Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 38
The atmosphere turned awkward at the husband’s words.
Ahn Cheol-hyun’s wife hurriedly placed the kettle filled with ceremonial liquor here and there, giving her husband a meaningful look.
“Why bring up such a heavy topic on a day like today? It’s not like today is the only day we have. Let’s talk about it next time, next time. Please, go ahead and eat.”
But Ahn Cheol-hyun showed no signs of backing down.
T&GV’s CEO, Ahn Seong-hyun, was also hoping that this opportunity would allow his brother to get a clear stance from his brother-in-law.
“On a day like today, if not now, when will we bring up such a conversation? Isn’t it more ridiculous to meet separately with my brother-in-law to discuss such sensitive matters? Don’t you agree, brother-in-law?”
Chairman Kang Man-ho silently picked up the teapot and poured for his brother-in-law, then went to fill his own cup.
Just then, Yoon Tae-sik quickly took the teapot and filled his father-in-law’s cup.
“Honey.”
His wife was embarrassed.
But her husband paid no mind.
Eventually, Chairman Kang Man-ho himself smiled at his brother-in-law’s wife, signaling that it was alright.
“That’s exactly right. If we don’t talk about these things on a day like today, when will we ever have a heart-to-heart about such matters? But brother-in-law.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s eat while we talk. It’s not every day that a son-in-law raises a glass in front of his mother-in-law who has passed away.”
“...”
“The preparations were made by your wife, but still, from Yoon’s perspective, it’s the first time he’s receiving a meal from his mother-in-law since the wedding.”
The smile on Chairman Kang Man-ho’s face as he said this contained both guilt and sorrow for his wife who had passed away first.
Chairman Kang Man-ho then looked at his youngest brother-in-law, CEO Ahn Seong-hyun, and his children, and said,
“Let’s eat. Let’s have our meal. We can talk slowly while eating.”
Although his youngest brother-in-law was five years younger than his own wife, the children of his youngest brother-in-law were inevitably older than his daughter, Moon-jeong.
Born to Chairman Kang Man-ho and Lady Ahn Young-hee after eight long years of marriage without children, their daughter Moon-jeong was destined to be the youngest in both her paternal and maternal families.
“Why do you think I came here today? Every year on this day, not only Moon-jeong but also I feel uneasy.”
Chairman Kang Man-ho, now approaching seventy.
However, the wife in his heart still maintained the youth of her forties.
His wife, who had continued to get pregnant and suffer miscarriages in an attempt to produce an heir, a son to carry on the Daeyoung legacy, even after giving birth to Moon-jeong.
The existence of a son he had outside was ultimately what caused his wife such severe mental anguish, pressure, and anxiety.
And that mental anguish, pressure, and anxiety always seemed to bring brightness to his wife, but instead, it caused depression, anxiety, and insomnia, leading to her mental decline.
After Moon-jeong was born, there were two more miscarriages.
Each time a precious life closed its eyes and came into the world from her body, she aged a decade.
In body, mind, and spirit.
Eventually, she left the world too soon, without even reaching fifty.
The guilt and regret over his wife’s absence were significant, but the succession of Daeyoung’s legacy was even more so.
After his wife passed away, and from the moment Go Young-sook took her place, Chairman Kang Man-ho and the Daeyoung family were forever indebted to Hanshin Newspaper.
That’s why, when his brother-in-law wanted to hold his wife’s memorial service at the family’s Seongbuk-dong residence, he couldn’t say no, nor suggest they stay in Pyeongchang-dong instead.
He knew the brothers-in-law would never accept entrusting the wife’s memorial service to the new lady of the Pyeongchang-dong house.
Every year on his wife’s anniversary, Chairman Kang Man-ho would quell his churning heart by spending time alone at a nearby temple or some quiet place.
Still, he lacked the courage to visit his in-laws’ Seongbuk-dong home with his daughter.
“Of course, I wouldn’t know about outside, but I had no face to meet you all and come to this house.”
“...”
“I’ve always been grateful. Sometimes it was burdensome, but...”
Looking at An Cheol-hyun.
“Even without saying it, I’ve been comfortable in many ways since you started designing our Moon-jung’s image through Hanshin Newspaper.”
It was a sensitive matter.
His son, and the mother of his son.
He couldn’t give the impression that he was only taking care of Moon-jung.
On the other hand, he had to convey his father’s special love to Moon-jung.
If Hanshin Newspaper took the lead in this role, instead of the Daeyoung family, it was a different story.
Hanshin Newspaper had a just cause, and the Daeyoung family had no grounds to object.
“Moon-jung’s image has been splendidly crafted with the uncles’ affection, hasn’t it?”
“...”
“From now on, please design our Yoon son-in-law a bit.”
As soon as those words ended, An Cheol-hyun, CEO An Seong-hyun, and their children could tell where the current chairman of Daeyoung’s heart was leaning.
“Moon-jung’s case won’t require as much effort. I was surprised myself, how could I not have recognized it sooner? The talent and potential he has is immense, our Yoon son-in-law.”
Before long, Chairman Kang Man-ho’s hand was on his son-in-law’s shoulder.
“It’s a shameless request, but when the time comes to make a decision, please ensure there’s no discord, so these friends don’t have to work too hard. Do me this favor.”
As soon as his brother-in-law finished speaking, An Cheol-hyun emptied his glass.
And passing the empty glass to Yoon Tae-sik, he simultaneously picked up the jug filled with liquor.
“Our nephew-in-law ... Is there really a need to design him with such care? The original mold is already this excellent.”
Kang Moon-jung read the room’s atmosphere.
Was there a need for the mood to turn heavy again?
As if suddenly recording an unexpected defeat, Moon-jung blinked and cast a questioning look towards her uncle, a friend-like figure.
“What’s that?”
“What do you mean?”
“That thing uncle just said. Does it mean I’m such a mess that I need a lot of work ... Is that what it means?”
“Ah, if uncle says so, that’s probably what he means.”
“No, I think he was serious just now. Ugh, I’m being compared to someone else, and not just anyone, but my own husband?”