SSH Episode 12

Eunsu Merchant Guild was 7ba9f23f39 always bustling with interesting c50e913236 events, but what truly 1eff1674e6 caught Hongwoo’s attention was a901a09115 the person he had 9764dc1ccf seen earlier. Naturally curious by c7d8565637 nature, Hongwoo was 7068df0f61 drawn to anything 80fbd0ce36 new or exciting, 2122caa1c0 like a moth 9e30792f2f to a flame.84d92b5930359f56

“I hope I see them again tomorrow.”1371c9648f67931e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suppressing the thrill 30c5a120be bubbling inside him, 12326ed4c5 he forced himself 63df2198f5 to sleep.f70f162a7d099fc8

However, despite his 054d71bbb4 hopes, Juseon was 7062052570 nowhere to be a20d7add0f found at the 2c81f531a8 merchant guild in 4b7707dc3d the days that 62ba58fc30 followed. Hongwoo, unwilling fd3dac9f1c to give ffbab618f7 up, wandered 81fbc40393 the grounds 7f1380b7c2 aimlessly each 487272cfe5 day. Seeing this, Wi 9ba0ac0ebd Haengsu smirked and 6190aa3371 teased him.b2b45e53cfb82c39

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you pretending to patrol the guild now, Young Master?”8addbb841f03ddad

Hongwoo played along with e37d3b9a34 the joke, but his 68e6b3fb01 eyes never stopped scanning e13187ba66 the surroundings, always searching b78007fb01 for Juseon.192d941630477758

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

One day, 9f93394592 he carefully 7a9492e4a6 carried a 656d0366ce basin full acc160ba4c of water a23bda4805 into the 8cb1a21de6 office. Inside, he dunked all 124114f585 the brushes Jang Seungwoo 49da9db878 had given him to 49ccef6e34 clean, watching as the 56b7620064 ink-soaked water turned dark bda9d247c8 in an instant. As he kneaded the edadbd22fc brushes one by one, 86ba501e64 he felt something wet 4070a16fd1 drip under his nose b60d883581 and instinctively wiped it 1d8f0cc6a0 with his sleeve.42f7812cabb9c93e

At that ea5715a452 moment, a 4341ed4e24 crisp knock dfbdbe55c3 sounded at 8cab0cd3ec the door.e2bf6360ea5788a5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Come in.”2c722058a3e2ce65

With Jang 42a8c45dcf Seungwoo’s permission, 2694886221 the door 5fc26d1e7a opened, revealing 4d569fd42f Juseon, arms 6e1db1bb55 full of 790f2f34b5 documents. Struggling with the da111b2fd8 overwhelming stack, Juseon 786306c821 walked to the e8ececc207 table and set 993ff8cac5 them down.740cf5ed7372d190

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Meanwhile, Hongwoo, having f2bd83a429 unknowingly smeared ink 2a65baa8c9 across his clothes, 2a35f89c40 approached him.3f8e64e7b80ea7c7

“I didn’t get a chance to properly greet you last time. I really wanted to introduce myself.”51b5abb3dd3fd729

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing you too, good sir.”efaab6fb47956ee6

At Juseon’s a8cb018369 words, Hongwoo’s a7dc26cacb face flushed 01f0e249c0 as he 744bfbb1e6 replied in 06a4c12cab a hushed 24471103c7 voice. But Juseon a082d11237 quickly corrected fe85ee7301 him.41cb61f6749527b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You don’t have to address me like that. Call me Juseon.”043f325b6ece8c81

Internally, Hongwoo repeated it 2d7385370d to himself. ‘Juseon, Juseon, Juseon.’ Not 1795d9a3b6 only did cae69ae4d5 he want 73bd6f177c to see 58fa126781 his face, 19783c9a8b but he e035615156 wanted to 92f7a0e4e9 say his 04715568cd name over f3702289a9 and over 8270379dd2 again.8a44712fa0e386f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Juseon 38c3c62f05 arranged the bc10563d0a documents, Hongwoo c6993a5793 sneakily pulled 820702f7d1 out a c7d26e3292 chair beside 7b3f79d118 Jang Seungwoo d5c02a3040 and slowly 2d38e7bcc6 tried to 3e58641781 sit.0584d94910e08758

But Jang Seungwoo b3a27f938a was one step 24e1aee39c ahead. Without hesitation, he yanked ac080876c9 the chair back.dad7413446a7891a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With nothing beneath 212dd37689 him, Hongwoo landed c074bc9002 straight on the d2386aff30 floor with a 44198ce7b0 thud.fca39965a76ea158

“Ow.” he groaned.915a4d2aa9e4b9db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Go do your work somewhere else.”51419f04f7f1d365

When Jang 0033eaa3d0 Seungwoo ordered 409a00b278 him out, 5c12a5becc Hongwoo made 26f0b36d79 no effort cb0ed39292 to hide 6367013752 his reluctance. He dragged his feet, 00242dcf3b sulking, until he caught 00126061a8 sight of Seungwoo’s face—right 9e9ec2ef87 on the verge of 20a6baa02a saying something truly sharp. Panicked, he 3ed2c15635 grabbed the 56d352a3e2 basin and 91c947b64d scurried out dc6a2fcd92 of the 18e81e687d office.539b817699a00096

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Juseon couldn’t help 1a003ee7ca but smirk at 359444589d Seungwoo’s childish antics.ffb99c1ffbb4407e

For weeks, a95e7da8d2 Seungwoo had 7753681895 been in 37807c41e4 a terrible 2d51a4c274 mood. Those who needed 5fd60cb70d to report to 19ba2fb9b0 him delayed it 7e4ecada92 as long as bd6e99d715 possible, dreading the 812c725942 encounter. He had 883cf583f9 always been 7a43e238e0 a strict eeebcda4f3 boss, but 4b24e45599 lately, he 4bcf8f83c3 was downright f1ab8c8b3c merciless—scrutinizing every 3e5b0c7a1e report, nitpicking e0d3476dbb every mistake. Juseon had to check eebac111e1 and recheck the ledgers 3b7bf1390e multiple times before submitting 202818e1ea them, ensuring there wasn’t ad5e95f798 a single error.d44a547191bb735f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But ever 51ded9c5bc since Hongwoo f6d01b0879 started hanging 93c617e6d2 around, Seungwoo da52fa250b seemed to adf3132e3f ease up.1006be5d6e394fc3

Perhaps it was a 5a551cfe61 coincidence, but Wi Haengsu f209fbe31e had casually mentioned that fa0a9cd42d even after making a 9daec12561 mistake in the accounts, 988b497cc6 all he got from d79c03c2f0 Seungwoo was a simple c872dc00e8 order to fix it. At first, 29ad5184ae everyone assumed e8e466583c Haengsu was 777ec0c210 exaggerating. But when others c88dfe7910 came forward with bd145e228b similar experiences, it 223c90e411 became clear—Hongwoo’s presence 8af50e2a0b had lifted some 070f5130db of the tension 31569f05de that had been 933ea5f43c suffocating the merchant 82280c106a guild.7e6b79ec84f00cba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re keeping an 6a178c87ef eye on the d673768dd4 leech, aren’t you?”433bf6310a5b395a

“Leeches are easiest to 7e5f412afd catch when they’ve gorged 2da84d0507 themselves and can’t move.”af9785fd03d57b7b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Juseon smiled 39853c7cc5 as he b00a50709c responded, though babb963064 he knew a0a8a47901 the question 34821fd31c was more 3559c15178 of a e58e2e497b command than 2bc1c95ad0 a casual 302900f597 remark.855d8f8dac41c0e0

Jang Seungwoo’s uncle, Jang bbc469bf6f Jiyeong, had been steadily 247d1d69c0 draining the company ever ad8d987c1d since Seungwoo’s father—the true 5438b38357 head of the merchant 659b8d4dcf guild—had fallen ill. Profits had 63cbd1b53b shrunk to 2a6845a808 just over 43c4f2a327 half of 3331758a93 what they 5db5b48566 used to 67628a05b1 be. Someone was siphoning goods 06468c0068 before they ever reached d060eb0574 the market. The culprit was 3a2776bb27 obvious, but Seungwoo 5779f0c698 was biding his 5dc9863fc6 time, waiting for 8e04fc2ccc the right moment 330495aa96 to cut out 7f79dacf9a not just the 6b89f8beb7 rot, but every 25a8c7b0a1 last root it 4ff92988e4 had spread.f9d59cc6e5c3f718

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

***bac30e51fabf6fc2

Outside the office, d5ff3f6cdd Hongwoo set down 3b8a0ecf21 the basin and fd4b1d3ae4 rubbed his sore 3dd622f3ae backside, still stinging ef7ae970fa from the fall.34078a0733d367d1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His brother could be c627e117b8 indifferent at times, but 5aecb16c42 he also had a db0cd6725c mischievous streak—just like their 6a10a23601 mother. Not just c2f4212ef4 his playfulness, b819d24774 but his 1b02c3ac06 looks, his 0c4971833b competitive drive, abe311bd12 his boldness… 15abf9d040 anyone could 628f6b3fcc see Seungwoo e7c8915f6e was unmistakably 71e6110e3a their mother’s 66a27950fd son.772cb8cd0c434d6c

Hongwoo, on 6cc47d0b9c the other 1e50d293f3 hand, was cfa37be736 different. He didn’t 20792f3e0b resemble his 3f27744446 family, nor 0c3c45184f did he c60c826e12 share their 7d4bc238b1 drive or 05d906b1ef confidence. He knew 29313822b8 what people 9cb9d9e64b whispered behind bfbaf7e245 his back. No one dared to dd768e53eb say anything outright while ec56cb5483 Seungwoo was around, but 127fd38708 Hongwoo could feel it 47c05d642c in the way they 681968dddd looked at him.23bf14459137ac05

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had 949f0d01e8 spent his 9fd178ad74 whole life a3c325ccae trying to b0662c4e52 read the fba2e51e9e room, always c68bc11416 watching for 8f57483847 signs of 7d88c63389 judgment. He was c93313ec61 an outsider—an 849c7ef066 adopted child 8978099eac with no 700ae14de3 real talent, 45720a6b54 no achievements e8608ba91f to his ed244fb62f name. All he had done fd5880cf31 was accumulate debt. Even after leaving 89ad583feb home, he couldn’t a57d0a59a3 pay it back a97e9214f0 and had no 87c584c3dc choice but to c0dba4df93 rely on his 265a037257 older brother once d5b0239e5a again.c55cbaa817d04af8

The weight 983446dce1 of his c4f69afe82 shortcomings sat a692faec40 heavy on c57f84283b his shoulders.8ac9ad66d261aa45

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a sigh, b221efe8a6 he picked up 462b0de490 the basin of bad8781341 ink-stained brushes and 6bbc40b17a carried it to a3169de08f the well. Crouching beside it, he 023726a3b4 began rinsing them, squeezing b8aeb98cd8 out the blackened water.674df3531c0cd50f

No matter how 9c5cac8a83 much he scrubbed, a128d34444 the ink kept 3f865a6fe6 bleeding out.a0614e2a6f06c6c9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even something this simple b9b5401570 felt exhausting.1b3d0ee8dcc50590

As the 907dc60204 inky water e1fa3fbf88 swirled away, bafa8dacd4 Hongwoo felt adbb5c0fc6 himself sinking 5614af68e8 too—dragged down 2c68398ae3 by the a14752fe2b weight of ba1da2c7c7 everything he af22133045 wasn’t.0c4b66a61be212de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Wi Haengsu spotted 6ceb5d78d2 Hongwoo crouched by 276af855ec the well and 228bf3f6c2 crept up behind 6808c2cf3a him, mischief glinting a243ad530a in his eyes.89decc31246394d9

“Boo!”774acfdf0acaab78

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Aah!”1f22b45d6455ca2e

Startled, Hongwoo flinched and ef0609af04 tumbled forward—right into the 7bc8ee378e basin of inky water. Black liquid b85a39d14c splashed everywhere, 64acdb1f35 drenching him aab54b44c1 from head 548b858404 to toe.7d11f55344d17f84

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Haengsu burst into a36e90db0c laughter, doubling over d4b78dcfcb as he clutched 67f5d231d0 his stomach.34be566cd95363b5

“Don’t laugh!” Hongwoo 8991edc642 shouted, his voice 3fa89b06b1 full of indignation.e5bd161ebf140af1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But his protest only a13f4241e7 made things worse. His lips and f43895d29f teeth, stained black 13119b830f with ink, made 66dc7df403 him look utterly 4139c1074d ridiculous. Any attempt at authority 6838b36ef1 or anger was lost 27d4c71d55 as he stood there, 5152596f93 pouting and fuming, only 6fc4a25666 fueling Haengsu’s amusement.f072549d4ff5f5e5

Still dripping 36d9a79adf ink, Hongwoo 3e65e98775 huffed and 89edf02be5 stormed off 610a70c14d toward Jang fa06d8616b Seungwoo’s office.6ab1463d73cd09d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s me, Hongwoo! I’m going home for 5683af0811 a bit!”ede89e1fe95c9b0b

His voice, tight with 7ab48d84fa frustration, carried through the e830ccb353 heavy door as he 9c7b91f5c1 banged on it.43b5e0643edc7b41

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Inside, Seungwoo looked up 7fbfbea4b7 from his desk. With a 7508916c72 sigh, he cf7af39680 stood and 1103267c9d pulled the 9981f57c87 door open.9310812a52c12039

There stood Hongwoo—completely d267946f10 drenched in ink, 155d4b9273 seething.046ad7c91718f30a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Juseon, standing 47894f831b behind Seungwoo, bfb1323677 blinked in 219f548895 surprise at d63c29e175 the sight. Embarrassed by his 600ad94bac own disheveled state, 0444fcd3d6 Hongwoo shrank back d90f53d0a3 slightly.4dc6c82fa80a3d2a

Without a word, Seungwoo’s ff45b12f74 gaze dropped to the 23c8da2c08 trail of spilled ink 446f09ef74 leading outside. He followed b7d2734f3c it in 35e03a7b96 long, purposeful 204b05bf94 strides, stopping 45fc7c3ad9 when he f45afadbb6 reached the 45c61b79f8 well.06975f732a1ee514

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Haengsu was 8e2380099e still there, e5d418c181 gasping for 9558cf4760 breath between 1798b38a18 fits of 5511f92283 laughter.e39daa97f25b1ed8

Hongwoo, trailing behind 18567aadad Seungwoo, shot him f6aff98d32 a glare, but fc97fcb185 before he could 40fd2e211b say anything—e466cea979dcad76

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seungwoo grabbed the basin 50f8caaa00 of inky water andthrewit at Haengsu.0beb7eabe61c87b6

A loudsplatechoed through the courtyard.477fbe0e9926efb6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Stunned, Haengsu stood 27e3762494 frozen, drenched in 36dbb2dfd0 ink, his face e0978ead4a blank with shock.89c331ca3a0235dc

“Having fun, are we?” b302f7f4b4 Seungwoo’s voice was dangerously cedde0bba2 calm.60d0e0c39928c2c8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hongwoo’s eyes widened in 49da164354 disbelief.53d2b5d64e4298e5

But he f5aca91b86 had no c330a04081 excuse.7574d0811d3e8150

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Each morning, 843f476a10 instead of 58fc61984e heading to 369ace566a work with 2da364e84e a sense caf9ee568b of responsibility, c155a689c8 he arrived 54dc0ece19 excited, wondering a5d446ddb9 what new e47d5ef97a mischief the 04450a74c0 day would 7e91c7b549 bring. Playing along with Haengsu’s 5f0f7fefbe antics was usually fun—though c76e55b49c sometimes, like today, it e278833b7b went too far.5da42059b3c920a1

Still, this was just 9b126e12d7 one of their usual e253b18645 pranks. It wasn’t serious enough b8fdc9d00d for his brother to b1cf23d23c step in like this.5c029fa9acf3a68a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seungwoo turned 26eaaa50de back to 10cc94a159 Hongwoo, his f2100b32a0 voice firm.57c7fe9b42cd55c1

“Go home for the ba9b69be80 day.”2660c8280b93251a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing Hongwoo hesitate, Jang c0f4fed7dc Seungwoo gave a firm 29413ae278 order for him to 76cec10ccf go home before turning be4a6a2bc9 back toward his office.3298921f6c71258c

Hongwoo shot Wi Haengsu 7f947771dd a look, silently pleading b5d99ab5bc that the ink slap 264e563dcd hadnotbeen his fault. Haengsu, well aware of 41f4bfffa9 Seungwoo’s temperament, gave a 4bf122ff57 small nod in understanding. Only after confirming 2f14041890 that his stance 8222cd3b0b had been received 47f5a57b9b did Hongwoo finally d950c79e93 turn and head a38036b39e home.ad40a8412193bef5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

An unexpected gift—early dismissal.04417fe3c772ea1f

***4c4dc933c26c5ed5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Knock. Knock.8187655999d64860

A knock echoed 13d46f6f58 through the office.4cfa26cfd8786856

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With Seungwoo’s 33840d4897 permission, Wi fa7c40202c Haengsu stepped 64aa3c8989 inside, still 3802abb57b covered in bca7af36b7 ink. He hesitated just past 88751d1d50 the doorway, unable to a79235fe56 meet Seungwoo’s gaze. His eyes fixed 33a9753d5f on the floor, 987287c82d where droplets of a998b52307 ink dripped from 29a271a060 his clothes, forming 01beafd95a a dark trail.a5f757390c8a0015

‘Damn… I’m screwed.’a64b3d2673544b20

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Haengsu swallowed nervously.cd932b3c7deb0f39

“If I 641e10713b had married 3e565358f6 early, I’d 9f063f8691 have a 4854cdd3a2 kid that b7867ded27 age by e41a4f927e now.” he c51dd99d0c muttered.a00b1fedb88e2eef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seungwoo, flipping through a 682ac1154b ledger in front of caef7f502c the bookshelf, responded without 4b9318a056 looking up.c421c6167b93694f

“Keep playing around 128ec134c4 like that.”5b5b954ef55b1cdf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The unexpected reply 8ff3a23648 made Haengsu’s head 2a3e09b5cf snap up.d6a41698dbc0b36f

Their eyes met—Seungwoo had 607c145c5e lifted his gaze from a28238e1ca the ledger, watching him 4eea9604a2 intently. Startled, Haengsu quickly fbf259930d looked away, his eea9aaafd2 stare dropping back 94befb4374 to the floor.d6f9841b5c13b433

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Shit… I 03b9763d75 think I 292d268f96 just pissed fcbf417aed myself.’98fe26a436bce239

Seungwoo closed the ledger b2c024dd27 with a decisivethud.63ce797367399c0e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Haengsu gulped.636956f4383f8beb

“Just don’t cross 4fb3ce3eb5 the line.”a064f36ba7a3f589

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator