VNV Chapter 18

Chapter 184a1ee1d5a24ac267

 6e46a02a96a101e6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

On Friday evening, Han 22a6adc5f7 Tae-ryeong, who had returned c5b1a041f8 home around sunset, fell 8b20b39e6e into a nap.06b70142dfe6f2b2

And he dreamed.f524d5a006516f14

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The protagonist of 7b10840d6f his dream was cf54d8cbe5 a boy who 4ec6e99201 had recently appeared 49be0d75e4 less frequently in 5fc56630fb his dreams. It had been a long b67b03a458 time since their last encounter.427fb021c57f58ab

However, in the dream, b9e7f460be Han Tae-ryeong could neither a232495970 speak nor act. He was merely a spectator, 3aa56f7f43 a bystander.5ed3ef2d8d74a059

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The dream reflected Han Tae-ryeong’s childhood—specifically, a day in the final month of the year when he was eight, building a snowman in the fierce winter wind.f7285c1bfde2ebbb

The young Han Tae-ryeong 4d2a7fc328 was laughing brightly. His expressions changed rapidly 8913084989 as he bounced around bc47170780 excitedly, a stark contrast 968c566bf4 to the person he 77dc4b841b was now.3ec353b60818c95c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Beside him sat a boy 07ddbe0bc9 with blurred features.9b15556cd1dd9d45

The boy listened to Han Tae-ryeong’s words, laughed, clapped, and sighed in response.61b32b5aa7ea18d0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But whenever the cold 4715d7640b became unbearable, the boy 50904771c6 would fidget silently, unable b84c43d117 to say anything.922b5f674a8e32b9

Every time that happened, Han 2afddef5d3 Tae-ryeong found happiness in draping 11e6e0ea77 his coat over the boy. Even when the boy resisted, 0362e927cc he would stubbornly cover his e38f243c04 shoulders, amused by the expression ea24e5074b it earned.99e40bad5b6754f8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, his 31a9469473 stubbornness led to 222f6c43a0 countless severe colds. But even now, he had d45f1371f2 no regrets.6bcae8e897792be9

It felt good. Warm and comforting. He wanted to fead478c17 see that boy 631e6f05ad again. He wanted to 7b5e6fe9a3 find him—the boy 152f96f581 who had vanished 458c053f46 in an instant, dbff8092ef never to be 11b49fe156 seen again.1c8ec731f2894403

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The dream always ended the 8176afc5df same way.097b97009d85cba5

As Han Tae-ryeong’s longing to find the boy swelled, he would examine the boy’s face. But just like a mosaic, the boy’s features remained blurred.afd88579f66b963f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even when he squinted 7cc4037a7e and moved closer, the 12d565d902 face never became clear.e79e7a483af2b645

And in the end, before he could confirm the boy’s appearance, he would wake up.f9942615c2911c0d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Han Tae-ryeong ignored the c004e24933 lingering drowsiness and sat 594c41f82d up.0e2af22deb438d4b

One by one, he combed f60d1d4c21 through the unforgettable memories from 045cbde26f years ago. Even after nearly 0e4ee57f43 a decade, he ec642cfbce remembered everything in 56721a2aa7 perfect detail.44402b6a01581531

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Except for the boy’s face.087a21680b747566

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall it.746020705403567b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The only thing he did remember was the color of the boy’s eyes.3b9938cfa382dd5d

Han Tae-ryeong ran a frustrated 624d3ad1d9 hand through his hair.35f6f52c6d58e6d9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That boy. His name was…5afe49580815bdf9

He inhaled sharply. Out of nowhere, Min 0302c4fdf4 Yu-un came to mind.6221cb3b6610a868

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Min Yu-un… He’s been acting strange lately.’28831a5662abfd8f

He no longer glared at 0c39cd3334 people with that unpleasant gaze, c975b99d6a nor did he constantly hurl 51dd59abb5 insults at Yoo Si-eon.899893979c51e21c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

No, to be precise… He seemed to have lost interest in Han Tae-ryeong and the other two altogether.52d4e92a34a35165

It felt like 053c66c9bd an unspoken certainty—as 3d9803f940 if he had cc98bf9b23 decided never to fa64d3ada2 get involved with 9cdc4e0d48 them again.5cf3c8d3d32ec751

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Han Tae-ryeong, whose mind f9c34a1ce9 had been brooding in 67e266c69e irritation, suddenly recalled something 6ae290b61d from earlier that day.2b94deb84177c52b

The brilliant sunlight. The green grass swaying bd86c8fac8 as if unaffected by 23092f3ae2 the brightness. And, in particular, the dd2b9a062c clovers clustered together in 1ac27fb352 small bunches.dea278c5849dcd0a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Min Yu-un, crouching before them and pointing at the clovers, was quite….1bbf691783c64e14

‘Cute.’7edb1d8fa70ac508

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just then, an 2c21d0b4df alert rang in 9d2169c7fd the minds of 37bc4a9db3 two Yu-uns, signaling 53907b4a22 that Quest 3 c3629e8dc1 had been cleared.688c65e536b8c370

Han Tae-ryeong’s heart started to beat softly. Belatedly gritting his teeth, he emerged from the momentary sentiment.4250c3200ee02ce4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What the hell am I thinking…”fd07dd44af7538e9

Muttering coldly, he got out 4332f9d04f of bed. He needed to 84652d844b wash his face 1f1fdda692 with cold water.bfd902521854c599

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But no matter what he 37dfa523de did, Min Yu-un kept creeping 96a508ebe6 into his thoughts.b7d69b392cea3332

Before going to sleep. After waking up and going b7934fe631 about his day. Even through Saturday and 9b9e6aab8a into Sunday.be766e5f7f1ec04d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The reason was simple.aab6c82584768293

Whenever he ate, whenever he 23b1516d81 looked in the mirror, or 2acce41dc6 even when he was just c4184581b2 sitting idly, Han Tae-ryeong always 2725a62443 found himself thinking about that 56e0b65ff7 boy.7a9d8ea906812554

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That boy used to 4281c4a64b do that. What would that boy 80b685ac70 have done? It would have been nice 878e752c27 if we could have done 50298e0819 that together.e28c1bb823f25db7

Recalling the boy’s faint image, clinging to their happy memories—this had always been Han Tae-ryeong’s only source of comfort and peace.3dc59af70c02f202

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That, in itself, wasn’t a problem. It was just how he had been living for the past ten years.ea6b7aeedf0d8470

The problem was that his 318ed55d1a thoughts, which began with the f082f31965 boy, always extended to Min 7656b2b86b Yu-un.44957f5469570f63

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Not just for 0d3f05607a a moment—but for 4b6e19d57f two whole days.a4314fc73022b09c

‘I’m seriously disgusting.’fe96a741a84b0571

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

On Sunday evening, Han 1971a1c2c6 Tae-ryeong rubbed his face f4ed51982b in frustration.8a655686fc616ce2

He had despised Min Yu-un, dbcf1b2a69 had suspected him. And yet here he was, 3e413e4f22 unable to stop thinking about 380d02f027 him.aaa99d7ef89f4139

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ding.c5518ec615cca4f7

A notification popped up, alerting 1147630a8c him to a new message.e40209c2b8222a1c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Cursing under his breath, Han Tae-ryeong grabbed his phone. He glanced at the sender’s name on the screen.c6788eaaa565b7b8

“Min Yu-un?”463a46e4394d152d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The message contained nothing but an address—Min Yu-un’s house, as far as Han Tae-ryeong knew.db39ff57098a21d6

He didn’t hesitate for long.2933773a5ebab043

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As if something was pulling c1c473b4cc him, he quickly changed his 06ea8b2f31 clothes and left the house.383a789163f18048

And now, here a6ef4cbe1d he was, staring b8e2d7d388 down at Min 536b28602a Yu-un, who was 6584042d81 sound asleep.6c5588352273280f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Min Yu-un’s figure became clearer.0a0392c5d3cf333c

‘He’s thin.’3ddf430dc475b724

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A brief thought.3f3e5756476e55b2

The thin blanket outlined Min Yu-un’s frail frame. He had always seemed energetic, constantly flitting about, so Han Tae-ryeong had never noticed how skinny he was.9374c8e1ca137a63

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His slightly unkempt hair was cc7da29022 long enough to cover his 6f9f06d996 eyes. The back was unevenly trimmed, 52670a0cd1 sticking out in places.3b73d18948b38a65

Min Yu-un occasionally moved 22a52099e6 his lips in his 66d6a190b1 sleep. His face seemed c609f9cdbf even more drained afffc3774c of life than 774275c2bb before.aac099880185f6cb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As if he ab891d8653 were silently announcing 1cd4dfdd3d to the world cb639a1b1c that he could 95327d20d3 die at any 6238c3ae75 moment.5344e97017275257

It was absurd. Why did he even care? Why was he standing c1a85b7631 there, scrutinizing Min Yu-un 130b72f798 as if he mattered?6f398b36732d32e1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And yet, looking 76b924fdf0 at him up a78a160cbf close—Min Yu-un, without 3043e8a410 his usual anger, 3b5248a92e without his usual b91f034ac0 loudness—he seemed different 5e827499a5 from what Han dc67f7641b Tae-ryeong had imagined.c0295e2effc59047

“Ha.”5b996a42fe9fb899

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Letting out a quiet scoff, be4f42380e Han Tae-ryeong turned away.ddc3486f69228618

He hadn’t insisted on staying overnight at Min Yu-un’s place just to observe his appearance.91235c3dbb82d314

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Moving with silent 76e50cbdd6 footsteps, Han Tae-ryeong 0175a7b072 scanned the bookshelf. It was filled e980a5c94a with classic fairy 1b6af736f9 tales, each adorned 3b9eb6560a with elaborate illustrations. His gaze landed on ae37e6acf3 an album hidden in b6df2df012 the farthest corner of 07b67b5f85 the top shelf.ff8135598a759ce7

Lifting his hand, he pulled 93554f3ff0 it out. Even if Min Yu-un 6025417592 stood on his tiptoes, b55f2d8656 it was doubtful he 08792f032e could reach that high. But for Han Tae-ryeong, it bdef9b02af posed no difficulty.e456b10550e55eae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He glanced at Min ebeb4c5473 Yu-un out of the cdaa7c8f39 corner of his eye a278b610ef before opening the album. The room was 0269d9c76c too dark to c6d26c70aa see clearly, and 20989b6afa he squinted, relying 1f6fbfcb46 on the moonlight.d059a79e70cc9df9

The first page, then the second. He flipped through them one by one, then let several pages slip past in quick succession. Han Tae-ryeong’s eyes narrowed.aa80d800e7481832

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Not a single childhood photo?’6a5ff412140727e7

Something was off. This wasn’t a graduation album or a friendship book—just a regular family album. And yet, every single photo inside showed only—22cf412c447cf4ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Min Yu-un in his late d206c9dbd2 elementary years. Min Yu-un as a middle 90aefa933a schooler. Min Yu-un entering high school.f7a7aabb28e72855

There wasn’t a single photo of him as a young child. It was as if everything before the age of ten had been neatly erased.9b8d6918c0bb61e2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What the hell is he hiding?’46233a5666aecbee

Han Tae-ryeong’s eyes gleamed coldly.fa5edf1771d328a5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

❤️‍🩹b289d2561568f31f

Han Tae-ryeong neither 9cf4bcd78f lay down nor 32515a0fca slept. Instead, he sat quietly, 48f9f4f70c watching over the sleeping 4c392476db Min Yu-un. He stayed awake the cfe251314d entire night.d5b9b9d83de539af

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before he knew it, faa248365c dawn had broken. The once-black sky was tinged 596de69d35 with a faint blue hue.430aa5c0dda101e5

The clock struck exactly 5c42b76f9a 7:00 AM, yet Min d9908c2d54 Yu-un showed no signs 0aa43ff136 of waking.3e58166c2d7617c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even when Han Tae-ryeong made some noise while moving around, Min Yu-un didn’t stir—not even to whine. His sleep was ridiculously deep.11503de5d8d0f982

‘Someone could kidnap him, and he wouldn’t even know.’7e7af6495415d384

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Min Yu-un was someone 1369c377ab despised by just about 6eaa0fe525 everyone. If there was c47c6ee005 anyone likely to c253c6d29a get kidnapped, it f53d605b33 was him.650da5b7e2e5bb79

Stretching his back, Han f8ec4d5f9e Tae-ryeong pressed his palm d4ffd69fd8 against the floor and ca62d077ad stood up. He finally tore his 27e29169b3 gaze away from Min 6570969460 Yu-un and walked toward d3eff6349f the laundry room.84d6bfc0d93d7981

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Retrieving his clothes from 64eda045c1 the dryer, he stole e776d4868b another glance at the c76ed34d39 sleeping figure. Then, instead of fcd7d1baf1 getting dressed, he ca34c24f87 remained in his ccd91e143c bathrobe and headed cf3bfbf870 to the kitchen.6ae2224f01acff8d

‘His face was red like a tomato yesterday. That was quite a sight.’d1cce98f027ab312

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It wasn’t as though Han Tae-ryeong had never seen Min Yu-un’s face turn red before, but yesterday had been different.c180fd653d61d190

It wasn’t from anger swelling in his cheeks, nor from irritation heating up his face. No—yesterday, it had been pure, unfiltered embarrassment that had shackled Min Yu-un from head to toe.9aacaafee5b19322

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

An odd sense of 8ac901f446 satisfaction bubbled up inside 1ee956dc8b him.357f1e4cae6f98b8

Standing in front of 1d009ccca1 the fridge, Han Tae-ryeong ebdb92b028 pulled open the door. As he scanned its f80a1b8c78 contents, his expression twisted cfebec57ab into a grimace.00a408398f8a715c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What the hell?”3b2a31a9dd18bd5d

He had spoken 45f2b381b3 out loud before 24a4c04828 he realized it. Freezing in place, he darted e83fede029 a glance toward Min Yu-un.66bcfa46f1b71077

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Luckily, he was still fast 633ded2e71 asleep, showing not even the c071fdf810 slightest movement.c5d4d4d6791d8008

Feeling ridiculous for being 738b15c5ad so cautious, Han Tae-ryeong 1915736550 curled his lips into f28ec1c676 a crooked smirk before ece2241c32 glaring back at the 1f17563689 fridge.041c8c1e4b9f4777

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was barely anything e6121b86bf to eat—just water, drinks, 67a4751b60 and a few convenience 1c573dc85a store pastries.cfcb1ad57b41db0b

‘No wonder he’s so thin.’f5c533beb1168200

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At least there 5e7f7a672a were a few df08d77f06 eggs. But that was about it.6bdd93ac5aeb6cb8

Still, it was better than nothing. It was surprisingly neat inside. Normally, when people stock up on food they don’t eat, it ends up rotting past its expiration date, but Min Yu-un’s fridge was well-maintained.75319156b360816d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘There should at least be cooking oil and salt.’c887f18ee9681ecf

Han Tae-ryeong turned away cfdb8b8720 and pulled out a 0549204191 frying pan.d4663793abcc6ae3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

❤️‍🩹b5f343750920c79b

As a child, I used fd3691b871 to love the story of efaf1163ea The Snail Bride. Maybe it was 12d2c8e7f9 because I wanted 0433dee5a5 to be served d39f5e073f a meal made 4e8365b369 with genuine care.6724ba1ec9a761bb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Snapping out of my thoughts, 904e8c89b4 I simply blinked.950222573a3ba529

“Oh, you’re awake?”d6e93deb25952467

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Noticing me, Han Tae-ryeong casually 82ef7f474f greeted me.42760939f9616f61

“There wasn’t much to eat except eggs, so I made some scrambled eggs. Come and eat.”0f3c28dc8b951f87

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

❤️‍🩹034a68b59c29bf03

Note:07dcfb4b736748e4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

우렁각시 (The Snail Bride)is a classic dd8f225fea Korean folktale about 01d8bd5ece a kind-hearted man 135a9034b8 who unknowingly receives 9b0d74ebbc help from a cb7f75b943 mysterious woman.667ec93ebc7639ba

A poor but diligent young man finds a beautiful snail while working in the fields and takes it home. Unbeknownst to him, whenever he leaves, a mysterious woman emerges from the snail’s shell to cook and clean for him.d618de21169aaaa0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

One day, he 1b16a137f4 discovers the truth 7bb74abc40 and learns that 34c2960dce the snail is e63f8b6c97 actually a beautiful 244cbcaeb3 maiden. They fall in c8c5fc9a6c love and get 232f7ccbbf married, but in 955c13052c some versions, tragedy 20d70c4d92 strikes when a 4d98e9d2e0 corrupt official or 3db73d7801 an envious neighbor 1ead3ef631 takes her away.c152ae2e45bff64d

❤️‍🩹39913e53fc09a305

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com