I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan

Episode 63

[This is Secretary Kang Gijeong. The Chairman has arranged a family dinner to mark the end of the year. Please come to Hanlimdang at 6:30 pm on the 23rd.] 3:45 PM

Even though he clearly told them not to give out his number, somehow the Chairman’s direct secretary contacted him, knowing it.

Come to think of it, it wouldn’t be a difficult task for Chairman Han. It was a moment when he realized once again that if you have money, you can do anything in this world.

‘Why make this kind of gathering when we’re not even happy to see each other’s faces?’

Can’t I just not go? Seung-hyun thought so and turned off his phone screen. But the situation couldn’t flow that easily.

***

“He’s doing all sorts of things.”

“……”

At the end of the year, Jae-young was called here and there by his mother, President Joo Seong-ah. Thanks to that, Seung-hyun was spending a week that was boring to the point of being quiet. But that peace didn’t last long.

Surprised to see a face he never thought he would see in this house, Seung-hyun couldn’t answer and just stared at the person in front of him.

“It seems you didn’t even intend to go out. You must have really recklessly decided to go out.”

The one who came to the house he never even informed was Seung-hyun’s mother. With a displeased look on her face, she lightly hit Seung-hyun and came inside.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking by doing this, but if you’re going to do anything, don’t you think you don’t need your father’s help? Submitting your resignation on your own, even leaving the house. What are you trying to do?”

It was a more rational appearance than the last meeting, but it was still an excessively chilly appearance to be called the face of a mother facing her only child.

“If the Chairman has arranged a seat, of course you should go. Your father said to go just in case, so I came… How could you not disappoint expectations? You didn’t take after either of your parents. Where the hell did something like this come from?”

It is known that the probability of a fervid child being born between a dominant alpha and a dominant omega is less than 5 percent. But she had never once thought that her child would not be dominant.

“How did I end up with someone like you… No, never mind. It’s just a waste of breath to talk about it. Hurry up and get ready. If you start getting ready now, you’ll arrive on time.”

After spitting out only what she had to say, she glared at Seung-hyun with her arms crossed. Only then did Seung-hyun come to his senses and say,

“I have no intention of going, so if you’re going to go, go alone.”

“…Are you really crazy?”

Now she had a dumbfounded look on her face. Blinking her eyes, she spoke nervously.

“Do you think we go to that gathering because it’s comfortable for us? It’s an uncomfortable situation, but we go because we have to.”

“You’re talking as if you’re making a sacrifice. You’re going because it’s a gathering you have to go to, even if you have to put up with anything. Because there’s something you need.”

Even though he had completely moved away from the succession rights, they were still within Chairman Han’s territory. Seung-hyun knew well that they were people who had no intention of giving up the things they could gain within that territory.

“If only you were a proper guy, we wouldn’t have to watch our steps and keep our seats like this. Because you can’t do that, we even…”

“Don’t make excuses. It’s for your own sake, isn’t it?”

Seung-hyun firmly said. The original Han Seung-hyun wouldn’t have been a stupid person either, so did he live listening to all this nonsense?

“Wha, what?”

Surprised by her son’s retort, which she heard for the first time, she stuttered. Even though he was a child she didn’t like, she had never seen him talk back to her.

“Don’t talk as if it’s for my sake. I think I clearly told you last time that I have no intention of going back.”

“Who says so? It’s all because of who that we ended up like this. Still, your father and I bow our heads and attend every time the Chairman calls, supporting you to the end, but how can you come out like this?”

“Because your unfulfilled dreams can’t be achieved through Executive Director Han Tae-sung, you reluctantly place unreasonable expectations on me. But even in your eyes, would a ruined guy catch the Chairman’s eye?”

“Then you should try harder. You have to work a hundred, a thousand times harder than that despicable bastard child and catch the Chairman’s eye!”

Her unreasonable appearance was no different from a child. Seung-hyun let out a long sigh. It seemed the problem was that he left the company too meekly.

“…I’m tired of talking and talking about the same thing. Since it seems we’ll just go in circles if we talk more, please go first.”

“What have you been taking my words for until now?”

“I’ll go, so please go first. You don’t want to go uncomfortably in the same car as me, do you?”

Seung-hyun opened the door of the dressing room. If she wants him to go that badly, he’ll go. Going wasn’t a difficult thing to do.

“…You know the Chairman doesn’t like being late. Leave with plenty of time.”

Seung-hyun’s mother turned around and left without lingering. It was because she didn’t want to travel awkwardly in the same car, as he said.

Without even seeing her off, Seung-hyun took out appropriate clothes and put them on. He couldn’t even remember the last time he wore going-out clothes.

“If you can’t let go of your lingering attachment that much, it’s right to cut you off completely.”

He didn’t think he would see Chairman Han’s face twice. Seung-hyun finished preparing to leave, hoping that this meeting would really be the last meeting with his family.

***

“……”

Chairman Han didn’t like it when someone else arrived later than him at a gathering. So, even before 6 o’clock, most of the people were seated in their prepared seats.

Even though he didn’t cherish his family that much, Chairman Han always called his family together at the end of the year, the beginning of the year, and around his birthday. Not just the few who showed their faces at frequent events, but the entire family without a single exception.

Thanks to that, the room was filled with an awkward atmosphere. Tae-sung checked on the condition of Seon-hu, who was attending the family gathering for the first time.

“Are you okay?”

“What wouldn’t be okay?”

Only Seung-hyun and Tae-sung competed for the succession rights, but Chairman Han had quite a few grandchildren. Tae-sung himself had half-siblings, and Chairman Han’s two omega daughters also had two children each under them.

They were daughters who couldn’t make it into the succession structure due to Chairman Han’s thorough consideration of constitution and even gender, and sons who were omegas or betas.

“First time seeing you since the wedding.”

“Ah, yes. Have you been well…”

“Tae-sung must be treating you well? Of course. You’re well-matched.”

Tae-sung’s cousin looked Seon-hu up and down and spoke with a sneering face. A combination of a fervid and a bastard alpha. It was an attitude that they were a very well-matched pair.

Because Chairman Han noticeably discriminated against his children, his grandchildren also had a strong basis for constitutional discrimination. Even if they were siblings born from the same belly, they would ignore them, so it was obvious how they would treat Tae-sung and his spouse Seon-hu.

“A very well-matched couple. Sincerely congratulations on your marriage.”

“I heard you became pregnant not long ago, congratulations to you too. Sister-in-law.”

“Ah, the rumor has already spread that far? I’m worried. Even if it’s not a dominant like me, it shouldn’t be a fervid.”

Tae-sung cut off her words, but she continued talking without stopping. Born as a dominant omega and raised the most favored among Chairman Han’s grandchildren, she always showed an arrogant attitude at gatherings like this.

“If it’s born as a beta or fervid… ugh, I don’t even want to think about it. How difficult would it be to live in the world? It would be nice if we could determine it from the womb.”

Even though Seon-hu, her own beta younger brother and beta cousin sister were sitting right next to her, she threw out disparaging remarks without hesitation. She sighed exaggeratedly.

“…I should send a gift to my nephew at least after you give birth healthily.”

“Yeah. Make sure to send it after I give birth.”

Because it would be ominous to receive it before giving birth. It was a remark with an evident intention, although she didn’t say it out loud. Tae-sung raised the corners of his mouth, thinking that she might be the granddaughter who resembled Chairman Han the most.

“You’re here.”

A little past 6 o’clock, Tae-sung’s father Han Taehyeop and his wife entered the room. With a noble face and a bright smile, she exchanged greetings with her nieces and nephews.

“Where is Seung-hyun coming from? There’s a lot I want to ask.”

“He said he would arrive on time, so he’s probably almost here.”

She answered in a gentle voice as if she hadn’t gone to Seung-hyun earlier and acted out. She was someone who thoroughly managed her image outside.

“I heard you’re pregnant. Congratulations. You must have received a lot already, but… I should give you a gift. Do you need anything?”

“Mom says things from outside can bring in unwanted energy, so she told me not to receive gifts as much as possible.”

“Oh my… I was short-sighted.”

Seung-hyun’s mother laughed, pretending to be fine. Taehyeop sat down first as if he couldn’t even hear the conversation between the two.

“…He’s late.”

Sitting in his seat, he looked at his watch with a displeased face. A time halfway between 6:00 and 6:30. There were two empty seats left.