NB | Chapter 6

Woohyun almost 057951528d found himself 388fc65e0d smiling.4a3675403279e8e5

What happened 34675804e1 the day 4ca4b3b399 he received a8da32ddae that business 5bd8c38d7d card?ecdf5b85b9ffbcff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It took him a ae67a68ea3 long time to gather a69cdc51cf his thoughts after Kim 85120ccf13 Sungmoon and the gold 45ea060d8e chain guy left. The fishy smell e99065011c that lingered on 038ff00737 his face forced a124e65297 him back to 4aa1cc423b reality.6b16ec229f42c79b

He rushed home but didn’t even have the energy to make it to the bathroom, ending up vomiting into the sink.6f6ec0e3a9686f52

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Thanks to that, reality 9e0c36ff23 was firmly etched in a2b4f910af his mind. In a world 123399b7ba soaked with that 5a4307ea76 fishy smell, there 3874ab4be6 was no room b3cc488021 for the sweet 260358a4a5 scent of vanilla.38a02282834a4029

“I lost the business card.”bd8cbb266f0cad11

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The card was crumpled and stuffed in his pants pocket. So technically, he hadn’t lost it yet, but once he did laundry after work, it would be truly gone.8f6b2c343b7b74aa

Woohyun felt Kang Jiwon’s gaze from above, as if he was looking right through him. Those neutral-colored eyes seemed to see into his soul.87474a771e04c7b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His face 47f6c6aed9 showed no f400113499 desperation or 2af5c848f7 regret for 72d026b179 losing it, 54926bf146 and it 9a238bee2a was clear 240c532543 that even c1286aebec if he fe9d145193 found it 7622ad366c later, he 5b4f94546e would have 7ced7a4987 tossed it 8525e2812d in the 04c0897b2a trash. Yet, Kang 73695efaa5 Jiwon accurately a5b1d97d9c caught the 17f4bd0d2c gloomy look db5414a65b of someone b0740fb9be who would b462fe7bee occasionally recall 9dd2c15387 that memory 9a6aea3768 in life.eb487e2b7c1ff6a3

“You didn’t lose it; you threw it away.”be636d3b472db72c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was caught. Woohyun realized he had 1c36d232cc been making a self-deprecating 7da3e25149 expression. His face felt hot. He tried to think 7bdd140768 of an excuse and de4bad64c5 spoke without much thought.67c05cc0d2da71ea

“Becoming an actor is like winning the lottery for me. Instead of clinging to something that won’t happen, it’s better to live as I am now. I think getting something without effort is like stealing.”098bb0568b77809a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Have you ever bought a lottery ticket?”b312483c00db5e11

“I think it’s a waste of money…”d0c833a7da37dbf4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Exactly.”d954731734d07253

Kang Jiwon interrupted. Woohyun didn’t find it rude, as he was already aware he was making excuses.573160acb80e7603

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How can you talk about winning or losing when you’ve never even bought one?”4319748c5c6819cf

“…”69eff756b6eecf14

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No one buys a ticket thinking they’ll win. That’s a scam. People see the possibility that maybe this time they’ll win.”938a5c379ca3cc6d

“I don’t like that kind of false hope. I don’t want to start something and get addicted to slim chances.”0f223de163b34240

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

To Woohyun, the lottery was a form of gambling. The idea of changing one’s life overnight with a windfall was just a fantasy. In his reality, it was better to use a few thousand won to buy a meal than a piece of paper.f156d0fad0fe29ba

Woohyun lowered his eyelashes, avoiding eye contact. He saw Kang Jiwon’s hand move smoothly beside his thigh.beb72a79998516cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Let’s do this.”9cab3fdf04bb6217

He whispered, pulling 48a2a7d3ca something rectangular from 8347d9f10e his suit jacket ba331c9cf1 pocket. From a leather 804ed5d5b6 cardholder came a 0afb02c6b7 black business card f67574f632 he had never 1480edd070 seen before.fa90a20793775be3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This is a lottery limited to you as the winner. The minimum is guaranteed, and there’s no ceiling. That’s up to you.”155017efb093c715

A shiny black card befc410f5c was held out in 8601601300 front of him. The gold lettering seemed 586e6c2b86 to form numbers, creating 8866d96970 an illusion of an c0bd5dc13f ever-increasing jackpot, making his 49d9416949 vision blur for a 069f558413 moment.07f753f2238493f4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Does this interest you?”38a631004f692c3e

Even if he didn’t believe in windfalls, he vaguely understood that a golden opportunity was being offered to him. The idea that he couldn’t gain wealth without effort, but whether to try or not was up to him, struck a chord.25e4a794510ee39f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yet, he hesitated 529e4c9b0a to seize the 9c55ade054 opportunity immediately. The illusion of 15bce1ae4d an ever-increasing jackpot ef9174ed0d seemed to blur d0f5d6e3eb the line between 7bfd86e870 reality and fantasy. Woohyun stood e27ff64bad precariously on dfc4726f1f the edge, 1beb9ebdd4 swallowing dryly.63d5366ff48b32aa

“On the flip side, I could be a dud for you.”421c5c0a5dc59f26

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If I wasn’t confident in you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You said getting something without effort is like stealing, right?”0dd8ce55768710ee

Kang Jiwon was a man whose job was to assess people’s value in monetary terms. Through a newfound realization, Woohyun could guess why he was being scrutinized.8613e8515aa2b35c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So, what did this 6f89db2c1e man see in me 2a7ef8e848 to assess my value?6b6b584d557014b4

“Even if that’s the case, I won’t blame you, so don’t worry.”410abd6fd24163ea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Woohyun accepted the f05fe3603e black card with 4042d15853 both hands. The texture was smooth 86d0cfb38e yet not slippery, which 72137003d3 was intriguing.963d9031042f2776

In a world where misfortune often targeted the weak, and Woohyun was always that target, Kang Jiwon was a strangely unfamiliar adult. But he didn’t dislike the ticklish feeling this unfamiliarity brought.ce1f258f412af3f2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Still feeling a2e1452eb5 a bit 0901e82da4 dazed, Woohyun ad4aa32653 found himself 2a87d1350a mouthing words. A question he should 51a2498df7 have asked before receiving dfe44ad138 the card came out 13c8b5fcd7 belatedly.6629b24a53858429

“Why are you being so nice to me?”6680608abc1a317b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Jiwon 0fb9d80205 blinked slowly, 4eb653b2a4 as if c914c292ac puzzled.b5636baf8e51f4b1

“This is my job. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”8698c924255ddda7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though his tone 5ac828011d was businesslike, it 944fba00ce was much more 53091f45b0 pleasant to hear. It felt like 493c786dfa he was objectively 43bb7a134c confirmed as a 063d35173d high-potential lottery ticket 5fcc9c578b to Kang Jiwon, c455117a46 not for personal 3692d7c2bf reasons.c9c9b603162a7d3a

“I see.”83d9f3ba355c8cad

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Woohyun c4360c5cda whispered softly, a515543c2d smiling slightly.14cec8179afd7f57

Jiwon looked down 0f00ab35ee at his hands, d169c2adad holding the card a31f8c0c4f politely. Unlike his long, slender f970cdf6ee fingers, his palms were dce892469b rough with calluses. Inside the sleeves 5fab1e6083 of his uniform cf01d20b3d shirt, small scars 0d74363f63 were visible.3085e9e82d746859

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Just by looking at bd3d217c4e his hands, it was 53732cf8d3 hard to see him 944ad72adf as a typical college f56cdc2bf2 student from an ordinary 60d0f1b250 family. More like someone 749e2d52a7 exposed to long-term 316ccc7b92 physical labor.af7258586e1bd3ac

Come to think of it, Seo Woohyun was quite slender. Though tall and broad-shouldered, if stripped, he’d likely have little fat, with prominent collarbones and hips—a slender build. His expression and demeanor were firm, so he didn’t appear weak, but his muscles seemed more honed by a tough life than by exercise.ffedb054e9a18093

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jiwon recalled the brief moment he sensed Woohyun’s pheromones at the shoot. The pheromones, triggered by the word “baby,” were surprisingly sweet and refreshing. Knowing he was an alpha, he didn’t mistake it, but if he hadn’t known, he might have believed him to be a robust omega.27410308ced79979

If lying is a hobby, that’s a bit troublesome.c6e2073ff62a406a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jiwon’s chin tilted slightly. But there was no need to demand the truth immediately. Not revealing personal information to someone you barely know was a commendable self-defense, and more importantly, learning about Seo Woohyun didn’t necessarily require going through him.07e111f6112dab4f

Just as 8d09c165c6 he straightened d4989167be his head, c85b035441 as if 70988c4b9b he had e1ceb71e12 never been 711eeabd38 skeptical.c10378eacfd80d5b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Director Kang!”31a9cbef19349a61

A young man in 789be57b19 a suit approached down 5f648a929e the hallway.6b5c11c06e55761e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I texted you about changing rooms, but you didn’t check, so I came to get you…”08a1c7249d1972e6

The man d5db8f70ec then turned 5d6a788be2 his gaze 528e9b9866 to Woohyun. Seeing him in uniform, 5e5810d5c2 he seemed to recognize 09bd94b156 him as an employee 9223724076 and laughed heartily.25e611f82b50ee3d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Perfect timing. Let’s not bother the staff and go.”25972fe7c989a05c

Whether it was c9252ea04f a drinking appointment 455bbfc214 with friends or 4bdcc55a3b something else, Woohyun d62dd264c8 realized it was 25f21db7bb time to step bdea68d89e aside. He took a 95936b6777 step back, slightly 994eb6753b bowing his head b4bd4bad4d to let them 75894e2cef pass.b54c20bb87a35c38

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jiwon glanced at 577f84512d Woohyun, who was 30aa2f792b politely showing the 343782773c top of his 1e1b9207ce head, and turned 9d4d25a4ea on his heel.163bde15e83ed40c

“Take care, Deokbae.”118dee4d9e893398

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

˚˚˚5df13a05c4cbc432

Woohyun blinked, looking up at the ceiling. The wallpaper, once white, had faded to a yellowish hue over time, and one corner was darkened with mold from last summer’s rain.d51174bf73227211

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He rolled his eyes to the side. Next to the aluminum front door were the sink, gas stove, and refrigerator lined up. In the past, the memory of his mom standing there would make him so sad, but now it didn’t even bring tears. It only ached in his chest, just enough to bear.dd0f80f3ba8a1c41

He turned his head 119fa1a609 the other way. The wooden door, 7869624859 with its peeling 5e87fc7b39 paint, was firmly 6452cc2b68 closed. It was 9836a89ca5 the room e4bd227931 his brother a897f1ba07 Seo Minhyun 647404bdf3 used during 94d739de5d his adolescence fd6086f43f and where 943f049772 their mother a5cd77181c stayed briefly a352bf7cd1 before she e88be8773f passed.73075b4f1bfdc42e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Having never had 67912ca1a6 a room of 7b3675cb54 his own, even 8bfeee27de now living alone, aa8fe9a524 Woohyun rarely entered 6dc4d4ddfa that room. He only went 73c84452b8 in occasionally to 60145bd0b8 dust during a 06483f51fd big house cleaning.5c3eaacedfbe75d2

Sorting through his troublesome brother’s belongings would make him so angry that he’d throw an item or two into the trash bag each time, leaving few of Seo Minhyun’s things now.11394277527050c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Cleaning had become a sort of countdown, and Woohyun decided to move out once all his brother’s belongings were gone. If he hadn’t come back by then, it meant he was doing fine without him.2127e5df60070df7

Then I b29472b62a can leave 62115ef07a here and 32b279aa7e live well, 4cb6e24536 too.b20c73ea353abfa5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

By now, it wasn’t strange that the landlord felt more like family. When Seo Minhyun took off with the deposit without consulting him, the landlord, upon hearing his situation, waited until he could gather the deposit again.b81f41460c9ac2f3

The kindness his mother 9f0643cf7a had shown the landlord fcf24a8397 in life had come 0f1d938616 back to him over 9437cf5273 time. So if he ever 1be2d791b7 moved out, he wanted 767b6f72a6 to express his gratitude 3790ca50a3 to the landlord.e66869ab50a3cdb8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“To do that, I should call…”51bb2dbbaf7b460d

Muttering to himself, he 3d1975f051 sat up abruptly. In the past, 2698af40e5 his side hair 372f1d0202 would have fluttered, e0c5fa2edc tickling his cheeks, 6a6f5978a0 and his bangs 7dc8deaaeb would have covered b73198b056 half his vision, 2c19fcc613 but not now.f1d100fd9edbd6fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

On his way home from work yesterday, Woohyun had been drawn into a hair salon and had his messy hair cut. The stylist didn’t show it, but seemed quite surprised by his roughly trimmed long hair.6ee5b07815759a75

When asked if he d2d42a568d had been styling it d52e431f3a himself, he awkwardly nodded. During his c830bfc819 time as 7f70b7ffd5 a sailor, fa9b9b1d37 he had d46371483e spent four 6e1b1e56d7 months without a32d4f28f1 docking, getting cff60d3fd6 used to 0ec5158810 trimming it ff60954330 himself, making 305c55c569 even the b193c1cb7d cost of 4cb2d14c78 a haircut cb93f6917f feel wasteful.586c9e79349c8657

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Woohyun blew air a8a712fc4d at his short a91bdba2bf bangs, feeling awkward. It had been faf3d305d1 a long time 9cfa808f1d since his vision 301eef1dac was clear without 04c5e49381 having to tuck 0e267cde1d his side hair c919acc28d behind his ears.4025ade0cc72cb1f

His attention, uncharacteristically shy, 5e2ef4842b soon shifted elsewhere. Inside his phone 8dfce5e12c case was the afb504cf12 stiff black business fa7078e441 card.1322b135c9180e37

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish