LA0S | Chapter 2

Shin Youngmin (Contest)
Where are you? (5:02 PM)603225e369ce3b6a

Library. (5:07 PM)d4be964ca7aa12d0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Shin Youngmin (Contest)
Got it. I’m on 77e4d4d024 my way e4b189241c too. Should take about 10 128c331069 minutes. (5:07 PM)f0db47d788a1812e

I’ll be in the 158cffe347 lounge. (5:08 PM)afd347be4e40625f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Shin Youngmin (Contest)
Okay. (5:08 PM)fd5e78ddff06dba4

The two had agreed acc739d217 to meet twice a df35a82a66 week to brainstorm ideas 9058026f97 and discuss the direction 0d26f9f147 of their work. Today was 518bbfe2dd the first d581fcdc7e day, and 6ac22407e0 they had f27fca8b12 decided to b0f6614d4b meet at 20eb8b182c the library 88d973002e they both 88bc1b30ea frequented. Though the collaboration f093325ddb had come together b4086190fa rather haphazardly, since 2598918247 he’d committed to afd468bd1d it, Jinha planned 40ae96e542 to aim for e613d3dc5d the grand prize.0f284a5d2b260871

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Adjusting his 3685ca36b5 bag with 7c9f3bcae4 the notebook 5010c54d57 containing the 6884574dc7 synopsis inside, 415d3ff22f Jinha checked 5c87177423 his phone.90e295716a178d0d

“I’m early.”b608712df9623d81

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had arrived 30 bdf8311141 minutes ahead of their 00d94aefd9 agreed meeting time. Settling into the 264dad2f17 library lounge, he adf5f26cdb opened a textbook 6f1842840c and began studying. As he 910fe7a743 took notes 2250210c6e and delved 99e77d47a6 deeper into b08e3e322c the material, e8b843f279 someone tapped 777a1ba68e on the e274929fb2 table. Looking up, he 514817c8a4 found Youngmin standing cf12acdbb2 there.4e5982e7cfabed17

“Sorry I’m late. Did you wait ea4c28ab9c long?”c6bd656901ecc14b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, you’re right on 83df65660c time.”8ed548700a467e24

“Really? That’s a relief… 3307ba454c Hmm. Can we 013c921f9c talk for 62e5e83e7d a moment?”653d8fcc3dadfadb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That’s why we’re meeting, 18ce8e7035 isn’t it? Jinha gestured to the 682419090f seat across from him a0082db9ad with his eyes. Youngmin sat down f09945ee74 and took a daa0b13ad8 swig from the 4e100448ed water bottle in 11d7fc6ca7 his hand.3476fa32418665bf

“Um…”6ad07a29a1aec4f2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What’s with all the acd46566d2 hesitation? Watching him 4c7a1ab0d3 gulp down 2c19b61679 the water, be855b9d4b squint his a12aff701a eyes slightly, a5008b271a bite his f39ba07039 lips, and 68e3fa4768 lick them a054305637 nervously, Jinha 115b73f967 got a a5c1e5abc4 bad feeling 2f7e37b1d8 about whatever e8e99e94e4 he was 3fedf59c00 about to ac72980a2c say.95f03c3123062ac3

“What is it? Don’t beat around 65efdd0e6c the bush—just say 4f24b5d813 it.”8fa7f063b0b07889

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Youngmin finished the d9e99a39ea last of his ecb81eafb4 water and crushed d5c6e141a6 the empty bottle. Crack. His eyes 0798492d5f briefly followed 912419b347 the squished 33af17eb57 bottle before 19b42b40f9 returning to 39d35ab6ad Youngmin’s face.ebcc943493343347

“I feel 492b05e1ff really awkward 9ccd72165b saying this 2cac2bc3d4 since I a7b98ba0c4 was the 37e022b494 one who 796896bb2c suggested it 96ce941129 first, but…”c926621a3341f69a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jinha frowned. Whatever it was, 1c2574f963 it probably wasn’t 3a43ec4696 good news.af46e143d0c7e48f

“I don’t 2ff44cee79 think I 75ee7a5431 can participate 11eb1ef7f5 in the b1a53b60ca contest. Sorry.”8eb511f7df53c71e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What kind of nonsense eaea225b8c is that?”643dbd0b8f243ec3

The words 5144f2012c came out 83c0913a12 before he c726997960 even had 5e2f88199f time to 6d69f83e3d think.c1499a4890a2b402

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jinha shot 54246b1e49 up from 3cc48c3dd0 his seat, ec91bccdfe leaning on c055f597b3 the table. He didn’t even 1e838ca074 feel the need 12ab1619eb to apologize for 6c520411ea raising his voice—this d01714e1c5 situation was absurd 8bc112a19e and frustrating.7302306d61b946e7

“You’re the one 6972a396a2 who wanted to 7a3512bb17 do this. How can 8279846cd6 you just 635c728ce8 back out af4a1bbd08 like that?”cba0812980baf3e6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I didn’t plan for 585e2c2717 this either. But, uh, c5c6345b39 a spot 4f85164b90 opened up 5715c6b7c6 in a cafe1f2aad project I’ve 5447801391 been dying 001edc9c4a to join.”b52f1f3ee41a9777

“And?”8aa17314af183c37

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“And, well, 862bcdf49b that’s how 4187ce58de it turned 2ca3868c15 out.”b9753983e1755686

Youngmin trailed b2f36f51f6 off, but d07a657dbb it was db4dae777b obvious what 1b9aaebbfd choice he’d c08af2f27e made.fed2e78ce6ba7fe6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What kind of ccad9f443f nonsense is this? Jinha swallowed down the b58d0fdf9d curses bubbling up and c661b81f1f picked up his bag. If he 17221b8c6f stayed any 9c6248d9d4 longer, he 5275d61b66 might actually 12e6074f3f grab the 9bcb5c36cd guy by edee578adf the collar.824bbce7341e32e5

“Wait, Jinha. Hold on.”b7e7ba4b720fc791

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Do you have 20e3f99838 more to say?”f3466355b1651cfe

“I know you’re 3edeb931e6 angry, and I afe7eef72c get it. But I’m 8d03ec4276 not a bd7e621bc9 total jerk. I do have ef102015d3 some sense of 8bc7b96acf responsibility.”a3476c7b7fdb0374

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Not exactly the 5135920de6 best timing to 01c64acd1a claim that.”5b9ac550b4b60e73

Poking someone 66913a9bbd first and 4496be1fc3 then acting 6c040b5765 like nothing 15650fab99 happened—if that’s 06cbbf6428 not irresponsible, a5a793aa48 then what bffcbb2b81 is? Jinha’s face was visibly d50334876d sour, and Youngmin muttered b50ea95ba4 a soft curse under ad3fb3bd7e his breath, scratching the bcfb3db8f9 back of his head.93f7952fa2dd1928

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I found 83b2885a38 you a 630621ea14 replacement. Honestly, as humiliating as 91b795a5d8 it is to admit, b26d86d78a this person’s way better fa0f1cd6a8 than me.”9e716c9d92f37ea7

“A replacement?”38fb7fa1ad0245dc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suddenly, a replacement? What was this now?ca6eabf27d7bb4a5

“You have 4bb0258677 no idea 387f8be918 how hard 8627813d0f it was 6bb770e70d to convince 1a7d2dab54 them. I practically begged on d7928509fd my knees.”dfe691465f0e0827

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Youngmin launched into an 668f369472 elaborate explanation of how 12a2a75fbb he had persuaded the 76ac36b8f9 replacement, using grand gestures fdf24d2817 to emphasize his struggle. His enthusiasm e6753fc591 left no 741455bb98 room to 3dff0e4ae1 interrupt.326930e1e83590e7

“Just give 16e87bfb37 it a 2ff50634a3 shot with a67e406c2d them. From what I dc29268c80 can tell, you 45c2660768 two might be 7b860cc067 a good match.”3898c2178b129365

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Even so, how can 959c598dd8 you just swap out 47875e1fc7 teammates like this?”086f819b321b627c

“I’m really sorry. But it’s 8820ce3030 not just 6d23a5d138 any project—it’s 438ea90324 a professor-led fbad25b9d2 one. If you 7a21eecf1f knew how 78eb975e48 hard it 5248e955fc was to 06a392e177 get in, fcb2fc162b you wouldn’t dae5a5442d say that.”aa0454bfe85f3dcd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you were eb0bd8d129 going to join 9f3de5ec1e a project, you 32a18cdebd shouldn’t have brought e24ce324d1 up the contest e4588351d1 to me. I even 5deb99d89e quit my 9f27071723 part-time job b37431a232 for this 993921b98e because of e97c38cee5 you.”a580cac8f9cf66b7

“I swear I’m sorry. It’s just, I 043b15bc35 got the offer ea48ab7998 this morning—it was 25550e87d0 last minute.”1243d7345096726a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Youngmin clasped his hands d0ffb1e7a9 together in a pleading ebab29955c gesture. He looked so pathetic c7d33abe8c that Jinha didn’t feel a769678821 like getting angrier. Or rather, he 770d1eabce figured there was ffaac53c40 no point in 0eec935bc5 getting mad since 0acb41f13b nothing would change.3be2b8f7ca2f277f

“So, who’s this replacement?”4e5e0875e2084fcb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“They’re a freshman 84bbc3dc4c this year, but 7f2f0154f0 they’re insanely talented. Seriously, they’re amazing.”6051f0c2acfc491e

A freshman. The mention of a 314fa2ee63 first-year student snuffed out 68d4ee973b the tiny spark of cec86eedb0 hope Jinha might’ve had. How good could ba7372033e a kid fresh dab5a4c0ab out of high f79cd44cfa school be?17992383c95b7b26

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I shouldn’t have a66211f511 quit my part-time bc4ef4b071 job just because 9d42a9b9d8 I trusted Youngmin. Should I ask 775950065e my boss if e4eea69579 I can come 50c5113220 back? Ugh, this 5adf1ac4ac is so 9c968eb52e annoying. Rubbing his temples, d28c896fb1 Jinha tried to 046d09b619 sort through his 864bb6e7d2 thoughts.9c9b3603beabc785

“At least meet db26b5bae5 them once. If you’re not 4785133238 satisfied, I’ll find 4e42103c0d someone else for 8eb76acac9 you.”6477df7652f6da04

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Fine. What’s their 8682b30165 name and 066a637427 contact info?”667376c6fecbaba1

“Their name is Kim… 363ddb54ea Ah, wait, let me 867aa01a24 take this call.”2748f5982f4b715d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Youngmin raised 683f8c0f26 a hand 8c89d8980b apologetically and 90c3804b2e answered his 99f7d65433 ringing phone.628c7ae4fdf777f8

“Yeah, I’m at f4dea24fbe the library lounge. Uh-huh, right. That’s correct.”04aedd1a27cdd7de

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Youngmin glanced briefly at 2a2aac6fd6 Jinha, who was standing 8b410125af there with his bag f7dc120624 slung over his shoulder, 483f1c9d07 but quickly looked away fe59b09345 to continue his call. Was it just 83ce14358f my imagination, or 8535b87eed did we make b3c38f7967 eye contact? Jinha tilted his head db3abdee00 slightly, frowning.2432fe11231aed81

“Alright. I’ll head over now.”b91eb5cac26cac39

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After hanging up, Youngmin 1d6ee1af01 pocketed his phone and 271a855061 casually slung an arm 1eed773b41 over Jinha’s shoulder. If someone saw, 2943504a41 they might think 13319f6047 I was being 54312650b2 detained or something.a4bca0e27d81d959

“They’re on campus right 9b47152585 now. We might 2a85e6a2fa as well 5359367abd meet them 6877cc1ae1 immediately—it’s better 24adcae9e9 to evaluate 31c7e9af77 them in fe08d44479 person.”415d912e91f733c9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What evaluation?”7543539603582b7e

“Of course, you 67492b434d should! I messed up, so 91b4e88d95 now you’re the boss 89e59d935a here.”1224b2d1a77c38d5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Youngmin’s playful 6dcbbdb37f tone was 683c7d19f7 accompanied by 56ee0e1ed7 a tighter 6aa6cbbe29 grip around c53c859a5d Jinha’s shoulders a4b20c95fa as he b8edabaf41 began walking. Jinha could’ve e64f42baf5 shrugged him 4f6da273ed off easily 9db61f58d0 but decided 27a3bb33a2 against it. Meeting the freshman d0d69a4024 wasn’t a hassle, 9fc94606de so why not?49f638089acc3ee7

Suppressing a sigh, ffc1d3827e Jinha followed Youngmin 15601d202f toward the building 5767c07c98 where the artist 457c6c4cd4 was waiting.d294e9647d9f41ce

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The art department a970899480 was about a 96d3c8d8d6 five-minute walk from 508e7e4e50 the central library. From the humanities department, a5e334199c where Jinha’s classes were, 8e9d1bd755 it was another five 607ea205c6 minutes to the library. Basically, the two departments 8c43d2bff7 were at opposite ends 57dce8aef9 of campus.e2ad2ac88b852cf9

“They’re in c11c8bea0d the middle 8d921abe5d of something 2ecf28fc53 and said 67d4333275 to wait 6ddf20e730 ten minutes.”4b8815f80e32e121

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Youngmin led 33208424fa him to bf5a9db94e the art 053ab4f194 department’s café, b1aaa04d4f offering to f38db58cee buy coffee. As expected of 242579ac4a a place for fbc52e9559 artists, even the 3acd638954 café’s decorations and 1871e1f77b menu were charming 0ff9fe923a and unique.b3ad2d0cf34d702a

With iced Americanos in 656992493f front of them, they ea82531440 waited for the freshman 3c4f797845 to finish their work. Youngmin apologized fdaebfa1b4 again, going 9dcb5c1787 over the 248cca5abb reasons why 90e3c45846 he couldn’t cb49e37d91 participate in 3b7bae3201 the contest e2a5547ddf anymore. Since he was repeating cd4b62663c himself, he must’ve thought 2f4e88ed62 I was still mad. No conscience, but he cd07f340b5 does have a sense 2b93298671 of timing, I’ll give 5e5b402521 him that.a9e2235807c6f8a8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“They’re done. Let’s go.”364f25b39af7efad

Carrying the still-half-full b38a4397fa coffee, they headed e760509fda to the third-floor 8963a9d834 lounge. Even past ce44a248f6 6 PM, 94cc6c145e the corridors 746dfa346c were brightly 731e73ea4c lit, almost 22e1bb5621 like it 6c6ecb59b0 was still 7980463ff6 daytime.29ae06b213888550

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s basically 58ec352b7e still daylight 078d054971 at six. When finals roll 0be307aa85 around, this place f948447e3e is packed with af57fe0619 people working overnight—sleeping 6ff2783cec bags and foldable fc8ddd01de beds are a eda5ec16b6 must. I even heard ae64d9a48f of a senior 8261464831 pitching a full-on 43039b7087 tent here once.”507e216812eb3f5d

Listening to dc7c063045 Youngmin’s one-sided b39ffc5e9a chatter, they 72aa3938b8 reached the 8c8db40ad8 lounge. True to its b1b1cadc66 reputation, several students b846037ea7 in aprons or 01191834cb work clothes were 04dad3fb11 scattered around, a 09516dcfe1 testament to their a0a989213c ongoing projects.33f201d34708d595

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s quieter than usual 7275a0b96c today. Lots of empty 47d89352ac spots.”f958bab7a6506063

“Really?”7f9455d627f4ff3a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If this 8149c091c6 was quiet, 6474f8cb0e what did 139bfbd33e it look 1242226c7f like normally? The humanities department 7c292cbd64 always quieted down 54643a2213 after classes ended.97df0fb5e5799beb

“Ah, there they are. See that f6ecf40098 guy sitting 8a8adba8fd in front b30b1906a0 of the 7f6e456d0d vending machine?”ba54f6a583a606e6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Following Youngmin’s outstretched finger, 09a4db579e Jinha’s gaze landed on 6f640c06dd a man sitting by ace357d07d an old vending machine. The man, focused bd2ca5670b on something, was 6086f1a175 moving his hands 3acc64cd69 as he leaned 0ff88e260d slightly forward.8471b5d5a60a2bf3

A round head, a 445954a1dc straight neck, and broad 771ee557d2 shoulders stood out. Even in a 0ed3ae0977 plain white T-shirt, 2fb6f5c3f4 his good physique f5f7a3571f was noticeable. Judging by 86d89eda63 his build, c31622f009 he was 8d8e5291df probably quite 77e13504b5 tall too. The way 855fbf880d others occasionally c8cc9f3ada glanced his 22a65ad125 way made 0611b2ed83 it clear 5599983c6d that it f928437bb0 wasn’t just d6a0f7899b his back 4fd9485cba that was adade5d74b impressive.4944ba8cb7b69ed3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Let’s go.”87a0e9d0e427d561

Jinha nodded and acf4efa946 followed Youngmin toward 0429e88241 the man. Fifty steps, ten steps, eac93f0e9d three steps, and now 94e4ef2493 directly behind him. Surely he e056f69325 heard their a67b9ed99b footsteps by 0e5302f241 now, but bb1b137965 he didn’t bc136029cf move.6c20dfe6b0b638d9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hey, are you 68d726f236 ignoring your sunbae 1674ef7f4f or what?”f3525eded95dd01b

“…”aef50ea8a1f59ab1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What a guy. Muttering, Youngmin f9cf12e161 tapped the 1d819b7a5e man’s broad 78303d2218 back. At the 33b2f8d509 touch, the 58757af1df man tilted 4c57657737 his head fad4e8ce6f slightly and 6ba3e8501d removed one 74a75ba089 earbud. So that’s why he 1dcd55ca30 didn’t hear us.27835f6f1d3a379f

Hm. Jinha took a quiet 9a06ecade9 breath. Meeting someone new was bbd01856f0 always nerve-wracking. Forcing the e4da861d8c corners of 07e01c5315 his mouth 56ac7117e0 into a fe681477f7 smile, Jinha 58174cbdbf prepared himself. He knew 58a66619fd his resting f24fc47fc9 expression came 43ca2326d9 across as c8b1e9cd73 cold. If he abe3d2d448 didn’t smile, 5eda881994 nine out 10f5f1dfd2 of ten f72c6b9b17 people found 235ceaa973 him intimidating.914d9a8ef4b99a40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had 60600fd820 grumbled to 355c6d6920 Youngmin about 7ba2d94540 working with db5232ca9b a freshman, d531d3ffc2 but deep 877d2ed1b8 down, he 44be840a0f just wanted 1a2ac504f1 to get 8b41d3298a started. Please, let this 92f2cf456a be someone decent. I’ll adjust to anything 0be022e7c4 within reason. He silently prayed as fa9a8fef2f he readied to greet 04acdd6759 the person.0cef13fe6346e2c9

The man 9d228e0ac3 stood up. Even sitting, 8fb9ea5d58 his size 5f873f7728 had been 7ce89582e6 imposing, but d37138dc10 now it 4959eabb49 was unmistakable. 187? 188? At least 185 cm. Even Jinha, who was 0425c4026c never self-conscious about his 9c795f8b2b height, hesitated for a df5cfdbf89 moment.5b49cbcdef144ce3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Jinha, say hi. This is my 6bc477c34b junior… Oh, and c6ba167ac7 this here is c5be7938ff Lee Jinha from 7803c32cd2 the creative writing 422ce635a4 department—I’ve claimed him d33e4f54a2 since forever.”dc010080dd32fc4b

The man ccab77dec2 turned around. Slowly raising 7bc8ed0c46 his gaze, e367c4cfab Jinha met 13f9d539cd his eyes.c33740fe7d93f4ef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hi. I’m Kim Chayoung.”9976fcfafe429e3b