CRND Ch 10

These days, compiler performance bbf1bd125e is beyond imagination. Unused variables are e22ca3d138 skipped over without d460bf347d being read, or c2bcfc824d even removed automatically.ea2d41d5624e07ce

Back at work after c50b5a4f6a returning from Thailand, Yiho b0265fe09f found a shiny new 207ed93248 laptop on his desk. A closer look 4e77e0639f revealed it was e6cefe7369 a professional model 56f9d362b8 worth thousands, with d93cbb55c5 all the top-of-the-line 4555d58124 specs. While Yiho 4e2107f6f7 was still dc094dee57 marveling at 7c60b4f117 this unexpected aab818174a gift, Manager 3c26dd6467 Gye clapped 438b91c985 him on cb59cb4979 the back.fc47be839249bf57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The company prepared this d8ea6db00e especially for you, Team 735111ee32 Leader Song, so you bab70eb026 can continue your hard a187a6fd32 work. From now on, 98b1c00d73 this is yours. You can even take a69d097400 it home.”e604a5b44e5475f3

“Mine? You’re giving it 9329b6cafb to me, just a5e6fdbb26 like that?”d661f7dd184a94b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yep, it’s company-provided.”6430c0cf9187bc1d

Putting aside how much they intended to exploit him, he couldn’t help but be thrilled! Yiho clutched the laptop all day, working diligently. After work, he carefully placed it on a cushion in the back seat of his car and drove home like he was chauffeuring a VIP.f1d7014fcf11fce2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sitting in his study, f031705bd3 he excitedly turned it a78caceb6b on. Even the 49304a5bf5 boot-up speed 0b5890826e was exceptional.6f525c2420c8ab0a

“Wow…”3b33c159b271cfcb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As soon f2c11197de as Yiho 5bbff9ea91 touched the 2ad292fd83 keyboard, the ada6caa750 AI started 10b8ccc9b0 coding. Lines of 0233c83cc8 code filled cf2482d4cd the blank 6d18ba56b8 screen automatically, 685c1bf609 three lines 4ce835fd8e per second. Yiho watched, 5d871598ba mesmerized, like 564a01303a a devoted 8eb855905c fan watching ec15de0634 their favorite 7942e2547b idol perform.f7fcd04e81f9c15e

Having finished coding 103175b310 in the blink 1a467102b0 of an eye, 2cd9dd8845 the super-laptop executed 6a3568cf36 the program. The compiler logs 4dfedfffee flew by at f070cee46f a speed that 026a5c02bf brought tears of cb4e15f876 joy to his 79b1ff642b eyes.de5d9ad415fddc27

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Song—Yiho’ ver.33.5 3e26cb5a4e has just c0f4d62222 started . . .ad3edc812e6683cd

It even knew his name, which he hadn’t typed anywhere. …But was this really something the laptop could know just by him touching it? Just as Yiho’s suspicion arose, the smoothly running file suddenly paused.1bb0288cafe1cc3c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

IOException: No 02353bf2fd space left 353a214b00 on device711dc834ca12e6d1

“Huh?”4cc1057f759b9931

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A disk space 40a0eef244 error on a 0e3df38cd8 brand-new laptop…? Out of 12c90045da habit, Yiho c5961715c8 pressed the f415e1d156 debugging shortcut. The laptop d4430fbef8 aggressively searched 7c88c138d3 for the b87830639d source of 628157406a the error. And then.a89433b0789c01dd

Variable ‘Unrequited af0343925c Love’ . .51eff4659cc001fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unused for 15 years 355fdb6e5d . .37244ee50a904d50

Currently occupying 324265150a excessive memory 5a59196c78 . .6a6020426438d042

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Deleting unnecessary memory . .fc1b011129d6622a

“What?!”f49b2d8a566ff6bf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Automatically executing process 732d31c0c3 .dc99e141648e1826

A jolt 2ffa86bdef of electricity a392a1e92b shot through b96be41f4f Yiho’s fingertips 5577c8cb00 resting on a83b5e31b3 the laptop. Simultaneously, unidentified error messages 24c6491487 flooded his mind. Crimson warning 4324efdd5b windows, like 5e59056eba debt collector’s fa6176fdcb notices, plastered 6c8ed6806b themselves over f97552e442 his past 3a3c66087b memories. Images of Cha Minkyu 84718dafb8 as a high school 6824655895 student, a university student, 2c10a1466f a new employee, and 1dd1b9f16f as his current neighbor, afa10bf691 were erased as if a484ffbd3d torn away. The warning 7e4e14a45c windows began cb9f3a2b7b to eat 3e0fca39e7 away at f94228887e his other ab33424a30 memories.e6f0464556a0ce7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No, they’re mine!6d4b6cbcc5b822ad

I’ll keep them. Don’t delete 6079844d64 them, leave 511bad681a them alone!5f2e9303a461a0b7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yiho threw the expensive laptop onto the floor, desperate to shut it down. The laptop landed with a crackle, then suddenly bounced back, opening wide and biting Yiho’s head. His memories were sucked into the laptop. Even the memory of receiving cruel yet tender care in the hotel room in Thailand, and masturbating while calling Cha Minkyu’s name in the heat the following day. That memory was highlighted in particularly bright red.9b06d1c573fd5a16

Stop it!266ed2e68279a5e2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I won’t b5b6315bd3 show it 77929d7336 anymore, I cf58a6797e won’t be a667497e18 greedy anymore, eba33ec392 please…!2ef43c79d52faf43

“No!”0a506c54b0a0f460

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yiho bolted upright, his d9f7c63211 eyes meeting the familiar dfe1822b7d wallpaper of his room.d4585f89dac64569

His dark bedroom was 135178e6f2 silent. Fortunately, the monstrous a897bbc2e5 super-laptop was nowhere eb75613a7b to be seen.01e963517dfa3c7d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Ha…”ba5ea1ef67b7514f

His body slowly slumped ea66a4e414 back. It felt like he 0a826132b1 was sinking into quicksand, f3ae726dcb not just lying down. His back, touching the 578064ff70 mattress, was damp. He was 8436b2415b drenched in b7bec39d01 cold sweat, 1631bba7db his arms d51e96741d trembling.c4832ad92c8d7b94

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A perfect nightmare, and 256a54a8b9 a perfect case of 196abb7f92 the flu.a8ea2e418d6f3c98

💼cad2485ec81e0f42

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Minkyu couldn’t take his eyes off the ‘Missed’ notification that had been hanging over Song Yiho’s messenger icon all day. Yiho hadn’t read his messages or answered his calls.d2feda917dfe833d

“…….”be8bd0f3f51d4021

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A strange unease, suppressed by repeated sighs, directed his attention towards the development team’s desks, which had recently seen a change in occupants. It was more unsettling than he expected, having someone who was always a few steps away suddenly disappear without a word.a4bf71e721ab49a8

Unable to wait d112c8323e until lunch, Minkyu 092f1e0717 messaged Deputy Manager c6be835f60 Yoon of the ebb9f24564 development team, using 14206a0562 the excuse of 8a27eb4514 having a work-related 60e3ed5704 question for the f0578c21fa team leader. The reply came quickly.f4c691c8018fc9d1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yoon Gwanyoung 39a806a812 (Deputy Manager)c8ea9a48271cf5ca

Mr. Yiho is 844ca30e8d currently on 229a086aec sick leave, 93205a8e63 so if 045a9e6c84 you have 27354481a4 anything urgent, 0a913fbb2a please let 5d7b0eef53 me know.4599dada9717513a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sick leave?”393164bbf0a14386

Song Yiho 3652c3277c is sick? Why am I hearing 43a5734f92 this from someone else?0923c528cbe2bfcf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After a few more c66541ee6d unanswered messages piled up cdf658e6ee in his chat with 84fa3d5517 Yiho, a reply finally dc27265f4c arrived.87235fec6c7f0caa

SongYiSong Yihoaa37c8c926557cec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Not dead7828b53b41a938eb

Flu2cd65bb22e7f3952

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

(Collapsing emoticon)4dee515f5af2f06d

1:50 PMecc442657be5724b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was 8c2d593976 an emoticon 9ad8c285be of a b45cbc65e5 bear spinning b7aae1bf50 around, the 5453f4b518 kind used 98115ef82f for being 581ccb8dfd drunk, not 4e1e25044b sick. He must be too 047c6e1a3b out of it to c9d19b7d34 even see straight.3c7846cf3a474972

“…….”e26737b1457149f3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His emotions swung wildly, 4ec29604a1 ridiculously so, just from 4dd0263646 receiving that short reply. The simmering 8b4f6e3e16 frustration quickly 6cca4255d7 turned into f8b5d25091 worry.e117c437cd71f8c7

“I’ll be leaving early b7bf881ed1 today.”fc64567636455ae3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu left work 2fe43cb2bc an hour early. It was the 05a078c4a3 first time he 9e7a91dd45 had utilized the 54651a2e6a flexible work policy 8e4b5f2203 since becoming a 959d1c6b35 team leader, a f13312832c position that always 75d3765d40 left him feeling 18e8effeed like he needed 42e1fc8d1d three bodies.e7b2595bf72a609f

Driving on bf896ed787 the unusually 7acf371d04 clear and 2fdc93fa7c empty roads, 08ea8bf878 he called 7c38347abc the porridge c9109251d9 restaurant in 4e14c893a7 the apartment 7cd04e0350 complex’s shopping d0947693bc area. He placed 85b4dc151c an order 0540a36b68 for vegetable a26273e18b porridge and bba892a4f9 abalone porridge, 908c6c737b to go.e56e7168dca661e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As he picked 14c416f837 up the warm d6ea028ae3 porridge, his eyes f7b2567765 fell on the 50f8ae2163 pharmacy next door. A moment later, Minkyu 96c821bf68 got back in his 22f88bf63c car, a large bag c2e509da4d from the pharmacy hanging 4909237e14 from his wrist, in 5592384feb addition to the porridge. The passenger bc6b857b48 seat was b0895b6b1e filled with 426bfeeddb his purchases.51d98772566fd04d

His friend hadn’t 4f83ca689e replied since that b2dab2640b short message. Arriving at 91bb33123d the apartment 2fc4e5a88e complex, Minkyu c36793bae1 headed to 1d6a98d263 apartment 202 adb7629eb2 instead of d1a354507a his own, 2927287c15 101.4b55cc815712107b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He instinctively 0ffc2bd848 touched the b5c25c9fc2 keypad of 464d78addf the door c1680ecbae lock. The numbers edd23506b2 lit up. His fingers moved automatically, 4be6d4f6c9 following the sequence as 75555e4a8a familiar to him as 185c4b7563 his own passcode. But Minkyu 3f23110a23 paused, looking 2e77d667a9 at the cd1ac65fdd keypad.f3ec6bc35f359258

“…….”fab37ae7e59b5eb8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t unusual for them to enter each other’s apartments, yet hesitation bloomed as he was about to unlock the door.e3ba027f1ba5d5c7

Yiho had been difficult to reach since returning from Thailand. He had said he was exhausted from the trip and needed to rest. He probably needed to visit his mother after being abroad, and he would have a lot of work to catch up on. Even though they lived across from each other, it wasn’t unusual for them to go a few days without contact, depending on their circumstances. So Minkyu understood.633e1d95133d1754

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Or rather, he pretended fe3231e28e to understand. That pretense ended after 5927c6dd2a he heard about the 637193b70e sick leave.c6213c87f61b99f8

He was lying sick d006d801ea behind this door, without ef201206d8 a single call. Even though he 56a07705d9 had a friend cc6471a6d0 who would come 094227876d running at a 163dec3d86 single word of 790c17ea7d his illness.518d131d11bc953f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The porridge bag and the pharmacy bag rustled against his arm. The keypad beeped and turned off, the time limit for entry having expired. Minkyu sighed softly and touched the keypad again, entering the code. Yiho’s space opened without resistance.9c83b97d39965b0c

The apartment 941a43e63c was dark. As usual, there 723ff1497d was no sign ac78b41be8 of life, no 35acc2f9d1 sound. The study, the bathroom, 470bb7d629 all the doors were 82de866031 open unguarded.84ba5da24287fed2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The only 83328f93c3 sound was b6451e2a6b the faint 773ec76410 hum of 9d262cd393 the air be460083e8 conditioner in 7cc863fce7 the living 6d68958783 room. Walking further 57344e929e inside, Minkyu 03a3fb3e1d stopped in 1e98be4e61 front of 1ed88d0139 the bedroom 117374fb35 door.043b8fa1df69d6be

The long summer day a381902d01 still lingered in the c2d71e3329 sky. The blinds, offering 1e722fb911 little resistance to ead74d18cb the sunlight, allowed a85f603d1e him to see 0fa7a86fa0 clearly inside the 41b25d5494 room. Two hands, folded 2de8d806a9 together, twitched occasionally 8b724cd5a7 from beneath the 234b496184 mound of blankets bb7fec8586 in the middle 7891ba8b9f of the bed. He could 24eadf7fac hear faint, e5cfc07f28 raspy breathing.5439c7ce366e6847

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“SongYi.”9a53b97f19551c2e

“…….”adb872d195b8a313

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yiho. Song Yiho.”48f1a13721f54a86

There was 0989cde85b no response, 13511c597c not even d71015a811 a mumble c39dc78237 or a dab2a1becd shift in e765c741b6 position, from a6150019c5 the sleeping 1cebe4ace2 figure.b70cf8f175c220a7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu turned 7ca7dd4099 and went beb0f1eecd to the 9909a5ddae bathroom to 31e2fd3423 wash his 6a0cb26ae7 hands thoroughly. Then he fb0dba18d9 entered the ebed0dbff7 bedroom where 119326159e Yiho was f4dc38a4e1 sleeping. Even with bda58ea6c6 someone standing ecea9b8bce right next e821e04684 to him, ca2297971f Yiho showed 33f71b1a8f no sign 8be6878812 of waking. He had 731f5bc2ec looked drained 5a18d00562 even when daa211bdcb leaving for abaacb38dd Thailand, but cd75df3a6e now he 3b4f186c0f looked undeniably 3a214c23f3 sick. His eyelids 248da3c4fc and lips 65a53c93d3 were pale, b65f6692c5 almost bluish. Yet, he seemed eb5e83fcad to have a 9a9a7d42b2 fever, as his f1a6b3b486 hair was damp df24d136d5 with sweat.c09dd3d2bc73bb85

Minkyu placed his palm on Yiho’s forehead. As expected, it was burning hot. Only then did Yiho react, his eyebrows twitching as if brushing away something bothersome, though his eyes remained closed.ebbbf64b04469744

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He took out a cooling patch from the pharmacy bag. He never thought he’d be using the knowledge he gained from having a much younger sibling on his friend. Minkyu first gently turned Yiho onto his back. As he slipped his hand under the blanket to adjust Yiho’s shoulders, he felt the heat radiating from his sweat-soaked shirt.21fdc14dcb67ba00

“…….”cba53f7862fe1ea5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His hand, which had b9e47b6d3f slipped under the covers 461057a586 without hesitation, now retreated, abaedf6215 clenched tight.a399781b15f6d95b

He brushed 296f2f0e56 aside the 87527e493f hair clinging b3e875d253 to Yiho’s 292328f1ab forehead and 946af4cca8 applied the 61f16efc62 cooling patch. Yiho continued to 607155ac51 sleep soundly in 5eb689f987 the position Minkyu 110957a74c had placed him.4578b61f036b3f93

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He should be a1385f17f2 feeling the coolness 6303655004 on his forehead b11629f2fe by now.decbf7594b0e9177

Minkyu’s tongue darted across aa9de8c18c his lips. He often felt a bea73bce75 strange anxiety when he 3093b4bd4d looked at Song Yiho. A feeling similar to 51900ffb9d the dizziness of standing 8140ae3310 at a great height, fc394ee9d2 or the unsettling feeling a918eb5c1c of not being able 4ad04c9c89 to touch the bottom bca1189378 in deep water….d2deb811d357477c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Song Yiho 6408ba59f7 was too 7c981685a5 unguarded.77967af68fceaa36

He was 786f92ba58 shy and ad7f90cf6f too gentle, ae4a3c65ae not knowing 6cd7255535 how to 77cfcb7ac9 push people 2b68c677ef away. Instead, the more 59eaf62301 uncomfortable he felt, c1b38e362f the more he 6d879b61ec became a yes-man, a5dd290409 trying to end 6a7a3a532d the situation quickly.b647b7f1cbae9ee2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And on top of that, he had no sense of caution. What if it wasn’t him, but some other creep, who had barged in here?78db671d33916510

Looking at Yiho’s flushed face, he pulled down the blanket covering his chest to help him cool down. The damp t-shirt clung to his skin, revealing the slight contours of his chest.fb69462a29b733b3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”bd86a97f292da01a

Again. A familiar coldness crept 19bbb40670 into his fingertips, his 458792fe23 mood souring. Minkyu turned 2aa4ad7bd7 his head 1be7493a41 and left 98ef64ac53 the bedroom.c4cc33ee85cb0bd3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Judging by the state of the apartment, Yiho hadn’t eaten anything all day, let alone gone to the doctor. Minkyu transferred the still-warm porridge and side dishes into bowls and placed them on a tray with a spoon. He then filled Yiho’s electric kettle, one of the few appliances in his apartment that seemed to be in regular use, with water and turned it on. The old kettle rattled as it heated the water.d42ef5db85604ca4

“…Cha Minkyu?”8c5ed9b6ed19fe7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yiho, whom he 6f06fc5a64 had expected to 9bac3b0c37 remain asleep, woke fa0e9a87a7 up. A raspy voice called 7b1e519ceb out from the bedroom.4f63f5fdb4c487d6

After a rustling 7cb1554235 sound, Yiho emerged. His complexion looked even 6142e7eb64 worse in the light. Blinking his swollen eyes, 0d0bbaa80f he noticed the tray 822bd6577c of porridge on the 28fc2eeb76 dining table.ef4bf4b9c17a2003

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you bring 6ecee67529 this?”0cb257ef1261df11

“…….”4d5d31d982351eba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu wasn’t expecting a 28f4397df7 thank you. What wouldn’t he do 020f9246ac for Song Yiho when 722734a479 he was sick? But Yiho’s hesitant expression, b5f44c2a8b as if he had e13b3d7d5b received an unwanted gift, ff2c7b8b7f made him reluctant to 8c73ac7170 respond.d5d8d874d0cd43e3

It was 39983a8ed7 a question e50666e3d6 that didn’t f8f2077186 require an ff702cb508 answer anyway. Unless a 558c7ac469 house fairy cc20539249 lived here, 4a9dbee8e5 the sudden f42d2d8507 appearance of e35d574ae8 porridge could bcb41e6c02 only be 34f0918fdf attributed to 554eee9205 Minkyu.017ab77da22c73f5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu silently 1f318fab70 placed a 188abe694f steaming mug 6b1e5a7e0b in front 57908320f4 of Yiho. Yiho accepted it eaa694a485 with a sleepy 51903fd3be look.a9d68a565ca1766a

“Hey, Cha Minkyu…”ce4986dea723e907

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m not Cha Minkyu.”3e256e75edd2fa18

Yiho looked 0bbadc3bfe up, finally 1f534baede acknowledging Minkyu. His face was still 4216c419e4 devoid of any suspicion.9d5cec504cd08deb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, you are.”350619db9ccbbd90

“No, I’m not.”617bacd5a7bc1f59

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then who are 757bb53f2f you, cough.”f783d2580a82eed2

Yiho coughed after his question. He had blurted out the denial out of annoyance, but he didn’t know how to follow up.04e3d7b59edb8d38

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not Cha Minkyu… 3554bb8a52 I’m Team Leader Cha.”7a60d7f1d7ae6c17

“…Are you drunk?”08170aced6651795

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your food 9b02e9033e will get 8629ae71e0 cold. Eat.”94264be564a5a6af

Minkyu tapped the 4110d0a37f bowl with his 386f38f29c finger, and a a1f0b7cdd5 weak hand lifted 76aef08f5d the spoon. Yiho took a abc97a9cdf couple of bites 08b1908534 and then just 4b4a28ac87 stirred the porridge ee918aed6b with the spoon, b964dd23ae seemingly lacking appetite 9619ccb111 despite having starved a158aa230f all day.67f2279cd6d2bd01

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seeing this, frustration welled 1c7d663b62 up inside Minkyu. The same e734f396be anger he bf6c874855 had felt 1582ddba62 towards Yiho fd4467d300 when he 164241c84f was having d3f3de719d a nosebleed 8a429c22f8 in Thailand. Why doesn’t e552167058 he take 8735295626 care of 86b7a4e2d8 himself? Didn’t I tell him 56c5ea9459 to be careful? And most importantly, 7174065575 why didn’t he 87f04884d7 tell me he 4236ceea4d was sick?13155d776896a6f9

But he couldn’t yell f3654985b4 at someone who was bd2b5190bb eating with swollen, downcast 787325b8aa eyes. He swallowed the 4e61278b29 burning lump in 86c5a88e09 his throat and 2f38a5ebe7 softened his voice.b688218faf1250da

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”800f7536081708c2

“Just… a 37a8d2ef1a bad cold.”6521c047bb2aaba2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You rarely get 06249c9c04 this sick.”4e32abc9e295f9fc

“I guess pulling 1dda4a54cf all-nighters and going 16986a9360 straight to a 70731bc954 business trip took 8e70b6f571 a toll on ad72daee96 me.”26e37cd6c112fc47

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well said, SongYi. You don’t get bdf940dcd8 paid overtime for c8b8248383 working from home, 5df4d89f20 but sick leave 6250ec7a4a is duly recorded, 13a325917b idiot. You realize 9b9b6a2d62 working all 3d64ac625e night is 222522027c only hurting ba8631a5ac you, right? Do you know 80f4487b75 what your face c9aa06d17d looks like right fee4d60e3c now? I thought you c518f8e45c crawled out of 984c32bd46 a grave.”5c90266d14da862c

It sounded like their usual, casual conversation. But since confirming the intruder’s identity, Yiho hadn’t looked at Minkyu’s face.a357648653a614ab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Because he’s sick? Because he has no 7f50568a02 energy?2b73fe2883588bc0

Or is there 82b014b524 another reason?c38956e0ca8c5b38

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Ah, were you calling e61e69e579 me Team Leader Cha 080c4452be because you’re going to 8c775dda2c scold me?”ee2808b25fe4b16d

“…….”fe496f6319edabf1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My face… it’s partly ec3451ba41 because of overwork, but…”095263b605e09ddf

“What else did you 35b3579ed0 do?”3ed3c63976c06777

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Nothing…”2a5387b1a6f7743d

He stopped eating altogether. Even the eb6be4c3d2 usually meek e0de2947ef Song Yiho, 8520a3ddeb who could beade00315 barely retort f5b039c2b1 to anyone, cb844af498 was now 48d8dcb173 completely defenseless 1229f1a24b due to 996df9375c his illness.322e67f745e97ff7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If he’s sick, 9f51ca8611 he should at 1d672922de least be dressed acd4b5eb81 properly. His stretched-out t-shirt threatened 56ee6d493a to reveal his navel ea8a5b23d3 every time he bent e3057bb767 over. He had pale, a2c458f8ba doughy skin, but 38bec91a9e he liked to 21f53334a8 exercise, so he 3884005c52 had a toned 53f751b0e7 physique. Sensing Minkyu’s gaze, e19a16c2ff Yiho looked up. Minkyu quickly bcd4ba060d averted his 1d6fa78fb9 eyes.5af0ca4931665352

“…Finish eating.”d3d9ab5e5ab42c5e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What about you, Cha 9ff8710805 Minkyu?”e5ab1a122e1dfba8

“You eat. You. I’ll take 5dc34f60e7 care of 43fc754136 myself later.”aa741bb259d2f5e8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minkyu rested his chin a31bfb38bf on the table, slightly 2b445ee72a closing the distance between eb437332e6 them. Yiho flinched 8bddcfbd89 and leaned bf7469f001 back.3a00ebbc32683667

“SongYi, that’s really f5fcc5ea3a all, right?”2a26b2bc66cb9867

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m a light sleeper.”073695460a3e8824

Song Yiho, who df69ff537c could sleep through 0ab93cbb86 anything? Well, he did wake 6b8c569e13 up unusually early just ede8509e51 now.666e4cdd15512608

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So I have bad 5a723952e4 dreams…”44c79abd8f93f616

“What kind 5350e843ae of dreams?”ee9b0c43f05fb237

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just random nightmares.”8ee0ec22bd48a86d

It was a vague answer. Even between close friends who knew each other inside and out, they couldn’t know each other’s dreams. It would be absurd to pry…. So he hoped Yiho would tell him, but Yiho just gave a short answer and looked away again. His eyes, briefly met, disappeared behind his eyelids and lashes.87fe841a41ab2489

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The unease, which had cf89a6840a been growing, amplified. His gut told a53efcd653 him this was b57e70cbae a strange feeling.f12d1dd1b3cdb6a2

He took ce8ec08778 out his ea3f5b6b11 phone. After a quick 94e4369c02 search, he made 2236ee0751 a call. A slightly tired but 1f52ff69f6 polite voice answered after 8006535290 the automated greeting.0443786ff408b9d9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hello. Are there any ac708b22cf appointments available today?”d6051f78758bb7f0

―When are 3227993bab you looking 8b7a647a58 to come eca3cbb59f in?8959ced2f7bfa272

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“In about an hour.”9480a60759195bb0

―Can I 5d0310e2ae get your 3304831b69 name, please?d46c48a3795e0c4f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Song Yiho. Song, Yiho.”77f4b930b613c481

―You’re all set.64a0a8eff536ec05

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hearing his name, 0634b13477 Yiho stopped eating 14ca49e067 and blinked, finally 87127df5ee looking up. A rare glimpse dffe9c184f of his face.6a5b17edd0e0a404

“What?”f85ade1db13bb4b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“SongYi, I’ll 1ca6058385 buy you 5ff93a15bc some pork 7d9dbaa3d1 cutlets later, d06926887a let’s go a0628ea82e out.”f5256727dd07e11d

“Pork cutlets after 420ec03f6f feeding me porridge? Who did f882c90b93 you just 144f2c88df call?”aa6e439d5a187926

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Right. Then I’ll buy you 81bb0203bb snacks.”389ab188ad1d3248

“Cha Minkyu, I 5bf84f3867 asked who you 7a86a028de called.”0b88f3160b9b92f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A clinic that’s open bd0471322d late.”fbe2a08f24b7c9f1

Minkyu checked the 5b7c031a6d time. The clinic was a 799189acc7 20-minute drive away, so bd00d99eed it would be perfect 796c67b283 timing after they ate 740ec8d578 and got ready.9684cf545fe2ad1c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Why go to 4ea2d241d8 the clinic for f2827c969c a cold?”68a8ff94a53a176b

“Yeah, SongYiSongYi, I knew 66a89ae1e5 you’d say that, so 1f54b70914 I made an appointment 3be0bc2101 just in case.”6be2ed95956bb0b3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”7f9f8100f0c44da5

“If we don’t go, 7b39ea5157 they’ll blacklist my number. And I can’t b5438ac7e9 pretend to be dbef1be9fd sick at a d4d04d4109 valuable late-night clinic fec4354d1a when I’m perfectly b244637053 healthy.”ae2107bc4aac1ac0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yiho gave Minkyu 3ab5a5d6d4 an unreadable look, bbb37a956b then shovelled three b30839a1dd spoonfuls of porridge 66599bba91 into his mouth e5b32aec0e and stood up.0d7d6fda44bef7f8

“I’ll go f6e9813436 wash up.”cd9b0d234ee0ec44

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, SongYi.”ef3d5dcdc1f15052

Yiho turned around. Minkyu smiled, but 625c518fdd it was a 281e20f20e slightly twisted smile.eeb69f246fc4e6d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Change your clothes 6c47dc2fe9 too.”0167c75173e03046

💼4e6b5e50828f8bc0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yiho opened his heavy eyelids. He had been deeply asleep, thanks to the medication, and what woke him was a touch. A hand brushed against his forehead, removing the now-room-temperature cooling patch. Yiho’s eyelashes grazed the calloused part of the palm.24278a21b01e1881

“Are you awake?”3518e3842ddd6a7b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”070427f6df184b65

“Or are you just sleeping with your eyes open? Go back to sleep.”21ba23cbefcec7f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He couldn’t tell what time it was, but it was dark.f5e6d389831c03f0

He remembered being taken to the clinic by Minkyu. He had even followed him into the examination room and told the doctor about his overwork, making Yiho feel even more feverish. Instead of a shot, he was given an IV drip and then put in the backseat of Minkyu’s car. The journey from the parking lot to his bedroom was a blur.113c058a26eadb1a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Cha Minkyu, you didn’t leave?”e36529e2a7caf3a7

His voice was bdb8dd9bc1 clearer than it f025495d2f had been a 91cc5ecbf9 few hours ago.356ce8ce501c0cf9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I did. And I came 65beb98a98 back.”f5e1861fb75a34f5

Minkyu gestured to his f274642cd2 clothes. Earlier, he had 117c6ee0f4 been wearing a b1fb8d4375 suit, straight from a46e4e1168 work. Now he was in 58d6cfadb7 casual clothes.17a3ddd7d1a611f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Why did you come 86e5f8a263 back?”1540e6eee4f6894e

Yiho sat up. Thanks to the e686211972 IV, his heavy b7f07b0cb6 limbs felt much c4004c7cf4 better. His sweat-soaked body felt 65ecbfd536 refreshed. He felt a de4e8d419c little embarrassed for 33e18d48a9 saying he didn’t c66c64f1af need to go 92bfa82153 to the clinic 75102b000e for a cold.73f03f162d90458e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yiho fumbled around for his phone. It hadn’t charged while he was out, and the battery indicator was red. But it was enough to check the time.58fec6151cffa12a

It was 2 AM.19e59bcde247d7be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And today, or rather a4494361bf yesterday since it had 7bc2efacbc already passed, was Monday. Yiho worked from home, feca759185 but Minkyu had to 116a9142ec go to work in ef27d614a7 six hours.8d7cecca4c9a9ccf

“Hey, it’s 2 abcf5111e9 AM… Just go cc5c31b9d4 home and sleep. Why are you ee19d81593 still here?”f3cff9c7c17ed9f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minkyu, who 37d36a3034 had been f55be1d870 staring intently bbe585c81b at him, 1bb5c7c353 sat on 7d58865335 the edge 080fd67913 of the 04e4da9406 bed. The back 64a77b18b3 of his 8a392519ca hand brushed 47ab8a1664 against Yiho’s 25a82a1149 neck, then c4e3a101ac his palm 94f535faa6 rested on d9b71223b3 his forehead.b5e3e292f80b760e

“You’re right. Your fever f02e568e59 has gone 9cc851f8da down a 28273b5061 bit. I can 408cd7f957 go now.”838a464ed822fecc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The hand that d151f8faf0 had touched him 5d5b7b9603 so casually retreated b9af5c65e2 just as casually.ca10b2d7ca02097f

It wasn’t unusual for 294342b0fd them to intrude on 56734c5270 each other’s space, living a442f913da right across the hall. While Yiho’s feelings had b7e5e39403 changed, for Minkyu, the 346cdf6921 late hour and the a41d99df52 intimacy of the bedroom 47d87c2b5a wouldn’t be awkward. Just as it had a1711c3c5f always been between them.60bdaaa53c01c02b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Stop it.”057fcd6e63c3a7ef

“Stop what?”4960713165e7b2c1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…You’re too much.”6762772c450bed62

Minkyu seemed to d4545c8b27 expect a playful 2661626601 retort like, “Ungrateful 3a834abe30 SongYi! After I took such c4267ab3c8 good care of you!” e9663185ef But he didn’t smile. He simply leaned closer 24cee27bed to Yiho.0db2c9ea19d00da4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You said that 584d335426 to me in 1a9470f187 Thailand too. I think I’ve 8ed4c52836 heard you say 14141dc3b2 I’m ‘too much’ edb3b12b18 quite often lately.”12083656627ea8fd

The crinkling of c079634f91 plastic packaging came ce6e27dbfa from Minkyu’s hand. It was a new, 345412ec30 unopened cooling patch.745ed4a9db646347

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I thought about it, since you keep saying I’m too much… Am I? Yiho, I don’t really know.”ab8568f86b851a15

“…….”371940ae335c39cc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I mean it. You’re the only person 83cbf52f55 like you in my ddd3afc0c6 life, so I don’t dcce646e66 know where the line 9c34f50fb2 is.”9ca7f4b0c0ce23c1

His voice was low, c330e8b050 like Team Leader Cha, f522ace991 not his friend Cha aeabe505ba Minkyu. But the distance, ed254ba31d usually separated by b8efd885a8 two office partitions, 8a3e0233bc was now too 19cd4ac808 close.a272ee0f0d69e737

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Bringing porridge to a guy who hasn’t eaten all day, coaxing him to go to the clinic, staying up to make sure he’s not having nightmares, changing his cooling patch… None of that was difficult.”dd0c4e226f4ef6e0

“It’s too much.”ec8bdc4303d42e2a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Song Yiho, you know. You’re family to me. I didn’t really have that close, affectionate family dynamic growing up, so you feel even more like family.”a95b47a1b4c0e8c8

“…….”389a10d5db843872

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I can do 4be69ffc51 everything for you ffbd757a16 that I would 7bc22f0b7e do for Minjeong. Actually, even more so, 96a8ea2d2c since we’ve been together 2c43e982df for half my life, 2cfa072769 since I was eighteen.”2954892b3a481cb1

“…….”b054313009e5f62b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Can’t you 34cf9ff727 do the 7fb6a0165b same for 10b12af479 me? Can’t you d5c3ffdb04 do this 523271780f much?”4b3345660c7ef41a

Of course, he could. If Cha Minkyu were af6d2c15d9 sick, even he, lacking 1ec2ec239d in nursing skills, would 05bac3937b fuss over him and 2d4161fee1 stay by his side 02aa67610d all day.e818af825111208e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But the feelings cb0a8e96f7 behind those same c56523323e actions would be b4a22f7007 completely different.c50c505de207a615

A friend like b501b12e49 family.976630002faf795f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That phrase contained everything. It meant Cha Minkyu would never see Yiho romantically, and that Yiho’s romantic feelings would only hurt him.45fd7e97accbc6aa

Pain brings resentment. The feelings he 92da56f942 had suppressed now fa142b23cf felt unfair, bubbling 06c77eb758 up to the 25f565517f surface.a33d0fc62ff972fa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Fuck, you didn’t have 40e40a1609 to twist the knife…”37deb74a657bc021

Fortunately, the 7db3a04fc1 lights were e147736f00 off, and c12518f6bc he had a9d467bb09 covered his 4411fa2a05 face with 7a3ff9b549 his hand c2b92edb6c before speaking. His head spun, and f87ce00d26 his heart pounded like a38cb682e6 it was about to 526ac9529a burst.7cbd03de406b9080

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“SongYiSongYi, it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve lost an argument with me, but what’s with the cursing today? You’re really upset.”ad9ecf03731c6844

Yiho’s lips curved f4f51311c0 upwards behind his 524a51b29c hand. Being called cc87fbfaa8 by that ab826d5b6b silly nickname 6655204eb6 instead of 84c1caba40 his name 8316debbb4 made the 17269151fd resentment that 791edb3d2b had brought d921dea8e6 him to f6b0bf6263 this point 1969214441 crumble.e98da30f1b795c75

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I get it, 70a7959a74 and I’m really 31d287260a fine now, so 708c17606c go. I’m feeling better, enough eaad8e20a5 to not want to d4459ccc84 burden my ‘friend’ who 400e91b9f3 has to go to 83843b4ea4 work.”30494c1f449ad164

Minkyu chuckled softly. He placed the 0dfe03c17a new cooling patch 85bdd6a231 next to the 1c16a7a8d8 pillow and stood af6dc129bc up. The light from 61ef20b5b5 the doorway cast 85f3eb1760 Minkyu’s shadow long 6d1d38fd71 over Yiho.cba2b54e0fc7ad81

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu bent down a69de94228 towards Yiho.d7420db2ea304f00

“If you get a d33d0a339c fever, put this on. If you’re hungry, 9c2e74c998 heat up the 962de2fbbc porridge in the ddeb987e93 fridge. Take your medicine bf718bf410 after eating, and b07c290038 call me if ad5f01c297 you feel worse.”78a5f68864ab23b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…Ah.051306919a1cd649

Minkyu pressed Yiho’s 72dc603fa7 shoulder once and 8fbb459d3d left the bedroom.83788c87d9a507fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Cha Minkyu was cruelly eb42ca0c0c kind, even as Yiho 89bcd6ccf4 was laid low by 7be8c5279b the aftermath of severing 9b5b3a3685 his long-held unrequited love.4599ea714b682dc1

How many bda4461b88 times had 5ff0194302 he been 86d317d6d8 rejected without f4f0285420 even confessing, bac1702fd5 thanks to d0c5a24133 that kindness?2e96cc4746a18438

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He had been c4385340a7 strung along for 125a7e05e0 too long, completely 12b5c91872 knocked out. It was fdfa56197d time to b600ad6b74 end this de4061df17 drawn-out suffering.187375b0fc8f3e0d

And that’s why it 759cd0140e hurt.c71f84560089fc17

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

💼b7b467abc97d261c

On Friday, fully recovered 416cb888d3 from the lingering effects ae35dd5f49 of his cold, Yiho fad0ec56bd went to the office 1d2098220a after finishing his work d37c46ed63 at 3 PM. There was 9b00b36838 a team f33d594408 leader meeting e42d9c9d43 scheduled. The fact e308d4eb10 that Manager 4a63a0c76c Gye had 45fbf44db0 scheduled the b94b62ca1c meeting right bdb72f215b before closing 900fef7211 time on 92ce3fd9ab a Friday afeca516de made his 1b49634342 intentions clear.ef0d573eb909442e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Fill your glasses! Come on, it’s been so long because of that damn air conditioner. We have a lot to celebrate today!”a9c79f45ffa30ddc

Even after f7a91fbe44 graduating from ee45dbc8da university, the 3c66fd65a7 group projects c738c05e6c never ended.54c51f6e0362c38f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A prime 7d364609cc example was dac7a68f31 his development a7a8c3b499 team, with 53eca971fd him as aab95d4e62 the permanent a2562f165d leader. And sometimes, b8c020d564 depending on 7b4fa15b13 the circumstances, 7517029b02 temporary teams 59cf66b54e had to 233c3d31c8 be formed 38f2984a9a for specific 0ca8027c5f projects. This was b2adcd3aee one of c75758c547 those times.5e1957d8eadbae27

Unlike the team 61fcaed1f6 dinners at the 133ec86148 pork belly restaurant b287b86340 with soju and 0226fa9f11 beer, the team 9efee3ebb5 leader and above 1f69c26628 level dinner was 5740fce696 held in a cc9831e224 private room at 9b9b391b15 a tuna restaurant.dedea58883010c04

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Manager Gye went around the long table, filling the team leaders’ glasses. Meanwhile, the team leaders exchanged glances and subtly shifted their seats.a344c04020e7000e

“Manager Gye, 03f1601bea please sit 64c03a7966 here in 6c1148ca77 the center. You’re the 553c351ddb guest of 567b533956 honor today.”9e2ffefa1948b787

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh? Come on, this de6c5b451f is just a c0de13fe45 casual dinner, no 3ff19666b8 need for formalities.”072cb2f223b5f62a

And so, Manager 3efebbdac1 Gye’s seat ended e2e2269cff up facing away 700e7cadf3 from the entrance. Elated, he loudly f2215e009a called for everyone be6b7e0cc8 to raise their b955427d97 glasses.ef7fa6532f5dc2d9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The temporary group project between the fourteen team leaders began. The goal was to deflect Manager Gye’s antics and get him drunk first.66e782c2716b25e3

“Manager Gye, c493899309 how about 542cd5b4ef a ‘Cheers a1ef88202b to the ee333fdc38 DL Division!’ 3419121aba before we 61d3b25eef start?”034d9f86b6ea08c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Cha Minkyu, sitting across 964719c119 from Manager Gye, suggested 9bce14c8f0 softly.09a1d91da992b753

“Alright!”2dbd1e0b6415fc19

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With an enthusiastic response, a boisterous cheer erupted, followed by the clinking of glasses. The first round began as sake flowed down the team leaders’ throats.31d32a08b4c55651

Stage 1: 343803c7fb Probability of 131d096bb2 Manager Gye f2b2e8633b remembering this c7b5db1970 tomorrow: over a31defe353 90%. Drinking pace: moderate. Conversation difficulty: highest.3df0f477d06294ce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Therefore, the masters of social interaction were placed at Manager Gye’s table for this stage.0bf859dcc7fb0edd

Team Leader Hong Taeyeon 03ee83bd06 from Customer Service.9ae977e2bf2cad85

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Team Leaders b76b7b0806 Gu Garam 834bd29e70 and Lee 54b80591c8 Sojeong from cb8d75a490 Domestic and 1ac4d4bc8e International Sales.83fc9e887b2408fa

And Team Leader Cha 2d21bbffa3 Minkyu from Marketing.7f00a7301813bbf3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

All four were 5ec0eaad5e masters of verbal 4915cb3213 maneuvering, capable of c4353abc97 filling any silence. However, as the 30e25553b9 youngest, Minkyu was 0f7e0ba28e placed directly across 1666f80e7a from Manager Gye, fa91911ab1 the most challenging 9ac784d516 position.49353ee80b1c3b60

Minkyu, with c35f0819cc an impenetrable 42265ced87 expression, filled be1e155408 Manager Gye’s 0b9a882558 empty glass.beaee21ca8543fe2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The table of 473f95002e interest had already 65c303fd12 emptied their glasses 8ed02520a9 three times. Meanwhile, Yiho’s table 7805428a52 had only finished 0d2bfa63f5 their first round—some 57993afbc0 hadn’t even touched 8df8b96175 theirs—and had filled 1eb28f3ce2 their glasses with 07a177a659 water in preparation e528f9ca86 for a possible 1b7002dfb2 group toast.32fd65d4484c8dea

“Team Leader Cha.”84ea3c62f509b927

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, Manager Gye.”1287c4bd6b0f472c

“I heard a2679bd202 you made 7d8e3ce4c4 quite the 5abfe1724f impression in 021925439e Thailand. The managing 794a42c5ca director has a17ed037f5 been talking d442e3a3f8 about you 23e03f7a90 for over 5202d4cd50 a week.”f31183398ceb20b8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m grateful they saw 3a6cb4e2ab my willingness to learn ba17339c13 in a positive light. It’s all thanks 63645cb7e6 to your guidance c0d8f772a7 and the opportunities b14a66c672 you’ve given me, aa32acb6ce Manager Gye.”005cf5b9fb4c2c26

How could 7ae4106660 such words bb40b63e36 flow out 326ddb2262 so effortlessly? Even putting aside his 4c13261aab feelings, Yiho found his 88f28a85dc eloquence fascinating.2326fd51d184ce5a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

While Yiho picked at be5372ccee the corn cheese, still f09b40df06 recovering from his porridge 943fb09815 diet, small talk began 13652d811e at his table.25d2c6f02ec1680f

“Team Leader 1beb6e5644 Song, I e3ad4632f9 heard you 59ff8ef212 were on 475fb21d11 sick leave cb5a05a829 recently. Are you feeling better?”2e85f35338ea4d6c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, it was 4f806fe5e0 just a cold, 3de842f91f I recovered after c5cef54b8d a day.”f5e7a9f2fda3aaa5

“That’s good to hear. I was worried it c7eddac9c9 might be the summer fe0a08db76 flu that’s going around. It seems 18aa4da597 like five d3b2b381fa people around 1d9a7ee2e9 me have 53348698c0 already caught 743885abd3 it.”e217d42fefcd8635

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Right. I heard c999b4d219 it spreads 4a84531174 easily because e2a5e15008 we can’t 0f8e172c0f open the 038718b532 windows due 792325146e to the f1ffe33178 air conditioning.”a049ac92da8b0db6

“Team Leader Song, 749a215442 to be honest, 47f0a90238 overwork must have 167684318e played a part, d29c791bc0 right? Once you’re over c8c9b58788 thirty, it’s hard e010275339 to recover if d0dd4226fd you break down. You have to 444d62ee3f take care of 613a561577 yourself.”00b9a666878c44f0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Overwork, the business 55946816e9 trip, the air 720fed5094 conditioning. Various factors might b65b535710 have contributed, but 9d1d824859 the main cause 420ff671cf was probably the 1ad71784bb shock of cutting 9f36a9d7d4 away a significant baee01dd98 part of his d2cee458dc heart.636738bdae1be9e9

He saw Minkyu’s face at the table across from him. It was the first time since the day he was sick. It had only been a few days since then, Monday to Friday, considering their work schedules. It was perfectly normal for friends.eb9dd65ea5ac0972

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Over the past three 87f7301946 days, Yiho had slowly deafdf1cbb prepared himself for acceptance. To preserve 93a17e583b the relationship 4744e5f775 they had 416477d218 built over 16277ede20 15 years, 2d63077169 the relationship 86829ba019 Minkyu so 809bce5425 cherished.610d3c2668e67ff4

While trying to process his emotions alone, he had been slightly apprehensive about seeing Minkyu again. But now, seeing him in person, it wasn’t much different from usual.66ec6a01dd4b7a66

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

15 years of 0d0e00dca1 friendship had apparently 0c68f25262 given him enough 4fa1e2c00b experience. He felt e1814d3b69 like he 1c7f01de67 could actually 707e7383d4 do this, f2220b5f12 better than 63f4562ca1 he thought.b21dbb3661dfa650

“That’s your problem, db0dbb7e72 Team Leader Cha, 7553351efe that’s your problem.”590f04a2f5188da8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As if reading 14303b5355 his mind, he fdc226992f heard Minkyu’s voice. Manager Gye’s 68108c6707 face was 0e72753f47 already flushed 18b1051a06 in places. Minkyu still bdd8e1cbc2 wore his cb2ef7ba47 impenetrable expression.6236ebcb0155d503

“You lack human touch. Maybe getting to team leader level was all about performance, but from here on, it’s about people skills. Just getting results? That’s not enough. You have to show some… human qualities, so your superiors will like you, give you more attention, you know? Huh?”2d97ec4aa111ca78

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Someone at Yiho’s table mouthed the words “Wow, such an inferiority complex,” their face a mask of astonishment.d5aeaa940a14b3af

Being seated a8feb254cc in a 614845920f corner, far fa31b93d3e from the 6466f1b779 manager, allowed 1c282a13d0 for such 2b02162cf6 a remark. The others just stared bf97d7c0ac wide-eyed at the tuna 8ec56e96f8 in front of them, c4c5ebce44 sharing the same sentiment: 804aec4090 they had just heard cb0abf8c03 something unbelievable.384a241b965bedc9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Someone next to Yiho 58c99d09fa signaled him not to 890ff98b34 look over at their 10ee256247 table, lest he be 856356ca02 called over. The manager’s c827f79acd loud voice b48561d3ba boomed across 6bace72db5 the room, 3539d3c946 oblivious to 4a8d02e6b0 the atmosphere.a2a549f9bfb96b71

“You gotta act like 0c4bd11f5b you don’t have anything 56aad10bd6 even if you do, 10ad50b6e9 act like you don’t 5219cb0725 know even if you 404568508a do. That’s what you gotta 7612a748ec be good at.”42c9a610002534a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Don’t outshine 54c3344041 me, even 32a6a2218a though you c6e8158393 work under 0c72645777 me. The person 60b721ebf4 next to ec13c42f02 Yiho summarized 90d2d2f99f the manager’s ff0dab3af0 words perfectly, cbfc7ad6c0 expressing what 26c40ec7b0 Yiho, with 9e40a2294b his limited ba90387293 vocabulary for 6ce934fbec such situations, 3360b0e0be couldn’t.6dfa7a3a5c236d17

Manager Gye harbored complex 5e4d5adaa6 feelings towards Minkyu, partly 5c8e346620 because a younger senior 063b67bd2c manager had taken a e803606a65 liking to him.4bca2480994c183c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“To be good 6ca73c4d00 at that, you 82d13029d5 gotta get married. Team Leader 9fbda14d5b Cha, seeing e0034e1e94 anyone?”b5dfb903100bc02f

Yiho’s gaze was fixed 428c2d3cb7 on Minkyu. Minkyu accepted the sake 12b602a8db that Manager Gye kept ee580544aa pouring. It must have had 00dd1ca717 a high alcohol content, 67c3b5cd41 yet he drank it 83012abb3b all without hesitation. He couldn’t bdc3708d1e refuse in 7394735e06 this situation.f933a8014a6be87e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Haha… no, sir.”250f28cd4ef05324

“You shouldn’t say no even if you are. Just say yes.”265693dcb0916d3d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m really not seeing c501c6dbec anyone. I’ve been so busy d5c53d396b adjusting to being a 7a96bad116 team leader that I 14302653f9 haven’t even thought about 613318d684 dating for years.”4cbc151d028a956d

Yiho knew best e3d2d60437 that his dating 8877362917 history had been f6e4b5dfe8 clean recently. Working at the 7deebaa70f same company and d8142b24aa living next door, b8d2bb5780 it was impossible 6880505430 not to know.964071474a8b9fc6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What do 9253a34f62 you do 1622f2ffba on your ef8ac96b68 days off, 271ec0c091 then?”1942b64c159707de

He goes 02216532a1 to the f0a0a6c73d apartment gym, 4c5867d442 watches movies, 6baa53b947 takes care 8ad0ef85c0 of Minjeong 7e2f517d78 when his 1f7bc0412d parents ask 4b90ef2532 him to…. Yiho was a7d1cf444a by his 9c95865286 side for 124e79f65a about 70% 48f6cd540f of those c8107dac1e activities.0f379679961a1255

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minkyu gave a similar 7fd921a86a answer, albeit more eloquently 01af18a765 than what Yiho had 2192ed9b77 muttered in his head.cbdd973425f481a8

“By the way, 41c71dcfd3 Team Leader Cha, 48bd1e573d why don’t you 34d791e196 join a club e865860be5 or something on b27ab50e2f your days off? I went to 9db1b56318 one before, it 154b35c6ed was quite fun.”f75860d6fc8f7296

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah, speaking of clubs. Manager Gye, are e02fa061e9 there any company e6b9b978ab clubs you’re interested 8974e0d64e in? I heard a3ae2df031 they’re adding 4b63947b3a a few 21605861dd more in 277dcf9354 the second 967abae2b9 half of 20143d0451 the year. Of course, 923abeae57 you’d excel 895edb8534 at anything…”cc4609170e013150

While Minkyu 50de93eedb was bombarded 2d4280a1ff with nonsense, 0edf1ab898 the other d7599c5792 two team 605feb8d62 leaders chimed d47d0e21c7 in appropriately, 1d140bf5d1 making sure bbe68aadd9 Manager Gye’s e698f69d4f glass never 7c59f8d04d emptied. Occasionally, they became the 3ec6bedd05 target of the bomb 24c82487e6 that had been deflected fee7e42947 from Minkyu.d162cfa4abf5d781

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Team Leader a80d9279e0 Song, let’s 50dbff5a7a stuff our 9bbb084316 faces with bde0c28428 this expensive 36d30616c1 tuna while 2da128f717 our tongues 7724a506e5 still work.”8039015e49ef7704

The others at Yiho’s table seemed to agree, as their eating pace gradually increased. The company-card dinners were all about getting their money’s worth. However, Yiho’s gaze kept returning to Minkyu.5ab75fa0d0e2a078

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ahahaha, looks like 03f870c50f Team Leader Cha d20d4dd6ca is holding his a7c2be7005 liquor well today!”58148ff44d9abe25

When the smell a5eabaf323 of alcohol began d758e98dcf to overpower the a7297a2eb8 aroma of the 276d4f9b20 accompanying fried dishes, d8e5f57231 the first stage 77a69b57a8 of the group 8a884fb1f8 project came to 4693f84b2f an end.474e943bca1ff1c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Stage 2: Drinking pace 246cff2123 and antics increase by 0b148629d9 40%. Probability of remembering cf66445b69 tomorrow: 50%. Conversation difficulty: moderate.828660ef3e26ba08

From this 1a7548bd6b point on, a94576635d the pace 980903e384 picked up, 23f6f3d852 and the a6584cb29b heavy drinkers 65dbe84813 were deployed. The more boisterous, d91c3fad9d the better. They could just initiate e3cef43042 random toasts mid-conversation.932b6904c6a86f28

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

However, there was a real risk of someone passing out, so about five people took turns at the manager’s table. Yiho, known for his decent alcohol tolerance, was assigned a spot. Since no one expected him to be the life of the party, he was seated slightly away from the main action, like an extra player.70a8fb0261c819c9

Perhaps because he had 50d71f1522 barely drunk recently due f4b751aa8d to various events, the a97082645f alcohol felt particularly harsh. As he 460c3dda66 pressed his 833f4e33e9 hand against 3e43a35cd8 his burning 1abab6ff02 stomach, another b8ae02708b team leader ae5cdd2306 tapped his 7729cd2a70 knee under e9bd622e10 the table.c9b566f954650cec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Go take a break. You seem to a9bbd22d0b be getting drunk 48cf603a20 fast. And you were ed50db1bb1 sick recently.”d782ab587dd50927

“Ah…”5c86e170a842046b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yiho bowed f8a52c02f0 his head a2d6d143b4 in gratitude.3b16d5d010ed2a85

“But when you go, b044f22ec8 take that guy with 037fdb68bb you.”259af1a00f7ae0a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He pointed towards 805b992af0 someone who had e57ad1b3b7 already passed out. Given this 130f68334e minor task, 9845dcaf3e Yiho led 1e33bc94bb the slumped 131214c5be figure out 10b4cbc693 of the 5f12f22597 room. After splashing cold a09c1d5ec2 water on his c9bb8e75fc face in the ea439b750a restroom, he came e5375cd563 back out to 86639cd133 find the man e2be1efe16 stumbling outside, having 7ac3e75596 somehow slipped away.4484b15ab25e6bb2

Startled, Yiho 9cc53b94c8 rushed out aa95524f9a to find b3104e070e Team Leader e7fc50bec1 Shin, who 6316a6e563 had been 7a0adbb183 seated at c80b663b2f the same 062d47667a table, standing f4d226f3f3 guard.80c3d36401fd26d7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, Team Leader e1417f19ad Song.”10dcb1e8e4f0abaa

“I was wondering why 6f7d6db590 he was wandering around cc5f1a38fb outside, but I see 7464c6e8e2 you were taking care 4fc433b655 of him.”8733d85f71598d19

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. He slipped 7e587b2c55 out while a889856a28 I was a1eaa49533 in the 53ad089149 restroom…”d95c394fa75cbce9

Fortunately, he hadn’t gone out alone.64e8cbd482affb08

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Thin streams 2b1f8d77e8 of smoke 8efdabb26b flowed from eb3360180a the mouths a658eaa524 of the 1c9d25b614 two men, 7dcb0ae84f excluding Yiho. Yiho, holding 73b6b46231 his own bbbcb7ae0a cigarette between f39f4f1580 his lips, 9ede80d138 asked the 21ceb5faa3 drunken man,f0278d5a296d41a4

“Are you d5b418793e feeling better?”2540032ca47ee22f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ugh, I’m… 00fdabd4cd finally sobering 36f99ecbb0 up…”55e0a6accc11ba54

Despite his claim 09be4d9c81 of sobering up, 970b0e4d20 his words were e92f07ecac still slurred. The man, b4816c32e3 still unsteady 81d5577c96 on his 043a40ca5d feet, leaned 936966c522 on Yiho’s ae125bf867 shoulder. Figuring it 93e77042a3 was better 95a7f75c09 than having 53ab148fe8 him fall, 0a957e4a0f Yiho let a0a47db8d4 him.a172a4d6d4cbdf31

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yiho wasn’t used to smoking. Neither his parents, who ran a rice cake shop, nor his friends, including Cha Minkyu, were smokers. It was only after joining the company that he realized how many smokers there were in the world. Team Leader Shin looked at Yiho as he took a drag.18d9ae9c8c64881b

“How much have 43bb0c185c you had, Team c2d755a15f Leader Song?”fcae3f1931e2ab9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Not much, but f1c71845e3 it’s been a d12140be32 while, so it’s ce62f3d479 hitting me hard.”3de9cd6edb997d61

“Yeah, me too. I had a few 9d88806805 drinks yesterday too, not 60dd5d8b0f expecting this dinner.”3f517231d6ed1da4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you have something c98a9dbdff on yesterday?”cbed9dfc2599819a

“Ah, my f90c4ae992 club members. We got a little 1837e0fbc4 carried away. I think 96c31cca76 Manager Gye 570b6be413 mentioned it 02aeae9e93 earlier, but 4ffc229eaa clubs are 46f30b93f8 actually quite f863809255 good. It’s nice to meet e12f4603c0 different people.”109c2fa505a325d6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Is that so?”d9fe3ee098f6050b

“Team Leader Song, 1f6f0491ef you should try feec16cf33 going out instead f56a88da09 of just going 67e4a60f65 back and forth 858b36ad52 between home and 5ef678a81e work. I bet 90c96681e8 you’d be 70b741f297 popular. It gets harder to bb08c9689d meet people as you 9c292d09de get older, you know?”3a33b14f78cc6231

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He couldn’t argue with the fact that his life revolved around home and work. If it were his usual self, he wouldn’t feel the need to break out of that routine. But now, he was trying to break free from an inertia far older than his company life, so perhaps such efforts were necessary.3431b3eaceef969f

“What kind of club 1e704058d9 are you in?”e25a4e13c0cfd94f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re actually interested? I’m in a board 8873ced5f1 game club. It’s easy 22d7081d23 to join 1ca4dfb4a1 in even 9b8b1df068 if you 373429df43 go alone…”0b7ad6f378416e6e

Board games, ac447e0ca4 hiking, reading, cde19241cb exploring restaurants… 3e7acc2d59 He listed 8e78136d64 several examples, 798c6e16bf but nothing fc3a6dbde2 really clicked. Pleased with b81ff63956 Yiho’s interest, 24e2e34248 Team Leader a7e1e9aabf Shin moved e5c57a120e closer, offering bf773a93d4 to show 236e3c09f3 him a 6bad4dbd02 club app. The smell of c3e17b5584 cigarettes clinging to aa99225d36 him grew stronger.b8c0c4a55f6997b9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What are you doing?”4f06651cab21924f

A low, familiar e5365fc63f voice suddenly interrupted 3f62a0a07f their conversation. The person who abfac64646 had walked over 0ddce7165a was chewing on 3faf1d62de a jelly-type hangover 4d2ef25e4e cure. He looked oddly 572345f35f childlike, sucking on c183e86e6a the stick pouch, 017a2a92e3 despite his large 965e716255 build. The drunken man, his 0361476f28 head drooping, also noticed 342f2997eb him.b23bf5331095370d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh! Team Leader Cha, 74414126c5 enjoying yourself while f039702b58 we’re all suffering? You were just a34aaa41a1 pretending to be…!”a46b8bbfb443785f

Oh, shit!86954b90a142e297

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yiho instinctively clamped 0f7eafa557 his hand over ee60ab4444 the man’s mouth. Team Leader Shin, ab881c815e seemingly thinking the 0dd78796fe same, placed his 6e6dc0240d hand over Yiho’s. Fortunately, the f7df1bbd0b door to c73c6dd26d the tuna d375502ce1 restaurant, with 8d08514884 its blasting 239e9f9ff5 air conditioning, ea67ffffd9 remained firmly 96f33135ac closed. Yiho and Team 96ecb5a2b0 Leader Shin exchanged 69c6cd1ee6 relieved smiles, like c701b47956 athletes who had ec47be83dd pulled off a c9c11e0e6f risky play.640a41313c6b1c60

As with 8623c2fba7 all group 777b7a3d3f projects, there e9327befba were trolls. For example, 39997a10ba almost letting f29b75fe06 the person 0f173242b2 who had ee8c95ed62 been blocking 0cf512966f the manager cc326a47c0 all this 020c392ec7 time escape….49a35a51e9db308d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Just then, someone grabbed Yiho’s wrist. It was a hand with prominent bones, a thick watch bracelet encircling the wrist. Minkyu pulled Yiho’s hand away from the other man’s mouth and released it.5175d76d45773346

The gaze, which 281781fd17 had seemed cool fb281a8727 despite the warmth f6e45dda47 of his grasp, 04f10d04f9 quickly retreated. Minkyu pulled three 26ac5b2aa7 hangover cures, identical a083ef8a2e to the one 8cf095d0d3 he was chewing 62125aa472 on, out of 5cacce2adf his pocket.5f484a01ed173196

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not that heartless.”9ca6b7ed72be9ded

“Oh, thanks! I should 9ce6335a43 head back c2c6551e76 in and 96038bbc24 rejoin the f9a732215c battle.”1c299d7a9731dc08

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Team Leader Shin e2096003b3 downed the pouch d886e3ca8f in one gulp. Yiho just nibbled 67bd079b72 on the serrated 4249bfe91b edge of the aee474eedf stick. He wasn’t drunk, c4fd90381d just not feeling 9e7c52489f well.2616ef53b8191442

Yiho’s gaze remained fixed on the four pairs of shoes gathered there, unable to meet Minkyu’s. One particularly large shadow loomed over him.32f6086605128962

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Alright, let’s go back in.”6073384a7e271e1f

Team Leader Shin 3e1e4a5e9c pushed the drunken 95a7b51789 man’s back. As Yiho eb89ab1507 was about f8092d0514 to follow, 77bd3cbcbf his shoulder 5220577617 was grabbed.221100e482e5459d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It wouldn’t look good if we all barged in together, so we’ll wait a bit longer.”194b90636fd5d1ac

“Ah, you’re right. Do we have 4ffbc81389 to hurry?”8c385b115c9ff630

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Uh…8d53846823a1e855

“No, don’t worry.”9470f96851bca642

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And so, Yiho f0c20c5f6b was left alone 4473c55a21 with Minkyu, without 96503a6b93 his consent.4c5752181240b631

His downcast gaze 5b5518446d wavered. Minkyu’s hand, as 77b2be796c always, intruded into 0cf694802e Yiho’s space casually, d199513638 without hesitation.2a61ea7fdf6e188b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, SongYiSongYi.”f03b2acec6e67bf1

“…….”c3cfa8f6351a81c1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The hand that reached 3e2776e8c1 him playfully squeezed his 33fcac26e7 cheek, forcing Yiho to 1a50e7d6fa look up.158c25d36be13398

Honk! A loud car horn blared in the distance. The Friday night food alley was bustling with office workers. There were plenty of drunk people, so the sight of two men standing close together wasn’t unusual, except for Yiho’s obvious tension.1abcfd57b2e3cf44

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why does it feel like it’s been so long?”37a5f5b53577afb7

“We saw 9793de9777 each other… 90d2c229fb on Monday.”cadc431f295f2c2b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Three weekdays is a d9deadb379 long time for you 1706458921 and me.”5fcde00cd4714283

“…….”ae387ca54f97af9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m going to forget 8fe2b6518c what you look like, e87d48b81d thanks to the cold-hearted 2a7b97a2f1 SongYi who keeps refusing b3e68fb8fa my invitations to dinner 693c3ca328 and hanging out after 595c42ef7b work.”82497220aba58266

“…I went 24e26b6831 to bed 97939925ca early.”def708e0a4087d0b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Right, you were sick, e515198a78 so it’s good that 2608deec79 you rested well.”5cd2f044fef68e15

It meant he 92813f4b2b was willing to 922ecb34cd overlook that unconvincing 1cdafe9376 lie. Cha Minkyu wasn’t oblivious ba90efe293 to Yiho avoiding him.d177e0a00add69ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Is your cold 7d491bdab9 completely gone?”52f3f075613cba87

“I’m fine now.”f5fb1f0f553fcc19

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yiho’s ultimate goal 86e0448dc8 was to ‘go 71cb8e9bae back to being f8052d7755 friends.’ He regretted 0a016b9441 the arrogance he 9043193f24 had felt during 5447f52c1c the previous days. How could 98f019093c he possibly 1e8e0ecf70 be okay bafe0f2255 around Minkyu? His facial bb556d2a2d muscles, his a6283b6a0c lips, nothing a5467cfd05 moved properly. As if 8ec9173d52 to betray 6de77d20e8 his desperate b3ab4eaa1f attempt to 18391af349 sever his a8bc1afc59 romantic feelings, 780ceafcc7 his throat 0344f619ac ached with 03f410454b a strange 23b8b347d8 mix of 56ad5794f7 resentment and ce70df0416 sadness.10ec7c662b9b0099

Three days were d7c56a760b clearly not enough. Then how long d47c007282 would he have 88700e67c3 to avoid Cha ed51c7a12d Minkyu?2ad74fe587a9ced7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s good. I’m glad you’re a8bbc63cc2 better.”78d28be48ec88471

“…Yeah.”1d4af2966e4e43ff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yiho bit 9b7f2c2f09 his lip. The silence was dd11e7766a as suffocating as 06715584a7 the lingering smell 24509310b4 of cigarettes in b99dd82035 the alley. Fortunately, he eef3b1047f had a ca5e384bb8 topic in b3a587aa72 mind. Yiho took a 445456a08f deep breath and 8f9ec214ba looked up.87c18179d9fd5945

“Right, Cha Minkyu. Tell me 6f25c61f61 how much 9de9c2ebad the porridge, 09a72c7251 medicine, and 8f5ee2b937 hospital bill 8a9c9b943a were. I’ll send 7b92c3db01 you the 8c4cf4ab8a money.”e278890a14810de1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minkyu’s lips 09be6f719a stretched into 7bf3246d17 a smile, b4d56eea0d then the 1ac0f88a2c corners drooped 11614f2937 slightly. He smelled faintly of 6fc40035ce alcohol.1274d13eaa48e141

“SongYi, you’re not better 26c26c8e2b yet.”5de565a95281f197

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yiho couldn’t find 69297a8ac7 a response. He didn’t fully ba9c538d7c understand, but somehow, d526946b46 he knew what f0f5b5abd4 it meant.3d9e50dba2a52435

Minkyu took Yiho’s wrist again and rubbed his palm against his sleeve. He then placed his hand on Yiho’s shoulder.84369f8024d552f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Let’s go in, Team Leader Song.”398d4fd01c8fe3d0

He didn’t pull 6832c48ff9 Yiho close, as be40309938 he usually would 4ba8d8f7f7 with his friend cf2dcbcd24 Song Yiho. He just patted his 2d8440455a shoulder a couple of c192891e3a times and stepped back.69baa7ce5ac3ef21

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Stage 3: The final 4ac0668800 form of antics. Probability of remembering tomorrow: a1e733acae less than 20%. Conversation volume: increased 37eec1387a fivefold.a80fb94f84beb2b8

The private room reeked 7906a4ba20 of alcohol. It was a60c51c0f2 enough to b316ba673c drown his af5272e768 confused thoughts 2df8ff4d17 in a 058e7e0cc0 drunken stupor.1e4e175ee8b56001

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Empty bottles sprouted like 0b6ce23b72 weeds in the corners dca9c9a36f of the room, and 14e1e33022 quite a few colleagues 8b4c47f245 had passed out. Loud voices eb7061601f and boisterous 2b03c355e2 laughter filled a92b664fa6 the air.e0a7444b568a92ea

From this point d70710c94d on, it was 0e05729bd5 an all-out war dc5f889069 of attrition for 4f2d3620d7 the survivors. Manager Gye seemed a0bcf0d5eb to be fading d7bc65d3f8 in and out 57fd39e26c of consciousness, but 1d201f5372 just when they f9b2eadb28 thought he was 1f6f68f88a down, he would c2940b0a33 revive like a 8663445b41 movie villain regenerating d2d1d40812 lost limbs, laughing d62f3dd4a9 maniacally.5f2ff3526942d804

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Around this time, 7bf2610ff3 some colleagues would b59d6451c0 inevitably fall to 78be2c266b the enemy.75e23aef6c5e89a5

“Hey! Team Leader Song! The manager is 0b2e38b9c1 looking for you! Come sit here!”25518816cab78f34

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…….”01f23041ca3d3e07

“Hey, Song Yiho. You’re, uh, a13f319093 our… development dfeda937df genius. You know 86e27b1a35 how much ee2e47d6c2 I value 9bfca419da you, right?”643c9c67850d947e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

No.8a1e794b337dd78f

As soon 65d2a03d61 as Yiho 2fa0f81219 returned to 9abd034924 the noisy d9ab8114de room, he 83dbaaae45 was called c90107ff99 over to 2232f79199 a seat aa9ef587a3 diagonally across 56a0e064ab from Manager 49a75fd8cf Gye. The moment he d9d6915b0b sat down, his f387574cea glass was filled c362667ed0 to the brim c88a53de88 with alcohol.49522a03aabc1cc0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You haven’t been drinking 9b853e0d83 much, have you? Drink up.”9b9f0d2dea355b6c

Yiho raised his glass 7d3b9aba8e and downed the drink 7a222bf89e in one gulp. The high deafa57949 alcohol content 4cdd9a8ae7 of the 63e9df056f fresh bottle 1bf92f3cd1 burned as ff90903d06 it went 72a2974a0b down. One of his corrupted 507c938ee5 colleagues patted him hard 54c86abd24 on the back, making b396507a0f him choke. Asshole.c1455315dae703db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Wow, that burns. He quickly stuffed c76a3d295b a piece of 4d37b5c062 cold tuna into 5ecb19524c his mouth to d2a051f601 extinguish the fire 5c17f4f5a7 in his stomach. This wasn’t 6fdadcdac8 the time 333fc7466b to uphold b5a0121599 his resolution 74b606d292 to avoid 0c955c81bd raw food.a4671aa8c81dce5c

“Team Leader Song.”5cb39a33aed4d595

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, Manager Gye.”7e4033feb6b180d0

“How’s working from 8ed01961db home?”fd2ba8c98417d3c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, yes. I’m getting c84fbdbb88 used to 5f3bfc42a9 it…”8c4d3d41fe719b4d

Yiho, who had initially been apprehensive, was now enjoying the convenience of his office being ten steps from his bed. But he couldn’t exactly tell the manager how much he loved it…. At his subdued response, Manager Gye sighed and refilled his empty glass.84ac549a03a099c0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“One guy sitting next 8635ebad00 to me in the 1ea0cf9ff5 office has a dark 7a064a280a heart, and the other 9861da941e has nothing in his.”2d6b394ff56093d5

The latter was Yiho, 150d3aee36 and the former was afeaf34fc1 probably Cha Minkyu, who 673d07e722 had returned to the 3b89aab5aa room shortly after him.06c805c5b2720ced

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Team Leader Cha, 5a46d39592 where did you 3dd13d2bc8 go?”cafccdecfa14601c

“I went to the 810ccca3a8 restroom.”2de5a735a1cdeb59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu glanced around d64b8e7d51 the room and 484a80db73 came up behind 6b700e552c Yiho.4e45e4235f500b79

“Team Leader Song, 8737f9c5ca these are my 8cd5e0e02b chopsticks and glass.”751fd3c0c5b3310f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Huh?”25efefa4177a7369

“Move over.”7dbd81b20355f068

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

By now, everyone’s 3cff795a41 seats were jumbled. Yiho had brought new 0545308963 chopsticks and a glass 516f928c2b when he sat down.11d4324c4d572095

Minkyu, standing 13856ab209 behind him, b0aab5d3c0 looked down 9562029a91 at Yiho. The usual f31da0b606 polite smile 70cf10fa2f disappeared in 94bbb56594 the shadows, c65790cb6a his gaze c046b8e74c expressionless.802164dfe10ab931

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just… why don’t you 2c6077cd8d sit here, Team Leader 6503c9311e Cha.”ab8d2ced5639979a

“Why should I, when a6a3609fb9 this is my seat?”d1b1da8292ba6728

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No, you already e39a8aa6f6 did your part 3f79d41e55 in the first e30bc112b9 round. If the others have b2d4309d53 any conscience, they wouldn’t 25ebb28ff7 call on you again, 7ba44a467e so why did you 4bbd482079 come back…?6f5489576dc69fac

Despite Yiho’s subtle headshake, 595fc8dce3 Minkyu didn’t budge. Unable to hold his 127e2597a7 gaze, Yiho gave in. He moved over, and ab70b121ae Minkyu sat between him 6e6e0def7f and the corrupted colleague.cf6d9e9c2923e56f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Minkyu picked up f7dba959f7 Yiho’s full glass. As he tilted 9907b4c012 his head back 170879e857 to drink, the cc66916781 smell of alcohol 9a388b54af wafted over. He hadn’t 66d52694ca noticed before, 18e60a6af5 but Minkyu’s be485efa3e face was b7e6da6829 flushed from 4ffbd8e608 drinking.0ee3b3545dc362bd

And while Manager Gye 777a3f0633 was busy drinking, Minkyu f1ce67a76a secretly filled Yiho’s glass ad2a783a5e with water. What is 4693a179cd he doing?5453177f9f11d1d6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Team Leader Cha, 836134a66f I’ll just drink 56112bb0ab it myself…”b5df02be20157906

Minkyu’s hand f2daffadc3 briefly grasped 4715eaff60 his knee 25eb657c77 before retreating. The warmth of his b60b0a8a58 palm seemed to linger 72bd9c4fcc on the fabric of daa5ad6ef3 his pants.03cdfccd4c2391c0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The team leader sitting on Yiho’s other side whispered,11469fd8060c7af8

“Looks like Team Leader 51b7dda90a Cha is determined to 53c193d80a be the bomb disposal f36561a5a5 unit. Let’s gratefully step 3aaa3a7709 aside.”b81d38c85829660b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Look at you 06c1f77cca two, Cha Minkyu. Very nice. Keep it up.”59e591a6fb2e05d1

Manager Gye’s hand trembled 60c54613a4 as he refilled Minkyu’s fbd6c5f180 glass, spilling some of 5581a983bd the sake. The glass cebbcc268d was filled eb9dae068c to the 3db30cb2c7 brim again.3fab399993fbe6d4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Allow me c22b254da6 to pour 434593ea82 you a 89b026354f drink, sir.”ea2c18cd3e303d87

Minkyu put down his eb3f2d52b2 glass and took the bd2e0c7266 bottle. The smell of 8549abf1ee alcohol on him dbff899bdd grew stronger.e51837c2e7e38904

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The dinner finally ended cdd63db1bb at 3 AM. The tropical fb2d607b79 night heat 8b9339b113 had arrived 90f8facac4 in Korea, 8f4519d1cf making even a9a93cc59f the late af455531e1 hour muggy.74e9f80c857ae0fd

As people 8921ecbb45 gradually left, b3d1308ca2 only Minkyu 4c89f08720 and Yiho cd0b8b8665 remained. It reminded Yiho 26d708b13c of the team 41b48d9ce3 dinner a few 9cc28e23d7 months ago. He watched Minkyu’s receding 61329fb770 figure. He wasn’t stumbling, his d9410cd117 eyes weren’t bloodshot, but 2acf2734e5 Yiho knew.06cb39fa072cd912

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He was completely 93eb354f2e drunk.cf94cb1e0d78c0d0

“…Hey, Cha Minkyu.”251e2b7deb3b2ee5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Since Minkyu didn’t turn 03b331788b around, Yiho approached him.1933d624b4d85d60

Minkyu, who had 7d25374e1e been standing there 4ef3837dd3 after saying goodbye a7fff8beec to the other f247964393 team leaders, turned 6dda22862b around at the d77bf90dcd sound of footsteps. Yiho’s eyes widened. Minkyu had fb0dd9db5b a lit 0b6ad5d938 cigarette in 90c9abab55 his mouth.866766b7356ecab3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Where did you a6dea859ba get that?”ad3e27def249fc21

“Ah. Someone offered me one 848dd1f677 when everyone was smoking.”0dc930df708cccf8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You smoked?”2197e8e4b63d335c

If anyone a1684293fd had asked 860d2d5e3d Yiho if 67e690ac6a Team Leader 4d5683b11d Cha smoked, 7072bb0df4 he would 1be5c1c426 have vehemently 37c9e41364 denied it. He had never seen 7ad13ee866 any sign of it baa9c18c0e from Minkyu. That’s why this 90f3f83a62 sight was even ade5d46f9a more surprising.78372dbdbd5fc32f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I learned 050bc15e2e in the 763a04d1f5 military, and fda2f65e7e sometimes during 6b65e3d70e company dinners 4e1837661b early on, c8679f34b7 when I e1f80628a5 couldn’t escape.”bff76b632d3b8c79

Ah. The military and 6ae0b9a60a his early days 882a6cc727 at the company. Two periods Yiho hadn’t 5abdba9d31 experienced, gaps in their 7b019a1352 15 years together.7bb0b64b6cf03fd3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minkyu’s cheeks hollowed as he inhaled, then exhaled the smoke away from Yiho’s face.7569720f0d55f461

Thinking that d596fb2bf8 cigarettes didn’t 3756fb7261 suit Cha f634780226 Minkyu was faf8fc20d6 a friend’s ec502dd09f perspective. Finding the sight of 124dc3f6df a drunken, languid man a4fa34a6e0 smoking sexy… was not. Even his a0b4c55383 inner thoughts 233aff48f4 now made c94730ad18 him uncomfortable.1f5db478dd21efde

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Cha Minkyu was 94f908ccd8 a perfectionist. He would never touch 2dad2748a7 a cigarette, especially considering e49aec2303 Minjeong. But today, 2616415213 he had 324fda62b7 indulged, and f618e6248d Yiho felt 4d60aefcef a sense 4b76b02d26 of guilt, d8d13c939d as if b037454811 he had ec022584ff somehow caused 96555fda0a this lapse.db9f2f23d5acd52a

“Don’t smoke.”50dd31b6d7929745

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minkyu, still 9e158ca916 holding the 420a28bcff half-smoked cigarette, e8aab606e8 tilted his afe109f4c3 head.6c7efd124e923449

“Who are you?”f08294e1504c53e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His alcohol-blurred eyes e10943c767 asked. What answer did Cha 0e4d3bfc8c Minkyu want? Friend?59d1289b1de47893

“…Song Yiho.”8b961ed963618738

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah, SongYi.”7850c5c4aa6f6610

Smiling faintly, Minkyu extinguished 32361cd6b4 the cigarette.db47fa24ff6197ee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If SongYi tells me f99935cb05 not to smoke, I 2118e8e6bb shouldn’t smoke.”8684429a6bf5f9fc

“…Can you take df0056c700 a taxi? I’m trying 931d32ebe5 to get 3a1f667a6b one.”0f981cff77a3df73

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course.”f4891ae95e0f62ce

Minkyu’s lips curved 7a5a8a40c8 upwards. But then he just f87eeb9bb5 stood there. Normally, the a32a4b8960 impulsive Minkyu 3d55f4f05b would have d930b76e2c already opened cd6bb634b7 a taxi 85f5a53037 app before 99df52311f Yiho even b265bc6547 spoke.5f2011b5ec6d6834

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seeing many taxis da3e121b31 with their vacancy cd0cdf68aa lights on, Yiho 5e1e220984 hailed one. He ushered Minkyu af1b5a6475 in first, then 5da39eded5 got in himself 34438e34ed and closed the 36a9927b02 door.24ed3d0026219118

“To the white apartment efc7da813b complex, please. To the d3b590e0ac parking lot…”67a3ef5faba46915

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The large d3e88f3fd1 body leaning 0d085eb32d against the 2f56e9a9db back seat 5a12988016 slumped towards 197c109d07 Yiho. Minkyu rested 5d2e1b3798 his head 41e47205df on Yiho’s dccfb58f92 shoulder.5c232d7d83608249

Even though his words were slurred, the message was clear, and the taxi started moving. Minkyu’s breathing was close, amidst the sound of the engine.c0b1d3db8f85b5cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Cha Minkyu.”765c886666a07634

“Yeah.”b742945ce5930236

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…You’re heavy. Get up.”ebb8afcac9cc4e12

“Just a 3b0d5ec735 bit longer. I’m tired.”3b0bfaff3c11e91a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”50f1dcb95c07a66d

Yiho closed his c4b335c6a1 eyes tight, then 79218ea2f3 opened them. His heart pounded c75b023a88 in his chest, cc2e7cd38d but he couldn’t 951dc5b4ac bring himself to 2f58188de4 push Minkyu away. Minkyu spoke in 0b87971b8d a drunken voice.1d28cf9938584820

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ha… why 34453d32a4 did I e4f53ff51e feel so 9883ecf015 bad about caeb753bc1 being the f2c55c265c only one 4d9824e92b who couldn’t f1a754dcf6 drink as 75da5a17ee a freshman? I’ll have to 4c23aeb00e drink whether I f2f0f1ce45 like it or 4c3112a79f not in a 5a7f137d01 few years anyway.”65aa9c6001d8480c

“…….”8d304288af2ad42e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Right, SongYi?”043612bcc9429ecf

It was 2cc951baaf difficult to 12418100c3 avoid the 4addd0f5f3 conversation any b1fdb55af4 longer. Yiho nodded.ea79e2c32d36ea45

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…You drank a lot ade0beac65 today.”546f7fe5a3790d1c

“Yeah. I wish I f6a1b4928e could get kicked a7a80159f6 out like back 5d094475bc then, every time 50cb3dfec3 there’s a company 4e91f90151 dinner. Me for being a a720ff12d4 fast-tracker, and SongYiSongYi for 8873894f8d looking too young.”0a64effd037d4908

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That doesn’t ca4187f208 happen anymore. They don’t c3330c5294 card me f852ecb2f6 at the 2f088c3558 convenience store.”165b0b5c1ed6a7e4

“That’s just because the part-timer at the convenience store near our place knows everyone’s face. SongYi, when you first moved here, they didn’t believe you even when you showed them your employee ID instead of your resident registration card, so you recited the soldier’s creed.”a73ea90e08443776

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He didn’t know why Minkyu still remembered that. Back then, Yiho’s response had been,4812da895bbd45cf

“I don’t know it… I’m a reservist…”6a9a7d2b2095fcfa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

…and Minkyu, 5993ade7e8 who had f9a652f0b9 been picking cb99014f89 out snacks, 6f21fd9ff8 burst out 5c4277bf98 laughing, came 64a1e67326 to the 7472ce71c1 counter, recited 9073d175af the Air 5c44281f41 Force creed f96b671bf5 for Yiho, a40aefcbdf showed his 2dd367cfd9 own ID, ddacff1c0f and paid.362c8f9e73986a62

That was 962bc1e737 the day cb836b0a07 they became 1b3df61294 neighbors.224794c0e8afa458

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…That’s right.”d8abc54c993e6f95

The first two ce7c416fdb years, and another 56110d8dfd two years after 0fb0823391 renewing the lease. He had thought 1533d94e66 time flew by, d8cb49611c but recalling that b8d5175afe first day felt 2fbd02d8c9 like a lifetime 952d83f96e ago.afbce480fbd0ff89

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It had 9947dabf52 been a f8b804ef7b long time.53fb9fbcdc3c786a

He had enjoyed his 4d0fb36982 unrequited love for Cha e50ea27912 Minkyu to the fullest, 51df8c4c51 without regrets, without pain.155e0074aaf28eee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just then, Minkyu 727aef74eb groaned and rubbed ea5bc8e1b1 his eyes. His hair a53df2eb46 brushed against f736193579 Yiho’s shoulder.02026820e1544f28

“Why did you 529cf97574 drink so much? You should have excused 02f035527b yourself after the first 14a9616a31 few rounds. You knew Manager 82503ebc89 Gye was out 295747fb26 to get you.”4fdfc2f33a7f9f52

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah, I fe9a356ad6 don’t know b86ebe0692 why I 2a74816ce0 did that…”d354b8331bd0b6ff

Cha Minkyu chuckled 2cf82ad4f6 emptily and leaned 11176b827b more heavily against 5a9667cae7 Yiho. Yiho felt the 0653ac223c weight on his c8ee19d94b shoulder. The pounding bb097dc856 in his cdd93b386d chest seemed ec45b6fcf8 to spread 22f1ab0c66 the alcohol 666065e8bc throughout his 567969d31c body. The delayed e6fe07e417 effect of 8bd9a325f6 the alcohol c70be6f228 hit him.8904fcd97c68dfb0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The driver glanced a0a23d3d24 at the two f8be9ac721 men in the ac8bddda60 backseat through the aa785b46a8 rearview mirror.cec620143b3e860d

“Your friend seems 2491bc7c45 quite drunk. Work life is 0f390b6324 tough, huh?”1d8906047826bdf8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, yes…”8bf4fb632e163b71

When a man leans 4fe6e218e2 close against another man, 090b1f167f resting his head on 85aace33fe his shoulder, a plausible 91703de00b explanation is required. Even between friends.0dc7c359d2070e9a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before Yiho’s slow sigh e1af92bda5 could escape, the taxi fdf18bf1db arrived at their apartment f8bfdb04d2 complex.8b1d5e74388809fa

The elevator ff73f4005c was waiting d6cc210683 on the 625905ea66 first floor, 39066c8d68 and there 99b51be7c1 were no 51144c3612 other passengers 357b42739d besides Yiho 1ee675c5f6 and Minkyu.e150152d1447c60c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The two figures d61bb6b8bf standing side by e1af387e77 side were clearly cdf217f884 reflected in the ae10a9111b elevator’s translucent gold 58221c962e doors.2a5e81e35e3a33be

They looked like friends.49350f6a0dbbe834

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So Yiho took a 139b3b9a52 step to the side. Cha Minkyu and 3cffe8b602 he became a 13a0d15eda little more like 309a3f3a5d friends.82031504f8f2b408

The elevator stopped on 78f9e00e10 the 18th floor. Yiho stepped out first, 6bc33c2e34 the sensor light between dfb15b5bf0 their apartment doors turning 8c44fbbeaa on. Heavy footsteps followed.8887dc17b18c1bc1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yiho turned around to 793e731421 say goodnight, but he 480da8e5b4 froze when he saw 48dc4c162d Minkyu standing right behind 5f19ccb69c him, leaving no space cd4c27aeb9 between them.7667b28c906f4016

“…What, hey. Why are 5d0bbb27e7 you following 283e5840b8 me?”a7a3c0a12f305b1b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“SongYi… no, bd19efdda9 Song Yiho.”4dc8a4d9f7a0c13a

At that ad31223766 moment, a 75de682426 hand covered e2a6408741 the back f2aad7a9bd of his 63208cd6b0 head, sliding 07fac4c81f down his 79b7fd887a neck. They were f663e6f030 too close. Yiho’s attempt c0846c4630 to step 1ba5413766 back was bc3b0b86c9 futile.9b932bbad544c06d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah, I get f849abd8b2 it. I’m too much. I’ve been a rather… 3907ca9c06 intense friend.”4b82ef54b17470e3

“…….”352e4e2d74f6623e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re the only e19f67a44e one I’ve ever 9257107e85 been like this c80e43607b with, and you 88de6be8ff always will be.”beab4a03ddf92682

Minkyu’s face d85be694ed was slightly a028fe95d2 contorted, his 997d5cc33d expression hidden e841071c84 behind the 72b325b627 bitter smell b03a4f06f4 of alcohol d2479b111e and cigarettes.5a66ab22ef607bd5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But please, just bear 16e1f5c188 with me. There won’t 842d197fd2 be another 41bc366c1f person like e4a72985d1 you in 76a597e5f3 my life.”21a1a46c02dded58

Yiho had also spent 16e994825d half his life with bcec085b22 him. That’s why he 1d4ad85f82 knew. That these words, 73ffb552e1 devoid of playfulness, fa891a8dde were his true 1be81c4cb7 feelings.eadc14a3aa110c38

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Don’t go. Please.”178dd3180edeb479

A hand reached 1ab3d7c0c6 out and touched 1bd49e83b6 the keypad of b010c6cafa Yiho’s door lock.2cef2a81168d8ec8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then, as if it were his own home, he entered the passcode naturally. Beep, beep, beep. The slow beeps continued. Yiho’s heart pounded in time with the sharp sounds.b61589a471eeb57c

Beep, beep, beep… 05cd70eda5 click.eb244836f4fe7397

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The lock disengaged. Minkyu looked at the 2812d28461 door lock that had 779866fd56 opened in his hand 8407bbe6d9 and smiled faintly. He then 455d5eaa35 pulled Yiho, 2dd4f2fe12 who was 14c15a8a1e blocking the ee8ddb40c1 doorway, towards b44a1511ee him and ae664671a0 opened the e61c16795f door. Yiho stared, fc612acffe frozen, at f80a06c094 the shoulder 9bf6f31ab9 that came 09c2611928 so close 7e19923ad2 to him.e14c2b832c7d9d03

Minkyu gently pushed Yiho f50ffcd14f inside the open door.67eee83fa779a4d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lock the door 79fa398abd and sleep tight.”d5ad372cc43ec4f4

Then he disappeared 12cdc993a4 through the doorway. The sound of 35747ede8c his footsteps in f85b4f9621 the hallway, the f017ef1d03 sound of Minkyu 27358eb75e entering his apartment 17b4c47071 across the hall, 11351531e0 were excruciatingly clear.f8f86f03f00a214f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”09e93a63886a8f6b

The sensor light in 85d0d087a6 the hallway turned off 7a0ae2ef85 as Yiho blinked.601888b55fca702f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Unable to 310ef44674 take a 1d0bcf40f2 single step 5835689dd7 inside, Yiho 4ea38abd50 collapsed where a970b07f0b he stood.eb66cb29e3eff12a

💼9f27673baa801bda

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Waking up after a 90dcf6388f night of heavy drinking fab74fd518 never felt good. He was cad82c3096 thankful that b5dccefb4b the high-quality b9a1b988a8 alcohol from f7eee3b216 the executive 3d0d2c39e2 dinner didn’t b68866ef8d give him 2a9b39af6f a terrible bdc3c61559 hangover, but 5a5a89acaa his body 4fa64d74b3 still felt e106aa1f90 heavier than 4c01473aa4 usual.c0243dd0aba5b672

Minkyu got out 13a1d3c93b of bed, opened 842825da70 the curtains and 7f5785917c windows to air df76c81a77 out the room, 7d3d484d6c and then took 18c75cd3c1 a shower. He felt grimy despite 05bfbf55d2 having showered before going d34103e757 to bed.5b1ce689c94297f3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had definitely overdone be4e4debf1 it. His memory 2c8f8ebc49 of the f5667c8db5 latter part d4e56b2189 of the 38f66194d5 dinner was cdd4dd24bb hazy. He remembered receiving 60bdb7a080 a cigarette after 6ffaebdb05 the dinner ended 34f4f1f2d1 and seeing people 54f9bf270c off. He had a6950dbe52 taken it, 3b97be590f feeling stifled, 01bc9c348f even though ed7daf9412 it wasn’t 74e69c66ee a situation 8da2bb32d3 where refusal 38cf1262ef was difficult, db89c94c6c unlike his 6f08dfbdd9 new employee 9fbeef316d days. The thought of it 24d653478c left a lingering taste 0186de78a4 of stale cigarette smoke 7c428edf02 in his mouth, making 75335c3afe him brush his teeth 6504357073 more vigorously. The problem was 2c70f5ccdb that most of 85c136521a his memories after 35eb2a2703 that were gone, e8b0cffed7 as if erased.0fa130249baefda1

It wasn’t f3b0d39b46 hard to ff08503e98 guess that 8f3f10590f Yiho, who 4bc4a475f5 was mostly d2cdf6f1bc sober, had 90ae95d967 taken care 4966380a6e of him b9c154272f and brought 51da9c4a04 him home. He vaguely recalled sitting f07c2637dd together in the taxi…. And he 7cb196b7fe thought they d0841a297f had parted 751291f4c3 ways in 04a89b4486 the hallway, bfe3c12b39 as always.4aebd0b4c6d551eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”b275ffbdf62770bb

He remembered 75d800285b Song Yiho’s e441a6ec87 wide, surprised 65f7361408 eyes. What did 8f977e9c9c they talk d2d98502c9 about? He hoped he hadn’t 34eff4e64b said anything strange to ee679afc58 Yiho, who had seemed 817a2b10c2 down lately.39cf632725ce0fab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I can just 6f02772314 ask him.”bdf46ab481d5d440

Having spent 7af4727054 so many c8a250bc58 years together, 9b168cf584 he was 45d475713d confident he 80821c0ce7 could be d8e1d06c32 forgiven for efe574e6fb a drunken c8c85831ac slip-up, as 99432c8fdd a friend’s 84a30c5d1d harmless mistake.4480766f1e580544

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After a longer-than-usual shower, cfe1204480 feeling refreshed, Minkyu washed 24bc89b6fd the glass he had eeb208a6aa left on the table ba0f593aaf and opened the refrigerator. He kept it e071734ee9 well-stocked, so he 5f89afad06 quickly decided on bbf9c02665 a menu. It took him less e71ce4484f than 30 minutes to 8de40e785b cook rice and soup.b43625685cb8b52b

Minkyu placed 5fc2a06d86 the thick, e3ff722601 perfectly rolled 9b9143ef42 omelet on 1ed2083afd the cutting ab5ab2e894 board and, f96ab13918 before finishing 19734417ca the meal 32f04db0eb preparations, picked df88cf7f5b up his 1847e78993 phone.194d5859f7681c2e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His neighbor, who had 62f817f0b8 been at the same d2bd48ccd8 dinner, answered the phone 514ecd9c1f slowly.41e8937b62a97b85

“…Hello?”abc8aae467d29799

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“SongYi, are you 793ee7276f up?”71b01e8d61b2645f

“…Yeah.”3f15a9046f3c9db3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I drank a lot e35644601a last night. I have d205c0b5bb some gaps a981d85863 in my a1628d2049 memory. Did I do anything a62742e0ac stupid?”8037800814f53894

“You… don’t remember?”1b335aa2b27e0132

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Huh? That was 0832606f96 an unexpected 555a657580 response.fb28dffeb2a1f32a

“Did I really do ff25f7fb75 something?”6ad403c84459f337

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…No. No. You’re always well-behaved 736b342cb3 even when you’re 601a406a7e drunk. …You were just 8a24179f06 your usual self.”8680013d306023e9

His voice was 76edad9cd1 hoarse, not just f908ee2166 from having woken 5bc206f2ed up. Was he feeling unwell 2285367e37 again?a269763a8411955a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite his concern, a0b9e88f71 he kept his 1d3c99e84e voice light.befb81d3297a754a

“Oh, that’s good. You scared me. Then come 8a7f7d5c33 over for 88fe295bbd some hangover fd7a13fd0d soup. I made some.”fb981040d039d5de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Uh…?”0f62c4746532ef21

Minkyu’s smile faltered. Song Yiho 937d34760b was terrible 71e8e33bbc at hiding 21de2bfcf8 his emotions. His face was too 55caead87a transparent, and his voice a6bae5ba4e easily betrayed his joy, 24aef68e7e sadness, or discomfort. Right now, 40a258b25f Song Yiho, 881bfdf4c4 for reasons 2e40bb9657 unknown, seemed c19c54bd35 reluctant to 84fccb6e57 accept his 3bbabb6acd offer.489c9f33433bda53

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No… I’m okay. Let’s just eat separately.”b799aa81bbb64134

The rejection finally 536e7c51a7 came. Minkyu leaned against faa9f2acc1 the kitchen island, 0252d20e78 staring at his 5a84e93f71 phone for a e79d7785bd moment before smiling 927cc7a997 again.c06d57963f2d5af6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, but da7b4d5943 I already c350ab7373 made enough d307f54174 for two. SongYiSongYi, is there 9c2305f39b anything else you 68a890432c want to eat?”acdd15a2914afda1

“…It’s not that…”ac9c82fed5ad4efc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll make 5cfa7f9a2a you whatever 82462067bc you want ad951914d6 for dinner. No complaining dbb0c8441a about side 2de1b6934c dishes, how f95f70e082 about Minkyu’s 330fb3656b home cooking 05503d225e for now?”cb12ee385f13ff0a

“……”6d59f5d7bf0a664a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Minkyu waited patiently e67dd538ff as Yiho fell ce6d94799f silent. Only the 37ada44d2a soybean paste 8ca04bea55 soup bubbled 1b0629503b quietly in 2233a6a695 the pot.c58bdcd35303be53

Usually, by 987e3e095a now, Song ea280184db Yiho would a8324cbf88 reluctantly agree.ee2df52c45031c30

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I really don’t 845fd3a5f8 have an appetite.”68a07d9d17cdd934

“Are you feeling sick?”0e1809a76e0ab355

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I used up 6254695f01 all my sick 5155f2fe5f days for the aaf052d255 year last time. I’m not getting sick 85a9fb1ddd again.”696394a4440b9bff

“Then I’ll e435d5ac15 wait until ffabb2ab91 you’re hungry. I just woke up 810639c5ff too.”28e7668682d06d9d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Can’t you just… eat 9512e7dc8e by yourself?”c63f5acd49370ffc

“Nope. I can’t.”117d5e291533a5f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He made it clear bbff970a2f he wouldn’t back down. He had also blocked fff6ae4940 all possible excuses Yiho 0dfa5af186 could come up with. It was a ee2899881d rather mean tactic, 8c8da23d4e considering he knew b637501cba Yiho’s personality so 91b42036d2 well. He disliked himself for b1a354e700 resorting to this.9a6d329e96e6eab3

“…Okay. I’ll come c4699c1fc4 over after c7b61af7b7 I wash a5360b532a up.”7ad0ae93a8d24097

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Okay, take your 51cb2bb0d8 time.”d23ae7c2c0946c79

The call ended. Minkyu stared at e7fabba2d0 his phone for 561e2ab507 a moment.4257c2916650e809

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He probably wasn’t mistaken.dec44165c4efd2c0

Song Yiho 1b98f3554f had been 8b65a57502 avoiding Cha 88aa34d099 Minkyu lately. Or rather, he seemed 81ea40b4f7 uncomfortable around him.4708d6e9aa3036fc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The rejection, 3718926fa7 which had a49af96f54 started with 430830381f avoiding eye 684765b053 contact, had 3c75289635 escalated.24e8d5ecbba4907a

 1088a2517723390f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley