AGC | Chapter 2.3

“…But do you think Cha Minhyung will listen to me?”d4c216c1b51317fa

Kim Mari’s lips moved slightly before a long sigh escaped.f40779930f591456

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Of course.”57d2f2fe02adf90e

She spoke 1a5933bb1a with certainty, d2cfb75d02 staring intently 0665658f0f at Jiwan.fc8caf5e570125d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Because it’s you, Jiwan-nim.”2042b8475e471bcb

Without saying anything 4ad392939b more, she handed aea9a6684a him a phone ef3f09e045 and left the 21205e80be bedroom. Jiwan looked down at 24012d7f76 the phone in his 221119a054 hand. The number 116dec78c6 was already 0dfe394cdd dialed. He was supposed 8684d5ab5d to call and b5e093698c speak directly. There was no choice.f71f9ddfff7ce6a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear, listening to the dry, regular dial tone. It wasn’t long before the tone stopped. Seeing no words, he checked the screen again to find the call connected.9141ba09f9bbd4a4

“It’s me, Yoon Jiwan.”ca4444ebdc20e61c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was 0e4275c84a silence on 652634892e the other a6517e03ae end.1e9f5c3ccde6d09e

“I’m just saying this in case, but it might be my imagination.”d2c69a52a698b40a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

―…….b2ec309319c39803

“I called to prevent you from making a mistake because of me.”f62d576151a57d29

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jiwan adjusted 55b3624d31 his grip 3e245b093a on the f04e513a8e phone, biting ee0cd801c2 his dry 5f53faccb8 lips.ec3ab84b664a33bc

―It’s not your imagination; it is because of you, Jiwan-ssi.fd921cb53efb42e2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Minhyung’s voice was lower than ever, emphasizing each word.6fc1e18579223f73

―And it’s not a mistake.19eb0d8be2068bc9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I don’t know the reason, but acting emotionally usually leads to mistakes.”a5def37456734ee1

Thinking of Kim Mari’s face, he didn’t have the luxury to prolong the conversation. He was about to speak again, but Minhyung beat him to it.c76ac62cd54f7e3b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

―Who can 862e71325f stay rational 7c88ceb1dc when their dba688ce30 own gets 21ce7839c0 hurt?39b9327db498a02b

…His own? Was he talking about me? Jiwan was a bit taken aback and speechless. Minhyung’s occasional offhand remarks were always so absurd.ac316ac5c7ed8f1e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

―I have a rough idea of what kind of environment you’ve lived in, Jiwan-ssi.e0871d7e2251a30c

“What?”7cbec703d24086f7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

―So I didn’t want you to experience that here.f708f024a28939fd

It was hard 28fa0e045e to imagine what 34f51110de kind of expression e4e6e700b4 Cha Minhyung had 90ade7a134 just from his 346c4e4efb voice. Too many emotions were af5ee508b7 mixed in—guilt, regret, anger… bb5f965a68 too many emotions were abd0c79a7a intertwined. Jiwan swallowed dryly, 9f17980580 adjusting his grip 86d421e7af on the phone. It was difficult to cf08e6ed7a have a conversation over 5617c4f98c the phone.e114ec6eb1b30c77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If you’re free today, can you come to the villa?”b2538f9afd33de34

Let’s talk face to face. Jiwan added with a deep breath.a7f46ff1e38c84e8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let’s have a drink together.”5a3cc386c6967c80

Honestly, having a drink wouldn’t change much, but it might allow for a more honest conversation. Jiwan anxiously awaited the response from the other end of the line.5146e2d45bb26046

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

―…Okay, I understand.025a370c5deb290d

Only then 1675fe99d5 could he bbc1b76137 breathe a d7cbd2eced sigh of 2a8a889665 relief. His tense 44474997c8 body relaxed 71407db09e onto the 862f58c167 bed.53dc07adce0764a3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

―Then I’ll cancel what I was preparing.86bc2c18db73adb8

He got goosebumps. He had no idea what Minhyung had been preparing during the days he hadn’t been seen. Was he really planning to go after his brother? But he didn’t pry further and kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t something he wanted to hear in detail.78b5405c119287d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

―I’ll be there soon.304d8ffa81a75271

“…Alright.”a7171ddf8aa25987

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jiwan silently looked 1083ac471c down at the 1b098d1da8 phone screen after e8fa21ee27 the call ended, 164758872e then got up. When he opened f3fd51ae76 the bedroom door, 373b4ee8e7 Kim Mari was b49f8cfea1 waiting with her 520cff6b2c arms crossed. When he 8d575ceec6 handed her 9269bc6354 the phone c3a1473322 and nodded, 8cb9cb7902 her previously f776e1c30e worried face c78b544c39 brightened a 3bc7ab2736 little, relieved e8adfe0064 that things 71894dc074 had been 18385cd60e resolved as 79ccda239e she wanted.738359603400d89e

Lying back on 6e041b7453 the bed and 0b439b565e looking out the 3fd4442c7b window, he noticed 52583acac9 the sun was a5f216ed6e setting. Jiwan watched 8a28cf42df the sky 50297b8f7c gradually turn b4b20c5241 a deep a58e23dcbb orange, like e06c59156d spreading paint, 1d944d1a75 and closed eb1d0a3f30 his eyes. His head was 317b30f33f starting to ache 2facb2821c a bit.11569ef216f75b38

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He hadn’t realized it before, but he thought his existence might be significant to Minhyung. It wasn’t just because of past connections; it felt like something more.91a1a3b0caa159c6

But why? Was saving young Cha 9ced1f2e94 Minhyung, who had thought 8b1ceed50d of ending his life, 46bbd69326 such a big deal e9d7b318dc that it changed his 669578cf0e life or values? No, that might d5831f04dd be too self-centered. Holding onto c4a4ae61cd an unsolvable 72748fd1b1 problem only 6b460a9a31 made his 43892bc198 head hurt 0cca1ae08c more. It was better to a2cea46b46 meet and have a 4e7665778b conversation than to keep ff54f9765c worrying.52caa280aaa6105e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

⋆ ☾⋆ 1054e6034f ☾⋆ ☾⋆47e67f524661635e

When he 7395d45045 opened his 9a6cb1df62 eyes, it d20a7c59b1 was already 62606bc3bc midnight, and 30cb09c901 the room db64088ba6 was dimly 72be918ef8 lit with c0830ec96a only indirect 5b028b5e68 lighting. It seemed that 0eaf077efc if you did 12ab9971d7 nothing, you could 1e8a9d3acc sleep all day. When he was busy 9230c90ae9 living a hectic life, 7ec2458ad3 he found people who ed5ce42ebf slept a lot fascinating, 4b169dcbd2 but now he could aff75c3efe understand them.b4fffd12c3909bbd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”197b3b178721eb8a

Blinking his eyes 664fec6653 to adjust to 7236d4e9f7 the darkness, Jiwan e3194c6660 almost had a c1fc0879b7 heart attack when c39d27949a he suddenly turned 2e0a2cd0e3 his gaze.d126949c646165af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What are you doing?”4a63eca86aea5f71

Cha Minhyung was sitting 3fa472642b on the sofa in 95286273ea the room. On the table in 77847c14d8 front of him were 24a0aac8c4 drinks and snacks. Jiwan, with e650019b05 a bewildered 4d87149b37 expression, got 58fcce2bf8 up and 3ed0df5f6c turned on caba8fce16 the main 7403f73a57 lights, approaching 5fb7e333f1 him awkwardly.6dc5f1b0bfbfd99e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…No, what are you doing?”e33d73749dcb97d2

Sitting in front of Minhyung and cautiously observing him, he didn’t seem drunk.6ca559ba4ffeaebc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I was drinking.”f09ab5bab7697e43

It’s not like I didn’t know you were drinking. I’m asking why you’re doing it alone. Jiwan let out a short sigh and picked up the bottle in front of Minhyung, pouring it into an empty glass. It was a whiskey he didn’t recognize. He had even brought two glasses but hadn’t bothered to wake him.0ae96faef10825de

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You should’ve woken me if you came.”f73275f11acb3dce

“How could I wake someone who’s sleeping?”43a2c5c3bc550c40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re really clueless. I called you here.”60b231ce62626aa0

The table 5467d9b7ee was filled e988a615f8 with fruit 8f3ce10ac2 snacks. Judging by 9ce4f6f29a the well-cut 1e0dc97104 fruits, Kwak 9916dc4479 Jungsu must db78666b70 have prepared cd49892ab1 them himself. Jiwan picked 839a323faf up a 2b0c5dbeb6 piece of 6e380eb870 pineapple with 0ce80bf4ce a fork 4d11651b4b and ate d716d70633 it, quietly ebba06b293 watching Minhyung. Judging by the abundance 8ad5371114 of snacks, it seemed 053f216ad0 he had just been 3af23d56cd drinking alone.b0faf7a2cf00b66f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You know.”e40ea1e57fc81ee7

Minhyung watched 7a8da37317 Jiwan chew 80f1b4ab0b the pineapple 474363bc5c in his 9a100562f0 mouth.e38554b6b5f0c5fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Thanks for coming.”2ed4b7bb84e2d335

“No problem.”da4671cefde97e0c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Shall we talk? If you’re okay with it.”9e8900c5fb9bcae5

Minhyung nodded while fiddling ea4f3d1a87 with his glass.b1b525d22128e4fb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Where should he start? He should’ve thought more about this before falling asleep. Jiwan hesitated for a long time. Both of them weren’t particularly talkative.b9fa7e854f96c1a1

“Just call me hyung comfortably.”e224133608d8f3c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It seemed better to get rid of the formal address of “Jiwan-ssi.” It was only a one-year age difference, but the formality made it harder.8fd62ed720ce486a

“…Hyung?”e86acf6492998c32

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jiwan looked 30b8577939 at him 8f388ee1a5 with a 756d269701 puzzled expression. Now that he noticed, 65f5527f31 Minhyung had a habit ca41dade59 of slightly furrowing his c7f7d59f05 left eye when he a1a8c6d4ef was flustered.d0c9d17e08d9da25

“I think it’ll be easier to talk if we’re comfortable with each other.”000d0689fb62b53d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…….”d8a950cc5e557f47

While sipping his drink, Jiwan observed Minhyung’s expression. He didn’t seem to dislike it.771f0f53bacbf712

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Alright.”d029b65921881fd4

Minhyung hesitated 48d5cc3415 a bit ff089c7dde before smiling f35a453775 faintly.5a90d4afc3883d74

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Jiwan hyung.”febad4a8e8eb359b

Jiwan slightly shrugged his d469bfcf47 shoulders. Hearing it felt strangely ef9df8c706 ticklish somewhere in his 08585e241a body.3f836d5046cb8a86

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, just because he changed the way he addressed him to hyung didn’t mean Cha Minhyung suddenly became talkative. He wasn’t the type to suddenly become friendly just because he dropped the formalities.f274671f738893a1

“I like making my own drinks.”708b2b35829da383

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When Minhyung a26b6870a0 silently opened 7e1b43a7a0 the whiskey f5931a9f40 bottle cap, 9fcd08b902 Jiwan reached 54aba810f8 out.1a1005ccfc30f461

“I’ll pour it for you.”3fffc7ced46bc028

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minhyung placed the mouth bc25ac3767 of the opened whiskey 57ff9fba8e bottle on a strangely f4f4c9c126 shaped small glass and 4b42cc9418 poured it in a bbedd3bda5 swirling motion.396934187c0e2e40

“Is that how you’re supposed to drink whiskey? It’s a bit flashy.”3bc4039ff301897c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It enhances the aroma. Try smelling it.”b48447be30946a5b

When he brought the glass to his nose, it indeed had a pleasant scent. It smelled like fruit at first whiff. The ingredients of the scent didn’t seem simple. Apple, quince, pear, and a hint of wood. With his limited knowledge, he couldn’t quite describe such a sophisticated aroma.677a02b8df53a4f5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re right. It smells good.”9e16c518d76d0287

“I haven’t decanted in a while.”e4cef1a7b6973044

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Dec… what? Jiwan was too 4415047e61 embarrassed to ask, 7a45746eac so he held db7e395b4d back his words. He nodded quietly 5fe622ef6a and drank the a326dd93af small amount of 52ab34db72 liquor at the 2117ee8fc7 bottom of the 4caae9a8fe glass.9715922ec407f80a

“…There’s a reason you poured a little. It’s strong. But it’s good.”e5d71fe5bde70551

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”1b6741b46d7a2495

The coffee c88c2152ed color made ec1b408663 it seem 1eef70efd8 like it 682fd4c5d0 would be 956173aaa2 extremely bitter, 4fcc8ba80b but it 98a0338f28 was sweet 2d4ae96dc7 when he adc4070665 drank it. It was 5b69ce4ae4 sweet but 4e3aafe5eb not syrupy fc0902e081 like a 4e85b034bc drink, and f4aad1833d the sensation 4318a1f155 of it 741f392e99 going down ab3850d825 his throat 9c88a89575 was very f29e6f3bfd refreshing. The rich aroma filled 9350f25762 his esophagus and mouth, 5168337f01 making it hard to 215875344b quickly take another sip. It was very different bdd19324be from the tempo of 218f3d94af pouring and drinking soju dbf70b4122 when times were tough.ce435f5f04104b24

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Try this too.”7fb4c2c7a4e2e198

Minhyung handed 551445e915 him a 7476a91ea1 cracker topped b2d288f9c4 with cheese 81a6fb67de and tomato. When he tried 63af5ac907 it, the salty 2ba46bc1c4 taste of the cefb36bc2b cracker and the 032156f73b savory taste of 7c1fdba9f9 the tomato made 9ac23b6340 him crave the 4aaa574435 taste of the ca485e1c40 liquor going down 56430a7aec his throat even 687f42645a more.d31e47e6f55ede43

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is your body okay now?”f2b757e219ec82c1

“Yeah, I’m fine.”5fa78b89fba4de0b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jiwan wished he were a bit more affectionate. Then he’d be better at expressing gratitude for the medicine and everything else. But when it came time to say thank you, the words just wouldn’t come out.7b8fa94af4f440e5

“I have some questions.”54f0ca9d26cbeb85

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Go ahead.”5fb6ac2ccc9944a4

Minhyung poured whiskey into Jiwan’s glass, waiting for him to speak.5e87678673c1d844

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You mentioned a deal involving me with your brother. What was that about?”2756f0126510f73b

Instead of answering, Minhyung 762001538f poured himself a drink.5c21b382728a63fe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jiwan expected he wouldn’t answer. Beyond his own situation, Cha Minhyung seemed entangled with Cha Yongjun in many ways. Watching him, Jiwan felt a heavy heart. Despite preparing everything at the villa for him, Cha Minhyung seemed to be hiding something significant. Jiwan didn’t know how to act toward him.e811eb802379542a

“Never mind.”93e7500736e25406

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jiwan shook his head and poured whiskey into his glass. Minhyung quietly added some ice to Jiwan’s glass. It was diluted but still strong.7e2802eaf1309054

The two of d23e67f258 them drank in a5bda73034 silence for a 4b7fe2d2de while. In the quiet room, 2ca575c0e9 only the faint ticking c604eae696 of the newly installed 79b6dfdd78 clock could be heard.9a16fbfbf0e7f81a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Drinking continuously after just ebd23e1255 waking up made his b4775a24d6 face heat up quickly. As Jiwan 8c6ccec64d swallowed a 8259fce2a7 handful of c6986d6017 snacks and 0e500f4b71 choked, Minhyung e5ceb798b3 poured water 874f6b5623 into an 02052ff491 ice-filled glass.3142bf6276279f65

“It was a deal, indeed.”66767e563a9aba67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jiwan met Minhyung’s gaze as he handed over the ice water. Looking closely, his pupils were a deep black. Those dark eyes held a mysterious aura. Staring at them for a while, Jiwan took the ice water and drank it. He needed to clear his head a bit.64a6feedcf2c9e8b

“What kind of deal involved me?”cf5b1d34e210e05e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It kept bothering him. He wondered if Cha Minhyung had been caught up in something. It was funny to think this way as a captive, but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t want Minhyung to suffer because of him.5f679088935ec4e2

“Originally, the person to manage you, Jiwan-ssi… Jiwan hyung, was technically my brother.”8152e308797da6b8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Cha Yongjun?”358f5ebc51b954c6

Just thinking ee6277bed2 about it 56461f5382 was horrifying. The memory of 7708591416 being beaten to 7ed24a8dac a pulp a a2017f34d1 few days ago a6094b1d8d was fresh. If he a6bf69f000 had been 18a824546b kidnapped by 0c7e93fdc0 that guy, f81800837a he might 3051864d39 have been 59e2d45ac2 tortured naked.3ce4a6ad679597ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“There was a high chance you’d be sold somewhere.”9544593573d578d4

Jiwan looked at Minhyung, 1ef2babf9e bewildered.97c76eb7e9f8794d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com