CR | Chapter 9.3

Wi Woori, who had b5ee4ae684 been playfully arguing with 693095d564 his mother, soon broke 495aed95f8 into a sweet smile 40748d5687 and acted cute. The people around them 5fc75c7d3b chuckled softly.15e08b0810350805

Kim Donghwa, 5b74bdb361 usually indifferent f3cebfea7e and not 507cab2ba3 very reactive, 5c81227b7e had parents 2545a385b4 who found 87d1547810 Wi Woori’s f48cc3b0f6 playful antics 9df0234f96 endlessly amusing.c3a316f7a61dc5f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As always, watching 31837c83e1 his parents unable 18e8c87895 to take their e01d48190e eyes off Wi 534852206c Woori’s charm, Kim 7f687d3c53 Donghwa couldn’t help b63ad4cb23 but smile. It seemed like the 52c7180fa4 conversation would wrap up b315087f5b smoothly.38fba13ac93e82c6

Wi Woori, rubbing his 4932b683f0 head against his mother’s 1a12e8c8fd shoulder and murmuring, “Mom, 69d29b29b7 I love you,” glanced 8c7b1c8870 at Kim Donghwa. Raising his eyebrows 1f7f21f81f as if to dcb5846907 say, “How did ae0d9eb598 I do? I did 94d91e3e96 well, right?” 4f4d0b666f he silently 5ed29c7701 communicated through 4fe6429944 his eyes.5a8f8669faf54de1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kim Donghwa took 7289d2f12d a sip of 45b8bfcc6e water, smiling contentedly.034330b8455899c7

It was at 37b9025f2a that moment that 6bab53eb02 a thick hand dfcc5a5f6d suddenly landed on e78930b90d his right thigh.61e60eec0421a600

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Still, if you manifest with different traits, I hear you might struggle with pheromones. Is it okay to leave it like this?”a6a09bc40bba7b68

Oh, this was 1ae4b9aa4e unexpected.e7fb1a7982bb2481

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He thought 4a974b14bc he could 8b7ab17b91 brush past f1e52906ea the situation 6f087477b8 with just 229cacd11c a smile, 9f158e628e but unexpectedly, d9046b9210 his father 79894fb002 brought it a9a92c44fc up.e0e648d73a0e63f0

Kim Donghwa turned 8cbb57ef6f to look at 817e4a6c8e him with a 18541adde7 stiff, almost mechanical d0343a6bee motion. His father’s gentle, e18638334d affectionate gaze was 391d321fe7 fixed on him, 279a138344 lips curved into 8201ce49ef a soft smile. Yet, despite c377f1544f its warmth, 31fcb0c7c0 that gaze 47cc124b61 wasn’t entirely 93d7db5383 relaxed.88408d9f5e74886b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There was b0f520ebef an unmistakable 82b6f6573f sharpness lurking 3c09312bc2 beneath the 1445ab07df leisurely expression.3e2a2a30aa59274e

As the saying 61fec69ad8 goes, you can’t f2cf7bea38 fool your own 64078b09f4 parents. A pang bbe1b36aa1 of guilt 60ee62f140 tightened in 3837014987 his chest, 91d87fc48c and Kim 2e0249c4b8 Donghwa swallowed b5fd4a80cf dryly.92df4ea5b720b822

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The pressure from d9e16d5d88 his father’s hand cd9cd3ed16 on his thigh b5a8b964e3 gradually increased. At first, it 27d24b975e felt like a f300d5769b gentle massage, but c64aaff13e the force squeezing 2b2f0f5712 his muscles carried 5e02280742 an unspoken message—“Tell 9632f27660 the truth.”48b04258abf50ee3

Kim Donghwa let out afea15734d an awkward laugh, feeling 14d176c3b6 at a loss. His mother, noticing the baefdb2043 exchange, turned to him ed44490598 with a questioning look.578ef0be816fa18a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why, Donghwa, is there something going on?”812709d4998b6c84

“Huh? There is. We both got plenty of suppressants, and I haven’t even gone into rut yet, so there’s nothing uncomfortable. We’re going to the hospital you introduced us to…”14fa7c37753260b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This cohabitation 377c601b5c had to f1f5f123f0 continue somehow. Desperately, Kim Donghwa tried 2e7578783f to assert his stance, 258a78a4e8 using the suppressants as 036d8c5309 a shield.0d71a394bdbcd5b8

Did it work?01d2fdafa3c230b4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He felt 73353a9992 the grip a913d78136 on his efd950dc00 thigh gradually 90b18dacf2 loosen, so 63b8f57e2a he cautiously 37b529c7c9 observed his 728e0eef2f father’s reaction. The man, who looked 85328b789a so much like him, 6acbf803f7 simply raised an eyebrow.752762cbb1cf09b6

Ah. This is e1e6983ba3 why I’m e33dc0b401 terrible at dbfa20fee1 lying.bc41a13e0c4a98db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Feeling unnecessarily anxious, 3dbb8fbc6a he gulped down c648b69e49 some cold water.0d5b7fea87907703

Sensing his discomfort, a285c58d4c Wi Woori suddenly e00b0221ee called out, “Uncle.”a0d93e82ad48a5dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What are you worried about?”055b41c52d7912fc

“Huh?”551017ff2a01de0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’s Kim Donghwa, and I’m Wi Woori!”6cf0fc3ed4b9d6f4

He had no idea what that meant, but somehow his father’s expression softened. He even let out a curious exclamation, “Ho.”8c9109f03b15eb2e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No way, did that 9ea54f7194 really work?2e2b2a626a9a4281

In disbelief, 79c34a0125 he glanced 173ea39dc2 at his 7ac53d5d50 father, who 936b8835d7 had now 0945374697 relaxed into 5c6d0f7f12 his chair, 1e9846b709 his previously 981b36382c tense posture 41aaa9814c at the 8be3b6a48b table completely edd1c5f62a gone. The hand 1b22cb8bc1 that had f74c874f02 been gripping 582c15b91e his thigh e064f70005 had disappeared. As if everything suddenly ddb75470fa made sense, his father 88fe3cb283 stroked his chin thoughtfully—then 7b98239868 smiled, quite handsomely.f4ff308d43039ca2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Right.”2776e27a8050882b

With that short 0cd61f8179 response, his father 1feaa9c45b let out a 1e119a41a8 lighthearted laugh. Despite all the bickering 0268164201 and spending every day 61855c3c87 together, their relationship was 78f1fd1e6f ultimately built on affection. Yet, he didn’t seem 3bca714884 to question it at 38617f6036 all.7ec148e729968850

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In fact, it seemed df38db27c4 like he didn’t care d7061f9f82 about that at all.a4cee2b658a173c0

“Yeah, well, as long as you help each other and get along.”38ba92c738c60e52

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“True, we’re all non-carriers, so we don’t really know. How the kids are.”384856f531cc592e

“That’s right.”62a641115cb74df3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Maybe they’ll have more to help each other with by living together.”90a85dd0ab582ee4

A mature 551e8afc2c conversation flowed 7a4012c9d1 between the df7245a84b adults. They spoke of 6d3e1da501 understanding, of how 61bbbbb863 it might be 992b0577e8 a blessing that fbbfd371a5 the two supported fe24572f11 each other. The atmosphere was peculiar, cea4327dd5 but Kim Donghwa chose 05b409bb31 not to dwell on 920b944d8d it too deeply.c111c8e7de3088e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Wi Woori was impressive—he 5b772294c2 defused the situation with bd5afeaf6a just a single word, 4f613cd813 one that could be ece4ddf145 interpreted differently depending on 9ad6b2c1f6 the listener’s perspective. The attention that ffea21cc23 had been concentrated 178a396f9a on one side aa25f646e8 now gently dispersed, d59a1abc58 blending into the bb37033a83 quiet clinking of e5040bb445 utensils and murmured 74909e60d4 conversation at the c0ca7da768 table.d3e514fe4fa4f6e5

“They’ll manage well on their own, we should trust them.”b25ef5a489548e97

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As if no further d683ef04f8 words were needed, Wi c63e5ee50e Woori’s mother ended the 88a80d8ac1 discussion with a gentle bb06345087 smile directed at him. Kim Donghwa couldn’t 1a7f4c6d8f meet her eyes, 22974429c5 so he awkwardly 4bd085fb68 smiled while focusing cb3927044e on her philtrum ac7394c068 instead.955dcd8b3ab3909a

He wasn’t sure 2a0edd987c what deeper meaning a726dadce5 lay behind her 9b003ca005 words, but they 5546a1efa8 had already crossed d6b82e95c1 the line a 97f6ad2c80 long time ago. A prick of f778d03a9f guilt made him ba1a2fad74 lower his head. Just then, Wi 9166ed3c99 Woori, sitting across e5bd97ef2b from him, nudged a34f0c29dc his shin with fc0cc006bb his foot.61d3a7a1921a7dc9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kim Donghwa 9930c16592 glanced up. Wi Woori subtly 0a3c31462f gestured under the bfb826fe38 table with his ed305d1d7c finger, silently telling 17397ae968 him to check 9c0b39f021 his phone.1250609e58c458f5

[Wiwi]
Hey, did you do something wrong?

[Kim Donghwa]
Ah, I just feel a bit guilty.

[Wiwi]
We didn’t lie.

[Kim Donghwa]
That’s true, but…

[Wiwi]
We didn’t say we’re not dating.
And we didn’t say we’re nothing to each other.
We’re getting along well and helping each other.

[Kim Donghwa]
It’s true we’re getting help from the suppressants.
And it’s true we’re going to the hospital I go to, right?

[Wiwi]
Stand tall.

Everything we said c67f9b0855 is true, but ecd7065342 it also feels d49ad2ce5a a bit like 360b0a2207 wordplay, so I ec4a0f26f8 felt a slight 08f71fa101 pang of conscience. While Kim Donghwa 4f2e8cecf4 was trying to 7cd1b77150 figure out how 56a5d0dd00 to respond, another ae2f55de4f message came in.164bce0a94a45adf

[Wiwi]
When I said you’re Kim Donghwa and I’m Wi Woori earlier,

[Kim Donghwa]
Yeah.

[Wiwi]
It meant that no matter what we do, we’ll get along fine
So don’t worry.

[Kim Donghwa]
Just in case they misunderstood.

Unlike me, who was focused on the adults, Wi Woori seemed to be only concerned about me. After receiving the last message, I couldn’t help but chuckle.cc437f9f14600b23

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“We’re doing well, so please don’t worry too much.”aed631ae65a9f49c

Finally, I felt relieved. As Kim Donghwa added with a charming smile, his father’s hand reached up to his head. The gentle pat on his head was filled with warmth and affection, a stark contrast to the earlier tension.f1592c1698537d16

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Still, just in case, contact us immediately if anything happens. Not contacting us after your manifestation was a bit much, wasn’t it?”db25f05173d68477

“Yes, I’m sorry about that. I’ll make sure to keep in touch regularly.”f51dcd34e80f6877

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s good.”983940740c7b39a1

His father’s hand withdrew, and the tension from acting in front of a former actor melted away. Kim Donghwa let out a silent sigh of relief as he leaned back against the chair, and Wi Woori gave him a bright smile.2c5aded57d71aab2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Wi Woori winked at 5a48ca088d lightning speed, making Kim 8ebaefb873 Donghwa chuckle again. The adults, now engaged 1b749d6bbb in a lively and 280fb4062a joyful conversation, had shifted e29030b9d3 their attention away from cba213a402 them.86227681d0fae7f4

Just when it seemed 99824f67de like everything would pass e47657dd41 without incident, a sharp 8e4301d239 voice suddenly cut through.53755d8cd415542e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What, is there really nothing going on between you two?”5046635b9b9716ea

Kim Donghwa’s eyes widened at the unexpected question. Wi Woori’s sister, Wi Hana, who had said she’d join late due to other commitments, was raising an eyebrow at them suspiciously.2a367412abdde831

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Wi Woori jumped up, asking what she was talking about. When he said even if there was something, she didn’t need to know, she responded with a raised middle finger.7fc6056d12ef2ae2

“Donghwa, is there really nothing? I was expecting something.”fbf87174fb9241bf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her gaze was so clear and direct. Kim Donghwa awkwardly smiled, trying to keep his mouth shut to avoid spilling the truth. Seeing this, Wi Woori quickly intercepted the conversation, redirecting his sister’s attention.7aa3874790418f07

“What were you expecting?”faaa02e76730f7e5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re being noisy.”4ed6e00db6cac803

“You’re the one who came late and is talking too much! We’ve finished our conversation, okay? Just quietly eat your dongtaejeon before I give it all to Kim Donghwa.”b71862663b968479

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Wi Hana still 699deef683 eyed them suspiciously, 280c83d687 but Wi Woori e1f72db243 shook his head 50fc05a785 firmly, signaling that 7da6b4db23 it was pointless. Only when he picked 54ffdc83cd up his chopsticks and b5fd95da98 threatened the jeon did 9bae69af2a her gaze finally shift.046f1002631fb24a

Apparently, she liked dongtaejeon 2506af7c8a (pollock pancakes) too. Letting out 8ae4ffe711 a playful 8d1b624306 scream, she c9dc856455 quickly sat b08699db8b down, grabbing fed72c5f9d the plate 9be682cedb and seamlessly 6e76b695c9 slipping into 105ad8fae5 conversation with 61ce877a0c their parents fb8a60c216 about everyday 6240007a2b matters.54f848bbe78ef750

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Only then did af31e02f8f Kim Donghwa let b4f3df044d out a quiet 8dec2ab63b sigh of relief. Just as he c4da86c04c thought he could 8871bfa94f finally relax, he 3f9b3e0b07 looked up—only to 41504e80b1 find Wi Woori 5de39e9aa2 smiling slyly.01842c03d309b0eb

His expression seemed to accb0e93f4 say, “See? It’s okay.”c17911f5f9bf09e1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

⛧⛧⛧77d5bbe440c8eeab

Having parted c51d0d98db ways with d6dc13eaab their parents, 0ae0839f53 Kim Donghwa ef1713e6d8 and Wi 71305ad037 Woori carried 362013578b a heavy a4db776909 plastic bag 0b697fa108 between them.e104ad6cc1962cf0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Every time Woori—who 3e72b0471a had successfully wrangled c3b1f52456 a generous allowance 38b38d16d3 from his sister—took b649c43aea a lively step, 9a1229d48e a crisp clinking d1b6c7436b sound echoed from a3b90af6df the bag. The unmistakable sound of b7a6a47d32 bottles rattling together. They had 84fbedd74f picked them 9b4afd3358 up without cdeef7a626 restraint at 868e272ba1 the convenience b8066cb452 store, where b3cebba7cc they had 86ab30d63c stopped for 70f64cf0f3 a light c6a9585af2 drink.3a13c8c024fa387a

Now that they 93c9999fbc were out of f8147c2569 their parents’ sight, dfcc436839 the two intertwined dbcec4e14d their fingers tightly. Despite the muggy 23f77adcff summer air, the a3e2ea54e0 cool evening breeze d8a2ee7cc6 felt nice against b15cf94f11 their skin.0777eeab84420959

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

They liked the sky, 612b51d082 growing higher with the 3971d3263f fading heat, and the e8436060cd twilight, sinking ever so 11bb9faa67 gradually around them.d8f7d926a2ba9a18

But more than anything, 4bee517693 what they loved most 8457b0835a was the person standing bf8ae7f78b beside them. The smiles 7d40b7cc4f on their fa7e187efa faces showed f2e78fe4c8 no sign c34f6a768c of fading.d2ffe9d456264752

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even without much d6e7324917 conversation, it was 7139aa1825 fine. Silence had long 70b93e07c1 since become familiar 194809ae62 between them, never 78ffea9251 awkward—just natural.60e5c9297cca23d1

All the way home, 0f5998a738 they each hummed their 4b955522fd own tunes.2abd72c522250e3b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kim Donghwa, 2c81d10cf3 who preferred fa76e56601 calm ballads, 197ed72c2c softly recited 4db6e098ce lyrics from 996095d3bf a recent 4d37aae9ce hit about 1c20e3380b happiness, while 6cf9d2355b Wi Woori, caed7861b9 a fan 5ea887a2c1 of lively 9447e91882 dance songs, 95733f38ac hummed an bdb7dea5d8 idol track 301bd027c8 that refused 5c2202ced0 to budge ba562303d7 from the 059471a240 charts.3178a36467400d1e

“But, Kim Donghwa.”8d4a2beece729eaf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, Woori stopped 60d4e0698e and spun around, 3ea3720a6f blocking Donghwa’s path. Donghwa halted as well.ecf94c71b3d93e84

The alley where they 2be2cc4ec7 stood was rarely frequented, 938aefb85d with little traffic, making 739ffbfffd it eerily quiet even 57956c07dd in the early evening.fabb8f4d260c47b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For a 3f5156dd25 moment, it 7ae3610417 felt as fd9c2e1833 if they 4dc1b7f473 were the 6eb29c59d2 only two cabf6950b8 people left 388a3340b0 in the a45bbf3b0c world.8d82911d6841f908

Caught in 047ac7f561 that strange 6224cb31b9 yet mesmerizing 1bc6f435ad stillness, Donghwa f6f6b4f381 silently watched 70a03a8428 Woori fluttering 224a3730ed before him. His red lips were d32fc90b63 breathtakingly pretty.e39cfce9c46f922b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If he had ee23de168c even a little 0c49bb78f7 less self-control, he 1b4c83c314 might have already 9ecaac8bcd kissed him.503bbaf01ecd1b4e

“Hey, Kim Donghwa.”530c823d95b9d6e6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Woori called him again, and Donghwa responded with a somewhat dumbfounded “Uh.” Woori grinned.2bed62dae84c6a41

“Were you scared earlier? Afraid your dad might take the house?”49ab25a1a4c67fe7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Well, he wouldn’t take the house, but I was worried he might tell me to move in with you.”6cd4dce5ee3bbe62

“Why? You like your family home, don’t you?”6336bd20e3c2e04e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It seemed 67bdd5766c like a 3c4e3accaa random comment.bec4f7b2a63d8fed

As Woori a950e048a0 had said, 59c4ea1c68 he did b311385f5d like his 0d040683c3 family home. It was a neighborhood 2127f99cb2 filled with childhood memories 4dda928eaf of Woori, and his 055b9f56d5 parents always welcomed him 4342591ff6 back warmly. There was 67d5f364ca no reason a181f18bf2 to dislike 486e801a6a the mansion 2876f4cdd6 that had 76a908c403 been a 6d7001f2d6 part of 8df427d90b his childhood.09622be449d72805

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But it wasn’t 147d9126cf just about that.311bb32e3e33ef74

Woori’s wide-eyed question aeeb11a846 was puzzling—almost as 9d9a03ba85 if he didn’t 749dae3038 already know the aec868057b answer. Donghwa tilted his head 389fb12bd8 slightly, his voice slow 3f844e2a15 and measured as he a1da1336e0 replied.3ff39001a8c86b74

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s comfortable and nice, but…”8558e05e92f0bf75

“But?”84ffba70e7e5ea4f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And soon, he realized Woori’s intention. Not only was he subtly probing, but his clear eyes sparkled as if he wanted to hear something specific.1916022d8f036c12

Ah, when he acts 4ba8084276 like this, it makes 4b53627ad3 me want to tease 993fe98070 him more.52ee6cb5f77108b2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Donghwa made a ed6c836379 sound with his 723b77aae4 lips and turned f89ac04d79 his head the 67e9ccaf53 other way, prompting e236dda11a Woori to suddenly f160b6fdc0 thrust his long, ca4ecf5229 white finger forward.3fc18b7e4c8c093e

“If you’re thinking of being annoying, stop it. I’m ready to kick your shin.”4b53828a94a2a7a8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Uh, it’s because I want to live with you.”b4989e86512ebafc