ANQ | Chapter 5

Minyoung gently seated his grandmother and opened the box of dried persimmons he brought. He picked the biggest, plumpest one and handed it to her, urging her to try it. But then he realized that his grandmother, with her weak teeth, couldn’t easily bite into it.13630cf3e6a2a21b

Minyoung quickly 25fff12a35 got up, 3eec8272c4 washed his 94d31515a4 hands thoroughly, 1da837ad44 and returned 891adb3160 with kitchen 92c7a9237c scissors to 21151a5b43 cut the 5832b8db3d persimmon into 0895294b09 bite-sized pieces.8e7501df2700d4d5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s not too hard, Grandma. It’ll be okay.”462c5dddbec8fbf1

Minyoung picked up a small piece of persimmon and fed it to his grandmother. Watching her chew, he asked warmly, “Grandma, is it good?”8482a12ab4430178

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s sweet. Really delicious. Did the owner give you such nice persimmons? Be thankful. My dear, you should try some too.”0840c42488c0e23d

Minyoung accepted the persimmon his grandmother offered without a word. There were times in his childhood when even meals were hard to come by. Forget snacks; they filled their stomachs with rice boiled in water and a side of salty kimchi. In winter, they huddled together in an unheated room, relying on each other’s warmth.efe68423edcb7893

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even when he needed money for school, he couldn’t bring himself to ask his grandmother, often skipping school instead.0e00579b6cab3fdd

Yet, he never 457c0d76cf felt unhappy. No matter 56601ef0f2 how much 4b2d75856c he clung 2e92dd4ea4 or pestered, b2dd1af6a3 his grandmother 8a4ee1176a never showed 72a00a1499 annoyance, always 0cd3aecb7b holding young 65320c2bb0 Minyoung close. She showered 16b3e66c1e him with 2f015d0f4d love, calling d0531e37f3 him admirable, e79424b34e pretty, and d37da24c52 precious, never fb80e0e734 holding back 2d2ecd0e08 her kind 80e4eaf816 words.e01995cb50826161

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Grandma, how about we go eat something delicious this Sunday?”f2d165ca428cf49e

“Oh, no, we should save money. That way, my dear can go back to college.”c9b4ef2a395b6f93

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t worry, I’m saving up. I just want to go on a date with you. How about we go eat some ribs, Grandma?”fea8909bd14ea952

Minyoung bent down and nestled into his now petite grandmother’s arms, burying his face in her warm embrace.0b8a5c09ab8773bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Mm, Grandma smells nice.”1c55a3b19f83cb99

“What’s so nice about an old lady’s smell?”928fe55c4d0c3239

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s not like that. I think Grandma’s smell is the best in the world…”d810aa3997b14b0a

As the years deepened on his grandmother’s face, so did the anxiety in Minyoung’s heart. He knew that no matter what, people couldn’t live forever, but he wished his grandmother would stay by his side like this forever. Minyoung wanted to earn a proper living soon to do many things for her.daa985f633e12c45

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Grandma, when spring comes, let’s go see the flowers and visit Grandpa’s grave. I’ll take you there.”5ff5fd1a29d95477

“Flower viewing sounds nice.”5c16a14a7724b80e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Feeling the comforting pat on his back, Minyoung closed his eyes. His grandmother’s voice, calling him “our Minyoung,” seemed to resonate somewhere deep in his chest. Though he had no religion, Minyoung sometimes earnestly wished to an unspecified entity. Please let my grandmother live a long, long time.5c910558bcd9a727

♣ • ♣ 23b5923f2d • ♣cb54e4b21b0eec1f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Minyoung, now 4e4104d73c in his bf16bc1a3e uniform, came 5e6188d684 out of ec76b2aa6c the storage ac437f7c66 room carrying 4c61fb5880 an armful cb4cbba8cb of supplies. He walked through f933b9e4d3 the warm air fe3c4492a1 of the heated 6a901a9af6 store and set 75da4b9cbf the items down 791500126d on the workbench.f9344fa56762752a

Preparing for 304bc73119 business was c6dbc10550 entirely Minyoung’s 8d131017f5 responsibility. He moved swiftly, 143059bf7e organizing the counter a428c9c084 according to his abe0e7fa3f self-imposed order.79c0b0def00e6cbe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He stocked 889786a362 an adequate 6e16d4ed71 amount of 953fb969d0 cups and aed66dd6d9 straws and 9284271eff placed the d012a9bd4a tools that 01d055cb4c had dried 63872ea410 overnight back 133e0a8d64 in their f30e679f53 places. He carefully checked 12e120d7a1 the ingredient containers 91a3d5bb12 to see if 5eed0277b4 any needed replenishing.81532564e9b6b1c5

He added more 4c06e9cc9e beans to the fc3d0d4a6d grinder and turned 9c03bb116d on the equipment f44e1a215d one by one, 4c5ad699ef completing the preparations.5c8899d679c242cd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Having finished the setup e1c80e98e2 as usual, Minyoung dusted c03be05231 off his hands. He turned on the 5d8a5e9864 POS system and entered ed6738cfc2 the cash float. Thanks to his c4055d781c quick preparations, there 37e6ff5e43 was still time 65ef6b11a2 before opening. He decided to 999b7b3a95 play music just 282eaa63a0 before opening.c6527e213a8ced7e

While wiping d15cbb45ee the counter 28af885732 with a f6c9854fd0 damp cloth, c544b31fc2 the bell 7a79eae81d on the e004dec79d entrance door f77e733930 jingled. A young male ac060cf30c customer peeked in 0213ce9216 through the open 68b3de7193 door. Thinking he might 8eac0a8e1d not have seen d9967fa3df the closed sign, 260803d80d Minyoung politely informed 3d0ef11585 him.3797c732b49ed9ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sorry, but we’re not open yet.”11ba4c0c8a7ab8f1

“Oh, really?”a4d25cebba44aa29

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even after acknowledging that it wasn’t opening time, the male customer entered the café. Wearing a black padded jacket and with dyed yellow hair, the customer hesitated at the door, watching Minyoung.cb1466271d42adea

“What time do you open?”b294d972a09a1692

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“8:40.”b2ca62f4441d5f38

“Then can I sit over there and wait to order?”f1a161dc06fafb6f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sorry, but please come back when we’re open.”c01d6901fe0b2823

The owner’s instruction was to strictly adhere to the opening and closing times. If they started serving outside those hours, regular customers might get confused. Minyoung also didn’t want to give up the brief respite before opening.4b9158ea654d21c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll be quiet.”6a9301f12cd52f53

The male customer smiled and took another step inside. Usually, people would leave when told it wasn’t opening time, but today’s customer seemed determined to have this café’s coffee. Should he just let him sit and wait since it was cold outside? Minyoung fiddled with the cloth, contemplating, then spoke up.54bb138e5aee844b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Um, sorry, but….”c9972d69213f0755

“There’s not much time left. I’ll wait quietly.”12687845b7b73329

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s the policy.”e77bb134fde51703

“It’s cold outside, don’t be so harsh.”bd9468a96a9bc85d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s not being harsh; it’s the rule, sir. If you’re in a hurry, please use the café across the street.”1e223c7af1890c28

Suddenly, a man who had opened the café door answered on Minyoung’s behalf. The customer, startled by the man’s large build, took a step back.f3fdc68486db8623

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man, 25a67226d2 holding the 62f402f7b7 door, gestured f4a6764a51 with his ea3f7b97f6 chin towards dee7f4f667 the exit. The customer, looking up cab3393c74 at the man who 32dd0cdaa6 was raising his eyebrows 624071b3db as if urging him 84e90e40a2 to leave, glanced back 551e34a3fa at Minyoung.fb62fc98b329d8cd

Seeing Minyoung silently 39a0b24a5c watching, the customer 846a8ad165 awkwardly smiled and c4c60a4c02 walked out. As soon e528674cc1 as the a70bf7e86a customer left, 80cec6d398 the man 8d053c129e gently closed 6c5173f293 the door 2b5b204362 and stood 65ad8bf24f by it, e25c61c056 watching until 7337d2cc9a the customer fc18db9e64 disappeared.e9ea51d73c8ba803

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t give in to 717fde02f5 people like that. They’ll just keep bothering 466e61bcb9 you.”cf64a62f65b55020

Minyoung chuckled 0860bf87a5 at the 9c442e1b0f man’s words. Calling someone f560d41b66 bothersome—wasn’t that 4f83118c3f something this d8e8e2ab0f man shouldn’t bdd59e7e31 say?d3308a62e444eb2b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man, 3fed31a4cf who was 1071376f0c also a 022374a314 customer, had fbe04ead9c confidently walked 0c6be4f136 in after 6caa10d4d0 driving another bffbbb7329 customer out. In the a1644cf918 empty store b845e3f19f before opening, 33a147784c the man’s f4ea718077 footsteps echoed 879a4a8da2 loudly.d8820133f74c07ee

Somehow, the man’s 0561a4b5a2 face seemed clearer 22c3869789 than usual, perhaps c8dc6592e6 because he wasn’t 9a4823d9b2 in his usual f4d335badc attire.6b16b973fc54dab7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why make a 3230452829 fuss when there c173ff6f2c are other cafés 9eac9a0983 around?”9ca4480f7e2aed44

The man continued. The reason the 7e4ee677a7 earlier customer had 377629fb11 obediently left was 7780d85828 probably not just 09dfc9736b because of the 870b33b5a3 man’s large build 64a3b2a482 and height. There was be689c695c an aura 1ede865ea3 about the 44aceb5c09 man in e8690f6e07 the jacket 14d708d86d that seemed 3aed5f8405 to command a5cb8e4388 people.fef7b6fd2ba78bd9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There sure are 092a28e5e4 a lot of c3c0d016cd strange people.”99afc3da288688ae

The man 2ac73d49eb stopped in 118345c369 front of c14e9db064 Minyoung.d91c007a15543b45

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

However, it was 923074de6a overstepping for the 206f9d839d man to send 96e46660d3 away a customer 8bc9351d92 whom Minyoung had 7cec7f90f2 tried to politely 7c722f4d8d refuse. The customer wasn’t so 0bfe79f081 strange that he was eb6af4606d difficult to deal with, dddf57eb52 and there was no 51718db9f4 reason for the man 3319b96ff5 to intervene.e5b4c52c0a72de66

Leaning on 922c1eac4a the counter, e6b0f49bbc the man f739aee2dc was dressed 209db83a81 the same a2715e3d60 as when 7d17cb0bfa they met 06be4938c8 on the 1405510ddc street. Despite the early morning, d7c1b53b0a there was a strong b651e25bed scent of alcohol from a5bb4aed26 the man. It seemed more ac17c9308a like the alcohol 2bc405427f from the night 2f238d4229 before hadn’t worn 1b6581fb10 off rather than 4d71bf91bf him having drunk f034b37b6b that morning.a7a3a0bb05f3640d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man, with a64c1340f7 his forehead half-exposed, ffa0686771 rubbed his chest dd05887e6c with his large 02bae0ac7a hand.96aa5f5a85d5658a

“My stomach hurts. One strawberry smoothie, please.”45bc1f607241fb2c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While the 3b79ab5180 man took f5126a440b out his b80a83d1b9 wallet, Minyoung c32fc6b8b5 glanced at c9e5f2bdd1 the time. 8:25. The man handed 9bfab9d291 over a card, 4b869c15cf and Minyoung tilted 5191779aea his head slightly.e53ba7bc47909e1f

“Sorry, but it’s not opening time yet.”105101ab75064277

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s eyebrows arched in disbelief at Minyoung’s response. Minyoung, with a business smile, calmly added, “It’s the rule.”36d2dc551d37d289

It was b1f97f6d51 still before 3f782cb3f1 opening, and 853d8452bd the man e6cec040d0 was also 1ee576eb3d a customer 94435dc622 subject to 4705093911 that rule. It felt like 15eb813bad playing a slightly ef15d3bf65 mischievous prank.d3572cf62b23adcb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leaving the man 1b04e8c265 standing, Minyoung neatly c97d6fc03d arranged the cloths f72d18afa4 and started the dede83d332 grinder to grind 22706626f1 the beans. Having a cup of f775e21fa2 coffee before starting work 47048eb8f3 was part of his bd5adf5f1c opening routine.697ccd0f48cf9d0c

“Wow. How can 559c15afbd you do 00c8135d55 this to 21f0dc5a0d me? Go Minyoung, why 4f9125214d are you so 37f003ffbe heartless?”1a9fe01324834bc8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Rules are there 0bcf6e5647 to be followed. You know that.”6c0fda61151c12e7

“You’re really heartless.”dea9acbb20bffb46

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man, seemingly forgetting 497a237317 how he had sent 9a803a0540 the previous customer away, 8bb5af524f pretended to cry, calling 2310ca50d7 Minyoung heartless. What caught Minyoung’s ea0f421c28 attention more than 4db3814cce the word “heartless” 4973d1f00f was being called 95772c06c1 “you.” He regretted 891ca702e3 having shared his 89f33e8d35 name.33fc2fb72078d1a8

“Why am I your 4a5e21f88c ‘you’? Come back later.”9c275fba93a5b227

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Minyoung waved e4dd103691 his hand fb45bc2d0c dismissively. Seeing that c9a40bc4b1 Minyoung wasn’t 81dba64456 going to b2acb23b1b relent, the 5b6db532bb man reluctantly d8a9dd479a dropped his 9636fa293d shoulders and 8a022b81dc headed for f8eae98b1b the door.704cb2be469843b2

Minyoung skillfully filled 0ef1f002b4 the portafilter with af290f2102 ground coffee. He tapped the 8fb18d3636 portafilter with the d5e974cd9e tamper to shake 4df340ac2a off excess grounds, 5623485e4f then pressed down 3aba5b4591 firmly with the 40efb439f4 tamper.9bba26331ad7bad6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After letting aa4a7adc4b a bit 2007741d13 of water 656e447089 out of dbad9f6587 the preheated da1803b5f8 coffee machine, 8e065d1642 he attached 0e100bfd6b the portafilter. As the machine started, b562b15127 the sound of coffee a0370fab21 being extracted filled the 10d69a5ae0 air. The rich, dff80f6386 brown espresso 6cd5fcb5e5 trickled into 59b06472e6 the glass.ddb3de5e6ef35b9b

Even though he 2e3f7b9517 tried not to 62f6886cbb look, the man’s f1eb5d32da figure was clearly 1efd3a79e1 in his view. Minyoung tried 80c1ca6547 not to 5f6b1d98ea laugh as dd382ba019 he watched.8849b2a834bbfc6f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man b6689a1575 was practically 5f429a7bec clinging to 991e5c6ee4 the café’s 4d3121179a glass wall. With his large 1c9eaf549c hand pressed against b604215aaf the glass, he 7662d70c56 stared at Minyoung, 0074b7b474 mouthing “Go Minyoung.”e42d511fb4bba791

Perhaps because of his 5861329944 large build and brown 82511ab786 jacket, the man looked 3290410f5d like a bear. Like a bear aec3576952 trying to get a4290dd492 the zookeeper’s attention. It was 424c6c3c5d as if 4d943ff19c Minyoung could 341b2bce72 hear what 22c4d3d780 the man 800a130771 wanted to aa8215d122 say.cb819802c5c88918

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How can dd06587db5 you do bead655fb3 this to afb89b09c6 someone you cac1940432 see every 9798ad655c day? How can 3fdcb018fc you be 0f7368dbd6 so heartless 0821c27688 to a df9c38c80a handsome customer c3441c0578 like me?”e26625909025f37f

Minyoung, making an fa656f2a9a Americano by pouring 5a85a0da27 espresso into a 286721cb7f cup filled with ec65a577d2 ice and cold 94b6135724 water, started drinking 878a24a2d2 while looking at 53ff8099a1 the man. The man pressed c2aaa0c6b3 his forehead against ca15ea4df9 the glass, staring e1c5de57f4 at Minyoung.359ca1d03b99f4e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He even pretended to fe7e8cdf92 knock on the glass 206399b32e with his fist in 8a83377deb protest.f3d664be8967651b