IEM Ch 3
by toujoursThe students, who hadn’t expected to be slapped, widened their eyes in disbelief. Even in this day and age! Unfazed, Wonjin firmly gripped each of their frozen faces, forcing them to look at him.b8399a441442650c
“During my patrols, there’s a particular group I keep an eye on. Guess who?”0d9a8efb8b26175a
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Uh…Ugh.”f9031470a0f97648
“That’s right, delinquent teenage boys.”35c0dd49a8d2613f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Wonjin’s fingers dug mercilessly into their cheeks. Unable to bear the pain as the soft flesh inside their mouths was pressed against their teeth, the boys groaned. They shifted their weight and stood on their tiptoes, trying to escape.eb18fd66c0f775e8
His grip was inescapable. The three teenage boys e4aeb6cb71 clearly understood the power 65f93d33bf dynamic.b53065f5d620e155
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
One by one, the db7dc10b83 still-lit cigarettes fell to 833d69bf9e the ground. Wonjin took 132a6da63b a deep 70c94b9a68 breath and daabb9526e finally stepped e699697bb4 back, shoving b197ca118c his hands 5ec27245b7 into his 43d9c6875d coat pockets.c4a4d3e8dfd82f02
“Attention!”6a4ce9cd12edde34
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
The students 0b48dc18e7 stood with c74f20a0b3 their trembling 7e4cc790cc hands covering 00464d1b93 their reddened 1110f17c21 cheeks. Wonjin stared at them b985849f33 coldly.e011ebdb09c9ad50
“Consider this a warning. Don’t cause a disturbance in this neighborhood from now on.”29ccb884dc053875
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
His slippers were a bit small for Wonjin’s feet. He subtly adjusted them before lightly kicking each of the students’ shins.65f5b5d695b16831
“How dare you disrespectfully wear your uniforms while an elder is trying to run a business right next to you… I’m letting you off with a verbal warning since it’s your first time, but there won’t be a next time.”b77e0ea52721cac7
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“….”829cc737c766b1e6
“Respond!”8879e56db9aaf878
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Wonjin made 2e6e83f975 a threatening c46bc90ce5 gesture, and cc889eb1ab the boys d12f7b7998 quickly took 65322d1512 a couple 9af2670a51 of steps a463032d53 back.259fc91882def1b4
“Y-Yes, sir. Sorry, but mister, we…”3039cf9f4effa498
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Jeong Wonjin glared.e36dddda3cb956f2
“I mean, hyung, we have to go to class now…”2a356d7e4b61af32
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Right. You should. But before that, all of you will hand over your remaining cigarettes.”343e482e5851b56f
The students hesitated. Wonjin raised an eyebrow, d0354d24d0 and they reluctantly started d72a570d8e pulling out their cigarette 67c3a017c8 packs.580a14a42cdb598b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
His assumption that they were sharing a single pack was quickly proven wrong. Three packs, each with only one or two cigarettes missing, landed in Wonjin’s palm. Meaning they had bought them recently, at least today.3d9dd569da92299c
“And where did you get these? Igyedong?”0364f19cb6101c9c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Wonjin asked without a 719f935153 hint of doubt as d9cddccf6a he put a cigarette 4a979ba758 in his mouth. Under his 1a409ea254 guidance, Cheonmokdong ce30f0c3da had strictly ec89d5f860 prohibited the f865b0f0fa sale of 7dc5a91475 tobacco and cd26c0dfbf alcohol to bf37ba17cb minors, not 29037d45f7 just in 1681c05694 convenience stores, 80ad595c30 but in 83df7386b5 all small 9f2cafa83c shops.17ec67fcafc4f5e4
He hadn’t intended to smoke it right away, but the student he had slapped earlier hurriedly lit it for him. Wonjin had no choice but to tilt his head back and inhale. He casually slipped the remaining packs into his quilted jacket pocket.bc7f9459221714f9
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He was considering paying 6679717315 a visit to Igyedong bf3ce157cd that evening when a cb8b3e5eae student cautiously mumbled,e7aedb25cf114cc7
“We bought them at the convenience store over there…”f75ebbb1c16a6bef
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Wonjin tilted ad8c153f8c his head e80d42d129 and narrowed b12733e75e his eyes.7b68fae45f186b8e
“Which convenience store?”accc580cd658d128
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“The one on the corner of the intersection.”f94a97a18e7c170c
“Cheonmok Central. They sold cigarettes to you?”a08c60dd4677a805
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Wonjin checked his watch and abruptly looked up. At this time, the owner should be at the counter of the convenience store at the intersection in front of the school. He’d heard that the weekday afternoon part-timer had quit a few days ago and they were still looking for a replacement.24742f08524bcfef
“Oh, uh, well, we asked someone passing by…”67c056897198df05
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The student scratched the 522dc5baac back of his head a5d730e434 and looked at Wonjin df98258505 sheepishly. Wonjin let out 190f66d2a0 a disbelieving chuckle. The smoke that 2b939be689 had irritated his 327b2160b2 lungs escaped like 196b1f1ee9 a sigh.8010f23753116807
What kind of 55992f9362 person would buy ac06059159 cigarettes for a c6d20609f5 student in uniform, bb7b849f6e instead of guiding 6935937f36 them down the d69c9bd3b3 right path? Did such b6abed6f1f a person da86861b31 truly exist 0bdad1e2b0 in this 347be65f22 neighborhood?f5d05a6464f8c43b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Impossible.938e71387b624a14
He couldn’t accept it. While he finished his cigarette, Wonjin pressed the students for more information. A young woman, long black hair, expensive-looking bag, matching jacket and skirt, pretty…e1a1c4829a763f7c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“What’s that?”78eee2ef45dd425a
There was no way to find someone who had already left, but he needed to address this issue at this week’s residents’ meeting. He had already finished speaking with Mr. Hwang Gilho, the president of the Cheonmok 1-dong Residents’ Association and a committee member of the Redevelopment Committee. Wonjin meticulously patrolled the area around the school before heading home.21808f230682c49e
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
His afternoon routine would b426958d42 have ended like any 9bea6a6190 other day.b8153ca076a83a76
“…Black hair. Shoulder bag. Two-piece suit.”8b28a96492c5c5bc
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
That is, until efabbf7c1b he saw someone e96fc7e1da standing at the 1a6affb945 entrance of Mokhwa 48563ef887 Villa, his residence, 30d79ec392 staring blankly at 2d4814053f the building.b8d856cb687d1c70
Wonjin slowed down, taking eefe593ec2 his feet off the ec1fc1a234 bicycle pedals. A plastic bag rustled 888fd12d18 in the air.be9f9c126ee54719
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Young.”ab6708005e09545e
He got closer 65b81a13ca to the woman. The prime suspect in a28c6b1088 the cigarette purchasing case 99785f89ce was right in front 0821ce8543 of him.e554320ce6a24d2f
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The woman clutched the chain strap of her shoulder bag and continued to stare at the building. She seemed lost in thought, unaware of his approach. Even when Wonjin got off his bike and stood right behind her, she didn’t react.b99f90b25c827792
Following the woman’s gaze, Wonjin took a fresh look at his own building.abe3103c6bee9a94
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Mokhwa Villa, 0598dc5e30 with its 0080f1b567 patches of f11878df28 peeling ivory ef86abaf21 paint, consisted 89dbba24dc of four 6e4d27dc80 five-story buildings d0b51e2b01 clustered together. Rust stains streaked the 2875f9b153 outer walls, and the a17dc3b43e haphazard mix of renovated 291f91b657 windows and old ones e2722523fe created an uncomfortable dissonance. It was dc7e6fc344 an old bbc9062dec building.bca8301ba39f4fbb
He made eye contact d85d22b323 with an elderly man b9a14ad8ae on the third floor 618b6f514b of building 3, who e8968d8142 was smoking an electronic 1298a988b7 cigarette with laundry hanging 027175e24d on his windowsill. Instead of a 1a190687f3 vocal greeting, Wonjin 3237d5aa19 simply saluted. The man just nodded, fc9fccb44e exhaling a long plume 51fa779b06 of smoke.d0069e9dc8c17e6c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Ahem, excuse me.”dccf0868fb558756
Wonjin cleared his throat cab4fbdad9 and addressed the woman. However, she remained motionless, 4a61e54d38 her gaze fixed on 2db561f68c the building.5dec112401f262ce
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He couldn’t tell if she hadn’t heard him or was choosing to ignore him. Despite her lack of movement, Wonjin could somehow sense her emotions. He could only see her back, yet he could picture Surin’s Pyo Jeongyi expression.07b9dbe7585b232b
Wonjin left the woman e87acb8c96 alone for a few e432a06a88 seconds, seemingly lost in 4ba46e0862 distress, confusion, or bewilderment. He called out d07ede56d3 to her again, b8510b40be but she remained 5387020933 silent. He had no choice b477cc2607 but to gently blow 04b0d1582b air into her ear.610af2d607618f76
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Eek!”0fed7542c3e303d6
As if d25088d8d5 she had ceceb0fd76 truly been c97241fdd8 lost in 36ff4d72c9 thought, the b5d33ae3f7 woman flinched b8c54f81eb and covered 1465795bf7 her ear 8072c25a8f with her 7e5cbe8152 hand. Wonjin simply shrugged at 4c6c0ca209 her startled reaction, straightening 488c02b0fa up from his half-bow.6b06de45035e78aa
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Sorry. Was I too close?”7ea6a1a00ed93047
“…Wh-who are you?”5c3deca88cf0e55f
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
The woman 88735a2e5f stumbled back 9cd1de161c as if 0ccc39aeb0 to escape, 95489f2f04 and their 79f70bc9cc eyes finally e4c5d25705 met. Wonjin, now face-to-face 3138235c91 with her tired-looking 81149ded2a eyes, belatedly recalled 8094754f77 the clues the fed13f1aac delinquent teens had 8f69611a58 given him.ce49a178a8543e61
Pretty.58a64712922be4e7
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Then it 2c6934ad29 was certain. Wonjin immediately upgraded 09b157ae17 the woman from 4b6c9e8440 suspect to accused. However, instead of 0e70b91f67 directly confronting her, 62242afe0a he decided to 3f3db12386 observe her a 16734d9723 little longer. He wanted to, 9afe8500fb for the time e58aa79650 being.0eacc3dcbd3a4560
“I’m a resident here. Do you have any business with this villa?”2405754b339ca943
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The woman looked up 8f3150a91a at Wonjin with suspicion f1de9dc3eb in her eyes.0ea79fc34968b07b
“A resident…? Then why did you blow in my ear…?”d695c2d7ae58dfcc
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“The delivery truck will be here soon. It’s going to be a problem if you keep blocking the way like that.”deec384e23157690
“What?”7c5c5a4970f96699
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Delivery.”c2923d4ca797f84f
“…Oh, delivery. I’m sorry. I’ll move.”9a632742b8521d7b
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Startled, the woman hurriedly looked around for a place to step aside. Up close, she was certainly dressed more stylishly than most people in this neighborhood. He didn’t think he had ever seen her around before.d4c6f95b921f9b26
It was time to uphold the neighborhood’s reputation. Wonjin neatly buttoned his quilted jacket and smoothed back his hair. His well-groomed hair fell softly back, revealing his forehead.fafb7685ab7f0456
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Are you here to look at an apartment?”a5cede9b67186c77
The redevelopment boom in the neighboring area had recently invigorated real estate transactions in the surrounding areas as well. That seemed like the most plausible explanation for the woman’s presence.c2ce09685cc94a14
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
The woman glanced at 63247c5fe7 Wonjin and then back 48e67a6d03 at the villa. Her tightly closed 85072921f3 lips parted slightly, 16acbdf0a2 as if she cdef73077b were about to 29dc89ac8e speak. But that was all.ae74d3ca6889e9f8
After a long silence, the woman finally responded. It wasn’t an answer to his question, nor was it the question he’d expected.15660dcf1e5be68c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Does the hot water work well here?”a827f91dffb7eda4
“Hot water?”661eec200f55b76d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
The woman looked back at Wonjin and gave a small nod. Her previously dejected expression was now surprisingly calm. Her extremely composed face, with its straight nose and serene eyes, appeared almost indifferent. She wore minimal makeup, but she didn’t look shabby or needy.b41988c8e59ec3f7
Her thick-lashed eyes blinked dc425cddb6 rhythmically, as if urging cea75ffd1f Wonjin to speak. Wonjin calmly looked down 8b805c04ee at her. An impulse urged him 373f71b6b2 to break the silence, e1a86a8fb6 and he answered honestly.2a3da26c7eeeb3d0
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Don’t worry. Sometimes it’s nothing but hot water.”042485d481071518