I’d Rather Live as a Villain

I’d Rather Live as a Villain – Episode 34

(Mr. Moon, you have to do it)

“The registered vehicle has entered.”

It was past 9 o’clock.

I turned off the phone I was looking at and got out of bed when I heard the car entry notification sound coming from the first floor.

Usually, it takes about 5 minutes from the time the notification of a vehicle entering rings until the executive opens the front door.

I put on a cardigan over my pajamas and went downstairs.

“Did you have dinner?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

There was no separate green onion kimchi.

Literally, he came in looking like green onion kimchi.

As if he couldn’t even muster the strength to carry his bag, he took off his shoes, entered the house, and immediately dropped the bag onto the sofa with a thud! Then he collapsed right next to it.

For a moment, I wanted to cover his skirt area, which was barely revealing his legs under something like a blanket, as if I didn’t care or it didn’t bother me at all how casually he had fallen.

“Then go wash up and sleep quickly.”

“I can’t.”

Even sprawled out on the sofa, he seemed to have the strength to shake his head.

The executive shook his head from side to side and managed to get himself up.

“Why? Do you have more to do?”

“No matter how long I hold the managers and have a meeting, no answer comes out. What kind of hint could you give me in this situation… That was all I could think about during that frustrating meeting.”

If there’s Hermès for leather luxury, and Patek Philippe for watch luxury, then there’s Graff for women’s jewelry brands.

I heard that Graff contacted us today.

They said they would withdraw the brand from the Daeyoung duty-free shop at Incheon Airport.

That’s all I know too.

“It’s been the most frustrating and inconvenient since you went to Mulsan. If you were here, I could just ask you what you think on the spot, but now I can’t. Do you have about an hour?”

“Not just an hour, I have three hours, and it doesn’t matter, but the situation hasn’t been resolved?”

“What time is it now?”

“It’s 9… 10 minutes past.”

“Go up first. I’ll just take a quick hot shower and come right up.”

Graff.

From the executive’s perspective, it must be a real sore spot.

Why is Kang Moon-jung called the little Kang Ki-young?

Just 2 years.

As the head of distribution operations, moving up to executive director, it took just two years to create today’s Daeyoung Hotel.

It was a decisive moment that earned the executive the nickname “Little Kang Ki-young,” as Daeyoung Hotel, with its brand alone, crushed the formidable foreign franchise brands that had been dominating the hotel sector.

Using his connections, he swept up all the weddings of the children from domestic conglomerates, shaping the hotel’s image, and at the same time, successfully promoted the Daeyoung Hotel brand abroad by sponsoring international events in Korea whenever they occurred.

But where there is success, there is also failure.

It’s true that the executive led many projects to success in distribution, but there were also quite a few that failed spectacularly.

One such case was the entry of the brand Draup into the airport duty-free shops.

How should I put it… It’s like being constantly dragged around by the brand, right?

Eventually, Draup cited sluggish sales as an excuse and conveyed to Daeyoung Distribution their intention to withdraw from the airport duty-free shop, considering their brand image.

Personally, I think this is the time to either break up with Draup or really tighten the reins, but then again, what is that… as if it’s that easy.

***

The third floor, turned into a conference room.

Before the executive arrived, I had prepared a cup of coffee brewed with a Marco machine, setting it on the table to spread the aroma.

Soon, the executive, having finished his shower, came up to the third floor, cutely inserting his hands into the pockets of his pajama top, almost like a penguin.

Now, his bare face seems more natural and more Kang Moon-jung than the one with makeup.

“Coffee at this late hour?”

“It’s because it’s late at night. The CMG group located in northern Italy. The world’s top-rated coffee machine brand born there, the luxury Marco. If you’re interested, let me know. I’ll brew you a cup.”

Already exhausted from finishing a relay of meetings and heading home at this hour, the executive feigned throwing a Kleenex tissue at me from the table, asking why I had to make him laugh.

“Take it easy, take it easy. Even if the merchandise side offers to put in the machines at the same margin, how can you expect the franchisees, whose stores aren’t even two years old, to change their coffee machines? That’s not possible. It’s too hard.”

“But if you taste the coffee brewed with the luxury Marco, the world’s top-rated coffee machine brand born from the CMG group in northern Italy, don’t you think your mind might change a little?”

In the end, the executive was caught in a big laugh, twisting his body in annoyance at being caught laughing at such a ridiculous joke.

“Hehehe. Ahhh… stop making me laugh! I’m really serious today!”

At times like this, Kang Moon-jung is quite simple.

Just a little joke like this and she quickly regains her energy.

I know better than anyone when and what kind of humor to insert to lighten the executive’s heavy mood.

At times like this, it’s better to start with a light joke to change the mood before diving into serious business talk.

“What is it? What’s so serious?”

“Why ask when you know everything? Ah, what should we do about Draup?”

I ponder the situation.

The methods must have already been devised by the distribution managers, experts, and the competent.

But it means none of the methods were realistic or effective.

How could I find a method that even the experts couldn’t?

In such cases, it’s not about finding a method, but making the executive realize what he truly wants to do.

“Do you really want to catch it?”

A tactic I often use.

I keep asking questions.

Then, within the questions I pose, the executive finds the solution himself.

Over time, we’ve faced obstacles head-on and cleared them together, step by step.

“You call that a solution?”

“Then try cajoling like giving candy to a crying child.”

“That will only spoil them more, you know.”

“Then just say, ‘I understand, let’s withdraw.’ What’s the problem? We have Chaumet, Boucheron, Chloé… all of them. What’s the issue?”

“It’s because Draff completes the line. Are there any other department stores in Korea that have secured the golden line of Chaumet, Boucheron, Chloé, and Draff besides us, Daeyoung? There are only two places in all of Asia, including us. And withdrawing from duty-free shops means withdrawing from our department stores too.”

“So, go ahead. Withdraw from duty-free? Okay. Pull everything out. Just go for it. We’ll deal with the aftermath later.”

“What if we can’t recover? If we let go of Draff, Taekyung will be like, ‘What a treat!’ Right? Currently, only we and Taekyung handle Draff. It’s only a matter of time before they get the buff from Draff and take over Chloé as well. Then, it won’t be Daeyoung but Taekyung who will be the only department store with the big four jewelry lines. Do you think I can stand that?”

“Draff never expected dramatic sales from duty-free shop entries in the first place.”

“What reason can’t we find?”

“So, what was Draff expecting when they allowed Daeyoung, not Taekyung, to enter their duty-free shop?”

This is where a question mark inevitably arises.

I don’t know either.

I’m just crafting fundamental questions to help the executive assess the situation more objectively.

“What were they expecting when they chose Daeyoung Distribution?”

The executive repeats my question to himself, as if talking to himself, and smacks his lips.

“Both Draff and we ultimately need each other’s image.”

What does he mean?

“We needed the image of a department store that secured the second golden jewelry line in Asia with Draff following Chaumet, Boucheron, and Chloé…”

Exactly.

There was never a plan to generate significant sales with Draff.

“Draf is…”

Why? What’s the matter? Why did you stop talking all of a sudden?

“Why? Is there something that suddenly came to mind?”

The executive’s eyes began to shine.

As if he had never collapsed onto the sofa like a wilted radish, his eyes sparkled brightly.

“Just a moment.”

I’ve never caught anything, what do you mean ‘just a moment’?

The executive suddenly made a snapping sound with his fingers.

“Is it really so? For the past two years, we’ve done well with Draf’s business on our own terms. It was one of the few brands I personally took care of. The sales also far exceeded the initial expected sales projected by them.”

It seems things are starting to unravel.

The expression that usually appears when something blocked begins to clear was now spreading across the executive’s face.

“That’s right. The airport duty-free shop is just an image store after all. That’s why we shared the interior design costs, and even the staff there were hired directly by them, sharing the labor costs.”

“It doesn’t make sense to withdraw from such an image store if the sales don’t increase.”

“Exactly. It’s not China or Japan, markets several times larger than ours; they chose Korea after Hong Kong for a reason.”

Draf is one of the brands that extremely resists entering airport duty-free shops, fearing it would gnaw at the brand’s image.

“Taesik.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s have breakfast in Pyeongchang-dong tomorrow morning.”

“Why?”

“I just thought of a way to catch Draf. Not just catch, but we might be able to control it in the future. This isn’t something that can be done with just my power or Daeyoung Distribution’s. We need to move Daeyoung Planning.”

Daeyoung Planning.

President Kim Daeyoon there has clearly defined his stance.

Towards Vice President Kang Youngjin.

He’s not brave enough to show an openly hostile stance to the executive.

But it’s certain he’s one of Vice President Kang Youngjin’s closest aides.

Considering that, I interpreted it as him thinking it would be difficult with just his or Daeyoung Distribution’s power alone, so he’s considering borrowing the power of Chairman Kang Kiyoung.

“I don’t know what it is, but does it require the chairman’s permission?”

“Not permission, but support.”

Not permission, but support?

“If that’s the case, having breakfast in Pyeongchang-dong tomorrow morning might not be such a good choice, don’t you think?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

I’m not really one to drink coffee at night.

Yet, I still brought the prepared coffee to my lips and moistened my mouth.

“Moon Jung.”

“Oh… Your voice is a bit harsh, isn’t it?”

“Kuh-huh-huh…”

“Ah, don’t laugh. You’ll make me laugh too. What? Moon Jung, what? If you called me, say something.”

It’s a relief.

In that short time, his expression has brightened considerably compared to when he first came up to the third floor.

I’m not sure exactly what method he thought of, but given the director’s style, it means he’s grasped both confidence and certainty in that method.

But especially at times like this, I need to be the one to keep him centered so he doesn’t make any unnecessary mistakes.

During my time assisting the director right by his side, the role I’ve been most attentive to is exactly this.

When the director becomes too heavy with tension or too light with excitement, I’m there to help him press down on those feelings and maintain his balance.

“People seem to gain superpowers when they receive recognition.”

“What are you on about? You were doing fine and now suddenly superpowers?”

“Especially men, that animal, they’re really prone to it. The moment they realize they’re being recognized by someone, from then on, they feel full even without eating, and they’re brimming with confidence even without wearing nice clothes or shoes.”

“What? Speak in a way that’s easier to understand.”

“That support you’re talking about. Is it only the chairman who can provide it?”

At my words, the director tilted his head.

“Are you asking if the chairman can provide that support, not just the big chairman?”

“…Dad?”

“It’s not a family matter, is it? It’s about the company. I would understand if it were a family matter, but when it comes to company affairs, shouldn’t we report to the chairman and ask for support, rather than going to the big chairman in Pyeongchang-dong?”

For a moment, the director blinked rapidly, as if fitting the floating thoughts in his head together.

“The big chairman. You mean grandfather. He officially retired four years ago. He stepped down from the chairman position and withdrew. The official supreme decision-maker of Daeyoung, no matter what anyone says, is the chairman.”

“!”

“But no one in Daeyoung acknowledges that fact. Even the children who should be the first to acknowledge it and convince others are not doing so.”

The director continued to blink, his mouth half open.

“At the breakfast table in Pyeongchang-dong, chairman. You look quite lonely.”

“Dad…?”

“Every time Moon Jung or the vice president asks the big chairman for help or reports something business-related, the chairman’s expression turns quite sour.”

I didn’t call that loneliness for no reason.

A dining table where everyone focuses on Chairman Kang Ki-young.

The business matters exchanged over that table.

There, Chairman Kang Man-ho has no place.

“You might not know, Moon-jung. Or rather, you wouldn’t know.”

“What?”

“Since you first joined Mulsan as a manager, you’ve been a formidable presence to everyone, regardless of whether they were your superiors or subordinates. And you were recognized simply for being you, regardless of ability or performance. But most employees aren’t like you, Moon-jung. We’re not beings who naturally receive recognition.”

“…”

“Of course, it feels good to be acknowledged by those above us. But recognition from subordinates, from those below us, isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about feeling secure in our position. Right now, the ultimate decision-maker of Daeyoung is your father, the chairman, not your grandfather, the great chairman.”

I think this is right.

Of course, it’s true that Great Chairman Kang Ki-young is the absolute ruler of Daeyoung, and that fact won’t change as long as he lives.

But now, as we’ve entered the long tunnel of succession competition, Executive Director Kang Moon-jung must captivate not the great chairman but his own father, Chairman Kang Man-ho.

Great Chairman Kang Ki-young.

He’s already past ninety.

How long can the power of this absolute ruler last?

It wouldn’t be strange if his power disappeared tomorrow due to health reasons, given his age.

“The vice president isn’t doing it. Or rather, he can’t because he doesn’t know. You have to do it, Moon-jung. Only then can you get closer to that place you so desperately want to keep and claim as your own.”

“Hoo… Wow… My head is spinning.”

He looked quite shocked.

“Really?”

“What?”

“About dad. Did he really look lonely at the breakfast table all this time, in your eyes?”

“If his only daughter couldn’t notice, perhaps he was?”

“That’s true. I really was like that.”

“From now on, please acknowledge the chairman’s place, position, and power within Daeyoung. The great chairman too, is hoping and waiting for you to do that, Moon-jung.”

“Grandfather too?”

To that, I gave a sly smile and mixed in a joke to convey my sincerity.

“Us petty men, we say, ‘Let’s see how well this company runs without me!’ right? And when we hear it actually runs fine without us, we feel slighted and get spiteful. But to the great chairman, to grandfather, Daeyoung means something entirely different. It’s a place that holds his entire life, more cherished than his own children. Don’t you think he’s desperately hoping that Daeyoung will continue to stand strong without him?”

“…”

“The great chairman I know would certainly think so. Who will grant his wish, who will create that reality? Naturally, it should be you, Moon-jung. Not the vice president. Go meet the chairman at the group’s headquarters tomorrow. Or perhaps invite him to a hotel for lunch. That’s one way to do it. I don’t know what it is, but ask him for that thing you’ve now come to need. He might even pluck the stars from the sky for you.”

Before he knew it, the executive had a smile plastered on his face, elbows propped on the conference table.

He leaned his chin on his hands and began to stare intently at me.

A person whose dimples appear when they smile.

A person whose presence or absence of dimples reveals whether their smile is genuine or fake.

Showing me his deep-set dimples, the executive said,

“If I catch the draft, I’ll put Marco machines in every Goldline and the Black Bean branches we’re currently preparing to launch.”

“Yesss! For real? Did you just promise? You made a promise, right?”

“In that sense, what did you say earlier? What? Something about Northern Italy?”

“The CMG Group located in Northern Italy. The birthplace of the world’s top-rated coffee machine brand, the luxury Marco!”

“Could you make me a cup of coffee with that luxury Marco? I still don’t know how to use a manual machine.”

“Now? In the middle of the night?”

“You’ve given me something to ponder. I think I need to sort out my thoughts over a cup of coffee, thanks to you. Before I meet dad tomorrow.”