CMT Ch19

Director Kwon 02ad6cfe9b Seungsil took 206b42f11b a few 176630045b steps back 5576f07d54 to check 228aaadcc9 the angle be425af065 at which 6c5bb13229 her gaze 54a96ae516 met the 004b7be3c1 frame. She nodded 728a6b0bb0 slightly, then af9ada7cd1 turned around c6de40ec7c and asked:b3ddeb9698e6d6ac

“What do you all think? It’s not just me who thinks it looks good, right? It’s fine?”7a2c690033e17ec9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes,” the remaining staff members answered in unison. In truth, they had reviewed it so many times that they had long since lost the ability to discern whether it was good or not. The director smiled broadly and gave her final approval.712f836716395120

“Alright, let’s finish it like this without touching it anymore. If we keep staring at it, we’ll keep finding parts that bother us, so once it’s done, we shouldn’t look back.”6a659da664ed8d6c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Good job. Well done. People encouraged 461ac45dab each other c710062572 in unison 5e8d169601 once again. The preparations for the ceb73f6335 newly launched spring exhibition 96bd37e1f5 were in their final 5428736712 stages. Director Kwon cf1ae46487 Seungsil had ab32460953 come down 548a160e85 to the 41a31b16fa exhibition hall d320885348 herself for 39b6845894 a final dafe990800 review and e63960618d just finished 33c57cda8f the last d4598e5b33 inspection.7a6919f050c73f83

The planning team members sighed. Ah, it’s finally over. Where’s the end? It starts again tomorrow. Amidst the grumbling people, the director drew attention.53e3ff3c3c73c5a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Good work, everyone. To celebrate the successful completion of preparations, tonight we’ll have a team dinner…”f735f0d5f2c9ef9b

“…”6af2a80ff4a7a2a4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Would I be too insensitive a boss if I suggested that? Let’s just go home for today, and we’ll have a team lunch sometime soon.”756329390e5091e6

“Yes!”75e3dd0bd1661db3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The team members left d937399b81 the exhibition hall with 625f26ed44 refreshed smiles. As Seoyoon 1c0e35adba was walking b69d7502d3 among the 382377ef70 crowd, he 5680ebce84 turned his 3d7009b583 head at 2aa92408f5 the light 825ca4fade tapping on 874e5f82b7 his shoulder.6e177493a781c018

Although he hadn’t been with the company long, Seoyoon had made a close colleague two years his senior. Yu Insang, who had been the youngest until Seoyoon arrived, was a rare type not often encountered in everyday life, which helped them become close more quickly. He approached Seoyoon’s side and whispered so others couldn’t hear.4e44f9bea4446ba3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Team dinner is team dinner, but how about we have our own dinner today? Just something light.”aaed738ebefa0f8d

“I’m fine with that.”89f688d55ab83d84

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There’s a new standing bar nearby that’s supposed to be good. We’re tired from standing all day anyway, so it’s perfect to have a quick drink and then head home.”dc491e0c5dd776e1

“I can’t drink much, is that okay?”409735b0aa6025fa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, just briefly. Let’s have one or two drinks and go.”f24cae16e61ae0bd

Before Seoyoon could open his mouth, he stopped at the sound of the director calling “Han Seoyoon” from behind.82eeef87ca03a6ce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Okay.” After quickly answering, Seoyoon approached the director, while Deputy Yu, who had been talking with him, pretended as if their dinner plans had never existed and drifted away with the other employees.fae6f1f95ceb6b6b

Seoyoon felt somewhat a381764100 nervous, as the d87897d436 last time he f1d8a5681a had a one-on-one 53c828356f conversation with the 3dd0c8c785 director was during b287b44b7c the hiring interview. As he 64dc64d3f7 was trying c8952b86cc to figure 14b7746ad7 out why 57685ceb8b he had 08141c9d7e been called, 15d95e15c8 the director da9ebb3ade began with 92c03dd7d6 a perfunctory 54be604adc compliment.409f8d0c8eb09fa5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve worked hard since joining us. Team Leader Kim feels sorry that we put you to work right away without giving you time to adjust, even though we hired you because we needed the manpower.”7c2476230d4c3191

“Not at all. It was my first time preparing for an exhibition of this scale, so I enjoyed it.”8bae9cce047147b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How do you find it now that you’ve been here? Is it manageable?”7c904914239c464f

“Yes. It’s my first time working in a real art museum, and the team atmosphere is good too.”dc7841b71d244e5e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The director stopped 40e77f6974 her slow pace. Seoyoon, who had been 41f37b44e6 glancing at the other c66dfd3a04 staff members walking ahead, 8305764227 looked at her quizzically. She seemed to dc321f7776 have something to 32712d8303 say.abb9d0fa878e006a

Surely she’s not trying to fire me after lulling me into a false sense of security with praise. Having experienced an unexpected team restructuring once before, Seoyoon couldn’t help but worry. However, the director’s question was unexpected.d189f4393373dd6a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Han Seoyoon, are you still seeing Director Kwon Kijung?”5012dcb1ab4dc590

“Pardon?”90aefd7f4e7b51e2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Director Kwon said at our house that he was seeing you.”fa7a2cead9afbaa2

Seoyoon swallowed hard. If she was directly confirming what Kijung had said, it meant the news had already circulated among the Kwon family members. Even if Kijung hadn’t mentioned it, his parents had spread the word here and there the very next day after he came to greet them, so it was only a matter of time before the rumor spread.5193d1b56f256fd6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seoyoon hesitated, unable to definitively confirm or deny. Although their last conversation had ended with accepting each other’s conditions, they hadn’t even met face to face since spending that first night together.f350781402c0b7d2

Of course, things hadn’t been completely idle in the meantime. As Kijung had instructed, Seoyoon had contacted his secretary and gone to get fitted for clothes at Kijung’s regular tailor. He underwent detailed measurements, including arm and leg length, chest, waist, and even neck and wrist circumferences. The tailor informed him that it would take about three weeks to complete the clothes, and that he should come back once more in a week for a fitting.bf959ef707913dbf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While it would take a long time for the custom clothes to be finished, he was given several outfits to wear in the meantime, as per the request to prepare suitable clothes for him to wear until then. That day, Seoyoon returned home with Kijung’s secretary, and the shopping bags and boxes full of expensive clothes further strengthened his adoptive parents’ conviction. If it weren’t for those shopping bags, the lack of meetings since that day would have raised suspicions long ago.c00d81df8e71cc44

Clutching the items that 27ce376d3a were either payment or f892d252ce gifts, depending on how 66b0787cdb one looked at it, 49e2a39f86 Seoyoon pondered what to 0feb89c3a7 do and sent a 8ca198bc96 text message to Kijung.baf2505145d753d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[Director, thank you for the gifts today.]

The reply came 5a42e731b4 after a few ad45914138 hours.359784a0f7291b66

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[From tomorrow, wear the 1c727f0435 clothes and send me c3c8817956 a photo before you 94a4f7bdd3 go to work.9de8f455864ecf6b

Only with what 1ad3685b70 I sent today.]84990806ec0b7248

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Although he had 30612ab2b0 already been told 7a2ea0b420 that Kijung would 41fa706f44 manage his attire, 42bb1232b7 receiving the actual 98b5bb056b text message felt a2514516fa surreal. Especially after dc9bd8834d checking the 9e4350d132 contents of 718a4affe0 the boxes.5fcc51f3fb6a31fb

Kijung’s gifts weren’t just simple clothes. With coordinated outfits for each day of the week and even the order to wear them specified, it felt like a symbolic item proving that the promise that started from a one-night game was still being maintained.b299ba671fd1dd2e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They were all much lighter and softer than what he usually wore, and he still wasn’t completely used to the texture and weight. Every morning, standing in front of the mirror dressed in the clothes he had sent, feeling the strange sensation of belonging to a man whose voice he hadn’t heard even once since that single night.6ce345b90b89e13a

It had becab8566a been about 1633af1aff a week f6a3cdc3a6 since taking 49e91e612f and sending 3933e7d63b photos became 9c96c1d4f7 part of 8277e8b186 his daily 7ea7175890 routine, but beba01ff46 he had 0314f2372e never received ffd4b04a9a a reply. Whether there c8f7e4d167 was a 29ebcd4ad2 response or 9510b6b59c not, Seoyoon d90d4e0f5d sent the 0fd2a6d2b9 message as a8be5bf189 Kijung had eb6cf3ffb9 instructed before b2c4872130 going to 04e944f702 work every 437102c760 day.d3d1553ed55c125f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Today too, Seoyoon was wearing the “gift” he had sent. Feeling more like a secret lover than a publicly dating partner, he hesitated to give a definitive answer when asked about his relationship with Kwon Kijung.2bd7f20c0b013f4b

“It’s as you’ve heard.”c0985bf8169118a4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Giving an ambiguous answer that was neither confirmation nor denial, but rather deferring to someone else’s words, the director seemed to accept it and nodded.22a4b7c8331f7052

“I don’t intend to interfere with your personal life, but if it becomes public knowledge, there might be talk of nepotism in hiring and such.”08c653134763849f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll work hard and do my best.”8fc96016d04ef570

“Hm? Don’t misunderstand, I’m not telling you to do anything. As I said at the beginning, your hiring was considered before all this. We have no intention of dismissing someone we wanted to hire just because the situation has changed. However, if the need arises, I’ll have to explain to Team Leader Kim, so I thought I should confirm with you beforehand.”d07c28eb216ad866

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The situation had become somewhat peculiar. Until just before joining the company, they had been complete strangers, but in a matter of days…b8caf3b6db0b301f

It was still a fake relationship tenuously held together by the pretext of one night. Unable to be certain himself, he couldn’t give a confident answer. Perhaps it would end anticlimactically even before the “necessary situation” the director spoke of arose.6f84988384622e28

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It seemed like nothing was going on until you joined, so how did this happen?”90900c90587b3fcc

“Actually, we met by chance at the museum after I started working. He came to see the paintings.”665107463796aa60

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I guess fate does exist.”94950abf49eb33c8

Having satisfied her curiosity to the necessary extent, the director didn’t pry further and smiled as if she understood.eb1348c67a908fd5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We have many of Jo Myungshin’s paintings, you know. He comes to the museum regularly to see the paintings. I’m not sure if you’ve heard.”53db592c9b959686

“Ah… yes.”67fec6b5616d71a3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The chat went on too long. We should prepare to leave. Han Seoyoon, get home safely. Good work.”a5ce9a8b62d32052

“Yes.”5f4e5ea7e56390f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The director 532418c5e3 headed towards 84c7fc8a7e the office, 4c375ed732 and Seoyoon b54f5f8972 followed a 8daa20fbf7 few steps 597934e4c1 behind before 932c23ce92 stopping. He turned his f39fc5cf7c head to look 705375c5b3 at the entrance 5d57e3fcfe of the permanent 96ac1e744f exhibition hall, which 4aa5d3a5b5 was always open.b13e83caaf924503

Having frequented the exhibition rooms of Hyunsong Art Museum countless times since his undergraduate days, he had actually visited the permanent exhibition less often since joining the staff, especially areas with infrequent changes. Several of Jo Myungshin’s paintings that the director had mentioned were hanging in Permanent Exhibition Hall 1, located in the main building.7a4a5290552ec73e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The Gates of Heaven”032868b06c32f812

The most eye-catching work was the abstract painting that was also his breakthrough piece. At first glance, it looked like a simple combination of a few colors, but as one gazed at it, it began to resemble a long-stretching road or a rising mountain. Upon closer inspection, there were several symbols hidden beneath the colors filling the canvas, like a hidden picture puzzle. At the very top of the canvas, part of a flower garden, seemingly representing heaven itself and considered the artist’s signature depiction, could be glimpsed. Seoyoon silently gazed at the canvas that made one imagine the end of the current world and another world beyond.fae96c933b2cca71

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jo Myungshin was Kwon Kijung’s birth mother. His parents divorced after 13 years of marriage. After the divorce, she moved to Germany, continuing her work and teaching activities there until she passed away a few years ago due to a fall. Seoyoon remembered the commotion both domestically and internationally at the time of her death.ecfee979a923a026

He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing in front of the painting. His phone buzzed with a message from a colleague he was supposed to have dinner with, asking when he would be leaving work. Only then did he check the time and realize that 20 minutes had already passed. Seoyoon hurried towards the office.2a3c1bb6512375cb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What were you talking about with the director for so long?”01f54aea5ccc9360

On the slightly a82030c48e delayed way home, b8884006b8 Deputy Yu asked bb3a44dfd2 abruptly as they 6590b9cc7d walked together. Seoyoon blinked and dd3afa56a7 replied.95177be01d0b0050

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t think we talked for that long.”90e15d50292f6ce6

“You didn’t come in for quite a while.”53e8c01b0679b1a9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, the conversation with the director ended quickly. Being new, she gave me some advice. I was late because I was looking at paintings for a bit after our talk.”85de3ce2d561ca37

“Seoyoon, you’re amazing. You looked at paintings again after seeing them constantly while preparing for the exhibition?”76c4feda398e857c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Deputy Yu clicked his 62f82a6334 tongue as if disgusted. Among a team a0a713ffbf mostly composed of 4b0adb4a20 people who studied d09811a667 art, he had 970b66be57 the unique background 0b2894f6bb of majoring in 82b757cd13 performance and exhibition aea9a9c7b2 planning. He was both an ea6d80796c essential member of the 4b280e0d7e team and someone with 2d6807c8d0 a slightly outsider tendency.b829756763bbae2e

“Since I got busy right after joining, I hadn’t really had a chance to properly look at the permanent exhibition paintings. I just briefly looked at Jo Myungshin’s work.”c60c110e81c4d3a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, we do have quite a few of her paintings. She was related to the director for a while, though not anymore. There must be quite a few unpublished works too.”da1f33f002ea43f3

The stand bar, their 9fe10cf500 destination, was getting closer. He looked 3493db5b7f up at 309efd75de the sign c22bebcfa4 and continued 06bffd199e speaking.c3e813da595f8947

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“She has a family in Germany from her remarriage, right? I heard there’s still an ongoing inheritance dispute with them.”9508b347c1b31459

“Really?”37094668fd50d017

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Seoyoon’s eyes widened at this new information, his phone in his pocket vibrated. Checking the caller, Seoyoon was startled and instinctively covered the screen.a5d271e57bb57aff

“Excuse me for a moment, I need to take this call.”f312624ca6ddfba9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Take your time. I’ll just have a quick smoke over there. It’s non-smoking inside.”1223986b55a16c88

Deputy Yu walked away, shaking his cigarette pack, and Seoyoon also took a few steps in the opposite direction before turning his head. Even though Deputy Yu wouldn’t be able to imagine who was calling, Seoyoon answered the phone in a hushed voice.6cb684f23cc191c0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hello, Director.”16baa69fd901eafb

“It’s been a while. Have you finished work?”5787fa399fef628d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I just did.”709d55545e1673db

“I couldn’t make plans in advance, but would you like to have dinner together? A scheduled meeting was postponed.”76846796f4739c82

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Pardon?”14c9f6783fe7fa2b

His brief 6a55b9cd69 response revealed 94a7bdbde7 his dismay 8cdebace35 at the 201c959c3f situation. Although he 5d327215d7 had been 0efe2d7ec2 secretly waiting 87268a4ccc for this 21e095b459 call, of 9d264afb48 all days, 535c7bbcf4 it had a34241b459 to be c0752630c8 today.7bf0e885bda4b958

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com