SMFC | Chapter 36

If it were Haeon’s usual personality, 6eac03d705 he would’ve told Lee Soo to 2323c20723 take it easy and go on 4aca9e8679 ahead without a second thought. Then, he’d be left behind, nibbling away at 95a3197739 the desserts Lee Soo bought for him while eb8e57d044 waiting indefinitely for Lee Soo to return.c5eee8d68dc4dd39358d

But now, an inexplicable sense of unease clung to 849905e6c4 Haeon, gripping his ankles tightly, refusing to let go. It left him standing there 5bcab989ed like a child who didn’t ce86857b4b know how to take a 7e912cef32 step forward alone, staring blankly.93fa11d3bbe61f876821

Lee Soo, who had been waiting for Ji Hasin to finally say something after d441b9bff4 his prolonged hesitation, turned to Haeon and asked why he hadn’t gone up yet. Haeon had no answer for that question, and 062395035d he blinked in confusion, caught off guard.631f39021a6f54a2951b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still. Just standing there.ae448fb5d57e1b4a5e48

Seeing Haeon looking so out of it, a51ea1cf79 Lee Soo frowned slightly, stepping closer. He gently placed a hand on Haeon’s 7ceeacb51d forehead and cheek, checking his temperature. Was he running c674f9f4d5 a fever? But no—his ad66d4e4bf skin was 236342e3e8 merely lukewarm.71fc87c6ed58b1358828

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Are you 4f5bb60128 feeling unwell? You don’t have 576b997180 to wait. Go ahead 948636c78b and head 279f76489f up first.”a69016f6c887901a8595

“It’s just that—”168d9d0bdeff869865fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That’s not it. Before Haeon could finish his sentence, Ji c6db44669f Hasin suddenly lifted his head, as if 9dca879ef8 he’d made up his mind to speak. Grabbing onto Lee Soo’s sleeve, his d36808deb8 face was a tangled mess of 964ada49ec nervous tension as he whispered:17441a892e4913728fff

“I like you. I wanted to say 9a810daa82 it… I mean it, 3c389b8a59 let’s date. I want to be bbe379ee81 in a relationship with 96bf399578 you, Leesoo-nim.”e264bbf098bc450fc204

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His final words, daring and bold as if all his nervous trembling 2c68730fd6 had been a lie, left Lee Soo with an ambiguous smile. Hearing the confession, Lee Soo found himself thinking: looking back f71e7ee3da on all of Hasin’s past actions, it seemed like his 2fc7ed0309 feelings for him had been evident all along.dfd961446f4db85a83e8

Dating. Loving someone. Finding a reason 738759f8cd to live just 23b01f52e1 one more day. It didn’t seem like e7b00206ac such a bad thing.4a70a4ef0c0e2867f4c4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But even so, at least for 6651a2e690 now, no reason to live like 46554f8f71 that came to Lee Soo’s mind. From the beginning, this be7962f3c7 life was one whose b1da379903 ending he could see. And since that was the case, he had resolved from the start e7a673de12 to dedicate everything from the beginning to the end to Haeon.3dabd4f609c6a04a4c27

He had no room in 69e216b706 his life to take responsibility 35bdc2b5b9 for someone else, no thought 6e5d4db5d9 of doing so.e0ba5aa2e4032a7c759d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just as he was about to e4cbe13997 give the obvious response, Lee Soo 214709f75c realized Haeon was still standing there. Pausing, he excused himself 6a730188eb to Hasin and turned c0d6dabd89 back toward Haeon.33bb3de2509464068a3c

Meeting Haeon’s gaze, which he’d naturally sought 8186e49c7b out to continue the conversation, Lee Soo’s 45bdb18b3e eyes widened in slight surprise. Haeon’s pink eyes were brimming with a mixture of 1dc625a99f joy and despair, an expression almost impossible to describe.80dbc1cce21d1580517b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Facing that unnameable emotion head-on, Lee 66d22701e8 Soo forgot how to speak. As if he understood exactly what Lee 72e4918dd4 Soo had been about to say, Haeon 3fc9e80133 left him with a brief farewell and bee7ca2076 headed straight to the dorm.f8e525709fdabb81db51

Inside the narrow elevator, Haeon remained blank, but his face was sharper and a125e50269 clearer than ever before as he leaned his head lightly against the wall.8fb25b4d3d6214ea832b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He was thirsty. The moment he heard someone else confess to 26e9a36b64 Lee Soo, it felt as though something deep 96ad90c94a within him had sentenced him to an end.ef522a4db527669c2095

If he continued to be unaware 89af45cbe2 of his feelings for Lee Soo, 02581b6997 then someday, inevitably, he’d lose everything. It was a 642769fa40 foregone conclusion—a sentence 297711c29a he couldn’t escape.cb2e0f79cd02b297e910

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

***8a0972933e0a4aed93fe

“Love is fleeting.”80a66e4e00f3a120a5b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The voice that always had 3b1c007a2a a tone of sarcasm, never 763ee8322d knowing how to speak gently, 3af432fbf7 lingered in Yoo Haeon’s ears.15e8ceaa0923598244ab

Yeah, love 2a7f6e924c is fleeting. From the start, love was just one b97f80c4ae of those emotions humans experienced in passing ec73ab7c7f while living their fleeting lives. How could something born 76a4c07939 from such impermanence have 05ed18d711 any true value?38983617f41b799410a1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And yet, why… why does ab5e203943 it feel like this?a1a55df19ffe5fd639d2

“It’s fascinating. I never thought e15712cfbf I’d be the 5417317fdb one to get a429be0548 confessed to. You live long 4f22e6c1d6 enough, and I ab3220afc4 guess things like 097db2c711 this happen.”e86ea220c04c20f07a11

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lee Soo, who had f00e4359b9 returned belatedly, kept murmuring 5e34a2e28d to himself how curious 46a5d43dad it all was. Seeing his face, bright and smiling awkwardly as 81d27c335f if it was all too much to handle, 689740d9b1 Haeon couldn’t help but wonder why something as 2bea26d193 fleeting as love seemed so dazzling and enviable.9971e8a2b13260ac5352

There were many who thought highly of Lee Soo—so many that even b4f4351100 someone like Haeon, who didn’t have many acquaintances, heard about it often. Yet, the man himself 45911357ed was oblivious to this b5b492862c fact, which was amusing 97a452d650 in its own way. Lee Soo, ever oblivious to rumors 5d1c9fb359 about himself, was paradoxically all too a540ac3e57 aware of the rumors surrounding those 3217ceb1df close to him.f96575697a9892f6f8b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

About how his 827ee63fe4 personality was difficult. How he bc16674197 was subtly 616216abd3 ostracized. How other awakened avoided him d16670cc75 unless they were on the 2c0a8f8664 brink of death. How losing this afa7654bad guild was as 89092fb103 good as a 5cad8c12fc foregone conclusion. No matter what it was, 2c6346cd2c Lee Soo knew all the 8fa95a2d8a bad rumors about himself.fae5ced2e9b13a8ccc5d

The weight of those rumors was as light as ac5dd2742e dandelion seeds blown away by a faint breath, yet fdfe883e18 they spread easily, taking root wherever they landed. Haeon would often recall that most of 41621680ee those rumors were true, and he would 01f29ec6d7 let out a faint laugh.48885914cbeba7ab744d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just as the smoke from Lee Soo’s a07e9219b0 lips dissipated into the air, Haeon’s faint b4923c00d9 sighs vanished into the empty space. Closing his eyes tightly as fd1d20cc6f if exhausted, he opened them 7e8b3b4af8 slowly, then asked in a ee8c8ace8a languid voice:a11c0780b2f59ff26089

“…Since you were confessed 45fdf5cf40 to, are you going 208b2e418c to date them?”92a599b132934a6ee67a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hm? No. I turned 81ce91f83d them down. How could 78215fefac I possibly ba68ff2693 date someone? I’m not such a great 108b71c412 person, and I don’t have a513008ba4 much to offer. I’d be too lacking to 6fdd435994 hold onto someone who’s probably 3ae080481c precious to someone else.”f6b19b22c9f68e885faf

Lee Soo shrugged as he aaf18d0784 stared curiously at the colorful a3f553315d macarons packed neatly in the 4ce5ff3525 dessert box. The reasons he gave to Haeon were valid, but the biggest reason 2571c6769f of all was something he couldn’t say: he wasn’t Ryu Leesoo.ce803b33f013e06f8775

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Lee Soo that Ji Hasin had confessed to 8f104e1066 wasn’t just him—it was also the original Ryu Leesoo. Knowing that, he 2ac9ca01f1 couldn’t accept those 0f8cc44c69 feelings. Swallowing the words he couldn’t say, Lee e9972423b9 Soo simply smiled, his dark hair swaying 13f48e893d gently with even the smallest of movements.7a6d5a8416e5550ec71a

Haeon, biting into an egg tart with a complicated expression, didn’t add that the very fact Lee 3d280b42bf Soo could say such things to someone else was proof enough that he was a good person.38ff202f031a96b6a1af

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Feeling the creamy filling melt 5d9c6b6d8b and cling to his tongue, bb89ff8aab Haeon lowered his gaze slightly. His long lashes fluttered 1402face14 down, casting shadows over 6c7913f34c his beautiful eyes.0c324ddee40f39c0fa1a

Back in the lobby, when someone had stopped Lee 1d3ac31462 Soo with flushed cheeks to say they had something d3dcc5d0c7 to tell him, Haeon had instinctively known. Ah, they’re f3dfdcf5d6 going to fbddd9b5a9 confess to 52cbddd27d Lee Soo. That realization 20a07e5564 had felt d41253106a both fascinating c0f439657a and envious. Not envy directed at 8f81cb3f61 Lee Soo, but at b804a9bac2 that nameless person confessing bc128a39fd to him.af5a065b2392c8a64c14

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was like when someone d4e18ed2b8 who usually skipped breakfast suddenly 3271ea8f6a decided, for no particular reason, b15dcbe4be that today they should eat. That they could 99a6de6ac0 just do something 9844cebf4a like confessing.e9556b205f0a54b81b26

Haeon didn’t even know fc747dcdd4 what love was. Maybe it was true 85c52f024c what they said—that humans 59507ce16c were naturally envious of 9bb41e2c8f what they couldn’t have. If so, Haeon thought, d2fe78673d perhaps he would envy bd4163499b people in love until 0dcf37d3a0 the day he died.e3cd945594e9e423174c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When the word “love” crossed Yoo Haeon’s 79df72766e mind, it always felt like his vision 12763e69d1 became hazy, as if a thin veil fc21211bc0 had been draped over it. Letting out a faint smile, 83e4010d85 he traced the contours of c04ee040ef his blurry thoughts.973f1fbdc952d22ccc5d

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted 3ca8cc9de0 to say something, but no words came out. Annoyed by his inability to speak, Haeon furrowed his brow and reached out to 23db13cc87 pick up a piece of chocolate from the spread of desserts before him.3edcce7ee6cb0de143ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There were so many words he knew, but 27bdff44fd none of them seemed sufficient to describe this c82a1e3088 feeling, this emotion, this moment, or that person. It was like a lightning strike—a sudden realization bfb5c1e958 that left him laughing in helpless frustration. Deciding to simply swallow 2843b6cc39 the frustration, Haeon resigned 8a50912568 himself to silence.c8694d5588c0f7597ba9

Whatever this “something” was, it had settled in ca086e5b3d his heart like a lump, rolling around freely a941d65be8 and stinging him from the inside.1348ecc290aea96b7c7e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even though he was aware of this, he didn’t know 7a500e3252 what to call it or how to handle it. So all he could do was sit there, 0d32722ad7 staring at it and metaphorically sucking his fingers.9144624e4b1985165224

“Hunter Ryu Leesoo bb19fa546b is a good 6ba3cd152f person,” Haeon finally 58729a52f9 said.104772bc9fa560e9e544

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ignoring all the emotions churning inside, 6abf8d69cd his crumpled sincerity tumbled out instead. Whether Lee Soo understood the sentiment behind the words or not, he ace2216321 blinked dumbly for a moment before covering his lips and laughing.6744257b80650dfeec05

“You’re a 2586cf7ad2 good person adf187b351 too, Healer f2758bbb6c Haeon. I even wonder ff11c01e41 why you don’t 411833e1e6 have a partner 1d689fd433 yet.”ae89819ddca21f2df53f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If anyone else had said something 5312f62334 like that, Haeon would’ve snapped at 1b52bbb2a2 them, calling it nonsense. Instead, he licked b0229dc891 his dry lips, 6e9aaffdff a quiet chuckle 4c52a07061 escaping him. His eyes, slightly reddened as if he might b8dae80dd1 cry, curved softly as he laughed faintly.2f7bc0c8a2d248c9d943

Ah, he didn’t know what it was 7e953799a3 exactly, but something inside him had collapsed. And it fell apart 6c6dd62358 with a resounding crash.47eb562bb6f1d0a94dcd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After keeping silent for a long 726a756395 time, Haeon sighed deeply enough to ebf2ca8b6d make his shoulders move. Watching Lee Soo calmly pick 02cba085bf out desserts to eat, he ee0e658136 muttered under his breath.400da9ef6d1937e4ad07

“…It feels strange. The fact that f7fea6e759 Hunter Ryu Leesoo 043253f568 got confessed to….”a7263f10b3ad5f19008c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lee Soo, who had been about to unwrap a piece of salted caramel 7c08eefbfe and pop it into his mouth, paused mid-motion to glance at Haeon. Seeing Haeon leaning casually, resting his chin on his hand, ce6d8a262f and watching him, Lee Soo wrinkled his nose and smiled.073e8b525d0abe44dfa8

“Why? Is it because, unlike 7ec486a0e3 me, you haven’t gotten 00bc127eb0 any confessions, Healer Haeon? Hey, don’t sulk about 0d13a44669 something like that.”90ed0ad0db1d446ac81f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At Lee Soo’s playful whisper, Haeon mumbled that it wasn’t 59ace94138 like that and blinked slowly, his long eyelashes fluttering gently. They moved so softly that Lee Soo e6a3ca634f thought it looked like a butterfly had f23c3f62d8 delicately landed on his eyelids. He licked the caramel 61e15ff24e melting on his finger 3a0b22dfde without much thought.0f93070e766de48803c0

Even though the caramel had melted and lost its original shape, b3098a6a69 it was still sweet enough to make his tongue tingle. Maybe because it was salted caramel, it 6e8e1a3d03 was tolerable, though Lee Soo secretly grimaced 991c3e0df4 for a moment before sneaking a glance 0977b7b700 at Haeon and relaxing his expression.fc7d6aa8e79067b6b738

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If it’s eb44518224 not that, 47d13aa044 then why?”29855971fe366a7cc940

“…That’s the thing. I don’t ace517e877 know either. Honestly, whenever I’m around Hunter Ryu Leesoo, a52e276156 I feel like I’m not myself.”4514ef6b1b6b5bdac4cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What? How is 48de0eb9fa that my ac809c241b fault? It’s probably just because 79ae762a74 you’re experiencing things you’ve 4166459b4d never gone through before, 26de3571d1 Healer Haeon.”6d5c4ce3856998dfbae2

The reddish tip of Lee Soo’s tongue peeked out between 84af844a44 his slightly flushed lips, briefly licking his pale finger. For some reason, ce35f8fad3 the sight inexplicably e02a11bd5b drew Haeon’s gaze. Without realizing it, he 03e65baf9a found himself watching Lee 2ff41ed317 Soo and smiling faintly.e8cbbd961498acf40ee6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I guess… maybe 6eb72f97a2 I was just b02c150588 envious.”497ec96e805efec795e9