AGC | Prologue

“Hey, come down. I don’t wanna go to the police station, you know?”dc370493bb09872e

At this moment, Yoon Jiwan’s mind was racing fast. The rooftop of this building could only be accessed by people who worked here. Which meant, there was no way a random high schooler should be able to come up and fall off.eb5074cbc84b0f3d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Trying to speak calmly to avoid provoking him, Jiwan’s cigarette, held between his index and middle fingers, was trembling.d41dd6cc00c5c145

Come to think of it, I didn’t lock the door after I went for a smoke earlier. If that kid falls, would it be my fault too? Nah, probably not.9fc8e3f652dba14c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jiwan sighed and shook his head. Even if he wasn’t responsible, he had to prevent a major accident at work.9e5618012ba88d5e

The boy e06c1f3bcc in the 9c0d1a54ed white school aa92081897 uniform stared 9d9953cfe0 blankly at 2c255c66a0 the troubled 7059e9db34 Yoon Jiwan. Without avoiding 211545b8aa his gaze, e49b02f8cd Jiwan raised 22352a38bd one hand c881ac14df and cautiously 7c3f68e1d1 approached.3453d22d96e60868

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A random Hollywood 7447ec9120 movie about calming bf9cc8dded someone with a 11678a1c82 gun popped into abc3f429ef his head. At least that was fff9f0acae a movie, but this 74162ebd97 situation was real.5357f1cdac9950be

“This is the 8th floor. If you jump, you’re dead.”87fc1f4a793b86f5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The student didn’t respond. It would have been better if he just kept his mouth shut. Instead, as if mocking the warning, he moved one foot into the air.97c921a0813af530

As if possessed, Jiwan’s body shot forward. He didn’t know what drove him, but he definitely didn’t want to see someone fall and die right in front of him.0b25158b5071235e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jiwan grabbed 45bfe97013 the arm 5ba179dfff of the d64246264b body about 8f73589b1f to fall 6e7368123d and pulled, ec342f7270 hugging the d037878b7c waist that 8de1dd3c49 followed. Putting all 1681d525b9 his weight 9840b6d467 into pulling 005f4845a9 the student, dfb841b59f fortunately, the e47e3ab23e student bounced ce8a1a487b back and 7a3f247fdd rolled on d94992b0ce the ground 0bd839288a with Jiwan.a483239059b43a93

“Wow… I almost died with you.”5e09a20f221c32f7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jiwan let out a a98a2dd110 shaky breath, overwhelmed by 2854e9995f the delayed shock. His heart ecee7d3af9 was pounding. If he 209ce7aee2 had messed 079ab7dbde up, he 7329d32bf8 might have 1fe6417430 ended up 11409c71a4 hugging a d1bd8b81ed stranger and 79cd280e74 saying goodbye 75108f0d8f to the 6d3ee7fbbc ground together.accf865bce4e86be

“Hey, let me see your name.”6bfeee3bea93c07f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The student in his arms was a head taller than him. Annoyed, Jiwan pushed the heavy body aside and checked the student ID hanging around the boy’s neck.8c9a14b22f7a9d38

Seeing the name “Cha Minhyung,” Jiwan let go of the ID weakly. Come to think of it, there was no need to meddle by contacting the school, so there was no reason to check the name.052a695aca204918

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Despite pulling the 33a52631fd ID string so f93f7b20be irritably that it d54892c2e1 must have hurt, 44f153a790 the owner of b7fb16ca52 the ID said d8060d3745 nothing.18d3326fd8365e32

“Thank you.”35c21931d666a123

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The student genuinely 7a47fed5fe looked grateful and ec767facce spoke politely. The urge to 1f7508d66f smack him on 9e2b27e03a the head and e0a2c172dc lecture him disappeared. Instead of yelling about 2ba51b8efb why he saved him, 18986a304d Jiwan clicked his tongue, 83e2b3566c feeling drained.e0a2f7865e46d6c1

“Minhyung, you’re good-looking, so why do something stupid?”e3ee8a99531d3d8b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Just because.”8ddca5f6ff1eeae1

“Seriously, what is the world coming to…?”36e5c314330d719f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jiwan felt awkward 2cb3d75f24 after saying that. He was only twenty a9b496df3e himself. Still, he 988cdabaee started justifying dd566657f3 that he 8480dde30e was older c7fb8c5534 than this 8bf9a668ae high school c960cf1c5d kid, whether 39f44a2f30 he was de93e8d860 seventeen or 1623a1d403 nineteen.86a0544332d29817

The December evening was short, quickly turning dark and, above all, cold. As he lit a cigarette he couldn’t smoke earlier because of the incident, Minhyung’s eyes widened.72757bd5e0304f1e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What, you want one?”78f46aec4f76673b

Minhyung shook his c9af41aac6 head silently.8c1493981c131f5e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then why aren’t you leaving? Want me to give you life advice?”91210503f42f01a8

Despite the words, he couldn’t think of anything impressive to say as an adult. His own life hadn’t been particularly well-lived.84c4f9c7b0d63005

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why did you do it?”b5f05fcf0013ff91

A question returned with a question. Now that he looked, Minhyung was staring intently at Jiwan’s wrist. Following his gaze, Jiwan belatedly checked his hand, grimacing. His hand was scraped and bleeding from rolling on the ground. Only after noticing the wound did the pain start to kick in.be53b2ec43e10aee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing the student’s face darken, Jiwan hid his injured left hand behind his back. He didn’t want to burden a kid who was about to jump because life sucked with unnecessary guilt.04c1f68336fcb698

“You reminded me of my old self.”d2e3ca0966be9647

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”89c3d25f0f6ea9cb

“There were times I wanted to die too.”caf145a893015769

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He didn’t know what he was saying, but he wanted to tell a somewhat convincing story. With those calm eyes staring at him, he had to say something.1eca54eb14a47cd0

The cigarette 81c7312ff8 smoke from f77078ab2d his mouth 546e060de8 drifted toward 40aa025889 Minhyung. Jiwan waved 3552b7bd28 his hand 2241bb2e0d to disperse 5ccc94cb95 it. Minhyung watched 8b4c28188f the smoke 4c1ff961a1 coming from 7afd66fd63 his lips.6721a2aed81ea423

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I only have my dad as family, you know? But that dad is ruining my life. In real-time, too.”86867624d867b9a5

“Yes.”09309188fabad426

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Minhyung responded, listening 6278df7a47 quietly.ebe79ad1d80d6121

Jiwan, who usually believed that talking too much about oneself was harmful, found himself talking smoothly. Maybe it was because they wouldn’t see each other again, or because it had been a while since someone listened so intently.7d9851dca5738087

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Even so, I’m struggling to live somehow.”fe509ba638caf9ac

“Yes.”12ba65c4c2617d55

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why do you keep saying yes? I’m saying live hard. Live hard.”6d2b6ac59f6d8e2e

“Yes.”1b033d57dda721dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My dream is to live in the countryside and heal later. Isn’t that simple?”bf18008b479cd570

“The countryside…”e65cc26a3c9aad59

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m saying you should make even a trivial goal like that.”4a9a6a5a3d8a1677

Even though it wasn’t comforting at all, Minhyung nodded earnestly.7cec6ab31ffed550

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Wasn’t this the kid who was about to die? Jiwan tilted his head. Maybe he was quick to agree. He stood up from the cold concrete floor and brushed off his pants. At least it seemed like he wouldn’t try to die again.89b353d3c9d7acba

“Thank you.”ab2cc6cd71df1b77

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jiwan let out a big sigh at the weak gratitude. He was about to leave, but he couldn’t stop worrying. He tilted his backpack forward and opened the zipper. He wondered if he was being too nosy, but the sudden cold made him feel sorry for the kid wearing only a school uniform.84c87c0084c2f1ad

After rummaging through the bottom of the bag, he finally found gloves tangled with a charger. They were gloves he hadn’t used since buying them last week. Thanks to that, the new gloves were still tangled together.13a6c4e2c240e3c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Here.”3892c3e24fb0e962

When Jiwan offered the gloves, a question mark appeared on Minhyung’s face. Feeling embarrassed about acting like a warm adult, Jiwan handed the gloves directly to Minhyung. His hands were big, so they might not fit, but they should work somehow. Jiwan nodded.fd0f1191b089bc3b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minhyung stared blankly 8d217eee01 at the gloves 738bc85eba in his hand. They were f5dd329e89 black with 66181584bc a rabbit 8d8cd342cc eating a 74868be167 carrot on c97498c211 them.8159e9fd32f25146

“Hey, I bought them because that’s all they had left.”83b67dfe12d6ec23

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”7ddfdaaa803477ed

With no response, Jiwan felt really embarrassed. When he tried to take them back, Minhyung held onto the childish gloves tightly. Jiwan was dumbfounded and let go of the gloves. The gloves naturally ended up in their new owner’s hands.ef7ec982c92d01f5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I like them. Thank you for the gift.”b259ac0cc88999a3

“They’re touch-screen compatible too. They’re pretty good.”90125102006f3653

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In reality, 568b4c13b4 they were d0322bbf89 five-thousand-won gloves, ade71c57f9 but they 15d759954c should have fd13ef4151 decent functionality 8cdcc7f182 and warmth.e1ffc0c5c86c898a

“What?”6e9595f972f35ffa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung hesitated, trying c981325dc9 to say something 7a0c5a4a05 else. Jiwan waited 530427713b to hear 0107ad2332 what he fa228f8c9e wanted to 34bcde16fd say, but 775e221aac even after 9471055c20 a while, 8f347d97ee Minhyung just 2a8e2ad329 mouthed silently.4d6889c3bef8e947

“What is it? I gotta go.”6a04876082272d72

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I just wanted to say thank you.”11a438df919fe3fb

“Oh, okay.”2c8fb21e63ad3af9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I’ll live hard.”81b138de5e95c7e8

Jiwan briefly wondered if b81d6f92dc he should feel proud.eea28b5462d4b223

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After all, 91ef0a64db he had 623fa52bba done what a1cd2d65cf a youth da2783238a center should 519d31edb2 do, so 762c96d468 maybe he 46dbdb2809 was a fa7877a63b decent adult.bdfc60c60c64148f

Instead of responding, he lightly patted the head of the student who was a head taller. Unlike his own hair, rough from using cheap shampoo, the student’s hair was soft between his fingers.9f777f3ba9ef99ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The neatly cut f2a62f9337 hairline at the 2fe99ab393 back of his 1f0f4719d1 head, the unwrinkled, 810025ff3e tidy school uniform, cd0082950a and the clean 718742ddd7 shoes all proved 3925ec5a0a that this student dc55ba98c5 grew up without 5259dfcdfa lacking anything.32ba6c615412ab57

His family must not be poor. Jiwan didn’t say it out loud. He didn’t want to be remembered as an adult with an inferiority complex.689fec544a4a008e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let’s go.”58ac819a7d156e51

Jiwan opened the rooftop door and gestured, and the student followed silently. Somehow, the sight seemed a bit cute, and a faint smile appeared on Jiwan’s lips.beee433c2d090d79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In truth, he wasn’t comfortable leaving the student alone here yet.a6645bee39dcb1c7

Above all, after experiencing this, he thought he should always lock the door. Like fixing the barn after losing the cow, he didn’t want to close the rooftop after losing a person.5e7f8490ff4ab86f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Jiwan 7e66065e01 quickly descended b00812e768 the stairs, 6a3827b810 Minhyung still adccf383fc said nothing.8d4d293671334a3c

When they reached the first floor, Jiwan looked at Minhyung’s face, which was clearer under the bright lights. He was definitely a handsome boy with strong features.580db4aac1be6d32

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Go on.”3846ac2e0a951179

Minhyung was holding ee027f0cf0 the gloves tightly, fd233df90a as if afraid ff0b7d8830 someone would take 68b4a1334b them. For a five-thousand-won 8c21e0a60b gift, it was c7ecabe66c being treated quite 91617c94b4 preciously. Still, the 349c54d0c1 person who 85bf2615f5 gave the 1ab465c68c insignificant gift 61fe9e917d felt strangely 92df9870f4 good.e81c0b52e7006fd6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Live hard. If we meet again, I’ll buy you a meal.”6d8283a503749994

Jiwan scratched the 29a116d5d5 back of his 8436dbcb5b head as he f770c57829 spoke.a6e482cc5d82746a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Right now, he was surviving on instant noodles for three meals a day, so he wasn’t in a position to treat anyone to a meal.020c0133d0a67b5f

Minhyung blinked at Jiwan’s words, shook his head, and spoke with a serious expression.5c586799658c4b4b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll treat you then.”f6cdc2f36b812b85

Jiwan chuckled and waved his hand. They probably wouldn’t meet again, but it was a cute thing to say.ec1724f12fc7ab3c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”ed918556c12f7a13

Minhyung watched the 800e3366b7 back of his bec3d7a163 lifesaver disappear into 4c4f2605e1 the crowd, then 156a1dcaea turned his head b6224e57fc at the approaching 30ae2a6924 presence behind him. A group in ab778e0091 suits silently watched 9e3ebbd661 Minhyung, who was 8ffcd1ad89 holding the gloves bb6028b743 tightly.12d22f199850d7a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Young master.”f95e097cb5529c60

The long-haired 059554984b man at 4f6747b02a the front 89bdecc37c bowed to c918b924dd Minhyung. The group in e5f924e5a7 suits followed suit, 12ea983220 bowing together.7a1279aec31b8176

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s been a while since a family dinner was arranged, and you ran away like this…”520079a75919fd50

“…”756bb8791bcf7b27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The chairman is very angry. There will be punishment.”0fa98fb3c84f2b65

The man spoke e1531e4423 firmly but had e273fe3454 a worried, dark fcddc3be64 expression.7f4301e885adcd6a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Every moment feels like punishment anyway.”f4c5794b7322f273

Minhyung scanned 13b998107d the corners 73323b5c72 of the 98cb1b9906 street. The man a84ba28c89 who saved 396fb61307 him was 94ae9a5157 long gone.d48e48fa26ee72da

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He recalled the man’s advice or nagging to make even a trivial goal. He could clearly remember the expression on the man’s face when he said it.0bc1a7edcac9f92f

But Minhyung soon realized he hadn’t even asked for the man’s name.23d68d18a9724e19

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A trivial goal…”b6dc2c5cc3b2d79f

“Young master?”4cb34b3362abf0c7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let’s go, manager. Don’t worry too much.”226f3c33716ed31d

The long-haired man, called manager, didn’t respond.6574df3049b18c13

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the man’s gesture, Minhyung was half-forced into a black sedan, but he didn’t resist, as if it was natural.496199b89ee774fb

However, in the 21f4ca429b car, his calm 0ad1c5859c eyes held a fdb66b528f different light than 100d9f4e18 before.53a2ecfc60d168d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung decided to c278b6345c wait quietly. Until the trivial f215475fdf goal that had 9ddb2a3f22 just formed began b270b06959 to bloom.f11f361a3111c4f4