I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan

Episode 38

‘No, why am I worrying about it? Let’s not care. Anyway… It’s someone I won’t even see for a year at most.’

It was a word he said to comfort himself, but somehow it felt a bit bitter. I decided not to have any lingering feelings. Thinking that, Seung-hyun glanced at Jae-young who had turned around and was doing something.

‘I’ll just treat him no differently. It’s not difficult. As if nothing happened. Like when we first met.’

If you get swayed, you lose. Seung-hyun got up from his seat and approached Jae-young. Whether he teases me or not, what does it matter if I don’t care?

“It’s almost done.”

“Sitting still was boring too. Is there anything I can help with?”

Is it a bit strange for the homeowner to ask this? Seung-hyun thought for a moment and gave up. Excessively recollecting his every action was probably the biggest reason for making his mood unsettled.

Jae-young asked if he could take out the tableware, saying he felt a bit uncomfortable rummaging through someone else’s house as it was.

Before long, tableware began to be placed on the dining table one by two. Even with plating that looked like it belonged in a high-end restaurant, Jae-young, who confidently presented the results, glanced at Seung-hyun as if telling him to try it.

Seung-hyun put a forkful of rolled spaghetti into his mouth. It tasted as good as it looked. The appearance, the smell, the taste. It was excellent to the point he thought he didn’t need to go to a restaurant.

“How is it?”

“…It’s delicious.”

“Don’t you think there’s no need to go out and eat from now on?”

Seung-hyun took his eyes off the food and looked at Jae-young. His eyes were full of interest.

“Why from now on? The housekeeper will be coming starting tomorrow.”

Of course, when he smiled at Jae-young’s tone that sounded like he was confident he would be in Seung-hyun’s future, Jae-young smiled back.

“You seem to like it.”

Even though he thought he was obviously talking about the food, Seung-hyun’s heart ached as if Jae-young’s question contained a different meaning.

“…It’s not bad. Certainly.”

Seung-hyun, who gave an ambiguous answer, began to twirl the noodles with his fork again while mumbling. Even though there was clearly a plate in front of him too, Jae-young wasn’t paying much attention to the food and was looking at Seung-hyun.

If you care, you lose. If you care, you lose. Thinking that, Seung-hyun stubbornly moved his hand. How long had it been, Jae-young’s hand began to move slowly.

It was slow to the point it was unclear whether he was eating or drinking, but Seung-hyun, who thought it was fortunate that his gaze was at least momentarily off him, continued eating while mumbling.

“You seem quite free.”

“All of a sudden. Are you saying that now?”

“The more time passes, the more I realize it. I’m envious too.”

“What’s there to envy? Isn’t Han Seung-hyun living a life that’s everyone’s wannabe these days?”

“……”

It looks like that on the outside. He has so much money he could throw it around, and time is limited. When Seung-hyun didn’t answer, Jae-young continued.

“Well, isn’t this such a place? They say if you jump into competition, you have to run endlessly, high risk high return…but in fact, as you can see from just the former executive director, whether you pull out or get kicked out, it’s a place where you can live much more stably than most people.”

“……”

“Of course, I’m one of the lucky ones among them.”

“A business to receive without a fight is also prepared.”

“Haha.”

“There’s no fiancée either, so certainly…”

Seung-hyun, who had been continuing a rather meaningless conversation, suddenly closed his mouth. There was no need for that, but knowing something made him shoot himself in the foot.

“What. Even at this age, not having a single fiancée is common… Ah.”

The chaebol family in this novel had a setting not much different from the world of chaebols that people commonly think of.

Especially marriage was a kind of contract and transaction. Getting engaged or married at a young age was portrayed as common. But considering that, most of the main and supporting characters in the novel had late engagements or marriages.

Was it because the author thought it wouldn’t fit the atmosphere of the novel if the main and supporting characters were too young? He had thought that once while reading.

Well, it wasn’t something he had to know the author’s intention for, so he didn’t pay much attention to it, but anyway, there were respective reasons why the main characters missed the prime age for marriage.

First, in the case of the protagonist Tae-sung, the problem was that no marriage prospect that caught Chairman Han’s eye came in because it was well-known that he was an illegitimate child.

Chairman Han was a thorough utilitarian. He was waiting for the time when someone would reach out to them, even if reluctantly.

In the case of Seon-hu, the main omega, it was the opposite. Although he was an omega, he was the youngest son cherished by the family.

His parents’ principle was that rather than marrying him off to any family, they would rather have him marry for love or live alone. In the end, he did have an arranged marriage though.

Jae-young had hoped that Seon-hu’s place by his side would become his, and he believed that would happen someday, so he stubbornly endured, rejecting all the marriage talks that came in.

‘If it were Han Jae-young, there would have been no chance. With that personality… He would have been kicked out of the family registry long ago.’

Well, it would be a better life than living in a not well-off family with a hot-tempered family, but if possible, it’s better to grow up in a harmonious and wealthy family.

Seung-hyun, who had been thinking about useless things for a moment, continued to recall the contents of the original work. It was like that for the main couple and Jae-young, and the reason why he, that is, ‘Han Seung-hyun’ didn’t get married even in his late twenties was…

“I brought up an unnecessary topic.”

“No. It’s all in the past anyway. It’s been several years too.”

In fact, it was something that had no impact on the current Seung-hyun, so there was no need to receive an apology, but Jae-young apologized as if he had made a mistake.

The reason why Han Seung-hyun did not get married. Although an active alpha is not such a good item in the marriage market, he was a man who had a background that more than made up for that nature.

Anyway, he was an alpha and a young man who was definitively guaranteed a director position in the group. Unlike Tae-sung, both his father and mother were from prominent families, and even if he was pushed out of the succession competition, Chairman Han only had two alpha grandsons, so he would inherit at least one stable position.

If one could have that much connection with HJ, being an active alpha was not a big flaw to the extent of being shunned as a marriage partner. Therefore, Han Seung-hyun also got engaged as soon as he graduated from college.

“Even if you say fiancée… We only exchanged a few conversations, so she’s no different from a stranger whose face and name I only know.”

However, that engagement did not last long for some reason. Being an active alpha was not a big flaw, but the experience of being broken off an engagement once as an active alpha was something that lowered Seung-hyun’s class one more level in the marriage market.

‘It must have been a reason that his pride was hurt too.’

“There’s no need to have lingering feelings for the past, right?”

Seung-hyun, who briefly dismissed the situation, finished his meal. He glanced at Jae-young’s expression in the slightly subdued atmosphere. It felt a bit unfamiliar to see the usually relaxed person looking flustered.

“It’s not a good thing to hold onto it for long either.”

He didn’t like the awkward atmosphere and didn’t want to continue the unfamiliar story for long. Seung-hyun began to bring up any topic to end this conversation.

“Anyway, it wasn’t something I wanted to do, and if that had gone well, I wouldn’t have been able to live freely like now. Things like going around as I please and living alone would be difficult for a married person. For example…”

“For example?”

“I wouldn’t have had the chance to spend time leisurely with you like this. No, in the first place, a married person can’t go to such a place, so we wouldn’t have met.”

Thinking that way, it seemed fortunate in a way. Being alone is the best for living life comfortably.

“Indeed, that suits you, Han Seung-hyun.”

“What does?”

“Of course, it’s not desirable behavior for a married person to go to such a place… but there are many people who don’t care about that.”

Seung-hyun, who learned a fact he didn’t really want to know, slightly frowned. Jae-young, who somehow understood the meaning of that distortion, hastily added a word.

“Of course, I’m not saying I’m that kind of person.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

It was silly, but thanks to that, the awkward atmosphere returned to normal. Seung-hyun smiled and said,

“Actually, as I said before, I don’t really remember that day properly, so I don’t even know if I should count it as going there.”

Going to the gay bar with bravado was the most courageous act he had done since becoming Han Seung-hyun, but due to not considering the alcohol tolerance and health of the changed body, he barely remembered anything properly.

“I remember it to some extent though?”

Is it just my feeling that he seems annoyed? Seung-hyun looked down at his nearly empty plate for a moment and opened his mouth.