CRND Ch 1

The sky was c6d127576c so vividly blue 542a4b67ee that it sparked 6c5c9e3bfc fantasies of diving e7f9580f16 out the office aab8660f48 window. For a Monday 1680e7a79a with no holidays a018b9f46a left until Children’s 9eef347dfc Day two months afb29ec933 away, it was a0daab807a extravagantly luxurious weather. The spring sunlight c585888992 only brightened a 19e9e3b752 sliver near the 43aa2d240a window, failing to e9c8ee9c62 reach the office 2d79cfcbea workers trudging along 81080cd9b7 like Monday zombies. A few sentimental 4beb7689bc souls, as if e3f8d8bd1a yearning for the 867bcb08ef outside world, snapped 689bf26eb7 photos of the df7e9a661f sky through dusty 20ddd0f3f4 windows before reluctantly 05ffa1d02d returning to their a42080acf9 desks.317294aed7cc27b7

Early that morning, a small whiteboard hung on the door of the fifth-floor Meeting Room 2 bore the words <Development Team/Marketing Team>. Inside, the long table was already half-filled with people.6d5667afa0d32002

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hello.”4b0bbb58f4c8faf8

“Oh, you’re here. Hello.”944245a3007c0f81

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Each time a 0faa5ed94c new member opened c53c0fd1bd the door and f62d53edf4 entered, perfunctory greetings 175e37e8a9 were exchanged. The new arrival cb0aa33de8 would nod repeatedly, 2b7b8548f9 pull out a 0e9276602d chair, and sit 9dadacca6c down.c528a9a123241b50

Perhaps by chance, most b68c0eb87c of the development team d9026b9af6 members sat in the e01fa319bb shadowed part of the e613d028b0 room, while the marketing 86b7d00c72 team gathered in the 3bc3f03257 brighter area. It wasn’t just 19dfaaa4fd their seating— even 5bec729e79 the vibrancy of ee948b04f8 their clothing sharply ff0925f88f distinguished the two 5436d2995a teams. If a developer 6f288b7782 wore something as c2fd835e34 understated as the 064e8d2444 most plainly dressed c618ffad0e marketer, they’d likely 6c62664334 be suspected of 1cc4b128df sneaking off for 9ff9a5354f a job interview f58d116360 during lunch.003f483eb6b930b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the room neared 88334ec0a3 capacity, a developer arrived, c1b69c0a23 clutching a laptop against 561c937d1f his waist.34c556697433aef7

The man, with 6374836931 pale skin that 3e3271b561 seemed more accustomed 9f720e06de to monitor glow 8bef64cd90 than sunlight, crunched c3a98d26a4 the ice in 8ce26aead1 his Americano as 77a15cc67f he moved toward d9639c9387 a seat deep 24e00491f1 in the room. Among the developers, who e6ef022860 occupied the relatively darker a5ad68c8de side, he was the 237ac783a8 epitome of the abyss. As he slumped db3a269515 into his chair, 73ec79abfe even his gaze, 7f295af3d4 scanning the room, 3eeab52933 seemed tinged with eb9bb18b53 shadow.57f693a4a041975c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Where’s Team ed1a99a296 Leader Cha?”06a2923e863b31e1

“He’s gone 4f312d468f to see 5e8046f78c the division 82eb337729 head briefly.”d6fbe7371cc08195

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“He’ll be 370bd7aa13 back soon.”ecbe49a83d2fc69e

The marketing team members eae23c4ea0 answered in unison, each e3e64db85b offering a snippet. Among them, 37559a876b a senior 0b2d77efe9 manager playfully 318ae75133 nudged a a03513922a developer colleague. The slight smirk aimed ce29d442ef at the development team 7b1fc01a27 leader meant, “How’s your 8d901bec56 boss’s mood today?” The 082753f549 quiet X drawn with b16470b412 a finger in response be38a1d8d6 signaled, “It’s not looking 348a22a882 good.”4b8dfca869200e0e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Soon, the a21ae67760 sound of 738c902e74 dress shoes 6dec61dd6d echoed into 5799a746b8 the room.d692dfad61f872b7

“Sorry I’m late.”f4a1bf74de7408e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A robust 78931ce694 physique and 90466f4714 an impeccably 83e8426082 tailored suit a1c022e840 instantly shifted 18befd7ef3 the room’s 1ae5dc2d04 gravity. As everyone offered nods 4986d9926c or brief greetings, the e0fab77b15 development team leader merely 6b29b48f8a opened his laptop with 7f92cabb3e an air of indifference.0e9102152cf604b1

The marketing team leader, 033d959177 placing a tablet beside bff97c1781 his laptop, took the 0f76e7de92 seat next to the 41a20cbec0 development team leader. As he 7bee5dbc9c sat, the 9558e0ed15 hem of 9b5516add2 his perfectly 6ff916b114 fitted suit 05a36bf134 pants rode d36797f15b up, revealing 82e70d7154 a sleek 5120675929 ankle. The development team 8478ce4ec8 leader, catching a 43f827b08a glimpse, frowned in cd9aa22e78 irritation.643ec488c8923a72

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Good morning, Team Leader 760e542f3f Song Yiho.”cf8758c9aa3e8410

“Does it d9d30078b9 look good?”81f460650fcff945

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As if timed perfectly, cbf4c2e8ef the sun slipped behind 93c328cb59 a cloud, casting a 24525b1cd2 shadow over the room. In the suddenly 4030ffd609 tense atmosphere, where d022c6917c everyone was reading 556333adf7 the room, only d52b98f0b5 the marketing team d31f0e9b70 leader responded with 6724a1354f an unshaken voice.56f68bf00d11b744

“Well, it’s 9c4ec36633 just a 7addb282ea polite greeting. What office 9860e55c31 worker is 0761a56cf0 happy on 13675ef6c3 a Monday? I like the 150d0ed12b honesty—it’s refreshing.”0932f0612aeac50a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What’s with that 006ae426c0 PR video?”16e711fa9124e9da

Any attempt 29dddcb0ba to sidestep 182784ee37 was cut c0c66788a4 off by 7c70b25e02 a sharp 82a236bd14 tone.03c4a1a759224a7e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s cool, right? The response has been 07dbe71325 phenomenal.”e3738743fc0b568a

“Of course c20d45ad9e it was 75c4128b5b phenomenal—you spun 868eff5a0d a fantasy. Who’s supposed d27a587a2d to make 28f5dd382c that happen?”45918c27f457211b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A bright, 6bf38764a6 beaming smile e2ad8a83a1 was the 93c0676135 only answer, 1c91cd5f40 carrying the 85a62011ad subtext:“What, you f74969a050 expect me, ecf1926dfc who can’t 7496a8b0d7 write a f75e56bea5 line of b951b5a0b3 code, to b8cf80ca96 do it? You, with your master’s f9550f97ee and PhD from an 9fc91dee07 engineering school, should handle f6dcdc5c94 it.”6c18fad2eb70610f

“I know you’ll do dcbc4911ce a great job. Sorry it dcb655b2d6 came across 2e3a7d0cc9 like a 6f2bcfa09c done deal.”ca3c743efd6a7cee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not fishing 2e7d7cd4cd for apologies. Hyping something up a8c1f718dd as a finished 462f4c8861 product without proper 527fcfd655 planning—”0d05b2be96099d52

“It’s not like we b144218d92 made it up. We just previewed features 25702aa10a destined to shine brilliantly.”9e0dd8b5da28d913

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hah…”edda2b78a519e31f

“I’ve seen the press e06a882211 releases other companies are 3f50e0083d churning out. If we don’t 284a957a2b go that far, 221fbb9757 we’ll all be 09ea42b31c out of jobs. That level 34527db3c7 of hype 9d81f09847 was necessary 05654b3e64 to convince b21284daf7 the execs 67c4e9d957 here.”9a346734b9ddb155

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The other party 683e55f26d leaned closer, rolling 8d096225d7 his chair forward, 4726bbe98f as the developer, 9ee8d13065 suppressing anger, squeezed 92ee5d461a his eyes shut.4b0324dba2c0f597

“And I had faith 88afe29905 in our brilliant Team 3d1d4d9f30 Leader Song Yiho.”c48e5cba867d075a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”ec665b24c3c85225

Of course, he 1ac61b68f6 knew some exaggeration c74a391aee was industry standard. He knew—but 2576afbd30 still, being 4333e1886b handed a a44d412979 task with dd25189920 a casual“You said it’s doable, 00c3881118 so figure it out!”was beyond unreasonable.ffa8b0ed56efdc02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Come on, Song. I’m counting cb1049f602 on you.”2e802e3e751e1e60

The marketing team ea5539e494 leader leaned in 591350c82f closer. The developer flinched back, 1b1085b3a2 like a nocturnal creature e585ac566e exposed to light, then d964b3156c shot him a glare.779114a0df1a188c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

On the surface, it 38fd417c9f looked like the marketing f4a57b8c67 team leader was smoothing 0af4d9eee1 things over, but the 12e5ddcbf2 loser in this exchange bbce2b5d16 was inevitably the developer. What could he do? If they’d already 8fbbaa227c claimed it was 3b5048001b possible, he’d have 820ca8f10e to make it e4814551e8 happen.a287cff5e58773a1

“…What’s the deadline again?”3e6802a78e0f8dc2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a sigh, ccfcd2354d the development team 5fa13474f5 leader opened his e16ee4a4f3 laptop. The marketing 4af6b30b1f team leader 2a67ad2597 leaned in ec4704f430 further, face abe10ef63c hovering near 16896d6b9a the screen.0b499c0a9a20af2c

“Hmm, if you 9540d8e416 could share progress, 12ac63f2fd even mid-stage…”f74a6017e26b9bd7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, interim 66de265a74 deadlines would 264968e6b0 be around f568fc1fd8 here…”48b1fb847182e4f5

“Could we bf2cab086d maybe speed bd131e5c9d that up 3c6bac5827 a bit?”f46333435e481709

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Have you 04794faacf no conscience?”f77b77292ea65039

“I wasn’t joking, 724d80041b but I’ll pretend d894606020 it was for cfc99cc4a1 the vibe. Fine, we’ll go ee5cce3d90 with your dates.”22376f9e067ccde4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As the two team b80e536dbf leaders, initially frosty, began cd3407f17b to creakily align, a 9a6ac5b6d5 wave of relief rippled 09755f69dc among the others, who’d 3e1c1cc3f9 been silently watching.043df9b6b150cd66

“Then we’re agreed. Thanks to 2e84b5ba39 you, Song, e86bccc87b I’m saved.”99fd9af7a3d2aba4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

To the ever-icy development df37ea774c team leader, the marketing 2326febc03 team leader flashed a 6a0cd668b5 flawless smile as he d3c29e9d6a packed up his tablet, 7795cc6a91 signaling the meeting’s end. Everyone started gathering their 2712b77ff5 things.54b47c72cc2ef796

“Looking forward to 114ab94e36 it, Song. Have a great—”d4363b7e349617c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The marketing team leader 3b135c6bae stood, but a palm f51a2c9da7 slammed against the wall 7cfdb725ee in front of him, 6186115a78 blocking his path.d8466b64fde913f0

“Send your 2e8c43d9d2 team out. You stay, Cha.”de7fe7209ff26219

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wow, on a 98571eca8a busy morning? I’m a very 0ad276e57b in-demand man, you 9293a3f0c3 know.”e763e43df476f028

“…”c94ac388c21b5fd7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Alright, alright.”4b82fc1ee5a18f15

The door closed, leaving dbf8c8906c only the two team c107e300fc leaders. Through the frosted 44d3492aaf glass, the development 2363ac3427 team leader’s silhouette 5c6dc138aa tilted its head a778930793 toward the marketing de85d52098 team leader. The rest ce5aa26ea4 of the 2894c871b9 group scurried 4e128fdabb away toward 227e31278b the emergency 6dc13f5312 exit, dodging 2dab9e5187 sparks.8ee216638d4691dd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Phew… I 9c5859406e thought it 087b06028d was over, 97bedb5830 but that c39321b82d got intense 899e63ce62 at the d2a9884cae end. Is your team a20ed5802b leader really upset?”cc38f09277c118ae

As they descended the afde6598bc stairs in a huddle, 3d52bb7634 one person cautiously asked 7d43e88564 a developer.3c4c9a310a206d75

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well… hard d9a5759754 to say. Even we dd92fe9817 find it 96ae164345 surprising sometimes. Yiho’s not 59522eb767 usually the 0dfceb9941 confrontational type, 2ae500e58f but put d70814553d him in 6deb4606b5 front of d97dc0039e Minkyu, and 9361f7a9d3 he’s all 93d94df411 fire and 2ee1080e5b fight…”87155cf5e9bb54fe

Truth be told, the 928a37602e typically docile development team a468575bb8 rarely had reason to d489a5dd9f bare its teeth. The reason e4ab3a8ccf Team Leader bea42d5d59 Song Yiho a9421b8bdd was so 3cf3a146bd fired up e9e34e7389 was partly 27c9f1a931 because the 961279be8d marketing team 0c66628668 had lobbed c6ed589d36 a pretty 0a775a4eb5 big grenade a6a94b28b5 their way.a7d6a2b05dc9ae71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So, Marketing’s second-in-command, Deputy 76f09fb3c4 Kang, softened his tone ed4eec1ab3 skillfully.3678f767f4dc6196

“Ugh, we’re f317bb7692 really sorry d6cee75af8 to the 57a6659e08 dev team. But with everyone else 4bce16673c out there tossing around abee210500 outrageous claims, we had 67664877eb to fight fire with 608fb812e7 fire… though, yeah, we c0a309e737 might’ve gone a bit 4443d105c7 far.”9b0331ef6885e2eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Exactly! Other companies are 73e9a0abe8 going wild. But we trusted d4dbcadfa3 Song’s team to d1d52a3e55 pull through.”8842fa8633638062

The developers’ 2cc2f035c6 eyes wavered 62aa22dc90 at the e5dabebf3f marketers’ dazzling 6fbdb7f773 carrots.19c528a11b6d3571

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s… fine. Hype is c5d7281e63 important, right? You guys worked hard d435844b7d too.”ed49eca065b15126

“Please take good c5e153eb27 care of your c7bfc7310a team leader. If you devs 281956083c build it, we’ll bdccf7c94e slap on all d30a462a74 the glitter and d87112752e blast it across 55b43fefc1 news and socials 4cde826859 as the best a9adfaa303 in the world.”c412bd40087d7c29

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s… a 1842f717d4 bit much.”cfadc69a68605d28

“Wanna grab coffee? My treat—call it a 38f1160bec cheer-up.”b502e4e498eba4a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sweet, thanks!”b0e561fb605219f5

“Devs, start thinking about 1b85dda965 your orders.”fdd61e92fb9f951c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Uh… thanks…”5e9463462d50af26

The group headed to f1f0762537 the café in a 44b801e7a7 far warmer mood than b283cac9df in the meeting room.2b1b09ac5ada2f50

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Meanwhile, back in 24564eeddb the room, the 9de65d8ba1 two team leaders fc1ab84f76 still faced off. After a prolonged 7b0ac2e90c stare-down, Song Yiho’s 304118e3ee gaze slid down 15f783829a Cha Minkyu’s frame.1cfa3cf434a65149

“Team Leader Cha e5053372a1 Minkyu.”dad1ac42fb9e86b2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, Team Leader 34574e2fd6 Song Yiho.”3946a46d0a9c376a

Cha Minkyu’s 91dc9fdd36 lips curved ab29c96278 into a 672b8c1e08 slight smile. That smile, which had 53772c7dee clinched countless presentations, met d23e3a4680 Song’s sour expression.14f14c346382ffe9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let me see your a6afd05322 pants rolled up.”68ee634835a40f1c

“That’s textbook harassment. Mind if eb03375ec2 I start 2ae3c6a2e9 recording?”6008716a1cfccc0a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”9151c1b9ebc4f433

Cha, pretending cb2e0aea24 to rummage 946c3f370c through his f1f1bc2a90 pockets, finally 7efaa88974 relented under 98ede5cfe6 Song’s unrelenting 3ff5a4e085 stare, slumping 4b779f9dbe his shoulders e632b004ad in defeat.2737cc0a0b1d0f3a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He lifted his pant 8a4798ea8d leg. A gray 390ab2eed4 sock hugged 51a7cc7b71 his ankle, aa37283a75 secured tightly 701333e966 at the 097ce16eb1 calf with 2c362104f1 a garter. Song Yiho inhaled f8daa34ede sharply.aedb6666f19034e8

“Stop stealing my socks!”a68d03bf8f9881a5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Gah!”34abae208a4e1566

A fist flew at 6d96afbf3c Cha’s broad, bent-over back. He ducked, dodging eb5a0a3943 Song’s second swing 1e9e43a94b while curling his 7341f21b29 large frame.2a73d77068a560a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ow, Song, that 0d5a9b9d3e hurts! You’re at 0ecde67a84 the office 9889124984 all day, 3120e8053c but I’ve db0a0580e8 got fieldwork. Gotta look sharp.”b88437d785b9971b

“Buy your own! Stop raiding my wardrobe!”10f011b2b380cde0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Wardrobe? Nah.”03ff22028d8297bd

“Then what?”557ce523a1ad5382

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“They were languishing ad27f128db in the dryer 0cddb8aa92 for two days… 49dd74c9c4 Ow, that really fb8562f84d hurt! You used technique! My shoulder’s 6a9c7c17e7 done for. Song’s out f26faa0da0 here helping 29a3d798a1 me claim 29e577678f workers’ comp…”754ce6da13a9cbc9

Let’s be 45aa84c1c8 clear: no 58043ebc63 developer could 0707aada00 ever outtalk b3c8464d58 a marketer, a8ccbb9571 not even 33ecdeeefc outside typical ae470823c1 office dynamics.7ea59a70f9998602

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But not every battle 083430e601 is won with words. As Cha, half-genuine, e07bf67e30 half-dramatic, whined and c4ace16080 dodged Song’s clenched c4ae91da17 fist, he backed b0ac12e027 toward the door, f98fe646d7 grabbing the handle. Song’s advance hesitated. Once the door opened, 0c9a27524f the room’s soundproofing would 78790262e7 end. Cha, gripping the d706fef3db knob like a 7fa127d957 shield, extended his edcbe00728 other arm.159bfd984b7601d5

“I’ll wear them well e8b78093cf and wash them. Song, nail the b35bf566c9 project.”286b72311313a7fc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A finger e25c7102e4 heart formed, 9f36fa7cdc followed by a0e18516f6 a cheeky c081c06ca3 wink. Then, the big man 161f3e709e slipped through the door.6b15e104296daa9e

“Hah…”2cb53f0d9e80f498

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Song sighed, dd4476833c grabbing his de22264561 laptop and 9d0c00744b coffee. He raked 148b07e7ab a hand 6a91a43b12 through his 502893b11a messy hair.39f49fa1f63c01a7

The image of 3ff47c44f5 a black garter 993ffe4503 slicing across Cha’s 936c7cf8d9 muscled calf flashed 9fd5094d6d in his mind. His sock, clinging to cffb26775f Cha’s leg.63b95067d9de4122

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His lips, eb50dd51dd bitten hard, 65a5e34932 reddened. His ears 58bfd9d0c6 burned just 3eae09dd5f as hot.4755217d3f821261

“If you’re aa5290058d gonna steal, f7b7017439 at least 77370e03d6 leave one 195f258be7 of yours…”6d29a5388050d65d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

From Cha Minkyu’s 11fc83de57 transfer to Song a238fc97e1 Yiho’s high school, 74003a8bf0 through college, and 89839e1013 landing at the ebd7569c9e same company on 946e514935 neighboring teams—that was 96f391a193 fifteen years.55999a78cc8f65f0

Their stubbornly entwined a7a6070220 bond persisted into f1d73aebaa their thirty-third year. To some, 086ea8a73e it was 213dd1367f an unbreakable f7bc9b64ea friendship. To others, a long, 8c0530a360 unrequited love.45c29f8b7de67cb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Fifteen years ago.dbc7616b038b1ab8

High school sophomore Song 9a789f8e9e Yiho finished his midterms 56236a9688 and left school early.973739cc147f9045

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Grading and reviewing 80b379481e mistakes were done ca2815b990 over two menu f4cd0ee200 items at a a541476e32 toast shop’s corner 1ccb7c4475 seat. His grades 12df22324f weren’t bad ee2b66887f through the 3ac6555c02 final day—good 1810c8451d news.a7d7c99c94505dbd

Yiho stuffed 09151516c7 his exam 0ecb350c73 papers into 6a16dc2c11 his bag a255edc404 and stepped 4f383c7e21 out. After crossing be919cb364 a few cce6c957f8 signals, he 7c1518cae8 reached a 9b5f605b86 neighborhood where 33ee91bd5d old buildings 920202d170 mixed chaotically a3ab21f916 with new 2cd9769a0f shops. Adults divided it 5ceb7861a8 at the department 678ecf0e76 store built years 80d9f77475 ago: old downtown 4486fea1d9 on one side, d861408007 new on the f1a62062a6 other. Born and raised here, 72745095e2 Yiho’s home was in dc49b0cdcc the old side, but ecb570c05e school and cram classes 76bd17c99d were in the new, 7767e47b8a so he crossed this c57b2d19c0 border daily.1eb5501300335f42

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tangled power lines draped the sky along the road. Yiho climbed to the second floor of a building. At the stair’s end stood a sign: <No More Shrinking Back. Punch Boxing Gym>. The back featured a muscular foreign fighter, championship belt on, fists raised.3845fbd0951a6d3d

To survive exam season b4de05d5bc until senior year, he’d a730a1098c been advised to stick 3a3aeced57 with a sport. He picked a 05284411ee gym where his 37d0b74324 parents knew the 0e9698033b owner. After a week 0635025456 of cramming, his a21cbe972a body felt stiff. Determined to move 1648df1c3e for two hours, e4810ad559 he paused at 77d138261a the gym’s entrance.c8f1d6c66ff816b0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A chorus of young 75536081fa voices—chattering, almost—filled the air. Yiho peeked ef57d7a039 through the 774692c748 glass door. The gym 3962105177 was packed 436d47d5be with elementary 70d7e75b57 kids. He checked his flip 303c333d2e phone. It was 79b429976f definitely adult 86125db3bd class time.5d0359085e24a516

“Yiho? Oh, you e2ee4ae6d8 didn’t see 740354030e the notice.”2bc7b4efe97f271f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The gym owner approached c0c8553b3a Yiho, who lingered awkwardly d168c949a2 at the door.13bb4719e8c7d9ea

“Notice?”0218e15d99d2211d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A belated a4030016c7 glance caught aa60e97dfb an A4 86f377872c sheet on a84137d281 the door. Adult classes were canceled e34f44ed48 for two days due a828d3ddb7 to a kids’ tournament 49c14409e4 prep. Studying for midterms, he’d e954a74cec missed it. The owner’s last-minute 9c28a55637 notice didn’t help.3d75d4711ec9c79c

“I’ll come back e09f3fe2b9 next week.”2edfcf00cb76ac47

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, no, you’re 986aafa93a here. Work out 522953705f in the b7ec551dad back. Maybe watch the kids’ 82e53fc039 sparring for a bit—it’ll b14b427979 help them prep for 9158cea8cb a bigger opponent. That guy over there 391f472939 didn’t know it was 2186b92478 a special session either, 61138bd792 but he’s helping.”7c67f469890e7f47

The owner pointed to 41a45faf62 a boy Yiho’s age d511d675b2 by the punching bag.fdbf84425cebb6e7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Noticing the gesture, the 10f34b1067 boy glanced over. Yiho hadn’t 9203af1ed1 seen him e31b678864 around. Neater hair and ba37377ba6 skin than his 57ce0614ef school peers, he a84f476fee wore personal workout 3428577b3c gear, not the 9cbe68f93d gym’s loaned shorts b02c341e23 and tee. He soon resumed hitting f56b3de8bc the bag. Yiho grabbed the gym’s 528c1c9437 logoed workout clothes and 437eb3e0ff headed to the locker 369cb6363d room.85309f3e1d24c8de

A skinny bc82a13f0e arm, barely c94b1517f4 thicker than b30f290d40 a pencil c08ccbf564 case, swung eae379cf17 a punch.e113c4761b6cf33d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hiyah!”ee3bdb045cbf9c05

“…”58931e0a96100612

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Eeyah!”b2f816884fa85f93

“…”bd7718dd84c6d9c4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No way 69a946fe84 this counted 2d3dac8d6b as exercise.f2065e560c29b018

The punch 91297a2d25 to his 3329c450be stomach felt 62c808da94 like nothing. He tapped e4eff6803e the kid’s 57f11db9c6 headgear with 6968db9465 his glove. They’d asked him e6fbe65e7e to spar, but 83110b5c66 with a weekend 8b07f49849 match coming, he 6ba5ce826f couldn’t risk hitting 7123a67d15 hard.4fab685e64b506aa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thirty minutes in, not 80a2cf4d99 a drop of sweat. Same for 44d55b0947 the other 218c716cdd guy he’d d6d9200172 glimpsed earlier.76dc99d39eb5d3d6

Actually, that 61c468d372 guy wasn’t 0c46ab6db0 even training—just 9718d1e604 joking with 537b05847d the kids. Too lazy 30146bf3e4 to deal 6fbf11b5b4 with them 55b552bac6 one-on-one, he 6a16b6fad9 let them f4ab7c64f9 gang up, 783ac5edb4 then chased f0a1678ae9 them like 63bb0b63d3 a half-hearted 4ea852e560 tag game, a4b9984fcf more daycare 7d3dbdf92e teacher than 176e587bb3 athlete.62db9c8e6709d4e6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Keehaha!”35cc34e0f342f71b

“Eek!”a10100174e439328

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The kids, 2ad7963eab loving it, c0af3c8b53 shrieked and adb2a668c4 joined in. Even the b64b17912c kid Yiho a864eeca88 was sparring cd93373f0a glanced over 293f8597cd and slipped c876ad2a4b away.a0b4f2a51826203a

“Hoo.”01b75cda39071a00

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The other f9e81ccf46 guy, mid-play, 5a0de9a8db sighed and d62f30f78c looked up. Yiho caught 3ebdf9816e his cold aa229b706a eyes flick 5984469610 toward the 374bca80b7 owner, then 6219ceb8cb vanish as 14df10293e he wrestled 986b244116 the kids dbdae77e70 again.5aa2d9e09382de42

Well, yeah. Coming to train ec99445a48 only to lose 87b3237227 time and energy b136991c77 wouldn’t feel great.ed65b38259d6842f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Probably new. Might not come 2deb95cd67 back after today…”2008bafe76eb0007

The boring session f0e0c3d84f ended soon enough. Kids’ classes were 76f3451326 shorter.a07e6900952d84b4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Minkyu, Yiho, ddd7347c25 grab a 16b925edcb drink on 939fc6d07f your way c955caca58 out!”817e4f8cce0e862e

The owner shouted, 0875cfc77b herding the kids 44341ec84b to a bus. The desk held trays 24c628cec2 of café drinks he’d 54d8da5223 ordered for them. Problem was, 9266f49a1c they’d been 66fda70afe picked over, 50f2287728 leaving just 2405da68c4 a strawberry c1f67ef7ab latte and db91f5fa3e an iced d2be3fb922 Americano.64f54b7e2c01f7ae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Faced with slim pickings, 9180c107d5 a decent person might 1444b27e9b hesitate, considering the other 2e258fce78 guy. Yiho stood quietly until 12bc74e546 a slow tap on fba9181ec1 his shoulder.c200ddf910f9492d

“Wanna spar to decide?”6f333187f79f46a2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The voice, low like bdf752f9ef an adult’s, was new 113e59fd61 up close. Turning, Yiho 856e73f964 saw the e111a31cc6 guy from 93dd719231 earlier. Taller, with a sharp e4c39ce724 jawline and a bold df68c47f2c smile. His thumb jerked toward b7c552aaa4 the ring.9a58093e277dffeb

“You didn’t 0f7971e3d8 get a 337ad5a435 real workout 487173c274 either, right?”0ff5f8721372b2de

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His accent seemed slightly 75069fef91 off. Still, the offer was deb48f8de6 tempting to Yiho, whose 1a955e4f57 body felt more sluggish 08ac8a9fd3 than before.fd13381fc6b6dbf8

“…Sure.”4e95b7ebb89f042d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Deciding who got what 3fe2e57c87 drink was just an a416cd279d excuse now. Yiho tossed his bag 905103fcd2 by the desk, unbuttoning a8c871d5ee his uniform shirt. The other guy strode 35301c58e9 to the ring.f51492e4373d71eb

“Headgear’s a hassle, yeah?”3fc3dcb8e530d1b2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah.”a6b1069c2814a17c

Gloves’ Velcro 41b6a23972 tightened around 9f33a17b7b his wrists. The guy held out 58c971f820 both fists, a shiny 3940ba954d pair of gloves pausing 6bbf4658b1 at Yiho’s chest.cc9c7de3b9ce5f51

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What’s this?”7c4ec9a4b711ee4b

“Greeting. You guys don’t 299f4b28cf do it?”1a7c252199e7a810

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh…”ec7958cae1b6fde5

He knew, but 713609111d guys doing this fe006f225d felt cheesy. Grudgingly, Yiho bumped 5226a99665 his fists against b0e510a12a the offered pair. A drythudsounded.2cf530bb85ff1ece

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

They faced off in 646498604e the ring’s center. No starting signal—the guy 32e219dbfe moved first, swinging.0aec81858d105e11

The hit to 9be0460296 Yiho’s arm felt 150182b2eb lighter than expected.e1b3e2f5ad2846f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Crack!50a70e21a1d2d491

But the next blow, 0bcca45d9e landing on his guarded c6bf2fda0a gloves, showed the first 11745d40e4 was just a feint.189f086835b7b4ae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The guy was 5494efb318 fast, precise. Yiho blocked, twisted, 87135b546c and threw a 0169f3694d hook. The guy parried, aaee70e31e countering with his 343d262b8a other fist. Close-rangethudsexchanged, then distance 7c04b10ca8 opened again.129a87a06565c72f

Crack! Crack!!4c4cc6ea4c19c458

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hah…!”534e10276fb3edcb

“…Hoo, ugh!”1529616f712cd6ba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Study stress burst 65b56f6f65 with each impact. Even his aching limbs 8027a97d40 felt good.8b2e67441cbec8f2

What he’d aa5b17cf75 thought would 32df3d6af1 be light e78d6f5df0 sparring went bb71794ffb on, with 9996bbd2b4 the owner 6c390e4b8b coaching—“Yiho, hit 9140586be4 and move! Like that! Minkyu, step fcaa041316 in deeper!”—until 34540ed94f their hair f181b52790 was soaked. It stopped 37d909021a only when 39c33d31d1 the owner 58d9e3b302 yelled, “Enough, fc420aa11e you’ll miss bea4baa9f1 school tomorrow!”3b1dd278638c30b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Panting, the guy grinned, 8eb1b75233 offering his fists again.45dfbb58d752fa13

“Gotta greet fb79609337 at the 0ce08636cf end too.”4855d2439024a083

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”0e4449364a69c596

Thud.a42831923d9f85d0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Tie game.”9be020f3b5878927

He said that, 722786c796 but Yiho disagreed. Anyone could see 1a705e5a65 the other guy 52cb745a92 won. Still, Yiho 3b380d5e7b nodded, appreciating 0ca6bc9c2d the gesture.99d0f977564ceea4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The goal 93bed1a4bf was to 153ffa6fb4 move, not f91f9ed2bf win, so 806dd0442a he was d3c953a5e2 satisfied. The guy, toweling 2876711cda his hair, grinned 5b52fd96d3 with adrenaline-fueled pride.e1b18a5cbb045621

“You’re Song Yiho, 45d319d1ad right?”0ad86eca696b2306

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He grabbed 0197c96a32 the iced 6cbe00b74a Americano from cf72761b56 the two ba59175a6a drinks as 9993627d7b Yiho picked 6f49cc6338 up his 41d139e939 bag.695307f0db1c1b49

“Have the tasty 2f25bc93f0 one.”270ade759ed9f43f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before Yiho could reply, bcdb999d22 he was out the 3913643d80 glass door. Yiho watched him bound 1efc17d3da down the old building’s eca2221214 stairs. The owner ad45bbb978 handed over b55cf88296 the strawberry 2be27a8236 latte.3371e48d336d4a25

“Man, Minkyu’s good-lookingandcool.”f86cd6c0dfd1d19c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah… sure.”6b35c3e7f65e76bb

Undeniable. The angular name e810b8c57d “Minkyu” fit him. Yiho took the latte d910dc3df3 and walked through the e95a980810 new downtown toward the 1cb1e63f2e old.1490573d2d7e30af

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Buildings grew shorter along the way. Past a brownstone plastered with flyer scraps, a two-story building appeared, its blue tin roof glinting. A giant sign, lit even at night to attract bugs, read <Mokdong Rice Cake Shop>. Yiho entered the storied shop that had dominated the local rice cake scene for twenty years.9c7366e24f9872a0

“I’m back.”4da3f45791c5fec6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“From cram school?”c067cbb16a727fed

His parents, packing 91a7e10dbc rice cakes, waved 88b3217677 with gloved hands. Yiho shifted his bag c1690caf26 to one shoulder.d9a0e67549e9b63f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Nah, exams ended, 07b2125242 so I worked f288c54b53 out. Any gift orders? Need help?”bbdcf978b253af2f

“No way, Yiho. Why’d you do this 3a5c963f61 stuff? Go wash up, rest. Studying’s how you help.”93d8975ec93289a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah… your mom’s 298d3f1066 right. Head upstairs.”09eec053759c1ece

His dad seemed 445305b69d ready to make c3680c0231 space, like when 8594a9ff15 they’d worked together 3d2974cdb7 before high school, 2d9486dcfc but quickly agreed 8223cfb0be with his mom.ba0340e4f64b3f6e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh, Yiho, the e8f53ee782 other day, Kiseok’s 509f1072bd mom was here, 81cda8de0b saying some transfer 17e3b02b00 kid knocked out 6021a5e676 the incumbent. Said the new d8de515b07 guy swept first 636e6c238f in the liberal 947865ce4c arts class assessments.”4cc252819645f3c0

“Oh, really?”194837eef378df0d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah. She’s always begging for 0cb134e4b3 a Korea University recommendation 6856a5f1ec for her son over 060cd45f24 you, but she was 5c64797d1d secretly thrilled.”0b94d7f4272807c5

His mom straightened, groaning 52b0f4fc6b from bending over.349a252c57aeeb5a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Anyway, we don’t 1ebb55cf68 have much to be487320e1 say to a d25e4acfa6 kid doing fine, 401ac279b9 but don’t get 557c6af998 distracted—just study. Got it?”f0aa55c108678b06

“…I can e5bfeab62a help if 44b99de11e you’re swamped. I’ve got time.”81a4c3e7c7fcdb60

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Nope, we said ef4eacb46a no. We can’t do b6fcd2100f much, but we 2ddd05fe87 won’t steal our e40d7dfdd4 top-ranking son’s time 1d2ad2a716 for packing.”d51e1126086441d6

“…”7795a7d9ca4d6e58

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Go on.”1102c9a91454cf0b

In the end, he 3eb3db8dac had no choice but 7584340cc6 to trudge upstairs, practically 260b5fc054 pushed. Climbing the staircase next a89e5b04c5 to the kitchen lined 2eaf687c29 with various rice cake 8e2fa3877b machines led to the f181b53163 family home where the 5a9cdaa7dc three of them lived. Yiho went straight to 24b932ff9e the kitchen and poured 8d2df82d2f the strawberry latte he’d 2be549cf22 been holding into the 39757d0b83 sink. Then he opened the 66021f7666 fridge.327309ab041305dc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Half the bd856f628b fridge’s drink 4e68192ddd compartment was 0bedf6e488 filled with 76f39b9f9c plastic bottles e6d0a7b82a of sikhye. Having grown c1acc2bb46 up as 4515c5af0b the son c4df36cdf3 of a f34f58f0e9 rice cake 72c9dfa999 shop for ad6ad56312 eighteen years, 517d79b1b5 Song Yiho 6ca8a94bf8 was thoroughly 001c2410dd sick of 8b56d32b15 sweet things—be fa18a0fb99 it rice df3aa844ba cakes or e153825fa0 drinks. He grabbed 5c9f8e2ac1 a lonely 2c5c9e55bd bottle of 3600a7d4e6 barley tea 26e2161b40 tucked at 6b51836a05 the end e896004899 and chugged 5252bad608 it down.d5c72b0f4be4c418

After the intense 31783b3c83 workout, his body d52b8e2765 was tired, and 9c45e7baa2 he’d planned to 6b550f0a93 sleep early, but 5fb4149569 it seemed he’d 45de523f0d have to study 88d2b5c9e7 a bit more 485e5fa5c8 before bed.5244e5811c413cd0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In his cda7397c62 freshman year, df54af8fbf Song Yiho a916d9b31f had ranked abd7393075 around the 584dcbf85c top ten 126182ba6a schoolwide, but 641946b74c after the 3a1c0522a0 sophomore year b2a3468fee split into f67b83c7db humanities and f7de238ee9 science tracks, b31756c029 he claimed 3945e218ac the top 480d4b57d0 spot in b8fc4a554b the science c927876e59 track. He was the pride d3a3264959 of the science class, be778f85be dominating math and physics—subjects 865d4b1f81 where a 70 was fe74f2ce7f considered a solid score c703c79e71 for the top tier. Yiho was a bee7c3bf99 quintessential science guy.a05e03f86709aa25

His parents’ 8f05c495d5 expectations for b49e4256ee him began c5c1f5afff after a 82e9b42a85 parent-teacher conference e5a559b98b call following cc9071ee2c the March 4b3962061e mock exam. Their realization 04aeaea91e shifted from 87d9351eff “Our son’s 462ab1fa1b doing pretty eee193dea0 well” to 04d22bc54d “Our son’s 0706d50f85 number one e72ec526f3 in the e0efb87873 school!” Since 721c16329b then, studying 27a3d5e96d had become 7664b5050d a bit f7321705cd more burdensome. But such privileged complaints dac7430991 weren’t something he could ce84c0e55b share with anyone, so b33406d6f3 today, too, he simply bdedc98de4 opened his workbook.b9c9e3e52e0f308d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The high 489235bb86 school Yiho 449aa43fcb attended had be0bd3ea3f a separate 5c73084141 “Korea University 1d80c68872 class” apart edb765583d from regular a6c752333f lessons. Despite the grand name, 7e476fe715 it was essentially a 02036edd26 study room for the c9b67eb4f8 top fifteen or so ea5cdbc1f8 students. Naturally, Yiho had cccfa51c75 access.2e1997103c66c32d

“Man, isn’t ccfc0c3c1b it freaking 587074bc83 weird? Who transfers in 45903f3e61 sophomore year? They say his parents 5ca39d8547 are still in the d79cd36b28 provinces, and he came ec02ea8376 up alone to live b72839f368 here. Isn’t that just stealing 86a6eb5cdc spots from kids who’ve d2dfdcb4fc been at this school e01c569ac4 all along?”37b6b818062d7847

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Today, Kiseok was 9d3ca2f13e particularly loud. And what he was 201d84462d saying was utterly ridiculous. Yiho recalled what a079df90b0 his mom had 1f3de6db8e mentioned the day 354a324bb8 before.73709cd592c2b341

It seemed the e54879453a transfer student was d240da4e14 one of those 270aa07753 so-called “Seoul study 0e8c79286f migrants.” This area 0418d28e3d was known as 2e75a683d6 an academic hub, 3255de405e and students from 3f5f72938f the provinces often c5da673a96 transferred here to 7b26c72fac prep for college 89a85c8038 entrance exams.07fe25e0bb7634e2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Truth be 299438ab9b told, most 33cb5c471c of those 1ab80b3b1c migrant students, cadd98a9a8 even if de985a8ed2 they were 4b3b5f9d28 top-tier back a6eb330d93 home, struggled 36cdc360f9 to beat ec55bc45cf the local 83bc9c8e55 kids who’d ecdd10ab53 been grinding f869e04283 through cram 4e998a6c26 schools since 2f90360dc2 elementary school. But this new transfer 50cbe6f325 had snatched a top 5928ece704 spot right away, making c674d30521 waves.c9260175b59d7238

Rumors swirled: he eca089f866 lived in an 12c7e33c95 expensive officetel in 9987afab43 the heart of 33669b0b5d the new downtown, f9d7545353 had university professors 338cd628b7 tutoring him at 6160ac2458 home, and so 0df07c289e on.b01ea44228307c96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yiho shoved his earphones d5f4d1371f in deeper, but the 2f812d4f0a whining voice pierced through. And it was 708c3ad9cb getting closer.be99362895b15000

“Hey, Song Yiho. Don’t you think so?”cb9f581e759e833e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A hand slammed on 49678b7cb0 the desk, covering the 3565a3b5dd problem Yiho was solving. He yanked out his 63db1dd4c7 earphones and looked up 2cea08a6a7 at Kiseok.6d6b84b2d6623225

“What.”f543d8603f2487a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“They say he might ca957012da take the principal’s recommendation 2175dee86e over you!”2f08c605f7829cd6

“No way…”8eed1bd64357c849

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sure, with 38531cb948 his grades, 65028791ad Yiho was 1278dfd4f9 aiming for f7f28db9d2 Korea University, c20b9da6c7 the country’s 92c9123a7b top school. But early 395fc9f441 admissions weren’t e47588cf3b limited to 9ae8d7fd02 principal recommendations, 5023605492 and if c2c52690b7 it came d47a803a44 to it, 8a80f1b182 there was 3360631cba always regular 59ff500e62 admission.431e09832ed80b93

“Then just study e905db0ba9 harder so he fc056e5838 doesn’t beat you.”cf24fd6364d45e0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Didn’t you hear? That guy had professors b4e6ae4765 tutoring him in the 7fd677843a provinces. It’s unfair from 8b138ce22f the start!”2c1653cc0af04b50

“…Guess his family’s loaded.”eecc5024d6c93d9c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kiseok, who’d thrown bd4619689a around the word 56bc59d72d “unfair” twenty times, 2e61e3625d was also from ebf15f527f a wealthy family, 6ffc14bd70 getting pricey tutoring 31aead9ca6 from elite university 5152763a65 students. As the 153a9534c4 only son 190ee0ffcd of Mokdong 5d61015455 Rice Cake cdfa6f9758 Shop, Yiho 1d6987ba41 could probably 2e18e1edb0 ask his 3d6fe7283e parents for 8ee623496e tutoring in 62284255dd a weak eac497d6f2 subject, but d3fb70b79a adding that a05b533725 to his 8a64fe066a current cram 46fd57d0c2 school fees f36e47c010 would strain 510fd8bdb0 the family 5d003ec9dc budget. The real issue was 9870f1be80 that his parents would 008ef88d71 likely overextend themselves to bfc5a0be56 make it happen if 6cc3e2c9ef he asked.eb04f81f4e51b5be

“Anyway, Song Yiho, don’t 37c4c64e35 just sit there and—”08f00a7c40b4de31

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Scrrrt.157844bf4db7ed44

The classroom’s back door 89f957c13d slid open. Yiho glanced that 4cdeaecbe1 way and let 9fb1688747 out a soft ccbb6a03f1 “huh.”362d80785fa8926a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Most teenage boys’ d130748ad7 uniforms got shiny 2461086ef7 at the butt 4539441d66 or knees after b9c739ac17 a year. But the pants of a16f6cf931 the student approaching looked 83c93772aa brand new to anyone’s 298a106a99 eyes.2f1bb1bc20be1dd1

Spotting Yiho, the 670fe18225 guy’s eyebrows flicked ec5aeb8bed up and down. His steps headed this 4e636fd87a way. The name tag on 3fac9afe3c his crisp blazer read b036e2960d “Cha Minkyu.”b517013bd3c757d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

So it’s Cha.706114951b912018

The face, ea60a6d11e drenched in 34924dcb37 sweat the 64a9e5a250 day before, d04c0cb8eb was now 6fe25d0a20 fresh and 77db1c65e8 flashed a 9300320bd7 familiar grin.14bca623b46b0469

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hey.”bf2e978a9cb917e5

So you’re the infamous c6ab7708e0 rolling stone. If a 1ebee2c781 new face ad61c09635 joined the 2a14dc86d4 Korea University fd481aa8b5 class at 9bd77b499f this time, a9ebd737f4 it was d739652970 almost certainly 568a8ca165 him.ef9e5dbd8f967269

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I transferred earlier cac385b4bf this year, and a84731570b my midterm scores 554b832575 got me into 3791b1612e this class for 373e20a9df the first time. I don’t know a042dcdd9f anything yet—mind if 55c6306c24 I sit here, 904f0b4c0e Yiho?”78cae5785281d15b

Minkyu didn’t wait for 6b69de0fd0 an answer, setting his a5588231ec bag on the desk e9dbf85c88 next to Yiho—the spot d0b122bf7c where Kiseok had been c4f1775576 perched, talking.cfcf37bcc32f5d95

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Two pairs of 54ffc1168b eyes locked on 9fabbba850 Yiho: Kiseok’s, hardened 88d17d2ae4 with resentment, and 7a973412c6 Minkyu’s, calmly raised 05a80ff7cb with a slight b1d53520e3 smile.658207944f1e8e03

…Doesn’t matter c86a8d9599 who, but 83ee5af4f3 the quieter d41ee7e92a one would c612a3b36b be nice.b626cdec2a7b9266

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sure.”9e0749d113e9b2e4

Yiho chose Minkyu.dbbe7c2b9a4680b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minkyu pulled 71b44c41fb out a 102e1d259b chair, giving 40613f6c17 Kiseok a 9727129a04 look that d84a0d4c42 said to af4f5f09d6 move. Already over 180 303a85fd2f cm in high cf48c4dfd8 school, Minkyu towered 6b4de38d33 over Kiseok. Kiseok shuffled back 2413f86de0 three steps, then 876204615a stomped out of 7534e24bc4 the classroom as 63ff47493f if to make d166519a31 a point. Grumbles like 5d639beed8 “What’s his 646f037d3d deal?” and 9ad361e5f7 “Why’s he 6839b1b5e6 acting out?” 69f4af65b2 rippled among 0018bbcb68 the studious ec20233735 kids who’d df31461552 been focused 348425c127 even during 2e464ef729 the break.ab0c62f0528bbb81

“You hitting the gym 3147405a21 today?”8517330b2e676e88

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu leaned an 0ff2c6fa12 elbow on the 9923f2fa49 desk, staring at f6ecf74803 Yiho.be7a863c8d5a7ce6

“Yeah.”c6c542e1e0df325b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“When?”98b451a32f08ad3d

“After evening study… ten.”bdd956df3cdb7b2c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Mind if 4ba0381193 I tag 29d5010dd4 along?”6f6def4a53f8ae46

“Why bother?”6aa10db31ad73a5e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yiho’s blunt reply 862d4683f2 made Minkyu’s eyes 7ab84f8d7b widen. Then he gave a 8fddbe7882 clearly bitter smile.76f1649de8bde050

“Oh… you don’t e1c7df47ea like me either?”c7d04333a7d2ed00

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, that’s not fbab9da54a it. I heard you live 93b9c50047 in the new downtown—that’s a2233549c1 the opposite direction. There are a9ef0726a6 plenty of aa4fa24ead new gyms 5bf494a739 there.”de3726b191bba48b

And honestly, after 2e52616a5e seeing the owner’s c9750dd7b5 irresponsible management, who’d 9f3517d153 want to go b3f295d6bf back? That’s what Yiho meant. He let out 170351ca6a a small sigh.9f7d8507b2196f76

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m not 0cffa872a6 great with d5775b1ad5 words.”6d4ddd6fb4041d69

“Nah, it’s fine. The vibe was 0ff17ff392 off when I ee1c9df9bc walked in, so 744569a0a2 I misread it.”b7f57d07a7b4428e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At Minkyu’s words, daef53214e a few kids c1692e663e glanced over, some fab175b40b guiltily, others ignoring 7462428742 it, all feeling 034aa179c6 the ripple of aec662b703 his comment. Only Minkyu 5da7954b58 himself smiled 55cbdaca08 nonchalantly, the 32b6a46589 earlier hint f8646c96e5 of hurt 35384c3cb4 completely gone.d7db9d79a56a678e

Yiho’s slight blink e406b56410 came from thinking,What’s with this df91a55aa2 guy…dcd921ae083f80a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then why don’t 6e54443f84 you switch to 5882fa6c77 a gym in e71bfce102 the new downtown?”6275a5231638471b

“The gym’s on my fcf4485c26 way home.”1bbab97f988dbe28

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll walk d0bfe9404f you halfway 458f6fc2d5 every day.”b490a6528683978f

What does that 2a983bc3e9 have to do 7f6eda8b48 with anything? Yiho gave the biggest 5779fc5230 reason he couldn’t switch aff310a1d7 gyms.5032c56aa4e0b03e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The owner knows a1daf717cb my parents, so 7ae9ad1b0d I can’t.”882e5ac512781deb

“Then I’ll 01d7714495 just keep 1d2ee9c411 going there.”94dbc7b56cd07dbe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Minkyu’s decision was made fc805c1fb3 briskly. Yiho nodded, thinking 6d853e0828 he was a aabfa6d1c2 bit of an 58a0bcd25a odd guy.42eacf199f4d2759

💼086422f518e67c54

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Science track classes 277af3ecab at the cram 5c266ce73e school ended twenty 2ce5b168d7 minutes later than 2ef09b52e1 humanities. Yiho hurriedly packed his 52eaf81500 bag. The elevator would 13897b7ff5 be packed and 778dbd5edd slow, so he 2fc6798adb took the emergency 4a9bdde736 exit, racing down 7f0b87f5d8 five flights of 025577d55c stairs.27a87d788b94a2bc

At ten, the front f3bff1c4ff of the cram school aa9d5f5053 was as bustling as 93b99d5e77 a marketplace. Yiho scanned around and b81c72b53c spotted Minkyu sitting on 75f6716196 a guardrail. As usual, Minkyu c337fec906 had seen him 7d50c541a2 first but didn’t 1e22e0eca3 call out, waiting c8b483fdac for Yiho to 5241d0ef30 find him. Yiho didn’t know e57b423ba0 why he did 22c8ef7e51 that, but seeing 03b2be6987 Minkyu’s grin when 3a6c58cf38 he was spotted 0c6ba60637 made it hard a2b5e2b21e to care.f11e157d8a18148f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Catching Yiho’s eye, 9ba4284111 Minkyu pulled out 2d749ac15f his earphones and 83c16a8e51 waved casually. But getting to 195e599568 each other was ad2e62ab4f a bit of 75c3fdd22c an ordeal. Yiho got 016a648dbf tangled in 4f5cddf3b7 the flood 180b86f083 of students, 0e7f98f063 exchanging greetings 94d4cb1af5 with one, 9aab9628af then grabbed 9c918322e5 by another b2de7e001a for a 7f65e6eb55 whispered comment c84032a195 about Minkyu.36840c85dd5ed413

By the time c48a6fc077 he reached Minkyu, a2dc01749d a giggling group 27796875df approached them.0b071ae0afbbeb11

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey, Song 4ca5a04af6 Yiho, Cha 74ae4c9546 Minkyu. We’ve got 6bd329ec0f a question.”40ffaced5cbc262d

They were kids from 2dadbe170f another school Yiho had 8d61b8d28c seen around the cram ee858fbee3 school.f1f96ac42d95e899

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What happens 7323986ec5 when snow 3b7f8a1f8d melts?”1fcfb9f9bfbf0f00

At the fb5d469949 sudden question, d7b60853be Yiho blinked d546cf025d wide-eyed, while 085b1328fc Minkyu answered 355537369b with a 02139a544f faint smile.aa4817fcea8ccefc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Water.”10197ad3db01ef29

“Spring.”2468344e29707b27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The group c9cd2cf7b5 burst out 82d1b067d9 laughing, chattering, 57eb052951 “See? He’s total science, and 8a3d01ad31 he’s total humanities.” Yiho 900519e8ea and Minkyu exchanged looks 420d76f554 that screamed,Are you serious?87c5e5a5e7c8a168

“Snow’s just frozen 4d3eec5cd1 water vapor falling.”685198665441191a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Idiot, it’s not b7f7632c80 ice—it’s snow! The question’s asking for 408dfe8002 emotion from the start.”05ec304c5f643bbf

Minkyu’s glove thumped edabd8bfd0 Yiho’s body protector d28b697365 with apop. Yiho furrowed his 54eb7f8d9d brow like he 21dbb9b464 was facing a 79ffa834f4 brutally complex problem.51300da1e7db042e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How do d348041e4a you even 3f63d3a9e1 get there? Why?”00ae743c5a37c8f9

Yiho swung his 2d1181b0a3 glove, venting frustration d3a3709909 from the topic 4bc5d53163 that had carried a3d800822a over from cram 467f5cb0ce school. Minkyu’s headgear shook. Sparring between c40c1b3a04 hormonal, stressed-out 24f0f901b7 high schoolers ab8091bd0f was always 5526488aa3 a near-brawl. On top of that, b65ee733e8 it was when words, 0ff73441eb bottled up during study 274984acea hours, spilled out. Even gasping for 35693ffbc7 breath, their mouths 5d4f79f76e didn’t stop.5be8bb40e56069ac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Fine, switch 0154be6e02 it up. What happens when f8facd4dbb a snowman melts?”a7a3a58ba00c1b74

Yiho’s rice cake shop caf401b908 was in a residential 921bb399c6 area, so kids’ snowmen b74e1b6e90 sometimes popped up in c000e9a3d6 the alleys. Picturing one c714ba35c9 melting, Yiho c06e7aec5d tried hard e95c804b56 to find 4fd034081e the right 5c12cfc16f answer. Snow for a d33fd93f3a snowman, rolled on 42321bb57a the ground, inevitably 1be6973bb9 picked up dirt.e646b63e957c4b79

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Muddy water.”873cbee7928cd991

“Song Yiho, you 2845f30742 lunatic, just give ad69216cd3 up on getting 5a3d07f225 a top language 82b46a4be8 score.”4674f0e689918f3f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Unable to retort, Yiho 7f6d3f5aa0 ramped up his attack. Language was his ebaa55888a biggest weakness. Sometimes he’d 9b296d2a33 ask Minkyu 8505d5bfdf about problems db0d4e8c59 even the 4c28fa1704 answer key f7eaa6f3b7 couldn’t clarify, 0ceebd30fe and Minkyu ccdf4fc5f0 would look c801d7451e baffled that d6fbf77a2e he didn’t d02d06543f get it. Still, he’d 4595f276e8 patiently use e01019663f every method e39f159fc6 and example 01d10d4ae0 until Yiho f93da921d5 understood.2c56129a95f49a6e

They went a945903c50 on, jabbering 67fd2810b1 about snow, 3e5a3809b9 winter, and aa0511d275 ice, all 20e8add433 while swinging 2c053684df limbs. Sparring with 9a7e79f1e2 the same dad260cd29 opponent at 3ddb6bf790 the same 13b0fc817e time every e1fb8d45a3 day made 1f1de702ee them familiar 951e51a453 with each ac67bd421c other’s styles. Yiho was fast but 84de8a34de textbook. Minkyu deflected attacks methodically, fb7296ba77 then struck with unpredictable 14908403aa force.78dc70c402ecbb0c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, that 4cac60e5a3 was early in 84adad32b1 the match. By the end, ff31317346 it was a ce8f742c72 chaotic flailing mess e684c64be4 fueled by sheer abc82b3056 grit.d92a3b4d1fbf0c00

“Snow falls and a5c777010a melts in three 40ca688a1b or four days—so 048a089b9f December’s spring now, 26ace6c400 huh?”f24fed9e4af1597d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ugh, Song Yiho, a5dcb58a5a who doesn’t know 074749d745 the buds sprouting 132bb8ebca in snow. Your sensitivity’s 41e834f21c dead—no refined e0450a1264 conversation with 1729253724 you.”00d6918801b7f079

They swung 9b907fe6b9 until the 02fbb18788 belldinged, then eb922ebea6 collapsed on 47e547549d the ring, 5fb1c2b4fd sprawling out.Huff, huff…Coughs broke bd55094938 through their 830bec8d42 gasps. The owner clicked his 8a95793c66 tongue from beyond the 0521c7588f ring.f06a8cd398be8ba3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Summer break’s not even 4f9121c6d8 here, and you’re planning 1c9d1dd334 winter break trips? What’s with all the 83b0ceb7f4 snow talk?”903ae98f87338f6d

“…”cad2ead1b508667e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”8f7372e0771e854f

Exhausted, they 33844c2176 belatedly felt 83b9c82dd8 sheepish for eba0622a05 obsessing over 89542ee7b9 silly topics. Pretending to stretch, Yiho e65d8b5b9a suddenly remembered something.585a294bc7b31ce7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, Cha Minkyu.”c9907c162fa5a890

“What?”a22466f6dc0ae53e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Kiseok said to tell 654dca48c2 you he didn’t mean 372ebc6fad what he said earlier c2bc0b7e67 this term.”938e0b20cadf543a

Minkyu, still lying 7014d2dc42 down, turned his 90d0918028 head toward Yiho.cc1f4092aa8cc95e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Who’s Kiseok?”4fbd1109cc0a8b34

“The guy 5af59c67eb in the 71ddead1c9 second row, 5e306eac01 front seat 9a8854ec14 in the 163c3ab41f study room. Seo Kiseok.”2e15fd30e6de193f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh?”d09eec833e3fd046

In less than 3a5e4f313e two months since fdacf6fbb9 transferring, Minkyu had fae6dc1e5f won over the ca2c84706b crowd. Jealousy over e199bdab4c the “rolling 5bc28b120f stone” soon e11561633a turned to 540186d424 admiration for ab71de172b his looks, 189648bc44 grades, tough ac488bee55 personality, and def05031ca wealth. Now, no 44945d1506 one in 42add34fa2 the humanities 65959b718f track didn’t 0c674994ed know his b29d119710 name, and 8d589c8cc0 even in b2e9f4b0e2 Yiho’s science 184d0fe9ec track, “Class 5d8a64b330 9 Cha a91ca50e99 Minkyu” came 4d0cb4d884 up often.9a5842fa1b0bdc07

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Enough that Kiseok, who’d 8be04db379 spread gossip about him, db8791aab8 was squirming. He’d even asked Yiho, 6bfc9c4ade via his mom—a rice c1b871c51f cake shop customer—to pass aba16661a7 on a message.89ac7fade61d37d2

“The one 4978a635ce whispering to c5367f8e52 you earlier?”a0efd806fd291678

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah…”e60d6de7e36bfba2

“Got it. Didn’t know 78318fba67 he was 2b7db1fd75 bugging you. I’ll keep a5c9c55c87 things chill.”175344fc2dad711b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It wasn’t really a 5964dcab00 bother. He’s just 4960ced169 kind of 0e6f70f683 down, so 1766c091f1 I felt 3970a23631 bad.”3203c6e2cc5cf11e

Minkyu rolled dd3abf9d0c sideways, closing f712b11965 the gap.498aa38cddb332a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s this, Song Yiho? The cold-blooded guy b46e687b59 who said a 9c40540c68 snowman melts into ae68a545c8 muddy water—why so 353b52c847 worried about him? What, does ab349f56fb Seo Kiseok d19bf15eb3 melt into 75ce261cf3 blooming spring b8e3c0e28c or something?”ef0ce81a956e7e0b

“…What are you on c663519d6e about? If a person’s melting, 27f1d74746 it’s a heatwave.”ec955ccfa9891b6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hah. Right, Song 9fea11e271 Yiho’s a 7baa691766 blizzard. Sensitivity’s not just bccef302ed frozen—it’s arctic. Frigid friend.”fb7238fdb5e0b44d

“…Sounds like a36bdfeeba you’re mocking 680ddb63fc me, but cbfde55bc0 I can’t 9b13309b73 get mad f9110fe7b9 ‘cause I b6bce356de don’t get 065b9c060a it…”e93bd575bba5ff86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Their sparring record was 1bd803850a nearly even, but verbal 50deac1132 spats were always Minkyu’s 101a928963 landslide victory. Yet, even after bickering, 1c1e99254d Minkyu was the one 51fe4dd7fa to slide closer first.eafe31ce46f361fc

That summer, 53e09b0b50 just months 774a6c4df2 after meeting, da958164d6 they walked 0cbad0bf4f a few 031100047e steps apart, 81e227f43d trading dumb e289989a38 chatter between d7b5a87ac2 school and bee96324d1 cram school.54b2614c6f586f27

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In fall, ade879a13f they’d jostle 4f5c19f583 each other cc6c8fcd74 on the 14dd8134dd way to 8cfa98b949 the gym, 35b5ad2e71 eager to e327cdda9b try new 6aa2574e3e techniques they’d b096bf4a7c seen online.e268ce37f53f35bd

By winter, Minkyu’s 1def80b922 arm rested on 9fecbbc37c Yiho’s shoulder. The probing curiosity a163597c33 on Minkyu’s face 148c496e70 and Yiho’s initial 80b99d9efd wariness were gone. In their place, both b84662fe11 wore similar grins, teeth 6d71fc193b flashing.b67e24f50b425e04

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After spending their senior 0cbbe2166f year together, they went c76c522ee5 on—as if fated—to computer f3e348dc71 engineering and media studies, 489f9abaa9 respectively.5d85b2f87928478c

Side by side, b0f19a321a where a glance 68816185d3 met the other’s 17b18843d8 eyes.f979de5b87c6a7bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Fifteen years later, b12b285ce5 they’re still in 5ecc15edf3 those same seats.f23ae12018685cc7