AGC | Chapter 3.1

The summer cold dragged on for quite a while. While suffering for days, Jiwan realized something new. People could feel sick even if they did nothing. As he spooned the porridge he was sick of, he realized it wasn’t his body that was hurting, but his heart.8e04a348a17bbb37

“Do what you need to do. Don’t just sit here.”5cdff98b4ef115ed

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung, who had 997e8ae752 been sitting by 2d51f65e85 the bed the a6f1b7df49 whole time, shook 070a50c4a1 his head.f17cf90ae91c2c40

“I want to stay by your side.”4f263074b61ba1ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

How peculiar. Jiwan’s throat was hoarse, and he was too tired to even nag Minhyung. The fever that had turned his body into a furnace had subsided a bit, but he still felt like melted cheese on the bed, unable to move freely.801bb8da1adfb232

Whenever he closed 485ac0cd02 his eyes to 5190a2f6eb rest his weary 8b34f4cdda body, nightmares would b2ca848a32 inevitably come. Dreams of 80916fdf77 his father, 0b81356d86 whom he c9f3971fb6 was reluctant 9653806ef2 to even 1c2264156f call family, d7a2c0eac5 hurling verbal cbf92a67fd abuse and 1ff3471256 attacking relentlessly. He was suffering both 3f30496746 in reality and in c081a9747e his dreams.d2509bfd8d91dc62

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minhyung wanted Jiwan to rest comfortably and feel better. Most of his suggestions weren’t particularly helpful, but Jiwan couldn’t deny that Minhyung’s presence itself was a comfort.08bdc305d2b53d89

“Want to take a bath?”90e8bfdbc3e63cf9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A bath? Why… cough, why a bath?”568be9896e7e0741

Jiwan suppressed 20e4adc69b a rising 9ee7d859ba cough and d5b6775891 asked.6f1266aa698d8132

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“To make you feel a bit better.”42fe70bda980e2be

Though his tone was a5a7d5ce22 calm, his eyes were 9bcf39daa5 filled with concern.c3deda40c83a7831

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was so 2ec1b26e08 unfamiliar to receive 60d9b88e83 such worry and e001972355 care from someone 9c0457fcda that Jiwan laughed 0d6289c02d weakly. He threw off the 5db805fbde blanket and got up. Lying down 5202b91b26 any longer 2d62b3435e would only 81859930fe make him 57665d3062 more depressed. As Minhyung suggested, a fef762b2e8 bath might be better.f2f5efeafdda958c

“Thanks…”9da5a903cef5e263

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As soon as he ec501f7e63 stood up, he lost fda8fbe576 his balance and almost c144178ecb fell, but Minhyung caught 0b9354761e him, preventing him from c059e40763 collapsing back onto the ffd74f3536 bed.fb7b490948429451

“Want me to carry you?”fd4ca7af337f5722

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minhyung’s serious question made Jiwan chuckle. The bathroom was barely ten steps away.4e8af5e62040089d

“Want me to carry you like a princess?”82f9fa41e6829188

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes.”90457241885e7921

Even as a joke, Minhyung seemed ready to do it. Jiwan shook his head, imagining himself being carried to the bathtub. He put more strength into his legs and headed to the bathroom. He hadn’t walked far, but his body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton.6a91cbed1c909624

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why?”684374a50b1d5844

Minhyung, who had followed him to the powder room, still looked worried. Jiwan tried to lift his limp arms to undress but couldn’t ignore Minhyung’s persistent gaze and had to speak first.c2b5630fa8b17459

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll help you.”372dc8c1abddabe9

Jiwan waved his hand. Minhyung seemed to see him as a critical patient. Though he was indeed weak, he wasn’t so helpless that he couldn’t undress himself. But Minhyung’s hands were quicker. Jiwan gave up resisting and let him help.113de750df228db7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re really helping, right?”2b74beafa5fef110

The sweat-soaked gray T-shirt was hard to take off. Minhyung gave up trying to pull it off in one go and rolled it up from the bottom. It was more embarrassing this way. As he watched the shirt slowly rise, he met Minhyung’s eyes, who quickly looked away.83767e209d70268c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey, wait…!”eed43bc97229481a

Jiwan flinched as Minhyung’s hand brushed down his feverish back. Since when did helping someone undress mean groping them? Was it just his imagination? Minhyung quietly told him to raise his arms, and Jiwan reluctantly complied.97dc1b91e91a0d67

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Finally, the T-shirt came d6549cd756 off, leaving Jiwan bare-chested. He rubbed his 6e7fa1e5f8 neck awkwardly. Even though they 345becacb1 were the same be7740b774 gender, being the 1d3d10cb54 only one undressed cc6c804452 was embarrassing.35c33003bba5326e

“I can do it myself.”9948fc70bf3d0318

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the strange atmosphere, Minhyung moved to Jiwan’s waistband. Jiwan quickly pushed his hand away. Minhyung seemed ready to undress him completely if left alone.3de92f70daf3ab13

Jiwan pushed Minhyung away, 3979531097 hiding his embarrassment. Minhyung remained 9178735826 standing in f899cfb856 the powder 02bcab1e8d room.72a67c6364ad5070

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you going to stay there?”6b92204b6b196ee6

“I’m worried you’ll faint in the bath.”77b4d1cd26900c62

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He added, “I’m worried.”59f2e994561c3031

Was he planning 3fcff9dc5e to watch him 6c729a6684 bathe? Jiwan shook a8ec68ede1 his head, c4965cfc79 looking around 10b37a679a the steam-filled 6344ebcacb bathroom.acbdeedee9dc54b3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m fine. I’ll be out soon.”a028f0787293b320

Minhyung still 14554edf8d looked reluctant 0fe7a38db5 but nodded.24561ab779a7d68a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”7897eb4278df8514

Only after Minhyung left could Jiwan exhale deeply and calm his racing heart. The spot on his back where Minhyung’s hand had touched tingled. And it wasn’t just that spot.f2ef85972dfc31e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Am I going crazy because I’m sick?”68832ad708ccea05

Even his lower body had reacted momentarily. He had pushed Minhyung’s hand away in shock. If Minhyung had noticed, he would have been in big trouble. It must have been because he was sick and sensitive to touch. Jiwan tried to reassure himself.3bb7317931b8dea8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The bathtub was 0fa450da99 filled with warm, 7e6b0db032 lavender-colored water. After removing his remaining dba67ee794 clothes, he carefully stepped 83ce37ddc6 in.d167bd7ed7dd04f8

The warm water 3169021ae9 enveloped him, and 489eebc6dd he felt his 8fdb552112 tense body relax. There was a b32109a3e2 soft support for cc128991d3 his neck, and 90deeba2a4 he felt like 75548206a9 he was floating 7e354d291b on a waterbed.0140458b4d4d7dc1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Minhyung must 0d9edc87a5 have checked 0d648bdc4c the water 0f33b35b73 temperature. He was 00467d7264 that meticulous. Thinking of Minhyung adjusting ac22278c67 the water made Jiwan 83fbe19a0e smile weakly.01559d83de63bd80

His body was relaxing, but thoughts of his father’s call resurfaced. No matter how hard he tried not to think about it, he couldn’t stop. He thought he had grown a thick skin, but there were still raw wounds he hadn’t discovered. He was hurt again, and his body was suffering.52a839379e738183

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jiwan poked at the bubbles floating on the water with his finger, then stretched out more. More than anything, he hated that Minhyung had seen and heard it all. Even if he vaguely knew the situation, he didn’t want to show such an ugly side.d283216841913921

He stopped playing with the bubbles, closed his eyes, and let his body relax. He didn’t want to think about anything. Surprisingly, he fell asleep immediately, without worrying about nightmares. His body lay limp as if he had fainted.48de57856b0bfd9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In his f442c96a64 sleep, Jiwan d3cf66fe49 thought about 9a624e2abf how much f7f4fd7d26 had happened 242aeff74e since he afe0cb0588 came here. Getting beaten 31337e1712 by Chayongjun, 40aa49a564 hearing harsh 2829d1b0b6 words from 2a62cef79a his father. Of course, there were e62ce62aea fun times with Cha b97ecbeba1 Minhyung too.630f3b9adaccf20b

The quiet knocking grew louder and more insistent, echoing in his ears. But he couldn’t respond. If he could just sleep peacefully like this, it would be perfect.ce6841ac5884415c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆555bcbe72339622b

Minhyung realized 7fe275fddc for the d4917556f1 first time da61b8c841 today that fc329fce26 he could b57d0883fb lose his 9703af4818 composure like 99a7e43697 this.92a84dbbf3a2ebf7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He hesitated but knocked on the door. When Jiwan didn’t respond, he waited at first. But when there was no sign of movement after several knocks, he couldn’t stand it.2904302cf4252180

His anxious heart urged 8d6308a4b1 him to burst through eb4bca8563 the bathroom door, where 75ebd3a4d7 he found Yoon Jiwan, deb5fba7c4 who looked indistinguishable between b9cbfee6ac fainting and sleeping.6b0af4583a707c06

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had lived a rather monotonous life. Emotional swings were rare, and he didn’t get excited easily. But those past days meant nothing now.3b709c60bb636dad

“Hyung.”74e3deab674a7172

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no 5a9b221954 response from Yoon f7748461af Jiwan, who lay 28b93bf41f with his neck 71ab342025 resting on the 8484cdda0e support. A quick 4553677c2d check showed 3239046a3c no problems. He seemed more asleep bcb5cdb3ba than unconscious. Still, his 2ee3cd2630 heart was b4b06bc70c racing so a6b64b68a5 fast it b96686a5ee felt like eb2fe9a462 it would d47db0fe04 burst.a2d8ececa6a8bc82

He lifted Jiwan from b195100fdc the tub with ease. It was surprisingly easy. Jiwan, who lay 40d58e1b8a limp in his bfd35aa6f4 arms, was lighter d4b920712e and thinner than 5ba5b22a73 expected. He felt just f92861f42f the right amount 051cb71e32 of weight.b105ae61eaa8afaf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh…”a5d3348e3cc6ba15

He carried Jiwan to fc63646e34 the bed, not caring f3f054d9ee if the wet body f867264cbb soaked the sheets.6681f25f687388bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even while drying Jiwan’s body with a towel, he didn’t wake up. If Jiwan were awake, he would have been horrified and asked what Minhyung was doing. But asleep, he seemed comfortable, trusting Minhyung’s touch.2affb0ee73bf787a

After drying him quickly, 43a669eb12 Minhyung paused before dressing 4a144da953 Jiwan in clean clothes. A wave of 8f435e10f2 self-loathing washed over 69a114924b him.749ffa9be47d1dec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Since the time they had drunkenly fallen asleep together, this was the first time he had seen Jiwan’s unguarded body up close. Minhyung was undeniably lusting after Yoon Jiwan. His grip on Jiwan’s limp body tightened unconsciously.e2c59c5ae5c3d76c

“Ugh…”ce1e2bc354ad3c2e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung had to wipe 84840a1a26 his face as Jiwan 100b68fc7d reflexively groaned at his 38b1b36f6d touch. The desire and concern 0e5ba9c82e were separate issues. He had no intention c3ad4f04a5 of doing anything to 2a42cf7e8c the sleeping Jiwan, but 3fef1fdcaf the temptation was overwhelming.d9743c66a23c0caf

He composed himself, picked up the towel again, and continued drying Jiwan’s body. Then he stopped again. The heat that had enveloped him suddenly cooled.f98da74ca6b99bcf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Large and small scars covered Jiwan’s body. It was hard to believe it belonged to an ordinary person.de4110ce269cd54c

The only relief was that the scars didn’t seem self-inflicted. They were mostly old and clearly the result of long-term abuse. Minhyung instinctively knew these were the rings of Jiwan’s life.d3ce7b7780e05f0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After gritting c73f8fa382 his teeth b8e8b5a146 and dressing 99839896a6 Jiwan, he 8ba1103568 finally sat 9db8a19539 beside him. Jiwan groaned and buried e525937c97 his face in the e7bf5d5cd6 blanket, curling up tightly.49e69b1cca67a7e8

“What should I do?”20bc712628dc0428

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung asked a question that wouldn’t be answered. It was more a question to himself than to Jiwan.29dc71bf7f65b700

He had no 35594064e3 idea what to 64ea012ed7 do.924f6d9509d98dac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He thought d4867ffdee everything would df366643b7 be right bc0bd17f97 if he 196ed00a65 brought Yoon a5d30de4ff Jiwan here. At least that was f43d2d0c5d his initial thought, but be64491c43 looking back now, it 6e871a7868 was sheer arrogance.6e5e1521faad9d32

Minhyung decided to be 4575d4bc0b more honest with his 690389e0c4 feelings.24c4d0b4dcc21eb6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When he found out that Yoon Jiwan was entangled in his family’s business because of his father, he was strangely excited. He thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Jiwan couldn’t imagine how happy Minhyung was to have the chance to watch over him closely.f6a315d6e197deb2

Of course, 880523b60e he handed fd728f0c75 over the 6643435b70 business to 70b0760296 his brother b61f78bddb Chayongjun and 58435a425a prepared a 4dab06efd3 space just 73bc7e9d4b for Yoon 73fc48ce4c Jiwan.bfca344698845cf0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He thought Jiwan would be happy here without a doubt. Because Yoon Jiwan had endured an unhappy and difficult life for so long. Here, he could eat warm meals instead of instant food, sleep comfortably without being chased by time, and enjoy all the things he couldn’t before… He was sure Jiwan would feel a different kind of happiness.5994dfc7b6459f93

But all those 1e3a1140f9 thoughts were just 15179923e7 hollow ideals. Minhyung found it hard 3ec67fdf1a to bear the rising 2a30c1b084 disgust and nausea. It was all just 05c28a60cf a facade to keep 6a620ebda0 Jiwan close. It was all 0dc53a4a82 a cover.1b470cb6ffde9f31

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yoon Jiwan hadn’t changed at all. If anything, his condition had worsened since coming here. He didn’t look any better to Minhyung. When Jiwan was working multiple part-time jobs seven days a week, he seemed mentally healthier, even if his body was more exhausted.d476668827e74970

“Uh, Cha Minhyung…”94592f64a13384b5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Whether he had come to his senses, Jiwan, who had been motionless with his face buried in the blanket, called Minhyung’s name.407a965c3c3ecc5d

Minhyung hated ade9ebd205 hearing his f47941cd5f name from fa23a01d84 Yoon Jiwan ee2ccf57ac right now. If he d1ffa6b497 truly cared e4f2542da5 for him, 1c8e9d0702 he should 8b6fe7d389 have just a6b7f6d131 paid off 0c77daa955 his debt c61c5add6e and watched e0ca74554c over his f9df935cbd happiness from ecf3b78427 afar, as c371f5b606 he always 96e51f51e5 had.7338eab0621a9456

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minhyung watched Jiwan slowly 3a9e08ecf4 sit up from his ad530e4b22 restless tossing.f702f95711d0b3cd

All the things he had done for Jiwan’s happiness were just nauseating hypocrisy. He could admit it now.e7608127db4a8d5e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sorry, did you move me?”377a831daad71af0

Jiwan asked, c1f9ccbf15 his voice d72717c1ce hoarse as bbc5817d3e he awkwardly 1fc9ee9ead sat up.592709cbbebe4d2c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung had to say 9b7d6054b9 something he never thought 8a4b0e3715 would come out of 7710a0aed1 his mouth.571842060baed6e1

“I probably won’t ever say this again.”118a214e69e78581

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jiwan frowned 08f35a62dd slightly, as 97c587701b if wondering 9dd3554e2c what he 581e7096a6 was talking 81022df98c about.9b99090974d652e1

“Run away or leave.”b1a238df85363573

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…What?”dd45b269e3ee4f48

“If you don’t take this chance now, you might never get it again.”45d5be7e88013375

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He couldn’t give up his last selfish desire. If Jiwan didn’t leave now, he knew he would never try to send him away later. Minhyung knew himself well.b0b197a88d2d003e