I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan - Episode 100

Episode 100

“…So don’t think I’m grabbing a random person and saying meaningless things.”

Seung-hyun frowned slightly at the sound of his rapidly beating heart.

Seok-hyung looked at his pale face for a moment, sighed, and finally let go of Seung-hyun’s wrist.

“…If you stay like this, you’ll get indigestion no matter what you eat. I’ll be going.”

He only said that, but his expression showed that he didn’t care about the discomfort he felt at all, but he couldn’t tolerate that discomfort having a negative impact on Seung-hyun’s health.

“Don’t say you’ll do something to harm your body even out of spite. It may be a light way to vent your anger for you… but it’s not light for me.”

As expected, he seemed to have known from the beginning that the words about having a drink were said out of anger.

“…I’m going to die anyway. Maybe I can endure half of this year.”

“You’re not dying right now. At least until the moment you take your last breath, you are clearly Director Han.”

With those words, Seok-hyung left Seung-hyun’s house. Seung-hyun, drained of energy, fiddled with his wrist that had a handprint on it.

“Haah…”

As much as Yiseok-hyung was the closest person to Han Seung-hyun, he never thought he could deceive him for a long time from the beginning. He had simply thought it would be fine if they didn’t meet again.

‘At least one person in this world… truly loved Han Seung-hyun.’

Even Han Seung-hyun’s family didn’t pay much attention to his change. He didn’t have anyone he could call a friend either, but at least to one person, he was deeply loved.

Seung-hyun, thinking of the original Han Seung-hyun, let out a small sigh. Perhaps it was because the longer he lived in this body, the more pitiful Han Seung-hyun seemed, but he felt strange.

“Haah.”

The tension was released, and his body went limp. He was upset and put on a pointless show of force, but as expected, he didn’t want to shorten his remaining time or bring illness upon himself.

So even if it wasn’t because of Seok-hyung’s words, he had to eat. No matter how suffocating he felt and wanted to lose his mind, he couldn’t avoid the situation he was in now in that way.

Last time, he even wanted to exhaust his body and forget everything, but now he didn’t feel like it.

For Seung-hyun, sexual relations were initially just something he wanted to try at least once before he died. After that goal was achieved, he had considered it just a means of escape to temporarily forget the painful reality.

But he couldn’t do that now. The days he couldn’t remember, the days that were so good it was embarrassing, the days that were painful but just being in contact was comforting.

They were all memories of being in contact with Jae-young, so he didn’t want to cover them up with other memories. It wasn’t a feeling that could be easily erased by recklessly using his body now.

Seung-hyun, who had rolled the words he could never say to the person himself in his mouth, was blankly staring at the wall when he suddenly felt a presence and turned his head.

Did Seok-hyung come back? Seung-hyun’s face instantly hardened when he recognized who the person was at the end of his unconsciously directed gaze.

“……”

He had thought he would come before long. But the timing was a bit uncanny. How long had it been since Seok-hyung left? How long had I been in a daze? Seung-hyun unconsciously looked at the clock.

He wasn’t sure how long Seok-hyung had stayed here, but he knew when he arrived. Since they didn’t have a long conversation and he left, he thought they might have narrowly missed each other.

“You said you quit your job, that it was boring.”

The momentary hope was shattered before long. Jae-young’s voice sounded a bit confused.

“The person I met in front said he was Han Seung-hyun’s secretary.”

***

Jae-young, who had barely fallen asleep long after the morning sun rose, opened his eyes around lunchtime. It was late, but he was tired because he hadn’t slept much.

However, what made him more fatigued than the lack of sleep was the confusion and anxiety that had not been resolved since yesterday. While all the circumstances seemed suspicious, he also wanted to believe in Seung-hyun.

‘I don’t know why you think of Director Han that way… I may not know Director Han well either, but I think I know him better than you.’

He wanted to deny everything his family had said with certainty. To do that, he had to go directly to Seung-hyun and ask him, not just worry alone.

Although it wasn’t a long distance, he had to stop the car several times because he had too many thoughts, and it took longer than usual because of that. Even after arriving nearby, Jae-young circled around the house aimlessly and could only head to his original destination after the third round.

“…?”

Jae-young couldn’t get out of the car even after arriving. It was because an unfamiliar car was parked in front of Seung-hyun’s house.

Seung-hyun’s car would be in the garage, so did someone come to visit? Was there someone he could meet? While Jae-young was observing the car for a moment, the front door opened and the visitor came out.

‘It feels somewhat familiar…’

It wasn’t familiar, but it didn’t feel strangely unfamiliar either. Jae-young got out of the car and approached the man. The man seemed to recognize Jae-young and frowned.

“……”

“What brings you here?”

“I don’t think it’s strange for a subordinate to visit his superior.”

Although Seung-hyun had numerous subordinates, Jae-young could immediately recognize the man’s identity.

Director Han’s loyal dog, the man who was jokingly said to disobey even Chairman Han’s orders if it wasn’t his master’s words.

“You’re… Secretary Yiseok-hyung.”

“We don’t need to introduce ourselves, so we don’t need to go through the trouble.”

Seok-hyung also knew of Jae-young’s existence. He had thought this man’s influence might be the reason Seung-hyun suddenly showed an uncharacteristic side of himself. Therefore, for Seok-hyung, Jae-young was a man he didn’t like.

“I heard you’re working as Director Jeong’s secretary now. Isn’t it okay not to visit your former boss? I know you’re quite busy too.”

It was a well-known fact that everyone knew Director Jeong Hyeokjae, who was put in charge of a big project, would become busy as it became a foregone conclusion that this case would be passed on to him.

So his secretary, Seok-hyung, should also be busy because of that, right? Jae-young said sarcastically.

“Seeing that you have time to hang around like this… I wonder if the business Director Jeong took on will turn out well.”

“He’s just someone I temporarily worked with because our interests aligned, not my master.”

Even though Jae-young was blatantly being sarcastic, Seok-hyung answered without paying any attention. It was Jae-young who flinched at the calm tone instead.

“Then, are you saying… Han Seung-hyun planned this situation?”

“I only act as Director Han wishes.”

Seok-hyung threw out those words and passed by Jae-young, who had a dazed expression. The car started, and even after Seok-hyung left, Jae-young stood there as if nailed to the spot for a long time.

‘He said it’s what Han Seung-hyun… wanted.’

It was a statement that didn’t suit the Seung-hyun he knew at all. The person who clicked his tongue, saying work was bothersome and he just wanted to rest. The person whose eyes sparkled with joy at a short trip or trivial sights.

Those eyes, those lips that drew a beautiful arc, were all lies. Even though he thought there was no way, Seok-hyung’s calm attitude kept bothering him.

“But…”

Although Jae-young wasn’t interested in corporate politics or the power struggle of a chaebol family, Yiseok-hyung’s loyalty was extraordinary enough to reach even his ears. He had heard a few times that there were people who laughed at the two of them but inwardly wished they had such a blindly loyal subordinate.

He had to go in and ask directly, that’s why he came all the way here, but his feet wouldn’t move. Jae-young hesitated like that in front of the door for nearly 30 minutes before finally opening the front door.

However, contrary to his heart, the words that came out as soon as he saw Seung-hyun were as sharp as could be. His confused heart couldn’t figure out what the best way to treat Seung-hyun was.

“…That secretary said he only acts as Han Seung-hyun wants. He helped Jeong Hyeokjae because of that, not because he went under him.”

“……”

“…Is it true?”

He hoped Seung-hyun would say no. Even if everyone said Seung-hyun was that kind of person. Even if all the circumstances pointed to their words being the correct answer. If Seung-hyun said it wasn’t him, it would be fine no matter what.

Even if he was called an idiot or a pushover, if he just said it wasn’t him, that he preferred a small decoration in the display case over the boring and bothersome corporate politics. If he just said that, Jae-young was determined to believe only his words without questioning anything.

But there was no answer. Seung-hyun had a face that looked both surprised and contemplative, unable to meet Jae-young’s eyes.

His wavering eyes, his constantly changing expressions. He had thought he was a person whose inner thoughts were transparently revealed on his face. But for the first time, he couldn’t even gauge what Seung-hyun was thinking. Unable to wait long, Jae-young asked again.

“Answer me. Did Han Seung-hyun really get involved in this matter? To deal a blow to Executive Han?”

“……”

“Why? Didn’t you say you had no intention of returning to the company? If there was some… misunderstanding, or if something happened, at least say…”

Seung-hyun, who had been looking down for a long time, met Jae-young’s eyes as if he had made up his mind. Please say it’s not true, Jae-young desperately hoped inwardly, but the answer that came back was completely opposite to his wish.