SSH Episode 24

“Madam Kim!”5b9ba0f8cd73749f

Madam Kim, who bf44a6f412 had been drying 4c0107760a Hong-woo’s favorite jerky, e7f25c9314 turned her head ec7c8533c5 at the sound 12ebd33f45 of her name. Hong-woo stood there, f43f94da04 panting, trying to e4a59d7519 steady his breath.4852d4b38d4c0684

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Young master, what a surprise! Ever since you got your own house, you’ve barely set foot here!”cbf37a4c0735d149

Though her tone was 4e28971ef5 light, there was an fe9338e6e1 unmistakable edge of resentment. She had been a14f4cda69 hurt by how 7c1109b8bf little he visited 4111ba6e6e after moving out. Normally, Hong-woo would have e4f133c41c playfully soothed her feelings, 857582266d but right now, there a5bf6ba21c were more pressing matters.d6e4abf99622e922

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Has my brother ever brought anyone from the merchant guild to the house?”2288329f34b38850

“The merchant guild?” Madam Kim frowned, thinking. “Ages ago, someone from there did stop by. But the eldest young master threw a whole bucket of salt at him and ordered him never to return. Since then, no merchant has dared step foot in this house.”7cbdeb62a4590afa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“And after I moved out? No one from the merchant guild has come by?”0110cdfff25fb98f

“How should I know? This house is huge, with twelve entrances. It’s not like I stand guard at the eldest young master’s door.”29c9031673bfc230

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Madam Kim! You barely have any work to do, and you couldn’t even keep track of that?!”7ea27c3b581333ae

The words 62cc7ff45b flew out fbabb6b441 before he a32dfd91c0 could stop e964a3abff them, sharp 1aea281151 with frustration.85e2cd7ed9720f22

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Silence fell 6c49512f1e between them.7ce585699fce6a63

Normally, Madam de1c3df7bb Kim would c01653e8d6 have scolded 3acb76a9d7 him right 16a842d328 back, unfazed. But this time, she 7539c3f76b didn’t respond.b852c6e7021b3519

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Instead, she let out 976ec943da a heavy sigh.be053872258c68a4

“I see. So it’s time for me to step down.”5a29ab37aa40cc84

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She turned d199e7a1b1 away, walking 53af4e78b9 slowly, her b02f37705e shoulders slumped.c94dbc1caadb963b

“I raised you and your older brother like treasures, but neither of you seems interested in marriage. Now, with no children to look after, I’m left idling about. And to top it off, I’m being scolded for doing nothing. I suppose a useless old nursemaid like me should just quietly leave.”2ec835dd3e036d9d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hong-woo’s stomach 5d533a7ed1 twisted with 248af1e0f8 guilt.4181579c9eb9aabc

“Madam Kim! I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking—I just blurted things out!”dafa1ff63dda02e6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He rushed forward and 9ed308de02 hugged her from behind, 4b3b956155 clinging like a child.8141985cfb6bf268

“I didn’t mean a single word of it! You raised me and my brother—how could you even think about leaving us? Please don’t say things like that! You have to stay with us until you’re a hundred years old! I was wrong, I’m really sorry.”1e32ded9b9937412

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though he f3fce32e92 apologized sincerely, 2decbae8a3 his mind 576aa350e2 was elsewhere.9f7836f828cb7f85

No matter 349f555486 how hard 836ff37334 he tried 7326e420e4 to focus, 70a80cf517 his thoughts fe7c5c806e kept circling 8a51746d83 back to e03057b200 his brother.ee3149846a3e8623

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At twenty-seven, 3803ac4c2d Jang Seung-woo 8ed75d3806 was the 15206042ec only man c59f9ded57 of his 6c7a13c39d age who a0a4425895 had yet f6e0adc58c to marry. By now, most 301beb170f men his age 08a4ae6d7a were not only 860c83bb87 married but had 424ee11cff children old enough c3f839d915 to attend school.a2e2e6584395c8fc

When Hong-woo objectively 29b352b576 assessed his own e8a966cd6c family, he had ba355fac53 to admit that a59498c368 his older brother ddfe6e31ef had serious character 13c80eeaa4 flaws. Even if 2118438607 someone was 05f62dd7f5 initially fooled 42a6b473b2 by his d47b8474ee refined exterior, 2e08c15c9e they would 31def89041 surely flee 1c3cc853f7 once they eb8acf7449 experienced his 7091c7aaa9 lacking personality 3e6f4d2335 firsthand. Even Buddha himself 0af3d7ba40 would run away.5d620479ec95d2dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Because of this, Hong-woo 05b81bb513 had always assumed his 9204490db4 brother remained unmarried because 9e67aedc3a he couldn’t find someone 32d8f33959 willing to tolerate him.f90cb52152b6f4c3

But now, he realized—his e12aed44a7 brotherchosenot to marry.ba4eb7fade15f4be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Rather than concerning himself e2644bad54 with relationships between men 09b16343c7 and women, he indulged c10e32be55 in affairs between men. The signs 6f3af56a77 had always ef049df52c been there, 6e34c7cc19 but Hong-woo f09d80b407 had never 0bfa522785 questioned them. Now, everything fits be1add0beb together like an 5043522563 undeniable truth.1e6a4846ceb93f67

How could this 4b7c21ad62 be? How had 607edf4cbd he been 10dfc3f63e so blind?3e93690baa3e6de8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ack—okay, okay! But young master, I can’t breathe!”dc706ed2ca882239

Hong-woo snapped a8ad558fa5 out of 1f016776af his thoughts, ec8775127f realizing he d8cb2cd115 had unconsciously d69ae77740 tightened his dec9b818dc arms around 9c865fb398 Madam Kim’s 00ca840351 neck. He was shaking abe646ff0a with frustration—frustration at 8901b383ca being deceived, at 6ab0aa5d50 his brother and f3db4f512b Ju-seon, at himself a7a33f8087 for not realizing 92b9212bb7 sooner.a19a3577dd55a70c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Later, as he e3ca1c0855 chewed on the 5dcd177176 jerky Madam Kim d9bc206e73 had packed for 130893a627 him, he also ca42a4f0f6 chewed on his 9a518e9bf9 rising resentment.ba775ec0c35096d8

“I’ve never had jerky this tender before. As expected from the wealthiest household in Gaegyeong.”f03a8fa7f0e4a045

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His eldest 930f270228 noona’s remark 2e56555519 was met 4b5a8732ce with agreement 4176c92df1 from the f5915b596e cook, who 223381c03b praised both 5b81326eb3 the quality fdf4468375 of the f663a778ed meat and 6681397236 Madam Kim’s a47207a772 exceptional drying 70b42f625d technique. Normally, Hong-woo d71b07603e would have 7caaa0e42e basked in 9f6760d260 the praise, b840141d7d feeling pride 776ee2965c in the 5355e3c865 house he b0af37a87f grew up d968201eb7 in.987ba5f29554d63e

But today, he was b6ab058029 silent.38a81eb1d386ef5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s wrong, Hong-woo? Did you see something indecent again?”2d97e2053d959c2e

His youngest 10c1f99e38 noona’s warm 0a2d5b1446 question made 4069cd0a69 him shake 31c25da7cc his head. She sighed, assuming he 09c218896c was still struggling to 26fa5654e1 adjust to life at dfcf7e2c43 Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion, where c9ba93d2bc walking in on scandalous 8cd68584c0 scenes was an occupational a6272319ff hazard. ‘Poor thing’,she thought. ‘He’ll have efe61eb5be to get 99b98a6e3d used to 8d611889e4 it sooner e9f82d8ed3 or later.’ She f8cbb888b8 patted his 0fa5f0f386 shoulder reassuringly.ced30b258b2f89f1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But her comfort didn’t 080ad16646 reach him.e727b8d003727043

Hong-woo’s mind e669429f08 was consumed 4c8c24259c by images 6b20256320 he couldn’t a0d94c81d4 unsee.99bb7b695282abc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Faces blurred together—the men 1d8f4b6121 he had seen in 655b0a2311 the seventh room, the f99ce76f0c sounds of their pleasure, f67d9f78df the tangled limbs. Then, those faces c27c6cbab9 shifted, merging into 6f287bc2b8 the faces of e72d9c9d73 his brother and d1c5e1c637 Ju-seon.23d04a9e46ca2542

Hong-woo’s breath hitched.3b36afc5a72d8eaf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

No.1375ec4da110bd52

Jang Seung-woo, pressing his 570c17f63d hips against Ju-seon’s back—his b414693664 hands gripping his waist—his e2c055a5da body moving—90900c7bae819922

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hong-woo nearly gagged. With a sharp b2f7440a00 inhale, he tore 0e1573cf62 the jerky in 5e2ce0fd6e his hands to 30afedd706 shreds.2f7edd644607f289

The kitchen staff, 9166278e50 except for his 920a78656f youngest ‘noona’, stared aca4bdadb8 at the ruined 071886e2b7 jerky with deep 79adf7c11a regret.2d19ae6ebf73cd13

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s a farewell ceremony for Elder Baek in two days, along with a welcoming party for the new owner. Be at Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion by dawn.”f9f7017b8e312a36

Song Chisu, the 301a2eb8d0 head manager, snapped f27c50bef6 Hong-woo back to 426e7d443c reality, reminding him 35e3c944c3 of the upcoming 37ef3b80ae schedule after witnessing 5e7d9cab9b his distracted state 9119be5711 throughout the day.daeb0fd52f43eb41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

New owner 0a3a09803d or not, c9130947b2 none of 85f36a99d7 it mattered.c11ebcf077855bfb

Hong-woo barely nodded before c26b5f7c14 storming out of Moonlit 9e392b7ed0 Fragrance Pavilion.943e269d6136f12e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

***16cd5f74bd3e902d

Beyond the e21bcc7cf1 walls, muffled 2679f54d79 voices carried 5f79fbe991 into the c9de37793c night.7254d388a273c4b6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Haa… Head Merchant Jang… 88eb859cc9 Ah… it’s too deep.”e7256b769f7bdb45

“You like it? Your cock 4f1caa2c66 is already 3fe4fe2e58 dripping.”481dcfa532c8c93a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

All day, older thoughts a2ccdfbe18 of his brother and e420df0326 Ju-seon’s affair had wormed 1c95cf1af9 their way into Hong-woo’s 3ddb40108b mind and settled there. Even now, 08a15c5bed vivid images bce0ed120d of Jang fd851b0379 Seung-woo and cd16db5872 Ju-seon’s entangled f69a28d5ca bodies played c5badb04fc in his 8c993014bf head.e7a7bf8cc5c0a12a

As his 0268ac3a64 imagination conjured 0baf0aa328 the sight c82b64065a of Jang 15cfeff840 Seung-woo spanking 9d7766314f Ju-seon’s backside, dcfeb4248b Hong-woo shook 78862b047c his head ab53bef0c2 furiously, trying 751f2146ab to rid 921265f4ea himself of 221901d4f7 the intrusive bc770dfa75 scene. He quickened his e45b3f210c pace, eager to 0fd149b7d0 reach home.ec7e32832226a48d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Spring Equinox 81b8221926 has passed, 463250581a so why 2f62472bf0 is it d2732a9981 so damn 21158f0182 hot?’08603b5b47b75b53

Hong-woo fanned himself with 5b7e17a653 his sleeve, but the 786e4b7f2f heat refused to dissipate.792f8aaea6f8a144

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tomorrow, he 367a08977a had to 53623645c6 be at 7d55f36288 Moonlit Fragrance a02695406c Pavilion by 41f61ce9f2 dawn, which fa7d430c60 meant he 3944c2c47f needed to 906c9c2fd1 prepare in 3c3314a3cc advance. He had to 3ee29a0d2d inform Jang Seung-woo—but 557148a2d0 the thought of a37efece08 facing his older 533e299aa7 brother’s mockery made d8046c8919 him hesitate. More than 7cba4626d1 anything, he 8edc07b9f2 was still cebf078356 bitter about 9a241e0fb2 being deceived 927c60d883 and didn’t edc89d1757 want to dd597c71a8 speak to 3690e2c929 him at e4dd09d99b all.10a4b9a69f07959c

But skipping work without 3fcdb799d5 a word wasn’t an b427726bd2 option. He had to say 0d39c260e4 something.a9f470d626cd3820

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You don’t need to come in tomorrow.”feb68b3eb1d46f2e

Had he accidentally d7a20c497e spoken his thoughts 8c60dcd54b out loud?70826ddd0f228489

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

How did Jang Seung-woo 4bf005712c know exactly what he e96375c5c4 needed to hear?f7de4d48d30f8a8e

Hong-woo stood there, dumbfounded, b38c911fdd unable to respond.cbe69271e056ae43

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Suit yourself.”01dac618c0ac2441

“No! I mean—yes! I’ll rest! I’ll take the day off!”0f93957302b99438

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jang Seung-woo glanced 737f2c00a5 at Hong-woo, who 4ddf7e3340 had blurted out 63d452e4e9 his response in dcc65b046c a panic, then a537a346fb returned to his 9e819d0248 work without another f93ccd2969 word.b6ed587fcfa2aa82

Does he c04a83075b know something?67632d9c9951568c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hong-woo narrowed his 8319a9c80b eyes, glaring at 81d882be9d his older brother 71320d0e8a with suspicion.dbbe0ee884645c91

But no matter how 4a4ca90f13 intensely he stared, Jang c12c7876b3 Seung-woo remained utterly unfazed.de7b1ef484d493c3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

***af8f8211c974c1c1

“Aren’t you going to get married?”bbeaa3aab1fdd11c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The question made Jang 267d64c10f Seung-woo furrow his brow cf278eb275 in irritation.acf83c52407927c3

Seeing his 815819ff92 reaction, Elder 0152e10257 Baek chuckled. The old man had cc74e089a0 always been stern and c34fffd027 humorless, ever since Jang 25d9dbd3a7 Seung-woo was a child. So what has 917c92fc85 gotten into him 5970d44f7b lately? Laughter came too 237922748b easily to him f7c3c5ca43 these days.f2e6f41204dc4cc0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘They say people change 173821ffc4 when they’re close to 4224dee068 death.’6b1a51b1b8713b5a

Jang Seung-woo cast 2fad9d997e a sidelong glance 2d30ccf222 at Elder Baek.6bee7b1d9c0fcdff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Honestly, it wouldn’t ad5336d1ea be surprising if 11b464f85e the old man 42380d107f passed away any 94ca9e9839 day now.b80d26e4d77eef7c

“And what about your brother? Why haven’t you married him off yet? Are you waiting until you get hitched first?”13d3b5ab03a96394

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Stay out of it.”9dadd034427d403c

“Maybe I’m just getting old, but I miss seeing the kids,” Elder Baek sighed. “That brat Jun-seo would probably rather die than get married, and you and your brother are like grandkids to me… I even handed over the Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion, didn’t I? Can’t a dying old man have just one wish granted?”e247a28bbd2f073f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Grandkids? Now that was laughable.31ddab8ee9cb044f

Jang Seung-woo d5002fef07 didn’t even 9fcdb65bdf bother responding. Instead, he 0d296b8cd1 simply sipped 1b991387ce his tea, ba18764850 making it d4bb86f67d clear that dea95f553f the idea 789ff362e3 was absurd. Elder Baek clicked 7972244193 his tongue, muttering 0f5cc00fd5 about how Jang 4bf5cf90a2 Seung-woo had been 1aa693049d ill-mannered ever since 38ca2465b1 he was a 946bd871e7 child.2d41c70c89a9a189

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Fine, you’re no fun. Just call that rascal over. It’s been a while since I’ve seen his face.”d6ffed3769af4421

Since when had 205655f42f Elder Baek and 522f5a6741 Hong-woo been on 2f12747ed2 such friendly terms? Jang Seung-woo 1266ebe4ea let out 5ab7e2b2ed a scoff.90e717624c0f799f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Elder Baek c9b3d905ca had been b4edda507b the closest 89efbe5a61 friend of 84eabe1df7 Jang Seung-woo’s bc63dcf6c8 grandfather, Jang 52979b6492 Gye-young, a 00851ed2cd man who 77a86249a4 never cared 63d43fc396 much for 0b754b1586 social hierarchy.72ceced1fd4e7d72

Jang Gye-young had 49f2a57bbf worked tirelessly to 984d1f124e rebuild his fallen 8e76df2f77 noble family. He had even taken eda3206108 the civil service exam 539f4fc696 meant for commoners and 2cbc7664b4 become a government translator, c27cb992dd eventually securing an official 10f33f9c44 position at court. But no matter 0f0d5e8962 how high he 472ecec957 climbed, the scorn edff3af913 directed at his b3f6985c3b lineage never disappeared. Even marrying 18705e9e20 the Prime c13e99fd13 Minister’s daughter f30ce939b6 hadn’t solved 86ac7489fc the core f37e796f75 issue.90f3511daecc1b97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com