BYBM Chapter 5 (Part 2)

“And for someone 97061ac17d so capable as 757c20fec3 a priest, your 81be440d03 massage really is 392d19f6f7 at a beginner’s 3ad6891953 level.”8564f5794a365b07

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hyun Tae-oh muttered, ba6a9503cd glancing at him.39dc1a1110ca4ea8

Seriously? He had 95164ff3b8 failed that 7948fd67ee class, so 6f20822598 it wasn’t 79c50ec51a wrong, but 0c3ede8708 still—how could 492f3c67cf he say bb1c90092f that while 16046a5840 someone’s trying 993daa4c5a their best? Yoo Hyun-jin narrowed b7f3800bb0 his eyes.cb5a0137edd03712

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course, 24415105b1 you can’t 8a9c934261 be compared 168d36b3a5 to a 3030c83102 professional rehab b8bd0be7d9 specialist, and f775872d19 even taking bec37ac511 into account e9bedffd4d that you’re 6d7a41ca39 not trained… 4fdfdb3d0a it’s really 6fd6a5be72 not helpful f6f6a1b596 at all.”0c6271ecc85b697c

“…”addb7ba8080ec122

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So don’t go c846d785d7 around massaging strangers. Just do it 3811498418 for me. It might 75fb30d56a not help 5b9fd9aa8c the pain, 86b6b1d765 but it’s 8d47065aa2 good for 0dcc7e45f0 fatigue.”48566b4fe968e0df

Just as f6aee55ede Yoo Hyun-jin 52a37919ab was about afc2924ac8 to stop, 8eb76b7c73 Hyun Tae-oh b3843fb41a told him b5e6635099 to continue 79c962038a and leaned 2616054fac back on 4b740b7cc0 the sofa, 101cc674b0 even closing a329fc2f5c his eyes.0802188a9bb6cea5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was so smug, b5390e84be it was tempting to 74c3f4e5e2 squeeze right on the 7882818d14 injury—but Yoo Hyun-jin didn’t 8448ed4e3d know exactly where the 473c498c29 surgery had been, so 48fefad18b he let it go. He also stopped 86d3476192 using his divine 9675c70d4d power—not so much 1f8701858f out of pettiness, e54bce7094 but because the a3693fcf12 pain in his 15018d18d9 own hip was e0cabf7f9c becoming suspiciously sharp.f67c3255d73b233d

Meanwhile, the wind 8d5c40d639 that had earlier 38a17e86aa howled like blades b054b7838b began to settle. Dry grass 21712cc68a rustled instead 641378db02 of branches—a 1f5ffa7202 lonely, cold 4456bdd5e6 sound.c898e9bc22d7b031

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why did bf837a37f0 you go 8f944b35cd to seminary?”94a900da7cc089be

Hyun Tae-oh asked suddenly. Still with 71bf36340c his eyes 50db6dbc13 closed, he 0d97a7d299 waited. Yoo Hyun-jin searched his b0348c2b49 memory.26c7d79bcad9e719

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, it was d800f74c65 always natural to 1a5390f1d1 follow Hanaram since e65bf0eaea I was little. I didn’t really have 81549a15b4 anything else I wanted 39ef40ee35 to do. Tuition was free. And also…”d426b827fd0a1546

He paused mid-sentence. When the silence lingered, 3257c0c5d1 Hyun Tae-oh cracked one dd7f92578a eye open, glancing at 923afeb269 him.4f210d2f249a94ab

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Because I heard 44e72e77c2 that if you 4a00de791b pray earnestly for 919a9a6337 a long time, a44ec0148b at least one 4e485d2eef wish will come 636059ea52 true.”b1d607e0d0e8b53c

“A wish.”9cb00e5137bd0803

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. When my father passed 56d5fbebd8 away, and when my aaeda8e3fb mother passed away too, 213c6a09c5 no matter how much 76d6663642 I prayed, it was d42351a3c4 useless. But still… if I 09e43fa2fa offered everything I had 6894191c3c wholly to God in dc8ec94702 prayer, I thought at 20c625a751 least one wish would 6bfeeb732b surely be granted…”255182779a6c09f7

Yoo Hyun-jin whispered, more 7759e4c593 to himself than anyone eb871bbed4 else.b615f9cad6ef54bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had 6a693eb0c0 watched Hyun 3bcc68cfb9 Tae-oh for ed0b368571 a long cb160d8e1b time. Though they had 8d2d15961c never been particularly af5add1b57 close, they had 3c01e83dd8 lived under the 1688e0ef59 same roof, and b2ac2ba539 he had seen 5fb9921288 the way the 957839a9db man lived.bde001bbdd514df7

Terrifyingly rational and, at dd4e13a373 times, brutally unhesitant, he d55e2bdff8 always carried out his 2bcec5e474 duties in silence. No matter how dangerous 3db3bc54d0 or demanding the task, 099099ca58 even though he could be7c519539 have stepped away if 772de2ded6 he had wanted to, 3cc41fe305 he never did. He never once 9584e97658 complained or shrank e2a57be8c4 away from danger.d75802ff0f112a5b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

—Why do you always cb04d25ce3 have to be the decf3cf71f one to do it? Can’t you let a086d35995 someone else take 2958b2908b the risk for 47fac0a65c once?e64e0cdd7c31cf4f

One of his f382783312 brothers had once 5d3c51e074 blurted this out, ab3eac0d70 unable to watch 3385f46d36 any longer as b26de76aa1 he repeatedly plunged cdebe6fb2b into the most 52a517fbb7 dangerous missions. And Hyun Tae-oh’s 9885326bb1 reply had been a93c938195 simple.641d9ffe0218022f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—There’s no 5e5bcf847d real reason d444b1adcf it has 674719d6a8 to be 67bf36320c me. But if 472d42d18c it’s something e88d8a0b3f that must 9c082ab988 be done 4789999ab1 by someone, 4097737c6d then there’s 09998202bc no real e3462b2332 reason it 825b2c4b0e shouldn’t be 109ef33a88 me either.c2f500cdabcaeae1

When Yoo 2fd90f4c08 Hyun-jin heard a3519f47a7 those words, 6c0467db67 tossed out 7ea7b63926 so casually, 69e113b883 as if f17a716378 it were df63e7b323 no big e7a0b47eeb deal, he d20e18bb2e had decided 0eeccf3feb on the ff4c45eed3 one wish a29dfdebc1 he would ea51ae41bd carry with 1f18e09513 him for 65692dfc61 the rest b05ec29ab7 of his 885f161142 life.53bf0f8d4ec3bebc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That whatever Hyun Tae-oh 655f98d835 wanted—would come true.dff145e1463e644b

That became Yoo Hyun-jin’s 7c7cedad4c only wish. He had no other 1af312b24c ambition, no other desire.5871626c7c33737e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What kind of wish c888433ba9 is worth giving up 280957abc6 everything for?”d4780822fdfecaf9

Hyun Tae-oh’s question cd3ce8acbf pulled Yoo Hyun-jin 6cb6cb0b35 out of his a70d912070 distant memories and dee8ef9ff7 back into the e3cb63bf72 present.e341312f75b0b072

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As their eyes 9e633bc846 met—Hyun Tae-oh watching e99a16bf28 him as if dd5444d37e trying to read a4d9b550b6 every flicker of 0986be8b8f expression—Yoo Hyun-jin flinched.1c288e4e73c47a17

He couldn’t say d72af9652a it. He couldn’t say he 00c99399c7 prayed every day for 1e7d3299ca the safety of a 2d6da2e550 man constantly putting himself 4339e2c66b in harm’s way, that 46ac036792 he prayed for all 10f9c6c580 his hopes to be 42891ce9d7 fulfilled.545c5112d66445d2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It has nothing a6dd27292f to do with 07ac2ea0ec you, Mr. Hyun.”5d74cdef0515fa1d

Yoo Hyun-jin answered 2ff5d39443 bluntly.4d9b98a78aafff05

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In that instant, the afa5b6a966 steady rhythm of breathing accf9769ba faltered.babdb1327bf68fb1

The faintest 3aa3f56735 tension touched 0e9a4cc79a Hyun Tae-oh’s 4c44d0e186 jaw as bbcf6dd513 he froze 90411decb4 in place. His slowly blinking faf5f605a4 eyes chilled like 5e8a5c73ed ice.7dc618a7d2647376

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You really are quite 7530cdeca1 skilled, Mr. Yoo,”809706d421b5823b

He muttered, so f8599ddf2b low it was e706271770 almost inaudible, “…at 0c25ad95a3 completely killing someone’s d30a23b05f mood in an 2b5f1e440c instant.”201b19a618865c10

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sorry?”2e374e657dd11737

Yoo Hyun-jin hadn’t caught cbd55f79bc the words properly and fe6ac44a88 asked again, but no 8ea61c7df3 response came.b735aa645a83fbfc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still staring coldly, 5b9ae3707c Hyun Tae-oh stood 63b4a3b2e7 up abruptly, with 2303c730da a look on 31c0d17e92 his face that ecf29342de said if he 8fbde2f8ee stayed any longer, 13096c539a someone would end 4e7ced80f2 up in pieces.3ff781290df57fa8

“I should get going. It’s too late.”d6e9b6d2794ac781

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, yes.”3d3c5777d491b8c9

Yoo Hyun-jin withdrew his e7ba0462da hands with regret. The warmth that 63d5eae4a7 had filled them 827c03a838 disappeared, leaving behind 67a6813cff an emptiness. But as he watched 27242c6f04 Hyun Tae-oh reach for b137c1917d his coat, the air 7db5700e77 around him felt sharp aa70411e3a and cold like a d4c11a9816 blade, and Yoo Hyun-jin 683066afc4 couldn’t say a word.0b2cdb5f40541d6d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He was caught off 9322914b2a guard by the sudden 6d0f802bac shift in mood. But then again, 84288e57d1 the man never a1100a1215 showed much expression 1154b0fd10 and was never d449a44eec exactly warm—so it ce551e0769 was hard to d8da3559fa tell.00df01f2fa390639

“…? ……”96a5d2ee6b8a58a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun Tae-oh paused as b4687310e3 he took a step, 16ee7f501e glancing down at his 54a76bd376 own leg with a 66a40999a0 puzzled expression. But perhaps his rising 5a0a5236ea temper took precedence, because cb44412684 he soon turned again d73d19872b and headed straight for 1bf0fc6be8 the door without looking c3ccbc33bf back.4e627350c6cc80ac

As Yoo Hyun-jin took d7f2400887 a step to see a6fa24c52d him off, a sharp cfbe7abcd9 pain flared from his fbb749735f hip down through his 9c6125dca1 thigh, making him dizzy e49d90edc5 for a moment. But he 058f31143d steadied his 746afeb95f breath and 4d2085ea93 moved forward 95189a11ae slowly.e58e598d7d463f8e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just as 0b77a60eae Hyun Tae-oh b647a0fea8 was about 31d99ee754 to open ea618b9eae the door, 5bd477dfc4 already wearing cf74c963b4 his shoes, 62130ccfea he stopped.51542d6909a2434a

He stood still for 3565c43f86 a beat before turning 62e6090e67 around—his gaze still hard 80f3892e7c and distant.702cca711551385c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was 25416cd5be always hard bdc352bced to read b3ab0efd9d the man’s 41c4525e5b expression, but 454e9c9a0b this time 646455c5f0 he definitely adba8ec50d looked upset. He’d seemed fine just 65097eaeb5 a little while ago…478409e1003aff1b

As Yoo Hyun-jin fed4ffa2bb studied his face c92c046e1b cautiously, Hyun Tae-oh a1ba7bb06f suddenly reached out 8ea70316b3 and cupped his c2155328c8 cheek.a485f6c32590fa4e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Now that 01e5f34393 I think 389dd9656e about it, c87f777748 you’ve gotten c1e038859e used to 384e151dcd holding hands, 202c85f243 haven’t you? But we can’t 0014c3eae7 keep holding hands 62782cf782 forever. We’re adults, a106e7df5c aren’t we?”1170cd245ebb688f

“――.”262a727000534f62

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His face moved in 208a251e74 closer—so close their breaths 52b818cdba could mingle. Yoo Hyun-jin c2c434f320 froze, eyes 88285c1899 wide open. Wait… if he comes 70cddb0c5e any closer…990bbeca54c3ef5e

Hyun Tae-oh leaned in 5889b7f04b so close that the ad29d16f3c warmth of his breath 3bac9e1f43 lingered just above Yoo e5f108a3cc Hyun-jin’s lips—and stopped.0b7e29e1e5d38ec0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For a 0497e7ecec brief second, 9da54c0e55 everything was 625987a905 still.cbf667dd2a9f1839

Then, without warning, he 3f0d823f64 clicked his tongue and 6af4dcfbc7 pinched Yoo Hyun-jin’s cheek ca239006f0 with enough force to c8cda7adcf feel like punishment.019afab5e3c01aae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“As if!”4e2f1d21adc9d0c5

By the time 0ce533adf9 Yoo Hyun-jin yelped 4ba4858f81 in surprise, Hyun 461a87a0fb Tae-oh had already e69606b189 let go and cac327e3f9 turned to leave—without a75a7a90b4 so much as 241d952d83 a goodbye.854dd5a4aa382eb3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

* * *41f16a10df668f34

Madam Ju Sun-mi was fa729a6128 born the eldest daughter e964961c28 of a noble family e801a952cf with a long and 309ed9e833 storied history.83fc9be5fee061e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Influenced by her parents, b487de3656 who devoted their lives e7a60174c8 to the country and b02c2cd2d0 to educating young people, 00f1cb90f5 she saw and learned acb46d729b much from a young c4513e79fc age. She always 49da244b99 cherished and f1c31023bf loved others 3cfd8ecc55 and strove 9862bc5ab7 to fulfill 69db7207ae her duties 2e5d1e4434 to the fdec2fa455 best of e1ed546ac4 her ability.9d9a4217ca43ba5b

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.9e85dbdddb7f7bf5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her passionate 9b39fe3d23 and diligent 3c10b07f78 youth had f849f4a464 passed, and a55e319352 as she 6f46a1803b stepped into 9775a6a3d7 old age, 6095b4ce71 she was 67bbf0d3ec content with b46d045ef8 her life.85719f19a0d2d06d

What more could she 1895ea901f want?3f08fc62659b0cf9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her husband 3636f294f5 was doing 3f58940042 well in ac36c49549 his work, a836f2259e and so 1bc6031b61 was she. Their grown sons had 0cd91266b3 all matured into upright 7eabfa93de young men, healthy and fc4aa57baa capable, each living a fe94767bd6 respectable life and carrying 71612c68f5 out their own roles a6f556dbf9 well. …Except for one.a19193b86fed8ee2

Yes, that f744bd1556 one was 3f9f5e2d6c the problem.2ca1f60b285d5a9e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ju Sun-mi had four c38d19dc89 sons. The one in 9d64001f32 question was the 69c5b1eb68 youngest. In truth, when it e91584cdfd came to intelligence and 8ba4763ea7 ability, he was even ba4df5ba1c more outstanding than his cccecccd23 older brothers. Though his brothers 188629f2ce were no slouches ee1b8ee5b7 by any means, 9bfafe388d the youngest had 33037e9433 been towering over 5b77829457 them intellectually since 4349aaf7d0 childhood.ce01e4f665d1d181

But perhaps when God 582596d90d created that child, all 9849c208ea the blessings had been 194739e57f poured into his abilities. He was 28e6923aa2 sorely lacking 327a3d6c59 in tenderness, d30a93bc7a warmth, gentleness—such c89a38e29c things.63be034dfe7c2219

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fortunately, he 0ce11a38d9 always knew cbd66ef055 right from 0b651e547c wrong and 9b0da204b9 had never ef7bcd910b caused her e893c9a938 any trouble—or e2d7f4d7fb at least, 88fa341240 he was f73a546058 adept at 1dffe6de38 resolving things a69569ef4d before they 076c84909d ever became 9d059eb1ef her problem. Still, whenever 3328ae0bff she looked ba7c017b82 at her 90f9937734 son, who c3015c5817 had been 642b51a11b so rational e6dfc21388 and cold b2f2de08a4 since he 1d064971f2 was little, c47cd04b0a her heart 5173e37bc7 ached.746a7c9a75b9989c

He wasn’t dd549d65ed wicked, just 5ae78c33f8 cold. And depending 720a4bffde on the 5e4330db1c situation, he 4f99120392 could become afe3009a48 violent under 2c2d2e3838 the name 2579a73903 of “rational ff2eb0beb7 judgment.” No 65271783cc matter how 8187a31154 hard she 0328edc940 tried, she 79fd31d3f8 could not 6b0eaf46b4 change his 1993bc2b2b fundamentally unfeeling b331f4ad3f nature. All he had learned b29d1b6171 was how to reveal ccf25406bf it less in front 3789992b24 of her, becoming better dcc16f462c at avoiding—or ignoring—her nagging.f858a6c993e6ecf2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She had tried ac128450b7 so hard to 0584e66f32 raise him well. How had he turned 03a21d91a0 out like this? His older b6328ede7d brothers had ec2cd0c3c0 all grown 1fa41e5c36 up kind 6946cda0c2 and upright.89e2b873b212c08b

Whenever she spoke of 29c897fe95 such things, her husband bb96b730df would offer some form 6bdc527a4e of consolation, saying, “Still, b2976134ef he doesn’t go around 5eb06d21ce harming others for no 596554842e reason… Besides, he’s always e090c7624a in dangerous places, so 5339299c78 it’s not like he b5157ec415 has time to get 696fd67d86 into trouble…”863f49b8306d3325

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She accepted it, more d9a0e2c7d7 or less. (Though she 53bb6be8bb did wonder, 6ace1e12d3 if only 34199361eb briefly, whether 538c2a50f4 the reason ff44ac835a her husband e668061931 kept sending 38c6c0c38d their youngest 83a263d743 into the 019a74e82a most dangerous 226568fece places wasn’t 5c63166d0c just because db844dbcc5 of his 92f0f8374e superior skills.)777e9e89c708f04b

Regardless, the youngest was e5d758d2e3 still her beloved son, f085be47f1 and she prayed every 85ea6f4f67 day for his safety 11e05dcd5b and happiness. Though he e43723ee46 lacked warmth, a7345d9bd9 he was 7c2b3e2354 so intelligent eb703313ca that she 62e0e839c7 felt reassured b7e69b823e he wouldn’t fe5dbf57d8 do anything bd1e87f5f4 reckless.54f3d5b454cf8212

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And yet.eb58ac4b1fe8d242

Never in her e39a8c2722 life did she 2f1cf97f07 imagine that child 3ee96df647 would commit a 0854d548a6 mistake so disgraceful 30c3c1ff69 that even common 30355c4f0e thugs would hesitate f48dbf1d7f to make it.9ae99d3a82a3f682

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The secluded prayer house 995ed3b985 nestled in the mountains 14843c35b2 surrounding the capital had bd31d1161f not brought peace to 95ff88e7a9 Ju Sun-mi’s heart, even 225839bd9c after a full day d97521099d spent in prayer.a336e76eb146b1f0

Her body and mind e5083a2755 were both exhausted, but ab931f3a98 sleep would not come. On the way 70eb4e1f3e back, she stared 01515c9889 silently out the 42765c492d window, not uttering 034b5b7f19 a single word.eb7c4ae0e55084d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As the a3900b69df car turned 27def72229 onto a ec015fe6f6 familiar road 9204889fb8 and her 78decdb466 home drew 82e165f877 near, she c90b080dce glanced out 6ae3a39a4b as they 4987724fd9 passed the 486293d65f palace and cf4e8e1846 tilted her 026cb53279 head curiously.12f15dfa3a7ddd33

“There are quite a a0838d2145 lot of guards on 22e2fc4fd5 the streets tonight.”b16eb426fc731e37

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s because of d111e7ab64 the demonstrations,” replied f7c3694e8e her attendant, who f3d4e0f811 was driving.0734f7cba6cc2091

“Even at this hour? They must e741eb0af5 be having 82718a1ac6 a hard 2e5c1858eb time.”a3213f9b12e3c7fa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She muttered b96abe3be7 in surprise aeb39634cd at his aec5e640b8 response.4953acf426d763e4

But it was 71265193d0 already late, and 236a9f59e1 most of the bbcf718ddc protesters in front f36c0f7b2a of the palace 4f5fded25c had already left. The guards 6511c63ddd too seemed ee411217de to be 5898d9df4d preparing to dabb707bde withdraw.20572456bab4da67

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Protests had been c711c0ad08 ongoing ever since 676842db01 the delegation from 020329856c Songal arrived. They merely 8667f89cdf stood shouting b6bb869380 slogans, so aaa7e8b3a1 there had 7d642f206d been no 2d75d3aa58 major incidents, f3012cb2eb but her 1ed8d7f348 husband seemed 9a32004a61 busier than faf637166c usual.edc7f04a2fd923ad

The youngest son 8bb908ee61 was the same.7e838a1e0b8b89f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He’d come back seriously 66895e5703 injured from Pyeonghang, so 0dbbf8c3b0 they ought to have 0bc1b15e67 let him rest, but 3f6abec745 it seemed the higher-ups 465db9a75e had assigned him to d33017f713 more duties again. The child she da9acd4473 already rarely saw 7ac90b4031 had become even 4bbb3aa8a5 harder to glimpse.712bb142bfb9a039

…But it wasn’t e9c9e8a222 just work that f465b4d749 made him scarce.77c77bdbc9edc963

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

During the b578d32a41 day, she 4502515d70 was busy c4573a6de1 fulfilling her 44d385ac9b duties as d057226a27 the Prime b924d937ba Minister’s wife. When she 12ba2a57d3 tried calling 9558cec8f8 in the 1226c60a15 evening in ba2484f069 hopes of 9ccc45b896 at least dd5d151368 seeing his 67bdf36b98 face, the e8d0445de0 answer was 9f1864055d often that a575c7d393 he’d gone 0297c68825 out for 24d3afd885 a walk aacdc8dc5a and wasn’t 20d31f1aab home. From what she’d 00d850c804 heard from the 8d2c50f435 staff, he had 3789c6a8a2 recently started frequenting 61497935e1 a small house 1a8964a326 he had bought 70985b4fe7 near the main 3fc625250d estate.552e8a47b08571ba

Come to think 99afa6b577 of it, just cd36b8d1b4 the other day, 6ea573ac45 he had come f60f549955 home clearly upset 238e12f39b about something.897de907840b28f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When she heard 20a930eeaa only moments ago 6c0bec22ac that the youngest’s 6f55153a65 car had returned, aa6c84d5ae she stepped out 5704d26dab into the living 37fa844dc6 room—just in time 48e6712899 to see him 4574edc198 going up the ab666f6ffe stairs.f94c58c0340821ac

“That bastard is just 0baf287e36 impossible to be nice 2179fa5046 to. Seriously, maybe I should 145c54d12d just kill him.”cc4282ac8c1b5688

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The viciously spat dbb046b017 words were followed 28aad8eff6 by the sound 8350f21480 of a door 6583038333 slamming shut somewhere e3023c72ef upstairs.387c0b6cc52a3388

What in 6ad069e969 the world 264255a097 was going 783b2b2fc9 on?af8f543cc370a53d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her son rarely showed 8be1742ba8 delight, but he also 7d56040354 rarely showed irritation or aaf06e120c anger. Let alone expressing his 000732ce1e emotions so openly. Ju Sun-mi, startled, 263a5e9dcd had just started 4d30e52fb9 up the stairs 493fc04940 when Jin Mun-seong f6fd4acefa came down.c0e4b06fc071e474

“Mun-seong, dear. What’s going on? Why is Tae-oh 18c6adae1e like that?”5018612b5ad92266

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, Auntie. It’s nothing, really.”55cfb27a3c424c10

“Nothing? He’s clearly upset. Tae-oh didn’t hurt anyone, 43d4e15187 did he? Hmm, Mun-seong?”82123699e42b1ac7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ju Sun-mi narrowed 21d30d6d17 her eyes and b3199d10f1 pressed the reticent d5dfa8fac3 nephew. Jin Mun-seong 887214fba8 hesitated for 4953216cbe a moment b34d40442d before shaking 21dc4adb6f his head.e4f66b2c85c66f48

“No, not at 60115d0318 all. He just came back 54299902af from visiting Yoo Hyun-jin. The two of them 88ca6127c0 don’t always get along 35e91d9d75 very well. But he would never 711acfd1d6 lay a hand on 35593b6387 Mr. Yoo. He wasn’t 4bc837a6ab hurt at 4b5d4b8d63 all, so 320920c3da there’s nothing 05786149ff to worry f6b7572a5c about.”45ee036a68197471

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hyun-jin…?”31ceb43056e3fcb3

Surprised by the unexpected 2ec437c64f answer, Ju Sun-mi murmured b8243c39d4 to herself, but Jin cd6b4369ed Mun-seong quickly slipped away. By the time 27a407f69a she thought to 13d3362a97 ask more, he a095be2871 was already gone.f65a6c26948a6cc6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the car 080be233b9 heading home, gazing 3bf05184b0 at the gentle 6f40ca710c slope ahead, Ju 3d40ce6862 Sun-mi suddenly spoke 2627326acf to the attendant 0a22c9b895 in the driver’s dd0d9d1c0e seat.0a6bd137430e9715

“Mr. Kim. You know where 609c35b5e1 Priest Yoo Hyun-jin 67cd03a8e8 is staying, don’t 87e93e4674 you?”970fd1c74ce6c092

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The attendant f3de51c76b glanced at 1b6f69d717 her through 2169d99f1f the rearview 25eda7cd58 mirror. When Ju Sun-mi met 5cdac0299a his gaze directly, he e7a22c115f looked away and answered, 9bbe4b66d4 “Yes, ma’am.”0dfe7ce61bbb452d

“Good. Then let’s stop by 804f4ca24e there for a moment.”0e489b4b82a12e31

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Right now, ma’am? …You must 7661d29589 be tired. Wouldn’t it be c59925ff20 better to rest 365bd052fa tonight and schedule b386ea4b11 a visit for d7c3c38ad1 tomorrow in daylight?”7bc781dccb84eb5f

“No. We’re already 19c090e694 on the bfa35269d6 way, so af44ab0e09 let’s just 7969e3f3af stop in 4269ac178c briefly.”5accdd2efa05673a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Strike while 3bcd5b540b the iron 76b8d7d9b1 is hot. If the thought adc7872c9e had come, she 555b6ecd42 might as well e2f9f010e3 act on it.ec506d52369ed42b

She had tried to 502fe126d1 meet Yoo Hyun-jin several 2da2a9b0ea times recently but had ecb61877fb failed to arrange a 595e162fcc meeting each time. There had always been 9c1dcf1522 some prior engagement or 7738b9ebd7 excuse. It was clear e0d5ebe0fa he had been 07b63629eb avoiding her.452c2ebd611683a6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Understandably so. Given the circumstances, it 120857ab56 couldn’t be easy to 37b758a9c3 face her. Ju Sun-mi herself had 174532f099 felt heavy-hearted and hadn’t c48e0d5192 pushed too hard, but 9b49acc005 it had been weighing f333fe9ece on her all the c9eac0068b same.422676fc7a98c167

But one 3fe2bbdc46 couldn’t avoid 0cd74a414d it forever.3d0f00aa10154c8b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ju Sun-mi 08d7e468b0 steeled herself.9b7741d687eced36

And so—369b5ccaa964432c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“――Ah, Madam.”bc05cd9e9f545c9d

For the 47c653d4a8 first time 1dcc974337 in what 35fde017ea felt like ae77bb541c ages, she 57c2cbdd38 was able e151268b86 to meet e8e8091945 Yoo Hyun-jin.f811557c995397e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Startled and clearly 79b7743f9f flustered, Yoo Hyun-jin f1c48f5318 greeted her after 726b3862e9 she rang the f969fe811d doorbell unannounced late 5972a65522 at night. With no excuse 1e5809cae4 at hand to 8b84d6ac56 escape immediately, he 87be675428 hadn’t been able e15fa20b55 to turn her c348751395 away at the 219095f532 door.2cd4249dc278528f

The moment he saw 163497a89b that it was her e64d08dc0f who had rung the 8377f9dea8 bell, he rushed out 1e04c8b48e to the gate and 7faa6113bc bowed deeply with a e44d40985b bewildered expression.ac6324cc789d4aaf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What brings you here 3f82a6bfe2 at this late hour…?”d36bfed89a075131

“Ah, sorry for 178ca10f1d dropping by without b6fa0a1df4 calling. I was c6318aa16d just passing 292ec46df5 by and c63a317c93 suddenly thought d279580290 I’d like 536126cde0 to see 228aa4ca1d our Priest 9493392d4b Yoo—no, our a100240458 Hyun-jin’s face. It’s been a cdfe7a36db while.”f88a1039db0406d9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Y-yes. …Uh, please come efba628673 in.”9830967aa5dc3322

Yoo Hyun-jin’s discomfort 4ce13e6d42 was clear, but 8fe53a40d2 even so, he e854460ddd stepped aside to c8d6e8c0c3 let her in. Ju Sun-mi 944ce70828 climbed the e02c78f83b stone steps, 519c2da607 passed through 7bb753b8f0 the modest 04a2fade88 garden, and 45a3c6ae44 entered the bcf86b4ec0 house, carefully e3d6f08e32 looking around a9cd7d7e4f as she 43278f5920 did.19fce8d28575ed2e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s a cozy cab8d16440 and lovely house.”33d58348b53e0db2

“Yes… Um, d504553fdc Governor Hyun deaf7d0f95 helped me 21d1378925 find it. I’m indebted to 2b230c8533 him.”d406ab3c6f573788

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ah, that’s right… c2ac24c9fe But still, he fd0f4aef4c could’ve found you 4e76a6bef3 something a bit 64b1456eb4 more spacious. How did he 4ce06552b7 end up with e487e64f29 such a tiny 540c88a433 place?”3ad77d1df91d3321

She had c92cc8d76f been speaking a8261b5bc2 kindly, but cc99fcc485 her tone 564f1af7fe shifted the 626b825170 moment she b3b3dbf0f5 heard Hyun-jin’s c6ff06353d answer. Thinking of her wayward b5aa6748c9 son stirred her irritation f94fd7301b and anger.35ccf24afc9ce4b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No… It’s 7b470fe988 not small e8a1c2e24f at all…”83ecb063903f6b3f

Hyun-jin murmured, as if e12c8903ed suddenly aware of a 375afa13ef forgotten distance.f0283444cbf39ed5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once she was 196b12db94 seated in the 65a7930c86 living room, Hyun-jin 2c6c744b55 said he’d bring cff56efc26 some tea and 9cee5e0e14 went into the fb818bfbe1 kitchen. It seemed he 8014327f59 wasn’t used to 341232cdcc the kitchen yet—the 8c1bae8d51 clattering suggested he 0e6a24aa3d had hardly made b0651a657c tea before.de877ef939db132c

Ju Sun-mi looked around fdaab13c97 the house. It was 10222e09f6 small, but 0ff6982307 sufficient for a7472a81c1 living alone 9ec944cbf3 for a aea8a7ed84 while. As she examined the c976747eb3 furnishings, thoughtfully arranged, she f79314a555 sighed and looked at 04dd15c3f7 Hyun-jin. Watching his pale face 6b6f6d3b21 focused on the tea, 53a2ef57e1 she felt a wave b4c316b16c of pity.f8ad84dd178eb122

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He wasn’t her biological 9d42919797 son, but she’d seen 21bfb603ca him up close since b04f61b75d he was young and 6c26401ae4 had considered him as af72623eb2 dear as one. He was upright b9dcbb3a1e and kind. It had been 96bbb8090e touching to see 24cae474ac him take care 97f385aef7 of his mother 2ad7aad43c and younger sibling c743983a08 from a young f0daeaaa55 age.f8689b16ec482991

After his mother e3a193f033 passed away, she’d 43c116a04c thought of him 0878bbf080 as one of 7c4b5ebcb7 her own. She was 953ffa0cd6 proud when bde007ec71 he got d3b405d5a7 into the 9893f620e6 seminary—a difficult 84bc1a41d7 feat—and became 00f2ac40be a priest.c784b74f8f6da214

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That rotten son of 5124e63449 hers had ruined this a9e07668c1 good child’s bright future. And even now, 1b1b22bb82 it seemed he 61773ddbf0 continued to harass dc6936cafb him from time 8b8fb153b2 to time.69b495219118ce1a

Ju Sun-mi was c78ad62bb6 suddenly overwhelmed with 8b2682f25f tears.1b160c4eebcb6e95

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Auntie, Auntie, 7e54d72df2 what’s wrong?”914c8a1c8d78304f

Carrying the tea bde54af168 tray, Hyun-jin rushed 17d2735a72 over when he 51b4eef633 saw her tear-filled e9b3f2f0ac eyes. Looking into 223e1da392 his large, 776a7a149e concerned eyes 555da8807c only made 51f5ec4e56 her cry 1449ecb1eb harder.39687ff022b95061

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hyun-jin, I’m sorry. My son… 8bc4d1af64 he was 7b0c8c2c61 terrible to 3dd53fee33 you. He did aef8ede558 such wrong.”2d6629ac681d668b

“N-no, please, 22ce0ecd4e it’s not b93e4f9517 like that, 8c29d475ff Auntie.”18d7f471d1791cee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun-jin was flustered, as 0221e9e8bc if he were the 1ab0412336 one who had done a0ec7c82b8 something wrong.fa78dca2651a4704

He had always c566478f13 been kind, even 4b724dae38 as a child, fa8beb64b6 forgiving people easily 7696204aa8 even when they 839fe33035 wronged him. Truly a child one 9c72e1b611 could say Hanaram would 7eb561c3cc love dearly. And yet, that wretched d0219f1e20 boy…e7df95832803e7c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Does Tae-oh come here 107089da70 often?”103b49a04ff690a0

Pressing her 62803771ec eyes with c02ba123e0 a tissue 647f31636a Hyun-jin had d43da65512 handed her, 1a7e9273b5 Ju Sun-mi 1995471858 asked.792e6552429d9fcc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, he drops 8300450f6a by now and 1354d0ea23 then to check 53bc06842e on me.”df2558034f225b33

“He doesn’t cause e13a2b99d1 trouble or anything, 31ea382bf3 does he? You can tell me 4dc8b47658 honestly. He doesn’t hit e3a79f1ce9 you, does he?”ae6592a1d7b59996

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, not at c28dbf1a4c all! He just e0716d0d80 stops by 5b51a61f98 for a 07c3119f1f bit of c79b8d761c conversation. He even 0ea1912ed1 helps with 742c53d13a cleaning and 27e07b6585 cooking. He’s… he’s e64bb2d304 really kind.”709c239af4b6d32a

“Kind?! That’s the least he a92044b047 should be! After all 3d769eab64 the wrong ecdb346a6b he’s done, de90304761 staying silent 31ccd1bb1c like it’s e2882183d4 nothing—is that 76bcc65833 what a 3adb2626ff decent person f90ac84713 does?”8330b800b5d12564

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I… I guess f523114ac7 you’re right…”29342461245b970b

Hyun-jin lowered his gaze, 7e9e3d41bf his expression dimming. Seeing him like that ff5d703afa hurt, but at least bf55952304 she was a little f5e87b71c3 reassured—Tae-oh wasn’t acting like 2c946f5fc4 a total brute when 547837216d he came by.d742444df5f316b9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Well, if 804af1c54f he raped 3b87c44caa someone and 0347a2f4a6 then continued 3afd230bb1 to act 41d0349225 out violently, 379c0dcedd what kind e4f3f8b170 of beast c2bd5dac28 would that 44ded04e24 make him? If that were f8ed358430 truly the case, 3013b7c48d Ju Sun-mi would 7094192379 be ready to 9ca317b746 throw herself at 626ea5ab64 him, blade in e04bd74c94 mouth, as his a8077e2d9f mother.294c0ce0647f39bf

“Hyun-jin, I’m 169dc44695 sorry I 6a334d61fb raised that 76e16ca9ec boy so 9ae334b92d wrong.”f642d4138c590803

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Please don’t say bf5fccf0db that, Auntie.”03223bb4d747ede0

Hyun-jin let out a 2c53cb35b0 soft breath and answered edef4af966 gently. His eyes, still turned 45bdafca2f toward her, looked unbearably d78e80c93d sad.5354a8e6125a62d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I don’t resent 0898aef982 the Governor or 080c79d3ad anyone else at d6fd796352 all. In fact… a35a450b45 I’m the 017d9353e0 one who’s 3735dc361c sorry things 1b2ea83ecc turned out 0c857ace61 this way.”2e4d5cf44641138d

“What are you d34b302995 saying? Don’t ever say 94c104d5c1 such things. What did you 0f004cd89d do wrong? What do dee953fc64 you have baeccfea5e to be 9bd4db3a0f sorry for? Tae-oh’s the one 47588a76d9 who needs to b16d2ce178 repent. The one who committed 2cafecd41c the sin must seek 98471aa650 forgiveness and make amends.”ff599033b6a94aba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Yes…”6b5ed8cff5efe5a2

Hyun-jin’s expression 7531504e00 darkened further. His gentle face looked 366c6a9a4b pale.9d5c006bc3572479

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing that pitiful 7bb011d35c face, Ju Sun-mi 585adbc859 wiped her tears 60c7baf6f7 and picked up 41b4d5ab80 her teacup. She figured she b2ac46866a should calm herself, b867e24a58 at least internally. She took a sip—and f89d3aea5a found it tasted terrible. To a e0339d703c surprising degree.fcc06159a1ff79eb

The tea cf18c86e5c leaves seemed 15247416db fine. He must not 675290d067 be very good c8950e62be at making tea.2a26648d75f29e9c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But so what? What did it a62a8b957b matter? As long as 792b62b63d the person was bd3b8007ae kind, that was 7a58125784 enough.8bc72c724a592e9b

Seeing Hyun-jin’s slightly embarrassed f19afa4ef8 expression—as if he knew 455d25c0d1 how bad it tasted—she c49eb3da58 quickly soothed him with, 9d7ab44488 “It has such a 98bcb1fca6 lovely aroma, dear.”1fbda1b88294b035

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Knowing it was 3e5fd0845c probably just a c7ba550110 polite lie, Hyun-jin 1a7d6bc9b9 gave a shy 2ef20713d1 bow. “Thank you.”bf6d8c8dae02c409

Such a 6621a27cb4 gentle, good-hearted a70392f456 child.ee0328a7b64f344a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…And yet of all 0eaaaf4b7e people, Tae-oh…ab0b10bd044097ec

Ju Sun-mi felt her 28dc7bbd14 anger flare again, but f570f5ac23 a question surfaced in a40215878f her mind.9018064f890414a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

How could that boy 2f53450bec have made such a d3d3b86c4e mistake while drunk? She couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t the kind 409661e435 of person to make 5aa2dcb48e mistakes like that.4c1dffbdbd824964

…Could it 693be08f2f have been 69b2b7f898 on purpose?51982faa0a3c157f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The thought sent her 97af5f7e1c vision spinning. She nearly dropped her 8d2a13d86f cup.555c8a656eddfb8f

She didn’t want to df74d2cf1a believe her son was 3ec55f0f27 that wicked. Surely not. He wasn’t the kind 02b5246c3c of person who would 04adfc066f intentionally violate someone. Cold, yes. But not d0d61ff40d evil to 4b0b4d4fe9 that extent.056300a0cd9fffb7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yet once suspicion took 8cc073fbbc root, her thoughts spiraled. Forgotten fragments of memory d9ff20e0f9 returned vividly.9f0f70c4935376d4

Come to 5d62630403 think of 2cf4288a74 it, her 055ca6a66b youngest had 5b9b932446 always acted 76fff17c98 strangely around a34eddf161 this boy.989e56a450c550d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Tracing her memory 1436a2733e back, it started 74da623a68 when Hyun-jin had e31ab6504f first come to 70e5b909cb live at the 9d002038cf estate. One day, Tae-oh had 31c83fec1f suddenly asked to move cf97a59acd his study.2ecfa1d7683c562a

He had originally taken 4193bed8c6 the quietest, most secluded d7c818037c room as his study. But then, de745dc417 out of 297ab0e684 the blue, 129d70575d he said, 2fd5bc26fc “I’d like e96ffb5a49 a room 8ffd193e0c with a f105247c66 better outside 333968548f view. The west middle room 068699872c on the second floor 64e926c510 seems nice,” and pointed f057cb9438 to a specific room. That room overlooked b02b912bf9 the annex directly. It was a c9b0b42218 space he used c4cdd49bfb to dislike because 2be360396a of the frequent 566ed57c06 footsteps from the 9591afeec9 servants outside.5a1695bfdc6b7acb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nevertheless, he moved 672e2f9d27 his study there bb1d1dd32c and, to her 8bf8d57ca0 surprise, never asked 59f790bcae to move it 5010036650 back.711e0d6e81492825

Whenever she visited 474289c249 that room, he’d 407ef80e3b often be staring 5c9697ac56 out the window. And if 7807cb0bce there was b312275240 the faintest 179abba7b8 crease in 7aca8d87a9 his brow—a a60bfeab4a rare thing bff22bb362 for him—it 26e4eb68ca almost always 9582082cae coincided with 4ad925ab57 Hyun-jin being 6c4c7a5519 in view.bd3c1f39bf269667

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yes, there was 039f108fae that other time, 8b7cc21506 too.aba8a5eb8563844e

One calm holiday 9429b4ae6f afternoon, the weather e1ce7021c9 was lovely. She’d sat outside 87cf10116e with her husband 91e72a589d and third son 49e515acc0 for tea. The eldest and second b5239a57f1 son were out, and d89d61dac2 the youngest had declined 6563c5e23c to join, so it 52a5a2c1f3 was just the three 616fa86721 of them. When Hyun-jin 1e0a7b81fb happened to 820d699c13 pass by, 82c7481696 they called 55454a3d10 him over ed74551f2d to sit 8188b99c07 and join 75d372c6d2 them.6e411e9f1446e9bb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though a bit awkward, af384ffd54 Hyun-jin accepted and sat. But before cb7980019a long, almost e1cdd394bf as if 8a0609b4f4 he’d been 85f28993f8 watching, the ede419dc48 youngest appeared.c7835bcceca6f310

“Oh, Tae-oh. Weren’t you 9c7d1f603f going to 46b670c0bf read?”a361fcedc47ae248

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Delighted, she welcomed him. She thought 39d2d30701 he’d refuse 35e703a785 again, but f18206f2a2 to her 1f1dc01b49 surprise, he e47e9546fc joined them.12a6e838794e2936

Then, as 47b1a05bff if on 265a1da175 cue, Hyun-jin de5dac4c2e put down 7261fede95 his teacup 4c9dc74bd6 and stood. He bowed and left. When she looked back, 32df1c368d a crease had formed b84fa8bf4f in her son’s brow.72ffb61f3e89d6dd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“My dear, what’s wrong? Something bothering you? You frowned so 721180ebad hard that Hyun-jin 000756cc4c left.”3cc970aabbb059f2

When she half-jokingly 248eea0bea pointed it out, 2f7b8710b8 the crease deepened.9612bd48b963c8d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I wasn’t frowning.”11beb8825aea4938

“You were. When you glare 46a0233976 like that, you bcc737409e scare people off.”65517f1c8df123d4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He clicked his c5b0d21fd6 tongue and replied.3c60ab5de8f75555

“No, Mother. You’ve got it backwards. He was effb9ad169 glaring at 836df1551a me first.”dbcccd87e56645dc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Come on, there’s cfccb5d4e2 no way Hyun-jin b9c730e28f would do that.”a98a9fa7be92a336

Maybe he was 7de0db0a5b a little tense. But then again, most 76d014b711 people were around her 59a788bc51 youngest. Even adults 4193497cf9 got nervous 9001b89dd0 around him, 3c7157e769 let alone 1e60a78186 someone his 1a38ab58ed age or 34e2c6cd80 younger.fff3d128485ded0b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t be ridiculous. If someone glared at 3e320d009e you, you wouldn’t let 50b863da27 it slide.”d451d82a17d7ad82

The third son had add86af856 laughed awkwardly, and the a3e37e16ee youngest shot him a e8e8f29a1f sharp look.33d85413f9e387ba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What, you think I’d ca15b54548 lash out at that fc9cb29a49 little guy?”00c5e1ce677b52d0

With a scoff, 80fdc94537 he downed his 8c59c3da63 tea, and Ju fa46da4547 Sun-mi had thought, d9a0b128ca This is unlike 79d0791e78 him.6736e8e0a1ed3b2d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But now 76ecc66824 she remembered 8d8116ee67 that Hyun-jin dd1e8c81a1 had always 32c9ce6aa4 been unusually f3de4a2e87 calm and 886376a4b2 composed, never 2401a1bf39 easily flustered. Not even around c5b5eb2fee her husband or 4fbd3fde94 herself. Yet whenever her cf205d6892 youngest was around, 7324fe00c4 he seemed tense—nervous, a67f567b09 on edge.ccf86c9a99265320

Could it be that e293b8e02f her son thought Hyun-jin d2bdb4c355 was being arrogant because 5b273f244f of that, and reacted 5f836478ad in his own way? He always 43f09d84e4 seemed in b5b226e603 a foul 1b86275521 mood whenever daf866b54c the two dcdbe98b14 crossed paths—even cba8e35ba7 if they d8048bfdbf hardly interacted.dcd464a9f34df0a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once, she 36d6869173 had asked 8f4c82f32d Hyun-jin about 19880b8960 it.9a7af016f762b255

“Hyun-jin, do e83fa85d29 you feel bbd17eb51b uncomfortable around c5f9ef41fd Tae-oh?”322febf8e05c4341

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Pardon? …”c7f0024cc83c4aed

He’d blinked in surprise efa57344a3 at her sudden question. Before he could c4ec29b3be answer, his younger a9fb9c7195 brother, Yoo Se-jin, 925cc6e3b9 had blurted out, 7f3e65f52c “Yes! That guy is scary! His eyes are already 42b550fb45 intense, but when you 3981f93193 pass by him, he 0bb5ef4d59 gives you the side-eye 8fa9adbe49 like he’s going to b95255983f slit your throat!”b50d41b634f490e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hyun-jin had pinched Se-jin’s e971a88c9c side in response.7ed5f32db55e5fe6

“No, it’s not like 124b5e9342 that. He’s… he’s a good 258f604e23 person.”e23b522bf340ca9c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The way he 11b62c7d10 stammered—so unlike him—made 624e837ac7 her realize he 1c25962708 was lying. But she hadn’t said f1cfdbbea5 anything.bd2208f4c250557c

But at the 2f07c6007e very least, it 30acad1883 was clear that 933be922c4 Yoo Hyun-jin didn’t 5559b8e73e feel entirely comfortable fada557da1 around Hyun Tae-oh.2fa5d936f432ccc5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t strange that 58bd2b4385 Yoo Hyun-jin felt that 42d14b3d8f way. There were plenty 79a513fa76 of people who b5fdfc5610 found Hyun Tae-oh 45eea11ee9 difficult. In fact, there were 88e318e8da hardly any who didn’t.720f93b67889047e

But Hyun Tae-oh…6739c01eb22ee76d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Boys. Does your 2e4b74f80c youngest brother 052733ad94 pick fights d00b163e3c with people? If he doesn’t 6ea7f7c15e like someone, does 4374d53fa2 he glare at b64c07a70c them and try 1f77ab1f2e to scare them?”e15a22d415af3ed0

One day, when 7d02edb8c1 she had gone f602d72548 out with her 4b54e34976 sons—except for the 0b03e9f06b youngest, who had da5833ad71 once again refused b512804fa5 to join them, c8369c34cb as usual—Ju Sun-mi 5de785ae0f suddenly asked the 1380d06146 question that had 34db9162ca come to mind. The sons all widened 74d5e16e86 their eyes and responded 314bb040df in unison.1c78405ea38b5674

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Tae-oh? Ha, no way.”7c57fd68aaccbc73

“Him? Do you 2dd559d066 think he’s de86fa0e50 the type 79b8e499a9 who even 4004eeeb3f notices others 85c54aa113 enough to d25187f204 glare at 2e2e81ded6 them without 3ffa8b81bb a reason? Even when we say 81a1dcd696 something that bothers him, 6f7f14c173 he just ignores us b69d6763e4 and goes about his 9f8fa47c54 business.”cf5765636500700d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Mother, Tae-oh doesn’t care 65bd210b51 the slightest bit about dccc4e0d27 anyone unless they bother 0dcbef2fdb him first.”14cbbdb237e9a521

“And if d90382c972 someone does 96780dfd0f bother him ee7fc30e76 first, he 2ed241f468 doesn’t go 8672d6a173 through the f29b968a9c trouble of 18f57773fd glaring or f4318ab27f intimidating. He just—well, you know.”a92bbaf67d34fbb7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hearing all 7e7e8c530b three of 5f1bfd7d84 her sons 2c3424a0a7 echo the 408f689205 same opinion, bd2ce67d48 Ju Sun-mi fa6892f2bb nodded along, 2d335b76bc saying, “Right, c5c6e08118 I thought 7944e2d968 so,” and 02007604a5 felt relieved. Looking back, it 29f744a738 wasn’t exactly praise, a0c34e1bd3 but still, she 7e1e2b7a6d felt reassured.f4d507ea1e23445f

So the conclusion was… 1b8596ae24 Hyun-jin and Tae-oh simply d953e186d1 didn’t get along.eb9e298b46365339

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There are people 7b7a61dc04 who, even without 4f4ebcd862 a particular reason, ef351e7cba just don’t mesh 9c434fc567 well. That’s normal.ca9633c6854222b5

As long a7cc31ba41 as they 9d28c12a6f didn’t fight 83bb078512 or clash, ae8985b1c1 it was 0ecc30ff4d fine.233ec3ebc4c697fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Eventually, the youngest went e63c22311e to Pyeonghang, and Hyun-jin 627c629514 entered the seminary. There was no 25d413d95e longer any reason 83045ef87c for them to 76c726a176 cross paths.6cfe813b1b0ffa30

And so, bb3639d7c8 Ju Sun-mi bae91a828f forgot about fdadfba00f it. It didn’t seem like 64b43fc205 a big deal even 4a35185e38 if they didn’t get 135666a606 along.23419168fed90bb3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hyun-jin. If he treats 275c31a6f2 you badly, promise 8324eb2e76 me you’ll tell a33ff124d6 me. No matter 218c6fbbfd what, I’ll f68f46fa09 take your 653ef5a489 side when 5102398d88 it comes f06f5d90a9 to this… 3e1b7e6524 You poor 77c2ca4eed thing.”41a56ba170496ba8

Ju Sun-mi f556799aef held onto 9d1db939cc Yoo Hyun-jin’s 140790663d hand as 71bdcc0d0b he quietly ebed38c6b7 sipped his 08714d1558 tea. She glanced over him ebec00b804 quickly—thankfully, there didn’t seem 371156dd6d to be any signs 6ae94f5aa5 of hitting or injury.c218de3fa8f5b315

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Stay sharp. Don’t be scared. You don’t 9d94f1174b have to 391b17988d do anything 3400b6996e you don’t 0f36ddb18d want to, 8f095523f6 okay?”44c6ae280a13f1a7

“Ah, yes…”de1206d78defbfec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yoo Hyun-jin’s awkward demeanor 95cc8d6990 only deepened at her c49a1449fb firm advice.78ba10779b1026d9

He really did seem 92739bb605 soft-hearted and gentle.bcbf56ceb86cdac5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

From a young 92174ceeac age, he had 15b6756bf3 matured early from 362a961ac8 caring for his 16104c11bf younger sibling and 50dd97a0a5 his mother. Every time she saw 2ff1da4e2e him, she felt both 0979de9ec5 sad and proud.44db85828d8ad68a

“Come to think 51584e6689 of it, isn’t 606d8de764 your mother’s memorial 92ae5fc70b day coming up? I’ll send a d327734d4f car so you 034480a2c0 can go comfortably.”6a773d8db253f4f8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s all right. Thank you for thinking 4df4a9c017 of me, but I’m 2b03798c44 planning to go with bd5e3236dc Se-jin.”66a65941f6d763af

“I see… 73d0f85e13 Time really ecc27a15d7 has flown.”d660b54cbe46a77a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She remembered the 9809c382e3 face of the 1a5261801e boy who had bc1e384b45 lost his father 3d56a90f8e at a young 2bc164f61f age, and then 2aed9267a2 his mother before e866bdae29 even becoming an 311ab24f97 adult—standing firm beside dff7e6d589 his wailing younger 9f4d7d6923 brother without shedding 2b59ad3941 a tear.8371fdc346536916

Even on 7e3abae8f9 the way ce28c07838 back from 5f2406d16b enshrining his 7fc652eb88 mother’s ashes 443d4246a5 at her 773cf6a76d grave, that d213b64cd5 young face 8758aa6c2b held only d325039255 the burden f8c5cde012 of responsibility a1d6f6d9f1 for his c9ae7ad69f sibling. Though still 024c19acd1 a child 7aadae21a3 himself, he 4d6093e428 hadn’t allowed 330be33f8e himself to ea8f856a4e cry, completely da8e6b09c5 focused instead 86dee4e98e on comforting 90fa352694 his even cc86e6ded4 younger brother.22a9fc123c301ca6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It’s okay, Se-jin, you’ve 9a3cf294b2 got me—he kept reassuring afdc9a86b5 his brother as they 13010602e5 walked toward the annex. Watching the backs of cc26854172 those two brothers, Ju fa690c505a Sun-mi had let out 5f1a85995a a sigh.6cf1204746c9f769

“What’s to become 82c8328e07 of those poor a1b1f3e986 children…”48130169c1de9727

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When she d8e57e4e35 muttered that 4628e8eeaf to herself, 6c171d3afb her youngest 57ac1a8dd5 son—who, for 20f7aea8e5 whatever reason, 7ff922e348 had insisted cdc2a82fee on accompanying 5c2585d653 her to 4026802c79 the funeral b24091354f as her 1dfc99230f escort that 9590304900 day—suddenly spoke ef497b5367 up after 6c8aa4772a a long 792ab0c439 silence.39c7bf74e044ab5d

“You’re not 2b12e16c5f sending them 085f069323 somewhere else?”db768c42b9fcf009

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”02412dae12d279f2

“Are you 095756f619 really going e9a7531ffb to keep f20006c099 them in b0c72d7ca0 this house?”875707ab803ff08c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She looked at her 09b299034f son coldly.bd02755cea71d4bd

“What are a81efa3944 you saying? They’ve lived here all 4e80a984e8 this time—where would I 555c1ef50f send them now?”88bba38f9802b478

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“They should be 0de2ece195 with someone who bc8da1bb34 can take responsibility cf42404976 for them.”988bf12fe0b76f18

“They don’t have any 7775e92a02 relatives. I have to take afe14659a1 care of them until cac64e5d45 they grow up. Where else 52eb7a3083 are they caae25e9e2 supposed to 699574de18 go?”e69ea80ee694d6a8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Hmm.”586217e8984cf934

Without saying much more, 8437b95fa3 her son just raised 1092901e31 an eyebrow in obvious b8857ec084 displeasure. Ju Sun-mi 750b4c80e9 stared at f922b3ab0a him wide-eyed.02fe64cc1a80e04e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Tae-oh, do you not 28b71b46ce like those kids being 170bb72307 here?”e155a04cb27d1a0e

“It’s not that I d6cdf78b2b dislike it.”ce91e52c5409202b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unusually for him, Hyun ca260d6010 Tae-oh paused for a 2c6ee749a1 moment, then clicked his 275ab3e938 tongue in irritation.100aa3fd25af4bd1

“Then who’s going to f9f350c6c4 feed them now?”b9c4baafe64ee79c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What?”82798b0663a25f07

“Now that the lady bfedd335e3 of the house is fbd135adb9 gone, there’s no one f400259b12 left to make sure 53f61d4283 they’re fed.”d35b4e02938de0e0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ju Sun-mi blinked at 42eedb70e1 her son, who had 4d0f087877 spoken so bluntly.0f73f61ed4916740

Food… taking care of meals…94ca6e5409bcebf3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For a moment, she 278f1872ce understood the words but 984cb0d4a4 couldn’t quite believe them. Her son, who hardly 200873ee85 ever opened his mouth—and 3e6c9f58dc when he did, only 530c71340f to say something curt 246b57c14a and exacting—was suddenly talking 177935c89d about food like it c81a3baa5b was some warm, steaming 30731c9d76 comfort?9cf42297b1373e81

“Look at you. You’re saying that 4b4030892f because you think fc8e914317 I’m going to 1839630a76 make you take de05f5908d care of their 695f40dc9c meals? The housekeeper aee1e31865 will take b1c888e15a care of 875d569b58 them.”4f5216a3653f225a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When she dca5f29fe8 said this 85062f9161 in disbelief, 06d5a7a040 her son bc771a5a86 responded dryly, ff4ffb61d8 “That’s a d4b5ac08bc relief.”a9c3beee40fcdca9

“They were getting so 0639d09f35 thin over the past 9eb084f096 few days it was 8b4a6cf43e starting to look unpleasant.”d42d9876a0f17c46

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He muttered 9cc6e4b56c it like 5817625464 it was 77e7ae1fb6 to himself, 55b59131f8 then glanced e18638869e toward the 4fb9c3d178 annex with c4e0d4b90d an unreadable cd65a64e5c look before 3ca9febc3e turning and 9c174a9218 walking straight d3b802c0f5 into the 32c30dd062 house.afae3376607d03de

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.f9ed9c619125ba04

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

How had ab74a5b25b her son 94ce503f22 become so 5666fe8f2f cold-hearted? Ju Sun-mi was bewildered. But just then, someone c6491575ab struck up a conversation 7531f6e284 with her, and the 2014083690 thought slipped away.59930caaff114584

She hadn’t 6dafbec0a5 seen him d326ba9e4f behave that 99c05c0a06 heartlessly again 76ac7f08f1 since, and 7e96f2d8bb so the 38f32c4c04 memory faded 3dec7e4f74 entirely.0da5ec91dca3e9ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Until all this happened.5be8106b53eeeda7

Up until then, she had just thought of her youngest son as rather austere and detached… nothing more.2f65d084063ed99b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She glanced f7495f75f1 over at 014a5b2712 Yoo Hyun-jin, b2cec367ee who was 804d4bac6d quietly drinking 755cb78634 tea with 83ed9d2fe3 his gentle b7568bd357 gaze lowered.4984e022c9691767

Yes, even as 41cfb2cb4f a mother, right b77f0a61ec is right, and 10b8f5ec79 wrong is wrong. What must 4ebd8b31c2 be protected 7257ad6ec2 must be 6b824d2f10 protected.12ee9c38ef8ba288

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

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…48048e13e7d5fe37

When their bf2ad7579f eyes met cd58254492 and Yoo 89a4b06b41 Hyun-jin quickly 57f7887406 lowered his d10f71eb99 gaze like 4007ae825b he had fcb33d1ad2 been caught d3ef535e90 doing something 3017ca2856 wrong, her 67aa2dfc0e heart ached c6099e050b even more.cbfb5bd7f565c30d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hyun-jin, how 1357d23888 long have 665cb5a1bf we known c23481de6e each other?”4c1cb1bd078d2232

“? …It’s been seventeen years.”60539e46a76551d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though surprised by 043aca6956 the sudden question, 2223105efc Yoo Hyun-jin thought ee9e871092 for a moment b744dc5bb7 and answered.208db77cc63a2e59

“Right. We’ve been together d384e8d5c8 since you were 7127e950b5 little. I watched 8ef4c3dddc you and 6d426d8ad8 Se-jin grow cfe8718507 up. I might 9d6917328a not be 2bdc08c3d0 your parents, 8c6ac2e147 but I 763cd59907 think I’ve ad40fe8be7 been at 3e5a0e561b least like 0abd582ea1 an aunt 5385d3ca30 to you. You probably a9ae7aaec1 don’t realize 7be2f87259 how dear 0a2478aeb8 you are 3d1dd4a9fa to me.”7f03b7f910027974

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Yes…”7e04e476bae2b410

He nodded shyly, a 416032db3b faint blush rising to f963be79de his cheeks. Ju Sun-mi clasped 16d5e8fab1 his hand and fab76d31a0 said,3cc176bfcacda177

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I mean it. You’re very dear de7a33b3a2 to me. I believe good people bc1ade46f5 deserve blessings, and bad 56a0a2ecdd people deserve punishment. So our Hyun-jin must 5d4bd19c0e live well, receiving blessings… 14e6e5dc60 even if the one ad4f3afa73 who deserves punishment is 96a72ee7b3 my own son.”5b8eb61b8f9a62d8

“…No, that’s…”f6aa3bcc2f132246

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hyun-jin, didn’t I ad67677e23 tell you before? That you could treat c087d58323 me like your mother e3f0564e98 and come to me 148887a7fa if anything difficult happened. Don’t forget 37bb892e8b that, okay? I’m on your side. If you’re f719573ed9 ever wronged e82459e764 or hurt, 53fbe73a3c you have e0916401c0 to speak 09960c985c up. I’ll help you, 29615bb4df no matter what.”415bda53cf9cf0b9

She held his pale 0a154abb66 hand tightly, as pale 4d0ab5a2d0 as his drained face.3f5c6d6c0cefc778

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was db2bd17cbc right then ad04960392 that the b22fd20ab7 front door c593d010e8 suddenly opened 0f36cbc29e with a 40e6e3768e clatter.510b3d12446f0e5d

Firm, heavy footsteps followed, 764b197ca9 and a familiar face 1caef8b143 appeared.e38a33103272e676

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man who 327b00c521 had arrived and 823395ea60 now stood before c03a91e9d5 them was Hyun 4f51b24636 Tae-oh.c59f9870ccb1bff4

“Mother, why 4d6be947e6 are you 470a41862f here?”be6bd4bb70638b22

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He glanced around 908a9f542b the living room e3e99a2d15 and, with a 3e88e18423 faint frown, addressed d590e4b6cf Ju Sun-mi.6ac3b08eca6fcf92

He was e1bb3ff970 wearing casual ca1e6ff4de clothes like 7423e5c952 he had 4c433d8f40 rushed out 725ba803bb from home. His hair was 1cac1bdbe9 even slightly damp, c115d94619 as if he 0a3a8411d9 had come in 9dbff215f0 the middle of 954d0b3f5a a shower. What was 80e78d993a so urgent?bd79f8a9291e4585

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ju Sun-mi 07c4d2a191 looked at 70ed2eaa4d him in dd39b7c4ac surprise, then 3c05c808da turned her abf94c8969 gaze toward 1a715c2384 her secretary f139898ff2 lingering near 876807edb3 the garden. He quickly looked 52e8ac9818 away. How shameless—he 6cdd880e10 was her 82838a313a secretary, yet 1c27e83dfa he had 1639d0275b already gone f959a66e8b and tattled 164552c49a to her 49e05b30fe son. She gave him 6dc60b3c74 a sharp glare 1c7c9e0848 before turning back 0087124c67 to her son 5063fdf63b and lifting her eca6ba43fe chin.181b1412b0ec53b5

“What, did I 72e50c8946 come somewhere I 2c99d57428 wasn’t supposed to?”29570c6af4fde6f4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are you visiting 244cafe225 someone else’s home at 2b8df2f12a this hour?”a5b3f5958f3e6b55

“You come here.”517052459474a612

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you and I 8518f73d49 the same?”c2801725377d5933

“Oh? And what’s 88c43a89b6 so different?”aa8efa1799f87602

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When she challenged 84fa68784d him with a 1e88467056 firm gaze, Hyun 9b4f4d682a Tae-oh seemed about ca95e56df8 to reply but a4d6d2070b closed his mouth feb7f189d9 instead. Muttering in a303cc6562 disbelief, he 36f9d8da81 brushed his a8b674f570 hair back 3c76438529 with one aa64dfd3ed hand. Ju Sun-mi 5bbd2d4b84 watched him a0470ada5d curiously. This was unlike f2f896b692 him—why was he 5f0a73f5e9 reacting like this?63c924cf2607570f

His displeased e728da6171 gaze flicked 7a3c30405a toward Yoo 2c74a73b3a Hyun-jin. Clutching his teacup aca02596bb with both hands, 777a454b8e Hyun-jin had risen 812655f7eb awkwardly to greet 8cddacdbe5 the unexpected guest. His large 9deee26083 eyes blinked 53d4568251 as he 0ef324c8db looked between 6d7839f557 Ju Sun-mi ab46a8bca5 and Tae-oh, 0c347a3227 like he 77d162367b couldn’t believe 48df605915 someone was 51f9e9fe08 speaking to ed5b9438bb Hyun Tae-oh 92ee471c02 so bluntly.d699e088c2e36631

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ju Sun-mi quickly tugged ad884bbdb5 at his sleeve, guiding 44662b4585 him to sit back b9bdc350a2 down. Only then did Yoo d4d794a1d8 Hyun-jin bow slightly and f6362ae452 murmur, “Welcome…”b7b35c742db20b4e

Hyun Tae-oh, 10c5685128 who had f89eda950f been watching 44607dbd8f him coldly, 7a1c2de088 sighed and 97b09b15a1 lowered his 1e1eb35bfc gaze.b6b3daf0cd2f464b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He looked over 0c28c84294 the teacups on 680129ad3a the table, clicked dabe816dd8 his tongue, and 95376ccf7b walked into the 0931f556e0 kitchen. Ju Sun-mi, 5b1f5bd161 watching from cf6457548d the living a987f1832d room, wondered a8a80a071c what he 6d04899433 was up c0acb9e471 to now. But he moved smoothly, 14fac5410d as if it were c763a0a391 his own home, and fdb0e105c2 brought out a fresh 109c31acbf pot of tea.384c9f5672ac3e7d

Three new teacups were a38e1ba8e0 set down on the fd1225226b table.27572937e76ebd0d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“This will taste better. Drink this instead.”4026ba6f3b40e0cb

Ju Sun-mi glanced d1f993a4f1 sideways at her 29034e7b78 son’s curt tone, a3be1d5478 then quietly switched 545b39e901 her cup. Yoo Hyun-jin also silently b5dc4bf909 lifted the new cup. True to his word, 3e53bbcccf the aroma of the feda9f6d11 tea was much more c49ac5dbd6 vivid this time.94a7272c88024d45

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…How strange, you made tea with your own hands.”bbf876b6d5c699ad

“I do it here. This one 6aaa7b47aa can’t make 3956bede13 tea.”0ca957fc989de048

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yoo Hyun-jin coughed and 71388005a1 quickly wiped at his 348cb20f39 mouth with his fingers. Ju Sun-mi nearly 320be52989 choked as well. The way he 6f4aad77f3 said “this one” 78c7d9cbc6 was oddly familiar. She gave her cedcfb8a14 son a long af24c8d1d5 look, then spoke f2f6af684b with feigned sternness.8d3a2e09591bed26

“If he’s not good 14b6a32725 at it, don’t scold 07c18c88e0 him—give him more chances 904765e844 to practice.”318ff33b3a16c9ef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why practice? I can just do cb2eca59f8 it.”2c6a3b36bacf76f3

“He might 6c0262e000 want to 786ab1601b drink tea 462b914e69 when you’re ea0e2a2607 not here.”3cab3f0503aa410e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This person doesn’t a360fae8f7 really drink tea 6e3b4538bc alone.”256e986d757a8fbe

“Guests might come 11386cdf3f by.”e201c4451c06089a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No one 6b93b973d5 but me 33ce32445d comes here.”13c148a58e6cfd4c

His expression said 6a6e122dbc it all—“who would 78073be677 possibly visit?”—as a 049c18d0b5 crease settled in 8e137fbcfd his brow.94347e25f94bdeb2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ju Sun-mi 1842a45d97 quietly drank e8585f2b71 her tea. Countless question marks 58702d52c8 floated through her 4ce4c1fdad mind.71579fb96660f146

What was this? Somehow, it e9ee7d3834 was different 241f01bac5 from what 7624f5cc8a she had 0421e7108f imagined. Very different. At the very least, cef09aacd0 she had never pictured 46d7a4df41 a scene where the b19e29bc05 three of them sat 44454fcf5d together peacefully, sharing tea.ea399cf465b68f5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A long silence followed.bf5102a712bbaeb2

The one who finally 188d456782 broke it was Hyun 8e9158718c Tae-oh.0dc36c8b712f7d65

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why did cb81398725 you come a19e65a577 here without 36d8234459 saying anything?”2220a9a691953edd

“Oh my, do ba232156a9 I need your 1793f801ca permission now to de3e1ae16e visit someone?”8beda4ac679f1e51

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You came 5bde0c0da5 because of 23102bf6bb someone related 6b850ba7a2 to me.”f3a46cc1201ae600

“Oh, listen to ebb765e1dc him. Is Hyun-jin 931b572c19 only connected 2026bc25ff to you? I’ve met 02d8174131 him way 1962ae676f more often f3f8aeb27c than you 067a0599f0 ever did. And did I 1f8db16500 have to report abb8d1a04e to you every 01396a3796 time I met 32ec3f503e with Her Highness 3e59a292d4 from Jeonghye Palace?”ed3f535fdd5d6859

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She’s different.”9f1377b05f02676d

“What’s different? Even if a1f0791258 she is, 33bfc73193 that doesn’t 09d4563238 mean I d17be221f2 need to 42b959eaa2 tell you 946aa81e1f in advance, 324136df65 does it?”2f58959618d329b4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With each exchange, e166f5be2f Ju Sun-mi’s eyes 46c851ac73 widened further. Beside her, 55080f37da Yoo Hyun-jin 9347ed46ce looked on 3877ccd232 in admiration.0736042f03dcb8f2

Hyun Tae-oh stared at d9b1fcc219 his mother in disbelief 9bd76113fd and clicked his tongue.aaf5e09173a5000a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“When you 1756352dbb show up e62b120ddb like this f4dabfdf52 out of 0390916c03 the blue, 442439c9c8 it makes c3bd21e259 him nervous. Look at him ad244fba3a now, still watching e0a9cb4f54 you for cues.”bbb1f141d09e5cd6

“Oh, him? Do I scare b1c92936c4 Hyun-jin? If he’s anxious, 4928114dd0 it’s because of aeb9792c16 you, you wicked f738e6cdee brat!”8597516241cb714d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Tae-oh glanced 26a9a728b5 at Hyun-jin, 892f724544 who was 3c8daa9ef1 doing his f106c7bc01 best to 9f746cad57 avoid eye 78f64a8945 contact. Groaning quietly, he rubbed 6f53dbcbea at his temples as 301373318e if trying to contain 99cbd1fd9b his irritation, steam practically 947361e117 rising from his head.4daffb4ca3b45d3e

“――Of course 6d25553c90 you wouldn’t 0c7e55d701 hurt him, 963835a3df Mother. But no 2c8ec4d640 matter what ba5f613d52 you say 56fd037175 to comfort 5388e136cf him right 6c32471bb5 now, it’s d1ddafe8b0 just stress. Please, just 1a38ed4224 head home.”2fb9878fa15cc2b2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Tae-oh spoke dc405746d9 firmly, as 3f58b591a0 if he 248be8bcea had come d8d32dc0e7 specifically to 28894b813b escort her 440cc0113f back. Ju Sun-mi stared 9436132782 at him.2751040a2ac9b24e

“Since when e4674d62cb do you 338dce248d care about b80d4ef743 that sort 82020a0b10 of thing?”8f17fc0ed6c1cbdc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“……Let’s just go.”2f2a23f3d4babf13

Finally losing patience, 037c902196 Tae-oh stood up c1784b8e80 and took her 5791a4921a arm to help 8c8785f58b her rise. Though he was polite, 554288a837 his grip was firm ac1bbe2b0a and left little room c90d97b787 to refuse. As she stood up, 90d676cc1b Ju Sun-mi instinctively set d2213680b8 down her teacup.82596e668cdf9524

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Son, you’re hurting me!”2c0827f7ba3ea348

“I’m not e745688391 holding you 2589b4c7cb that hard. Come on now.”26e56eb27c5fbf54

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though he 378a4259fd wasn’t dragging 07b4298058 her, his c63b3fd35f hold was 125a091b78 unwavering. Ju Sun-mi, displeased, 3cd7c8258d sighed and began f6972921ed walking. Watching all this, bc1af0942d Yoo Hyun-jin brought 52cbace483 her coat. …He must have been a1cca34832 uncomfortable too, judging by d5e1ae1bc1 how quickly he fetched cc29e48b7e it.76bcca31d79028dc

As soon as she b8e3b767e5 had her coat on, e700e91ce4 Tae-oh practically marched her 1794d1c476 to the door.2168af0dcfdd909e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey, slow down, 7df1fce4b7 will you?”40cccae14224b48f

Ignoring her 657a2a0bb7 complaint, Tae-oh 319e45703d suddenly came fa3586d2dc to a 438f772efe stop.3063715a94b0ee39

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He glanced at Yoo 51cd4a3e19 Hyun-jin, who was following 0b692d1efe behind, then squinted at 0aa1450bea his feet. Ju Sun-mi ad1b7fed10 followed his 6b6df90b80 gaze, and 5aef999fc8 Yoo Hyun-jin 3d6b507f04 slowed his eb67f1c32c steps when 51281779e7 he noticed 54a710ed57 them watching d091df8f00 him.1e4c844234a99a72

“……?”8763813ea6ef645e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s with your 7b6ad3cd10 leg? Did you 55e6fc3efd get hurt?”855ea2562c164a49

Tae-oh’s sudden question caught 15124eb6a9 them off guard. Ju Sun-mi looked 292726576c at him in 401effa123 confusion while he 4f4fa5b71d clicked his tongue 46f3f9391a and let go da13d258f4 of her arm, dd4b4d98a3 stepping toward Yoo 17aa31ea19 Hyun-jin.3c59a9c43551933a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re limping. How did that 78ceb3f889 happen?”44b78c9e1feff518

He asked irritably. Yoo Hyun-jin, blinking like 1849ebf972 a child who had 16431de7b7 swallowed something wrong, mumbled 151b446ba4 while glancing around.7c49431eeebe293b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, I just 2b1f492711 twisted it a 1a83c2928e bit earlier… It’s a7c6cf134b fine. It’ll get 90d59a0eba better soon.”11a1b9c5d3dcf8f4

“Oh no, you’re 93b0fa90be hurt?”23ef2fec69fbc924

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, it’s nothing. Just a little twist. I’ll be be9b8085de fine after aad8edd301 some rest.”898f54624b652222

Smiling as if 40e2291533 to prove it, 82ea079175 Hyun-jin tapped the 5ff12ebb4d ground with his 85b52640e4 toe. Watching him, 7e5b2b65fd Tae-oh let 4fe78006b8 out a e544f3d8bd bitter sigh fcd97705b8 and returned 3135e8335d to Ju 37dab73f5b Sun-mi.e76290b889431d61

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had looked fine—when 2848366c0a had his son noticed 4d48be03ea that while practically dragging ebbf06e1ef her out? Ju Sun-mi was impressed 845be790b5 by his powers of 54ec80577f observation and looked closer bb6265b563 at Yoo Hyun-jin. Sure enough, there was 96c03aa266 a very slight difference a4563f9a5b in the rhythm of acf4a54392 his steps—barely noticeable unless dae0acbf09 one was really paying a2f8db7ea3 attention.1a05e28eb31b77c7

At the doorway, bf200e73f7 Ju Sun-mi gave a9ba25d8a0 Hyun-jin’s shoulder a 3bee62a9f9 pat and turned 4bb895182d to look Tae-oh 27b873c07d in the eyes.e49a59abf4097f1d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You better da4d76d507 not be 39f50dce52 hurting Hyun-jin.”fa833194ed0fc5a5

“When did bab13294db I ever— 11ce214b0e …I’m not 8b0f2cbe96 hurting him.”877eb0d0a72dcf31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A vein twitched in ddb03d26d8 Tae-oh’s forehead, but he f2875b2c74 lowered his voice, likely fd049ea70a realizing it would do b87f4a9171 no good to raise c7fc1d8b1a it now.de967daa6693e938

“No, please be kind 5423afa8da to him,” Yoo Hyun-jin e34671105e said hesitantly.6d853a8fda8eda1c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Hearing that, Tae-oh gave 51c4581d27 him a look as a833d5b31a if he’d just been 705cd337eb accused of something absurd. Seeing that face, Hyun-jin 592e515e79 looked even more flustered.5c5cac86eae47ab4

“Look at fb67b6485c his expression. Is that the 411917a454 face of someone b4c7f96ea9 who feels well-treated?”36e0cc0f3ebf8c38

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ju Sun-mi c1dabfe051 smacked Tae-oh 27f55f6565 on the 55a9082dea back. He clenched d624b194ff his jaw, 96e492682b but what 12dac6952e could he f704d1a61a do? If he were 91dcf59be6 the type to cfd22d2f1f lash out at 50b6ef0b96 his own mother, d1df22a571 she wouldn’t have dc8251301a hesitated to disown fb02f845cf him.ab5a92a6ee009947

Luckily, he still had 01700071c2 enough conscience not to 03d9560a67 do that. He kept his 5d55012d0d mouth shut and 0ae7f89225 firmly guided her 36f540a179 out. Ju Sun-mi, f471c4e2a4 half-forced, turned b1be19b3fe back to 03be5629b3 Hyun-jin as 9fe570396b she left.42d1a2d013873e63

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hyun-jin, I’ll get going. Lock the doors ecfba3fa59 well, stay safe, beccad04d0 and take care a71cd14c22 of yourself. Call me if e533af0959 anything happens, okay? Promise me.”d2a0e8f748157b2e

As Tae-oh 10adef72bf pulled her f47dbb5e4a fully outside, 7ad069127f glaring disapprovingly, 8d38ac7d15 her secretary f8e325a64d bowed his 560a28d2cc head under 378e3043df her icy 66649265de stare. Just past 53545a4acc the front 373d384647 door, Tae-oh 97cce86372 looked back ccac913c13 at Hyun-jin.716ac47bf4e4997f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

……4c3b90dfd82b20b1

With a 6ac0ca92a9 furrowed brow, e551f7cd62 as if c4b3148330 it were 4080491cf0 habit when c252ecc612 leaving that e93940653b door, Tae-oh fb2c4ad13b glanced at 8edb362646 Hyun-jin’s hand. His gaze moved c836cadab0 to his lips.9c299558ce84db61

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His eyes 275abba424 clearly lingered 231eb50873 on them. Surprised, Hyun-jin 882843b2ae unconsciously brushed 2d66b773db his lips 4b2727c2a4 with his 0f19ad6dd3 fist. Their eyes met.d6e22a750b00ef73

Looking at Hyun-jin, Tae-oh, 742eeb8d14 for the first time, e0ee0b90f2 let a faint hint 8df15c1112 of a smile touch df57149dd4 the corner of his 8a06686410 mouth—as if pleased by 27c54a4df9 the reaction. It vanished quickly 15a835b52f with Ju Sun-mi’s 3753eae558 loud shout from a0c4764f35 outside: “Son! I told you 3b2a67fd3f not to mess e89a6f4122 with him!”efed9d184034de4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sorry to trouble 093bfd9af4 you so late. I’ll come 2a20da0443 again tomorrow.”bca146fe3a331e00

His tone was 633c98ba0a cold. It sounded 391e8cb02f almost like 57dbbb7a50 a threat—“Just e2899d0f33 wait until a8521769d4 tomorrow.”27597fa6a21d04a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But before Hyun-jin ec8c3ed516 could respond, Ju 448672bd43 Sun-mi shouted, “Like 8bea27977b hell you will! Let the boy bf7bf377d8 rest!” and dragged e858e169dc her son away.7f97ea1cbefb2f3a

Tae-oh, lips pressed shut, fa1df85b53 quietly followed her. Worried he db0aff43b4 might throw ff5ef04384 a tantrum, d81c5b67db Ju Sun-mi fde2da4b5a held his e9afe0a128 hand tightly ec9999df9f and led 5fb94e2e53 him down fafcd580d9 the steps da96b91a16 and out 799b17159e the front 024dfeb979 gate. She pushed him into 9cdb7a28f9 the car and climbed fda9587cd8 in beside him.520313c39e7c9410

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The car 63d4a6ba46 soon pulled f945c8641e away, and a3091d6116 as the c75da8ebea house disappeared ac51d3cb78 behind them, 9bd2308f79 Ju Sun-mi 37d47c7709 spoke calmly.d1ec8a972e447006

“Hyun-jin’s a 3a578c5218 good kid.”6f4625762cd05ce1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

……70c317961838581e

“While you 16c6cdaa56 were away c041806f1f in Pyeonghang, 7bd9a44a0f whenever I c580c6e6c1 visited the 351d91232a temple, he’d 4a1a28a5cd always pray 01787059f0 with me. You don’t know 4de7346b50 how earnestly he 17cd259468 prayed for your 2f4561e9cb safety. ‘I’m praying for him 29225e2544 every day. Don’t worry, he’ll 19b0fa7b46 be fine,’ he’d ebb82346f9 say, and reassure 013117ea46 me. You can’t 66aa2d752b mistreat a be172c415c child like aa5485b53b that.”b73dc7f379164c1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Pray? That guy?”8642ae8b183504ec

Tae-oh looked at f411f33fc9 her in disbelief, a253aa0a9f then scoffed.b5724a34763ad270

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ju Sun-mi gave 746886bfbe him a curious 70afdb505b glance. He looked like he 4285cf706f was sulking… but there’s 3f2536d37f no way, right? He’d never acted 197f8da1c3 like that even 8b1ab74729 when he was 3f27e8b754 five. Sure enough, he d4415fd484 let out a cb6757eee6 cold snort.53c680dd9fe0d952

“So many people 2e109995e4 care about him. I guess he’s 8adc1989f9 nice to everyone e77fd4e705 but me.”3aa948011d2b6671

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…?”33e85147b1402197

“Don’t worry. I won’t bother 93b2c89573 him… as long c742f77852 as he doesn’t 3f1d6fdd80 provoke me.”de13f7f520fd07be

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh please. You think someone 6071b2b530 like you can 06b8f3140f be provoked by 92c12371c5 a kid like 1630d4e079 him? You’re tougher than 2149190b45 diamonds.”8ac9c160e2b8d4dc

Even if 60ae65df55 someone tried, 1c1a96e748 they wouldn’t 91601c51e7 leave a eb8fc201f5 scratch. They’d just shatter themselves.f0c8425822f9eebf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tae-oh simply 8a5f753091 shrugged and 97a6295751 said nothing. A sign he f70d5ef11e didn’t want to c19ecc3409 talk anymore. Less like a14d62092d a son, cb1b61a4cf more like afd3e626c6 a feudal 6c1ef401ba lord.44ae5f6b0c849a7c

Ju Sun-mi, too b4c1f37555 tired and lost 14f38f3553 in thought, simply 09c8d09919 stared out the 130fc4ae5b window.a6ed11d735423821

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It felt strange.9d4ddbe66625dfe7

If he were being 5493bb5ed6 violent or threatening, that ff7b92cd3b would be one thing. But though c680beea92 Hyun-jin didn’t 8e80f9f822 look entirely 115d0b7c89 happy, he 2db1e30886 didn’t seem 6bb3876909 particularly tormented 188aa3b25b either. If anything—e9a43cd4d3954f2e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ju Sun-mi tilted her 3d8ce01161 head slightly and glanced 4560a5a6a1 at Tae-oh. Staring out the window, 81442bb04f his face was unreadable.bb5ec0f88e74d170

After watching him a0db06e578 for a long d165768466 moment, she tilted 332bcd4c54 her head again ab51e0f9e0 and let out 86078aef38 a sigh, uneasy 4e7011139d suspicion curling within 73c7892312 her.9507bc32d40208d5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *6d7a17e4a66a27c6

Hyun Tae-oh’s finger aa187302a5 came to a e0359384ee stop as he 09359a038a skimmed through the 261eaa3e13 itinerary of the 65f69e5e0a diplomatic delegation.f67449c52bb2edfc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A visit to the Mountain Fortress on the last day, huh…”4c945ff385231538

“I figured they’d visit 81a9505f65 once during their stay, 92874ce315 but it’s been scheduled dafab9a2a5 for the last day a71fcd36fc of the year.”775d1b5d63da4458

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At Jin 7346831524 Mun-seong’s words, 5eefe25dbb Hyun Tae-oh 380b01fba4 tapped his c6fcffdb4e fingers on 58c03842d9 the line f884fbd886 of text, 7b644c49c5 murmuring lazily.b086609c5944f0d7

“It’s the 162713c998 perfect place 6d33227c33 for something 92c1d72074 to happen. The date’s just 10d02e3422 right for receiving 518c201fff a year-end gift 9628331925 too.”f00c448645f7e3ab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Mountain Fortress, located fdd89b92ad about fifty kilometers north be2eb69ad7 of the capital, was 07d952ee30 one of the oldest 120031e5be historical sites. Up until three 6eb07f7709 hundred years ago, 4670b93308 it had been bf981bd84e Songal territory. In the war of 2109509155 that era, legendary generals d2f659ef9f from both Songal and 46fea5cf0f Jeyang fought to the 0e6a3d1648 death, and the city 59b66bfcc7 became a sacred site 9eb952e37b revered by both nations.135550e26ec2b26b

“What about Prince Gye-yeon?”d8ac5e02568857c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The day the visit 9f1f79e8a0 was scheduled, he contacted 726deff2e3 them immediately. To be exact, they a315f7c26c already knew about the e140bc326b plan and reached out f22ae17047 first.”6b60ca0ac53d4822

“That lunatic. Out of d9d77da3e3 all the e47c9a241a places to b15ddffbaa take bribes, aa748e7fa6 he chooses 3b6740a348 a military ee7c323bfd supplier colluding 44cac53c35 with the dab09c3db1 enemy?”a73c1a3c07407487

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“He might not 8bba2108e1 know they’re colluding.”feb2db8321dc1c49

“Taking money without c3d3d590ea knowing exactly what 579e835132 those bastards are b8f15ce1e0 up to? That’s what makes him e32ef36140 a lunatic.”2410ea05c1f34443

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hyun Tae-oh snorted. Tilting his head, he 27963ef25b rubbed his chin for 571c63f471 a moment, then spoke.c07ca93849daa9ba

“The tricks they 0f48007494 can pull off 1a34bea25a at the Fortress 6aef303aed are predictable. Quietly contact Chief 2a5d402afb Moon from the 720692d27b Fire Defense Bureau 6d4bdb0f8c and Director Jung f714a935fc Yong-il from the 480d10522e Security Administration. Tell them to turn b7f6dc20b1 a blind eye during 959db47492 the inspection that day.”23fee26f2195ce96

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Gotta leave a 6e2fe0dbfb gap if you a01fac7860 want to receive fc1e45b415 a gift,” he 0c9d833c82 said as he d257b03a3e set the itinerary b384cb7798 aside.1bcd5264159d7f69

“You’ve already bd0cdd8a21 got enough 9b22d1090e evidence. Why try to get 4bf53d905f more?”07eeb12491e7a866

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If they’re offering it a73404cd92 up, why refuse? Once we have 09ac228662 that gift too… ba0e00e24d then we clean e37b09d039 house.”1797aa7b31fa1e68

“Understood,” Jin dec0554fec Mun-seong nodded.3d678239567b1fb0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What happened with f63e91d9fb narrowing down the 4a3a576c2b delegation?”a10b3b8e60bc239a

“Still looking into it.”29c2e85ad697cd92

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“There’s bound to be 4eb88bd96d two or three more 880feaca5e collaborators mixed in. Not just e008076b82 the ones 2ea62e34a4 the prince f17be2d924 brought along.”af4f12414bf9f69d

“Yes.”b392ccd06bb83ef6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jin Mun-seong nodded aee803ad6b with a smile.18c0f439ab8ad826

“Even the lady from de02ebb462 Songal isn’t ordinary. She brought 05df905efe in someone de1cfdbdbf so blatantly 110d9bc6a4 two-faced just 4cd5428c30 to use b6162c7a53 them as 6236f96e75 bait.”269c121d4b9f96e3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“She’s got enough guts 5dcf357caa to be worth cooperating a7564446fa with.”5bff43a1dfed3331

Rising from his ce67d02e20 chair, Hyun Tae-oh f173d97ccc walked over to 123330b2c7 the window and be4e8d2212 looked outside.438a3de45d66ea56

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Beyond the d5003b02e8 walls of ed41b81045 the palace 1807b450cc guard compound, 8cfc0683f2 protesters were 357ebd218c once again 2210443204 shouting slogans.d413e7bf792639da

But the overcast 0ee956d18f sky and sub-zero 5adbcd8c48 temperatures had quieted 7f2c702115 them somewhat compared 2f4d810c2e to other days. It was also 64906ded42 late afternoon, so 3779b3f464 some may have d0202801fe already gone home.6d9be465573969e4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The weather looked 9261bf2f3a like it could c37eebeb10 snow at any 7d7fe69734 moment, but the 90baf0e1fd rear garden visible 108482d245 from the Guard a5b4e5568c Office had a 69b3a434b7 small grove of 2df9952f61 pine trees that a633ec324e gave the area e3cf715929 charm even on 4935a6d0f6 such a day. That path was 088890c88a often used for 9809c53c16 strolls even in 73395ff4b4 winter, and right c86d53d3c4 now, Princess Je e8cfe27385 Sang-ah and her 2a3f0eead4 honored guest were c6ec357267 walking there.e6aa3e9d83cc31fa

A good-looking couple 3bcda0d610 with warm, gentle 7d2bb3777d expressions. They suited each other 9379dbdcbb in more ways than 822b2ef5df one—even if, behind their d80d3f9843 gentle appearances, both had 886d0e9de4 personalities as sharp as e880858ebd raw ginger.521c89d2b05af418

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Walking slowly under the 4cad28f333 pine trees, Je Sang-ah 8b0792a806 and Misadam conversed quietly. A few steps a0530ee5d6 behind followed two fbecccd77d palace maids, Misadam’s 3a1fae8b9e aides, and Yoo c9aa6faab3 Hyun-jin.4c193322ff9310b4

“What the 73383e6ca8 hell is 25a1ec24e4 he wearing?”214f3a6a3a5195e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hyun Tae-oh 3f03cf7e4b frowned and 0d2548e749 clicked his e1fdfe9509 tongue as eec675fbd4 he looked 366453803f down at 70b12a5439 them.496025e9c5121080

“His clothes?”0b3b86d27b154a3c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jin Mun-seong stepped closer 4d55c3c74c behind Hyun Tae-oh and ed23f7a73e looked out the window, feca155466 puzzled.feeff4827df3a3c4

Yoo Hyun-jin, walking beside 5f59096ead the aides, wore a 852d292019 neat coat and slacks. It was plain, but f1484ea731 not strange in any fc1ddcbbf8 obvious way.611be5779dc6ad49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He’s wearing 36474383dc nothing but 0b58868805 a thin 0c8be7a1e9 coat in 5582d12914 this weather… cba4dcbbde Is he a494e8db61 trying to c198561032 freeze to e78f9dcf7b death?”c773383d77c3a26d

“…”416ea459a7ce64d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jin Mun-seong, who 98d5ef7d3f had spent all 20d6fe8aef morning outside wearing f542082ab8 only a winter 089782abf6 jacket—serving a boss cb56ecb282 who couldn’t care 16c6f7eee3 less—gazed at Hyun 97b65a7ed0 Tae-oh for a 1f1c62c359 moment, then turned 3c9c4a27c6 away.e62d971db459a065

“No wonder his hands 61d3ca904a are chapped. He needs gloves. They look soft, but 3dfbf81a54 they’re rough to the 59f327881f touch. Typical Yoo Hyun-jin hands.”9008ac09e9cef260

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…You’ve been holding his hand a lot lately.”02b79c817783db9a

Hyun Tae-oh f5480ebd42 responded nonchalantly 666320ba2d to Jin d5a216dd08 Mun-seong’s comment, c76cfa157e recalling how 3d85988972 lately, unless 3091809093 they were cfc56cd66e in a 59bd79977c public setting, 946c05e5c4 the two e40e952b89 were often 5e940c3baa seen holding 66a61dfc5a hands in 0a411d4d9c some way f91f94e91e when together.de0b1f2792f0e0b4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s amusing, you ba08504063 know. He stiffens like a c97686d1cf snake touched him or dcc3a3ea7b something. Doesn’t seem to eaf01c217e get used to 6de4e34d6c it, no matter 642c28ef37 how often I c243bcb9a8 do it.”2147102696898b20

“Really? He looks perfectly 7e52479c09 normal to me.”cdbbbf4eaf78edc5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’d know if you 5409f33d22 held his hand. His face 82115711dd stays cold 0af62e2346 as ice, 960bb20c58 but his 0515fe5fbf hand flinches. Scratch his fede850f5d palm and 437184f1e2 he jolts 0a82ecb11b like it’s b9e62200df unbearable. If that’s 2f422a02d1 how it e7389d7552 is, then 73537fd9c6 I’ll just efb7d58310 have to 633224f820 wait and 897d487917 see how ebdfce5dab long he f9323603db keeps reacting 02cec0aa26 that way.”0659437c2d9dfcd6

“…Scratching the palm of someone who doesn’t like it is clearly sexual harass—”29a35e64798f3fd1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jin Mun-seong a4ff4c25c2 sensed a e71a56677c sharp glare fed870c064 flying his f80cac0d9b way and b0051f961d promptly shut 282ee6ef89 his mouth. Hyun Tae-oh growled, ed06bac18a glaring at him 713678bda9 with disapproval.284960ad92e38dde

“What kind of nonsense c32fc8f9d5 is that—calling it sexual 453edf069e harassment over just touching b9428961b3 a hand? If we’re going dce6faf18d by that logic, d3ad930e66 that bastard’s worse. Saying he’s giving 9473ed230e me rehab massages 1bfbf9894e for my injuries, 039c842c7a and without hesitation, 0cc39edeee putting his hands ea42e3d465 in all sorts f2336dd003 of questionable places. Yesterday he e156054e3d was massaging 642ede93a7 my inner 3e8cab4078 thigh, and 0068350905 with the 30624c0ad4 back of bf51d05ad6 his hand, da02cf8833 he kept 919736e0f7 brushing against 5d54eb24ee my balls. I almost got hard.”f9b63fe805688e25

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Did you?”d44df0b4bf129820

Instead of 64009b900e answering, Hyun e84ab8f747 Tae-oh simply 2b199b5278 shot him 5ed417fd5f a cold, e991e13df6 sarcastic glance 94b12d9f93 and looked 15f0173d71 back down. There, as b97d1d0280 usual, was 890497bf1f Yoo Hyun-jin 5899d59fda with his 203531effd indifferent expression.fd7a3e4c9afa45ed

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

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.8773f88f82f9b6af

“Priests—especially those blessed 0b07f8a883 with the gift ce14994d70 of healing—are obligated 7f422cd75e to help the 88b1cef0d0 injured. I’ve heard they 02fe648a32 instinctively reach out b7fee73662 their hands. I doubt Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin had 3e1decf8c3 any ulterior motive.”6bc017ad48b626cd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If he’s 6d18a44b45 no longer 071274ced9 a priest, ac58c583ca he should e6b8091aea start thinking ea0b8534bc before he 97556551b1 acts. He goes around carelessly f5dd17e5b2 provoking people—what if someone 0d79b1f662 decides to pounce on 4e2235a9ed him?”e02d07c92ba1f0f8

“Would you 12f67c6ca3 be the fc035a72f7 one to 3449cbdf1d pounce?”bf19c675360932d8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When Jin 6b803aaff3 Mun-seong asked 484218ab8b in the 37edc52c71 most neutral 110263564f tone possible, 4cd55aa9df Hyun Tae-oh 5751a847d2 paused, then 9770005f72 turned a 75f92b49bc sharp look a74e249e40 on him.a4b39cc5f6ca9296

“You’ve lost your f46a27bc75 damn mind… Like aa538a2e09 I’d touch that 32968ea1b6 stiff, uptight bastard.”5495696e834d520e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You keep teasing 978708094a him, so I 5a83478b71 was worried you a8062730a0 might end up d961dfcce9 doing something blasphemous.”b8761eee389af863

Jin Mun-seong 405deb9b1e half-joked, half-warned, cbbffccd08 and Hyun 83871d7c40 Tae-oh let 519f3d2b2b out a 54b1e19278 dry laugh.9f3eeab064789a37

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just seeing the edge bfac9ef9c1 of that insolent face 08a2acd567 is enough to kill 6212766e59 the mood. Who’d want to pounce 71ced68097 on that?”4c8695fd8258bf60

“Well… depending on taste, 25c66290e6 maybe not, but I 65e1a8b636 did hear that Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin c5d820fc61 was quite a62a4a194d popular when 4c52ed1b63 he was 21095e30ef still a b6b32f952a priest. That stern and 253d5e880d ascetic image apparently 41464d4b99 made him more 06df083f90 attractive. Some of the believers 617118f5ab admired him secretly.”27d6d2321cdecd0d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun Tae-oh looked a20df9ee4e at him in 5b6cd95063 disbelief. But he’d heard it ce635a5e26 too, most likely—part of 5e261c3063 the background gossip that e401b101fd surfaced during the recent 06281384b5 scandal, when he was e655832b5b managing the media response.360414131a29b935

“Those people are f1db0da85d out of their 23e970dece minds.”3d5880400ba50c25

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Really? I can understand 0479b4b585 it.”9f91f70b6125a33a

Yoo Hyun-jin had always f0b5ff344f been neat in appearance. Ever since appearing in 0b2568067a a few news photos 67c8a47804 alongside Je Sang-ah, who 9b685d17b5 was his close friend, 8e4862a10b he’d caught public attention. When he fb8acee83d chose to bd9d03a14b enter seminary, 0888d8f6f8 many young f3f07621e9 women were 3230fc4910 reportedly disappointed.3fb93238d209e185

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Recalling those memories, 8919331b37 Jin Mun-seong murmured 017bf24877 absentmindedly. The next moment, he 1906cb2a8a sensed a gaze fall 8bf84d73ed on him and stopped.be1e97d943c5e74b

“Mun-seong.”e73be8e9dbaf8b12

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes.”83d4a35f5b47866f

“Have you d5c4c1064b ever looked 825f1f6dc8 at that 4a950363d6 guy that 5c3c56f433 way?”ea8959c46afd7964

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A chill ran 8a6e92ab88 inexplicably down Jin c6b28047c0 Mun-seong’s spine. Straightening his expression, 8f29ac7a36 he firmly answered, b07ed9a0da “No, sir.”8d3df49fd1f7147d

Staring at him 13f8771f87 for a moment, 7229963524 Hyun Tae-oh spoke c577f8c5ce in a tone c231b6cabe that allowed no c3bb2ea879 argument.1b2ee61dc4980fbc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then let’s end 5983518d4b this nonsense here.”c1a86722b79894b7

“…Yes, sir.”bcff5810fa030cab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even after that, Hyun 4beaefa1ab Tae-oh glared at him d9a258aa4d for a few more cc646df84e seconds before turning his b7f07f8da8 eyes away. Jin Mun-seong quietly raised 4f2a8f3f52 an internal question mark d0e02719bf but wisely chose to a07af480e3 remain silent.783b3532508dccfa

With his displeasure clearly 2097342fd8 written on his face, 2ad83f8659 Hyun Tae-oh looked back 4b1e2651b6 toward the rear garden.6c97204cf4ff396b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Je Sang-ah and Misadam c675e71131 were crossing the pond 4a23c388ff bridge, which had patches e507c2b9f6 of thin ice forming c8b87ebc95 on it. Yoo Hyun-jin 3ce05260dd followed them 2841ae346d onto the 882cd845d7 bridge. As he cautiously 6d398cba08 climbed a few ee9f24d7f1 steps, the hem fabcc0714b of his pants 30153e6563 shifted, revealing an 10fa869cde ankle wrapped in 91dcc8653a bandages. Hyun Tae-oh clicked bd2c6663dd his tongue lowly.722bd6955e49c00c

Even last night, he’d 5ad8652b16 still been limping—though clearly d90d6850f3 trying his best not 857449198f to show it. When Tae-oh 0f7f26f1e8 suggested going 587fc5cc5e to the 9444938f8a hospital together, c951077735 he’d said e82728c9e7 he already b095fb8e2c went on 6a4034ec3a his own f43612bd32 that morning.ed0ad84a111c6ae8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Apparently, it d409cf59e4 had been af647c984b a pretty ad7e0213de bad sprain, 2ce12e1a7a but it 995481102c would heal f9043b23ba on its 9653563264 own, and 1e2541dba9 he didn’t 3770456e94 even really e4bacb5a28 need the 0896f60a49 bandage—he was 1db906c267 just wearing efc6f5e622 it as 5058a36a44 a precaution.784fe6bf59019fd6

“Of all people, 4c4246f115 a guy as ff716c35f7 rigid as a 8720299e0a needlepoint ends up 5c6df21fd7 injuring himself like ff4edd6a5b that—so carelessly.”1149a0f11e352b43

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hyun Tae-oh muttered, trying 22b8d27d07 to suppress the inexplicable 2499bcb138 irritation bubbling up. Jin Mun-seong also turned 78e287575c to look at Yoo 5e87107db6 Hyun-jin, who let out 26d9e431b3 a quiet sigh at d746bed23e the top of the 015df23764 steps and absentmindedly rubbed 187aad0553 his lower back.53c9564f80284203

“Looks like he 5b5c0b5507 sprained it pretty f9fe49ba3d badly. His hip might cdc40e80c0 be hurting too.”ed0c9f9287bfc089

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If he 6874b98f9c keeps going 16af9a0d71 like that 958c25de1b for a 6f05340d5c few more 6cb865c00d days, I’ll 61732010bc take him 011be84be6 in for 85f567e9b7 a full 82c6d7bfc3 check-up.”c42fcbbda24b54d8

“…”523bebae3d44e425

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Back when fdefb457a8 they were 96c5785f94 both on d1e2f90d3b the battlefield, 872e7e66d0 even with d9078cbeae a fractured 694381dcad wrist, this fb353fd65b superior of 1b9c199289 his had 685df5e2f3 simply said, 595b5542a5 “Wrap it 0710ef7b4d tight. We’ve got 6bce422d80 a night 41202734c2 raid,”—and kept 2e8cc6e487 moving. It wasn’t even 51c795a9ee unfair, since he ba197bd02d himself had a 092384a90b broken bone at 04e5a9e40a the time too. Jin Mun-seong glanced at 61471b81a1 him wordlessly.cca446ff1b033969

“Now that I 1f8f8dd981 think of it, 45fe07bb8e Your Excellency seems 12d3bf0b41 to be doing 44c390e579 much better lately.”0b097bfaea609f4c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jin Mun-seong voiced the d0548b1dbb thought that had popped ee2b330b3e into his head earlier 53e98917b6 that morning while running 459d3de92e errands. Hyun Tae-oh nodded, fed110436f apparently aware.8d54df7f6d57444b

“Yeah. Even with 969a9eb73d the treatment, 07500df547 it was 2b808f998a stiff whenever defb91c9b5 the temperature 6dc2ea1308 dropped, but 664a1ea302 these past 5a94eb2ea9 few days ab7770cb29 have been f60576a28a better.”8e28289e9cfc3652

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Seems like 7c7365904b the consistent b9e29755cb rehab is a64f209ffd finally paying 811d1de7c3 off.”67d05aadc82a0ec9

“Mm.” Hyun 2375709cdc Tae-oh nodded 0c48f89106 again.b580a6e047befc3b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Kind of a shame, c7171ef0c1 though. If things f49a034ff8 were different, 4713249fc8 Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin 897f072146 might’ve been 6f4c654757 able to 0d1f8714bd help you 238557e8c4 with his 7dc1a127d3 divine power. But in his ead91e308d current state, he 9a5429c45c can’t use it c582749dda even if he 9450a826d4 wanted to.”e5065c2cadd51a49

“Forget that. Using divine power apparently 9f6c36d5a9 tires him out a 1227e057f8 lot. He’s already 8090f34a7c dragging himself 1f88a463de around—if he 84e5df612a collapses, that’s 7b1f4af5a0 just trouble.”04b06610b34d1878

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hyun Tae-oh 6d5fb15974 waved it 9651114964 off without ff9e917fa9 even considering 20e0ff998b the idea. Jin Mun-seong 80f7ff0ecc just nodded 578ca0780e and didn’t edde7aef70 push it.454fff373f0c6cb8

Cracking his neck 11bdd00657 left and right 86fd1062da as if to d640514bab shake off fatigue, d4eed2ef04 Hyun Tae-oh asked afef876873 abruptly:1d696153ef5d75a4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“He’s going 9e5c786420 to the 158b7d40b8 Mountain Fortress 039c6a56a5 too, right?”c63aead2dbfa426f

“Yes. There wasn’t any a20071e696 special mention, so 2f6c419849 I assume he’ll 4ed3668f04 be going along.”97d4a6093b9f516b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As he massaged d820511f7b the back of c3c27d0a55 his neck, Hyun 33d53c6f18 Tae-oh fell silent, 94cbd7d22f a frown forming 9b19e8b6fb on his face. Jin Mun-seong, glancing b85609274b at him, asked:25c3d8f3d9cda5a7

“Should we just make d1e32d96a9 it so they can’t 59b86054c5 intervene at all this 5c2a9be4d6 time at the Mountain 82cb068498 Fortress?”4b32ec07037662d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After a brief moment ff9037c3c8 of thought, Hyun Tae-oh 143d8310a0 shook his head.7336305c7004d04e

“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?”95a528c21e0b7c4c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Hyun 4cf564fd0e Tae-oh narrowed 52228c89d6 his eyes, 6422526e3a Jin Mun-seong 5982da41bc quickly raised 55369177bf both hands e48e62b03d and replied, 38582028b7 “No, sir.”2513f8908828b368

“It’s just… it’s the last day of the year. I thought it’d be nice if the year ended peacefully.”ff43d054c06c763f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His hastily-made excuse 19357ef629 drew a look ed961356ee from Hyun Tae-oh 4b3e3080dd that clearly said, 549f085c5d “What kind of e2c002967b nonsense is that,” 87a4e29ae6 but he didn’t e7af723e23 push it further. Instead, he clicked cd3325269e his tongue irritably d3ff39d426 and turned his ca717f961f gaze back toward d21c2776ee the window.683d310bbae7cfee

“You’ve picked out some fed6280725 suitable temples for him, 1486ace60f right?”88f1a5fb37fff8d4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. We’ve selected a few 999652143d appropriate ones and sent 61ae27b071 out inquiry documents. I’ll report back as 9eca919890 soon as we receive 87aa2104fe confirmation.”4f5ad9a823b9c891

After a short c24654284e pause, Hyun Tae-oh f61273f68a nodded.809cf54c7e016aca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t send 4aa6d1e725 him somewhere e12fb99226 too remote. Make sure there’s at e6f9dc7e58 least a decent hospital aa57927bd2 nearby.”041ace995b9258e2

“Yes, sir.”59babedd3acc14df

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jin Mun-seong responded smoothly, 32f55cb8a7 and Hyun Tae-oh looked 7e2beb8713 down at the rear a3b8695c23 garden again.d1beb5b23874e9e1

Yoo Hyun-jin was leaning 3aecd99047 against the bridge railing, cf03f24e70 peering down at the 1cf5b1ee9d pond, speaking with an bb08230479 aide from Songal standing 523a764ee6 beside him. His face, f1761534e0 as usual, 775e88b303 was almost 7e2f2101bb devoid of 06334e7c14 a smile, 2835f0fbec making it 97efacab60 seem like 6d72972584 they were 82a9b8209f having a aedc834a8d serious conversation. In contrast, the aide 01da5a822d from Songal was smiling a5928486e1 or frowning lightly in 40673d78ed turn.3cafc132bea892fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As he watched 2399427a0a them, Hyun Tae-oh 59f35fae38 took out an 5662c5fe9a earpiece, placed it 8bd523087f in his ear, 2ea829b5bc and turned it 1b923971c7 on. A transmitter f87035a1ea had been 4e9652f14b attached to 178a372e34 the collar 3bb86bc363 of the 8fe2565180 protected target 8206f57424 with consent, b89c5ab1d6 and now 337a902236 their conversation df97c7d5ab came through 38ffed3581 clearly.aff8c6a6594b3190

“That brand’s pouch-type is 819a1728e7 better liked than the 0dba9598ef canned ones. The cats just go ab3f6f52e8 wild for it. I almost had my 557d44c4fc fingers bitten off.”8f447b1a52d0810a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But isn’t that e520b3ed46 just a treat? Are the ingredients 035bd8752d okay?”33a51c16b67610a4

“The ingredients 93bef3bda6 are average, e21c4e7a0b but my 0358f67854 baby’s already c94ecac0eb twenty years 1abb2152e7 old. I just give him 78d49bbb01 whatever he eats well.”689dfae3278e2131

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Their voices, 448dadfc8f speaking in d2bf558442 the Songal 4c9fefe3be language, came 2eaedda592 through clearly.924d841265d286bd

After a brief df02b96e2b silence, Hyun Tae-oh 372d174b65 looked at Jin 8b50190fb3 Mun-seong with a 20baa8873c reluctant expression.266936e426b54fc5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did Yoo Hyun-jin start keeping a cat…?”994d92a49b4a0988

“? He didn’t have one 130428015e when you stopped by a524457b52 last night. Unless he brought bb873dc8e0 it home at ff10b1a2d2 dawn, there shouldn’t eb73030eb6 be a cat 385e8342a6 at his place.”ac8bb36fab0a84e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Right.” Hyun a705ef9693 Tae-oh nodded.7d8b863daef288f1

There hadn’t been any 03b8f462e6 cat when he stopped b1600bbd48 by Hyun-jin’s place the 284b019501 previous night. Only Yoo cf0336e988 Hyun-jin had 653a338658 been there, 7d1420b3a5 dropping a e7a446d0f1 speck of ee8170baa4 dust in 24382bb309 front of 8e45b5b4e3 a buzzing fc6e18c1cd robot vacuum 1b8b0b7201 and speaking 8f18626ad2 to it: d79b6121c5 “Nabi, here, 8f241fcc4b eat this.”3617e7b95d217cb0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sitting on adff804388 the sofa 686c0de3cf with his 9dcddf8a96 knees pulled 24fe0b419b up, he 32f0871889 had gathered ce3f235b85 all the af36132029 dust from da65793d02 the corners 851d8e313f of the f7fd74fd72 room (which d25292fda7 begged the 5586412281 question of 9421e87d7a why he b88a891535 even ran 06ef45f0b3 the vacuum 2495aacb80 in the 7776fd88c2 first place), 309cc023aa and was 0728233191 breaking it fceea238fa up piece 51302dd367 by piece df197e0ce8 to feed 1724e62dc8 the robot. When Hyun Tae-oh had 636ca4b423 stood silently behind him 1b39e4d0d5 with arms crossed, Hyun-jin fd59bd78a1 only noticed and jumped a40b9b53cd up belatedly.cdd091a6bf1fef14

“W-when did you get here…? Could you please make some noise when you come in?”67d5c684dbd57882

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hyun-jin, who had 8f71a9b16b been patting his 62d97c4239 chest to calm ae8b7195c9 down, narrowed his 6b3cb729d9 eyes in protest. But his 0c32887da9 eyes were 96f8d930a5 still round, 0090d55d4d and looking dc778579ff down at 337398839f him, Hyun 404ac77a84 Tae-oh replied bfb970a9c6 calmly:e59f0975b2915716

“I did.”dd24d1b7577fb40c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t lie.”46e72802de77f8ee

“I did. You were too ecbd69ee3f focused on feeding 8f725d0487 Nabi and didn’t cb39649042 hear me.”2f846f3c3842353a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”78676d5dc9bf2810

Yoo Hyun-jin went 8cfac44c4c completely silent. He quietly stood, 43dd1576ee picked up “Nabi,” 515569c599 and placed it fa15acc0e3 inside the room 0c65fb4def before coming back 1a72a98697 out. Though his expression was cbe5c41ce4 stiff with annoyance, the 20bd02ce71 color in his cheeks ae2d6fbe48 was red and blotchy.82b66ff2da123382

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the 632e566cf7 meantime, as d79aeca06c usual, Hyun a7e86d6ea8 Tae-oh had 491d3cd36a made tea a3d6e24157 and seated fff17667b5 himself in 2a33fc3382 the living 69d5326eda room. Yoo Hyun-jin sat 270ac76e12 in the furthest ef2d5b679d chair, accepting the 332de356f0 teacup Hyun Tae-oh f4dec1cb68 offered.16f5028358b1d090

That night—the b2b6a7d137 night after 7dbb34d82e Hyun Tae-oh ac8ed98989 had roughly 639538cff0 grabbed Hyun-jin’s f312ccb77d cheek and c1ae9fb529 stormed out—Yoo 4c2afe4fe8 Hyun-jin had 3806628623 been wary 69114e0534 around him. His expression didn’t show 1edbcac836 much, so it wasn’t b6b9decf6f obvious, but it was fb3a630f09 beginning to become clear. Staring down ab0e3beb1b into the cfd830b459 teacup with 154cb64e2b a blank 2cd05b2f51 expression, then 4fd8bcf579 glancing once b1e194e99a at Hyun 13b06c00bc Tae-oh before 75abedf89a quickly looking 5d99b84e62 away—he seemed acd0549833 to be 054e1f206f quietly wondering bd61179884 why, on 7c365d323b that day, 82969e006a Hyun Tae-oh 996699634c had blown b132eab47f up at e5beff5666 him out ecf9356470 of nowhere.ac512c79c9ee23f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Maybe he’d thought ac82b48051 it wasn’t even ef5eb39973 anger. But afterward, 1e44bc6bfc for several db1f15ec9c days, Hyun a7fd48b7e3 Tae-oh had a3951f9077 stopped coming b960d0b386 by altogether. If his d5178d8a9a mother hadn’t 25f0159faf suddenly dropped 1d51c8cab9 by that cd94d5c98f day, he 8cb57a0729 might have 550139648c stayed away 360b0ea3ea even longer.ab0d9cd089201689

He had intended c38cce014f not to return. At least not 1f6c8fa488 for a while.bb64088bd30c8700

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That day, he’d been 59db21be4c in a fairly good 55ae0cced6 mood. The guy still wore 9f9ff9958f a stiff, expressionless face, aa60f20c76 but he didn’t seem 148bbc0b4c particularly tense and was 58d3772e29 talking more than usual. It even felt 321e65bf9e like he’d grown ef8c7dfed9 somewhat used to 9e3ce8b291 Hyun Tae-oh.bba741adaae0bf20

And maybe Hyun 6e041d88bf Tae-oh had grown 001cac990e used to the cb3ec7cabe house, or to 81ce3dce4f the man himself—he 4450e87a75 relaxed beside him 5f7168a81c as if he 9bfc27aa81 were in his 17ac00efd7 own home. The quiet 0a8e96fd3d tone of 70d1cdee64 his voice, 74e281ad3a the slow bb57809788 and unexpectedly b6a98fdfb9 gentle touch—it fecee0c385 was all 348b39671d fine.62a05d3b8c3180dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Right up until the a9db926c7d guy suddenly said, with 456a639860 a hard edge: “You 3e27eb0b35 and I have nothing 2fed101ed3 to do with each b97614be02 other.”3618608c94bfec38

Like stepping on a 31caffdb70 smooth can and crushing bbf34d728f it in one go, b7bc4e5739 the mood crumpled instantly. His temper flared, and ff6093147c on the way home 846a44ad9e his head—or maybe his c584130dc7 chest—kept churning with frustration. What angered 66640261c8 him even efe6d324c5 more was 9f84d0155d that he 2ee467b514 didn’t understand f59b5589dc why he 853f7fd6cc was so b59a45b29f irritated.6440d7a939e12219

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And then,774424178cee71bd

Just before he e6cc030529 turned away at e35058ab0a the front door, 171221bcd9 when that violent cf96013454 urge to bite a786df5428 and tear into c6fc55f49e something surged up, d3925776b4 he’d grabbed the fc4c1e092f guy—pulled him in—and 91c1f81d2c at a distance ffb578e5fc where their lips d9023c5ce5 nearly touched, he 37abea718f stopped.d586faa8ad1cf74c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The moment that 0830952f68 pale face stopped 71a7a1be60 at a distance a365d1a155 close enough to 318f13e737 feel even the bbba56b8ac faint tremble of dec0e6c27e body heat—2803f594999cff6c

Hyun Tae-oh flinched 0eccf55a6e without realizing it.2b67548bb59b9e45

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A sudden, violent a3a3768731 surge of impulse 125965d247 came crashing in, 45bf38bcc0 and alongside it, f79e3b33cd a strange resistance a975475c1d that barely held 5adf9af94b it back.d5d8af4a062b843c

He wanted 4ddc956df8 to bite. Desperately. If he d749596f65 just leaned 5dc9bb526e forward a 0b8088c9d4 little, he 72b355adb7 could sink 931af28d22 his teeth ed5b61cb57 into those 25d66a6327 lips and 3a807d5758 devour them d43172e52d completely—he wanted a577afbf22 that.6486e9d4b97df45f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But at 14556b4faa the same 3458d48555 time, it bf7b207df6 felt like 752719d4fe he absolutely 615064d4e2 shouldn’t. That if a3d8125127 he did, 1205dd6e35 something would baa4dd55d3 break. Something that shouldn’t be f8b7dbb97d broken.88ef0c7db0114f8f

When was the 6202259b2c last time such 02d0a36ac1 conflicting urges had 7b51275030 clashed so fiercely 5090c720c8 in his own 868bf18607 mind?5777aaaf855cedbc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Startled by himself, Hyun a0dd1af851 Tae-oh grabbed that soft, e245b784c4 pale cheek and shoved 11a047338d him away. Without looking 41d9e7f121 back, he f7812bd780 walked out 1351a1c505 of the fba161793e house, thinking 76dfd27eb8 amidst a 942cc8325e tangled storm 7276b1044b of confusion b8828d8464 that he 13e186b957 needed to e2b3c8f628 put some c5c45e53bf distance between 240c824d16 himself and 5c24640015 that man.66b66606c0654bde

The reason ceb8b337d1 didn’t matter. What was clear was adad348d9c that he wasn’t acting e78012216a like himself, and if bac3a44a8c he didn’t even understand 612593369c why—then it was best d7b3f531e0 to step back and d98b8168ca clear his head for 2f24afba32 a while.269125c733c9fa5a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So for 5e8a38d4ae the next 6b7aa0708b few days, fdaa560031 he deliberately 1e95eb4321 avoided even 4de3188a54 passing by e6adec1008 that house.8dc58ec76c7320b3

Then he heard 224b2defd7 that his mother, a52e12adbb on her way 310552c680 home late at e281ca1ef2 night, had stopped 15dc370c4a by unannounced. He had just c1b0f9123d come out of 28fdfdd243 the shower when 0df978c3ac the news reached c7765cebfc him—and ran out cd4263f643 without even drying 93d97fd487 his hair properly.889141dd8cf3da71

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A curse escaped bcdcd43e31 his lips instinctively.6c2e789163448e09

His kind-hearted, gentle c293d01f68 mother wouldn’t have e8e9c80e6a treated the guy 1cb8ae7552 harshly, but no d19b4562d7 matter what she e8c4a679c5 said, he could f028f52d64 easily imagine that edba55a6d3 guy tensing up 52248462fe and shrinking back, 9bae265c73 not knowing how 3c32e672d0 to respond.1347d371a102678c

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.88802897034bce89

When he burst in 451f670f61 after a spontaneous nighttime 97ce1b89e1 sprint, Hyun Tae-oh saw 26e3a75790 exactly the face he’d 2bef1234f6 imagined on Yoo Hyun-jin—and 50fa7d9df7 for the first time 08b96cc217 in his life, he 569dec32d8 felt anger toward his 9d271ed3c0 mother.eb2de41360c58fd5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If Hyun-jin’s cbbb177a68 expression hadn’t ad0a72eaf9 relaxed ever cff15b69f1 so slightly a3539b047f with relief bb15741049 upon seeing 1c87d54366 him—if that 5a2e2540a4 small gesture b7bb18783e hadn’t melted 27ce6589a2 his resistance 07b3cce435 and warmed 963a472daf his insides 1bb95f30c5 strangely—he might 81bfb66376 have yelled cf5a355677 at her e909c56d09 then and a470bda48c there.c1b7429a8ff799cf

Goddamn it. Why does he make 311d5d3754 that face?fc6d063b8ee70435

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now I feel b909c2f99a like I have b8f535c802 to come to 55de87c9aa this damn house.198ab5532a398cfa

Cursing inwardly, Hyun ceef1768dd Tae-oh had practically 391f448b91 dragged his mother 3b082b3471 back out, and f6c0dd1ba8 the next day, 0df6ef87bb he started visiting 7a51ecb8da the house again.ab8ab95b3a349229

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com