ho, had not taken over the third-generation management of Daeyoung Group, and the eldest son, Kang Sang-ho, had, then without a doubt, the fourth-generation successor of Daeyoung Group would have been the team owner, Kang Cheol-jin.
“I also have some people I’d like to introduce to our Yoon husband. Is that okay?”
“Why are you asking me? Of course, it is.”
“Is Yoon husband okay with it too?”
“Yes, of course.”
I followed Vice President Kang Young-jin to where the people he wanted to meet were gathered.
The presidents of Daeyoung’s subsidiaries.
Especially those who were backing Vice President Kang Young-jin as the successor.
While formally greeting them, I thought to myself:
Even though they were appointed by Chairman Kang Man-ho’s Daeyoung, not the great Chairman Kang Ki-young’s, they still know too little about the absolute ruler of the Daeyoung family, Chairman Kang Ki-young.
Perhaps that’s why they’re backing Vice President Kang Young-jin, not Executive Director Kang Moon-jung.
Foolish people.
It was when I had just finished exchanging greetings with the people Vice President Kang Young-jin introduced.
A staff member from Daeyoung Hotel’s banquet hall, helping with the party event, was passing by us.
Vice President Kang Young-jin took a champagne glass from the tray being served and handed it to me, slowly moving as if to signal me to follow him.
We took our place in front of a small round table prepared with tea-time cookies.
“It seems they’ve clashed again.”
Where Vice President Kang Young-jin’s gaze stopped, Executive Director Kang Moon-jung and Director Joo Yeon-hee stood side by side, looking at us.
I immediately understood what he meant by ‘clashed again.’
The executive director, arms crossed over his chest.
And next to him, Director Joo Yeon-hee, her face flushed red.
On a day like today, one would usually hold back...
No doubt, he must have caught Director Joo Yeon-hee like catching a mouse.
It’s not a frequent occurrence, but these two periodically clash.
Seeing this, one might think Director Joo Yeon-hee is quite enduring.
If it were me, I would avoid or step back from a fight I couldn’t win.
But she’s not like that at all.
It makes me wonder if she feels a thrill from being scolded and hit.
“Whenever I see those two, I feel like I’ve become a sinner.”
Out of the blue, Vice President Kang Young-jin nonchalantly spat out those words as he picked up a cookie to taste.
Before I knew it, the Executive Director and Director Joo Yeon-hee, who had been standing side by side under the pine tree, were now turning their backs on each other, parting ways.
“Does Executive Director Yoon know? Those two used to be quite close.”
No way.
I’m listening as if to say, “Sure, if you say so,” but it can’t be.
They’re completely different types of people; even if they were close, how close could they have been?
And the Executive Director inherently dislikes making friends.
Should I say he’s quite dry when it comes to that?
They must have been just acquaintances, keeping a certain distance within the circle of conglomerate heirs.
“Our marriage was the problem. Ever since I married her, we clash every time we meet.”
“...”
“If she hadn’t married me, maybe she would have caught the bouquet that Moon Jung threw at Executive Director Yoon’s wedding.”
Vice President Kang Young-jin lightly touched the champagne glass to his lips and then pulled away.
And he continued.
“It’s quite a predicament for me. Every time we meet, there’s a problem. In any other household, I would tell Moon Jung to stop it, to try to get along, playing the role of a brother, but as you know, Executive Director Yoon, I’m not in a position to do that. Nor can I just tell my wife to endure it, to avoid it...”
What exactly does he want to say to me?
“From now on, I need Executive Director Yoon’s help a lot.”
“Me? What can I...”
“It’s uncomfortable for us, and there’s no need to let others see that discomfort. What’s this? Inviting people over to the house, and in front of everyone. It’s senseless.”
It sounds right when I listen, but if you think about it a little, it’s quite funny.
Of course, it’s rude to show such a scene in front of guests who have been invited to celebrate a happy occasion in the family.
But among the guests invited here, who doesn’t know that the relationship between the two is strained due to the succession issue?
It’s ridiculous to make a fuss over something that everyone attending the party today already knows...
“We can’t avoid seeing each other for life. And it’s draining for both to act like this every time we meet. I think Executive Director Yoon is flexible in that regard. That’s why I’m saying this.”
“Yes, I understand. I’m not sure if it’s something I can do, but I’ll do my best.”
That was the only answer I could give Vice President Kang Young-jin at this moment.
“How’s married life?”
“What do you mean?”
“A lot must have changed. Your face even made it to the newspapers, and the photo of you at the baseball stadium is still floating around on communities and SNS.”
“I’m not sure. It seems like it, but I don’t think anything has changed from before.”
“Being busy with company work, I haven’t had time to go out, so maybe that’s why I haven’t noticed. Are you treating Mr. Yoon well?”
Vice President Kang Young-jin looked at me with a peculiar gaze, as if he knew all about my contractual marriage with Mr. Yoon.
Yes.
That’s all you amount to.
That’s the difference between you and Mr. Yoon.
In an unavoidable situation, I wouldn’t know, but Mr. Yoon isn’t someone who would go out of his way to create such a setting just to say and ask things he doesn’t mean.
On the other hand, you, who have become accustomed to covering up your lack of ability with social skills and political power, are someone who needs to create such occasions just to reassure your anxious heart.
I throw a bait towards Vice President Kang Young-jin.
“Mr. Yoon?”
“Mr. Yoon?”
As expected, Vice President Kang Young-jin bites the bait I’ve thrown without straying from my expectations.
With an exaggerated tilt of his head and a wrinkle between his brows, he asked,
“Do you still call him Mr. Yoon to Moon-jeong? Don’t tell me the two of you ... even after getting married, are still formal with each other?”
The reason I threw the bait.