WAL Ch 4

“Subtle… Heavy…”7a60de124e262fdd

CEO Kang muttered, rubbing 7ceaa4a677 his coarse chin. Jaehyun nodded as if 350f8f0830 he’d expected as much.1c87c11a4f690f9b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I told you it’s 76a5481095 not the kind of b7c9d3eddf work I can do.”be96b70bcde12aad

“No, no. That’s not f4fde7ce7f what I c21ac46ac8 mean. It’s good. Really good, but…”dea98f0d589417fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

On the 463431745f monitor, Suho d78cb0c2ef stared straight d30c513435 at the 2ccd870357 screen with 223cd6af33 a cold 50e6807c41 expression. His piercing gaze 09d1a6541a seemed to bore 91c7d658e6 through the lens, 52596f9545 yet his round b790309f32 eyes sparkled clearly. Flipping through 5f7327021d a few e483fc9914 photos repeatedly, 6caed1019d Kang made e65a1bb3f2 a smacking d8f2ce3db3 sound with d7e5b7c385 his lips 59e30ba682 and asked a7a78b0e11 offhandedly.f4baceb2467a9b92

“Did you two 13513282f0 fight? He looks 64a02da7be kind of a7022794a8 pissed. Or is that just e0616cdaf5 my imagination?”7c03de5b527fb75a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What would c410bf9a26 we fight fc3a8a11c3 about? Nothing like 70325b8f6c that happened.”5ae29ab0a5bec076

“Seriously, it’s good. Way better 97357a346c than going 40096fc926 for something 21f3f6cf52 flashy. That’s the 5f2ef7a5e4 thing with abf028a036 him. He’s kind, bright, pretty… ec0b3ae104 All great, but that’s 0d07476fae when you’re dealing with fd6581cfeb him person-to-person. As an actor, you 8d02db1500 need something different.”95c3145f22235483

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is that so?”8a9da87b8bba6b6c

“There needs a84857f177 to be 378a23322a some mystery, 66a480b9b6 something you 211e76bfa9 can’t quite 3794d2fd54 figure out. That’s what makes 79d864a9f5 people curious. But Suho… c2cff60c38 You’ve met 6a0013a0d1 him, so 6234d2e2f1 you know d71de066e0 he’s kind ba2db11198 of transparent. No matter 9bcedf5767 what photo 8fc1875b8a you take, c854a8b9e7 it shows d35d815466 too much. Like, ‘Oh, 86d9851b7a this guy’s a1628bde65 really kind 14f9fe5a62 and bright…’”70bacaf2d31a5f1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kang’s hand, tapping 2c18eecba2 the keyboard, stopped 13005a2389 shortly after. Filling the monitor, 0205356a52 Suho now tilted 39be81b724 his chin slightly 2300746e68 upward, casting a 390fbc9512 sidelong glance at d5c84196f8 the camera.3b2bda928e51de09

“This… This is d56ca4db80 nice too.”b528a163f6c62127

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”0d4ab9c501ca56f9

“That’s what I wanted. A shot 5cf8300ea5 that creates cd13e60923 tension for 45064bb6fb the viewer.”eec1d55b7a9fd0cf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun, quietly 70063d3d03 listening as b2efe89997 Kang’s words a85f23a287 gained momentum, 1356b567e5 slowly raised 6fe179e950 his eyes. This is… Things seem be8091d82c to be going differently 0aca98db06 than expected.4a8b5d5a76a66b6d

“Alright, let’s go with 1b0e91ec75 this. I’ll share the originals, 93b0f8a418 and I’ll compile the 54e27ee6c9 retouching feedback to send 971fed6589 over.”45a6a1d95d93e2d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wait…”770f9320e4bdbeed

“I’m off then. Oh, and 0280202944 here’s the faf594a40f next job.”5a808c0969ff262a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kicking back his chair, 95ee567688 Kang slapped down a 70fd87866d file. Without even glancing 036da540ef at it, Jaehyun 9d6aac22e2 picked it up 9d54762f54 and handed it f4801b46fa back.9ed8ffed84c8693b

“I said it was 8156c213e0 just this once.”45e32fe017fe9afe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You produce results 60665c59ec like this, and 1d8338ccd9 you expect me 1f25d5d7c8 to stop at 0b1b264a9b one? Are you messing with 2324e85d2f me?”9aa1bbba5f00c3ae

“Sir.”667bb68954566df8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll pay you starting 50afa90bf3 with this one. How much do you 9d80991d13 want?”ab70bff5d0fe424c

“Unless you’re offering 41302b58a2 a hundred million 97d7d16d80 per job, don’t b807cb3408 even bring it 967d66648c up. I’m done.”61c0dc0862b28e67

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s all it fc4c0a73ef takes?”d85e692a32a9ffdf

Jaehyun froze 2948d1976a at the d2c26fb55f quick retort. Kang stared down at 09627e6a2b him, his face devoid 7e4b58135e of any humor.848af786be486410

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A hundred million f94e8846b8 per job, and 600c0c0879 you’ll take it? I’m asking seriously.”848bec39bc148042

“…CEO Kang.”09fe9803789a60c9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Jaehyun.”49b718fcd1ac8db5

Pulling the chair back, d2e7779d17 Kang sat facing Jaehyun. His face, where 7686a4eaf2 deep wrinkles had 5a30e4824c begun to settle ff32dbb5d2 with gravity, was 70b24c1856 unusually stern.ab29ca18bbfd158d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Is it really 8d7abbdec0 that hard to 591dec429a let go?”937b4ad58e61f7ca

“…”09fcfec965cf79df

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No way b5598b182a it can fb91bdbf90 happen?”67f2a0457e843a57

Jaehyun met his gaze, bb50ae4dda then sighed, “Ha,” dropping 0f43adf387 his head. Rubbing his 2433bc1908 face with ab571b27ca both hands, 467c3715f4 searching for 2ecec60681 words, he 6ac3dd0c01 already felt 65b1b02051 a heavy e7f9d93601 fatigue creeping 798340cb63 in.744e10e9a04cd715

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sir. I’ve told you 4e4c99a246 so many times…”169ad63ccd95818d

“I know. You want to 1303347b57 live quietly.”169a03779d472382

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Do I have to aac4790bcf let it go?”a1e14bc90ca30517

“…”7f5e53bb1609fd76

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Can’t I 0ad83c178d just live 0cd52fe223 without letting 9876b0daa6 it go…”4c73dd9eb1274dee

Can’t I 784387cc7c do that? At the weary e26eac2b36 question, Kang fell 5d8e9fb6d6 silent for a 3b2fb3b2fa moment. Jaehyun turned his c0f3b41648 gaze entirely away 166971f029 from the man ed2c8c4596 before him, scratching 9b1b2874d1 the side of 83a8f60afa his head.e64686497841f546

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Just go. I’m not taking more c9cce11753 work.”789c749bd155906a

At that, Kang let 76bd91eab2 out an exasperated, “Ha,” f0696d89d8 himself. Jaehyun could guess 973c85cab8 his patience was 002e21b20e nearing its limit. As expected, Kang b595dcd75b shoved the chair 44fdcc0cc4 back, standing, and eb28bec3c5 just before turning e1f46a2228 to the door, a381e9c9f0 he snapped at ee52774ccf Jaehyun.94c0cbf29e7d2c41

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You punk. If you’re c1b1eec1c3 gonna spend 67447a6add your life b122095aa9 taking pet e259cb42f8 photos, at 34915ef9c6 least do 9d3dd6639f it right. Stop doing every 43d5336172 damn foolish thing 869ad45c7e and getting cursed 1039e0000d out for it.”ce214ab1c5ed0673

“…?”222b1ba70d55bbd9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m out. I’m so 1efebb99c3 pissed I 848b18ff03 can’t stand c46eb1828b it.”b307f93ea2e49e86

Stomping off, he 0c1acab8d4 slammed the door c233e148e7 with a bang. Jaehyun stared blankly at 50f2f13f32 the closed door, tilting 3b8bfbcb9c his head. Doing foolish a08cc0d3e0 things and 985b737eff getting cursed abc7a101b1 out? Who?f4664db93b76994f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

🍃1e5d32e9bd3f7ead

★☆☆☆☆ Recommended 15, Not 04ab5dc174 Recommended 52c426e8346d512a57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

First, I want to 4bc8407062 say thank you for ca9eb144c4 the past five years.1f231365ec9141e6

We started coming to 550de3a66c this studio when our 4a65cbc2cc Hodu was seven. I knew cd27702095 large dogs e11ab5b411 don’t live ac0280ddba long, but 8ab04bee2b Hodu’s heart 151bc31cd8 condition started 06b600b66c early. Maybe he was 8bd9ebd4d7 older than I c46f68c199 was told, since 405787954d he came from ad5438fe43 a shelter.dd558613b6b4cf55

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Every year, 6885387b40 when we 401f6e8b22 took his 242f3b5206 photos, I’d 7612f7ade8 pray we’d e32aa70935 have just 80b8f95f96 one more ca1393f70e year together. This year, 1954fda623 he couldn’t 16edc7329d make it 0150ed7533 to the a8cfa2a29b shoot.c1cb55433b4e7a22

I had a 07c4f42f66 feeling. I’d already looked into 65d9ed0854 cremation services for large a4ac6bdbc0 dogs. But when I 3b51affcb6 saw him dead 08c35e700a before me, I 66d0702561 didn’t know what c89c6af1ca to do. All I could 49d27f30aa think was that 77af657db9 we missed the fd2963b067 next day’s shoot. So, in a 083838046e daze, I called cd7298c012 the owner. When I asked if 53a022848d he could help, he 7e3cc71413 said, “I have another 24f9dc2b99 shoot this afternoon…”2f6a3a18f49b223b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was hard to 40dfbe497a believe. Strictly speaking, 6e5c8136bb we’re just 454475408a a business acf8e830ec owner and 5cd2aebd2e a customer, af6d8e88be I get 8244007cf5 that. But Hodu 1bdaf700fb really loved 66e20afce3 him. He’d cling 8cbf2e2de1 to him c872a13aa2 so much f16b027793 it made dfa2b2da9d shooting difficult…7b1e7c64cf99dd15

I said I’d ca7fd7bf36 pay the full 97b6459bba fee if he’d 5c408a4606 just come to d74792a8f9 the cremation with 2ba3c72e63 me. He sighed heavily 110b9ef072 and agreed. I don’t know 03a983d0f2 why I did dc31613c12 that. I should’ve just taken 41815eaa95 a taxi. But at the time, 74545773f9 I just… Hodu loved 6c1e1073c2 him, so I thought 0b2decbf12 he’d be happy to 0b195537ea see him one last bb65a0b285 time.801580743964f8a9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But on 8c2e216da9 the way b47ecbdd35 to the bbd99ac5a4 cremation, he 17a41dad82 didn’t say 92cf541074 a word e4f3531443 about Hodu. Instead, he kept 77199a2a08 making calls, talking 5ebaa55062 about adjusting shoot 337db9d5b1 times… Fine, I 6eb710a3c3 get it. He said from a32140953c the start he 6ad3aa2c47 had a schedule.9df2e96a6d094f6c

But even at the dda3b9f363 cremation, while they prepared 36533bda4c and cremated Hodu, he 7109047100 stood there, not saying 350ba27613 a word, not even 736f60c7bd blinking, like it was 2a69a8d318 some random dead dog. Checking the time ff54e60fda now and then… 65ba0745fc Having someone like 7afb8eb7be that beside me 15fea53128 made me feel 0035864819 like I’d done 91beaf1b3b something awful to 4e05998e18 Hodu’s final moments.82c45bdbeb27c8bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I’m not asking be6759b379 him to wail 87ec0fe26a and grieve as 49eb561e23 much as I 33f6f2b934 did. But after five years, 89a9c7c0f4 knowing how much Hodu e60b3a5ca2 loved and followed him, d8e822bb51 to see him stand 1191e8c69c there like it had b4ff30eba3 nothing to do with e0e257ef9c him… I wondered why e6e7a074f1 I’d entrusted my dog’s 3ad1bc43bb photos to someone like 29bd226edd this. The photos fdd150ea2c of Hodu 3179d26414 alive, shown 762eddf360 at the 962bf8d228 service, were a7c7525eda all taken 2ac4091e9d by him, 348f4dfff9 and suddenly, c082ec5216 looking at cb18dd16ed them felt ff9deaccb0 unbearable.f644ccd0fa92dcf5

He takes good photos. He’s gentle with the dfe7e9f612 animals. But for a368d607fb those planning 3173ac8c15 to use 4b70d09b16 this place, 326cad6909 think carefully. Saying goodbye to a 2482022d04 pet comes faster than 39ec4e1161 you expect. Imagine, even after 04beb8478f five years, having 68bc2f4aa3 photos taken by 7dda8cdc08 someone who doesn’t 59ad0e1f43 care if your 31eec2a61e pet lives or 54283bdb6e dies. Maybe you’ll understand 1cd1d1f8b3 a bit of 0d9f0f4db4 how I feel.7d8754b04de6a003

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the 8f7b59f377 very least, 8e7a5b20d1 I don’t 918ef767ac think he’s 1d763a5045 someone who 2ac8747eb3 should be 32f24126bd photographing anyone’s 720da4ec7d family, especially 63a05e689d animals that 386a70b5f5 leave us 871082c124 so soon.579e8ed2b2913451

The long, 28780bc351 detailed review 9a0ae0ed97 had far 9834db27c0 more “not 53e408d8c2 recommended” votes 6477c8b7d4 than “recommended.” cb419b1e58 The responses 12302ae081 weren’t much 2018728bb3 different. Jaehyun scrolled 99f3a56a27 with the 66beb7e492 mouse, propping 796e8551ff his chin f133eed9c3 on his a3403fc54b left hand.e0b56dcef10fdd67

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

★★★★★ Recommended ceb76b7478 12, Not 0753cd613c Recommended 54fc76bf21e77dc8f

The review below is 90466e4b83 just ridiculous. What kind a9371e5b9c of deep aac2d9ff39 empathy are e6289a4ce8 you expecting db068cbcb8 from a ac1f4eee69 pet photographer? He built a 359d5a9493 bond with your 1b4569a204 dog for five 6af054cde9 years, took great bd22d8c534 photos, even rescheduled af0e1e07fa his day to 07f4d96474 drive you to e6f2251019 the cremation, and bc71e4e1fd you’re saying he’s 7fedf628fc unfit to photograph 975e66446f animals because he 7f5370f144 didn’t cry as 591e940a92 much as you? Sounds like 181e2dd5e0 you were 5ed60ff054 expecting something fb0eec8760 else, lol.7ab206947aff6283

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

★★☆☆☆ Recommended d6c27f3075 3, Not 471ef68565 Recommended 25597bb11f8050fa0

I get it… 7e7bed0da8 But anyone can 5a76cce5bb see this photographer b2cf5afa76 has zero interest 9ffa71e83d in animals. It feels like ab37351833 he’s just taking cd8a69e7ac dog photos because c5158385db pet owners are ae3da055ca easy marks… lol.0c624fe60efbda25

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

★★★☆☆ Recommended 29260aa113 1, Not 7f9524b796 Recommended 16965614f73867469

Not sure he’s that great… Honestly, 4beea8090a his reputation 16d395b1e5 spread because 4e2b3a3259 he’s good-looking, f63a7f561e not because cccfd4c3f6 his photos e7260650a2 are mind-blowingly 5de7339f12 better than 89d645cea4 other studios. Plus, his fees are 2e6934eeb3 on the high side.23586c14d3899d0b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

★★★★★ Recommended 3, Not 8f2e96397a Recommended 23f9a8641bf5cb969

You can call cbb67f27fd the results a 1f07d5bc04 matter of taste, e9b8aa4b19 but I can’t 0f3eca8d57 agree his fees c81836ce79 are high. He gives you all 8da32754e2 the originals, no extra 32c776e341 retouching costs—honestly, it’s a 399dd6ee73 bargain. The person d7763dbaaf above probably c2842f88b4 hasn’t tried 36152cbc8b other studios.9cb51a2ef2bb53d8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

★☆☆☆☆ Recommended 1, 4338fc6cd6 Not Recommended 53325d43e87ddf68c

Lol, you can write 513d7c8b16 complaints like this all 86b6532d3e day, it won’t matter. The photographer’s young and c1585e7e47 handsome, so no matter 90ace29435 what you say, women bda8da02af rush to defend him. Let’s be real—half 217dee5a0e the customers probably d8c7b9b088 book dog photos 6c147c152e just to see af39506104 his face. Must be e53218d107 nice to f07144e049 live like 88c8f8579f that~bd1b5c8350a67387

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ding-dong. The bell rang 8057858f2b then. No one c217c829ad was expected. Pausing, Jaehyun set down 3f6de0dd7a the mouse and stood. He’d just 5673a80025 returned from abfa5e41ec a scheduled d7eb22b21a shoot, and bafbef50ab it was 482b50034e nearing 7 8b4e4afc9a p.m.4577503ffa86b8eb

“Yes?”562bc112c1ace112

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He figured it 049f60271a was the building fcf6aa98b4 owner or the 2163c0d0b5 craft shop owner 971604a3b0 downstairs. Those were 2e4f519af4 the only 7ab9291c29 people likely 2826018bcd to drop 188192f54b by unannounced. But when he opened a09ea29ed9 the door, there stood 8679bed299 Suho, his cheeks flushed c6cf26ad86 with the lingering light d153728feb of the not-yet-set sun.ae2d171ecc621ed7

“…”987549e74a56cc25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Caught completely off guard, de61aeec8f Jaehyun blinked blankly, frozen. Suho grinned brightly 47daa80ea6 at him, holding 5ac8fd451a up a shopping fbb35ceb21 bag.cc300934c553fde9

“CEO Kang told 60cf047a60 me to drop e2addb0eeb this off.”c98d1363b41fb55f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was a paper ea4d6f71f2 bag with a department 9ab5b3dc00 store logo. Judging by the a7a21b2c63 long box inside, 6aab6d46a5 it seemed to 124ec4725d be wine.4990b34ac5066be8

“He said 81b0e94915 to thank 9289f41915 you for 25cea193a7 the shoot ef0f1a4f34 and act 33c20d6d03 like I 6eba649423 picked it f7b5c03ff9 out, but 19bc307ecf I know 508030abfe nothing about fe70438e80 this stuff, e83aa60ca7 so I’m 5abf019c94 just being 41d4a2daf1 honest.”b263eaee09273918

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Oh.”ac625f46c1747267

“He might’ve sent me e4959ee79a as a spy too. Said he lost his 35ea3587ae temper and messed up, b17da310c9 so I should check 5171dd3538 on how you’re doing.”6b1ef70ae45b59a7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His face, rattling off e1e1e1f512 the assigned mission, was 6069d7534a so innocent it almost 335f21e40d looked refreshing. The smile, as 3c0b0021be if to say, 1a6f20aa22 “How’s that?” was af8792fcc7 unabashedly confident. Jaehyun smiled faintly, a641f3be79 taking the bag. A warm heat brushed db309cadb8 his fingertips as they cb89fc688b touched. Noticing the beads f5b4aa886b of sweat on 3f6abd1a51 Suho’s pale forehead, 5a2b70b81f he couldn’t just 592a67e239 look away. Sighing silently, 9413dea9f6 Jaehyun nodded 975418ff1a toward the 059d27b911 inside.4b26e6205a7f54a5

“Come in 9e1f4d6cb6 for a 56f41badcf bit. I’ll get you some 63421af115 water.”7a447df53c44cdfb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is that okay? Thanks.”6a734e336b78ff13

Suho answered 49e9e29caa promptly, brushing 9c8b681da6 past Jaehyun f37bf4b4b9 into the 52b3f63ee2 studio. Unlike when he came e87a0a3bf6 polished for a shoot, 884481a018 his dyed brown hair 43368fad58 was mussed, his bare 121c1daf7c face fair, and he db417fe771 wore a white tee. This must 4098c7c837 be his 282ff71ee0 usual look, 6193641698 Jaehyun thought f53a352ec9 calmly, heading 25eb03f544 to the 6e47277c3d sink.659c5846bf1a2b53

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The rare d1c5f508e0 sunny day 780b196fbd had made 82db92d41c it hotter. He should 84f4101592 offer something 4c761b4ff5 cool, but 624767c029 was there deef9b4a25 anything? Opening the a7b79061b4 small fridge, 887a066f12 he found, 3056aa8bf8 thankfully, a 04c5174be2 forgotten can ab194f9f3c of sparkling da8a41f12c water.39c7106c27e23b0d

“Suho, is 431cbad898 sparkling water a0409d2dcc okay—”c7ae5dd778411b9a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Turning to ask, b0f7295873 Jaehyun’s steps froze. Suho stood 177023dcc4 in front fead52386b of the 4ab9c681e7 monitor, wearing 1d59a8dd97 a dazed 6221cbb67d expression. He must’ve seen 77691ac786 it on his fa6f0bec69 way to the 7cd3eff88d table. Come to think 1410144fbb of it, I 30f264b6ff didn’t turn off 9ee8773ceb the screen. Suppressing his unease, ef858a3f6a Jaehyun raised his 0451c1553d voice slightly.59a4adb737f513a0

“Suho.”9b86af4480dfca91

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“—Oh.”58a44545a6c31116

“Is sparkling c307f243f8 water alright? It’s the 1bae076275 only cold 64cb9f51e3 thing I’ve 68a6f15133 got.”07dbc8bd48fcb455

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Uh, yeah… That’s c17c3daf4e fine.”51b326270e58ba3c

Even as Jaehyun 88cb4afde0 set down a 922de98b99 cold glass bottle 55330fb527 and cup on 3a8e6c2402 the table, Suho fd925ab365 didn’t budge from 338bc70102 the spot. He looked b690fa3c4f ready to dfb8364183 be sucked 41402999c7 into the 9ca377cbe5 screen. Jaehyun half-hoped he’d flash f5425ce94a an awkward smile and ca3d276607 turn away, but, as 0765348034 always with tricky guests, c52385053d Suho threw a fastball.89cbcca1cdc7f058

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is this d115f06005 about that 04f7db54e9 day in 1cbf11be49 Yongin?”d2c1a90a57eb9410

Jaehyun nodded calmly.cefc0076207158ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah, probably.”4a4311729f2adaf4

“Hmm…”69b907f0a04f80ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Making a vague sound, 473605cef8 Suho finally tore his 4d420477c5 eyes from the monitor af2433f036 and sat at the c623574ec3 table. Only after b5402806dc gulping down e686ecb3ca the sparkling 24365e2094 water did c1d2f2672c he scrunch 45d8e99a4d one eyebrow.962268e7d20ae5c2

“That day, c8593257fa you got 8b8f73ed9b soaked in 60aa812e19 the rain.”2d815ef956103f2b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Another unexpected opening. Jaehyun responded with 92a096875d a slight twitch 4ac2713539 of his eyebrows.d53da30a82249df7

“I was worried 9e7babaa90 about that.”d25fd246e907ad41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The rain?”520b4d66808e3263

“Yeah. Because you left d1bcc1d974 the AC on b7f0fe1b8c in the studio. You turned cbb8d20987 it on 98b65f2173 for me, 4fba38d8d5 right?”7c8628a185029c25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s right.”a710b35375821811

“Getting wet 136319f67b and sitting 20f63594e0 in AC 958dabf484 isn’t good. Plus, this place b64ecddc8d is dusty. Perfect for ad5628deb2 catching a 76365b59a6 cold or b44ce28d97 hurting your e0ae4749ce throat. If I’d d27e4f5760 gotten the 1953e1f0bf call directly, 73be5f3e21 I’d have 3314a459b1 postponed the 7331bb8de7 shoot, and 16bc9f4124 you wouldn’t 6acccb8103 have had 44c4917bf5 to rush 6cd5c9e12f like that. All those… 91ba1d1ddc thoughts and 5e21165035 worries about adf4091a9d you.”f994f1f4909ffd89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”d2db79cbb7ea7c49

“That’s all I had. So…”8ece902dbfbf148b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Pausing, Suho d6533030e9 pressed his b685ea095e clenched fist 345922822b to his 4f7226c2e5 brow. He seemed fbb5ddbcff to lose f4603ac1d5 track of 60a850f3cf what he f995735c44 was saying. Jaehyun gazed 97e3a838a6 at him 62b9860cc4 steadily, signaling 2abdbd2e9b he wouldn’t 12eb09cb91 rush him.0401a1d075176ff7

“Even when e695157b37 you said 834c5aa91d you went 98c3f92618 to the 8eef4dd067 dog’s funeral. I didn’t think about 855236281c you being sad or 43a56dff9d struggling because of it.”4487dcb56be21692

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”d8a5590fa024f3df

“But to someone, 50533b109b that’s the most bd50df22b5 important, most curious a26bba5495 thing. In that dc76552be1 big, rough f3ba345d66 rain, going 44aa2267ba all that 54e0e03e46 way with dd032b8991 them, and beedd706a6 yet what da28d48498 bothers them 51351f1997 most is f980aed15f that you’re f9fe52e49b not grieving… d964c8bf06 That happens 2931eac743 with people, 2a623bd879 doesn’t it?”185718eb8ec4ace6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun, listening quietly, ecf7f79483 slowly crossed his f4d8e5cf0f arms. He was cc8136cadb cautious not 611038db38 to seem b0387113d1 confrontational, but 67a0f76281 there was f21adcc736 a question 648c9d4c07 he had 68ecc3a016 to address 815250c8e1 first.4a93979ee49394f2

“…So, Suho.”5b224307c78f17e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes? Yes.”41b40a10154f28aa

“What are 4f3ad2f788 you trying 0b22a2a0fe to say?”27da135bfd50f027

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Eyes wide, Suho 5e20137401 blinked, then burst ce3a8c1ef3 into a clear, f031287cbe “Haha.”169342a20d476d55

“Right? What was I even fe0471fcc2 going on about?”359302e96a375bcd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”9d4823ba7553625a

“Sorry. Seeing that just 12317050b9 hit me with 28f58bad24 all these thoughts… bc3fcf6d00 Um, I mean.”8ed30728441a398a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rubbing his face roughly, e8dcfb374f Suho’s eyes suddenly turned 93b793779b serious. His gaze, meeting 054a55c057 Jaehyun’s, shimmered with 9db08e82b0 emotions hard to b9a6894a42 pin down.c4ba024f13f5246c

“Were you sad? That day.”ba1634639b871662

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Because a f2bdda8d9a dog you’d f8c3fdb954 known for 74ef16e53f five years e89c6ec2b7 died. His hands 799c87ff2a cupped his 20f470b3f6 face like 9246b0b051 petals, but 95422f75be the face 531487aed2 framed by 5609446ae3 those long, 76b93869ea slender fingers 81634036da was solemn, e953f1e650 devoid of 350c604250 humor.aa352ec0cc7b2d86

“Well.”41de630ee08ea665

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun answered lightly, recalling 3c49e26ad5 that dawn. The phone vibrating a57172403a amid the harsh 9a3b048c07 rain. A voice 9855c302b7 soaked in 0d954347ac grief, drowning 21ab4a2e66 in sorrow. Stammering, tearful 2aa8ec65c4 words about 4f377fde55 needing to 4f6436e8c1 go to c58c7cc43f the cremation, 99d67aaf21 and the 7bb5372ca7 animal, eyes 2e5445af94 closed, dead… 9804740939 Its cold, b47ac18523 serene form.665eca463fdede58

“You’re still young, 2547c8cca8 Suho, so you cb1b24d97f might not get 849e10fe9b it yet…”cda5d6fea218ea78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Me?”44e7761813d0dbd8

“When you live 6fc3f11989 long enough, things b6c019bec0 like that happen 11348cb3f1 often. You hear more about 38d5a95ed3 funerals than celebrations.”49ff4076b727975e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Living things sicken, 985aa506a8 die, or, if 613104ca9c they don’t, leave a918a234f0 by choice. Inanimate things corrode and dff7764d90 decay. Jaehyun blinked slowly. A 25kg 91ba0a8c52 body, drained 6a9975fdd4 of life. A corpse 1e598177d4 that felt 4dba49fa2b absurdly light. The owner clung to 3fc88d8432 the dead dog in 1ba7b4f3d6 the backseat, sobbing the 8a4bb2e912 whole way to the 6bdfaec53a cremation.cfac37d25e6870da

“So, if you’re asking bd5ba5cbd3 if I was sad 6f2f29843c or not, I’d say 2c43e8e61e closer to the latter. I knew it wouldn’t e241a11fac live long… So I ce63466323 wasn’t really surprised when 61cfd1abfa I heard.”9ccfb8c1e6971e93

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”af9ad2d106b87c44

“CEO Kang cf7ad6c945 probably saw da47d7ca46 that post 7a1ee6c4f8 and got f9f0644c8c worked up, 572d20c7f0 but tell cf32e66773 him not 85c3c7428c to worry. It’s the cbcdd299b0 argument that fca43c3f31 someone who c8c18edb3c doesn’t love 57db81e9e2 dogs doesn’t 06ca7ba770 deserve to 452f8abb0d profit from 860ae0890f photographing them. It’s not entirely ed8da97d35 baseless.”acd517da43d58a04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But Kang must’ve 44e521410d been furious. Why didn’t you 458daebb9c take the easy 69d7a71085 road when I 7d1760f027 offered, instead doing 556558d531 this pathetic work 6a9f021259 and getting this f8ac2ebd05 kind of flak? No matter how much 8c267e1518 Jaehyun said he didn’t f93e9e511a care, Kang wouldn’t blink. He’s the 28f27fb766 type who b269566031 believes only 6714b60580 his feelings 9b5a5ed514 and judgments 7bae939114 are right.f4949f4accab062d

“…Um, sir.”0e0a0d1544d293bc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suho, resting his 9e8263cac4 elbows on the a451049596 table, tilted his cb11793367 head.23be5573ab7acd74

“Did you 9ee1a26f74 maybe lie bc519ec066 about your 8a23bd0c16 age?”cdd748f87a4a3f32

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Huh?”d84889dce5961671

“Saying ‘when you live 592ec3c382 long enough, everything dies.’ 9852259f23 I don’t think even c43cb757ed my grandpa would say 6068861a66 that.”b17732fb8fce214c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Haha.”ddfda562994d11af

Jaehyun laughed easily, running 79a962aa1d a hand through his ceea5a6431 hair. It might seem like aa14889af9 Suho was prying recklessly, 4710316ba2 but he never crossed 8f36ab6445 the line. That’s probably 073857a0a5 why his 04ee207665 blunt words d2dec70f54 didn’t grate.66a44c8de5a8b613

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Anyway… If you weren’t 800496a621 sad, that’s good. That’s a relief.”b56cf59521e85f9f

“Relief?”e10dcaa94a0cc944

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“When I saw e86fcf2c56 that post, I c5562bdebf panicked. I realized c252d253d2 I hadn’t a758e28668 even wondered 5550c4d2a8 about it.”cbf8c494045679dd

Jaehyun’s lips parted f1bec3f1fb slightly, frozen. So… That’s what 379a7534eb he’d been trying e3f116204c to say all 0596c98cf9 along. Whether the dog’s 37ea7b9154 owner cared if f1b28d5e90 Jaehyun grieved or 1fdf9f3142 not— Suho himself f93df44dff had only been 3ea2881981 concerned about Jaehyun 0c88d820d8 getting soaked and 2f1474223a struggling that day. Only later did it 1ff7ae34d7 occur to him to 2838907f3a worry if Jaehyun was e800f86129 sad about the dog’s a07b85dd76 death.bdca407ccc025573

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”060528503e338949

He’s a 0015bab298 thoughtful guy. It made 6c3b6eec5a sense why de156106ba Kang called 1b802edda8 Suho a bba435aa9e “good kid.” 90975e0f8b The worry e4aa8f3278 was understandable 9d65ccfee5 too. That kind of 78a462824d sensitivity usually doesn’t 198b7243d9 fare well in c99a6c24be a cutthroat industry b74d1b5701 like entertainment.7960c5865a479ab3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“By the 70ac7a031e way, sir.”cb327742d94799e2

It was time to 1f96e0391b wrap up the conversation, 453d2bdac1 but Suho grinned at 83f47b6c76 the hesitating Jaehyun.a53903b7c8e3d919

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That wine… Can’t 265ce8557b I get a 82b9af187d look at it?”23ce5b3348cbfe0d

“Wine?”53696064d7c56bd6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What wine? About to 9cb12c37f7 ask, Jaehyun ca6898fed2 went, “Oh,” 5bcba7ba37 and turned. The wine c3cfa2d93f box Kang 3650afef28 sent sat 510a995139 forlornly on a870207048 the counter.df66ac3db6262c8d

“You into wine? You can take it, 8c2c18e80a Suho.”f6504515aff20409

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, I don’t know 7fef8552ca much about alcohol. Just, when CEO Kang 3fe27bae8f gave it to me, 6fde86e75e he said your hobby’s 5ffbbc1ae8 wine.”d05a0132ef1df1e0

“He really tells 2e958d702c you everything…”e5b29ddf371afc87

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Standing, Jaehyun 7ef0e44ad4 headed to 0c670a4b17 the counter. Inspecting the wine, he 8ac015a47c saw it was a 7a6d279d4d Grand Cru white. Not vintage, but 69ce385211 probably pricey. Grabbing an 88f28a2401 opener and a6ead41f45 glasses, he 0c6e5764ed returned to 0f3399bc06 the table, 4729ee93e3 where Suho’s bcab64c8d6 eyes sparkled 7ee13e2adf brightly.e3efdd7cefa1c850

“Wow, sir. You look really cool 117fc5564a right now.”93e46ce29ce4f2c1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”0998299b7d42c555

“Holding the wine bottle ba9a88c643 and glasses in one 83fd088237 hand. It’s so, like… Sommel… 6b8804d12e Not that, what is 5137c1c482 it?”ded8bbee8e4b5921

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sommelier?”c7a9fecda0c73f3b

“Yes! Like a sommelier.”6175588e24855085

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His voice, ab79d6c551 brightening as c2def743d1 if refreshed, 6d2dae3b53 was lively. Jaehyun shook dc79495916 his head, 189f1af0dc screwing the d8632ba2fb opener into 54a279de39 the cork. Soon, a crisp pop and a fresh cb3c26e27f aroma filled the d7719d3ed0 air.a8fb8f26c7133a65

“What’s it say? Cha, Chadon… Nay?”1c73a942537634d4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sniffing the 5e81a2682d air, Suho 638ef6e2aa stared at db79419330 the label. Jaehyun poured 1d12c7f70c a shallow 534c339eda layer of 6ef4507294 pale golden 704fcc261e wine into 043954b86f a glass d051ae3855 and handed a0e91f2e01 it to ac808b6115 him.bc4045616c2f0a1f

“Shame. In English, it’s cae83a163c usually Chardonnay. The French pronunciation 81f21a83e2 is closer to de446aa1fa Chardonnae.”0b1a1e6cbfe755cd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh… Is that the 7aa66b578d brand name?”64ef52933ba622ba

“It’s the e5e1bb6f9d grape variety. The name before it 3536faccc9 is the winery, and 2308d73c0b the Grand Cru at 4735110179 the end is… Simply e6eb9a377e put, like a Michelin a77bae4252 star for wine.”867e22e35d6899fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, so this is 6a6a2b163c like the Michelin of 217ede7159 white wines? And…”7c12e49225152b6e

About to add aba183a20f something, Suho froze 7c558f30e6 like a paused d899033fe2 video. Jaehyun, pouring his own b66e4a0847 glass, looked puzzled.60abfe776deeefee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s wrong?”e7ee2ac07f1510f4

“Um… I was worried 8b671d9e6b asking what a winery 8971510762 is would make me 92e253e749 sound too ignorant.”5b8958e7a177915c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His deeply e796a7002e furrowed brow a350d7cb29 made Jaehyun ce490d5d9e let out 292e2ab0d5 a wry 1edd733661 laugh.17f940cabcc21def

“It’s a vineyard. You could think e1aeb2e9d7 of it as ecc2f5a6cd the ‘brand’ you 5ac3754909 mentioned.”07444dc5cfa91ae9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wow…”80f6992fe07f6cbe

“Not knowing this doesn’t 4c50fed8bc make you ignorant. If you’re not 37deec87cd interested, it’s natural 0c0a11aeaf not to know.”f40a99338ede1dca

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Really? CEO Kang always scolds 75adbd7495 me when we talk 9bf96ec44e about alcohol, saying how 4e73457a85 can I not know b754948bd9 this stuff.”b8e51f74c7acf0d6

“…He’s like a169b4a54f a grading c1db5f926c rubric, that 079ad7856c guy.”103958b15c9de54c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A grading rubric? Suho, holding 3327b87a5e his glass 72ff3a08f7 with both 0e84e71340 hands, echoed.5ca2ccae2512590e

“Probably an 790baccc12 occupational hazard. From head to toe, 869a219030 inside and out… He 5c9e697532 has this standard of 61189e129c what’s right. If you deviate even 028442a696 slightly, he rejects it d570b195e9 and tries to fix 773af6f5db it.”d9c7af69f3a2f8f4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh… I 04594a0b57 think I c489135175 get it.”84b0ba9e362fdf50

“But he’s got a 1fe768d71a good eye and skills, 26652bbba4 so if you follow 33d0146d23 him, I think you’ll c48c20f807 end up with what 6424a2ddf4 you want, Suho.”14b4b90a9d5eaf7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was 537f88b542 advice along ec7800a7a5 the lines 2442682768 of “listen dc46295e3f to your 776927a4b0 elders,” but feea7ed066 Suho’s face 4ae5884fef suddenly took cd2101f241 on a 9547d957a6 puzzled expression. To anyone 93c99e200a watching, he 12f087cdb5 might’ve looked 44bd02979e like he’d cf822835ce heard the 8641bfa74f most absurd f77115a4a4 thing in 05f52cc550 the world. When Jaehyun raised 9d02529f63 an eyebrow, Suho 210d1416b7 stammered, “Uh,” before 84b73b5982 finally speaking.5d8f0a565f1de984

“Sorry. When you said 60a2555af7 I’d get what 2e2caa505d I want… I 85b84836ad suddenly thought, what do I want?”5fd379951ef8bc1e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”03a7a369fd11f9ae

The reason countless kids 08467b3fb1 list “idol” or “influencer” bc275af90c as their dream job 10453b0ac0 is obvious. Public admiration, popularity, a 55e014b795 glamorous life… A big 056510dcc9 house, a nice car, c11e532f60 designer clothes—the tangible markers d2a6ee1051 of wealth that seem 13b309bc3d easiest to attain.cc60cd789ee560a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Wasn’t it c38798c963 to become 6af791073d famous?”0b5a51718ee55042

Genuinely curious, Jaehyun 28af418ecf asked, and Suho ab3d04219c tilted his head, 9fc819882a making a thoughtful, d8d73e9478 “Hmm.”b7ef70da6fd928ea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well, you see, I 738c073422 was street-cast.”9e1d227137f7f65e

“…Huh?”ef26bab5ea4ae8f8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My family’s from Pyeongchang, 6d58423633 and we run a a54f398b7a strawberry farm. Not just that 9620a48e20 my parents are 789f84f5b2 farmers—our whole family’s 125df65026 been in strawberry 8d10f25089 farming. Since my 59dd64886b great-grandfather’s time.”8cfa3b30582a5e9e

“Oh… I see.”e712127f1951b1c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So, growing 7b8f34da5f up… I 2f71b8e67c always thought df9b7de6b4 I’d naturally 5fcecdec38 become a bc3d856314 strawberry farmer 226b708628 when I 0aaf896cb4 grew up. But then someone d552db84c3 I met on 8f683a1f0e the street told 4108ccf182 me to become f644e4a43a a celebrity. And that’s how b70bf5b7dd I ended up d376b297d4 coming to Seoul, dd624baa21 just like that.”6b466f97c8ce90b6

“…”dbf5eb75f70fc4f9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“When I was heading f0e93e0d52 to Seoul, my grandfather 38505dc00d said it was a bd26301e44 scam. He was furious, 0aca594648 saying I’m too 88e0131935 scrawny and plain 1e0ff898f2 to be some c0bb40b7e6 entertainer, that it’s 7b0e57d264 all a ploy 8846eef4f6 to trick dumb f86f06f225 kids and take ae644b0fbe our land… Even ce7021e95a now, every time 08a96f24b8 we talk on df7cc02e7d the phone, he d52e02b54c says the same 5d6a6b528a thing. Don’t listen to those 4698a24000 con artists, come back 7e9675f598 and help with the ce8af1bef2 farm, we’re dying from ec4cba54d1 lack of hands.”614e27d38c9b7028

The internet profile Jaehyun e1a6c1638a had seen before the 581df2a6dc first shoot came to 7947f1fb10 mind. Right, it did 748fb8f0d0 say his hometown a12e77040b was Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do. Not bothering f1f848294a to hide d7c4288986 his intrigue, 1f50c991e8 Jaehyun took d29ecb1c17 a sip 6b3b58ccf8 of wine.d8b9e20b6316541e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And then?”3a3fb5b9b4410183

“So, that’s how 9c608f5b0b I debuted. But the company 34cc596dcb told me to d8d9cece92 absolutely keep quiet.”986b91d45e0f5df4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“About what?”7343e9e402868bf8

“Everything. They said to act 1edaf9ffac like a quiet kid. No matter what 1a7776fe20 anyone says, just add5ac6076 nod and say, 1c75877ab2 ‘Yes, yes.’ Especially 4c03d754f9 about my hometown—don’t 2fc1cce0e6 even mention the 7a68a0a100 strawberry farm or 63e5c63059 anything.”f933926173341194

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Why?”dac22cc76060e849

“They said b90a756a5d it ruins 587c525672 the vibe. Just act like a dcf3dc5a20 refined young master from a40fdcff04 a wealthy family. But, honestly, d2e7e33ec4 my family is well-off, you know?”aa0bf155cc948e0b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Grabbing his glass, 6c91507058 Suho blurted out, 7161be213b pouting his lower f7b613bf86 lip. Haha, really? Jaehyun couldn’t help but 0274fe63d2 chuckle.8a53840f4d90fd10

“Why’re you laughing? My grandfather has cc7e9921f5 a ton of 3ba9064f09 land. I grew up eating 221e6f9f2c all the healthy stuff 1d6e42a58c year-round. Our strawberries 1e3dba9398 sell well, 4836c6bb7b and we b162f3da17 get so 5e1414a2ca many visitors 40d5f7ff67 for farm 198fc864ce experiences.”212fb45e275543e5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, no. Yeah, I can 773f313057 see that. So?”d8cfd5385bd3f973

“Anyway, back 46b9d736ce then, I ea99914b9e thought the ab4c7fbbf6 manager’s word 8be2d9886d was law. If the company dc677eb235 said to do 0ff2f7f602 it, I did f1b07852ed it. But living like that—not 86cf01d35e saying what I wanted, 5bf913a53a not laughing when I d7a5aa265e wanted to, acting indifferent 6e1ad98e20 and cool for five 6b47effdd8 years…”e41b0a1b176fc33d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”2c4d55e675b984b1

“It just… became 41efbea324 like that. Like, what 8d034c552f is this? What am I fc87a007b3 even doing…”9d57d3b96fe0b833

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With a deep, “Hoo,” 0bc8a950e8 he paused, sighing heavily. Bringing the 064245d60d glass to 8d179f15e0 his lips, a4f0043022 he inhaled 9238b6c1f8 the breath 65b593bfcd he’d let 01a0d096ec out. His furrowed brow smoothed, 464ab88024 and a moist warmth 2c78e43d6a lingered around his round 99683cf3fc nose.7854167c6e0cb7c0

“Then the company a19f4cb81d flat-out told me 9e99b27ae1 the next album 5abdb0799b would be my 0705dc0c91 last, that they 741818d505 couldn’t do more d231ae287c for me… By 247115e908 then, no one 7013d7d575 was even monitoring e11e88d903 me closely. So I 573ed16b16 just thought, 351499c8da screw it, 996260d9a1 and started d30e2def07 saying whatever a3488d39af I wanted. I even 64972bf40b promoted our d4d4c0bd74 farm outright.”269414b331a9e6f7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Haha, good 6fb856b3e6 for you.”41e0e9fed6b40243

“I thought that was fbe7abbbc3 the end. I barely finished high 700e49816b school, never went to 877514111a college… I figured I’d 10ec554980 go back home, get 41809e0306 scolded by my grandfather, f8cc586c85 and learn to work b5f92137bb the farm.”acfd6da82cea851b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though he said that, 1829cec1ad a gentle smile curved 60b41316c4 his well-shaped lips. It happened every time c6d6014e86 he talked about his 2a0e730a88 “grandfather.” Jaehyun tilted his 7b694173f1 glass, finishing the remaining bf0001414a wine, and asked.9ff399f30b8583aa

“You must be 66b3e0a28e close with your 947ad372f1 grandfather.”6c420a488f8f3351

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My grandfather? He’s rough, but a820fdef66 he adores me. He calls the aa46d3fe81 company people scammers 84331ece5c but still sends 835d103b6a strawberries and corn 7c71f52554 every season.”a56e9d46e72d290f

Sounds about right. Not just 3d9adce539 his grandfather—his b70ff628c8 whole family 25f1cfd3de probably doted d8acfa7814 on him 3ed30be619 growing up. He’s the kind of 307075c765 kid who sparks affection 998019e6aa even in complete strangers, 70e38fb7b7 so how much more 65d908aa17 for his own blood? Jaehyun nodded, refilling his cbc27a6312 glass.1667a1d178f30caa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Anyway, so… How 3af276bd15 do I put 5f8a9e7b84 it? I just dc969fbfdf ended up 7a5b96adc8 here, that’s 4c51409ed2 the situation.”68f31dac9f68c8b8

“Yeah, I get 6cd492bd2b what you mean.”0388f4cbf8154c33

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But, well, thanks to 5c5461c376 that, I got to 7dea3e9755 meet you…”35996ab8a45a0d33

“…”683335b8c8ec0e62

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But you a70cacf7a6 like this 1aeadf9c90 kind of b0f5a04e26 alcohol? It’s sweeter 8eff0b079a than I 3d59c9b5c0 expected.”861b3df8c0aaef66

Suho asked, holding e663cb8daa up his empty 1fc86ec83d glass. He’d only had a fbf8428bf2 few sips, but it 492c6e6b31 was already clean. Jaehyun refilled it lightly, dace59f867 nodding.0787c0d9d1849981

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s easy to 663c0b09e7 drink at this 9010f793d5 level.”a306f319285aa81d

“I see… For some 8f1a56498c reason, based on your 77218cc74e vibe, I thought you’d bfcce0f1ec only touch, like… super 63c108f322 strong, million-won whiskeys or fcabb4eb2c nothing.”10126f99fdaae61f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ve never even seen 4511ddbc8b million-won whiskey… I bet 7c488ce968 even CEO Kang doesn’t dead205d50 drink that stuff.”bc514a8648a75234

“You don’t know? He’s got e351301ec9 a secret 002eb1ea06 liquor cabinet 3d037a4287 in his a472a0afc2 office. Slide one bookshelf a19d3cd6a6 aside, and it’s a340271795 there. He says 54ad2392ba selling just b65913ce5b that liquor 85989127af could buy 173a732f36 a house.”4ecd90991d43674e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Exactly. He collects f6f5e01525 it but 367711e644 doesn’t drink 925b3a8b67 it.”cc078bf507a279d0

“…You’re right.”5b20be636dda6c2f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Bringing the glass back 61159a50a3 to his lips, Suho ae5ae174ae made a curious expression. Jaehyun quirked a corner dbe076dff9 of his mouth, glancing 077c2df15e toward the kitchen. Somehow, they’d ended up 692e436b55 in a full-on drinking 8b531f727c session. Should he bring out f0b22adbbc some snacks? Did he even 43d8aec35f have any… As b8b9e56350 he pondered, Suho 12182460c3 let out an, df624db0cf “Oh!”ff02835bffac0138

“Right, I meant 9642bb8b66 to say. Next time, I’ll bring 433ff43203 strawberry wine.”f497c2f6baa186b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Strawberry wine?”ad1f9b69ba591d0b

“My uncle makes d85c1fec94 strawberry liquor. I’m not just 402a888586 saying this because e0d6ed02da it’s family-made—it’s really be46b82b69 good. It has a aa659b845c strong strawberry aroma 0afc7104ec but isn’t overly 9c1a9a76e7 sweet, so it’s d203788a0f easy to drink.”8161e8158b433f7c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Nodding along 54da9e91dc enthusiastically, Jaehyun 47baf9e851 paused. If anyone else said e4eadeb1ad it, he’d brush it be5bc7d10c off as empty talk, 822798db08 but this guy seemed 06b73b3b9f like he’d pin down 2f644113d6 a date the moment 9f46bf01c8 you agreed.b4c6b3c3ad60b582

“You don’t like d86ef33ef6 sweet stuff much, 72e84984f4 Suho? This isn’t actually ca0dac2275 that sweet, but 37dc7b72f5 you said it e8a200e522 was.”3e0a50ee623ba6b7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He changed the subject 1e0a860509 for that reason. Luckily, Suho followed 0bfa800110 the shift, going, 889bfe72d9 “Oh.”af8313701f967a21

“I don’t love cce6caad8a or hate it… db5e3ca4b3 I guess I 6212119f6c prefer plainer stuff.”2f5915defbb50205

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Plainer stuff.”7b07b9ef8b54e617

“Maybe because e06d469888 I grew 3a586857e6 up eating 32fc388f30 so many 846c060cbe root crops? Every summer, 21158c1ee5 our house d8ce1edb4d was piled 2b3f869e32 with potatoes, 6eb9e1eb64 sweet potatoes, f6882779a9 and corn.”e82f7fb305ed75a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is Gangwon really c2e073b795 like that? I thought it was bf9437902c just a stereotype.”8b37cdb1adda073d

“Well, my house 2391ea1f99 is. We’re a farm, after 6cddfa5fb1 all.”211960faae53bed3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Having emptied abd6a1a895 his glass 0f365ba28d again, Suho 5394392ff7 grinned. It wasn’t a86e5a1059 high-proof alcohol, 40005b4bee but wasn’t 2b55ed0be7 he drinking bce196e22f a bit c7c1523afa fast? Jaehyun deliberately 940d927dcf left the 16e5c0ee57 bottle on 5208a31d5b the table, 126b49c5f8 leaning back 0b26750e91 slightly. Suho didn’t e4f68417dd seem intent 30f42f258a on pressing 630a06d14b for more.b8619d1148e867cb

“Come visit in the 5b7d636be2 summer. You can be6ec97c36 try every 1138c4c0c0 dish possible da704eda83 with root f537509b4f crops.”5e8fd879445811df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Huh?”0ffc2c08f6a58614

“My group b0961df223 members go 33abfa7026 together every 9f9e03c56f summer. It’s a 7bac06321e big house, 616414495a used by 0d0f15ed66 our extended 87aa580d82 family, so 9c61cc9533 it’s spacious. There’s a guest 78bc1fb56a room, so you 9349a1cc8e won’t be uncomfortable.”ea7189f984b5d91a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was 627323993a surprising that 75ae55e03a members of ccea5726cb an idol c9ee43aebd group that 531e5777ed hadn’t achieved a11ab83667 huge success 56593b9396 were close bf2b451bcc enough to 0dd569a722 visit each 279255fb95 other’s hometowns, 23843bb58e but inviting 56ad49fe34 someone he’d 2db5867492 only met 553eef3312 a few 2c3e2c0e56 times was 51ad3da17d even more a91a9b0a10 astonishing. Jaehyun shrugged, giving 464e8ab2e5 a vague response.a2d7e45ab1e5bd5b

“Sure. If I get the 3bf8a5ef94 chance.”d8079448f4a76a01

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ugh— That was such a71d7886b1 a smooth rejection.”46d68d9934e153df

Suho dropped his 54fd9b7373 head, feigning despair. He’s calling it 82be36c5a1 out? Jaehyun widened his 15cdf56824 eyes slightly as 532ee45a27 Suho let out a967caba1e a, “Hmph.”730024ef7f52da5c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That buildup was good, d26397e974 wasn’t it? Felt like a super 5adc473987 natural invitation.”28c905d0c66e7574

“…It was.”6d648e35338d4de6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hm, oh well. There’ll be dead1277d1 other chances.”3b84cf370f21d748

What chances? Perplexed, Jaehyun watched as f98dd90dba Suho stood abruptly, only d9de87229f to wobble and brace 6fe6a04fcf himself on the table.46742757ecea2138

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”c7ac228ff3dc9542

Is this guy’s legs 9c96b64349 giving out after a be9550049a few sips of 13% e432423d35 wine? Jaehyun couldn’t help 9f87017285 but cast a 8d3a254a73 worried glance. Clearing his f9d9aec09e throat, Suho 474455d6ca let out 8ff9f6b2aa a clearly 86020b9ab6 awkward, “Haha.”68f1d9a0db2f279a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I worked my ed5aed5132 lower body pretty b9936786d5 hard earlier today…”d986ce1f52d8f899

“…Oh, okay.”485041610bad8825

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You work 32ebceb0d0 out too, 70856a1ac5 right? Your body’s definitely not 061983a5ca unmaintained.”4bbc9a562e92a2bf

“Just… Moderately.”3b610d6b4c061572

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A thin, listless 68c43593df silence settled in ccd58a6996 the dusty studio. Feeling a duty as 90a6f038ba the adult to end fd458f4d3f this without awkwardness, Jaehyun 90aa9f9512 forced himself to speak.80e62b6b4ff8c432

“Suho.”d14f7b95677f2366

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes?”7c8ffc8e0fefe412

“…I’m looking forward cf23b7e5df to that strawberry 86b47c99ac wine. Never tried bc0d4848b8 it, so 0e8b9c0686 I’m curious 338781da61 what it’s 2c02016ea1 like.”1245c6a9f657e659

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At that, 99256d6184 the small 4b86318cc2 face lit 6da117cf52 up. Suho nodded vigorously, 96f7a32546 and only then 7690a5c284 did Jaehyun notice 7654ecaa12 the flush spreading 1886b5a5e6 across his round a021673492 cheeks. He said 231b290540 he doesn’t c8aba61ff3 know alcohol 97ee6a31d2 well, and 530a017f12 he’s really 4a9a7a305f weak.399fc2ea5cda5397

“Oh, and… sir.”d22f8775e8cd3cc4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes.”43423e1f0c7a4845

“Can I save your ad63982d20 number?”9aca4fe4fdb17d28

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun, not catching the 1b81e72eea meaning right away, looked 407cae12cf puzzled. He’d never met someone 1e4d13681f who asked this. Not “can I 76f8d38da3 contact you,” but c8c47b4bdb “can I save 6806758e82 your number?”b2c8197a3b421012

“Which number are you ce77a9d6c9 talking about?”467f57f28efc08c9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The one you e9ccaacb7d called me from… b2cfa2caab That one.”e46c953f6af8a973

“That’s up to 45bb6e06b2 you, isn’t it…? Do whatever you f8e0854d00 want.”fa83a69041b82abb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, then…”4ac90409e4abadfc

Strictly speaking, contacting 9dec370f99 him is his e72ef279f8 choice too. Jaehyun just has f13edd761b the freedom to e41ba0e0dc respond or not. At the easy 0071958f60 permission, Suho’s face 4e67fb0903 lit up with 5323238da9 excitement.9ab3ded55c61025f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then save my a9b6db12f0 number too.”5f0af7953409e701

“…”2b228fe9514e37fe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I bet 4b3ad7ebeb you haven’t.”6304d28608d592e2

Meeting his eyes, Suho ca3ea4d7d0 grinned. Jaehyun couldn’t bring 304af209eb himself to deflect 66fdbf2e05 with empty words e930704ee1 and looked away.bb0d25e7de8c3ccb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What’re you gonna 0f1601ea58 save my name 78420aa1c4 as?”15def78776bacaaf

Leaning across 52287e435a the table, e2def48ef4 Suho’s breath 267d57b96e came in 322b09c581 soft wheezes. The faint constriction d1d33d49fd sound typical when b77caa2942 blood rushes to c0a7c68c4e the face. This guy might be f7f792d66f drunker than I thought. Jaehyun pulled out 24233be6e3 his phone, shaking 3881caf955 his head.d09439845be4075b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your last name… It’s 4621f0b99c Jeong Suho, right?”6dd809cd84285605

“Yeah. But just write b1d23ee61e Suho.”9746d6a253d78b35

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why not ask 8a4e9c84ea for an emoji 9e799ceeae too?”e116fcf1d9959d3f

“Can I? Then I 2e3ad9dc3c want this 7009e15772 one. This… sparkly one.”d44c4d8eb5c90cb9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suho reached out, tapping 883d853328 Jaehyun’s phone screen. Soon, yellow sparkly icons b6b8cd1983 flanked the name “Suho.” 561e2c5db1 Satisfied, Suho let out 32f497d31b a, “Hee.”1846985c56962da4

“Done. Thanks.”d2dea96f68da78f3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re even thanking me?”1257689a24c61096

“Yeah. For some reason, it 710d94bbb3 feels really nice.”ce7f7b037d33c311

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”b98fc2ea5d1759f1

“Sorry for 3d1fbd4a8a showing up bd91e2fbc2 unannounced. I’ll call next time.”9c2bba460dd12eb8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Stepping back, Suho e3ee32b480 bowed. Jaehyun returned fafbd38b9d a casual 1240472955 nod, standing.8e694b958f5fbe8c

“You don’t need 05654152e2 to call someone d5223903e9 to pick you e7c83b5323 up?”f678277722a829fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Huh?”d93b55e47d9fb197

“You seem a bit 512b89d04b drunk, Suho.”ffde96146a823f77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Me? No way. Not at all.”ef20933e1249a8b5

Waving his hands in a24e984507 firm denial, Jaehyun pointed 77cd4f7b58 to the mirror on a2eb9df7dd the wall. Spotting it late, Suho 617bd653d7 clutched his forehead with 5fd09af7f5 a, “Ugh.”9aab1c8afa052789

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m doomed. My face is fd8f2c9e5e already red.”7387fa35c09c11ed

“It’s not just that…”d475962a5cdafc24

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t worry. My face cde2fcc8d6 reddens easily. One sip of beer, d3a9ddd63b and I’m like this. A little walking 001e321c20 or running, same 0e8a7699e9 thing. Embarrassment too. At my debut showcase, 61b386ea8b the press photos caught e59e5a8179 my cheeks all red d9198e18f6 like this, and the 00c843c5af comments were all about f7f70af4c9 how I’m a male a6d18d06fb idol but wore blush 1115011223 too heavily…”fb1de556acd0343a

…Seems like talking fast fd6b649277 is his drunk habit. Jaehyun let the rambling aa79683cd6 complaints slide past one 5f05663282 ear, gently guiding him 20077beac0 toward the door.6b6f1c57e7f48818

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You said you don’t 501e4f0061 have a dedicated manager de821cb397 yet?”97b5a7abafcb54c8

“Huh? Yeah. There’s Yoon-young noona 95e05d0dcd among the staff, bc5e5cd9a5 but she’s not 600b139d12 an official manager, ade7006fc8 just helping temporarily…”8f234e60ecac547c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So she’s bdd251b92e not someone ddbb940f5d who’d come c0b25e927a if called. Should I contact 06691f1f7f Kang instead? Pausing at ec36be019f the door, 40e586c48e Jaehyun fell 877cb56ad4 into thought. Suho, stopping too, looked 566d283497 up, meeting his eyes.41018c7d0a91ce51

“Sir?”95ab6f5a1ce36144

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Oh.”9088c20c8c354fdf

A twenty-three-year-old guy wandering b91d4f9393 around slightly drunk isn’t c769b5fe9b a big deal. He doesn’t 4c5769e32a seem to fade9a796e drive either. But to Jaehyun, cb5c2d6996 the young actor c43f9b4c15 before him still 548bd527c2 seemed like a c9deceb1c7 naive boy, too b0fef26d04 defenseless for his a30c282ec1 striking looks. Since Jaehyun had let 7c392a0b27 him in and given 98778cb301 him alcohol, he felt fdd110cfc8 obliged to take some 578eeaaa7b follow-up action.df8be8a4adb669f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Suho. If you wait a 11dc3b63b7 bit, I can…”c1baa8c38d365f04

“Oh! Right. Sir, did you 66f837d67c know this?”58ce9b0303f4e5fb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Jaehyun turned, mid-thought, 205c1e29ca Suho suddenly raised his 04790e8d1d voice. What? Jaehyun’s eyes widened 3233b01dc7 as Suho pulled f22e9bbf5a a credit card dfff358927 from his pocket.089b3be192a83f72

“CEO Kang a4113c4996 gave me 9c6a0d35cb this for c8eaeb9c1b taxi rides. He said only 0127ad34fb 2,000 people in 29c8926caa Korea have it. It’s not something 36bd96b870 just anyone can 02cfab9459 get, not even a1d203f3fa with money. He bragged about a8fff9b904 it a lot.”babcdf131a3567e6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…?”f13234a597b1f3a5

“I’m gonna take a 83ae64413d premium taxi with this. Have you ever ridden 26270eaec8 one, sir?”d99532d46b0ec121

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho babbled, flashing 9f60a2ba73 a toothy grin. Jaehyun, dumbfounded, slowly shook 798a477b54 his head.eb5ebba84625cd81

“…No. Never have.”863bc1697978f92f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Wanna try 54b086e295 it next 518d2166ad time? Let’s go raid 4ca026b2a1 those million-won whiskeys ae064b57a1 in Kang’s office.”c7ecf11b79384068

“Commit a robbery?”a9bf580f650b4460

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll just earn enough 399e12b5a1 to cover it.”15d68fd5c0309d1b

Did he pick up 8aae4b1dff on my concern? Is this his ebc298bdfa way of saying 3317dd74c5 don’t worry? His round cheeks 92ce32170a still flushed, his 030de65719 light-colored irises gleaming 3c1d52a158 brightly. Eyes sparkling 14e5dd6f59 with moisture, 31d1adc276 sometimes mistaken d6c9db1658 for tears.3deb10e1275efcbd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ll be okay going eb37ec9484 alone?”49040f2353cc68af

Grabbing the bacddfe91b doorknob, Jaehyun 28c1ae7e4d asked, and 6fa96cc039 Suho answered 4931f226d8 with unusual 1f0344ebce vigor.312dd8f0118e51f1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of course. I’m calling 392c2d9b66 a premium 7730fd9cd3 taxi.”ffffe78496fd935f

Right, I 79c7bb47d9 was overthinking d8b95762d1 it. What could happen? Jaehyun nodded, c5c058099c opening the d55dd4a5cd door. Suho, still db353e3268 smiling, passed bbf15febd3 him, waving 126d3f1174 his phone-holding 7ee93bacfd hand. The other 20f6349b36 gripped the 638a50150e railing.1cf3ac429c2d7d35

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll call you.”96ff0139ab85059e

“…Sure.”e0d8b7803bc332eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Turning briskly, 242236c00c he stepped ec62a72806 onto the ccf3ecc3b4 dark staircase. His phone’s 1005d43a1a light briefly 7e9e810ae6 illuminated his b180184c75 still-flushed face. Jaehyun noticed he was 9a35f9f6d5 opening a taxi app.8cddb35dee304294

“Suho.”c481edb01b049993

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The stairs are steep 35d8c79b13 and dark, so don’t 1569cbe901 look at your phone 0455516ce4 while going down—call the 08ff6cc3ef taxi first, then move. That was the perfectly 6afda50645 reasonable warning he meant 7bc2cc5da3 to give, but unfortunately, fa20475aaa it led to an 0506e88189 entirely different outcome.ae302ae1b7289216

“Yes?”a11eb9d22a8f852b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Responding to 1bad61b88d the call, 5be6bc56e7 Suho turned b2e782b61e his head a3256588da but didn’t 4e0d8cae46 stop his 2613aecea7 already-moving foot, a2a1bf1031 losing his 128164f9ae balance. Lurch. As he 83b6fe95f0 swayed sharply, 60d3e539ec Jaehyun instinctively efbd2f2048 reached out. Suho, seeing 32240f3125 the hand, d6d98c68b0 seemed to 9b41ab2fc8 realize he 011649a461 was falling. His lips 6d7ed9db1b parted in f49a9279cb a round 4ed6cdc1d1 gasp, followed f6d9daa9ed by a 90be928117 short scream.35bdaf3e8110039f

“Uh… Ack!”8e9deaa799717721

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His phone 1b3d5ba03c flew, crashing 2d6201d62e half a 4225ba99f9 flight down. With a crack of breaking 7b882bea92 glass, Suho, 92d2b74ca6 now crouched, 24bc048708 froze pale, 2a50966ad3 mouth agape. Clutching the b49bbcdfc5 railing with 4fedf70d0c both hands, 2de854176f he teetered 7c6e09c82c precariously mid-staircase.cd66f1014a9e2872

“Suho…!”293a44ffb230bdb5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaehyun rushed forward, 4c6b9d09b0 crouching beside him. Thank goodness one hand f0b468f2ad had grabbed the railing c72a330b72 in time. Dropping the phone to d075c39f31 grip it with both ab79e69cfe hands, he’d only slid 55308010ec a few steps.165fb89f665a9f39

“You okay?”e236b60610d910c6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m… I’m fine. Wow, that 3b58257408 scared me…”407659dbee6745ab

“Sorry. I shouldn’t 304dc69755 have called a356319a90 out—”bd6b73db39debd02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, I shouldn’t use 96ca43cb63 my phone on stairs. That was really dangerous, 7fae5b0b27 huh?”d5bb4311b3e9f619

Peeling his hand 2cbdc1352c off to rub f1ac12912e his chest, Suho edf4b08051 shakily adjusted to c2aa22bc5e sit properly. Jaehyun glanced a1d3f8661d between him abff305167 and the 24c3e97b93 fallen phone, 1b9f03a7ec then extended e541faa743 a hand 0fc1e7ada9 toward Suho.c19210623f597d95

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Can you stand?”a77bf1b8720b2759

“Of… Of course. I can stand.”6da97866a89c09b2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His response lacked confidence. He showed no sign 1f30451125 of taking the offered 2886b04ccb hand. Jaehyun lowered his 209c379e9f gaze to Suho’s 915a1d9ce3 feet. His left foot hovered b4f3010e6d unnaturally off the ground.dbb31db5b0ee55fe

“Does your ankle 1631b70eed hurt?”824119c1588da36d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”e1ba1a4665e5d3d2

“If you 37c3496e29 don’t answer, dc5d033c07 I’m gonna 36157bb748 check it.”dd3703c6d6ab163c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…No! It hurts. It hurts, so please d8f485d81d look.”cf644adb3c3fb1f1

Look at what? Jaehyun bit back e4329ee53c a laugh threatening f4655c1d51 to escape, narrowing fcc54545cc his brow.404dd5830bd94c07

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If it 51f93293c9 hurts before 793c5042e6 you even 61f8b14cea put weight 4ad351ddbb on it, 6f7b56e6db it might 3f03b09cd1 be a 41efddaf04 bad injury…”db3908894fa411ab

“No, it’s f01126e0a5 just twisted. I felt it turn a992c92d05 inward sharply.”1475ee22c28a3311

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmm…”d4a9325479932983

“Probably the ligament’s… 7823c837da swollen. I’ve hurt it like baafce993a this a few times 4b7af7f928 during practice, so I 7184868e51 know.”b4dffac0f6435d9c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Twisting his body, 5b51aecc1a Suho grunted, bracing 0d39a67950 both hands on e7f4966a9b the stairs. He tried to stand, a3e2d80477 putting weight on his 0388431946 left foot. Jaehyun quickly grabbed his 168bc1833e shoulder to stop him, 784a17b175 speaking up.661c0fe54b7ea123

“Wait. Trying to stand on f72be17c9b one foot—if you slip f33dc761b2 again, then what?”24b83a9cb4319ac4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Oh.”88af0fc3eb0ad760

“I’ll help. Can I 7c7ceb0d74 hold you?”9ada72a93f9256c3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When asked, Suho hesitated, c3acecc6f4 closing his mouth. Jaehyun sighed d8e6bce487 heavily and abbed6e0a5 added.d0e5d82d3e3c65e9

“Even if 918a7b7998 it’s uncomfortable, 019a6a1e5f bear with e9eb9c29ea it for 0c668d9184 a sec. These stairs 1d0820f439 are so 98e4c89e07 steep, it’s 1af4884adf dangerous…”f3f7ac01cbcbc712

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, it’s not 562e03be4b that I’m uncomfortable d37ddad9a8 with you holding 27ec9a70d2 me…”7e0502fda01820d9

“Then?”d3b2f066cab26401

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…So.”331cdb29a264211a

It seemed 34b921639f like he 11e13b21fd licked his 69034234bf parched lips, cc4113da4c but then c9f9276dce his face, 87b8d81d38 newly flushed 9a2746d9b8 red, dropped 284fb1586e again. The voice that followed 32fba7dd45 was so soft and b5c44ca2f1 muffled it was impossible 99950cef83 to make out. What was that? Jaehyun frowned as he beb2d3fb23 asked, and Suho covered 30ab35f910 his eyes with one 9f3d7ca5c7 hand.e6e5f821dec2749e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m… embarrassed. For falling…”ab83b40af6a1da75

“…”30c986e1673a613f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And making edd85431a3 such a 91ac4238dd loud, pathetic 6789e74dd9 scene… Ugh, fd41f95eee I’m such 17ef7feccb a…”4d22a3a18b7648bf

Even in the dim bf21b15d82 light, his round ears a2c9a55768 seemed to blaze red. Soft hair clung damply 570a516a2e to his face, where 30af48a53f cold sweat had started 7c82049c79 to bead. Maybe I should 1c51002b21 fix it for 86fe3cf791 him. Jaehyun’s hand, reaching 1d51ab6db6 out instinctively, paused 8d951a0431 and withdrew. Suho had b59a81f1e0 abruptly raised 07e3a6043e his head, 54f954b705 roughly sweeping 40f8df93bf back his 36464a90a5 sweat-soaked hair 9272d5e451 with both e8b56d7ed7 hands.8306d89474ae648b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Sorry. I feel like I f99e97bed9 keep messing up in 032d15ac70 front of you.”c012aeb182383206

His exposed face was 3a211e5515 still red and damp, 4537e900d5 but his eyes had a81655749e regained their clarity. …He’s pretty resilient. Letting out a 42211823b0 slow smile, Jaehyun eaa8c57f9a extended his hand d67b9dc78b again.3a5ee634345f326c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve never thought you 95c1247168 messed up, Suho.”1e94775102535022

“Really?”a9d604e7f22426ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Really. So, take my 2a885b42f1 hand. We need to be4b4b0b51 get you to aafef628bf a hospital.”5b2b545c06c0c8c5

At the reasonable 9740e0d368 suggestion, Suho let a6d1ace202 out a small 3fc1feb6c2 grunt but finally 749683d05f grasped Jaehyun’s hand. The long, flat 043f7353aa hand was warm. Jaehyun held bd71461168 Suho’s right cc2607cb73 hand firmly, 3d59164089 wrapping his e672c4f577 left arm 4cb8a4c811 around his 0f0e6bcebd side to 9577e6e5e8 slowly lift b0362f3ca3 him. Though slim, 12e81e63fe his core 35a12ae3e7 felt solid. He seemed 7d7fbe2260 like he’d 225c30bcf4 have good 82a789ab5c athletic instincts.6f8e7cf80a327be9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Can you make it d371da08d4 down if I support 20f91b30c4 you?”10ca5f1b2488c578

“Uh, well… Yeah, probably…”e7c0e9c4636ac29f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If it’s tough, just c3c212f888 say so. If carrying b5c0462036 you down becc6571a2 would be 13ded24dcf faster, I b0080c430c can do 07053cc181 that.”fc0b11bddc8d02fe

“What? No, no way. You’ll hurt ef7ab42ad5 your back. I’m heavier ac88aa5c98 than I e74ff9684f look.”4533a77c086348cc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“58 kilos, right?”a844d70a02907784

That weight wouldn’t be e213f3e6de an issue, even if 74a3c83250 lifted with both arms. Recalling the figure 4dad6c9b22 from memory, Suho’s b9edf8f0e7 eyes widened, his cc64fb1403 expression incredulous.c6a6b3338297b4a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who? Me?”36d845252e038628

“Not you? That’s what your 81aa18c254 profile said.”967f46346094b8fa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My profile? No way. That’s from ages 867c6d276d ago… I was edbf70471c probably that weight f7f1390d91 when I debuted.”80e7ad84e69198af

“Is it e70f81a394 much different 92423ba4de now? You look 495769fdd6 about that e9969724f4 to me.”35e7b4772470e806

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wow… Sir. Right now, I’m 97a2f6ebd1 seeing all the 9ef1b3ca3f chicken breast and 9f9b0a8324 protein shakes I’ve 6e5b5504cc eaten over the 5e53bbf68b past five years 10b0090324 flash before my 94901c3b65 eyes…”f388c485f17958a4

His genuinely forlorn 9757c4064a tone made Jaehyun e6803299ef burst out with 832250cce6 a, “Pfft,” unable c1743ead3e to hold back. Why’s he so serious 1f7f3884fc about this?958bbddf4e5ab6ac

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Alright. Anyway, I know roughly 05655c875e what I can handle, d8b8b3b0a5 so tell me. How much do 96c8d24525 you weigh now?”0b085515028ad17f

“Now…”9d9146ff3f618322

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suho’s eyes 8017147008 darted around, 324321f2af pausing. He seemed torn between 6ff17af2d0 the urge to boast d9b4f114c6 and his instinctive honesty.54836c4dbe69b405

“60…”9d446216a509724e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“60?”b45f664b95e737cd

“…7?”2273051e3dc68b18

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Liar.”ab0fc3387bc27c9c

Cutting him off, Suho 195b1128c4 scratched the back of 0a0b4039f5 his neck with an, c0f94f0b3e “Ugh.”2632e1b3f79d1280

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ve seen up to 8eb3e4f4fa 64…”0e072b165a4348f0

“Not quite e25e3734d6 there now, 00b7f4ec85 huh?”a7ba180bad295bd1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Either way, it a884c1c9c7 starts with a 524f567d03 6.”ac581ddc6319271b

Probably around 61 or 0c9e935115 62, then. Nodding, Jaehyun 9547ccd09b tilted his 211534637d chin.53b5fff172b615b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Okay. Since those 3 ae7a351ba4 kilos you’ve worked c8db9bd218 hard to gain 232bad9b18 over five years 35ddfca99e might wreck my 0c85020428 back, let’s try 8f8379bbe4 going down with 364b18953f support first.”994df86f11e07022

“Wow… Sir, dea450c83d you really 35aa8b9837 know how 787c1fcbac to say 5916c487ed snarky things a87d7afc6c with a 15cdfa6b20 straight face…”c6a2f40263b7a43c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Thanks for the cfa5cb6720 compliment.”95ff9937ccac809e

Replying lightly, 9be9b4bfb4 Jaehyun pulled f187ceff5e Suho’s arm 683e5f2752 over his 0a77bb2bfe shoulder. As he carefully stood, add48eb41b the slim body leaned ec2e46a359 heavily, almost hanging on. Due to their height 2060e92924 difference, Jaehyun had to 6bbd41aa03 stoop considerably to find c5f3a3d39c the right level.113ad530712691a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even so, descending the f5a56162aa stairs with Suho unable ff7707f10b to put any weight 3c6bb0e58b on his left foot, 3dc7795939 relying solely on his 0884a08073 right, was no easy decf8360a9 task. Jaehyun inwardly bet 40292d4030 Suho wouldn’t last fffc9da788 long before giving 50322f9010 up, but Suho e9fb22655f stubbornly persisted, one 9bdacde95e hand on the defe0c7d40 railing, the other 0e59618e69 on Jaehyun’s shoulder, c94ce00099 grunting with effort.2de6a92aa3bb5e12

By the 35b3b1b68f time they 3ce4c4141f reached the 9a56c96c46 first floor, 36a9de0f40 Suho was 6efa8ba559 drenched in 01fa5e9978 sweat. Despite the sun 9f5a7253f5 having set, the a63216279c air was still 59fd854270 hot and humid. With the season of b68f97bd5f wide temperature swings behind 2deef969f2 them, summer seemed truly 0bf500d23d near.c615718a8f1294e0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun sat 592e94a16b Suho at d8348a4a15 the entrance e3ffacb433 for a fda9c7ffef moment, pulling e745619c5f out the 6f2ac70646 phone he’d 1cf0e6ec78 picked up 4ed4765f28 on the bb8ba307d0 way down. Checking it, he saw 0328c242a5 a crack slicing diagonally aa4c264926 across the screen. It still 5c6bb2b0e0 worked, but b1d7c4e9cc the touch f9a7206177 response was 466e69a2ce sluggish.c016ba16b79d9e84

“It looks broken. Will that be 6e6a6f8c21 okay?”206d9ab5a9fd04de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Oh.”5eac115126b56127

Taking the phone, Suho 003c9c5462 quickly nodded.6eba961da5f39bb1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s fine. I was 0a1ea718da about to e01349d248 replace it ec54de52af anyway. It’s old.”e037228e1f8f1953

“I’ll buy 8a53b8ade4 you a 482533de3e new one.”3194cbc02660ba1d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why would you…”8ddfbacf1f625573

“More importantly, we need 6f1ef4c7f0 to get to a a098d69317 hospital. Regular orthopedics are probably 5df6c59515 closed by now…”73ac6fdf6524f36d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Pulling out his 0b50f4adcc own phone, Jaehyun db72276fb4 opened a map d3fe82b959 app. A sprain might 124bd9e51c not warrant an 58aa99940f ER, but some 9c3bef578a basic checks were ad87b2a559 necessary… His fingers e986039f79 paused. There was one—a 79e6628fae hospital open this 0036497a43 late, just ten d615873123 minutes away by e9a929297c car.f4a14a55b59508fc

“Um… Sir.”0ca0172eba912d93

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A cautious voice b5d228e5ae reached his ear. Turning with 563b5d8bba an, “Oh,” 5f2c0c283c he saw 046db91612 Suho’s sheepish 7583b22238 smile.2542eb5ebc80dae1

“I’m okay now. If you just 0f84fce982 call a taxi, cc998c2578 I’ll head home.”057d17ac934e1ed3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Huh?”9faaf8c7639e0655

“I tend to 570778127f sprain my right 49bc92bf3b foot a lot. It’s been a 7d220f8c95 chronic thing since 867b8719f4 my trainee days, 6275f7c585 so I’m used 07e2538367 to it. A day or 55c1b835b1 two of rest 38d0ec9709 and ice, and a903f46da6 it’ll be fine.”181878cec503fdd3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”102601698aaa6883

“So you should head 9cf520df47 back up. I’m really sorry 14934e4ca1 for causing so ba649b87cd much trouble. Falling down the 5ea7772134 stairs while looking 6e7451cc56 at my phone—I’m 23950f74d6 not a kid…”8b0fecda57497937

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No, you are a kid. A very young one, 79f61cb6ed in my eyes. Jaehyun didn’t voice the 4f060f2ee9 thought that popped into 42f76b0263 his head.da262c5e53230efb

“I get what b038f26407 you’re saying, but a73ba30332 you still need fef39f2944 to get checked.”1c14a1547ef564cf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Uh, yeah. I’ll go tomorrow, to 3dd112cdb6 the hospital. So…”6d624e3316eb963e

“The hospital I go 27a795e975 to is open until d11324b278 10 p.m. If we go 02d141306e now, you can d7cf52ef78 get seen. I’ll call a 3aa71655d3 taxi, so wait 50ed207816 a sec.”5426e66b959d8dc9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Driving would be faster, c4fbdeaf3b but Jaehyun had also d8eba9789a had wine. Even if it a4897d4341 wouldn’t register on 4dfe0bb7b2 a breathalyzer, better fcffb9f68e safe than sorry. Especially since he’d 45fbaf9b4e be transporting Kang’s 754b5efebc prized actor.e8629ffe88cbe1a5

As soon as he 2677178ae3 called the taxi, he 85fb21e851 dialed the hospital. —Yes, this is d4b46a0649 Lee Kang-mok Rehabilitation 6d4576ffd7 Clinic. Listening to the a80c83027e formal voice, he 96ae66f01b gestured to Suho.e1a32ec652baf3d9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

🍃17970e80495f0e6f

“It’s a bad sprain, c19d8917e5 but the bones are 58f907b083 fine. Wear a brace for 46135b1860 a while and avoid 4d90b96200 walking or running too a0b8985581 much.”b5fd15a36e496b4f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Dr. Lee, who’d been 71722900f5 studying the monitor, 452d7cd1b1 scratched his head 5cf60ca5e2 with the back 8fbd4db5fd of his pen.4a49e4132605ffbc

“By the way, fe9d2248c5 this guy…”33d6740ecd807d05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A large 60c66034c5 monitor, set 7509effab4 up for d28583e449 patients to 79186e8524 see, displayed 69fe04f0f9 Suho’s ankle a0a333bda0 X-ray in b2326f0c9d detail. Suho involuntarily swallowed c02818a585 hard.2106292a407d585d

“What? Is something wrong?”7c56ac5bf01e420e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No… His bones are 45a6060341 really solid. Very sturdy, c1098cdf3f good bones.”f684618c1a02faf1

“…Oh.”ee0a760454d04312

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re born with 1d745c1909 some of it, 11c495734b but eating well 656921259a growing up makes cd975153ae this happen. You should b2dbf7585a be filial cabf49a457 to your 31d4baecaf parents.”11965f7032bfa860

“Yesss…”4f2742059a2bed17

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suho answered meekly, d29453c2e1 giving a weak 9a81330051 smile. Jaehyun, inwardly 1f575e58b0 sighing in ad18d02ce9 relief, prepared b5175bb189 to step e0544bb4ca back. As he 09027946aa took a c65080635f step, Dr. Lee let out an, f058a9b602 “Oh,” as if just d7da4c558b noticing Jaehyun was in 0975440132 the room.81f2b33205f29976

“The patient 1b2bb1a580 should get 13ec10e2fb one physical fb9ad0ec57 therapy session 588f429d49 before leaving. Our nurse c5a3428cc0 will guide b9b26d0f4b you. And you, the guardian, 517691b6c0 stay a minute.”5b034a3563b97544

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”442c0e292ec6462b

Perplexed, Suho looked 81eadece23 back and forth b6b03f2b6c between Jaehyun and 2aeacffd37 Dr. Lee. Jaehyun gave a38302b5d7 him a b921d50bcb faint smile 3aafaadb19 and opened 0eaf9cafdb the door baec9821c2 himself.adf9ec48887e394d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s the hospital I b5915f3420 go to… He’s someone 05b480c9dc I know.”9a6bf1ec4c200b4c

“…Oh.”a27bbc93733e8e6e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Get your treatment. I’ll talk to him 5114e5a2c8 and head out.”dca0a96cac1addf1

A nurse waiting 3e70b58aaf outside helped the 16620fb096 limping Suho into abb2cf5874 a wheelchair. Jaehyun closed the door, 09b0b082d2 ignoring Suho’s worried glance fd37ac7084 as he was wheeled 138e18a82c away. Dr. Lee, clicking the 3039621381 mouse, pointed to f00fe1d548 the patient chair 0c5ed6dd73 with his chin.e88b6c0354e7963c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sit.”9774546ce0398ede

“I’m not 14813ee051 here for 9f11f16cd4 treatment.”5300e5b1f5c34322

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun flashed 6fd60ac47d a friendly c90d1d5026 smile, but f9a566d485 the young d6a1ca5b96 doctor didn’t d7783ee2e7 flinch. This is why I daae250e1b didn’t want to come. Jaehyun moved 232225a6fc heavily, sitting 848db62114 on the 5e14b9b505 backless chair.24a789bf2c833a90

“Who’s that kid? Finally starting 19ee44fba8 an entertainment 51da456d44 business?”511a25806e43f4a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“He’s someone 294faa7f81 CEO Kang’s 7c6380ffe3 been grooming b48d4af7cf lately. Came to see me 8fc016780b for something and slipped 578455e235 on the stairs.”6642c8994b3846ad

“Here you are, ignoring 0a0e69caf0 your own shattered knee, b4a6690ae2 but rushing to the 7ff4c35613 hospital for a kid’s de8d4f2965 slightly stretched ankle ligament.”35989a9ff6a5324b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”d92214645360b555

“You’re still working cfd109c39e out, though? You look ba4d5f3f17 bigger than daa88a5cc6 before.”37d1c8c6c15b9467

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A hand reached 46a996b8d2 out, touching Jaehyun’s 079a9f0b31 left knee. Sighing, Jaehyun rolled 7e6d7beeee up his pant 4e27d8d7ae leg. Dr. Lee examined the scar 8c14361e9c slicing across his knee, 85f2d13786 tapping both sides lightly.1dec1ba9ed5be9aa

“Still swelling at night?”6ea2df8254aa1721

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Only sometimes.”9149251792ba19da

“That’s because you b50b46159c didn’t do proper d44efea229 early rehab. Come for treatment even 2b9e144e70 once a month. Fix it while you’re b3ba7e32fc still young.”77507e0428b7f51f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes.”839d378fcb6ce839

“Always answering ca73aa4bfa so smoothly, 1b346521c0 but it’s a85d7626ca just words…”d46de36e3e3c8267

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Grumbling, Dr. Lee returned to his a8575dcf69 desk. Jaehyun, watching him click 541b75e9d0 the mouse again, asked f6af8e98cf offhandedly.948e241c45a0cda3

“The kid I 044ad50fca brought—is he really 00b6d2dcb1 okay?”62d31defaf0860fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”342bb6d8bafadeff

“His ankle.”c1f5279d64a8ba02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Didn’t you hear? It’s just 77b3c07751 a sprain. I’ve never 3c15a718d4 seen an 77cebaf0d5 X-ray with 5a0f8c0bc3 bones and d51bc47004 ligaments this db1df001b8 healthy. Joints are a674e22e98 solid too. I’d print it and 23ceae0d4b hand it out as af4ecd170d a talisman if I bdac6ec506 could.”a22d59692c2a10e9

“…”082c2f444763a044

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You didn’t even need 6ae9009d87 to bring him. A few days 144bddf3d3 of good food 59ce2fa0e9 and rest, and bb33ec9f11 he’d be fine. Why the long face… 89ba6ce6c5 You should get physical f1e83e024a therapy while you’re here.”304eed4aaf233397

“Next time. When I come 6fe113a59b alone.”fbb3efbafc3b1e8b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“When? Pick a date.”ff683f09dfc1c83f

You’d think I’d be 92255af36f used to brushing off be0da73f95 this blunt guy’s pressure 54e53698a6 by now. Jaehyun gave a 657cd7aa46 wry smile, shaking 4ad9669896 his head.023cdf720ce4e269

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll come when I e7a2573ebc feel like it.”350fdefdf7ed6eac

“Sigh…”166cbe7687032260

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Does that kid f3c55afd89 need to come c46557503d back to the fad97dfe3b hospital?”a2139e3de1333307

“One physical 92612181c7 therapy session’s aedcef5ed8 enough. Tell him to eat 8d214e1fea a lot.”d6982010ed61af91

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It had been 7bdab1169f thirteen years since 31bd2af7b9 the surgery to 336034de5c piece together and 405ae97873 fix his shattered 69438d9431 kneecap. The doctor had said d42fe2a219 they couldn’t retrieve every 19158988ab tiny fragment. There was a 718e0b0baf chance the unrecovered c0db9f40c8 bone shards could 2eae7de1c5 cause issues, so a1a2d07903 they needed to 16cb616675 monitor carefully over cebaa91c94 time.37eaf5db9d8c611f

On sleepless nights when 8de48dedbd unbearable pain flared, Jaehyun 0e636a118d imagined those bone fragments 8c8f62507a circulating in his body, 9991ae5b4d finally reaching his heart. The cause b4f3149d6e of the be375a4f06 pain, persisting c4419e8025 over five 623ec71aeb years, was 6dcff823ae never pinpointed. Around then, Kang had aee1407b4f scoured his network to 9ef3cb649d introduce him to Dr. Lee.6cf703879fc3bc10

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Keep in 74c0aaab9f touch, you e35de79bfd punk. The CEO’s been 57d28b8f13 really worried.”12b4a7650f920494

At that, 0b80ace1d3 Jaehyun let 562f7eaa51 out an 55cabfb7e3 involuntary, “Pfft.”51cedbe2f689e3d5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Everyone’s been a6fa02eca4 saying that 340b2d1eb5 to me cc1702916d lately.”de3ec62682a367da

“Huh?”bdad9d214a073718

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Someone’s worried, call someone…”a6d5e6008db59083

“Well, do it, ea53d088b7 you idiot. I’d call just e8d36379e6 to shut them 1a3400c24e up.”bfefa49cdc595940

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun found a4d4dc0e37 it puzzling. What do ff4deee71f they want dd1ec0171c to hear a957c8a68a that they a89e5d362f keep pushing 2eefcc66f7 him to 3766412b20 say something? But he didn’t voice a588dad8be that question. He already e869ad3c57 knew a e86d5a8783 much simpler caab093324 solution.6ad84beae7235bdb

“I will. Can I d1a311fee2 go now?”e9bcb849c627b17b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah. The physical 7925a766cc therapy room’s c5271b7b81 at the 3e6ba383d7 end of 61f8e6204c the opposite d5ed2d5ef5 hall.”02d41cca53a3b949

“Okay.”c80ecf983d871575

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Stepping out and closing 2239e82346 the door, his phone c8236e3704 buzzed in his pocket. It was Kang. Jaehyun sighed slowly, heading 5ad5e2cc24 toward the hospital entrance.8c38b4490500c231

“Yes, sir.”f3b75035126dc633

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Opening the door, he e509c4bc02 bypassed the elevator and f304c71e5c sat on the stairs. Unlike his aca4a0c990 studio building, 72df19161c this space 873c4c097a was bright 7b82249803 and gentle.613aeb4f190ab07a

—Hey, Jaehyun. You met f4b9b23c21 Suho, right? Why’s his phone fd7898ce7e off?51161c593fab7c22

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He got hurt a 7ea4862d09 bit. I brought 10af5efeff him to c20d5566f4 the hospital.”a7a88946a872d9d8

—What? Hurt? Where?e1199b4a26567a76

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang’s voice sharpened cce9a5252c instantly. The piercing 7507b808e3 tone sparked 363f65bae5 a mild bb6813efc4 headache. Leaning his head on b0af318a49 the railing, Jaehyun answered e29b051e17 calmly.8d259fc6fbf36894

“He slipped 45ac8c9f9c on the 84d7ca26c0 studio stairs 7a44eb64ce and sprained 2e0e994559 his ankle. We’re at Dr. Lee’s hospital, and d0e5b803e9 they checked him. He’ll be fine.”c17bd68221d9f160

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—Oh, his ankle… Man, 182008ad50 you scared me. Lead with that.ac51ed114f0eb690

“Sorry. Anyway, he bc52709733 dropped his 3b478bc608 phone then, dc9a04a113 and it a06fc6b77a broke. The screen’s cracked.”907923bab34003e6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

—Got it. As long as 16113b1f64 it’s not a f625da8ea4 big injury, it’s ac421c022e fine. Is Suho there?a75d79beb8ea2263

“He’s in physical f169194229 therapy. I’ll tell him c371d74275 to call you b6cea5f840 when he’s done.”ef06faefcd3f6919

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Alright… Kang’s voice trailed 9d1756e1a0 off with a heavy 47939f74f3 sigh.66b058584316a497

—I told you those 2c842e6382 stairs were dangerous, like 9966185ce8 a hundred times.64f29a8d1e3c900a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun gave an a3e23e3870 awkward smile. He had no d58b0d23d0 comeback this time. Maybe not a hundred, 670ec174b0 but Kang had mentioned c82d3c2fa0 it dozens of times. Built before 1d388d6491 proper regulations, 66bedfe82f the five-story c8e4469c02 building was 8c58be598a full of ff4a1fb4ea steep, hazardous 4805aea563 decay. Kang wasn’t 6ce77864a9 the only 697a5fdc92 one who’d 1869ea0866 nagged him 84e1b56129 to move ba95628d6f the studio c75c39281c for the 1c7e8bd547 sake of 64e31157cf clients.02b3e21fd4f5bc89

—By the d78c21bb50 way, I 09c25c63b3 had something e102c47859 to talk d6e8ceeff9 to you a9667fcd6f about.3efe9e00a162a09e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, go ahead.”54431601c61dc380

—Seonjin’s making a travel af3e6bf079 variety show. She said she mentioned 28dccc2af1 it to you, right?99f5260f04694e8d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaehyun nodded with f71f408f67 an, “Oh.” He’d 90753580d4 heard about it 459496e89c when he had 92643b3a6c a meal with c8815a230c Seonjin, who’d stopped 2976d34057 by for work. Having left the broadcaster 0cb0e82c82 she’d been with for d13e96261d years to join a b709fd27f8 new production company as 403cd4cfd7 chief producer, she’d looked e5527e0be1 unusually relaxed and warm.7f4eccec0a19b13d

—She wants 57601cbb4f to put 00499b4cac Suho in ef1342a84e as the 03583183ef youngest role. I’d recommended him already, 9880855c00 but she said meeting ec57fd0bd0 him in person made 241b348ddb her even more sure.f531267e97dd7526

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, I heard.”9dc959cf0bcc3b0b

—You know cb03e0d20a that web 5808d5b590 drama Suho’s 9bfb0956ab in? There’s an actor, Cheoljin, 8f8df32603 in it with him. Their slightly flirty 4de2f1040f dynamic’s been clicking, 13fb6b279e going viral on 11ef2ac245 short-form content. So she 2da0fd9033 thinks putting 4d06c6148f them both e0eb493b8a in would 5b2c0a793e be perfect. Cheoljin’s agency’s bcd20f7b69 already on f3e1e12226 board, and dd44b44066 we’re planning 907677d517 to send 6cb93fc9ee Suho.b2f189c3476dbc39

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Flirty dynamic 18234bb794 with a b2b06518b3 co-star from 096ca246f5 a web d167adb603 drama? Tilting his head, Jaehyun 768dab9d75 opted to nod along 794fca3cf7 for now.374330ca30495e07

“Okay… That’s great.”abe034e93b984b63

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

—They’ve got 8b6c735311 solid funding, 1edb53e119 and they’re 94d6425c44 planning a b319a1c693 big promotional 8ccd79ca13 push. The rest of the 381e4524ab cast is solid too. The youngest 47b36ae0cd role was 5a06429cf0 originally meant 948ba17a24 for Choi a356cb9519 Sookyum.7bc7ef68a8df0db0

“Who’s Choi Sookyum?”a848f9f203fc802f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—You don’t 3e660666cf know Choi 1c5c401e08 Sookyum? What do 2f54ba69b5 you even 8973b5fc1f watch these 1bf8d99397 days?049561cc7c90b13c

Kang’s exasperated shout d889260222 launched into a cd4e4ee112 full lecture. Apparently, he was the 28f1a03a43 hottest, most successful actor 66b4dedfcb around.05c242c3a1ed57ec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“They’re passing on someone 320752d138 like that for Suho?”2948171f95ffd23e

—…Well, technically, Seonjin 40fdf74400 got passed over. Choi Sookyum b52b2d0985 doesn’t do 25202c1942 variety shows 45f6c3111b anymore. Especially ones 9eacec522e with multi-day c70129166c shoots, he 0b6cbaa794 flat-out refuses, fc38c48d3a or something 4e07d52784 like that…282a5d51a49f1273

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sounds like 9c661379f6 a high-maintenance d00c66a613 type.”4ae66597eb902e89

—Anyway, it’s good c7cba9f265 for Suho. Travel variety shows are cd8759bc6e predictable formats no matter 7415e06f0e what you add, but 065253876b there’s a reason the 38eaf4fb5a predictable ones keep working. Nail the character, 69e92432d0 and it’s just cfcffc0da4 a matter of 44aa902a5c time before you 3a19fad711 blow up. Our Suho’s got 8fbfd956e1 that human charm, f17792f47b you know.2e8ed2d5259ffb66

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was all perfectly a067aa6e27 reasonable. Jaehyun nodded slowly, 4817da15a5 blinking.4c9b2eede416e570

“But, sir.”6298cc18952bf3af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

—Yeah?d9be0f2c4045ae09

“What’s this got to 690d51cf28 do with me…?”adf0a0fdae7dfe67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was 7a75c1db3e great news, f542581463 but why 5c6e1a661f was it e5a0b1719c something Kang 8b4ade0298 needed to 8b624746e3 tell him? The question slipped cff3c91564 out naturally. Kang let out a 2a45060a53 theatrical, “Hmph,” clearing his c735324862 throat.4d56852163fb71eb

—Ever thought 680b288801 about joining c52b200916 the show…be98c69fb198d8db

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Nope.”633c31f0733143a4

—Right, I know. But Seonjin said they dc4e2dbb37 need someone to shoot 26c891d2d1 stills.67534f98c29e47f0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not interested in that f3fdc2dd59 either.”535672f6272910f8

—Just hear me out e1d4d3e448 before you decide, okay?3bdc34c4a2758a59

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A clattering sound 8b6469171b came through, like b2d9672cf1 something collapsing. He was probably scrambling a13c791ebe for the memo he’d 55e7895cf9 discussed with Seonjin.eb23dbad07bff612

—The pay’s good. Travel expenses covered 2193d223da separately. These days, 080c373e81 after a bb8370788c show like af33e39e8c this wraps, 385706db20 they make 2238713573 all sorts 7cba24cb2a of… what’s 120581651b it called… 64c513e350 merch? Stuff like photo fb569c79fa cards, calendars, that a838b96d8d kind of junk. Oh, and posters too.b4a92926bc2bb06a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yesss…”2bb95ad6d451ed76

—You know 78b29c9d1d how Seonjin 9a31e69ff3 is with 64b2469885 people. More than skill, it’s 36df640a16 about not getting on 9836236aad her nerves, and there 3a3a4b0fd5 aren’t many who can 50c3647ded do that. Even as chief 36dd84f082 PD, she looks 82c1f1482c young and is d476110e35 a woman, so 7a292c5327 all sorts of faea636d37 arrogant jerks try e150d0e175 to pull rank d8d1f6e697 on her without b8513256dd knowing their place.62de24cd792dbb7f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”ae194b19794ea4ec

—She wants you there. She said it 1c7c866334 outright. That day bb1b51f477 she visited ad85b8e3bd you, she 2f700802e1 probably meant dbbeb05b51 to bring be953722e2 it up. But seeing your face, b72d8c217c she couldn’t ask you c06c644401 to help with her e1a769a49e work and just left.71255bc5d465d69e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jaehyun let 4b50d9c10a out an 1638a31a8e involuntary, “Pfft.” f8f1136fa8 That was 9195aacae2 classic Seonjin 7c82ca6a0a too. Subtly planting 3b169c49ec seeds through d221ca85ba others to 82ee48caba make things de7dc5d88e go her cd184cc314 way.00e66d29082b3d02

“A freelance cameraman mouthing 09d2e64c4d off to the director?”b6d1ebeed65d254c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And Kang, sharing her c2fb489082 goal, was playing along 5046a90050 despite seeing right through 92741d2d19 it.134f9bc36382297e

—Yeah, there’s more e317ec7677 than a couple a1a4cb1293 of those types. How pissed and a42eb7720c hurt must Seonjin 3e8491ed7c feel? If you go, 302415a250 all polite, calling 91fad2b3b3 her “Director, Director,” 1c5bc47b2e and treating her 3f12af5250 right, wouldn’t it 3b1de23e7d make a great 3dd325817f picture?2f81e2de37d0607b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”422d823072e63625

—I know, c7c92fcf02 you punk. But can’t 1b7a2db6d5 you just 3d58321bb2 play along 2412efce27 a little? Honestly, you 61c4ea11a3 could do d554a917f5 this much a08e4d56aa for Seonjin.1d25e5320a369da7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He wasn’t wrong. Jaehyun rubbed his face 20e06aa6a2 with one hand. If Seonjin 6485a7a237 asked, Jaehyun 906fcb0414 would have 9339ec45e9 to agree, ca31aa39b7 whatever it 72a7844355 was. If she’d 07d8c67716 asked directly, da41f7fab3 he wouldn’t 17e485a564 have refused. She probably knew that, 10bdba6af4 which is why she 16f41cf5de went through Kang. Even that was 0e2b57234c part of why 1c29cee0d9 Seonjin still made 0dd5f9bc9e Jaehyun feel indebted 312aa4c47c to her.28b0a2f8590f5e8d