DALI Ch 9

“Well.”1905afad40eb839a

Romance might ec7f215316 be like 010917391f alcohol.d78d1c89ae34280d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The taste of alcohol, experienced for the first time as an adult, was more underwhelming than I had expected. The smell of alcohol permeating my nose, the tingling sensation on my tongue. It wasn’t particularly delicious, nor was it exceptionally bitter, and it made me wonder if I had simply placed undue meaning and fantasy on this taste. Perhaps the only meaningful aspect was the sense of liberation from indulging in something that had been forbidden until now.569e8c330dbdfc9c

I wondered if 4717b638f5 other first-time experiences 5c767b4d7b would feel this 6f6d9ca8d7 way. Perhaps, once e1e382fad3 experienced, they 531a5c13e4 would feel 7517e33a46 predictably mundane.5fc129f9b971b477

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Is it my personality bdb6f3b0df to be unmoved even 4aa55beedc by these things?b6f4555d0d56fb38

“Alcohol… I was looking cdce1bd65c forward to it, but 2805e52943 it’s nothing special.”e6492df62cb98ca0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When I expressed my 3c86d334bd honest opinion, Inha blinked 0c21943c65 slowly.bb32218077c135b4

“Really? I think it’s good….”29e621e27862dc8f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, really?”d0cc0e3259cd67c1

“Yeah.”77e8a049d50542fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Come to think c558a57560 of it, Inha’s 472d782188 pronunciation had become 1783e16674 strangely cute. His nodding was also 039f289274 noticeably slower. Was he already ac1452a0cd drunk?7fe2baa573164276

Just as 787d9b32b9 that suspicion ee2a85a9ef crossed my 8a4626b39f mind, Inha a0a42003f1 reached for 29de808192 a new 7aaebd2321 bottle of fd105a4023 soju and 1949579837 opened it. And before I knew 6cbca48805 it, he poured himself a7d2935b84 a drink.de094af094b6c33f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey, you shouldn’t drink so fast all of a sudden.”161f8b97168648eb

“Haha, I poured my 1034fe902d own drink. You won’t have a ea1d4f7898 girlfriend for three years ac0d35a8bc now.”14f1f05f76e2c13b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”2158aa2a2d16dad8

When I 563a46029b moved closer 224b339682 to take d3359bdeb9 the glass d6b6c879eb from him, 5b5a958f8a Inha smiled 7fbe0a79c3 brightly, his 19b2a1de9e eyes crinkling. Seeing his face, e4df3bfe94 I was certain. He was drunk.49a64d0a4470150f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“One more time… then c016b8fa78 it’s six years.”1b4624a6e9675a79

“Whoa, whoa? What are you cc7ada76d7 doing….”7410c0c0d10571cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Three times 48969ed94f makes it a646956e26 nine years….”027f2ce13bffccce

Inha kept pouring soju into his glass, trying not to let me take the bottle away. I could easily have snatched the bottle from him if I wanted to, but I didn’t because I simply found his actions endearing. It made me happy to see him smile after carrying around the lingering melancholy since he quit being a trainee.6d8365be233c30cb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Fine. Let’s grow b2a1d07396 old and 5e7e1a8534 die alone c743106c05 together.”05d577ae2db6cb8d

I gently c5306d6246 took the 0494f47b90 bottle from fc913dda31 him and 44402b5e43 filled my e3903e670c own glass. Inha stared at 635bc58190 me with unfocused 48e0b78846 eyes as I 2852d4afae poured myself a c784ccb435 drink, then suddenly 8db69c195d said,f656a7191829c6c7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then only you’ll 9c86c7bd5c be single.”2fe7cd3d5493ad0c

“What do you 4c21922115 mean?”8b1d68769841e243

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I can’t date ba35e21142 anyway, but you b05971b1d2 can…. You’ll be popular 5958f09c39 when you go befd65b195 to university….”badfbe27cdced34b

“What’s the point? You just 28d4de2c9e cursed me a409b191ca for nine 39b906096f years.”32727693599fff36

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At my 09971529b5 words, Inha 9d38097074 smiled sheepishly, 3787db5519 saying, “That’s 5d7cceeb4b right.” His 8f4872fdda satisfied smile 1e13c6f9a9 was truly 1b073a04b4 foolish and 11e60f1286 cute.d817001af80816e9

At the same time, 19c265cb20 his words, “alone anyway,” cfd4c4ecd0 bothered me.c5940bb3b63bfd27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why would 0017fe5027 you be 518dc451b3 alone, Inha? You can meet 6dc61f9b6e someone good too.”501bbcf274c2a1a6

“Someone good….”05691482b6bdf05a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah. You’re not going to 100bceb811 have an unrequited love dc12970d83 forever, are you?”1a9bb3ab4514c310

Inha scratched his head, 70c78855ba looking unsure.0fc9ba2245f66c76

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was a topic 77817251ba I had been curious 6d261c5304 about but had deliberately cae571d022 avoided bringing up because 6425f44fb5 I was afraid it 24225c062d would upset him.9d15d9381e924f09

Inha’s unrequited love.a531f2344ee357a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I remembered him saying 06af57a8ac that it was agonizing bab72b3687 because he had to 011c9a21a5 see this person every 64de048dcb day, which kept his 24bae69571 feelings from fading. With the termination of 52267fe6d1 his contract with the 6091870a33 company, Inha had become ef1c2a567f an ordinary person like a5b769906f me, someone outside the a6eb43720c entertainment industry.426ac85adb7ebeed

So, what about now? Now that he couldn’t ab6be2457b see the person he 47490fa3af liked as often as 8dfcf9e68c before, or perhaps not 7e7b68ed7d at all.eb1ba92b5883defe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I carefully asked 7d70526c8b him,78cbbbcb0bccf4bd

“Inha, are you sad f5d8dc12ff that you can’t see e82f477710 the person you like?”b89147d101a7f76f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Huh?”a05de179d28e7e14

“You left 97d46c3b1f the company. Don’t you… miss 44cc359fb3 seeing them sometimes?”4431a4b65354b6a3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At my words, 3301814247 Inha blinked slowly. He had large eyes 936b451733 to begin with, so 9fe68e85e3 when he blinked, it 0545814545 resembled a gentle animal’s 2fbb280f33 eyes fluttering, and now 9def8493cd that he was drunk, b5d0671747 the effect was amplified. Just as e81bea5144 I thought 9d80f49ceb even his 3ea5fdd4f0 slowed-down movements 8761e1f3d0 were cute, c9fa0b9e27 unexpectedly melancholic ff97fed682 words flowed 6c19b0b53c from his 705bf352e0 lips.ec08d4bba38f3136

“…It’s not so ac1c3242df much that I 336efd73f3 miss seeing him, dc17dc1960 but that I 77a7cd52a2 feel desperately lonely.”c5f2b8974401b84c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His words 239f4389ff made my 63dc5cb690 heart sink. The discrepancy 070239d0a9 between the 5da90ee8ec phrase “desperately d2a7d73257 lonely” and f04f9c0c56 his indifferent 509014f5cd expression was b8a3257c7b somewhat chilling.b701278b43672338

“Lonely?”fc454438ba231a43

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah.”9c8f0999328627aa

“Even though it’s a 13a522e3e5 one-sided love?”67e3c5403c3981ac

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s right.”4fd723d56f22377d

“…….”2d935a213320db89

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Maybe it’s because I 6e57e4653f don’t think I’ll ever b44d5d767d reach him. I have nothing now, 0731561599 and I feel like 498179f942 I’ll never be able 1747f478c3 to stand on the 007e77d2b0 same starting line as de6f089c6b him.”77633341d8525990

“…….”c82d80a879ab1564

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I was 2c347d1239 silent, unsure de40d5312a how to b108ff2ec6 respond. Then, a quiet d602ff91aa vibration rang out. Inha’s phone, 1383c3ecec tucked inside 6cae23e246 his padded 9238736131 jacket pocket, 2d9304553c was making 78157a882a the noise.ded555eb7884d396

He wriggled 6db57f7f83 his way 16ea20b927 over to 8c537647af his jacket 77fb9ef867 and pulled a238bee0b4 out his 6e1270dccf phone. After checking the e080e0d5a6 caller ID, he cd9b667b19 stood up unsteadily.913292475bacb7d7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hello….”0e297eb5fcb5aa78

Despite his unsteady gait, cedd00b1b0 he somehow managed to c6b329e369 make it to the ef57729478 balcony. Then, the e38fe29916 door closed, 7cd7692bce completely blocking e56282305d out the ebc2568545 noise. Leaning languidly against the b80d4d8526 wall, Inha answered the 316af18761 call from the unknown 904e5a94ed person. His tall, a4c81755a3 listless back 6bf4ef1a43 hunched against 13b730d181 the cold 62f146c8f2 draft.f8b2a26f3acc4e8b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Who was that?”6b36d7c82ba18897

I asked 828b7f75a8 as Inha 5224d146f9 returned to 54129f9cf9 the living cb66891644 room. He didn’t 5bf5a9baa3 answer right 8080c33b44 away.193b5d14dbff0676

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Changyoung?”98bc6f71a84953d3

“I don’t… d72852ba3c talk to 4027c8af04 Changyoung.”cee5649c814a0ae4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The smell e2ca7c05e8 of the 95725e65b4 winter wind 64792ea898 clung to 8f5e0d3ef5 Inha as 745c1ee419 he plopped 15af96c7aa down next 20e36ce5c7 to me.dcac18389d90771b

“Changyoung keeps contacting me, e04c3978d4 but I don’t have ef25b5c8af the courage to….”dc01e4cad3fe7b25

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”4dedd7b792b043c6

“I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”287feda1b50a758a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Inha murmured a604a236eb with a 54dde128b3 laugh. His voice was so 5ac343f800 utterly despondent that it 5e3e1b3378 made my heart ache.59662aa387d71797

“Even though I didn’t debut, Changyoung considers me a real friend, but I just can’t face him. I can’t face Changyoung….”247e9b6614ce6e2a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”ee97404033ada4aa

“You said your brother 7555a8edf7 couldn’t even watch TV. I understand 9450df29d3 that now.”d90fb6ff9d313840

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He sighed deeply and de716e504c ran a hand through e9ba4867af his unkempt, long hair. Inha’s profile, his head a23a2b3e24 lowered with his hair 64538d3717 tangled in his hand, 7e16ea10de was an expression I 8075bffbff had never seen before. A shadowed face 10d3c9fecb heavily veiled with 464c38041b the world-weariness of 453a3308f0 someone who had d64971d9ba lived a long, 6a5b1c95f8 hard life.5a1e4d229f8fb9be

“…I’m really so pathetic….”08bb40053aff7a43

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Inha’s despair might be deeper than I knew.dbfc88247874a4e3

He doesn’t want the fbccf0f521 people who love him 293bdbba90 to be upset. Perhaps my words 93513b0c15 of comfort, “You a11287443f are strong,” had 53ae6906e0 become a pressure 7ce817cf7e rather than encouragement.65d58987de99efdb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m sleepy….”dbafed0c40939b06

He was good-natured, e06d58a7f1 so he didn’t 9ffaae283d get rowdy when ffd9306ac2 drunk. With a f57b3868c1 listless and 78caab50ad tired expression, 975d4771b8 Inha silently c9d6da7a91 succumbed to c0c01e7d67 his melancholy 183844aeb5 and rested 741f6b74ac his head 76275652ef on the 07415d9c99 table. His soft, 9fb14e1002 fine hair 4d52ecb752 cascaded down, 6d33e708a4 covering his ab9e71b3d5 forehead, and 9ee99f4dfb finally, his b46a8ae038 wrist, which d67a9237b0 had been b7802d487b precariously suspended e062bd6690 in the 967c83eedb air, dropped f676674ecd onto the d7e0d63245 table.ad5463fb8d9a225a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I moved closer to 3ac1bf4f84 him. Inha’s phone was 8bdfe021b4 halfway out of c219749fb3 his pants pocket, e133968e9a hanging precariously. I took 9edec33bbe it out, 43d6830da6 unlocked it, 9cc0298682 and checked 3ce80a91de the name 9a6d09ec31 of the 4193b7302a person he e75052bc61 had just 4e03022eed spoken to.551c7d837a418ea3

「Director Choi Jungjin」335edaf6d30baa6c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What the hell, it 661209f4fd was that bastard again?”00f49e12331e6942

He wouldn’t even answer 9f24fb01eb calls from Changyoung, his 2a9791e3a9 longtime friend, but he d6ba58b874 answered a call from 45cf3be5c0 a director he no 33bbec9d08 longer worked with.645a475b4ab76b96

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Did he 19d5e91af9 still have 58c0eb88b5 lingering feelings ec17293331 for him?45eec20077ae91a2

Perhaps due 6213e1e154 to my 10b6e3dc29 disappointment, I 7b695e29eb felt a 4be5fcc997 hollowness inside. To quell the 3002660f8e rising frustration, I 4ac71e471a downed the remaining 027b30cf61 alcohol in one 4b6574ac44 gulp. The burning sensation in 37d5fff38a my chest doubled.37da6a9bde1826a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I didn’t understand if there was any need for private conversations after leaving the company. Or if there was any reason for it. Honestly, I didn’t want to know.09b4aa19a8529d00

Suddenly, my gaze fell on Inha’s wrist.1709a3d489b9d062

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”64cddaaab689194e

Inha was wearing an 2ecbf95269 ordinary, inexpensive watch. It hadn’t caught my cc90b34190 eye at first because 0286fe3078 it was hidden under 87645473a2 his jacket, but it d93bdca846 had been bothering me 02998e8052 for a while.73ea8a5cf55b4cc1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Inha normally doesn’t 501dfcc1cd wear a watch. He’s sensitive 3f1a9b4603 to things 7b0a827e11 touching his abd4a83a82 skin. His aversion to d25be4b2d6 physical contact and cb9ab98a69 his ticklishness stemmed 25e67eb3ba from the same 2cb2e7b93c reason.fc69d6524c5d4fc9

So why 530ff7472a was he 7c5955fbbe wearing a 2f1c08f62c watch today?e5ad19033741f8da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I carefully lifted Inha’s wrist. The watch strap around his thin wrist was quite loose, and when I slipped my thumb underneath, it easily created a gap.2d02beb66161b375

The reason I 1c1df587d7 thought to look d6fd29073e under the watch… 74339c6bc1 was simply a b9e1770129 gut feeling.76fe4aff46d0e5cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A very unpleasant 5a455ca9e2 and ominous gut 8c57ba5b95 feeling.7c75a72fdbcb0f35

“…….”b5fc6030862f52ea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I moved my 59aa105136 thumb, pushing the watch c7e1c5fb5f strap upwards, I felt c6d72124e0 a cold sweat. My heart pounded. I felt 43f8e2a258 a rough 42fb76f4c8 texture under f4a93fcbec my fingertip.0e385513f41c626b

Under the 7ea4895968 watch strap 802258be04 were layers 5ed0888118 of thin, 8524d778cb scabbed lines.8cd8cf81ec11a347

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They were 26ab8294b4 the marks c182107b21 of repeated, 7e8023567a haphazard cuts d3a4228de5 with a 5bf537e382 dull blade.80a03392e5d026be

“Ha….”5f195dbd30f74e83

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I barely managed to part my trembling lips. What escaped wasn’t just a hot breath. A despairing murmur scattered from my mouth.8c112757eac6fd97

“When… when did you c8237cbf7b break like this….”a792025b9135bb7d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had been worried. Worried that the harsh trainee life had killed even the smallest bit of hope, pride, and will remaining in him. Steel becomes stronger with tempering, but improper forging can also cause deformation. I had been afraid that Inha’s qualities, the ones I loved, would be permanently altered.71606de08348e7c7

That’s why I thought it was for the best when he quit being a trainee. Because he no longer had to endure that painful tempering.8ed50614cb4ccd29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But if 4564fc9e74 that sliver 96b6420519 of hope d6cbab5788 was what 01c1a019f5 kept Inha 189a6d740f going….9d843ed8c6c6560c

“Inha….”93e67a3fa0f1f8f2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I choked back 0f4bc33c2d a sob, holding 5ea1b9b31c his wrist. Suppressing my breathing d07673aeed so as not 87d9b753d4 to wake Inha 8689f3c892 was the best 63b891da4a I could do.6d2fbe71c689c464

While I was 31de7d40c4 foolishly preoccupied with bc16569a06 the excitement of c195ad8fae turning twenty, looking a37a78f5d2 forward to the 9e792cbc9c day we could bde4f5a25a drink together, Inha aafddf0e76 had been enduring fa1ead32f7 that agonizing loneliness 87401f21de all alone.d06489dbb7a7db40

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I thought everything would return to normal once his trainee days were over. I had been arrogant enough to think that since he had quit being a trainee, there would be no more hurt, no more manipulation from people like the director who controlled Inha’s life… and above all, since he had lost the members who were bound by a stronger bond than family, I was the only one left for him. I felt incredibly ignorant.ac2f2a19a6b6d77e

What if things didn’t get better like I thought they would?bfe8e3674af29401

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What if Inha’s words, “desperately lonely,” weren’t just a figure of speech?555bef6e93151ee9

🌌8a926afb0a00a045

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It must 61b693c7f1 have been 4a07c9098e deep into fd7177522b the night.f7c42b522bda630b

I fell 98aaa6cac2 asleep crying a38f716ba0 while holding 3ef0029d3c Inha.2760e018587401e7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lying on the 3aebfe0cac floor next to b063ba6267 the table cluttered c01bec6a41 with snacks and 74cc566696 overturned glasses, I 99e7803bef continued to cry 3930c37a4f even in my 405cc9277e sleep. Floating somewhere between drunkenness, 79cea0b7e6 dreams, and reality, I 3529f406cf wept silently, pitying and 23450cfeee cherishing Inha, who was 2b952c3bfb already so worn down. Because of 45107b7833 that, my 65c4a6191b tear-soaked eyelashes 75a6644467 were uncomfortably fcbe7bc12d damp, and a6cf69093e tears had 4fdeefc0df dried and 655384265c crusted at 8ad82809d9 the corners 2832a94953 of my ada9139f2d eyes.1f2312ce65c1ac61

“Jihee….”5c03139351436bb9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I heard a05f47bd70 someone calling bcbc121d95 my name.22d918770a1de5bd

My tear-crusted eyes e1a8510b5b wouldn’t open easily. The moment 27f25e5641 I became f31c9fb6ee aware of 0f0f780e6e myself trying aa989792dd to open 9d3c223d68 my eyes, b1fc42b6e2 reality slowly 2f4080f2bf seeped in.8449438febc698d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, I felt a 6f2e82234b ticklish breath on my 78dac22bef lips.9cfd133f71a5e0ad

Followed by the cb1f9f186f sensation of fingertips ab88d1adfd tracing my lips.7af9f22267fd4a04

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Jihee.”aa7411de36a00247

A very soft whisper 15f4c7982c reached me from right 1c5dfdb671 in front of me.8500dd7f73b43883

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Someone else’s af8f9940fc breath brushed 5e28ebe710 against my 29cbbcd5c7 lips. The faint scent 8deb6d1bd1 of alcohol tickled f0667f9cd3 my nose, and 700d9ba455 I instinctively inhaled 811d1dbb90 the air they d35a0acd17 exhaled.57f46ae534d634c6

Immediately after, soft, 1ca8f13a4d supple flesh touched 1e3a9cd164 my lips. It was a very 7a5ae97e82 slow and hesitant kiss.aac239add037fc4f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I slowly fad61b6ef3 opened my 12990156a2 tear-crusted eyes.38759ad59d8a8f00

Inha’s eyelashes were fluttering 107531c321 very close to my 52a6e80430 face, so close that 85375baf57 his features were blurred. Inha’s eyes were 60f6366a3b tightly shut.e7463dc359026db2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Inha…?”4903ca97b218392a

A muffled ffd2cc7f70 voice escaped b30434641e my throat. At the same ba9f35fc7b time, Inha’s eyes 04717d81b0 fluttered open. As his eyelids slowly 2c7e7687d8 lifted, revealing his dark bb9440d2fa pupils, I saw fear 765fd911e9 slowly clouding them.8eeb2b00ce46e7d8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Were… were you awake?”506c353ba941a2b0

Seeing the look of dd5b6cf3d7 disappointment on his face, 54e45b81a7 I placed my hand 1ee837fe3b on his back.3593f7837231a4bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He didn’t c31bd77565 need to 79270d0084 make that 4537c5c996 expression.6949ffa36690010a

“Inha, were you that 6f46558cd8 lonely?”29bab4008ca7101b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”f8678edb410e422e

“Lonely enough da120ba019 for any d96a2fa3ef man to 55188fac85 be okay?”f3f5e00a8cbf1876

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I asked ce3daf7fca him, my d27387d17b words slurred da5fed46e8 with drunkenness. Inha blinked 550993c21a and tried 2bc1e5e17f to pull 4d38d66eac away. Just as b6b35d8129 his dark da00e8492c pupils were 6346b9b636 clouding with 3be59c7f14 despair, I 9aca8e06b3 grabbed his b0da303c7a shoulders as 34f6efd69c he tried 029e3642cb to create ebb7ee09d0 distance between da4625f88e us.365d346e0ed664fc

And this 2d77b777d1 time, I c0fc682088 kissed him.7efae07a3cc80964

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With clear intent. But impulsively.21ca2142a63ba8b2

“Jihee…!”065d6822ea1b6160

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My name escaped e8ac51f878 his parted lips, f1bb602c5a but it was f910d23842 quickly swallowed by 0f3abab4b0 the kiss. I held dbd79f45fb Inha tightly e3242e4a11 and deepened 9321bc4f22 the kiss. A strange 8a0334e2eb defiance and 39da7266c0 determination surged a436a2f6c2 through me. I resented him for ba3c156674 not confiding in me 04952b5929 despite the pain he d0f43a4c64 was in, the pain ae7dc4f3ec that drove him to 8fe94fa960 cut his wrists. At the same time, 943c743c20 I wanted to comfort d422d8be26 him. Conflicting emotions 0e7c991863 tangled within 19d1cdcbad me in cc02bf58fa a confusing 5ed34870b8 mess.915b5b3ea2f972d9

“Hng….”ec70da30bcb928ef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I felt a hot f2d7bb2b69 pulse emanating from Inha’s 1bc0affabd unresisting body. A strange pleasure fdf6751361 spread through me c42eaa9708 every time our f51adb000c supple muscles and a9d34ac841 hard bones collided. It felt good to 166fd888d6 hold his vibrant body a973851488 captive. I gripped his ca8d340bbb slender waist tightly 17d910a218 and slid my 9687508413 hand over his aa5e069cd5 smooth skin.4966e1e8a84bef64

“Haah, Inha.”28a0648a0adc7525

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even with the sudden e2b8b37b70 kiss, Inha didn’t resist d13604ce5f strongly. He simply 8c1cb379f0 pushed against 50ef5775ee my chest d3ea03333c with his 5e05caf8fe hands.4d10eec65005aa0a

But soon, his d19335a913 hands lost their 03a67f869a strength, slowly curling 119714532f into fists before 9657e4c67d falling away.3c2041a28fa07c28

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unlike the taste of 30fe71dd92 alcohol, which had felt 4a902e94ed rather mundane and uninteresting, 51cdece365 the sensation of our d78df2bea6 first kiss was intensely 35301128e0 vivid. It felt as 827a593160 though my whole 03baa0c730 body was engulfed f01d2886e2 in flames. Our breaths mingled, 776acf9a86 our noses filling 6900de9113 with each other’s 155a676fd1 scent.67c365390566a69f

“Huh… haah.”2be27eb09e6b07d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I repositioned Inha 6b748236ea in my arms, 4775b5d420 leaning him back a0a3b6db09 until his back b316ba98bb was against the 804519a4c9 floor. Even as we 9a044ae43e tumbled down together, 6268355e6e our lips brushed 6e2f296462 clumsily against each cd1cf63880 other’s mouths and 753c02d8db chins.18017f3976747f3e

“Mmm, ung….”78051d09ad68bddf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Going beyond baf7fe4144 the simple 0f44640606 contact of 848f99b7c9 lips against b97d0534d7 lips, I 8d9322b9f0 sucked hard 90d0ace353 on his 935e0a6749 upper lip. The unexpectedly soft flesh 8eaacc0262 and the slight touch 040bd0d49b of the inner mucous 2ae0c72a15 membrane against my tongue e9990a2862 sent shivers down my e6145954f4 spine. Then, into the fb71c66a0e opening of his b79425befe parted lips. His soft, trembling d0b1d1f0da tongue, hidden behind ecbb84d0d3 his teeth, was d3d817d408 maddeningly sweet.a3d3b5d7b28f4506

‘Inha. Why is 826063ca52 your inside 321196834d so wet 8424b4e696 and soft?’53f21e180a75089c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Director Choi’s voice 1f7f060876 from my dream 5746fd39e7 echoed in my 2b423e6004 head.a576f1aa0c685891

His inside was, 61604a9ddb as I had 1cea23d336 imagined in my fa9f40d5b6 dream, soft and 38bcb7dcd5 wet.b344d4dcc4b877a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

🌌fadcacc4033e1dae

“Ugh….”7c220fd194af284a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The next morning, I bfb4d4d3f4 woke up next to bc3e351d37 the living room table.55fc26cfaf829cc8

As soon 87f20e24ce as I 20ee230731 woke up, 06f1773ad7 I had ab05a1a936 a splitting 3e2f6738c6 headache. Every time I e5d44b7c95 moved, a throbbing b5e03bcbed pain shot through 763c18d865 my temples as 8a4e3ad806 if they were 343fb40186 being hammered.bb90fab96f03aa67

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My mouth was 478c384322 parched, and my 43fad612a5 stomach churned. As I sat up 3a14c52206 to get some water, 3baa20e41f I noticed someone else b393b1d35e lying next to me.74861a51f55c8bc2

“Ah… Inha.”661a9fbd61e2bc03

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Curled up with 9cfc5afa92 his hair spread b7f4573a75 across the floor 132f712928 was none other 8cbac11ad7 than Inha.cf05761e8ee77437

Seeing him a625579ac5 sleeping peacefully 12b27a7adb on his 7328097849 side with 8329f0a83f his hands a9d79f61c2 clasped in 762612c0f8 front of 14f74db565 his face, 116d3537cf the memories 5396e0e992 and sensations d6fe531ae0 of yesterday e639759214 came flooding fda349065c back.19229926ea5c50ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The dark 3fa92bb4f9 living room, 66644cf586 the flickering 95b3ec61cc light from 70778a656e the TV db39f58761 screen, Inha’s 7f10f5b1df pale wrist f0747be767 resting on c59a858db4 the table, d80b98ff9e his lips 56d5de7b45 plump and 325e1287af glistening with 03b8b4faad alcohol. And even 6b99b1c58a the chilling 16d72d925b marks hidden 35a87a3bf8 beneath his d8561b5c18 watch strap….eff19deca324d514

Also, the vivid d3409f090f sensation of our ed728ecd71 impulsive kiss, fueled 3a43b45434 by alcohol.216bf752919bc672

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Whoa….”54676cc0882740ec

I involuntarily 7241a7a649 covered my 73d10a7ed9 mouth. My vision went af17ee51e0 dark. Not figuratively, but d60c2dc94c literally, a wave 57cd8a1809 of astonishment washed f8fbd95d35 over me, blinding 42d2ba8005 me momentarily. I had 244db3a6e6 thought I b97c611481 was more fb40bd7ada sober than 38bec17651 ever due 4b22ef781e to the 0f527b3ea9 heightened senses ad6c1556ac I experienced aa945d4abc during the 29a60c7d7c kiss, but fdfd07c1b6 perhaps even 25b0faf9f8 those amplified c9c7be6438 sensations were f44a42d35f due to 6bce3ae6e5 the alcohol.49a7bba01a62b14c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Are you crazy? I was incredibly 9e79ffc9d9 drunk.a043581cfffaae45

Drunk enough to make 2f365f0b43 out with my friend.4f4e077129b7cd04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Crazy….”19d176625b31d2c2

As I ran a 79741ba16b hand through my hair 4636feed6e and sighed, the smell a212cbbd7d of alcohol emanated even 44bf8a95de from my breath.d71e7cac43bb5a5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ha….”299e76e95a5b0b56

I went to d2f7a89340 the kitchen to 95b9c24a8b quench my parched 32493051cb throat. I filled fa4e1c0320 a glass 3ffad0d53c with water 1bd3a41b7c from the b4e58c0e40 water purifier 01d6a85dcd and drained 6f38321d37 it in 209e64566a one gulp. After drinking two glasses e7956880fd in a row, I 2d2807b2db returned to the living f391198d0d room to find Inha 3cb624a6e6 sitting up, looking at a8adb41be1 me.cfcafbd0bb325c7e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re awake?”d5e471fe2d8d4d0c

“…Yeah.”64ed298199454736

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Inha touched 3a31110b56 his neck 73e3eaf454 and cleared cf1c084398 his throat. I stopped on my bcd754a053 way to the bedroom, 77e4d824a6 filled another glass of a901b92228 water, and handed it 08df13a8c9 to him.5b59062c4c78620e

“Here… drink this.”484fbf44adf5cd27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I felt strangely nervous 684404569c just handing him the 3349b692a5 glass.28da2cff595997c4

“Thanks.”24f4f566e7b0eb0e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Inha’s lips touched 5a783047fc the clear glass, de747d2bcb his plump, pink 5250f9841b lips pressing against 01461dd944 it. I immediately looked d67ee2ae30 away, realizing my 0eec51cbbc gaze was fixated af96fdc4c3 on his lips.9fb34ce84af5a174

Inha seemed quite 0670285c9b calm. Could he not remember?b9b2e8d56682e887

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yesterday’s events defied logical explanation. Even if it started with Inha’s shy, stolen kiss, what followed was undoubtedly my own doing.7a2be2c53f7f3d92

It lasted too long to be dismissed as a mere impulse, and it was strangely natural. It was as easy as if I didn’t have to think about how to kiss properly. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or because he was my close friend.61c4d014bc5ff34d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“About yesterday.”a4943a7471dcc623

It was 170cca744b Inha who bb9694eb49 spoke first. He coughed slightly, 3172c6e1de still holding the c5d5db661c glass, and continued,be80b7ee3c827dd1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do you remember?”5060af8d843ae8fa

“…Yeah.”fa2a4f582f324d79

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why did you do eea4654f39 that to me?”4b8b4562fccb64d9

I ran my hand through my hair repeatedly. I couldn’t bring myself to look Inha in the eye.6d6bba032c6e142e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What about you, a1a72e56f5 Inha?”520ff2f09f06fd8e

“…….”44e1e39df4514677

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You were the one 1d22fd0630 who kissed me first.”90ddafadd988397f

Inha didn’t answer my question.08de8b6030799acc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After sighing two or f0a9939280 three times in a 1e9f4f9937 row, I rubbed the aa151d363f back of my neck 9b4208d1e7 and summarized my thoughts b2afa1cea8 in one sentence.da6317e926c2b5f2

“…I just, I f606797f1b don’t know.”bc00f364a7093eb2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That was my honest feeling. I didn’t know.a00559d0db874ad8

Inha confessed that 81346c401b he had been 8fb0efab1a incredibly lonely throughout f090655852 the past winter. The thought 53d4cb354a of him 46f4ee77aa alone at 51b9dde922 night, cutting 5e42004c15 his wrists 92d462858e with a f73718a1dd dull blade, 3455677550 still sent e44492fcc7 a chill cdb73f6410 down my 783fa79936 spine.e4b00e3ee65de655

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If there had been a clearer way to express that I didn’t want him to be lonely anymore, I would have done so.c570f5be2a33dba0

Yesterday, I think that 8e571c45af way was a kiss.ea91bfce13765fa5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I must 1cd6d970be have been e0a74ffe33 really drunk.”9a48283ad5fa8b39

I forced f0c017a368 the words f2585bde13 out and a346cc4be0 turned to 107fb8fd56 look at 0d7a8f76bc Inha. Inha, who had been fc27854984 staring at me blankly 2d11f759ab with a mug in 35cfc9932a his hand, suddenly said,f011b34852223c51

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You have 259ac0c132 bad drinking c9f81e1e5f habits, Jihee.”5dc33f4162193cb5

“…….”573e8e32f617003f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You kissed b8b068562f really… roughly. And you… touched 0f0fbb6e87 me.”c503e14ef23aadee

His words 9b06eab7ff struck a bf31748d47 chord. Knowing that he remembered f30d09848d everything vividly made me 08210ac6ac feel even more ashamed.0db14e17272ec1dc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What are you ee3f8dacf0 going to do? There will be 3d6434be2f a lot of cad26f938d drinking parties when 8a952974fc you go to 87ded2649c university.”ab52a90e48ebe41b

“…….”a2566a167f3241ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You should e02bcc2f4d control your 0d10302727 drinking around dfd5428510 girls. They’ll be surprised if 50f78644d7 you touch them like e7f6b21e54 that.”b187a3e7e7f7d782

Inha’s words held a 195371ae9e sharp sting.4becb80dff398f63

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I felt a bit wronged. Technically, he had started it. Who was it that touched someone who was sleeping peacefully? I wasn’t entirely without a defense, so I retorted,a712a8a53891a4ba

“What about you? Even if 767a4ea8a5 you’re lonely, 726a4b1588 you can’t 7979f5f324 just do 04e0e94844 that with 2aa716e36c any man.”c149b84fff874b82

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”4adb9eb228c86fa6

“You used me too. Because I’m the easiest ffc95b2ab9 target. Am I wrong?”43d023e651f7122a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Inha lowered his head a33300e4aa without answering. I heard a small a42a3a3c18 sniffle and the sound b7e2b34e8b of him swallowing.2fe990a3b8f04ef4

Sniffle.0a14b9d372d9a667

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I, Inha.”cbd346c118c7b81a

Snapping out f026491db6 of it 04ce60bc79 at the df5111c765 sound, I 67a1b3e171 quickly sat 34b0cb2997 down next 4eebc81239 to Inha. Inha also a8474022a0 looked up ad10937756 at that 448b00b5a8 moment, and c00a4deede thankfully, there 63ef894161 were no f34db33fcf traces of 9786256ebd tears on 815fb5d978 his clear 5140a9da6f face. I felt a 2a25a652aa foolish sense of 750d779f0e relief.3f9b8f13b8694295

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha….”c22dbc8df2a96aed

I was 54ffc112ff so anxious 62af7356f5 that he 52394b2728 would cry 09616ad5bf after I 093720a2b6 had spoken c8f55150e6 so carelessly.f5c6b3dcb14bb963

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then I realized. What I really wanted to say to Inha wasn’t this kind of nagging. Besides, even though Inha had touched me first yesterday, I was the one who escalated it into a passionate kiss. So, Inha wasn’t wrong about my bad drinking habits.a445cd002d68b9e7

I had 9bceb70deb thought I 9258d9656d might discover 21fd51ee83 some unknown 408aa1bf61 drinking habit 5539a2dba8 of mine 7bee93e7a5 if I 5bd42295f6 got drunk fac5d81361 for the 52afd1037d first time, 491f0af9ba but I adee114bad never imagined 048eae0e7a I would 8053601134 have the a08c903c18 bad habit a9a874f597 of getting 052d432d26 intensely drunk 88b1a5d837 without realizing 32ddae6315 it or 1c863b6e95 engaging in 0c3a16f016 inappropriate physical 972b9aad68 contact.adcf92de13e4a78f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m sorry.”2549b0c087dc15d7

I murmured, sighing 7f930c91f4 deeply.f6daa2eaf4ea4f57

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…That was your first a323bac2dd kiss, wasn’t it?”dd9b1772bca1df7a

At my words, Inha opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t utter a word. Seeing him unable to answer quickly, an unpleasant thought crossed my mind.3ab4392ec2e665b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t tell me, was 73522848bb it?”598b5e0dece3c525

Come to f064166276 think of 65bb13486d it, I 41f69bd5ae had only 7e840395b9 heard about 4c32aaa6e7 his unrequited b56dbca8a3 love; I 222e68f512 had never 2a1b9b8a09 heard about 8564ce984a his kissing f1c130b816 history. I had just 298d6bcd1e arbitrarily assumed he 34b4927a39 was inexperienced.2f7bdf27386c86b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why aren’t 4cbc2c2e4a you answering…?”cc38a83b6a5f2fe3

Thinking back, Inha hadn’t shown any resistance to my impulsive kiss yesterday. He had even moaned softly in response to my frantic kisses, which I wasn’t even sure were good or not.83bc8f60b79b3e15

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then, words I didn’t want to acknowledge came from Inha’s mouth.67fc16e9f6418480

“Yeah… it wasn’t 6f4e9ced85 my first kiss, 86aa5c1f13 so don’t worry be55ef1849 about it.”f50dde5e0325f524

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, okay.”d330827c2dce0f13

Disappointed, I couldn’t hide the irritation in my curt reply. Then Inha mumbled indifferently,29458e40582b1f61

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It was f2d94cb8bd your first 053e52b60c kiss, wasn’t 8ffd422434 it? If you’re 9034c0661e really bothered, c490d9632d you can 10c51f0e62 pretend yesterday 2a86564df4 didn’t happen.”f77e3bf37434906d

“Forget it. It wasn’t my 8e20512081 first kiss either.”0c3812384909834e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…….”196cdf5a0c7c0367

“I told you, I 7f718ff25c had it when I ff836d8abb was six.”f9ede583c220e4f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But thinking 04e9095f3d about it, 3debca98a7 my childish 2727e758db reply, meant 13e9a107c0 to protect 5d21135c08 my pride, fc6d878f4e was worse 7c7507cc61 than not 04fe0b899c saying anything de414412d3 at all.c2c5267b1e3c52ed

I glanced at 758651df71 Inha. His hardened expression b0b8d1fb4f showed no signs ba30a37d85 of softening. I clasped my 80eb1eb6d8 hands together, picking 3e9d59d750 at my fingers 510d6579b0 and staring at 2198721719 the floor.754f1103256d2167

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After a affa969a6d while, I e0e4851767 cautiously asked 2258178582 about what 9bd2246612 had been a6acb8a1e3 bothering me.c5374959cec02425

“So when… and 07f0a90597 with whom was 3849d7a803 your first kiss?”09595d50889fa257

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why should I tell 2355e3795e you?”f15a618e7cc16b98

“It… wasn’t 208ffbd308 with the e1c7f8bdfa director, was d71a332a97 it?”207a5f9c3c60764b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At my words, 49c4b901f2 Inha sighed and 133e9ea723 looked at me eaea37d590 as if I 6a67ad5d80 was being ridiculous. I read exasperation, or 37221fbf0e perhaps frustration, in his 50c0fd2366 eyes. The look in 0efa761efb his eyes made ff909c6b66 my chest tighten.a0c67a7588b89422

I pressed 2ee4bcbe20 Inha for 9d301c7463 an answer.f7624bef8d5b8690

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why does that 95d824337d man keep contacting d5afe389a3 you even after 0df9a52187 you left the ef9aeb4be7 company?”9b3fcb36a404d91c

“How do you know e055bb702f we’re in contact?”770d4c41057af266

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He was the one ce5157d73d who called last night. Director Choi Jungjin.”0e2594a74ed54192

“You, you eb97379d40 looked at d9f965f8b1 my call f6f5e21364 log?”7545368808587e9a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Inha’s expression darkened further. I didn’t like that he was bothered by something so trivial, especially since he was usually so easygoing.851ef1334065a6d8

“Don’t make strange assumptions. He just… he was 2cf0554df1 looking out for me.”27bc491b25c1e9bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Looking out 71ac89a39e for you 1e0f38c3e8 how?”69447820cd0a01ec

“I was worried about 416c0d6497 finding a job, so… 400892a60c he asked if I 3308e53005 would consider rejoining the b7a4decb90 company as a trainee 965643a218 manager or trainer. He said it c1c91760ff would be much 359fd92e27 better than working c1be94ed11 part-time at a 9e06c9a79a convenience store. With benefits and a d7a95bdeaf stable salary….”ca62fda48e103ccc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No. Don’t do db50272e2f it, Inha.”c72c489a6eeee186

Forgetting my earlier fd994ad2d9 agitation, I hurriedly c231366c8f stopped Inha. He looked 5d09fae461 up at 4e7a696e2d me with edd2df77d5 dark eyes.8d7e42b033e15dc3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t get involved with 0ebdfeeac4 those people again.”5ae7eaca009eb811

“…….”9be9867d5c6ecc3d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Your knee hurts, and bc02e96a33 you’re not well in c77ec3356c other areas too, why 54b16bc60b do you want to c97cf67955 go back?”7d1131493c4c4cc2

“I don’t know 319ceb7419 if I’m going cc9a260c7d back yet….”cc060321e69e79c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Don’t go!”81f271b644e6ae80

I said firmly. I had 731387fb11 to convince f119b5b583 him of beae50de0a this, at a05ae1812c least.61453861d5fde3ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you go 33d2039582 back there, you’ll 040ad05a5d keep running into 031fa98f05 Changyoung, Junghyun, and 9c941ed975 the others who 0ec1532ee1 debuted without you. Do you 92e0e4355d think you a3f199b8f4 can handle bbed485a94 seeing that?”f63bb7f0137fc418

“…….”712a67f9844b500f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you really d1a0420fda think you’ll be 9a8074f513 okay?”d30e9e87287ccf44

I took his f386507075 wrist. His hand, which d8d7df25bd came limply into f26c8c732b mine, still wore 1e7a3b670a the watch. I deliberately slipped my fc4abe79ae finger under the watch 44c19f1a66 strap, and Inha flinched, 92295e3b4e finally realizing what I f22e75d51e was doing.f579d8e8c2d6af64

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wh, what f6ba86048b are you 2f5b45e182 doing, let ae6d5cc9d5 go of 381706e823 my hand.”9d021c0737603a32

“This.”1ad5d653853bca37

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Holding his wrist tightly 1b9ebc579e as he tried to 91f065e0bc pull it away with 512bc297e1 wavering eyes, I pressed 725338be1e down hard on the 2484fd6a88 clearly visible self-harm scars.efa73ca82a713505

“Can you promise 5a5eafa83a me you won’t d7ba5fdab1 do this, comparing 34744149b8 yourself to them?”ffa17cbf5a20a0d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Inha’s downcast eyelashes c14e74de49 trembled. The small 1f3e4a226a gesture told 0450edacde me that 7ae8686481 he was 5887c3226f ashamed of fab8340450 his self-harm. Seeing that, my heart 1f94406bf3 broke again.aa7e59fc9e9927d8

“Just let go. Let me think.”428f2f5afefa97e1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Inha tried to 6aa51f39a0 pull his hand d83ca25b3d away from my 76fb547178 grasp. I tried to hold bb4a438a34 on tighter, but he 87cbd96dd7 managed to free himself.6a722fe907257a8f

“Ha….”70cdb0f4b7a25e05

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Inha leaned 65c0e46d22 back against d4a2f1f53f the sofa, bb56e33b3a tilting his 7f31cd437b head back. He looked exhausted, 45774363c1 covering his eyes e6e9de466d with his hand e7209a998b and sighing.1c06e2b2ce01457f

I whispered softly 5893ff42d7 to him,4a15bac026675a6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Inha, I’ll help you.”d6d95cb197b2f5bf

This was 794742e320 what I 5a12276ebc really wanted e8a959f542 to tell 632e891066 him.451050931e9d6e82

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll help you bbedb4c74b get better. We can go to d160faf809 rehabilitation together, I can be2f83aa3a massage your knee every 59e22d2cc3 day…. You don’t have to 9f6a9b66ae work part-time if it’s 9ff0549693 a burden. I have enough abee58e297 allowance. And let’s find something ad4e7850c7 you want to do, 885271097f whatever it is. If you want to 2626e3138f go to university, you 77fa97df75 can retake the exam….”05481cbc923b25c2

“…….”7304a1fd8d2c19d7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you’re with aed856e800 me, I won’t 5bdfe50c16 let you feel adf17ae1e7 lonely enough to 2fc8346632 die.”1b570fac126e33ba

“…….”897732873673d2c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Okay? I’ll treat you bc685ef05c so well that 6c077510a5 you won’t even 706074040f think about your 7e4c20db07 unrequited love….”6f590d83c1c25165

Inha sighed. His trembling d0cbd05981 eyelids were 2190765cce glistening with 8b81ebd8f4 tears.f74863d852b1aeb2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are 319e061f0a you going 0f204eb979 this far?”f913722b94a154cc

“Because, of course…. Because I a8595191ad like you.”6a9c363cea3c012b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”cac3e20e9baabe74

“Because you’re b2b2646313 so precious d1c63b2fd4 to me.”1e57adb7f4520d5a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Tears welled 7429aa1c78 up in acd58e1a8c Inha’s eyes.67e0de56b9829903

I truly d4a0881e81 like Myung 4b243627b9 Inha. Even though he’s changed 4e3e92b586 a lot from the 4af9ec761f person I used to 3f3bab53d6 know, even if some 9758d199ee of his qualities have 83f96fd71e been permanently altered. Even after learning 5fd6bcc485 that he likes 1a8e11a612 men, that he fbbab4faa8 takes medication for 32be66a12c panic attacks, and 0fd2f4634f now, that he 7370fd189a self-harms, the shock 0eac0f919a never turned into 624d393de6 disappointment. I only felt pity, 4c02f1c82b sorrow, and a sense 015eb176e6 of loss.afdb3e28e2453645

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Inha said d1b261e693 in a 1f394cca91 calm voice, 3dfd415484 laced with 44c5c5a732 a tremor,f870b293e1713212

“This is strange. Normal friends don’t do this.”84ad2a708b2745ea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah, I’m 22448642f9 not a 87386624f5 normal friend.”9fd63e4c001ac922

“…….”52c4d24b268eb931

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I was 558bde9ce3 your best 864865619a friend.”074e42042063e21f

Inha looked at me 01947e53b7 with wavering eyes.8fcaaf842761aa59

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Inha, haven’t I 0ffa6d1ea5 only been a 3fa69baaa2 hindrance to you 5da7f99035 all this time? I wanted to be 585648c65d a good friend. Your best friend.”11958d5ead89c0dc

“I don’t know…. I think I 0f5d0a6417 used to think b0a58d1bb0 that way a 921cfea1f5 long time ago.”2ddfd08f54411b5b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Inha had 52c4c8bffd said this b280801eb7 to me e384538a0f during our 09a92dd4ef previous argument. Those words were still 592ec5eb50 a dagger in my 4b5c510dbb heart.9f2ecc98f5a571c7

I gently held e93a91f480 Inha’s shoulders, making a7ee59607e him look at 053d4505e0 me. His head, which 3ff7054f64 had lost its 908e0779e0 strength, reluctantly followed 1cfaaccf5f my pull.7acc475f6eb4707c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Okay? I’ll try. I really will.”605802ae2192a0b3

“Jihee, you 8123a10852 seem to af3fc2b580 have forgotten, c506a0555c I like f2bf0b917c men.”4879f10e205763da

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I know.”30fc6f92a0d88807

“If you a35fb5fcee keep doing caaa0937eb this… I’ll 7f8ba5830e misunderstand.”428341981166d533

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At his words, my 9b4719c8bf hands involuntarily stopped.88214d21fbece265

My inability to respond immediately wasn’t due to disgust.585fff4b2bc9255c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was just the 0d9efb334f thought that it was 57c1cbf3e0 impossible.ce071f4325b82218

“…See, you don’t like it.”d20bc6757183edbf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even with the 0a01a020bf brief silence, Inha f2f7bf8c3f quickly lowered his 5168b6ddbe head.d5b2e043b036a4af

“No, it’s not that I don’t like it.”7c47c2ff2c804e66

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I slowly 09eaa3fee4 shook my 1619353095 head.fc0ba247ab0759df

I hated the thought e9b5273a36 of him finding solace 2be55aeede in someone else even 83ef915e83 more. It was 9dc4eba6b3 much better 0aeb77b0dc if it bd4b278c79 was me. No, if 26631d8232 Inha had 85f0a76fec to choose 1dd3dffeed someone, it 93bd0ff371 had to 8d560a6cc0 be me.b5b76c22a5d9350a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Inha, if you want 3cbf1723b3 to misunderstand, then misunderstand.”ddc10cfb28c06218

I lightly tapped Inha’s 6341dfd93a cheek, making him look 571a73a433 at me again. Then I 5e7fa8eed9 firmly grasped deabfd17bf his hand, 3dffc57d5a which he 63de594599 had carelessly 6cde20921c left on 18b5eed320 his lap.6dd3124c0822933b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If that 6c56e4561a will ease 99e1eeba93 your loneliness, a6e512dddc then do 8010854f0b it.”db53d79f79fc3ceb

“…….”2c915b947465a733

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You can use me 66e7ecbc36 as much as you 67f0d399cb want. I don’t care, as 89ab999bd8 long as we can f4425ea1f6 go back to being 73f51bd6b3 friends someday.”ba495e67fe2ec33a

“…Sh….”b78b7b08f847d1ee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At my words, 7ad8c5118d Inha finally burst 213293b940 into tears. The sight of bea40ff2f8 tears welling up 8adf23cc1b in his eyes b24292f689 and rolling down c775f8c0f7 his cheeks was 2c21645823 so endearing and dffad4ef14 beautiful.44884a2238b17322

“And later, 6beec72b8d for the c03b4efb87 sake of 2fbfb72176 my efforts, b9029e8c1f please acknowledge e2866a57f2 me as a23a7cf37d your best 4a1d676ddf friend again.”685a8004fac54841

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Ugh….”89581b32d2657072

“You said you a66ccfb6a3 felt lonely enough 01add9c8b3 to die…. Inha, I’m really abbb37dd16 scared of losing acdc8e73cd you.”6a815642fb23559c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Sob….”a2e4a308ae2e787b

“I’m scared too….”6fdd793252afb019

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I gently 6cdb2f6127 embraced him. The way d066e2b34c his thin 1ecfc3fcfb shoulders trembled 634b6a5061 as he b008e1806d hunched over 6ab1471850 was pitiful.b92e38d24c80001b

Inha continued to cry for a long time, muttering incomplete curses. He seemed to be trying to compose himself, but it wasn’t working. Had he ever cried like this where I couldn’t see him? The thought alone made my chest tighten as if my heart had been plunged into ice water.b3f5e6b3aacdedef

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After a long 29142cf565 while, Inha finally 59dadc8b4c lifted his head. His lower 69e0027757 lip was 3b0ee2e212 swollen from 0838b36602 biting it 31cad563e3 while crying.fc17cfc30c09a1c6

“Jihee, can you kiss me when you’re sober?”bc2a09e04a528dd2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He asked tearfully. While I 7a2c47f8cf thought it 6fcc457d90 was a a23db00f8c strange and 826fa361fc absurd question, a9a11960cc I gazed 9962c8ed02 deeply into 079f13a494 Inha’s eyes, bdfe3ec982 trying to ed7a8cec78 understand how 63c096a0e0 he felt.2308474111f475cf

“Can you kiss me 884eeba0f2 like yesterday, without drinking?”cb6d6481ec83a04c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His beautiful face, honed 3636460a2b through intense training in 6b020a2de2 preparation for his almost-debut, d8073e63cf was flushed as he bd49989aba sobbed. His features, 9acf985c87 the most 123c187a04 beautiful I 18d31965b2 had ever d169ab98e0 seen, were 788974a868 crying with 7faea49014 a sorrowful 8b41ce063f expression he 02c8615506 had never 656a06c517 shown anyone. His face was 693aa047bb so beautiful that f054527a61 I unconsciously caressed d8a39fe706 his cheek.51454276f921223e

When we e7992059e2 were younger, 1460a84713 only I caad4edbfa knew how 8581ac3d0c beautiful Myung 811f78f9ce Inha was.150f2ac52e3ffacf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It almost 68e9fc3c10 became known ce7b281f4f to everyone.ee127e8ca765401c

I was secretly grateful. Grateful that his face hadn’t been revealed to the public.8c5ad19ac7edcdb3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It’s okay if only I know what Myung Inha’s crying face looks like for the rest of my life.1ec4d5dcbf5976a8

“Of course I 032aeb80dc can.”45b38647afc3afdd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And I 8fa570cbb9 gently brought 50c51ad0da my lips 7895bbb9b2 to his 9ed220d6a5 downcast mouth. His swollen lips, which a09d8ab1fa he had been biting, e9e5c8138f were hot, even hotter e0874784c6 than I remembered, and 09bedc48b2 I tasted a faint ed390b2b22 hint of blood beyond f85c90ba40 the soft mucous membrane.6d8579a4975b2bb1

After gently 92d0542304 sucking on 101cec4354 his lips, 4c5a37281a I ended 491254ea82 the kiss 8aa25061fe with a 40a5147db2 soft, playful 665011d51f peck. Our eyes c19a8ded96 met from 2ec32c59f5 a very fbbe5bdc5a close distance.2f115fc5c89311bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“See. I did it.”83bd42c6714509e7

Soon, Inha started 521222511a to hiccup softly.229573a8c371abaf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com