LA0S | Chapter 4

“That’s why you should have come out when I called you outside. If you had, I wouldn’t have needed to come all the way to the lecture hall.”

“Why should I?”

“We have something to talk about.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I already told you, I don’t.”

Lee Jinha responded curtly and glanced at his phone to check the time. There were about three minutes left until class started.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“No, I’m sure there’s something.”

His patience, which was already thin when it came to Kim Chayoung, wore out almost immediately.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I said there isn’t, so why are you being such a pain? Are you doing this on purpose to provoke me?”

Anyone listening would recognize his tone as downright rude. His expression likely matched his biting words. Kim Chayoung’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but that was all.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Lee Jinha. I—”

Just as he was about to continue, the front door of the lecture hall swung open. The professor entered, attendance sheet in hand, right on cue.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll leave for now.”

Muttering softly toward Jinha, who clearly looked uncomfortable, Chayoung left the lecture hall. Suppressing the urge to flip him off, Jinha ruffled his sleep-mussed bangs irritably.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

How did that guy even know he was here? Did Shin Youngmin tell him? Well, once he knew the department, finding the lecture hall wouldn’t have been too hard. Still, he hadn’t expected him to actually show up.

At least now that he’d seen Jinha’s reaction, he probably wouldn’t come back.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

ꕥ

“I’m here.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Contrary to Jinha’s wishful thinking, Kim Chayoung showed up again in the next class. To make things worse, today was a full day of core classes in the same building, leaving Jinha with no chance to avoid him.

Chayoung repeatedly asked him to spare some time, and Jinha refused with unyielding coldness. He didn’t have anything to say, didn’t want to say anything, and certainly didn’t want to hear anything from him. They could just act like they’d stepped in something unpleasant and avoid each other, but why was this guy so persistent?

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Was he trying to maintain his image as a “good person” to the bitter end? If so, he was truly a despicable bastard.

“If you don’t want to keep seeing my face around Humanities, think carefully. I’ll be back next time.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leaving behind words that could be interpreted as either a request or a threat, Chayoung left the lecture hall, just one minute before the class started.

“Hey, do you know that guy?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jinha turned around. Yoon Sejin, who was busy playing a mobile game, came into view.

“Who?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Don’t play dumb. The guy who was just looking for you. Isn’t he that Kim Chayoung from the CD department?”

Without looking away from his screen, Sejin kept tapping his phone furiously. The colorful mechanical sounds—beep beep beep—filled the air.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“How do you know his name?”

“Huh? He’s super famous.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sejin glanced up at Jinha briefly, as if it were strange that he didn’t know.

“He is?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“There was so much buzz about him when we started. I told you before, didn’t I? That there’s a crazy good-looking guy among the new students this year. Don’t you remember?”

Did he? Maybe he’d heard it in passing, but he hadn’t cared enough to pay attention. If someone had mentioned the name, it might have been different.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“That jerk… Is Kim Chayoung really that famous?”

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone at Korea University who doesn’t know him. Especially the girls.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Even in high school, he had his own little entourage of admirers, and apparently, college wasn’t much different. It was annoying as hell.

“Oh, and he dropped out of World University and transferred here. It’s basically on par with our school, right? Why did he transfer?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My point exactly!”

Seriously, his thoughts exactly. He should’ve just stayed at his old school. Of all places, why did he have to end up here? This kind of coincidence wasn’t welcome in the slightest.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What was going on in that guy’s head? Jinha couldn’t make any sense of it.

“So, how do you know him?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“I don’t.”

“Liar. If you’re just acquaintances, why would he come all the way to your lecture hall? And it’s been almost a week now. He even knows your name.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“He must be crazy.”

Jinha muttered dismissively, and Sejin finally put his phone down entirely. The twitch of his lips betrayed his amusement at finding something entertaining.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“This is suspicious. Something’s fishy. You, who are usually indifferent to everything, are reacting differently.”

“What’s so suspicious? If you’re going to talk nonsense, just shut your mouth.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Normally, Jinha would’ve brushed it off, but anything related to Chayoung put him on edge.

“Why are you so touchy today? Nervous?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Jinha ignored the comment and looked away.

Nervous? Who’d be nervous? He was avoiding him because it was bothersome, not because he was scared.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

To Jinha, Chayoung was no different from that kind of nuisance.

ꕥ

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“….”

“Studying at the library in the morning? You used to sleep all day in high school.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“That was you.”

Ah, he answered without thinking. He should’ve ignored him.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Jinha spent every day at the library unless he had a morning class. Sometimes it was barely dawn; other times, it was when the sun was already high. Compared to his freezing or stiflingly hot off-campus apartment, the school library was a much better option.

It was 6:10 a.m. now, a time when few people were around since midterms had just ended. That’s why he had no choice but to bump into Chayoung, who was standing by the library entrance.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, I was always late.”

Up until just before the college entrance exams, Chayoung used to dash through the school gates at the last minute. Jinha once asked if he stayed up all night studying, but the answer was no—he just liked to sleep in.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing him here before dawn, it seemed that wasn’t the case anymore.

“Have you changed because you’re in college now?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jinha mumbled quietly, but Chayoung caught it. “What? I didn’t hear you.”

“I said it’s like stepping on crap first thing in the morning.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

There was no way someone as sharp as Chayoung wouldn’t realize Jinha was referring to him. However, he just shrugged in response.

Jinha brushed past him to enter the library. He heard footsteps following behind him. Surely, it wasn’t Chayoung, was it? Turning around, he saw that it was, indeed, him. As their eyes met, Chayoung blinked with a feigned innocence.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t follow me.”

“I’m going to the library too. Unless this building is yours?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“….”

It was an uncomfortable response, but maybe they really had just run into each other. Jinha stepped aside, signaling for him to go ahead. With a smirk, Chayoung walked past him and disappeared.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Maybe he really was headed to the library. Jinha scratched his nose awkwardly and walked to reading room 2 in the opposite direction.

ꕥ

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Just as Jinha reached the bus stop, the bus pulled away. Out of breath, he trudged up the stairs toward the lecture hall and froze. At the far end, near the lecture hall entrance, stood none other than Kim Chayoung.

If Jinha hadn’t been delayed, they would’ve run into each other.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Clutching his bag tightly, he held his breath. Chayoung glanced around while checking his phone. Jinha barely managed to duck around a corner in time.

After a few more minutes of lingering, Chayoung sighed and left. But, as luck would have it, he walked in Jinha’s direction. Did he notice him? Panicked, Jinha darted upstairs. He narrowly avoided being seen as Chayoung walked past.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Relieved, Jinha entered the lecture hall.

“You’re late. That’s rare for someone who’s always first.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Ignoring Sejin’s comment, Jinha set down his bag.

At least one thing was clear: if he arrived right when class started, he could avoid running into Chayoung.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…That plan lasted until Jinha saw him standing at the Humanities building entrance.

Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Chayoung smirked when he spotted Jinha. This time, Jinha stopped in his tracks. A brief, tense silence passed between them.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Looks like you’ve been busy lately. You’ve been coming late a lot.”

It was Chayoung who spoke first, his tone dripping with sarcasm. By now, Jinha couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are you doing this? Why are you so persistent?”

Didn’t he have classes? How did he manage to show up here every time? He’d heard art students were overwhelmed with projects. Was that an exaggeration?

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“All I’m asking is for a little bit of your time. That’s not an unreasonable request.”

“Yes, it is. I told you, I don’t want to. Seeing your face makes me uncomfortable. Isn’t it the same for you?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Jinha’s bottled-up frustration finally exploded. Chayoung stood there silently, his expression stiff, as if swallowing his words. The uncomfortable silence weighed heavily between them.

Jinha rubbed his face and sighed. If he’d just backed off earlier, this wouldn’t have happened. Why keep acting like this was some kind of fateful encounter?

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“I hope this is the last time we see each other. Goodbye, and don’t come back.”

“Do you think this is easy for me? Do you have any idea how much I—”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Chayoung’s murmurs were almost inaudible, and Jinha didn’t catch them.

“You’re going to be late for class. Let’s talk later.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Without waiting for a response, Jinha brushed past him, their shoulders almost touching.