BYBM Chapter 5 (Part 2)

“And for someone so cb99f06995 capable as a priest, 9598fa2651 your massage really is c151fec504 at a beginner’s level.”6f906b02b16801eb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hyun Tae-oh 97069cf827 muttered, glancing 3e777b8e4c at him.e830487d4c2d8b14

Seriously? He had failed that 1b5e7023bb class, so it wasn’t c6ab211281 wrong, but still—how could 542fb91255 he say that while 4ace7d9945 someone’s trying their best? Yoo Hyun-jin narrowed e863c82e68 his eyes.58bee71f7acf09a9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course, you 589195eb2d can’t be compared ad45e6e1e9 to a professional f0fd0f7eca rehab specialist, and b281fde7d7 even taking into ac1517ac58 account that you’re 707389c4a0 not trained… it’s 7fde169ad8 really not helpful 87eab9b695 at all.”1e756315e1a6d7b9

“…”2885ece3aecb34a9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So don’t go around 21b39f47ff massaging strangers. Just do 120979ba07 it for 255ecb973a me. It might 45961ebd69 not help 6ab36bb51c the pain, f30ccf8b97 but it’s eee75afca5 good for 9babfbf7e6 fatigue.”24b82eefb7cd7622

Just as Yoo aee7314caa Hyun-jin was about d2c7a5ec19 to stop, Hyun 746a617a0f Tae-oh told him 553688c626 to continue and 912cf23019 leaned back on 344fac93ee the sofa, even 4977b1833d closing his eyes.53a413a4dcae85b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was so a9a553130d smug, it was fe55f43032 tempting to squeeze 44de07f78a right on the 577cc200e5 injury—but Yoo Hyun-jin 25b9070ca8 didn’t know exactly e83d9b6545 where the surgery 8dbd9dd4d4 had been, so 1ceea706f1 he let it 9713cacd67 go. He also stopped using da59bbaf43 his divine power—not so a02989cb24 much out of pettiness, 481b5a02c5 but because the pain b29f386798 in his own hip ff24ce84d9 was becoming suspiciously sharp.26859a6d5f3a5fa2

Meanwhile, the 1b668e609f wind that acd00bf650 had earlier 6b75f4d9c7 howled like 86703c3b53 blades began 16b1f5b6d1 to settle. Dry grass 8259c4ab25 rustled instead cba710c4f9 of branches—a d00e676fdd lonely, cold 9cb77db121 sound.b5212f4539db3cf7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why did you go 774c1f19de to seminary?”3dd638deaa6a112a

Hyun Tae-oh asked suddenly. Still with e24b1158f5 his eyes d672dec92f closed, he f0829e17cf waited. Yoo Hyun-jin searched 5b12184b82 his memory.1ce474119aeebfdb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well, it was 0ddb8e51e3 always natural to f01a879c3e follow Hanaram since 0070245c97 I was little. I didn’t really have 82a67c1aa7 anything else I wanted b0bf66bb06 to do. Tuition was free. And also…”63d61edb53f7e880

He paused mid-sentence. When the silence f8fd2a69d1 lingered, Hyun Tae-oh 44ffa7287b cracked one eye 64e54d47e8 open, glancing at 74eb1436e5 him.e5917f9b264f422d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Because I heard that b2d8891efc if you pray earnestly c0b1563718 for a long time, e9a253a2bd at least one wish 18b155cca8 will come true.”bf9680550abc158a

“A wish.”450220409f4ed112

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. When my father 1ee4d98082 passed away, and 033db1dff7 when my mother 4221cb8906 passed away too, 3370a94c27 no matter how deca2a7463 much I prayed, 3de29e08d3 it was useless. But still… if 5c5c7309fa I offered everything 0d3eaabf9d I had wholly 00772d0d1d to God in b7fbcb400d prayer, I thought 3a086da5b2 at least one 6e66914a41 wish would surely 7b0395a398 be granted…”e834ce8eceeb7902

Yoo Hyun-jin whispered, more 233f6168b4 to himself than anyone 5d1354de4e else.48239c51403675eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had watched 8417f6fe1b Hyun Tae-oh for 351aadc910 a long time. Though they had never f82dfb94a4 been particularly close, they 571855a5d2 had lived under the 13167becaa same roof, and he b1f0811532 had seen the way 518d91d151 the man lived.929718509958e4b5

Terrifyingly rational f64c41dc66 and, at 4e5518b75f times, brutally 6cf93eb479 unhesitant, he b6404a32ff always carried 4e1e2a2052 out his f10e5e0e0b duties in fd8a0e859c silence. No matter how dangerous 66d6d311de or demanding the task, d0e12f51ba even though he could d67060ccad have stepped away if eb63d471a0 he had wanted to, b2bad53468 he never did. He never once 627e33f40c complained or shrank a8ef874250 away from danger.42460ab57f8f0587

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

—Why do you always 40a7e8e805 have to be the 8acd905440 one to do it? Can’t you let someone 3cc4f77622 else take the risk 42755420e1 for once?f6b79844b10b9752

One of his brothers 28088e3c7a had once blurted this da31ef3b5a out, unable to watch 5edc8a585c any longer as he bff5b6caaa repeatedly plunged into the 64f5634a9e most dangerous missions. And Hyun 33a473f6f6 Tae-oh’s reply 6f3d506b8c had been ac785e470e simple.e8c55058bc061b4c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—There’s no real reason 20334a2397 it has to be a04cf55fce me. But if 6ff64046e7 it’s something 7ca98e63ec that must e0ad622aec be done ba3e6a3754 by someone, 9dea351a99 then there’s 62657eda85 no real 0f5a334cd8 reason it 240d5c7a2e shouldn’t be 9b239f5101 me either.5602e77ebcfd9f5d

When Yoo 1031dfa46b Hyun-jin heard cd1bd2844c those words, a62f1aead2 tossed out 6be6f5425c so casually, fd39b40919 as if d95dcdd94f it were 0d9640d103 no big c0e188a3ed deal, he 9bde05579b had decided 5d694b7291 on the 79e4d4aa11 one wish 713d3bb6aa he would 70ce8ec065 carry with 82eeb10763 him for adb08dd90e the rest 7e90473ac6 of his 3130420bd4 life.66ecdaaa1d93c87f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That whatever Hyun 7f009f7675 Tae-oh wanted—would come 05c678e583 true.da97a0f1dd6486c6

That became ce6dbd5e8f Yoo Hyun-jin’s 9cd5f944c9 only wish. He had no other d2241d3cf6 ambition, no other desire.036987494703ce20

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What kind 8c443550c9 of wish e0bd9fdfb4 is worth 37f3be8483 giving up 3c56fabe93 everything for?”d5a9c5301f5e49f9

Hyun Tae-oh’s question a984ce82e0 pulled Yoo Hyun-jin 4f91315b18 out of his 4e139ac873 distant memories and f7df5a4775 back into the 9a0aaa4db9 present.625ae98fc60e5467

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As their eyes met—Hyun 650db04578 Tae-oh watching him as 376840df76 if trying to read 9633446544 every flicker of expression—Yoo 7507e5f41e Hyun-jin flinched.85e49d9b3d6f7ab0

He couldn’t say it. He couldn’t e6896a52bb say he 3b450989d3 prayed every 7afe0285de day for 1c7d21e6b3 the safety 0d76fabb6f of a 3ee7aa9f07 man constantly 478928410f putting himself 81a7a6444c in harm’s c55fc77155 way, that 274fca28d8 he prayed 91cc061a22 for all 1e02e8ef42 his hopes b8d64a0fdb to be b4c24f9aaa fulfilled.7eed2ea7a935abd9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It has 5433ee5f7e nothing to 6447bc8db0 do with 5817a08905 you, Mr. Hyun.”695676e04390c811

Yoo Hyun-jin answered 57fa626490 bluntly.496d74aadfbbd0e4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In that 0d3df8cdbb instant, the 523c45d98d steady rhythm 6c956e43e4 of breathing 9fbbaf0d21 faltered.1f194db361386b58

The faintest 01ea64e875 tension touched 040b9d257c Hyun Tae-oh’s ee63cad035 jaw as 84c38dc32c he froze 92ae0e5df4 in place. His slowly c6646cdf5e blinking eyes 6fe6372977 chilled like 8522868bcb ice.93700c1f8df28bdb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You really 0a7bbefd98 are quite 2537ffdb14 skilled, Mr. Yoo,”05c7568a1509410b

He muttered, so low b8419c780e it was almost inaudible, 7748c864cc “…at completely killing someone’s 5f8b1b7e68 mood in an instant.”b9971bcf0720f202

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sorry?”e147675d58c3717a

Yoo Hyun-jin 65bb3bc66b hadn’t caught ed3f0a6bf5 the words f305629345 properly and 01da8eb830 asked again, 066f6a941f but no 71f409098c response came.768240fbfb998691

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Still staring coldly, Hyun 76819fdb79 Tae-oh stood up abruptly, f8567758ee with a look on 2b7793f2b5 his face that said 7355b9b198 if he stayed any da4951f5cb longer, someone would end 818aae7180 up in pieces.014bc636367c86f2

“I should get ea1c7a600d going. It’s too late.”395dbbbd32bf281a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, yes.”aabc9c40cb948b0f

Yoo Hyun-jin withdrew 9d3bcb6d0c his hands with 2eeae9fcb2 regret. The warmth that b0533f5a81 had filled them 419b7f492a disappeared, leaving behind 9a82a31c0a an emptiness. But as 5d213ed2da he watched 2b82a03e74 Hyun Tae-oh 3171a31377 reach for 09079b61ab his coat, 5aa32753eb the air daf8f0afee around him 7d00a13e78 felt sharp dc6dc91037 and cold a2ea8dc050 like a b7723d8baf blade, and 2c8bbbfd4a Yoo Hyun-jin 99148efc0d couldn’t say 7d91e061c7 a word.f002821b886b8221

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was c12fecaa50 caught off 315c4813ee guard by 09157f5bbb the sudden f25bdc8a02 shift in 57ad50e615 mood. But then 58edb6daba again, the 5c7053b7be man never f836288859 showed much 8c65d2d43d expression and a71631ab77 was never 2a031ec927 exactly warm—so 95823e0eda it was 6ef43748d5 hard to 4e339c1755 tell.9aa45b1bf52458be

“…? ……”89f6bcc28011d84e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun Tae-oh paused 4fdfb8e775 as he took 06039440a4 a step, glancing 158ed527cc down at his 9151871293 own leg with 10cc040bfe a puzzled expression. But perhaps his rising d9ca3bde32 temper took precedence, because 1781f9d7cd he soon turned again 9995a98b31 and headed straight for 461ee075e3 the door without looking 4351efacea back.e0328bf32959b6cc

As Yoo Hyun-jin took 98753087d2 a step to see e9b12f0e9d him off, a sharp 94eb595038 pain flared from his 683afec6ae hip down through his 4a5a498ccc thigh, making him dizzy 1f0c3142fa for a moment. But he 90444bd332 steadied his 8d4ade27b4 breath and 73ddd99be2 moved forward f31cd1609d slowly.aba849e6f8475a1a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Just as 5f965ecaa4 Hyun Tae-oh 72ffbdf102 was about 0b32e0e724 to open b2154af46e the door, 727adbe012 already wearing e1ede76c56 his shoes, dc24e5e665 he stopped.fd4720ddba1376ed

He stood still c94c26d01f for a beat 3ea544d6fe before turning around—his 395c5220cb gaze still hard 9f220f8a4a and distant.9f38c9d03ad6ce6c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was always hard 82140e4c9f to read the man’s 8b7cd22ab6 expression, but this time 4b55fee745 he definitely looked upset. He’d seemed fine 8212f407b1 just a little b963b6d1e1 while ago…eb05b54183326980

As Yoo Hyun-jin 63b4833b2e studied his face c04d87dfed cautiously, Hyun Tae-oh eb9ec89d07 suddenly reached out 05f18624b8 and cupped his 098c6d4148 cheek.dc45b6267ab52dc6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Now that I think dcf3eb3837 about it, you’ve gotten 648faa05dd used to holding hands, 02666a0000 haven’t you? But we 32585c8872 can’t keep dd5dd19dd1 holding hands c055554801 forever. We’re adults, aren’t we?”93e4dd6a9df117db

“――.”f268f51ccb6375a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His face moved in 5a3d0db8c6 closer—so close their breaths e986d01538 could mingle. Yoo Hyun-jin 57abba97cb froze, eyes b57217ac27 wide open. Wait… if he comes 1f9d48c08d any closer…32d7dac9692f5964

Hyun Tae-oh leaned 824c1ed607 in so close 7491c1623a that the warmth 2399e7e4d2 of his breath 9fa493d7c8 lingered just above 15bfc1580c Yoo Hyun-jin’s lips—and df034fa8a6 stopped.ba5682d125bd40ee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

For a brief bd983e224f second, everything was 3da18e6281 still.9f735664835e581d

Then, without warning, he 26ff81f918 clicked his tongue and c27f383708 pinched Yoo Hyun-jin’s cheek 4e1b204e53 with enough force to c40f1e24f9 feel like punishment.13f3373fb9746e0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“As if!”5d1f05f9074b7ff6

By the c614877e7b time Yoo d6843f8202 Hyun-jin yelped a2362d3ec4 in surprise, dff82cb6da Hyun Tae-oh 5070ec6613 had already 53fe5cc640 let go 8436b5b810 and turned 07aa6a1678 to leave—without e06808dc86 so much 38b827dfd5 as a 7e91ee747d goodbye.69743db7715a0f02

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *ab9a6f60c896d229

Madam Ju Sun-mi was d8262859d7 born the eldest daughter bfff105a27 of a noble family 22f5d9ed9d with a long and 16a13b78cb storied history.97b08a220924fef1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Influenced by 1a52621910 her parents, 9d20bd6f54 who devoted 188a97af08 their lives 405b18021c to the c399d0c64a country and 09e29bf2bd to educating ac5d8cb8ba young people, 1937933c94 she saw 630714f074 and learned b4d31f5b0b much from e22600e888 a young 9b3887cb7d age. She always cherished and d1078d322f loved others and strove d0cdd430ae to fulfill her duties 93bb872485 to the best of 14639f98eb her ability.bbd1da7010ada374

Marrying a young man from the Hyun family at a young age, she built a proper home while enduring life-threatening battlefields at her husband’s side. She worked tirelessly to help those in need. Now, having reached the age of sixty, when she looked back on her life, there was nothing she regretted or felt she had missed out on.18d81e0e51d98765

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her passionate and diligent 2c59bdae52 youth had passed, and 336ebb586c as she stepped into 3ca23c29a2 old age, she was dd771f444e content with her life.69f905ad1df98bd0

What more could she ac3557c1b8 want?842d292710747aa9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her husband 78e1fb86a6 was doing 66147e9162 well in 6cb3a353f3 his work, c2fddb346f and so 235ef1964d was she. Their grown sons had e85cfcb4a9 all matured into upright b4693ecf0f young men, healthy and a5e8be8a84 capable, each living a 2bf953c6fd respectable life and carrying 710eefde47 out their own roles ae01af9283 well. …Except for one.78692fb5e312cbab

Yes, that one was 34c4df4e04 the problem.82a15979bccf4f8a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju Sun-mi 7f511542a8 had four 3032a93caf sons. The one 1da0b35365 in question 8df8981c92 was the 1fb635f4b5 youngest. In truth, when b0774b5aa5 it came to b3567e5282 intelligence and ability, e90e29dc99 he was even 481eeab7e3 more outstanding than 5a7afb9f28 his older brothers. Though his brothers were fad036698a no slouches by any 949de7dd16 means, the youngest had 92caf13559 been towering over them 1546a31bb4 intellectually since childhood.622a22fb13f727bd

But perhaps when 9ef3e6858f God created that 7f0c694238 child, all the fecd4690eb blessings had been c7d148f66b poured into his 8461b52ee8 abilities. He was sorely 09f3a53bd4 lacking in tenderness, 6f985acab4 warmth, gentleness—such things.fc12542c531bf5ad

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Fortunately, he always dad1db0f8d knew right from 39d8badb4e wrong and had 3a40e57fa0 never caused her 71e2e3b786 any trouble—or at aa661e0635 least, he was d6c60e95d0 adept at resolving bb87ab20de things before they 9f6e7ad458 ever became her 174a4be0e0 problem. Still, whenever she 8adecc5abc looked at her 0d63ebde3a son, who had a11948d308 been so rational dd7dfa1f1c and cold since e7ce688e3c he was little, 5c4968e8cf her heart ached.88aa1a7c9c496e33

He wasn’t wicked, just 0df1e6e84b cold. And depending on the 669427fcc7 situation, he could become 7fc62e7212 violent under the name eb273c5bd0 of “rational judgment.” No 733321cd76 matter how hard she 972b490899 tried, she could not bbddbac93e change his fundamentally unfeeling 92421f4f04 nature. All he had ea6a9a2ea6 learned was how f373dad226 to reveal it 2c6641168c less in front 3592d713b8 of her, becoming 0b74d795a4 better at avoiding—or 637a927a08 ignoring—her nagging.9e3a1b376560e810

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had 97b9dd6910 tried so 49d230d94a hard to 7c7cf82459 raise him 34a83d3d4f well. How had b10abcb236 he turned bdf2cf6a7e out like f353d0f239 this? His older brothers had 29f3862c79 all grown up kind 6a566e4008 and upright.01fba9f5e51957f8

Whenever she spoke of 2d98140faa such things, her husband da1ef1314f would offer some form 056b64da8f of consolation, saying, “Still, 57cd8cfb94 he doesn’t go around 89e1dd3745 harming others for no e9f6d42013 reason… Besides, he’s always 77a07f3572 in dangerous places, so 94563facdc it’s not like he a33db142b1 has time to get 983d3e637f into trouble…”7bb22a3c02b79fe0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She accepted it, cb22c98cce more or less. (Though she did 8ffd21a3db wonder, if only 1712e8a3c8 briefly, whether the dc599d09ef reason her husband afbdccd2c0 kept sending their 1a91d1763c youngest into the 33ae7605b3 most dangerous places 0208018663 wasn’t just because 63de84d8a6 of his superior 3bb9229f07 skills.)fc0a94816cc3da57

Regardless, the ad573e6b3d youngest was f4e1ae55d4 still her 3136bf9ffb beloved son, c550d0fa4a and she 4563f4fa18 prayed every 4a2351ccdb day for f42244dabc his safety d1892148f4 and happiness. Though he lacked a5eda130f5 warmth, he was 512c174bd6 so intelligent that 64ad1f7dc8 she felt reassured db985a2b5e he wouldn’t do 26c0cdc32e anything reckless.987e7fc4936ab1d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And yet.aadc7689574013a3

Never in her life bbfa9ceb05 did she imagine that fceb043ce3 child would commit a 5c97e422b7 mistake so disgraceful that e08e5513d9 even common thugs would b628989b6a hesitate to make it.f90ce52417638d49

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The secluded c58f0bd67d prayer house a7e4257028 nestled in fdd7ba348b the mountains 6fd2cde5b7 surrounding the 45bbb17a36 capital had fb992ee2f6 not brought e30d21d542 peace to da6098aca7 Ju Sun-mi’s acbefca8a6 heart, even 45ae28125c after a 08ba041e78 full day 64b67b08a0 spent in c895b8138a prayer.9704c9fc92a5947d

Her body 732c0b8e23 and mind 6e4172c39e were both 49dd5098f5 exhausted, but 88d5e0129a sleep would 1edc66768b not come. On the way a9ec60f5d7 back, she stared adaa40c665 silently out the 971f7fa0c1 window, not uttering 25b3e8e443 a single word.bc63a27492b517b1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the car turned 972a032b64 onto a familiar road 1b71c73575 and her home drew 060354d4f2 near, she glanced out c4de1782f7 as they passed the 72fdbbee11 palace and tilted her 0caad2241c head curiously.c473ebebdfd3f37d

“There are 7003d9db78 quite a c46ef8a121 lot of 5c1fb546fc guards on a8822ebf1e the streets bdcc881add tonight.”e900c5dbe57822ab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s because of the 022f650cf6 demonstrations,” replied her attendant, 404814c35b who was driving.c56b77f2c892af86

“Even at this 39bac50361 hour? They must be having 6e94e887a9 a hard time.”82c2f1908ee1ce1f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She muttered in 133d0633e5 surprise at his ff6365c7ad response.4702405a987b9b61

But it was 2563114b54 already late, and f491d31cc4 most of the 7c14ead33d protesters in front d2c90df714 of the palace 3fff6b2d1e had already left. The guards too e70fb532c8 seemed to be 5926fbdd40 preparing to withdraw.687428d3cdcbff63

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Protests had 6adffa8e63 been ongoing 43f82a5052 ever since bf47f822aa the delegation e5e2c8d411 from Songal 25773d6e81 arrived. They merely stood shouting 319c2a103e slogans, so there had 3fd8a6e176 been no major incidents, 045a877a6b but her husband seemed ef22d89ba5 busier than usual.bc61ba4952ed3047

The youngest son 5f1ddf8617 was the same.554eeda1395436bb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He’d come 26b7851a1e back seriously e332e703fe injured from 14155c99bc Pyeonghang, so 5356253326 they ought 0f37d92f70 to have 1c9b9f2fb3 let him 60daf35381 rest, but 83be7484d4 it seemed 2bf5caee22 the higher-ups 5a8fa22345 had assigned 03284b5578 him to e341d23783 more duties 6b288cdd53 again. The child she already 78c7ede44e rarely saw had become 7aac26c500 even harder to glimpse.cc045d910fb0e7be

…But it wasn’t just b1fc149238 work that made him e2f44742b0 scarce.646746ff91678900

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

During the day, she d0a976ffc9 was busy fulfilling her 2cb44f8808 duties as the Prime 3ed55b2e25 Minister’s wife. When she 85f158cf3f tried calling b5748946ae in the 438e185f3d evening in 6270a3bde6 hopes of 10fdcaa9af at least ef97159cb5 seeing his c583cf2752 face, the 636dfff19a answer was c2a70be46b often that 1649b20d3d he’d gone b745f97164 out for cdea923a0c a walk efda350239 and wasn’t ae8141a36c home. From what she’d 47b08114d5 heard from the 4e0c76c563 staff, he had 00c89b3b05 recently started frequenting 98475cdb66 a small house 4adcee5df7 he had bought 423918a392 near the main 045e9665a5 estate.02fa6bdedce60daa

Come to think of 13d6cfff58 it, just the other 1dee0058c3 day, he had come 4dffec5a63 home clearly upset about b55b2f58e3 something.530960d9927f9fb0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When she heard 8cdf0e64ca only moments ago e2d964afbf that the youngest’s d25cc255b1 car had returned, 6ca373eb54 she stepped out 447fec5aec into the living 2e413898b6 room—just in time eaa925ce7d to see him 7d52e3cc73 going up the aa1c170c5f stairs.1b1c7aab59083767

“That bastard is 741c560469 just impossible to 710dd73ad2 be nice to. Seriously, maybe dc728cb23a I should 5676f2157f just kill dfe0089e0c him.”9628e886244db09a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The viciously spat words 6ed1cfc387 were followed by the 907d9c8498 sound of a door 965639dce2 slamming shut somewhere upstairs.5802cd99fa891414

What in fc84d3e1d0 the world 0f0601d7d8 was going 84d1e8130f on?5f7d01de4b43a8d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her son rarely 38ec04e17c showed delight, but 05b4a9f20a he also rarely 75ec96649a showed irritation or 8b89d73780 anger. Let alone a12c909451 expressing his 82c9e6ecc8 emotions so 568f4b6314 openly. Ju Sun-mi, 7853aab64a startled, had 199154d601 just started e1729564db up the 19722515a9 stairs when d7d761b746 Jin Mun-seong cc5b195c3a came down.3b0331e959786f82

“Mun-seong, dear. What’s going on? Why is 2e1e44bed8 Tae-oh like ab68e9e334 that?”c91dff3e766f9f9b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh, Auntie. It’s nothing, really.”bfb0a8123c1395bf

“Nothing? He’s clearly upset. Tae-oh didn’t hurt 191a959386 anyone, did he? Hmm, Mun-seong?”9e9644e19f1f405b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ju Sun-mi ba5a8be7ec narrowed her e54f487414 eyes and 7a8f4289bb pressed the ccd83a41cc reticent nephew. Jin Mun-seong hesitated for 4ad0cb4f80 a moment before shaking 18a91debed his head.0100086e2518b878

“No, not at all. He just came back 95d3ca7a80 from visiting Yoo Hyun-jin. The two 757c0880b9 of them bb2d9d8ee2 don’t always c1959e10dd get along bf52a06419 very well. But he would never e5d711bcc7 lay a hand on ac74a06f8c Mr. Yoo. He wasn’t a62970881b hurt at 313c52f95f all, so fdce5a64d3 there’s nothing 57a9bcb0be to worry 68204fdfe5 about.”7cedc005db353614

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hyun-jin…?”793128e74f27ed26

Surprised by the 70e4929770 unexpected answer, Ju c41e355478 Sun-mi murmured to 7cb6abc73e herself, but Jin 2d02b07dd5 Mun-seong quickly slipped 4045ce0d59 away. By the ef96834828 time she e9852ecbed thought to 4951d803dd ask more, 7351689a37 he was a2c26e1d2f already gone.d117e66c5d6922ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the 3cb7aa06d3 car heading 7b30e7c6d9 home, gazing 875ed5f7af at the c1e742dead gentle slope 21f0d627af ahead, Ju a098b10001 Sun-mi suddenly cc9871497f spoke to b672f1db3f the attendant 9d3c10697c in the a76d3b5a22 driver’s seat.c6f18c19e7525767

“Mr. Kim. You know 019fd25b64 where Priest 0b96be9edc Yoo Hyun-jin cb3c2cb392 is staying, e20d2410fd don’t you?”39ffdcf7e2afa331

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The attendant glanced 2c5a29409f at her through 13fa988dc2 the rearview mirror. When Ju d0e02bbdaf Sun-mi met 3606426239 his gaze 468544a46a directly, he ae7d90f7fa looked away 06e4d7ecc9 and answered, 9cda1ed1a1 “Yes, ma’am.”c4dfc3bfca44ed0a

“Good. Then let’s stop by 512446bf47 there for a moment.”ee0c32011817d301

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Right now, ma’am? …You must be 539c6992d9 tired. Wouldn’t it a5c6c63fce be better eb0479d659 to rest 4218754f45 tonight and d8217b74f6 schedule a eea076fead visit for 4b0cdbb26b tomorrow in 02bc707326 daylight?”88968eb75aec053a

“No. We’re already on the f3fc600047 way, so let’s just 7d9e81c7ec stop in briefly.”9b4c64db1f8925c2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Strike while the e069461d90 iron is hot. If the 6d201d697f thought had 6a1979d424 come, she 681506214c might as 12bdcc2c91 well act 5e324469f5 on it.4ae5c3eb2190db4a

She had 1893e60424 tried to 11479ebf64 meet Yoo dc38353bf2 Hyun-jin several e6da9d8c34 times recently 3213c20db4 but had 9d0f6c959c failed to c505c43a40 arrange a 5f00608d87 meeting each 35ea7b8145 time. There had always 28841e3afc been some prior 6592ea419c engagement or excuse. It was clear he 839cd90767 had been avoiding her.041ccd7fb00c77a1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Understandably so. Given the 7cae149fd3 circumstances, it 5036a5f1a2 couldn’t be e4c49b6891 easy to db9224fe33 face her. Ju Sun-mi 927dbe04a2 herself had 0ac65c9251 felt heavy-hearted b44b969328 and hadn’t 84f54ebd7c pushed too fa0ea63da8 hard, but 5affd7a1bc it had 63acfffe86 been weighing 40c9f07342 on her 6b58a42136 all the d3269e9472 same.53a3577126919ff8

But one couldn’t avoid f1b8aada36 it forever.38312d760fc017e3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju Sun-mi steeled 896e2b0c30 herself.7cfb1afcb4386e1c

And so—cad2f36d1201dcb8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“――Ah, Madam.”808fa409eae51e91

For the first b252bc8363 time in what ef83ca5113 felt like ages, 7a490a1cfd she was able 10e7f28a3e to meet Yoo 8f35bf0fe3 Hyun-jin.ce999ec4b82fba1f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Startled and cccdea0e2d clearly flustered, 1f6a603eba Yoo Hyun-jin 37132f8953 greeted her 3fa19f54b9 after she 1754cc02ad rang the 80d34e258c doorbell unannounced a107b0deb8 late at a6df25d72c night. With no excuse at ce07ecac8e hand to escape immediately, 92fef9246d he hadn’t been able f6856214d8 to turn her away 9210ccc05f at the door.fdbf92768be494e1

The moment 73349734b9 he saw 679b81ae48 that it 184debed1d was her 5d6b6359a2 who had a4a1936f72 rung the ba451d22db bell, he 4f9396484e rushed out 7ce2afc093 to the b14071978e gate and 9eb89a2afd bowed deeply 4a343761ae with a d5a576ec31 bewildered expression.a829f21e8ac9b903

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What brings you here 27e2c49777 at this late hour…?”38a64cbb0d3fa5ed

“Ah, sorry 31cc21f876 for dropping ac6a78570c by without 231b773310 calling. I was just passing f2f11bed98 by and suddenly thought cf1e4b76e4 I’d like to see 24ad4cdf9c our Priest Yoo—no, our 0616cc520b Hyun-jin’s face. It’s been a while.”04375173d7897c67

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Y-yes. …Uh, please 29d9e13ee6 come in.”4a9fbed60bef45d0

Yoo Hyun-jin’s 5bf2dcbdcd discomfort was 708d0e2593 clear, but f57a2e221f even so, d37fcb40ac he stepped 81ba769be3 aside to 1970c654c6 let her 0011043e37 in. Ju Sun-mi climbed the 8d62e5ad8b stone steps, passed through cb8cb14198 the modest garden, and 5ff8034493 entered the house, carefully d99305f5e6 looking around as she 2eec499979 did.abe0062a1e47f1b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s a 814d0b6abb cozy and 62724dd77c lovely house.”416709b3f5710aaa

“Yes… Um, 04b2a3f299 Governor Hyun adc1d5858a helped me 739e636b27 find it. I’m indebted to 4c227326e7 him.”f5150a588cbd4934

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, that’s right… But 1c4a3a6d61 still, he could’ve found 19a3d7c5ee you something a bit 804ead7e9a more spacious. How did he ff92199b4b end up with a4bfd1b4e1 such a tiny 332292d801 place?”01ad9bd8a1957b59

She had been speaking 74278f1aba kindly, but her tone d77b8f9502 shifted the moment she 00001f5639 heard Hyun-jin’s answer. Thinking of her 81b6be5906 wayward son stirred 9b22895bad her irritation and 024add9562 anger.f5ae44ff6a4e25ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No… It’s dc22840137 not small 99321f686e at all…”b0bb457183ed4dbb

Hyun-jin murmured, as if 4362c38f8a suddenly aware of a 93902e38b2 forgotten distance.926f46105e0b58fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once she 867204f426 was seated 4fdbf89c0e in the 4715c61069 living room, 6c1eabe3c6 Hyun-jin said 00ea0276f9 he’d bring c887f4df3b some tea f642f0b0fd and went 601df1d617 into the 3969e9daa3 kitchen. It seemed he a8b126c178 wasn’t used to b17345a558 the kitchen yet—the 8391b080ed clattering suggested he 68dcddcb5d had hardly made 4576a4d8b8 tea before.819a7732580f4585

Ju Sun-mi looked around 77d1791a49 the house. It was small, but 0f3e79a8cd sufficient for living alone 8d6fb07dad for a while. As she examined the a0cc27d54e furnishings, thoughtfully arranged, she 6121445c52 sighed and looked at 66f6515b93 Hyun-jin. Watching his pale 5c05b540fa face focused on ef05ead651 the tea, she f4c79a3325 felt a wave cbb8f6a956 of pity.fb93bb76b6d1f29e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He wasn’t her d6d2839126 biological son, but aa227ae5c7 she’d seen him 54ea289cf9 up close since 3fd5ece529 he was young 476da958e5 and had considered 5ac640f5c9 him as dear 97fbb3a41e as one. He was upright and a06287198f kind. It had been touching eae49033b2 to see him take 5dd5f9cea5 care of his mother a0fc2062eb and younger sibling from 314ecf791e a young age.775addfb15601327

After his mother passed ba077c03cd away, she’d thought of b2b0074e74 him as one of 93048f807f her own. She was proud when 1cd4f0bb15 he got into the 24d3ac057f seminary—a difficult feat—and became b34f2c9ab1 a priest.8889e397f3e00506

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That rotten son 2fca2404f1 of hers had 2d4625df0c ruined this good 66119ae545 child’s bright future. And even ebe40de8fd now, it 8891ea2795 seemed he 63dc745dc2 continued to 1acaee6b29 harass him b44f39d69a from time d119fb99e8 to time.5baef910c0f5db6d

Ju Sun-mi was suddenly 89c70ee5e6 overwhelmed with tears.16c8797bc460bba5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Auntie, Auntie, what’s ed1eec68eb wrong?”13d5087b065452d8

Carrying the aa88568904 tea tray, 60bdd7ba23 Hyun-jin rushed e37ed79828 over when 821117b813 he saw 79b871d828 her tear-filled 56ee11efad eyes. Looking into his large, d328fdb3ad concerned eyes only made 4cb25316d1 her cry harder.4af3019aacac0e88

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hyun-jin, I’m sorry. My son… he f5bc9c597e was terrible to b6a83af98b you. He did 7a5021571c such wrong.”8d985158df750f79

“N-no, please, it’s not c1a516dd62 like that, Auntie.”361aa146fec3692c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hyun-jin was eece27fde9 flustered, as 1be0f97e82 if he 006953f401 were the 804da58c86 one who 5d98e7a46d had done 145deeee70 something wrong.d179d1d784365381

He had always 0e379cb97d been kind, even 7911491f61 as a child, 39efefbb41 forgiving people easily 46ad8df20d even when they f4f527da15 wronged him. Truly a child one 83eee365c5 could say Hanaram would f6cdb17e19 love dearly. And yet, 6580643ee7 that wretched 9ef085a586 boy…2e3fb44b7d1d4305

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Does Tae-oh come 3b66b571f9 here often?”5284989967e71f7f

Pressing her eyes with 5c15c947d0 a tissue Hyun-jin had 4478166b66 handed her, Ju Sun-mi abe715e409 asked.1bd1e9b69f0e710b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, he drops by 32bfbb4d64 now and then to 2a5b027403 check on me.”b8fec4a272fc52ac

“He doesn’t cause 472763e666 trouble or anything, 5c50d04488 does he? You can tell me f2a787ecd4 honestly. He doesn’t hit you, 8ad3e8d341 does he?”48f8ddd028f886a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, not at all! He just 7337e4aa87 stops by c62549f06d for a a6793a22f9 bit of 4412026bc8 conversation. He even d4a03a4fc3 helps with 8797815d8a cleaning and 34d9a5cd4d cooking. He’s… he’s 5c7c29676a really kind.”1cd33293d580529c

“Kind?! That’s the 72f03f5af1 least he b6ca148c4e should be! After all the wrong fca5b76c77 he’s done, staying silent 4b5e9196bd like it’s nothing—is that 5563702d5d what a decent person 8dc0274f2d does?”e9b8209d67cf5f65

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I… I guess b6b0e351b5 you’re right…”bdc1302f62cba92d

Hyun-jin lowered 22dbc47ac0 his gaze, 09d73274d7 his expression 561f2ee2ef dimming. Seeing him like f7ebbe22e5 that hurt, but 7c237840a9 at least she 3ab7cc21e5 was a little e19df6dbf8 reassured—Tae-oh wasn’t acting 188139f548 like a total b680ed60ad brute when he 8dae42e830 came by.9af830cac9649c0c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Well, if he 925a1a5f5d raped someone and 3993f865a3 then continued to 28769a940b act out violently, f1446e45dc what kind of ba6bd81882 beast would that da54c5fcca make him? If that were 7b963b62a7 truly the case, 097cfe0845 Ju Sun-mi would c5c416d9a7 be ready to ebbae1aa38 throw herself at b73bbfe47a him, blade in 51b1a32c01 mouth, as his 91fab80383 mother.7743d29835851f30

“Hyun-jin, I’m sorry f63d245f70 I raised that 8ce458a7b1 boy so wrong.”e31592ab910336ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Please don’t say 362e152181 that, Auntie.”920c778975aa33c3

Hyun-jin let out a befb2c398b soft breath and answered 4623e4fe96 gently. His eyes, still turned 505f6f9484 toward her, looked unbearably 8f78be462d sad.6c9cb7741c20c08c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I don’t resent the b3d8d54297 Governor or anyone else a197d1ab34 at all. In fact… I’m the c5ea463a96 one who’s sorry things b0c512dcf5 turned out this way.”a21c8d76c7ca9fab

“What are 89b422b10c you saying? Don’t ever 1945f863f9 say such 244145b0d1 things. What did you 762796c689 do wrong? What do you have e69b68f5be to be sorry for? Tae-oh’s the one who fc246a58d6 needs to repent. The one who 3b2f1cd4d3 committed the sin ee15aa1ddd must seek forgiveness b152bc3f6a and make amends.”d9c9de629eee1187

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Yes…”5e67094742841210

Hyun-jin’s expression darkened further. His gentle face looked 319f257149 pale.ac03c12b3d9b4047

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing that pitiful 9213503e8e face, Ju Sun-mi c77c9c56d9 wiped her tears 6558f2edf7 and picked up 2982ccbe16 her teacup. She figured she def04e3ce7 should calm herself, b0ff072ce6 at least internally. She took dfb7649c45 a sip—and d58f42bf90 found it 289b65bf4b tasted terrible. To a surprising degree.f73fa8116c6d74fb

The tea leaves seemed b08b42ace3 fine. He must not b8f8b0b6ad be very good 15650cc807 at making tea.871dda20aaa5fce2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But so what? What did it matter? As long as 7e333c3148 the person was bb2ee00886 kind, that was 246c97966a enough.8ae4390cf93340a6

Seeing Hyun-jin’s 4c9381bc32 slightly embarrassed eee2ba2175 expression—as if 8e982cad67 he knew dc8291f017 how bad a249adf56b it tasted—she cd684598aa quickly soothed 25a1486a89 him with, cf26da6c17 “It has c31466020d such a 1f17619486 lovely aroma, 50742d9eec dear.”a07c8c5e9f345768

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Knowing it afc8557526 was probably 9715ac18f6 just a c15a03e8b1 polite lie, 0d29db47a9 Hyun-jin gave f22372a289 a shy 89b8e682ce bow. “Thank you.”1f8fbc319afc2b18

Such a e8b405dfde gentle, good-hearted 3b02c93709 child.0cd00c816e79ed4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

…And yet of all 10b409e181 people, Tae-oh…baa41e873849c952

Ju Sun-mi c63ba4bb32 felt her 96d0a3a109 anger flare 21ebfb98bd again, but ee8d1b3b34 a question c65b45b049 surfaced in 6b502be7e0 her mind.96b3c353bd1bb04a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

How could 52395d2ede that boy 4bd90335c4 have made 1cc13ce66e such a 947df34fb8 mistake while 9388e826b2 drunk? She couldn’t 06b6a0669d believe it. He wasn’t the 73225c1aeb kind of person b4274ff6a5 to make mistakes ddfbfc2fa2 like that.61248b8a47536760

…Could it 821bc84ce0 have been e6f8127144 on purpose?72985390d65c2b9b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The thought sent her b5cab9b2ba vision spinning. She nearly 410946231d dropped her c6a5d1365a cup.477f23f8f5f5c5f9

She didn’t 85f8af9c08 want to 435a7c3d7e believe her 7fead4e818 son was 32f6366e2b that wicked. Surely not. He wasn’t the faca49ebe6 kind of person aa626c4ceb who would intentionally 4a8e0fb1b4 violate someone. Cold, yes. But not evil e32093317e to that extent.a2afd18d6d0c5a4b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yet once suspicion took a4ebd88e90 root, her thoughts spiraled. Forgotten fragments of c1207cf851 memory returned vividly.460425c28e7028ca

Come to think of 02449e1bf6 it, her youngest had d84c8db11b always acted strangely around addb00b63a this boy.04a22d7002f1b44e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Tracing her dbbd03c5a7 memory back, 606e21c3f7 it started 3887724223 when Hyun-jin 1045c4fea3 had first 0b04fa3883 come to c446ac4cc8 live at 473e8ab7c9 the estate. One day, Tae-oh 20021e16c4 had suddenly asked e9ce27240f to move his 874fc5253c study.5edde094e9deb2d1

He had originally taken 23e037f690 the quietest, most secluded bd570c5aea room as his study. But then, out 7126b4ace8 of the blue, 60d4d9831e he said, “I’d 6292fca727 like a room 4a3ea4675a with a better 64ef55dc9d outside view. The west middle room 32b8508999 on the second floor 8792dc9b38 seems nice,” and pointed d7bf5bfc6d to a specific room. That room overlooked 75ab015026 the annex directly. It was 6178129358 a space 752b7f83de he used 8cff2bb73b to dislike b0bae65fc4 because of 48f6cb0d06 the frequent 5c65a4dc0f footsteps from cf6c494678 the servants 70e8bf2e3c outside.6d5a38a34abd6f16

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Nevertheless, he moved f31e708b6f his study there d75adfaff4 and, to her 19bc34e500 surprise, never asked 4f85acabb2 to move it 28a238f30c back.32d3491caf4777df

Whenever she visited 2c80e88c9f that room, he’d 1051f33e49 often be staring ef2f2e669a out the window. And if there 21736755b9 was the faintest 34e03b0a57 crease in his 8394bd92e1 brow—a rare thing 2b430aa912 for him—it almost 97aac8f599 always coincided with ce2243fe73 Hyun-jin being in 6426147c25 view.9d738944f0e87be4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yes, there f2b0f10dae was that 5ec7915a67 other time, 4082f271ad too.8414b0b142fa05e4

One calm holiday afternoon, ef1a13d232 the weather was lovely. She’d sat outside with f64481c2ce her husband and third 80bd3abc96 son for tea. The eldest a52c0a7d15 and second 062f2abf13 son were b860954146 out, and e96b7496c8 the youngest 021e11f5a5 had declined 178b8586aa to join, 4046e3a394 so it ec498123d8 was just ef5ec199d7 the three f0e1674816 of them. When Hyun-jin happened 176286916e to pass by, d3e4e02bc6 they called him d722ca3df1 over to sit 955723e394 and join them.3bd49e5b8c740f35

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though a 8b67c20541 bit awkward, c90dbf8acf Hyun-jin accepted 159e677b4f and sat. But before a337a7f011 long, almost 6a9b7ff926 as if 0da8dd5913 he’d been 7281ca0c6f watching, the 9f2ea938d6 youngest appeared.be12dfeb444f2ec8

“Oh, Tae-oh. Weren’t you going to a0007dc3af read?”4474bc163a2375e7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Delighted, she 1e90c8a0e5 welcomed him. She thought he’d c29c19bb2f refuse again, but 572a2f3ca2 to her surprise, 385254f0b6 he joined them.8bcb88ebf0694408

Then, as if on d7a122bf1b cue, Hyun-jin put down 497367f35f his teacup and stood. He bowed and left. When she eef076a4b8 looked back, 8e8d51c15d a crease 4f0c842794 had formed d625e7ce32 in her e114b12835 son’s brow.5ddf35dbbeb4816e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“My dear, 200eb21fd3 what’s wrong? Something bothering you? You frowned so 5f65a4a6bc hard that Hyun-jin 695f4ee522 left.”c32dc0478d0a5440

When she 53283033d2 half-jokingly pointed 61b6af536d it out, 0db6906ca9 the crease e9f6dc221c deepened.28f68a52d3c36579

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I wasn’t frowning.”5e2e60f171a213bc

“You were. When you 37be65e384 glare like 3c1f96548d that, you 691deefb8e scare people 2adfc08cc0 off.”b0ac2889c5147846

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He clicked his cb9f56e4dd tongue and replied.235eb28dd41db83b

“No, Mother. You’ve got it d07619e22b backwards. He was 6ef3adc1d7 glaring at 44172c280c me first.”0c3831167c4c16c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Come on, 7a700efe8a there’s no 92268e3748 way Hyun-jin ffab7d0adc would do 12d5c467df that.”7d68852a730e2a0f

Maybe he was 9b06dddcd4 a little tense. But then again, 442c1d02eb most people were 456d85f88c around her youngest. Even adults got d4f7fc7f33 nervous around him, 6bac29aceb let alone someone 2a21f75377 his age or 2f92bcd8c6 younger.8b39a024acf0a01c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t be ridiculous. If someone glared f3d63b3ddc at you, you e5b2b3fb92 wouldn’t let it 6f159b9af0 slide.”628f8ab395450dd9

The third 2e00aca14e son had 3a1494a6ab laughed awkwardly, 98bedcc95c and the 33303d68ad youngest shot ee6e009970 him a e9be24af95 sharp look.08713b9cb4dde951

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What, you 028b4a5445 think I’d bc22da0ce3 lash out a1c90d4b0a at that 77c276d729 little guy?”7ec414cd2690d83c

With a scoff, he 32fc066ffe downed his tea, and d0906d40d5 Ju Sun-mi had thought, e272b47220 This is unlike him.71cc84412e992937

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But now 576bc983ad she remembered b37cfd4b96 that Hyun-jin 18d1ef5e9a had always ac944c1e37 been unusually 65472cbc21 calm and f7c422617b composed, never 92a4833102 easily flustered. Not even around her 278acd7975 husband or herself. Yet whenever her 94e11488d8 youngest was around, 27ab917c6c he seemed tense—nervous, 01bfd463f3 on edge.58dbb4d4d72a7072

Could it f99f8e73cf be that 039073480d her son 5c0534b40a thought Hyun-jin 63ab2ab66f was being 23aeba1a52 arrogant because 7eee06c3ae of that, 508c1616ac and reacted 27ebc666d1 in his 4c5c6fef4f own way? He always seemed in 1159253f97 a foul mood whenever f2c56c2812 the two crossed paths—even 437831ad05 if they hardly interacted.1ac970306e606754

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Once, she a3a22cd23e had asked e7da43b849 Hyun-jin about e1e840a21e it.31db971e7cd16395

“Hyun-jin, do you feel d721bc218e uncomfortable around Tae-oh?”b30d574b2ca46940

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Pardon? …”003501856ae056af

He’d blinked 4458ffa1e0 in surprise e53f0caa48 at her 2bbf2d28b1 sudden question. Before he 0a0f7f9365 could answer, 4fd7d79b88 his younger 8788910913 brother, Yoo f59744fb14 Se-jin, had 17479b532d blurted out, 8f27346e71 “Yes! That guy 67b669166c is scary! His eyes cb1e2bc7c4 are already 0e38dd452d intense, but 8328e364fb when you e3f990761e pass by 99e9160bca him, he e7d6239190 gives you 1bed6f10a2 the side-eye dd5d0ba678 like he’s 24ed4dc443 going to 58ff0e77ff slit your 63c7a333e5 throat!”f2686bae26a1c27c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun-jin had f0c03ede54 pinched Se-jin’s 196012022d side in fb86cee0fe response.ae40e0aa56cc3019

“No, it’s not 7dfd3b0240 like that. He’s… he’s a 89b8651156 good person.”94441da61efe7720

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The way he 1c95e37024 stammered—so unlike him—made 36e52aa498 her realize he 94b4176502 was lying. But she hadn’t 25b1cebee4 said anything.6ecf9bb22c85b655

But at c6c3f23c79 the very 192f6b6fcd least, it 181d53f200 was clear a566a8f29a that Yoo 1f02cbc153 Hyun-jin didn’t 6b5a035c63 feel entirely f7ec40b81d comfortable around 70b437a715 Hyun Tae-oh.93397a1d7182ca47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t strange 7c7685e5ab that Yoo Hyun-jin b76e2eb7df felt that way. There were plenty c5f554feb2 of people who a481578808 found Hyun Tae-oh 7205f1314f difficult. In fact, c2c79296c5 there were 3b2a2f7cb0 hardly any 7fcff1549e who didn’t.022b3ce8f36d8915

But Hyun Tae-oh…3ebf306a263d33b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Boys. Does your youngest brother a8ae05c6a0 pick fights with people? If he aa5019cf0f doesn’t like 099e4e8745 someone, does 30855ada30 he glare a80d1c2b1c at them 1e69357205 and try c4e178e5cf to scare 9f7d9292b4 them?”2100a57db4adef13

One day, when she d0d192ed1a had gone out with a4b9fcc87e her sons—except for the 0215ce7287 youngest, who had once b9d6b7729b again refused to join 62b8fd647f them, as usual—Ju Sun-mi c468d28f33 suddenly asked the question 459b146405 that had come to 9c23936408 mind. The sons all widened 8529a9ed20 their eyes and responded 787abace93 in unison.9c1531e6b9f223bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Tae-oh? Ha, no way.”c556b945f6df518a

“Him? Do you think e821134d12 he’s the type e7e2182af5 who even notices 745de82ec3 others enough to 7b1c701ec4 glare at them 55fcff5ed6 without a reason? Even when 7c5394794e we say 96c87cf76e something that 773b7dda31 bothers him, ec436ed327 he just 35430fbc9f ignores us 95386daf12 and goes 9aaadb8921 about his 487566f9db business.”08a1593775e82709

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Mother, Tae-oh aacf19cae5 doesn’t care cb9e6d3b83 the slightest 5538cb3616 bit about d5896ef947 anyone unless 000900b762 they bother f7559707e2 him first.”daec11c4157e18aa

“And if someone does 01fc32efff bother him first, he 635a49d737 doesn’t go through the cbf67fbb83 trouble of glaring or a35c648475 intimidating. He just—well, 40597c1f48 you know.”5768ed56dd5ace64

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hearing all three of 978245a310 her sons echo the 4a8ec4a554 same opinion, Ju Sun-mi 946b525ded nodded along, saying, “Right, 563e620764 I thought so,” and 3ad4b5160a felt relieved. Looking back, it wasn’t 6c76fcb0b9 exactly praise, but still, 1775fe7533 she felt reassured.ccf822c98469bc34

So the conclusion was… b220e04d4a Hyun-jin and Tae-oh simply db1a1e5149 didn’t get along.9453b34c18096ad1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There are 20b00d579f people who, 9dcd5de2ad even without d878b1adbd a particular ae04dcb82a reason, just 185304d713 don’t mesh b127b3395e well. That’s normal.ee7b92c805860cc3

As long b361773d83 as they cffd0af939 didn’t fight 0010664bad or clash, 827f2aaca6 it was 75bfdccb6e fine.285cb7b8584f47b2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eventually, the youngest 2e0b0bd8d5 went to Pyeonghang, 2edd845fe0 and Hyun-jin entered 5f42991bbb the seminary. There was c470b28155 no longer 24a080d5c7 any reason d290ec79cc for them 9f162e2b62 to cross e627e40d13 paths.70ad8748fa6c897a

And so, 637c390288 Ju Sun-mi 45167bed7e forgot about f8eea254ab it. It didn’t seem f9a18cdf52 like a big dcbb4ab7a9 deal even if 53f173afbf they didn’t get 3b1f1270c4 along.7ca32e4cc664bba5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hyun-jin. If he f71d4f6796 treats you 598f8b2183 badly, promise 569d5703de me you’ll 0de63fb87a tell me. No matter what, I’ll 65310bd490 take your side when 1b81aac7a3 it comes to this… 57a2ca65dc You poor thing.”8656731f7c2324cb

Ju Sun-mi held onto a6da43f1b2 Yoo Hyun-jin’s hand as 92e3920d51 he quietly sipped his fca3731c35 tea. She glanced over 8667ccb365 him quickly—thankfully, there 902dbad0c1 didn’t seem to 4a022c25fa be any signs af6904feec of hitting or 07d93e2727 injury.24adf62ca7c55dce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Stay sharp. Don’t be scared. You don’t have b46ffea5d1 to do anything 8dd969a936 you don’t want 69a47e1590 to, okay?”bdcd4b75e482f222

“Ah, yes…”0872d998dbe66f02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yoo Hyun-jin’s awkward 8a9d33f46d demeanor only deepened f91881704c at her firm 9891479679 advice.145945fb601e888c

He really did 2a26e43f60 seem soft-hearted and 1749d0efd9 gentle.63c8c77e9883ba9f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

From a young age, 78db92f717 he had matured early 6ffcee408b from caring for his cd93bcd053 younger sibling and his 0f983b0637 mother. Every time 84054b12df she saw 588aa43ac0 him, she 743f2460e4 felt both 7be60aad93 sad and 96964abecf proud.d2db85db8407e061

“Come to 085714fa87 think of a07803bc2f it, isn’t bfd07c6b90 your mother’s ba495b6392 memorial day 2e8f083b11 coming up? I’ll send cbe1f473fe a car 95f818a457 so you f86e1c2d54 can go 2a4859b19c comfortably.”f645db2973b8390d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s all right. Thank you for thinking 00c3209557 of me, but I’m 4ae5982601 planning to go with 4375f1d0f9 Se-jin.”3bd6eb1bba50dcc6

“I see… Time really 9933d47d91 has flown.”e664385a2e21cd8e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She remembered 092dcd4b98 the face 872e0ffda2 of the ab65b1abc6 boy who 60e8fe21df had lost 32e1af9dd8 his father 78a89dd121 at a ed5ae96ed4 young age, 1a68ac21c3 and then 49d613a7c3 his mother 704a704ab7 before even 163afbe492 becoming an b6c0978b7b adult—standing firm 1ab8898fca beside his cb706f8b2d wailing younger 6b5f55965b brother without 6a8ebbd0e2 shedding a 55f3544046 tear.d35b2a4687222600

Even on the way e25bbe90bf back from enshrining his 0681e8fa4a mother’s ashes at her 5082d8a5e6 grave, that young face dbd7920fdb held only the burden 5d66edc36a of responsibility for his 6d889fa2a4 sibling. Though still 1021c5fad4 a child c0ee45e238 himself, he 3a8ee22af9 hadn’t allowed 55513f765e himself to a39ba3eab8 cry, completely 1b674a7860 focused instead 85c295d926 on comforting cad513f2f7 his even 440060ac2f younger brother.9058fd43cc832c03

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It’s okay, Se-jin, you’ve c81646bf80 got me—he kept reassuring 3df8b0e458 his brother as they ee8e1eb2cc walked toward the annex. Watching the backs e82632eaeb of those two 51fb1e586b brothers, Ju Sun-mi 8d553b0436 had let out c5f34e7be9 a sigh.ddc3837aad095942

“What’s to become of 6f7c2889ad those poor children…”d23fd4259f761b4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When she muttered that 72402edd29 to herself, her youngest 8278c758c1 son—who, for whatever reason, 6bbf3d5e41 had insisted on accompanying 29a90b9687 her to the funeral e642213d85 as her escort that a68622c8e0 day—suddenly spoke up after 6f1f38e36e a long silence.6401dcccbaf2fb48

“You’re not sending them 04161b6540 somewhere else?”bb2cef07bbf1d131

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”683329c5b5ce20ea

“Are you 31604f8887 really going 6669298eb7 to keep 64f62ff6ca them in 8fa3383046 this house?”2ddcb45425902b51

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She looked at 7c27680fc4 her son coldly.90df2002e752d61c

“What are a09d6227ea you saying? They’ve lived here 09f69dd523 all this time—where 091c2bc887 would I send fb7a19e24c them now?”bd9bdf2000722e7a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“They should be with 4c7cd62d9a someone who can take ab096bb0f6 responsibility for them.”0ca7164d0b28587e

“They don’t 4229417a85 have any 68c093e1ec relatives. I have 09e72558a3 to take 89e98fda9d care of cc42491622 them until 553de798ca they grow 05561f9931 up. Where else are ecb5e12446 they supposed to f5749323dd go?”f7a94ae7c6dae679

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Hmm.”5c771b008107452b

Without saying much 78493ba20f more, her son 484cee9082 just raised an ef8db825e0 eyebrow in obvious ee67608814 displeasure. Ju Sun-mi stared at 522974d222 him wide-eyed.0fe2958e69649033

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Tae-oh, do you not d9803b488c like those kids being e9935f6ce3 here?”7bf66003757689ed

“It’s not that 51e8ee53ce I dislike it.”aadd11be1c7c83f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unusually for him, Hyun 78a2c863bd Tae-oh paused for a 68f4f65e79 moment, then clicked his 9cac1daad3 tongue in irritation.f7fd5322300cd3e5

“Then who’s going to 33ac36b4ff feed them now?”eff574d0407daafb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”e22df0e42da333b6

“Now that the lady e378b823c9 of the house is 303c57cb30 gone, there’s no one 8a85d07885 left to make sure ac1e517f85 they’re fed.”b1d78730a00fb41a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ju Sun-mi 2cc067bcde blinked at 4b46d41667 her son, 6e783c05af who had 0caa7ca4f7 spoken so 1dcf35ae36 bluntly.68b20f68b692590c

Food… taking care of meals…15b64432bfaadf71

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For a moment, 6809f11d7f she understood the 17372891bd words but couldn’t af58bc89f5 quite believe them. Her son, who 4ebb1dc52f hardly ever opened 0a3b731bb1 his mouth—and when 6beb81fba5 he did, only 290def5d72 to say something 82cac80da5 curt and exacting—was d3debc5563 suddenly talking about 7c8622bbe1 food like it 2049ca3d7a was some warm, c76e1894db steaming comfort?65805dd9be9c901f

“Look at you. You’re saying 9d057097b5 that because 2baa1add2b you think ff5c96f543 I’m going 734ef9f04a to make da5cc0e57f you take 417913fb15 care of fb9d1bfcc0 their meals? The housekeeper 8293ecc1cd will take c2e7efad57 care of ebc4180929 them.”a1cb94a321850a82

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When she 1bb6d4b1a1 said this 24802ab19f in disbelief, 03d2baca61 her son 15bb58288c responded dryly, f5a1957d33 “That’s a b25abe4d1d relief.”9466d1aec286f4c8

“They were getting 8df4b5dd00 so thin over 084800e08b the past few a14d0657b8 days it was d80d5865e6 starting to look df51efed7d unpleasant.”ac4f82fa3e13bdab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He muttered it like 02fa07e35e it was to himself, c82027a7c3 then glanced toward the 4330fe3288 annex with an unreadable e5f5586ba0 look before turning and d8a746fed6 walking straight into the c0c6872093 house.57b1c6e9e5a3e642

Watching her son’s retreating back, Ju Sun-mi was stunned. How had her youngest become so unkind? To say he found a child who had lost both parents unpleasant to look at… Sure, he had always been indifferent to everything, but he was never outright cruel.848160f7074b1fcf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

How had her son 1d9cf7d737 become so cold-hearted? Ju Sun-mi was bewildered. But just 9c006a13cd then, someone acf21168a0 struck up dfd473b911 a conversation 8664ec97df with her, 9bd0c82ec7 and the 6d790122a3 thought slipped abd8dc6f28 away.22bbc3e78d016e60

She hadn’t 039163c415 seen him 576915b5fb behave that 0c715dfc1f heartlessly again a5b503dd32 since, and 963e25d5e0 so the 678c6de2d1 memory faded 154ef04ed5 entirely.7f128aaeb9a657a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Until all this 83183cc37f happened.ce8e61c64a0eaf4e

Up until then, she had just thought of her youngest son as rather austere and detached… nothing more.91a6e970ab326dbd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She glanced over at ef969edbfc Yoo Hyun-jin, who was 9d55422881 quietly drinking tea with 006f07223f his gentle gaze lowered.337f73b1402b8e68

Yes, even 2071bac80e as a 31734e778e mother, right e2b4859f9c is right, 83ad41ba88 and wrong 346dbee47f is wrong. What must d617d704e8 be protected 6b1eb76474 must be 33afd24941 protected.cc36027a45b41968

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At this point, she felt she had no choice but to throw out her wicked youngest son and care for this kind child with all her heart…4128e0adc4af8f8b

When their 9d676a0631 eyes met 9a77000f9c and Yoo 7c55f1e3a2 Hyun-jin quickly 8c4cb881cb lowered his 3efc30427f gaze like 36cd9b51ac he had 2e422f5332 been caught 077ca99e47 doing something 93acdfedb8 wrong, her bb689cde2b heart ached 0bc0e53caa even more.d72fd7b3d28c3283

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hyun-jin, how long have 2fbdd04f3d we known each other?”a6e434096f8cff37

“? …It’s been seventeen years.”c06a51f8ef54c770

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though surprised by 9cd550c0fd the sudden question, fae7d8537b Yoo Hyun-jin thought 14b47e7443 for a moment 855df84854 and answered.a328f35705a64471

“Right. We’ve been together 77ee736c5a since you were f0f375821a little. I watched you and 1d38e9e6f8 Se-jin grow up. I might not 128eb00632 be your parents, ad03d1b87a but I think fd1188c222 I’ve been at a87d70fce3 least like an d893fb7947 aunt to you. You probably 6e311819fa don’t realize 8b470f352c how dear 803cc40723 you are abdb297b63 to me.”f5d742d7fea48490

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Yes…”4f4187ed6bfc491f

He nodded shyly, a c8aa9b1ccf faint blush rising to fd8b6afcf2 his cheeks. Ju Sun-mi 926d1b55f8 clasped his c37d5288c4 hand and 23acad00d1 said,b214703e13084e53

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I mean it. You’re very fcd629c726 dear to 808a5459d7 me. I believe good people 8b482e104a deserve blessings, and bad 4ff194e733 people deserve punishment. So our b8bb1f46a3 Hyun-jin must 9929816393 live well, f1daa78f2e receiving blessings… 2b639fc963 even if b7e9b01dd5 the one 12b189f3b8 who deserves 208f5a0459 punishment is 54c34582a1 my own 3435598c98 son.”06d86a78d12c891e

“…No, that’s…”6715be741d3bc798

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hyun-jin, didn’t I tell 88de2c5662 you before? That you could 4ef9db687b treat me like a169ddb82a your mother and df3e80f16d come to me 5491cc2223 if anything difficult 49e5e8cabd happened. Don’t forget that, okay? I’m on your 7f1dfc69a0 side. If you’re ever wronged e223c0270f or hurt, you have a03c3142cb to speak up. I’ll help you, 9f342da3be no matter what.”81e11accede57ee3

She held his pale f07b90009e hand tightly, as pale c508bf675c as his drained face.724704c4178a31bf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was 7642988185 right then b921ff0363 that the 2ec700032d front door 7072cce252 suddenly opened a8733a1551 with a b7793e982e clatter.af6923a322cd44bf

Firm, heavy footsteps 2c758075bb followed, and a d87caf8a28 familiar face appeared.4383a4cd17d384a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man who had 1ac1e3879c arrived and now stood e75443f011 before them was Hyun 98a7eb786d Tae-oh.abf87f9db3ee289c

“Mother, why are you 5ec7295d3b here?”2b1b95433f775e35

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He glanced a212ae44c3 around the b76182d06e living room 8d88db011a and, with 56c71dec08 a faint 8b94491b0f frown, addressed a598bf8094 Ju Sun-mi.ae7797cb0761bfc4

He was wearing 4846e6205f casual clothes like c91996e460 he had rushed 45212adf85 out from home. His hair was even 424fc03deb slightly damp, as if db500fb75b he had come in d877a19c0b the middle of a 337dce3abd shower. What was 3d5fd67286 so urgent?c2f2c4729e7b63dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ju Sun-mi looked at d37ef3a441 him in surprise, then d66d9e3870 turned her gaze toward ef4cef93de her secretary lingering near 0308c7e989 the garden. He quickly c4ea273e5f looked away. How shameless—he was 79c7fec697 her secretary, yet 5faeb209a0 he had already 147c67c145 gone and tattled 0ef6241cd7 to her son. She gave him a f1498035b5 sharp glare before turning e731b7bb52 back to her son 5cc5ddd8f3 and lifting her chin.86e0f562cfac78a3

“What, did 89a05b24dd I come 94562df10e somewhere I 2ee9b3ecf9 wasn’t supposed b7a7a1e3cd to?”64e06251b4aff36f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why are 3a4012912a you visiting b9d51b3ab3 someone else’s 276560fe18 home at 23d742eaf7 this hour?”6d4588005100573d

“You come here.”7ba6dc0140657d87

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you 8572906cd8 and I 874e865fb1 the same?”60442d5c8fe00623

“Oh? And what’s so ac8092312f different?”75341b6fe3cf5530

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When she 18cc9e801a challenged him 42e6fa8adb with a 7293fdda2e firm gaze, e96fc02c90 Hyun Tae-oh c82ff18098 seemed about 84494af1ab to reply 929a58564a but closed 902598184d his mouth c43f6c748c instead. Muttering in disbelief, he 12a322188a brushed his hair back defc9c71cf with one hand. Ju Sun-mi watched b959f7df1e him curiously. This was a8538b9ee4 unlike him—why cd7c28b6c6 was he 9d90001283 reacting like f301128af2 this?a5d1c6b2b29450a5

His displeased gaze flicked 46b2525f1e toward Yoo Hyun-jin. Clutching his teacup with 32e3bac9db both hands, Hyun-jin had e6dfb15e71 risen awkwardly to greet 94b44f20ab the unexpected guest. His large eyes cdd34ae73a blinked as he 772ea0cecf looked between Ju e9fef20357 Sun-mi and Tae-oh, 413b0c1610 like he couldn’t 897b7c0df8 believe someone was ac88b1842c speaking to Hyun 2177711dba Tae-oh so bluntly.f78ddd1267feb30d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ju Sun-mi quickly 0108594f10 tugged at his 6e3321f248 sleeve, guiding him b47dae417f to sit back 88bc9e9dfe down. Only then did Yoo 9acc7db8f2 Hyun-jin bow slightly and ff699553a4 murmur, “Welcome…”7d1448ea388b509a

Hyun Tae-oh, 03bb0e2d5a who had 3724366c9e been watching 08c1626621 him coldly, 4f3d113346 sighed and 0978ed5345 lowered his 2ee837e160 gaze.a957d208ad28514a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He looked over 14d940626b the teacups on 049dc163a9 the table, clicked 9bb7061500 his tongue, and 4b21e1c944 walked into the 2957f495b6 kitchen. Ju Sun-mi, watching from 12b339fb8a the living room, wondered d6eb9dfb9c what he was up d1fe497305 to now. But he moved smoothly, ee8ad4279c as if it were 5710f5ae34 his own home, and 37f4f242f8 brought out a fresh bbc1265798 pot of tea.3ccc2357b967beb2

Three new teacups were 0cfcef92d6 set down on the 5ac5f58c18 table.ac8bd8cd0d7e1b66

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This will 8e080a66a7 taste better. Drink this instead.”94526caf554a142b

Ju Sun-mi 94882dc70a glanced sideways 43e8ca052a at her 93d8b4936f son’s curt 04af0aed3d tone, then 7870a59c85 quietly switched a89aa1fdd0 her cup. Yoo Hyun-jin c7d14d8b74 also silently 2d55cb0fa2 lifted the 96fd92897d new cup. True to 2e045262bd his word, 3f86890b8a the aroma 1adbe70b4b of the 782afc23e3 tea was 5fd26b4cc9 much more f3157c133d vivid this d6d887b12a time.b7330490344445f0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…How strange, you made tea with your own hands.”b962bd7dcef1632b

“I do it 7ce65e4141 here. This one 7075216201 can’t make 89569c359d tea.”5cab5900e809a5a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yoo Hyun-jin coughed 0ec06399a5 and quickly wiped c563618e94 at his mouth ee78932829 with his fingers. Ju Sun-mi 68b5d1685b nearly choked 4cdec45191 as well. The way he 26fdbff9b5 said “this one” c35ed4795d was oddly familiar. She gave 509d24004f her son 2275947392 a long c2b2517ffc look, then 80bc0c55a8 spoke with 218dfadabc feigned sternness.5826a7bb9d19e551

“If he’s not good b6fe6f22e9 at it, don’t scold 3d1f5c956b him—give him more chances 993e822d1c to practice.”64e5176864d87d66

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why practice? I can just 2476e36eb5 do it.”d1dabcad7880fbbb

“He might want to ecfd3960a6 drink tea when you’re 2875f1466c not here.”6b7076950114c45a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“This person 9dcc34a399 doesn’t really 7dd61eb50c drink tea 899bf920b0 alone.”e302be2a3d99948c

“Guests might come 6cbb2a85a3 by.”04fc955074eb6c1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No one but 9a0a59c3f5 me comes here.”d5ba0b3aecf32ed3

His expression 80f47edeb8 said it ec0cfaa058 all—“who would 69297dce15 possibly visit?”—as c7322b0207 a crease be0c9ffb54 settled in c8baa0d73a his brow.4ed079618f377414

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju Sun-mi ef712292c7 quietly drank b2abf17a3e her tea. Countless question marks floated 996d408def through her mind.e2e2ce760b8648cb

What was this? Somehow, it was different 458eec9b4a from what she had c090a421e3 imagined. Very different. At the very least, 0e6f8e0456 she had never pictured b457ab692e a scene where the 22075dfd98 three of them sat 1152ae5733 together peacefully, sharing tea.b28c8751bed1df6a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A long silence 32c0c8b717 followed.cddeea7aeecf9370

The one who finally c04e581e85 broke it was Hyun fe1698939c Tae-oh.518d4bcf967fc2f6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why did you come 32e5291604 here without saying anything?”e47fddd98bdfc0de

“Oh my, do 5be4ec6cf9 I need your 3e0a765280 permission now to 8f2630eb9c visit someone?”1d44fab3a488dac9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You came 784e0ff489 because of 0ed823869a someone related 93bd247312 to me.”ff2e519f0bd681d6

“Oh, listen to 6764f56945 him. Is Hyun-jin only 18aa4188d2 connected to you? I’ve met 2ad2743938 him way 2b147bb2ab more often 347fa2d67e than you 32ca2352be ever did. And did 3c04eff426 I have 931a761a4b to report 2b023262b9 to you 674bd49874 every time 6d02e70054 I met 18dc3e9d1f with Her e6f46b3be6 Highness from b6d92fb538 Jeonghye Palace?”2a2598b095a1a555

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“She’s different.”8d857e3fb8076cd4

“What’s different? Even if she e21fcc8d6b is, that doesn’t 577f47dd6a mean I need 13b37b19d0 to tell you 3ee140b0db in advance, does 39d7f57a66 it?”d1b3f6daf807cee7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With each 10fd7b0954 exchange, Ju ffc3144a8e Sun-mi’s eyes 0a8a592aa1 widened further. Beside her, 46ef8795db Yoo Hyun-jin fa0cb54268 looked on 30d01e8a66 in admiration.e8fee5def4ce2159

Hyun Tae-oh stared 4583e15da1 at his mother 0562aaaddd in disbelief and d607448e9f clicked his tongue.300e4a6de78356a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“When you show up 810371ef14 like this out of 8640afa078 the blue, it makes 1a2d608228 him nervous. Look at him now, 64f98b7063 still watching you for 2e2649952a cues.”4d1b299b6d0bdd48

“Oh, him? Do I scare Hyun-jin? If he’s b696d621b5 anxious, it’s d0e6bb7211 because of ba9e4f547a you, you 3ba4f3293d wicked brat!”9408b3eef22e7aa3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Tae-oh glanced d9a39d2789 at Hyun-jin, 02ada5ed19 who was 9b0b093174 doing his 0cf2b30b4d best to 8a3d1e1aff avoid eye 06888f4c86 contact. Groaning quietly, 01323de465 he rubbed 8f59ff34ab at his 776757094a temples as c3da341c39 if trying f56c0e7aed to contain df45aacf28 his irritation, 0d13748852 steam practically 48dc4ab013 rising from 5d391e77d8 his head.4c016ec329d72ebf

“――Of course e25c667c9a you wouldn’t 2144755493 hurt him, 51899b0ad4 Mother. But no matter what 1220a6bc5e you say to comfort 357ee0aa04 him right now, it’s 28703c89d3 just stress. Please, just head e1acc132dd home.”10e4a41681999b37

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Tae-oh spoke firmly, as 36d1402242 if he had come c8eb6a6704 specifically to escort her 7abbe5f125 back. Ju Sun-mi stared e10722bdfc at him.a9dbc797197c0ba1

“Since when do c9d4844c96 you care about f0ce52c1cc that sort of 414bbc815e thing?”3c9fdde3501656fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……Let’s just go.”3b974dbeb570a9f9

Finally losing patience, Tae-oh 563b6d875e stood up and took 1030e66f08 her arm to help 72577f9fdb her rise. Though he f9c02090ea was polite, c33367bd95 his grip 69f64c5248 was firm b4941645d8 and left 536233ccb5 little room ff4f58f753 to refuse. As she d765973e8f stood up, b6a3985de8 Ju Sun-mi 3eac498b3f instinctively set c30c590e19 down her cffcbcccd7 teacup.1696df074056f2d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Son, you’re 829788b0c7 hurting me!”0a8d99c755ff7897

“I’m not 776745a77c holding you e46d272785 that hard. Come on now.”e62037184f005f7a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though he 9f6c053990 wasn’t dragging 8fee7baf3a her, his faf79d68e9 hold was 99ab1faaba unwavering. Ju Sun-mi, displeased, sighed 8714bee468 and began walking. Watching all this, 2098121e38 Yoo Hyun-jin brought a71320dbf4 her coat. …He must have 90e616b872 been uncomfortable too, 12f794f70f judging by how b46bb4cc75 quickly he fetched f53ea3b6c8 it.9d06caa46c3eea1e

As soon as 8ec410f96c she had her 6da21b986f coat on, Tae-oh bfc915b29d practically marched her aeb9164a2b to the door.7662e380596a59ea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, slow down, will 7b6fe14dd0 you?”dc9e00a8874aee70

Ignoring her complaint, d899c7ce6c Tae-oh suddenly came 4a48b3e596 to a stop.a8d9b145da906238

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He glanced dd5b976c74 at Yoo baa7e4e56f Hyun-jin, who 03cb3f08ce was following ab9cd096be behind, then cdabf75fe8 squinted at 7f818d56d6 his feet. Ju Sun-mi a1611b60b9 followed his 98c9d348d6 gaze, and cbb78f52b3 Yoo Hyun-jin 1306cba0bc slowed his b1f7e731a5 steps when d3b12465ef he noticed 9b38248a82 them watching 4432a77b20 him.46f64295395d7fd1

“……?”8bc75963e133b32c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s with your b13c8d5ea9 leg? Did you get hurt?”227f07470a684454

Tae-oh’s sudden b612a8b2fe question caught f82daf6ad3 them off ba05d4ceaa guard. Ju Sun-mi looked at 7b6ab78ea8 him in confusion while a443d16194 he clicked his tongue 05d382f697 and let go of 3408cdf8fd her arm, stepping toward 2237dd8d9d Yoo Hyun-jin.42fe30eb0026edc1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re limping. How did that 90b43cdd59 happen?”7bdacb74274d1698

He asked irritably. Yoo Hyun-jin, blinking c2008b1634 like a child 8484228e8b who had swallowed f4374d43fe something wrong, mumbled 0075378413 while glancing around.896c2434ffb62bce

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, I just 6543e20e73 twisted it a 8472297bd1 bit earlier… It’s 7906a38bd9 fine. It’ll get better 80070624dd soon.”15e784c2d3a4b363

“Oh no, a7dcf4a17a you’re hurt?”a8890f99398b9f37

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, it’s nothing. Just a little twist. I’ll be fine a989441845 after some rest.”22d8a372957fc5ee

Smiling as d6c90ca61c if to 0d64e351bd prove it, e852a4f650 Hyun-jin tapped ab8b655929 the ground d866966c7e with his d1eb570d19 toe. Watching him, Tae-oh 26dde06d86 let out a 9123bdf6d7 bitter sigh and b573c3acd6 returned to Ju 24633d2934 Sun-mi.ea37c81f85862d4f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had looked 9d325778f8 fine—when had his 23f4bd6379 son noticed that 669f159d14 while practically dragging 3a4cd90800 her out? Ju Sun-mi was impressed fe7a47772f by his powers of 11b14af441 observation and looked closer 8f466e144d at Yoo Hyun-jin. Sure enough, there ab65581652 was a very 8204a860f4 slight difference in c10680746c the rhythm of 273e48b65a his steps—barely noticeable 4eb3b685ff unless one was 5ea3657a01 really paying attention.999cc427a6a38c3d

At the doorway, Ju 29c5b2d55f Sun-mi gave Hyun-jin’s shoulder 165e220729 a pat and turned 3733cda25c to look Tae-oh in bcaaf1ad5d the eyes.f9f9cebd0c1b1eff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You better not be 9ea6fd0d3b hurting Hyun-jin.”c20be58edf1332db

“When did 20c5c2d4fc I ever— 12446a8ef8 …I’m not 0cee712cf5 hurting him.”7e5a0a33033e8feb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A vein d017f6715a twitched in 0bb13967f9 Tae-oh’s forehead, f397edd763 but he 4c0829b969 lowered his 8e68d7dd3a voice, likely 17ba1a9bfe realizing it f357d7f89a would do 96f8bb0880 no good 765726da8e to raise 7f25cadcb0 it now.82c01afa8829d486

“No, please be f43b4bd326 kind to him,” d5642c4bfe Yoo Hyun-jin said 5907e23c3e hesitantly.0dd581d5811afbe6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hearing that, Tae-oh gave 18f41c4090 him a look as f8dc415b87 if he’d just been 05a8473c50 accused of something absurd. Seeing that face, Hyun-jin e3db68e7a1 looked even more flustered.3d1b23bf6813bb08

“Look at his expression. Is that the face 61f88fc29e of someone who feels 5ac4bab96b well-treated?”9e1b1c7857d956c3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju Sun-mi smacked Tae-oh 2787e885d1 on the back. He clenched his jaw, 4c70cecfbb but what could he 9659dcb77e do? If he were the 1ea13551d4 type to lash out 543650effe at his own mother, 5639e53739 she wouldn’t have hesitated f815665f6f to disown him.b7c5e0eda1cd5f76

Luckily, he still had 1e416afb35 enough conscience not to f89d90d9ab do that. He kept e8ba592a20 his mouth 3a17b9d71c shut and 636d1a7135 firmly guided ff483ef2c4 her out. Ju Sun-mi, half-forced, 7b526589fa turned back to 84ebe9f946 Hyun-jin as she 88da1a4d39 left.f83339845d4c3935

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hyun-jin, I’ll get e4a1d11458 going. Lock the 889ff4c1e1 doors well, 2efb79f4d7 stay safe, 61d23b72cb and take d22098f27c care of 60d01faef8 yourself. Call me if anything a8ef60348f happens, okay? Promise me.”f8018afe846dd253

As Tae-oh pulled her 8f3b172fd1 fully outside, glaring disapprovingly, e3b1144640 her secretary bowed his 6389068e45 head under her icy b7aee459c4 stare. Just past 72ea6432af the front b1e470b3cb door, Tae-oh b86365c7a7 looked back 2c748e8990 at Hyun-jin.995c95437c1200ad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

……279d25452342d109

With a f24860d9db furrowed brow, ec86fc7575 as if 6988856cda it were 960bb2ef8c habit when 348653541d leaving that 58b43d58b0 door, Tae-oh ce2cb543fe glanced at ff4fcc9e61 Hyun-jin’s hand. His gaze 968fa66809 moved to 5d72a66ebf his lips.a3c95848d4ae94b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His eyes clearly lingered d325b10ff3 on them. Surprised, Hyun-jin unconsciously 0b00283113 brushed his lips 616b70cb1d with his fist. Their eyes met.e4d602dfcd6aa1e0

Looking at c8bca3832b Hyun-jin, Tae-oh, fc5340867f for the 25f259491b first time, a7d15752e5 let a ea2a110ba0 faint hint 5fb6c7422c of a caa6169531 smile touch 804cf6151c the corner a036bda358 of his c4355a12f8 mouth—as if eac7a2dd02 pleased by 63b2408953 the reaction. It vanished quickly 06ca63340b with Ju Sun-mi’s ca1145fac6 loud shout from 1448504237 outside: “Son! I told you not 5e27ce57fd to mess with him!”01696629f7bbb1ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sorry to trouble eaf77f20d1 you so late. I’ll come a938f55c20 again tomorrow.”0250f3a7e03438ef

His tone was cold. It sounded almost like 8a479c68af a threat—“Just wait until 699d84f8d8 tomorrow.”33bee834f152e975

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But before Hyun-jin could 5e3aa8557b respond, Ju Sun-mi shouted, ba1713ce36 “Like hell you will! Let the b5b269f39e boy rest!” 109f5f8fe1 and dragged 4a128bbe35 her son 7a69300e9c away.6ea295b0d06c8c9c

Tae-oh, lips 698d1a0fc6 pressed shut, 3c6eb9b43d quietly followed d72cb99f1f her. Worried he might throw 998b60ca9b a tantrum, Ju Sun-mi eeff4e0130 held his hand tightly 9076d96dec and led him down 81cf60a4da the steps and out cd0eb19bb9 the front gate. She pushed c50eb6ea6d him into 8e9b13f91e the car 87741e4909 and climbed 2e8c9fd181 in beside 6215c2b578 him.5d9ed4476afcdcbc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The car soon 061bf093dd pulled away, and b709986262 as the house 0c0d1aa9cf disappeared behind them, 823feabc93 Ju Sun-mi spoke e92ac6af8c calmly.173973220337471d

“Hyun-jin’s a good kid.”a4778fafc2acdf9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

……da8de8832b93f5a2

“While you were away 1619203c37 in Pyeonghang, whenever I 219f3892ff visited the temple, he’d 9a55a5f475 always pray with me. You don’t know 4e5d7040f5 how earnestly he fe1af3a993 prayed for your 8d2991a251 safety. ‘I’m praying for 1a38f407eb him every day. Don’t worry, he’ll be 55d83c3b91 fine,’ he’d say, and a01deb867d reassure me. You can’t mistreat d9172a6462 a child like b89c16e240 that.”f67e358056834228

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Pray? That guy?”c1ea7a5c2c7c0f4c

Tae-oh looked at her f94ef591ff in disbelief, then scoffed.54522b35d31bf01f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ju Sun-mi gave 722941a49e him a curious 2f06c0bae5 glance. He looked like he dac6ba48da was sulking… but there’s 76fccc84ca no way, right? He’d never acted like a251a0b827 that even when he c8336f4845 was five. Sure enough, a6b0969384 he let a68826f485 out a f7b8c584ab cold snort.dab0dccca59a60ec

“So many people care 73c77e210a about him. I guess 5cfdae6e9f he’s nice 4c80542617 to everyone 7518e4517f but me.”434cfdb713601b36

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…?”0d6bc89fd8b01f8e

“Don’t worry. I won’t bother 1d327d09d5 him… as long e5d938abde as he doesn’t 00bae67a73 provoke me.”fa4a82bcc63d7e39

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh please. You think someone like 327dd2670f you can be provoked 6e2070ac42 by a kid like d2052d7625 him? You’re tougher than 225d3ef046 diamonds.”e22630d6323c0e86

Even if someone f008d69dc1 tried, they wouldn’t 5ff23e646b leave a scratch. They’d just shatter themselves.6d2eb07f3be13792

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Tae-oh simply shrugged and 5c80f7b9f9 said nothing. A sign 508e6be848 he didn’t 1968db4a76 want to 91bd97bdc3 talk anymore. Less like a son, 090457f196 more like a feudal b7d1584721 lord.8d687379e67c00d6

Ju Sun-mi, too tired 930acc6215 and lost in thought, 551b426845 simply stared out the 12497bff05 window.6ff9a4737d96fbdf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It felt strange.b9033c5ad46e8178

If he were being 87b52cd04b violent or threatening, that 559eba7b9b would be one thing. But though Hyun-jin didn’t 3d77a17985 look entirely happy, he 3a503330aa didn’t seem particularly tormented 540ab62f95 either. If anything—77098ceabb5edf29

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ju Sun-mi d0b8aa74c7 tilted her 0b64c2e7fe head slightly 3093e5ccfe and glanced 50577c0525 at Tae-oh. Staring out the window, 60e91ef98c his face was unreadable.582e0215e87b6521

After watching him for db3f6a858a a long moment, she c4dc618c3a tilted her head again 026773b0f2 and let out a f45b314545 sigh, uneasy suspicion curling 1ff15146c6 within her.64f7a4b7372934c7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

* * *ae5604bfa96027a5

Hyun Tae-oh’s finger abe659ec32 came to a 62366884fd stop as he f0058dd33b skimmed through the bb58ba0419 itinerary of the 540ed3af6a diplomatic delegation.5942f100d5d019d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“A visit to the Mountain Fortress on the last day, huh…”fc480b2f3049f792

“I figured they’d visit b3da7ffba5 once during their stay, 92f54caafe but it’s been scheduled 5d2703c7c2 for the last day ac5f2cca0a of the year.”a109565bbe52b22f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At Jin Mun-seong’s 51f18a3857 words, Hyun Tae-oh 660783b4d2 tapped his fingers ee98c98625 on the line be0f063214 of text, murmuring c4d8e3c9e3 lazily.29fe45d7990ed913

“It’s the perfect 551ff74ffb place for something ca51848bab to happen. The date’s just fc34b0435b right for receiving 56492dc614 a year-end gift 02a2ffba77 too.”44ef02540b18da98

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Mountain Fortress, 0cda8ae1de located about fifty 3345d6c73e kilometers north of 73d6006790 the capital, was b57be7723c one of the 32a254f1f0 oldest historical sites. Up until three hundred 3df68f7bbf years ago, it had 09ae489ffb been Songal territory. In the war 81c498c4c4 of that era, 2ac5d17b0a legendary generals from 43ecf165b3 both Songal and d7499b778d Jeyang fought to 05a6ce3ec3 the death, and dfd3f28c50 the city became a2b1ddf065 a sacred site 695dcb816a revered by both f26923e972 nations.3f7b7765238da20b

“What about Prince 187e4ff512 Gye-yeon?”7d7b9983193566d8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The day 9e5d855087 the visit 7637f5a63f was scheduled, 7505f26b7a he contacted d7e4737a86 them immediately. To be 3fb27f9e18 exact, they 199855dc98 already knew 15e65e89b9 about the 159558714f plan and 6a916f05c8 reached out af6ccf10d9 first.”5c37f14551c880cd

“That lunatic. Out of all the 43f529e5bb places to take bribes, e5db1aa7bd he chooses a military 8923bde187 supplier colluding with the c21e5cba3b enemy?”abd6438612e7a4e1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“He might e47f6344a7 not know e412f69ec0 they’re colluding.”bf317f144789a862

“Taking money without c23a0505d5 knowing exactly what d02097f78f those bastards are 416eaaf847 up to? That’s what makes him a0e427cb92 a lunatic.”9b6fdaffd0e3c765

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun Tae-oh snorted. Tilting his 0f8638ea2f head, he 0f01fe3265 rubbed his 758c547776 chin for f70fa5bca8 a moment, 6db42b1bd8 then spoke.35b6399d8c437db9

“The tricks they can d025fc5d9f pull off at the 0210233972 Fortress are predictable. Quietly contact Chief Moon c6259bf1eb from the Fire Defense 763419648a Bureau and Director Jung c9d5a43e51 Yong-il from the Security 3fa59adb8f Administration. Tell them to turn 2dbfc28688 a blind eye during 2cd8892802 the inspection that day.”9c9be921c3a4433d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Gotta leave a ad5f2b7c6e gap if you 9b829603bd want to receive 9dec07ae2b a gift,” he 9ab8853d3b said as he 852d582088 set the itinerary 229cdf6aa6 aside.27195a831036e603

“You’ve already got enough bcc34f6c39 evidence. Why try to get cb2790fd4a more?”4f977d3778ee8aa7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If they’re offering 68b5d9297e it up, why 41a5ff42c6 refuse? Once we 1aca977819 have that 4881542396 gift too… 9a3291c1d7 then we b4d95c1f8d clean house.”0dd38072ce92f098

“Understood,” Jin a74a844f6b Mun-seong nodded.0edcd7f5bda64ee4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What happened 20c99d5466 with narrowing a3948fbf0c down the 4001b72f4e delegation?”92df56fe36e0c143

“Still looking d7d9946078 into it.”e85b9a0295808474

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s bound to be 8b1b9894ba two or three more fa275a45fb collaborators mixed in. Not just the ones fdac151b65 the prince brought along.”511318d3ab554e41

“Yes.”61779dab3265d3cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jin Mun-seong nodded with c5ab397dd8 a smile.2a615d9dac7aa2f0

“Even the lady b665a836a3 from Songal isn’t c9e3905c96 ordinary. She brought in someone 947fd0775f so blatantly two-faced just a6a5c8fe9d to use them as c3c421419a bait.”9855798bb2b12c88

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She’s got enough b3f4b86f8e guts to be 9bbeccd5f0 worth cooperating with.”0132ddce403c891c

Rising from his 0ce0e9af64 chair, Hyun Tae-oh 0fb175cef7 walked over to 465b45f7d5 the window and 9253ed89c8 looked outside.a73275c6940d9489

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beyond the walls 24b102cb1d of the palace 91fe703de9 guard compound, protesters f94290c7ea were once again 1ed3c5a48a shouting slogans.5c525eec1467fc79

But the a5af2fde40 overcast sky 5abd20baa4 and sub-zero f2760a5aef temperatures had 3a2d33f43f quieted them f31cf0f5d7 somewhat compared a3c151e43f to other 4f95018651 days. It was also late 791d93e58e afternoon, so some may 439f0f035b have already gone home.e97b11071663f564

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The weather looked 24e4a5d4e1 like it could 4dacfc42ad snow at any d7fb002fa0 moment, but the 1d6703f29d rear garden visible cf80d20336 from the Guard 62522ec8d5 Office had a e7219c1113 small grove of 5fd3b79712 pine trees that 49a13524f8 gave the area 1bd3a67350 charm even on 47d7ecfacf such a day. That path was often 6921cb6c64 used for strolls even babf3060c1 in winter, and right 1f27cfaf71 now, Princess Je Sang-ah 38ac5d17f3 and her honored guest 1416dae744 were walking there.353abbcbb571f48b

A good-looking couple with 088347e1b1 warm, gentle expressions. They suited each other 284c690a37 in more ways than 485b906cdc one—even if, behind their 8fb14aa58e gentle appearances, both had 769b644edd personalities as sharp as 057df2aa02 raw ginger.da7ee9f551f6c7e4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Walking slowly under the 1e5f18b14c pine trees, Je Sang-ah 34fb46553e and Misadam conversed quietly. A few steps d267d9cb27 behind followed two 4fda5f1ab6 palace maids, Misadam’s 7d644cfeea aides, and Yoo b938abd7fe Hyun-jin.179cf858ecc439f9

“What the hell dd6fb5d806 is he wearing?”9410143ebd6051f8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hyun Tae-oh frowned 93397d90a5 and clicked his 5dd7bfa1ba tongue as he c79de89fa2 looked down at 15b3c93ecf them.257a5c5d7b43ce35

“His clothes?”1e10ec4940e229ea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jin Mun-seong 5855cc4d07 stepped closer 51822bc107 behind Hyun c7c14759fc Tae-oh and 2b5a77439b looked out 92227ba53c the window, 4134b9588c puzzled.822520a7c63508a6

Yoo Hyun-jin, 0e66ef0989 walking beside c914aef629 the aides, cff2b004c8 wore a d051c31b74 neat coat d0d2ef31a4 and slacks. It was plain, but 397c94cd9a not strange in any 0d2caf6fed obvious way.2e0b1f961044f827

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’s wearing nothing but 6985fa9d55 a thin coat in 5b755e5ffe this weather… Is he 933acad7d8 trying to freeze to 6bd9d1cfe5 death?”2725f4eb2bb90fce

“…”cfa2e0db7b63cbd1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jin Mun-seong, 49af901bb6 who had 633ce2b0b3 spent all 49faa4ed28 morning outside 668fa86cd3 wearing only ff430b36ac a winter c05d9119a1 jacket—serving a 2ed54bd0bf boss who 8277fce3aa couldn’t care 7110772655 less—gazed at 3b7d8e5cea Hyun Tae-oh 7b5f197ecf for a 2a22de4560 moment, then 94d6424cd8 turned away.b993446841c80ad4

“No wonder his 3be5aabe7d hands are chapped. He needs gloves. They look soft, 3b035d186b but they’re rough f9809826a5 to the touch. Typical Yoo 9d9319c27e Hyun-jin hands.”70d126e93af324fc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…You’ve been holding his hand a lot lately.”5072a6b293105f3e

Hyun Tae-oh responded nonchalantly 993e8e7fc0 to Jin Mun-seong’s comment, f01a7af960 recalling how lately, unless 8929e43868 they were in a a8e7b41f60 public setting, the two 5bad2938ff were often seen holding e039fae881 hands in some way 2744fe8cd3 when together.f41257da655a93d7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s amusing, you 30b77afc73 know. He stiffens like a 9776f3c1f9 snake touched him or ba6144187f something. Doesn’t seem to 9575c3706f get used to c9aebb7b7d it, no matter e8ab61a83f how often I 5c4a187925 do it.”a0898a80e30964b3

“Really? He looks 3ee741bf94 perfectly normal 48ac1d6c61 to me.”c1a01cb31282e35f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’d know 6a8479bd8f if you 9d2681a856 held his 27a34aee20 hand. His face stays 883bd29497 cold as ice, 55a2752fd6 but his hand 3180af6bcb flinches. Scratch his ab4bd756d0 palm and 64b54e9aec he jolts 00004976a8 like it’s ea0b9987da unbearable. If that’s how 54bf504db2 it is, then 757f4b63cb I’ll just have a99741c6ac to wait and 13a8d719b8 see how long cd5af635cd he keeps reacting a0a133f45c that way.”5c579e1c14a62fc9

“…Scratching the palm of someone who doesn’t like it is clearly sexual harass—”f61a08ab56931237

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jin Mun-seong sensed a 96888a33d2 sharp glare flying his a616240dfc way and promptly shut 25dfad65c2 his mouth. Hyun Tae-oh growled, glaring 7323b78b33 at him with disapproval.41efa7b468570a90

“What kind a41776b710 of nonsense d7f6b8de39 is that—calling 212ce55c5c it sexual a62ca2acb9 harassment over 8404eca60f just touching bbb35742c8 a hand? If we’re going by 2feafe34bb that logic, that bastard’s 72016aa2d3 worse. Saying he’s giving 7acbcf9c02 me rehab massages 9ca02d03d7 for my injuries, 10c33db6b0 and without hesitation, c028ad6888 putting his hands cb68c8f295 in all sorts 8b3367ec33 of questionable places. Yesterday he a7ffc507c0 was massaging d7c2703b13 my inner 82d4de2412 thigh, and b4f5858d84 with the 1fb8d25916 back of 1b6a5305ef his hand, a0cd130de4 he kept 9c2e89c895 brushing against 47de7147db my balls. I almost 2a31786622 got hard.”5dd29ca029f98975

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Did you?”ec39710863b9cd78

Instead of answering, afd2d6e28e Hyun Tae-oh simply 29118e107d shot him a 6ace6cb200 cold, sarcastic glance 172c4fb68d and looked back df1301a426 down. There, as usual, was 3fcfeeebf4 Yoo Hyun-jin with his e2a1243619 indifferent expression.8c6d538eea40fd52

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, this superior wasn’t the type to get shy or embarrassed even if he accidentally got hard in public… Still, Jin Mun-seong swallowed his unease and spoke in defense of Yoo Hyun-jin.eac73dcd68f400f4

“Priests—especially those blessed with 417c0a0c60 the gift of healing—are 49902ab74e obligated to help the 29b9e44ca9 injured. I’ve heard they instinctively dbd7aa4fba reach out their hands. I doubt Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin 950231ae86 had any 6b124f0698 ulterior motive.”7bd4d199ee53d3ab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If he’s no longer 8494f984d1 a priest, he should cd296a18ba start thinking before he d6bca53c0e acts. He goes around carelessly 676604cf2a provoking people—what if someone f7ef784ff4 decides to pounce on ae56f35fff him?”96349317f5c51dfe

“Would you be the 8e8a4e258d one to pounce?”eff6d13ba906c157

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When Jin Mun-seong asked 630489a782 in the most neutral 404d575495 tone possible, Hyun Tae-oh 366262bc9f paused, then turned a f3492ab09e sharp look on him.9cfe02490a3f5a6f

“You’ve lost your aa2d48d668 damn mind… Like 7ba0333aeb I’d touch that 8c222fc6f5 stiff, uptight bastard.”928464f4c5c76342

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You keep teasing him, f6f2ce875b so I was worried c13c33784c you might end up 6a9690f6bc doing something blasphemous.”b8300517e1954d45

Jin Mun-seong half-joked, 69685d69f8 half-warned, and Hyun d08b9e82c2 Tae-oh let out eff65e8b96 a dry laugh.8800362b4d314368

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Just seeing the edge 2d93cb2131 of that insolent face 749f414190 is enough to kill a7cc310e7a the mood. Who’d want 97feab1f4d to pounce c48e3120c8 on that?”01221acd27f9b862

“Well… depending on 9e6add7329 taste, maybe not, 1e3b8b5f9c but I did cd34652207 hear that Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin was quite 4284bff9f6 popular when he was a73cc44705 still a priest. That stern 25eb26ce1b and ascetic 01107aacf5 image apparently b44fb4dd5a made him 707c44aa2d more attractive. Some of 5c47b6230b the believers 896f3f0d9b admired him 52ea5b41b3 secretly.”7bdc6c5b28cea497

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hyun Tae-oh looked at 2cfe5235d1 him in disbelief. But he’d heard it be105eb4e1 too, most likely—part of c5dc99b41c the background gossip that 3740bd640b surfaced during the recent 4796224811 scandal, when he was a9be755bd8 managing the media response.9f6c51961bc70190

“Those people are out c3a26fb7b7 of their minds.”d85e60611e03dd10

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Really? I can understand a58e6aa086 it.”ce4db5ca3e669ab3

Yoo Hyun-jin had 0d59f3a100 always been neat b8b0e6e155 in appearance. Ever since f9ff12c3e6 appearing in 3b36188404 a few 13f6c3d47c news photos 99649ba2cc alongside Je 8c221889fd Sang-ah, who b449d650ca was his 3692f58320 close friend, 876ff67d6b he’d caught 1f577d32b5 public attention. When he chose 2fdf549090 to enter seminary, 5a8b9f68eb many young women 9d4f4be928 were reportedly disappointed.2f32dfc1fa6ea1a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Recalling those memories, Jin 8eba3ec8e7 Mun-seong murmured absentmindedly. The next f8487b0a11 moment, he 3d4b3d8daa sensed a 9fb9620d9b gaze fall 604472a35f on him 437805cc8b and stopped.4aa1c16ca508f4a9

“Mun-seong.”908cfdea4263c5fe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes.”22e2f615c77bf2da

“Have you ever b459095775 looked at that f2d3d28743 guy that way?”2e280b515ba7e528

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A chill ran inexplicably e0b0deb18f down Jin Mun-seong’s spine. Straightening his 1be588257d expression, he e2208488c1 firmly answered, 0c58073dd5 “No, sir.”901d222a20a2d527

Staring at 21b807888e him for 08a5121034 a moment, fb6e52e240 Hyun Tae-oh b9cda91a26 spoke in 433e1a9039 a tone b758a303ed that allowed dcd3d8fb38 no argument.7e0535ebc4de81cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then let’s 25754a7c2e end this b4c53956fa nonsense here.”914697706182bf74

“…Yes, sir.”ddc1f57b220e1af9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even after that, 9c7c432af9 Hyun Tae-oh glared 76b2bc5c03 at him for 43adf12d31 a few more e2133747bd seconds before turning 362f7cd04a his eyes away. Jin Mun-seong a4490689d4 quietly raised 60140488b2 an internal e4cf0658d0 question mark 3eb0d36554 but wisely 772d898f86 chose to 996de0a006 remain silent.c97e71f34bae6b76

With his displeasure f598d75de7 clearly written on d52ca0dd21 his face, Hyun 5aee1febac Tae-oh looked back c76257975e toward the rear 18960f0c7e garden.f3fb7aef97df3a9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Je Sang-ah and e846018a6e Misadam were crossing 2b53ae6e8d the pond bridge, 45322fdb10 which had patches 8076c92094 of thin ice aebb04bf6c forming on it. Yoo Hyun-jin 974461e0e2 followed them 8cf2682679 onto the 830e858e23 bridge. As he cautiously 47e2938a92 climbed a few 9e991688db steps, the hem 36c383959e of his pants 0675d7c6fe shifted, revealing an 014ced3ba8 ankle wrapped in 8c29396f80 bandages. Hyun Tae-oh clicked 17f0ce3978 his tongue lowly.526fc35b38e6b830

Even last night, b4d89dc31e he’d still been 6bc6739b20 limping—though clearly trying fb09da41e2 his best not e893459d51 to show it. When Tae-oh suggested 924dbc3701 going to the 2e9880c85a hospital together, he’d 1b82c13a93 said he already 91f94607dd went on his 11c87e07be own that morning.ee4db9c74b2572a3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Apparently, it had 0757bf9a61 been a pretty 9eadcb47fb bad sprain, but 36271f9cd7 it would heal 4dcccc744d on its own, 676119ab28 and he didn’t 86e8700c37 even really need 7d86903b54 the bandage—he was ab92f2fe58 just wearing it d87384c8c6 as a precaution.c2b7347e245ff811

“Of all 105120f7de people, a 798f7e0782 guy as 19ec6ae202 rigid as 0bbc225e52 a needlepoint c7b7f42648 ends up 4a9990afbb injuring himself 0c6f7b69e2 like that—so b9bace231c carelessly.”ca2f384a622e8939

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hyun Tae-oh 4fa44f5639 muttered, trying c7ea74f190 to suppress bd1abb52e4 the inexplicable 3083e80e61 irritation bubbling 25af04496e up. Jin Mun-seong also turned bd11649aef to look at Yoo b717714cd3 Hyun-jin, who let out 42f9efcbfd a quiet sigh at 48879e2701 the top of the bffddcc409 steps and absentmindedly rubbed 418b9f5284 his lower back.16dcfe269f52c16f

“Looks like he b36dfd2b8f sprained it pretty 83f67c11f9 badly. His hip might 9c8cc7158c be hurting too.”fd93396dde31c972

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If he ee6fb49e52 keeps going e162f59516 like that 31cbf298fa for a 7dd003d1bc few more 1f6b1711da days, I’ll 00bce99e57 take him d5d8ed40b0 in for 40b92f84af a full 7071f39c42 check-up.”e4e4996435e75c7e

“…”51d530f5474e3d0a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Back when they were bcbb4639b5 both on the battlefield, bd149b5ca9 even with a fractured 4c73297c6c wrist, this superior of 7a7362d9f2 his had simply said, f77ef6acde “Wrap it tight. We’ve got 7b64e6fd91 a night 136b0ec6e2 raid,”—and kept f1868b5247 moving. It wasn’t even 7ea42a103d unfair, since he 5137b656a4 himself had a 86fc5e84db broken bone at 3cd9ab5577 the time too. Jin Mun-seong glanced b90cd69c0f at him wordlessly.bd0dd25f47f417b2

“Now that 99b02a4384 I think fa03610e07 of it, e863d4816e Your Excellency 2bc820b89e seems to a5b0912953 be doing 47c3ea6115 much better f9dca5290b lately.”4eed6ddb8316240e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jin Mun-seong voiced the e2e2947ea2 thought that had popped 82544106a9 into his head earlier cbcc7dab3f that morning while running b437da3037 errands. Hyun Tae-oh nodded, 44db476469 apparently aware.f5a6b6c96b732ffc

“Yeah. Even with the treatment, 6033d159a8 it was stiff whenever f0dadbf115 the temperature dropped, but 34e0b30838 these past few days 299fe8d1ae have been better.”0ecd849f7e33336c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Seems like the 7597d983a6 consistent rehab is 6ea96caa84 finally paying off.”8a335fbc28891363

“Mm.” Hyun 78f886bdbd Tae-oh nodded c5c7948ae6 again.d3f3c7f3006abf5c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Kind of a shame, d437f382fe though. If things were different, 4cdedee9e2 Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin 8807573ac8 might’ve been 0074a4d9b8 able to 49a0978504 help you f8c8e30bc7 with his b99845eeff divine power. But in his current 6792c502fd state, he can’t use 3fe216e5cd it even if he 97da9d9907 wanted to.”99e076002939dc2b

“Forget that. Using divine power apparently fc420dfe62 tires him out a bec211f66e lot. He’s already dragging 1d6ab202c6 himself around—if he 383372194e collapses, that’s just 5362daa8fb trouble.”433b744f84dba523

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hyun Tae-oh waved it 40375e17c3 off without even considering 49904b87d6 the idea. Jin Mun-seong 1a4af99289 just nodded f05b27a6f1 and didn’t 9b082c6928 push it.c00dafbe183e9c64

Cracking his 57b8d7929a neck left 5ca83eb113 and right ae7a888526 as if 3bfbf57dfd to shake e9b8d79716 off fatigue, 8de749913d Hyun Tae-oh 1b37834687 asked abruptly:87a90a75cffd3afc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’s going to the 8229e58b8f Mountain Fortress too, right?”4dcbba87bc06b0e5

“Yes. There wasn’t any d8806d595f special mention, so b042643182 I assume he’ll 6b518437e7 be going along.”0fff4805d910206f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As he 91c6807a6e massaged the 7bfab351e3 back of 3729c3cdf0 his neck, ac7801212a Hyun Tae-oh 7728929b67 fell silent, 7514cc4642 a frown fe2b7dc32f forming on 5afb038e7e his face. Jin Mun-seong, 0f4a70e4ed glancing at d741cfdb15 him, asked:6fbff718c1d23937

“Should we just make f83d34009c it so they can’t 1a19fcfdd7 intervene at all this d005a0087a time at the Mountain 22b8b636f5 Fortress?”bc01658e8d1fcb8e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After a brief 89536f6410 moment of thought, 45bf036695 Hyun Tae-oh shook 2532cd4160 his head.62f8eb635ce1d462

“Leave it. It’s something bound to explode eventually, no matter the place. We’ll ensure the safety of the protected target, so it’s fine… Besides, who is he to change the plan? Jin Mun-seong, do you owe that guy something?”1c58e55b6f27d5b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Hyun Tae-oh 9522b2f6f1 narrowed his eyes, f47fe67830 Jin Mun-seong quickly c2ce35cd7e raised both hands f88d1811e3 and replied, “No, f570ac5111 sir.”8373cd02bd99dc59

“It’s just… it’s the last day of the year. I thought it’d be nice if the year ended peacefully.”cee65580be800922

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His hastily-made 3196d65b5c excuse drew 07512169c6 a look 136afa758d from Hyun 1892719f90 Tae-oh that fe20ec5525 clearly said, f475ef1446 “What kind fb5fa97ad8 of nonsense 5d65663cfe is that,” ebaeb02c86 but he 1ce0941a44 didn’t push f50d75ca7d it further. Instead, he clicked his 90a05745a8 tongue irritably and turned 5932817c1e his gaze back toward 30310fbc17 the window.1312f9a2df39838c

“You’ve picked 676f06a276 out some ec78adb5c8 suitable temples 202582dae4 for him, 4d2a7004c9 right?”a29c07e5fd0bef89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes. We’ve selected a 6f880555a1 few appropriate ones eb8e028bcd and sent out f522b1313f inquiry documents. I’ll report back as dc3277684b soon as we receive ade27ff176 confirmation.”899f6f782380aa27

After a short pause, 25a848a54c Hyun Tae-oh nodded.50e0b92162ab5cfb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t send him c65896e698 somewhere too remote. Make sure 39af1f3c8e there’s at 51fdf9b938 least a 35715f61ac decent hospital 218aefffda nearby.”9d407f30a0964604

“Yes, sir.”441d20151055a667

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jin Mun-seong 6eaab27427 responded smoothly, 9d636a7615 and Hyun 0cb4450a30 Tae-oh looked c66a4d0b01 down at b5d9a6b3b8 the rear 078edac422 garden again.83af902e66568342

Yoo Hyun-jin was a00ae6a337 leaning against the 8c41a360c8 bridge railing, peering fe154f74d2 down at the 18ea244acb pond, speaking with ef4e03e131 an aide from cd3595ed58 Songal standing beside aeac18163b him. His face, as usual, 777bea8d84 was almost devoid of f8458ce2ab a smile, making it 67fc6788e9 seem like they were 4eae979b69 having a serious conversation. In contrast, e288e4a3a2 the aide 406606c3f3 from Songal f7c7dccab7 was smiling 28bc2e5610 or frowning e7694b7f1e lightly in ff1679bff4 turn.5f8ce46e3f622df6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As he watched e5c1e0bc34 them, Hyun Tae-oh cda85e52e8 took out an d4316dd3f8 earpiece, placed it 083ddd06cb in his ear, 9b4be32fba and turned it 45b1b3a663 on. A transmitter 6f918254a2 had been 23163bdc0d attached to d4d2f1114c the collar 7541c99c27 of the 97d8d9a3a2 protected target 7ca5dc8471 with consent, d8711a2541 and now 646c83aeca their conversation 6e23d5763a came through 300973fc9e clearly.e2f736ee945381e7

“That brand’s pouch-type is 62cf3d76ae better liked than the 71c4d9c40f canned ones. The cats 83be0868e4 just go 97d5189b44 wild for 8e67ad9e83 it. I almost 63096011e2 had my 7119ba160c fingers bitten 5f959bc95d off.”af27a48556480acb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But isn’t 698819d58e that just df3b1901c6 a treat? Are the 950e27d085 ingredients okay?”0f5c8de17898a871

“The ingredients are 03e8b5df4f average, but my 3306ec39b7 baby’s already twenty aab08413a5 years old. I just give 9166053a2d him whatever he 6cc966f666 eats well.”eee4fc15b98551ec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Their voices, speaking in ae8721977d the Songal language, came f4164b425b through clearly.323e2be3e2cc73b7

After a 630caa16c4 brief silence, 1864097d7f Hyun Tae-oh 7876668525 looked at 6012bc07be Jin Mun-seong a187461378 with a dfd09d131d reluctant expression.9c0db2eea13c82b5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Did Yoo Hyun-jin start keeping a cat…?”1d90af2e3ebbff15

“? He didn’t have one dd3b4e04ca when you stopped by 2293ad9798 last night. Unless he brought f03f80ab30 it home at 84bda4ce69 dawn, there shouldn’t 1a930a13e4 be a cat 40933dac99 at his place.”f2bbdf30a97a9e5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Right.” Hyun Tae-oh nodded.70d7f4f5c4a5ac0e

There hadn’t been eedc0e4d46 any cat when 84b9125068 he stopped by 57a12eb2b2 Hyun-jin’s place the ab7741235e previous night. Only Yoo Hyun-jin 126ee6f1aa had been there, cb36ada9ce dropping a speck 472d3d682d of dust in ccf1ce8d51 front of a a65a264c6a buzzing robot vacuum 3c2f45ea4f and speaking to 5c289a5ed9 it: “Nabi, here, c8db195266 eat this.”4f371bed88741bed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sitting on the sofa e87156dbcf with his knees pulled 0274c5bac1 up, he had gathered 7d13d18878 all the dust from 0b08104fb1 the corners of the 2b411acc87 room (which begged the 32f86f3026 question of why he 11694f46cb even ran the vacuum dc27d310c5 in the first place), 975a8f4c04 and was breaking it 248d801a8f up piece by piece 9fd83f8505 to feed the robot. When Hyun a21eb510fd Tae-oh had f249b94d32 stood silently b21b9fd975 behind him 4d0fc8461c with arms 674660ccd1 crossed, Hyun-jin 73ecc5a5cf only noticed 0c44559c1d and jumped e1dc2b5139 up belatedly.f0e6ad5034831cf6

“W-when did you get here…? Could you please make some noise when you come in?”1228614232dc7aa9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hyun-jin, who 891de93f8a had been f4ba1e5b67 patting his b51caacb55 chest to f67e934ac7 calm down, c5edabf953 narrowed his bfa239d6b1 eyes in 2322b783a3 protest. But his eyes 3241bc2b05 were still round, 556ebfb42b and looking down 188cd73d8b at him, Hyun 1f678f79c4 Tae-oh replied calmly:3872ebe1e2c20b65

“I did.”573c38dc3bb96ff3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t lie.”8c2a58498d38f3b6

“I did. You were f5f4e36dd3 too focused b21b6a5e59 on feeding e64f1ddad4 Nabi and e3a6af7c24 didn’t hear 105fc81acb me.”4c77277ebfd05939

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”c94ae1015ab3ecca

Yoo Hyun-jin went completely 52e52029f4 silent. He quietly stood, bfa6c95536 picked up “Nabi,” c831c4b941 and placed it 3a851d8743 inside the room 695ce23aa0 before coming back a834e44702 out. Though his expression 11611b6f2e was stiff with 659ec394ab annoyance, the color baefe97a1e in his cheeks d6efbe8b6a was red and 569a8693bc blotchy.fa2610fdc230bc50

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the 89959ccd9d meantime, as e0eba98bea usual, Hyun e24894380c Tae-oh had 220afa0fb2 made tea 113a1e3eec and seated a29fb047a8 himself in f84da667b9 the living b30c8d5e57 room. Yoo Hyun-jin 12e1c6d85b sat in 1014eccd0b the furthest 8babec9507 chair, accepting f896ab81d2 the teacup e0a27dbeb0 Hyun Tae-oh 5515f99c09 offered.a7cabcaa71eaffd4

That night—the night 7136eb3134 after Hyun Tae-oh afa6258d63 had roughly grabbed 7879d322a8 Hyun-jin’s cheek and e2f6bfba16 stormed out—Yoo Hyun-jin 68a3576b0a had been wary 0ea413b4f3 around him. His expression didn’t b52529ae62 show much, so f94ebdd697 it wasn’t obvious, 32cf620c40 but it was 1de7d54cc9 beginning to become 897bd0a9cd clear. Staring down into 47dc54b89c the teacup with 9a3efe4710 a blank expression, c009e711c6 then glancing once 257e7c9195 at Hyun Tae-oh 5aa3fa4364 before quickly looking e6116315db away—he seemed to 0659e7507e be quietly wondering 3aca75f8d1 why, on that f2cd3f0183 day, Hyun Tae-oh 14e558931d had blown up e610c2ff02 at him out bf1733ad5c of nowhere.bdafdeb02cdd14bd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Maybe he’d abf7c968f8 thought it 9d5fa5060f wasn’t even 2139ff7815 anger. But afterward, 69d378f023 for several 99e8d36f34 days, Hyun 82b682d4b5 Tae-oh had 40432c42be stopped coming b4b05065f2 by altogether. If his mother 0ff131e6c5 hadn’t suddenly dropped ad9ffc62c4 by that day, 57498e6795 he might have 36f95fa5f6 stayed away even c5cc8ebcb1 longer.107b90de00508b42

He had intended 281770e5bb not to return. At least 4408287ab4 not for fab5eac996 a while.758ea75b3698cf6b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That day, he’d been b749bcf3af in a fairly good 2806b16f3b mood. The guy 9e1972b014 still wore 49dc115ad2 a stiff, 0879cb8d9b expressionless face, 79c9cf1c0e but he 0e99dbb8be didn’t seem 26aa1faa18 particularly tense 06d67d5bfe and was 34c2b38df9 talking more 27de6687f0 than usual. It even felt like a810f8d370 he’d grown somewhat used c7dc213fec to Hyun Tae-oh.7fb4d399ad72a044

And maybe Hyun Tae-oh 38b991fbb9 had grown used to d2fbdb42c9 the house, or to be6142b9f6 the man himself—he relaxed f4da0910ca beside him as if 5830af2db0 he were in his e6dd5a3e37 own home. The quiet 0ad8a91301 tone of 7542b6b079 his voice, 55e688e9d8 the slow 060c8bfe93 and unexpectedly 85e71576b1 gentle touch—it e574f877fd was all a0ffbddfb7 fine.b53c5421e7569bc5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Right up until the 86f2a12fbe guy suddenly said, with 11316c3a35 a hard edge: “You b5fa450959 and I have nothing 793b7f5f84 to do with each 5b3a9e64ea other.”bf6641d480dbde63

Like stepping on 58a5f68753 a smooth can fa9825ffae and crushing it d76f42a485 in one go, 13b613e7f1 the mood crumpled 2a12bfc659 instantly. His temper flared, and 9d10f61ee2 on the way home b327005507 his head—or maybe his 0815f3ccb2 chest—kept churning with frustration. What angered him 88273719ef even more was 56e4de8d1b that he didn’t 49faf785bd understand why he 67e1b73f71 was so irritated.18852614607f19bc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then,75dd693883678e45

Just before d0ff7abbcc he turned d4a7ca6cc6 away at e62b6edf2d the front 20c5f4f996 door, when 20b1448cd9 that violent 6a14d0097f urge to f87db037ec bite and 16fd7c3543 tear into ccb04724a4 something surged 7d4f1d29cf up, he’d 2eaa52f9e0 grabbed the 2bf8428488 guy—pulled him 26d7fdb207 in—and at 2732731d0f a distance 4cdb36a63c where their c749d80142 lips nearly 6732eb33d2 touched, he 35277526a7 stopped.7ab8a90ed115c95f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The moment that 26f805ea2f pale face stopped f7be6f2507 at a distance 92cdbb5e73 close enough to 22da2938ca feel even the 31fe037bb9 faint tremble of b44208ece2 body heat—3444545d7d3a8c20

Hyun Tae-oh flinched b8ff22c92e without realizing it.adf4684a4b0296bf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A sudden, violent surge 91c8eb0584 of impulse came crashing e2afe04777 in, and alongside it, 77d998c3ab a strange resistance that 168d81af5e barely held it back.3eab8e4a87059974

He wanted to b5c64f45de bite. Desperately. If he just leaned bb9d9ab50a forward a little, he 8f9c639f81 could sink his teeth 20fe3d0ddd into those lips and f6f1223b07 devour them completely—he wanted 2086567cd6 that.76d5ffa675bae511

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But at c5a9ed0385 the same eb798f9607 time, it 77a2ce132d felt like 74ba5a1452 he absolutely afcfc38f08 shouldn’t. That if he did, b0ba3d8629 something would break. Something that shouldn’t be fb91071472 broken.f4659ea41dd9ea10

When was 8b7c683010 the last 7df9caf3e1 time such fbc0b8f8bf conflicting urges 223ed50caf had clashed 249c20cf39 so fiercely dc24c61e3c in his d672be2658 own mind?65b92e2e3985ef61

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Startled by himself, fd022f30ac Hyun Tae-oh grabbed 6e8ae99fed that soft, pale 43fea85521 cheek and shoved 19939de685 him away. Without looking 3be091ea4d back, he 5c52e32ebb walked out e138208fa1 of the d962bbe76e house, thinking 4435c8518e amidst a 1907c66bbb tangled storm eaf51a7e43 of confusion 37090f23de that he b59998af88 needed to 09bf1dacd7 put some be5b1e8d0a distance between 3e8efb9d8c himself and 5d19d9b8f1 that man.fe695db89e0f85e0

The reason didn’t matter. What was clear 647e42f037 was that he fb3424d91d wasn’t acting like 24d5bbd116 himself, and if fcf852ab4f he didn’t even 4550b88186 understand why—then it 4957d11b64 was best to 5ee81b48bf step back and 8a3e3335eb clear his head 55ded91b39 for a while.c9aa9a1a5183ba8e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So for the 7a93600f1c next few days, 11f573f6ff he deliberately avoided 252913145f even passing by 3bef1a96ea that house.8fab89934106b4a3

Then he 05a7bfcde3 heard that 9584895451 his mother, e17ff0bd80 on her b0be4ee15f way home 23e13c09ff late at d60960a1b8 night, had 7130fbf0d5 stopped by 89ae276af9 unannounced. He had just come 5a933a94d3 out of the shower b89a5445a9 when the news reached a854b0b151 him—and ran out without 483f6c2673 even drying his hair f2b9e4b441 properly.03910bbcdfbbc4b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A curse escaped 0c022ccd4d his lips instinctively.c862725796623daa

His kind-hearted, 06490938bc gentle mother f411b5d210 wouldn’t have 8fd4b37a6a treated the 2ccdb257b7 guy harshly, cec93d3926 but no adf795e35f matter what 7419872dec she said, 288f0e6316 he could b0b386d3aa easily imagine 5fd0eccb72 that guy 2d2ae7a2f3 tensing up 0245c08a57 and shrinking c7c7ec73dc back, not dd57e40cae knowing how 0bcfa22b95 to respond.e6ca0ff89ab5b36d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Probably hanging his head with that pale face. Like a scolded child, looking dejected with those big eyes blinking sorrowfully, yet forcing himself to appear unfazed… Disgusting to even imagine.489b0b4063d23dc0

When he 2cc58f5358 burst in 517bcbbb3f after a 08c4e09be1 spontaneous nighttime 537d19690c sprint, Hyun 27eb27b4c2 Tae-oh saw df88cf8fc2 exactly the 5e86c93b3f face he’d 43928ffbe9 imagined on c1bbe88c16 Yoo Hyun-jin—and 8c32234f6d for the 77e87f8663 first time 8bc62b24b2 in his ddff386f8e life, he 7097d2b300 felt anger 221c1f927a toward his cda159a291 mother.6cf92ffcf36d00c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If Hyun-jin’s a4ff2d5c02 expression hadn’t ddff293ff3 relaxed ever 8161b7807e so slightly e0931479eb with relief 3f60174227 upon seeing dcd347d510 him—if that dda41c1664 small gesture c126f0ffce hadn’t melted 8043388583 his resistance 220aea7bcf and warmed c50b937986 his insides 6fd3168011 strangely—he might bb81be768d have yelled bdbed4702c at her 6b049815b2 then and e05d7a2207 there.fdad47160e7872db

Goddamn it. Why does he make 5bcc7bf376 that face?b2b699447a26a6ee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Now I 1fc29c9613 feel like 27b3ac0448 I have 7d3d67b615 to come f97cb37541 to this 034b8736cb damn house.673276a46d6f99f4

Cursing inwardly, Hyun Tae-oh 87efd3851c had practically dragged his 3bf397d15b mother back out, and 4b0959abcf the next day, he dbcefd91ef started visiting the house 028685f0ad again.b95cdd7c8c19c953

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com