✽003

The male lead, ef4098aeec who had been 453a1ffa48 walking away, suddenly 09703e0cc6 stopped, his expression 9f4290c9b5 turning emotional. Then, without warning, 0eb35e14e6 he ran back 53a1374cb5 and embraced the e1aa7f1785 heroine. The scene was accompanied f8024f0611 by a swelling, heart-stirring 6af82d4fe4 BGM, and the camera a6c8609762 spun dramatically in a 6e03ba61b1 360-degree arc around them.2cf920a6ff43e999

Ki-chul peeked over Ju-wan’s e9e013aeb0 shoulder to see what 1616cce51c he was watching and 88d7e12f1b let out a small 3557c0401e laugh.35c8942de449cff5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Studying by watching dramas?”a26293ecc51854ed

“What are you talking about?”21fe64659af196bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“For pick-up lines.”6dcab665d1e0a3f1

Ju-wan chuckled softly, 14eb58b84a almost in a 894a16e960 hmph kind of 7690e30e37 way.bebc4e3cee9e82da

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I don’t need those. I’m popular enough as it is.”cd44362b32238fc4

Ki-chul’s expression e773f938a4 soured immediately, 8c71955f93 and he 36eeaced78 retorted with 3f048d4bfa a sharp 67382e6235 tone.cc710b6e67c764a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. You need rich housewives.”a4840a03c8cc4a67

“Then shouldn’t you be watching more dramas? Housewives love them too.”8beb779b04bf7015

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just then, a voice 68bddaf1ec interrupted.6a2f68629df6f1e8

“Park Ki-chul! Why are you making noise by yourself— Oh, Ju-wan, you’re here?”6268d7f0f7f78cfe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A man ee958112d8 with a c7afe1482f short buzz f9a8697847 cut in a2fe8e829e a black 4f7f1db301 luxury suit 8ab04e2b46 burst into 58d671a803 the room ecae7ec6d8 with a f383ea4867 gruff voice, ec5a8d08fe throwing the 57344b400b door open f7c54a44ef wide. However, he froze momentarily bdc9bae3e7 when he saw Ju-wan. The man was Choi c884c812bb Gyu-hyuk, the owner of c2ad49ff4f Eden. He was an imposing d0451d9db8 figure with a massive 9e040833b7 build and a bit 949c1c9324 of extra weight. At best, bbdec53dce one could 0d22ab62fd describe him ac4f2f9db8 as bear-like; 25eb7ac09f at worst, 85172ee639 like a 73df268b87 wild boar. Either way, he 2c0920525e didn’t fit the 6d4e641592 image one typically df43e4873f associated with someone 33aff0d96a running a host ed55662440 bar.b5662e38892b5ef6

Gyu-hyuk, momentarily e6e9e23a59 startled by ad64af1daa the sight 363ff58662 of Ju-wan 6bae69af6f lounging on 50024e7e22 the sofa, 51c913687c quickly regained a42ac40b54 his composure. Ju-wan greeted d7957bb6cd him casually 5fba218d80 and spoke bf5ed9a67f first.282b221d48931454

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I heard you had an appointment earlier?”f856c3039adfd2c8

“Yeah. I worked out a deal to take on some staff from Kim’s place for now. Cost me a fortune.”67d82226ccc08e33

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So Namhae really betrayed us?”2f21f542237b1a11

At this, Gyu-hyuk 8689c04d7a let out a 5498c68421 deep sigh.aeba81127be00a49

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah. That bastard. After everything I did for him. If he wanted to leave, fine, but why take the others with him?”1def23ba6d0c422a

“Who all left?”89347d823c9959b3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Namhae, Hojin, Daeju, Jaehee…”4bbdbd58cc6453d4

“Wow, he really took a lot of people with him.”7643da91228ca5d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju-wan’s mouth 67136133b6 fell open b3c1776d46 in shock. Gyu-hyuk, visibly 8df455d087 irritated, yanked 75f8f0fb4f open the fd3d0ca759 first button 8c2a1ab848 of his 40a49b6920 cheap white 2195dc6996 shirt and be13d7176a sat down b435a2fb2e heavily on 999eacc749 the sofa, feca822495 spreading his e4f322bab5 legs wide. A tacky 9766edc495 gold chain 279d13a80b gleamed on e7fc0bb46b his chest. Leaning his 9fb4f2e6f3 head back, 2a6b4c4b37 he sighed 48b790a690 heavily, exhaling 3dabe3bac4 his frustration.494592949f402213

Sensing an fbff88f809 incoming rant, 42b6369adc Ki-chul quietly c03f052a86 got up 397efa519a from his a87a46320e seat, clearly 4d3a84b335 trying to 82cce7a880 slip away. Gyu-hyuk immediately shot him 660120bee1 a glare.4932afae17065212

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Where do you think you’re going?”331f72d6b41b6061

“Uh, bathroom. Just the bathroom,” Ki-chul replied hastily.1979ad7a1af0ac59

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ki-chul chuckled 10ae635842 awkwardly, glanced af7954b216 around for e06c1486dc approval, and bb5b10ecd2 left the 4e11177145 room. The door b3c7e4365b shut with 7e25d51460 a loud ee6af0fcbe thunk, followed 3728d41913 by the 5ce8360e46 sound of ce4a4ddffa hurried footsteps. He was likely 5987c830a3 off to have 34d8a5d3b3 a smoke.e536e2bc615c31b2

Once Ju-wan 7062060a3f was sure 3c654b36a5 Ki-chul was dc989a08c1 completely out f20c6c9181 of earshot, dd7fb9b373 he spoke b84bf7978f up.7546552d0786383c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey, if something this important happens, shouldn’t you at least call me?”2fc0609bdf6bef30

“S-sorry! I didn’t want to disturb your break….”74889e9006209bcf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The atmosphere had shifted fb43a094ce entirely. While Ju-wan lounged 3ddcaa4295 back casually, almost eb2db9df6e lying on the dbddee9bd9 sofa, Choi Gyu-hyuk—who e250bf1049 had been sitting 32226ba65d like a sprawled a959bbc3cf bandit with legs 1261fb3ffe spread wide—now sat 36dd79268d upright, knees together, 9568561aa1 hands placed neatly 716a5bf142 on them. He responded to Ju-wan’s 607c5b4ca3 words with a tone c7115eabe7 of utter deference.749bb1ddc8d20abc

“No matter how much I stay behind the scenes, I still need to know what’s going on with our staff changes,” Ju-wan said, his tone sharp.a73b23108b3010f6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My apologies!”b5fac25ea3f06e05

Gyu-hyuk bowed his head 41147b2bf8 like a low-ranking gangster. In truth, f1e707bcd2 he had 4d74530f41 never been c83255df47 anywhere near e265044a04 the mob, 4c7a55b6f9 but his dabecceae0 burly build 289377d670 and rough 8a4f57d1cf demeanor made 01c0db7569 it look 237f1cddf8 fitting.9e10410763f027d5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Alright, stop overdoing it. If anyone comes in and sees this, it’ll just be a hassle.”06c324987959205e

“Y-yes, understood!”5e90024394853062

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The truth 1feac452cf was, Ju-wan 7a54525efa was the 11633b57cf real owner 07700ec0e4 of Eden. However, due aff97bb271 to his c27470b3dd youthful appearance c1fb26771f and delicate, 81f6085db8 slender frame, 49c46761d7 people often 2a75dcfc7a underestimated him 475d6098b8 when they d19e11fecf learned he 705ee5d4fa was the aea116a763 boss. To avoid this, a0cef66272 he had installed cf35bec6b3 the intimidating Gyu-hyuk 0f7d701b1d as a front 3347b97604 to play the fdd99a9847 role of the cb83c87999 owner.d75bd302ef7ca3ae

This strategy had its pros and cons. The upside was that the rate of troublesome customers had been cut in half. The downside? The number of customers overall had also dropped by half. This made securing regulars crucial for Eden’s success.65e321c615ed67b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But, in 8b80ae5df1 reality, none 7330b899e3 of that 2b383a3859 mattered much 416ab1e027 to Ju-wan. He had founded the 19522b1692 host bar purely for 3091554332 himself. His only 84e7a0e59d goal was 9923e5edc9 to enjoy c40aef5254 the warmth 6cf86b097a of women’s fb8a9359ca company. The occasional sip 0542e4673a of blood was d2ab50c80f just a bonus.204fcb1efceef10f

Letting out df77de32c6 a deep 5a07b18d68 sigh, as 1e8bfacced if exhaling 50ef55ed8b imaginary smoke, 0b39d8bd17 Ju-wan turned 13f3afbeb1 his gaze 3a9c47e82b to Gyu-hyuk.6fd5615910685c42

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You don’t happen to know any good-looking guys, do you?”ae52bead56a6d186

“No,” Gyu-hyuk replied instantly.f0efedb62f125a9c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ju-wan frowned. Gyu-hyuk’s loyalty and a65854a255 honesty were commendable, 1e3e01433e but his complete 41ab21a948 lack of social 028c75ddb5 awareness was exasperating.983e3e24873d9351

“Ugh, damn it.”508c225e450dbc5d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju-wan muttered under his 3aac146af6 breath, clearly annoyed.d2b5a44e78c708d0

“Listen, if you see any handsome guys out on the street, just drag them in. Got it?”32eb77dcf77e0b39

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Understood!” Gyu-hyuk responded enthusiastically.5dd10509f5bfcec8

“…No, that’s not what I meant. Forget it,” Ju-wan grumbled, shaking his head.f634a11096b96dbd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If it 1718c33620 were Choi 7979d23b0c Gyu-hyuk, he c5436ef2f7 might actually e65ebdd6d4 take Ju-wan’s 37b89a9e09 words literally 62c384da30 and drag f8c2fe440f someone in 1bbe158f10 off the 245cbccf57 street, only e5969a1710 to get 49592e0b29 reported for 51392c4482 kidnapping. With his appearance, 268a1392b8 he certainly looked 241d4ee18b the part. The only thing not cc5a169a92 intimidating about him was c696697bf0 his wide, earnest eyes.992b5957884e572e

However, women who had spoken to Gyu-hyuk a few times often found themselves charmed by the mismatch between his rough appearance and his naive, almost childlike demeanor. They called it an “adorable innocence” or said his cluelessness made him cute. Women had a knack for spotting muscle-bound fools. Ju-wan sighed and gave him another instruction.3034a1ea2b14af22

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“From now on, send polite greetings to everyone in your contacts morning, noon, and night. You never know what might come up.”ad64a7c5088048da

“Understood,” Gyu-hyuk replied with a nod.ea7f623658ae6b3b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And how do you treat customers?”dee4b31dd8831d94

“Always with a smile and kindness!”3c4a91c59d5145cb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Gyu-hyuk recited like a 58c5286ce3 dutiful student.4b921142ef64991a

At that moment, the sound of Ki-chul’s footsteps echoed from down the hall. Ju-wan quickly straightened from his lounging position, and Gyu-hyuk shifted back into his “boss” pose, radiating authority. When Ki-chul opened the door again, Gyu-hyuk was suddenly delivering an impassioned lecture to Ju-wan.a447b7d209a5f7ee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve got to hold onto your girlfriend tight. Got it?” he said in a commanding tone.67755803b4fb2ac6

Ki-chul, who had 671119f7fa paused with the 5a5c5161b5 door halfway open, 305a879295 immediately stepped inside 80d0705117 with exaggerated strides, 581d3da5bb his curiosity piqued.4d77f02aa54dd949

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Which girlfriend? This guy got dumped.”b4b08c9c6d438d32

Ki-chul announced, 2f5a4eef61 his voice 05cb4573b4 laced with df966d9b41 glee.dbf7d2dbdf63490c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was the most d58ecb9278 excited tone Ju-wan had 3b6c799ffd ever heard from him. Gyu-hyuk’s eyes 5802d5ab01 widened to d2f69874e8 the size 0f5d321994 of saucers 3c867c5241 as he 94b2dd3427 glanced at 7d7b0c1786 Ju-wan, silently ecba450a67 asking, Is 51abe5e858 this true, bd5e17ffad boss?4c9e6591e4e472f5

But what came e2f15252de out of his b9440fa993 mouth was.908fd330c8f13c4f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What? Really?! Why?!”8154b4da660442d0

“She’s getting married.”f87765b6ec407b02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ki-chul replied fa8076c27d before Ju-wan c2313aadad could. His grin practically sparkled 8f440df14b with delight.7a73ecef76ebd75f

Gyu-hyuk looked f2d713d93f utterly incredulous.ebd45ca16cb25a56

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, tell her you love her more than her husband ever could! Beg her!”6c4506d4c55bf391

Kang Ju-wan waved his 2df5ff366d hand dismissively, as if 28825b04ff he couldn’t be bothered.27d6427cafdbc7e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Enough. Love is something you can find again.”794d3c8ea134eff7

Choi Gyu-hyuk 47745c7811 stared at d6d0e74457 him with e63d6f018c a slightly 43491dcff9 bewildered expression.a3b6d10aecb62234

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Didn’t you say this one was real love?”b0baa55a51d6b441

“How could it be real love with a married woman?” Ju-wan replied indifferently.a3282b8148936281

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ki-chul chimed 798e60ac3e in again, dda4310029 his tone ce356f3231 laced with 31719ac002 mockery.452215a65080efb1

“You’re not seriously looking for a marriage partner in a place like this, are you?”d58098ddb2f51836

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Not your business.”f6af71384bdef5ed

“You’re nuts…” Ki-chul muttered, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief. For someone who clearly never looked back after a breakup, Ju-wan sure knew how to spin a convincing story. Even to self-proclaimed ace Ki-chul, Ju-wan’s declarations of love seemed genuine in the moment. That was Ju-wan’s most dangerous trait—if even he could believe it, how would the women he targeted stand a chance?8f30875681af6307

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The one mystery Ki-chul 1987fe1774 couldn’t wrap his head 3cca047193 around was how women 55e26fd389 who once clung to d23b7c26c1 Ju-wan like their lives aa904b38d0 depended on it would 2c92d88510 suddenly cut ties completely, 7ddde29dc6 as if they’d forgotten cb2bd2a0f1 him entirely. Half joking, half serious, ef8a5f2025 he prodded Ju-wan.3697b426f3caa137

“By the way, why do the women who date you never come back here afterward? Even if they’re sick of you, you’d think they’d switch to me. Don’t tell me you’re secretly… dealing with them when they try to break up with you.”385cdd25089c74d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Both Ju-wan and Gyu-hyuk 58fc18bb67 froze at the remark. Before Ju-wan could bc520c66b4 respond, Gyu-hyuk exploded.3f3e28824b436243

“Hey! There are some things you just don’t say, you idiot!”55363d15f0d75151

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Relax, it’s obviously a joke,” Ki-chul said, trying to brush it off.55d233fab2256d86

But Ju-wan’s e563e16e4f gaze turned 30c4687858 icy as fcc6805552 he looked b8404f0a67 at Ki-chul, a9260a0201 his expression 8860bef102 devoid of 412deccde3 humor.43d3f67668bd03c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…If I were to kill someone, you’d be the first.”7252f62e4d67b8e0

The room 40988cde9e fell silent, 6684f1f56b the air 2b649216d9 growing tense 12662a2f71 and cold.720abe73998b9634

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

For a moment, 39b18cf9d8 Ki-chul instinctively took 95999c68a7 a step back, 7a1153d92b a shiver running 832f927c91 down his spine. Embarrassed by the f55be70cf7 fact that he 9d185afd87 had been intimidated 567c39c546 by someone as e38a360afd wiry as Ju-wan, 778a5ed88e he let out f580d8bc23 a forced, hearty 2c8addfd14 laugh.2e286623e75f6ff2

“Hey~ I’m just curious, that’s all! I’ve seen so many customers pulling stunts about marrying or dying for our hosts. But with you, the women who swore they’d die for you just cut ties completely—it’s fascinating, isn’t it?”78d72dc13ee17db9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Choi Gyu-hyuk suddenly beab936085 snapped, his voice db8321eca5 booming.46effb6949457378

“Hey! Get out! Instead of wasting time here, go find some decent recruits!”0b5aa95fea73a92f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why’s it always me you’re yelling at?”c3f6c0052f9379f7

Ki-chul complained, but abe6b8b4ae he seemed relieved a700e41b23 to leave. Without further protest, he 97407bbd71 quickly exited the room.52eaaa3aa2dddb40

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Silence filled the room c6aaff49c0 once again. Gyu-hyuk glanced at c34750572b Ju-wan’s expression nervously db29991222 before speaking in 19059de0c5 a low voice.4a50d8b373ec4017

“Boss, don’t let him get to you.”59ff6f4cf092671d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not.”31db6214516efb78

Even so, Ju-wan couldn’t 07ec6da257 help but feel a b2eb1289ed bit bitter after hearing 5634db1f5b Ki-chul’s remarks. It reminded d5c573f99f him of b09c2681a6 how impulsively 651d6f17c0 he’d fed 843968acab on Seoyeon. A twinge of guilt 5a536ee185 lingered.df783471e43d88df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But Ju-wan 7a17ab20ea soon shrugged 58468e1e53 it off. It’s not like I ca3f1b47ac killed her or anything.096bd81883c8fdbc

He had never 90e0f65eb5 killed anyone while c95d02c913 feeding. That was aac1fb6a0a a promise 98ce37ece6 he had d56e4957ca made to 518c3328d5 himself to 14de4a2d11 retain some a4ccb95d80 semblance of 47c6ec4630 humanity.b30c2d52bcef14fd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Well, except for 5ac4124a76 the ones who 63f9546416 tried to kill dfdad66722 me first.89c982e4432f5197

That didn’t count b32512eaff in Ju-wan’s mind—it 5bc4c0a0fc was survival, not e4d10498f7 murder.43503ae97dac3935

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After ensuring Ki-chul had disappeared down the hallway, Ju-wan stood up from the sofa, stretching his back, and muttered, “You go find someone, too. At this rate, the bar’s going to go under.”9a54701482ebcb5a

“Understood, boss! Don’t worry!” Gyu-hyuk replied with enthusiasm.36397f02ba623ba6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And listen,” Ju-wan added, his tone firm, “from now on, if something even remotely important happens, contact me. Got it? Even if it just feels important, call me.”e709188301fe171b

“Yes, boss!”4ceec2bef28ee737

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With Gyu-hyuk’s e3f220b4da energetic reply, f86a0ffb81 Ju-wan let c800783f6e go of 8ef46e3ab4 any lingering 8c9016007e thoughts about 6b46b88bd1 Seoyeon. She was 8f685af24f out of 6d0c06be7d his mind 28e8287c55 completely.c48dc32d44a39630

 80f67caad6651de9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com