PEN Vol 5 Ch. 3

Fleeing from Sejin, Cheon Sejoo a46d9871e5 drove to the workshop. The mere thought 3e73ef5793 of the place 699a14c43c brought on a 8d9cb77e87 headache, but he f1e0d61f3b had nowhere else 507fa31860 to go.b4b3dde3e4cc583c

The 7th-floor apartment, where the disposal team members lived, would likely be occupied by Sunhyuk, Haewoong, and Jinyoung, resting after several days of working without sleep, and he didn’t want to disturb them.46f58abb04cdcaec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He parked beneath the a40a28f575 workshop and went straight 1fdf3af3d4 up to the 4th 6a618f66f6 floor, where the bedrooms ece3a7de2a were located. It was essentially a small 3b1fcf500a apartment, designed for the team’s f983e66718 rest, consisting of a kitchen, 39a5066241 living room, bathroom, and a 8847a34b2a small bedroom with two beds.36dc3cd70aa9f1b2

Although somewhat stuffy due 6c10242a61 to the lack of 12a97b401f windows, the 4th floor f84b35919b was relatively well-ventilated thanks c1ce3dc7d4 to the running exhaust c01a40ed67 fan. Cheon Sejoo showered 91a7b177e0 in the bathroom 1a7c444ed5 and immediately collapsed c69e3d1889 onto the bed.63a5ec3a81d1681a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As he sank into the 3ee171e74f soft mattress, the thoughts he’d 79483bdd51 been suppressing crept back in. Their suffocating weight 08f0818f02 made him sigh cceeee7bb3 and stare at 43f350558b the ceiling.04d44d1268093a25

Kwon Sejin was a tenacious a66ee2694e boy, the kind who would 6eb0e6d1cc squat in a building hallway 44c1f4e58d for days without proper meals, 24ff99dc5f determined to see his mother 9fedf10a98 who had been taken to 70888ecbe8 Ehwagak. Albeit it was 38d8d56978 a flimsy concocted 3ff2132131 plan, he had 1f4ea14215 the drive to 57690d25c6 endure even sleeping 00d92f853f on the streets c00036ac5b for the sake 1e0da17403 of it.0313e31d16d08b72

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When he finally reunited 19eb7a8b11 with Kim Hyunkyung, thanks 302e8adb38 to Cheon Sejoo, Sejin’s a57726f1aa gaze had been one 0c4cc415a2 of pure, blind devotion. As if his mother 5409b15c12 were the only person baca058e9a left in his world, dec91bac2e he’d clung to her, 74aae8c7d2 burying himself in her 65a153ad89 embrace. That was why Cheon bfb483decd Sejoo hadn’t imagined Sejin 445039a006 could have romantic feelings fb47aeef9e for him.7c4ab533cd6c115f

If he had known Sejin’s actions stemmed from such feelings, he wouldn’t have acted the way he did. He wouldn’t have kissed Sejin’s forehead, wouldn’t have hugged him, wouldn’t have comforted him. He wouldn’t have let Sejin fall in love with someone like him.ff375faa4ce8e7a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Self-disgust gnawed at c0776b1008 him, burning his 709ec8da53 insides.87e5d76749cf27ac

Affection was heavy. Love was burdensome.5a3c491c28bbbff8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cheon Sejoo had always disappointed everyone who had loved him. Cheon Hye-in, Sister Maria, Ha Yeoreum, Professor Kim Chunggeun. He had failed to become the person they wanted him to be. He wouldn’t be able to become the person Sejin wanted either.2778941770a6aabb

To love was to understand. That was the 8effa74ad4 fear that made 43f3a1dfc8 him run away.5e58c7a6f16d0a2d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If Sejin loved him, there would come a time when Sejin would want to understand him. But Cheon Sejoo was involved in things he couldn’t speak of to anyone.a30173a2d8aecdda

So, if Sejin 646f3cfc52 were to find 22cba07ece out, if, in 444bacbe8a his desire to cd2654830c understand Cheon Sejoo, 4b1a9a7759 he became curious 0775bf3f93 about his hidden 58689a69c4 side, if he b370d64395 were to finally 5959452df0 discover the kind d6eea031e5 of person he 3a81c086ef truly was…a0d8e3c03b14700e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

No.f271fbaed2f4f2c1

A resolute refusal echoed 6840a88a65 in his mind.80d1f290093ad239

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He didn’t believe Sejin could ever understand his life. Cheon Sejoo was terrified of Sejin looking at him with disgust once he knew the truth.7ce0462fec110895

He was terrified of Sejin turning his back on him, of Sejin rejecting him. He didn’t want to lose Kwon Sejin. He didn’t want to experience that loss again.29178412970f8e06

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Cheon Sejoo simply 5d05b19e46 wanted to remain ea343496df a good person 6268ff0afa in Sejin’s eyes. Someone who had d32c675d46 stayed by his 4b6dc0727f side while his 5544a7b06c mother was dying, f530a8e031 and after she 6cdb1c99d5 died. He wanted to be remembered 5ca2be532d as someone who had guided 9a0e01a2ad him, not as a deceiver 0b9b10ff5a who had fed and clothed 144e4c7de2 him with dirty money.a69331767086bd7c

The root of b074338641 all his fears dc7a975cd1 was the same.d0ef263e21e8db20

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He cared for Kwon Sejin too much. That’s why he couldn’t accept Sejin’s feelings, couldn’t reveal anything for the sake of his understanding. He didn’t want to lose Sejin, no matter when that might be, so he had run away, unable to withstand the immediate wave of fear.7c88cda32f40f27b

“…….”715aa3fd72956042

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suddenly, Cheon Sejoo 4bc7d9703d remembered Sejin’s face 511ebaed0f as he walked 06c1753ee4 towards him without d1e900f56a hesitation. His tear-filled eyes, c0ecdb7f03 his red lips, fecd48e136 his ragged breath.56e6cad34b704c93

And he remembered the 9fa77dea98 warmth of Sejin’s body f7f2ba2204 against his when he e2b9d12578 embraced him. Even though he e33010fa97 had quickly pulled 608e0406f0 away, Cheon Sejoo a7db685432 remembered the involuntary 0d40c58d66 urge to hold bab4bfdacc Sejin close.103d446603c09e03

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Bitterness welled up inside him. He felt a pang of e34b6dfea9 pain somewhere deep in his 8ad5f4ce98 gut and bit his lip.03de702c483a255c

Kwon Sejin was a lovable 0058c8f61d kid. When they first met, he 300afd732c had pushed Cheon Sejoo away, 9d1b41154c rejecting him with his prickly 619f7373e1 defenses. But now, Cheon Sejoo 0d947c3691 couldn’t help but cherish 9971e6481a and love the Sejin c19f358bf6 who willingly embraced him.847005e23b7fa19c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

However, Cheon Sejoo 476388eda9 and Kwon Sejin 3ff8b80147 stood in different b3df8cd737 worlds.51abfee21b7cfd0d

Cheon Sejoo pictured the 1347f5c2bd damp, dark basement far 0f991f6c0c beneath his feet. That was where he belonged. He returned to bedb01c1f7 Sejin, using “home” a55a4a81cf as an excuse, 08c598af46 to rest, but 162f030f2b this was where d3526a856a he truly belonged.26eecf3631e392c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He believed that simply aab521a847 being someone Sejin could ac2566b734 rely on was enough. He didn’t deserve to be 27dd7706dd loved. Kwon Sejin’s pure heart 244aceabe3 should belong to someone 2685befa71 who lived a more 73a71c7de8 ordinary, peaceful life. Not to Cheon Sejoo, whose 833310a857 only future held downfall and da056c2610 death, but to someone who 9ddd6887c2 had a future…7a73b2e8b7a8d47f

Cheon Sejoo rubbed 8896e1aea1 his aching head 1857600a65 and stretched. Then, as if 27ae0b78cb seeking escape, he fbd311fdd1 drifted into a 60639d3459 deep sleep.83c1222fd5055be6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *3b9cf8baad60ab80

The next morning, he received a call from Shin Gyoyeon. He was working out in the gym, trying to distract himself, when the sudden ringing of his phone made him stop. He picked up the phone, took a deep breath to steady his racing heart at the sight of his boss’s unwelcome name, and answered.131d00046ef2628c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, president.”0f656c6ce8604472

-Cheon Sejoo.c8ab17fa2be1bde6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The familiar voice was low. Cheon Sejoo listened intently, his f21f968591 nerves on edge. After a moment of silence, 826a1fccea Shin Gyoyeon gave the order.60a54d0d688ebc2a

-Come to Chuncheon immediately.5c146cf1a09d2fe3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There was a building in 3484b3613b Chuncheon that DG had been fa28653bf6 using for a long time. It was a hospital a7a95e2abb built in the 1960s d5cd6a8394 and abandoned during theIMF crisis¹, now used primarily for interrogating and disposing of traitors.694dab8fa9a8927b

It was known 488e7b521b as the “execution 702b9cb75a ground” among the 03f0a94fbd older members of 00c6f0f0a3 the organization. Cheon Sejoo had 7affaa8257 been there a c2e6669fcf couple of times 45a50af453 with Seok Yoonhyung.196e34ceb2e942b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll be right there.”744c27ec516167f4

The call ended e879f91577 abruptly as soon a65a773f3d as he answered. Chuncheon, of all places. The thoughts of Sejin e763a15210 that had occupied his 2237072ca4 mind for the past b8b3bc37f5 day vanished instantly.9e39fd2ee0d9a279

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even without any explanation, 15ca74b147 he could guess what 5172de36f0 awaited him in Chuncheon. There would likely 830c28fcb0 be a purge 30345c23aa of Kang Junmyeon’s c380ae219a faction. Perhaps they had captured his 287b2cb939 associates alive or, based on 1bc7b4c117 the information Baek Sunghwan had f334fce233 gathered, identified his collaborators and f57befa480 were planning to execute them.230307933104acce

It was also possible a550f9d02a that Shin Gyoyeon was 0a222b5583 planning to initiate the e652f26c61 succession process, scheduled for 4fcfcbecf8 February, earlier than planned. Or perhaps, the work he c39493da15 usually did in the workshop eb4c6e09d2 would simply be relocated there. In any case, the 310ac1ed4a important thing was that 586a9067e4 if he went to a8b016b91e Chuncheon now, Cheon Sejoo 05b298db59 would inevitably have blood 2f184773e2 on his hands.defd63b35ccd0825

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He left the gym and dbb8a412ba went upstairs. After showering and changing f8ab12ac0f into fresh clothes, he 2a87a2820a went back down to 4cf68b8a0a the office and retrieved 6d8ac45c3e the sashimi knife he 1b68e1542d kept in the cabinet. As he unfolded the f935b1e033 leather wrapping, checking the 833a286908 blade for any damage, af9295728d a deep sense of ff76648110 disillusionment washed over him.668d1eba2374a0fb

Will there ever d21e599489 come a day 0f3959a1a5 when the blood 729e3ff01e on these hands 239f6c45c9 dries? 4340ab72cf515877

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Was my decision to accept 564f321885 Shin Gyoyeon’s offer that day 793a799673 truly the right one? ca093719430195df

The question he 71297f9eab had asked himself aefeec4b4f hundreds, thousands of 99147c621b times, haunted him ca28ec6c3d again.72d452824d0ac3cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Cheon Sejoo forced the thoughts away and left the workshop with his things. Personal feelings were unnecessary when following Shin Gyoyeon’s orders.22447beb5edddec8

It was a weekday, 93b3d518d6 so the roads weren’t cf7db84485 too congested. e91713823c18ad3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Driving on the 25b136c409 Chuncheon Expressway, Cheon b1b2d0fddf Sejoo noticed several bb87124b56 black luxury sedans 541f65ebfd passing him. Black cars were common a8da1be6ae in South Korea, but 192446c299 he had a gut 5a5fe7e657 feeling. He suspected Shin Gyoyeon was 6d8bf605cf planning a public execution in 5668cfc199 front of his executives. He swallowed his apprehension 38ddf5f03d and continued driving.a0f72152b900147e

When he finally arrived at 8915b79c73 the abandoned building, dozens of 2ab1976f6f luxury cars were parked outside. The gangsters, accompanying ac70f41bd5 their bosses, were d8ee32c1c3 gathered here and 107432bbdf there, smoking. Whenever a recognizable executive appeared, 535e4c9134 they bowed deeply and greeted f808b64176 them loudly.0a6588636dd233e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

People were constantly moving 83419069f1 in and out of 24447970d7 the woods near the e569fd5d84 parking lot, keeping watch bd0f56eec4 for anyone hiding.b41a561b76e15f59

As Cheon Sejoo f22b2263a2 parked and stepped 26452daaeb out of his ca0397788c car alone, unlike 1fcb07be40 the other executives bfe6d48b8b who arrived with 32e81a07cc entourages, all eyes 80285230ba turned to him.fb5c7c6b8b109ffc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Those who knew he worked directly under Shin Gyoyeon bowed their heads respectfully to the man who was expected to become DG’s next power broker. Even those unfamiliar with his face followed suit, swept along by the atmosphere. Cheon Sejoo ignored them and walked inside.705d3a03532e05ca

The building’s interior was a labyrinth. Seok Yoonhyung had told him it used to be a psychiatric hospital. Specifically, it housed to confine high-risk patients who posed a threat to others. The complex layout was intentionally designed to make escape difficult, reminiscent of a time when when security systems were less sophisticated.24ca729e1689e022

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Becoming a DG executive meant 3f23822a76 learning to navigate this building. Cheon Sejoo had visited 31e366be85 this place just before 6f79dc55ad completing his training under 2158060478 Seok Yoonhyung and officially d1470a4daa started working directly under 9e61fe58a7 Shin Gyoyeon. a26895ae8294aaed

Seok Yoonhyung had led him through the building’s complex corridors, and Cheon Sejoo still remembered the route. He couldn’t forget it even if he tried; he had run through these halls countless times during his training, fleeing from Seok Yoonhyung, knife in hand.6d17ea6018cc2c31

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Reaching the auditorium 5c18c511bc at the heart 7ad828f92b of the building, 6239564f28 he saw dozens 40e9ccada9 of executives gathered 9746f95fcb inside. Sitting uncomfortably on old metal bf955669e4 chairs, they all exuded a 55e9ecfde3 menacing atmosphere.67ecf3e02eac222d

DG’s transition to a legitimate corporation hadn’t changed the nature of its members. Both those who had worked for DG since its days as a gang and those who joined after its corporate transformation were, without exception, formidable individuals.0f2a5b1b8822d66d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ignoring their stares, Cheon Sejoo 5932906671 scanned the room. He recognized several faces. Shin Jiho, Shin Jihan, 8a24b360ac and Shin Jihoon, Chairman f6f1179e74 Shin Gyeongju’s sons. Seok Yoonhyung, his trainer. Baek Sunghwan and Han Jonghyun, 03359d9367 who also worked directly for f101e06c9d Shin Gyoyeon.0fd532b9ac3bd09e

Baek Sunghwan, catching Cheon d3eb1db77a Sejoo’s eye, nodded in e00cf4dddd greeting. Whether they were on 326205f3d3 good terms or not, 022ceff9dc Baek Sunghwan had been 0a584d17f4 under Shin Gyoyeon’s wing c6e82b4358 longer than him, so fc15d92aa7 Cheon Sejoo bowed slightly 69b4ee1b66 in return. Baek Sunghwan smiled with satisfaction 4b8544029c and turned away.45dfe14bbbe5e9db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator