I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan - Episode 93

Episode 93

As he entered the room, he saw Seung-hyun quietly staring at the vibrating phone. He looked dazed and composed at the same time. It wasn’t a face that could be clearly described.

“Did you get a call?”

Seung-hyun glanced at Jae-young, who was holding his phone, and asked. Jae-young nodded.

“Yes. From our Madam. It’s not an urgent call, so you don’t need to worry…”

“I guess the news has spread everywhere. Then please leave for today.”

His tone was calm as if he knew what would be said. Seung-hyun spoke again without taking his eyes off his phone.

“You probably won’t want to come here again after hearing it.”

“What are you…”

Feeling the ominous atmosphere, Jae-young grabbed Seung-hyun’s shoulder. The gaze that turned to Jae-young had already cooled coldly.

To the point where it was hard to believe he was the same person who had been laughing and talking together just a moment ago. Jae-young was so startled that he unknowingly took his hand off Seung-hyun’s shoulder.

“…I guess this is the end too.”

“I can’t understand what you’re saying. Speak properly…”

“It would be better to hear the proper story from Madam Ju. So please leave now.”

At Seung-hyun’s resolute words, Jae-young had no choice but to leave his house. The distance from Seung-hyun’s house to the main house was not far, so he arrived at the familiar house before long.

“You said you had something to do?”

“…There were circumstances. What is it that you had to make me come and hear it instead of just telling me over the phone?”

“You. Are you still close with Director Han these days?”

The way she asked with sparkling eyes gave an inexplicable feeling of ominousness. And such premonitions had a way of never going astray.

***

[HJ’s leading successor candidate, Senior Executive Han Tae-sung. Suspicion of financial lobbying to Assemblyman A, a leading presidential candidate]

[Allegation of entertainment in exchange for HJ’s new business site in City C two years ago]

As soon as the article was published, most people predicted the source of this information to be one person. Because the content of the article was excessively specific. It was a detailed tip-off to the extent that only an insider would know.

Currently, HJ was full of people desperate to get on Tae-sung’s good side, who had become the only successor candidate within the group, and there was no one who would harbor ill feelings towards him.

Even those who thought Seung-hyun would return had accepted the fact that he had completely lost interest in this path after hearing about the incident at the dinner and had switched their stance to Tae-sung’s side to find their own way to survive.

However, if it had only been that, it would have been a bit ambiguous to be certain. There was one more reason why people became convinced of who the informant was.

‘I heard Director Han’s secretary has now become Director Jeong Hyeokjae’s secretary.’

‘I wondered why he suddenly went there…’

The person who would benefit the most from this incident was none other than Director Jeong Hyeokjae. Currently, the two were competing with the goal of winning the same business. There were other competitors, but as time passed, it was becoming certain that one of the two would win the bid.

But an article tarnishing his reputation right before the final decision, it was as clear as day who would benefit from it.

Tae-sung, who had come to the chairman’s office to report, tried to explain the situation to Chairman Han.

“Chairman. I will explain. The article…”

“I don’t care whether that article is true or not.”

Chairman Han spoke before Tae-sung could even finish his sentence. It sounded calm at a glance, but Tae-sung could easily predict that a roar full of anger would fly at him next.

“Whether it’s true or not, you should have prevented the article from being published! Do I have to hear this kind of story through the secretarial team? Are you going to act recklessly just because that bastard Seung-hyun is not here?”

As expected, an angry shout resounded through the chairman’s office. Chairman Han spoke in a resolute tone as if he had no intention of listening to Tae-sung’s explanation.

“Now that that bastard Seung-hyun has left after causing such a fuss, you must think you’ll naturally inherit my position. But to me, this company that I have built! This title is more important than blood ties. I can easily bring in another punk like Taehyeop.”

It meant that just as he had brought in his distant relative Taehyeop instead of Tae-sung’s father, he could bring in another promising child. Tae-sung silently endured his anger without answering.

“Even though I’m old, I can still easily last 10 years, no, 15 years. I’m not so senile that I can’t even wait.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Get out. Now that this has happened right before the bid, we’ve only done Director Jung a favor.”

Chairman Han clicked his tongue and gestured for him to leave. The moment the article was published, the bid result was as good as decided.

Even if he tried to explain the article, there was no way this incident wouldn’t affect the bid that had come right in front of them. He had called him not to solve the problem, but to warn him.

Tae-sung knew that too, so he bowed without making excuses.

“I will make sure not to disappoint you in the future.”

“What the hell is Han Seung-hyun thinking…”

Just before closing the door, Tae-sung heard the sound of Chairman Han clicking his tongue. Tae-sung returned to his office and sat back in his chair.

“Yeah, Han Seung-hyun did what he had to do… and now I just need to do what I have to do.”

It wasn’t surprising. Rather, he felt relieved thinking the incident that was bound to happen had finally happened. The Han Seung-hyun that Tae-sung knew was that kind of person.

Perhaps his words about quitting the company were sincere. But even if he stepped down, he knew Seung-hyun was not someone who would step down obediently.

Considering the incident happened only now, it felt like he had waited quite patiently.

But Seon-hu seemed to think differently. Seon-hu, who confirmed the article, got angry as soon as Tae-sung returned home, saying it couldn’t be.

“Why are you saying such nonsense? Don’t worry about it.”

“You seem to be more worried about it while telling me not to worry. I’m fine.”

“…How can you be fine? You worked hard to prepare.”

Seon-hu made a face that he was more upset and drooped his shoulders. It was the first big project Tae-sung was undertaking after Seung-hyun had completely withdrawn from the succession structure.

Tae-sung had apologized, saying he would show that he was a capable person even without a competitor and that he wouldn’t be able to pay attention to him for a while.

They weren’t in a relationship where they were jealous of each other’s work to the point of not being able to trust each other’s feelings. Since the project would end someday, they had planned to go to their favorite restaurant and spend time leisurely on the day the results came out…

“It’s okay. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but I know why it turned out this way. It would be good to clean things up completely this time.”

“Who did it on purpose?”

Seon-hu looked at Tae-sung in surprise at his words that he knew the reason. Tae-sung took off his tie and said,

“Yeah. It’s true that I met Assemblyman Park. Not for lobbying, but when Chairman Han wanted Director Han to be engaged to Assemblyman Park’s daughter.”

“Director Han, you mean…”

“Yeah, Han Seung-hyun.”

A few years ago, Assemblyman Park’s daughter was the best daughter-in-law candidate in Chairman Han’s mind. The only omega daughter of Assemblyman Park, who was considered a leading presidential candidate for the next generation. Chairman Han had put in quite a bit of effort with Assemblyman Park to bring her in as his daughter-in-law.

‘The grandsons I have are all born with flaws. Tsk.’

If he pushed Seung-hyun, his dominant trait was an issue, and if he pushed Tae-sung, there was no one who didn’t know he was an illegitimate child, so he was worried Assemblyman Park would think he was disrespecting him.

In the end, Chairman Han, who couldn’t decide, arranged a meeting for the two of them and backed out. Just hinting that he would support whichever side married Assemblyman Park’s daughter was enough.

Seung-hyun faithfully carried out Chairman Han’s orders. Although his dominant alpha constitution became a lifelong obstacle, his outstanding appearance and perfect acting were more than enough to seduce a young lady who had grown up beautifully like a flower in a greenhouse.

It didn’t take long for Assemblyman Park’s daughter to become Seung-hyun’s lover. However, Tae-sung found that method rather uncomfortable and didn’t show interest in Assemblyman Park’s daughter, only doing his own work.

It was because he didn’t know when the capricious old man would change his words again, and he also didn’t like the idea of mortgaging his life for just one marriage.

While the two of them exchanged engagement rings and Seung-hyun was feeling triumphant, Tae-sung received a secret meeting request from Assemblyman Park.

‘What’s the ulterior motive?’

He could tell it was a meeting with something he wanted as soon as he heard the message through his secretary. Why the person who would soon become Seung-hyun’s father-in-law called him, who was in an adversarial relationship with Seung-hyun, it wouldn’t be a trivial matter at the very least. With that thought, he went to the meeting and received a rather startling proposal.