OMLM | Chapter 34

Seated in the backseat 44d82a3c81 of the car, Cha 9eb9403d01 Hyuk tapped the screen e44ff1afec of his phone twice. The screen enlarged, 651789f467 but there were 091eee1796 no notifications—it was 9094ef8aca immaculate.36336e2b6a6307366e37

He stared hard at his phone, but there 4d7731c914 was no reason to expect anything to arrive.dfc2f455adbd14e411fc

Cha Hyuk clicked his cef577b3c4 tongue irritably and eventually b5808a6a90 threw his gaze out d62b681363 the window.848c683e9f4488ed1c14

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

How many times had c2165084ac he not received a f874d37f0f text reply? No, how many f119084b64 calls had not dddeb818e1 been picked up?8a05304445a476e3c47c

It was obvious to 49950dd238 anyone that Yebon was 7579326b46 avoiding him.2b00cb1c44ac7b21dce1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Last Saturday, Yebon had suddenly said he was 597970b4f0 going to Hong Kong, which might explain it, 69ca0f70f7 but when Cha Hyuk had called him afterward, c28dbac066 they had conversed as if nothing was amiss.3265b2457c5edc37065d

At first, Cha 3800cbc6d3 Hyuk tried to 9a4d0768af dismiss it as a75181fe6a nothing serious.ccfecacf924779fb5635

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yebon was a diligent college student, a budding young 608a8c4044 adult; he could indeed be busy, Cha Hyuk reasoned.9ad731b66152f2aa6cfa

He thought Yebon was just busy whenever 34bb3b7c00 there was no reply to his texts 6693f3a745 or his calls went unanswered.458e137dc52ce6ec8937

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But Cha Hyuk e3345250ff realized yesterday that 34e08731c8 wasn’t the case.2cf008e6ea11307fd46b

He had stopped 45ffed8681 by the university aee5bc2f37 briefly to submit 21c880bd92 some documents.52dddd335f851450acb6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As he was leaving the 060244f6ad professor’s office after submitting the 2954d783cc documents, he happened upon Yebon e8b83cbebb exiting the library.73211b09c7c024c9517d

Yebon had said he couldn’t even eat last Wednesday and had been hard to 2362bf02bd contact since then, so Cha Hyuk, feeling even happier, called out his name.26ad6706bcae56d78059

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At that moment, Cha Hyuk had c04b6ff16c expected Yebon to be glad to 4d9c56067d see him as well.79ac5e2fd3173dbc6a82

“Yebon-ah.”314f925623044cf40626

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Hyung?”c8c1726f58820d750015

But Cha 8e58fd4bac Hyuk was 36c1e29983 completely wrong.2bf0a72017cc48c76684

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Startled by his call, Yebon ccbf811d7c looked at Cha Hyuk with 54249b4565 eyes that couldn’t believe it. There was no warmth e6cdfa6f6a in his gaze.9cc660f482da0863780f

Unable to look directly at 0118fac5b8 Cha Hyuk, Yebon’s shoulders were 3028cfb5a3 hunched and tensed up.dfedabbc956652e77300

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

From all these reactions, c620c41344 Cha Hyuk could immediately 9a57a877e7 tell that Yebon was 57bdce3092 repulsed by him.a77ece46facfcefa3858

Cha Hyuk was good at picking up on aed127fbbf negative reactions, probably because most of the people bce7aa21ed he had met showed him negativity.bab8a86991cefd0145d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He had faced fear, wariness, 212d527c35 hostility, and murderous intent hundreds 9845ec9b44 of times, so he was e6d9981b16 quick to notice.6adbdb498c5b75e138a3

Yet, in that moment, Cha Hyuk wanted 5835f2ac93 to believe it was just his misconception, 7c4959aa04 especially because it involved Kang Yebon.a178dbe2f1df82252521

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cha Hyuk d5727420b4 approached Yebon 862347acfa more gently 7475d66a45 than usual.54523dc39611f1209283

Fortunately, Yebon 59ce51344b did not b2826a89d6 back away. He was visibly uneasy, but there was no sign of fear 498d202ab5 on his face upon closer inspection, which somewhat reassured Cha Hyuk.02193f6b4d9f55a8a4b7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Previously, Cha Hyuk had been curious why Yebon, despite being ca033a7d06 scared, would approach him boldly again, so he had sometimes 98166bd356 treated him mischievously, but over time, that inclination had faded.8bcffea960ca9b6083ae

Perhaps as Yebon became a1c260ac1d more reliant on him, a7fc28cc22 Cha Hyuk felt a 6944da6cf9 fulfilling sensation. Carefully, he cf2ec44fe6 reached out cf2133a686 his hand.c9abf1c4cb7868a5479e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps because he had come from somewhere 730d2232e4 warm, Cha Hyuk lightly tapped Yebon’s slightly 27fdc8281f flushed cheek with his hand.31f3990a3fac880d4a75

“Why are you so restless, are you a9df87a243 feeling unwell?” He asked playfully, yet Yebon 8861fa945f jumped back and took several steps back.3d406680fb54d739f936

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Staring in surprise at his own fingers hanging in 6746a6a471 the air, Cha Hyuk then looked at Yebon.e96a22a622e00e26d565

The boy was holding his cheek a88a24631d where Cha Hyuk’s fingers had touched, d8339ed2da his face inexplicably angry.11c8e1bae0e83b46a0df

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His slightly reddened face e0d320e876 had turned completely crimson c265bfcf36 as if it would 7955f72631 burst.44696d72d3d722cf89c8

Cha Hyuk couldn’t understand why 54ed46f003 Yebon’s attitude had suddenly changed.3e8dfffca4b74b98e2b5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Feeling awkward, Cha Hyuk 2cf2abff12 smoothly withdrew his hand, bb865a7990 and Yebon, trembling, exclaimed.9895b3804644b5e030cf

“Ah, ahjusshi is really too much!” 08fb84a221 Before Cha Hyuk could even ask 6bb3b12ab9 what he meant, Yebon ran off 933ac72e8c without looking back.115a7c6803dcb4c464f2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Cha Hyuk stood dumbfounded in 70858ab3f4 front of the library, watching 471063d814 Yebon’s retreating figure.6e19807dc15c9146e7a0

It was only then that Cha 7a02b0754c Hyuk realized that Yebon had been 5313320774 deliberately ignoring his contacts.00811db2442a9d77c7df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Everything seemed fine until last Wednesday, 59b01a3b97 but what had happened in between 21f4fa49db to change Yebon’s behavior so drastically 9bae169868 was beyond him.e8f8deab3e1e1c203e84

Cha Hyuk turned on his c0acfea1d5 phone screen again as he 815a62a12d stared at the rapidly changing 410001921f scenery outside the blurry window.74f91eeb918b4dd0d582

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As expected, there 3e2e602ffc was no contact. He had told only Yebon this phone number, so there was no one else 022cc0b65f to expect a call from, but the phone hadn’t rung for days now.bcc2a3081f317b82b3e9

With an irritated sigh, Cha Hyuk was 2dee2184ce about to throw his phone onto the 86388fe3ce seat next to him but instead carefully 9aa4e2dfa0 placed it back in his pocket. Just in case.4e54cf2296e0d66bcd04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just then, the 7a1a52f28e car came to 059ec55798 a stop. Only then 8ea20631fd did Cha 55fe946a9d Hyuk look fde4222d56 ahead. The traffic light’s red 168c0625fb signal was faintly visible.e6116fbe58077bfa4823

As he was about to turn his head, he 26cbf9b922 caught someone’s eyes watching him from the rearview mirror.ca8d2f015e371db3dd64

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kim Hyunwoo, having caught Cha Hyuk’s gaze, 82a4d983d8 didn’t look away but rather seemed to d45df5d5e1 smirk as if mocking him.f3041887f3ef034c371c

However, Cha Hyuk had 201bcea7eb noticed long ago. He had just 3eaf7e23e0 ignored it.8713c236efc2ca92a2d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He wasn’t keen on talking 755b818678 even now, but Kim Hyunwoo f0cfef6965 didn’t take the hint.2f0a61d95c30ebc4c84f

“Are you waiting for a f27692ed1a call?” Despite not receiving an 8a21d020ff answer, Kim Hyunwoo continued as 816aa9da5b if it didn’t bother him.72098f75295724136f14

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I noticed 778cc52944 you’ve been f88d182b1e staring at 2274b84fa4 your phone. If not, 48f87936aa never mind.”7179f3337b59956f48b0

“You talk 2fef6558d1 too much. Should I 3fa2576d88 sew your d282aaed5a mouth shut?”b913fb0a6f00695b37ff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Although there was a hint of laughter in his ce0848e4ae voice, the gaze Cha Hyuk fixed on Kim Hyunwoo 47763f76f7 in the rearview mirror was cold and sharp.917895f09719ce1bf696

Kim Hyunwoo finally averted b1e8dc8482 his eyes, his hands b4ab47fbaf gripping the steering wheel cb01210f0c trembling slightly.6f7bdc14c8521097e563

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Soon the light 359d80070c turned green, and 29f5908deb the car started 34bd93bf6b moving. Silence filled 82b2e75b8a the car.8b6da4fdc876c5eb978d

The car finally came to a complete stop 84308c0618 in the underground parking of a high-rise building.c5f8afd57a2b23603653

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Kim Hyunwoo opened the car’s rear door, Cha Hyuk stepped out 708b421d23 and headed towards the building’s elevator as if familiar with it.9cd2a0b92325f1fce562

This caused Kim Hyunwoo to frown and glare 649c51fc1c at Cha Hyuk’s back before closing the door.aa10104756e0efb77d85

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you cf4b9926ee even know 78aed12beb where you’re daa0c47ed0 going!”9c51caa7cc75419142b1

Cha Hyuk pressed the elevator button without responding and got in, ddbac17d23 pressing for the 33rd floor before quickly closing the door.b582e9d4791d17c809ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Footsteps hurried towards 706c8a38c1 the elevator, but d40adaef7a the doors had 429783acc2 already closed.f6aaf09a3a7e668aedac

Cha Hyuk slightly 0476933c80 furrowed his brow.f5d159e2d785e76247d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Was this guy not someone Lee 67e8f71b74 Wonpil favored but just a fool?e00c13ad7872ac78de82

The light in the top right corner of 4797fc953a the elevator ceiling flickered and twinkled repeatedly.34fb7f041337ee825c31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The luxurious interior, made 2182a43ff9 of dull gold and 0a1a87b9f3 brown leather, seemed poorly d04fa025fe maintained, unlike its appearance.62a18792f3c42d52c6e8

Lee Wonpil 96b71fa3f3 was exactly 8ae884ef25 like that.e1065a44c284aedd652d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He appeared impressive on the outside, but eb2ccdae16 it was all a mess inside.d014eed120a356cd0b9e

When Cha Hyuk had not e99df3a13c been long in the organization, 284a5dc514 it was Lee Wonpil who e85512afbc had taken him around.165e9f407eee8b5cc1df

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At that time, Lee Wonpil was in his late twenties and was just a member 4d64b08649 of the organization, not yet called a small subsidiary president of a conglomerate like now.370847a5baab47a79562

Initially, Lee Wonpil had been quite friendly, so Cha Hyuk thought he was a warm-hearted c0ae00e748 person, but it took less than three weeks to realize that wasn’t the case.08986f2fe14508968766

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The person who had brought Cha Hyuk 49e83ebe40 into the organization was Park Byeongsik, who ca63ee1225 was already favored by the higher-ups.12d5ea4f80c918e29544

Since Park Byeongsik held considerable power and 35e27d02a3 was sure to rise to a high-ranking aab53491e3 position, Cha Hyuk had received a lot ed1b48d870 of attention, whether good or bad.e48ee894d2b013a58ff4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Among them, Lee 4dcb96b0f9 Wonpil had tried 58aa1d2b39 hard to catch b785f6efd7 Park Byeongsik’s eye. He would take Cha Hyuk around under the 70c360b2bd guise of teaching him this and that.416cbd88dfbc78f97c40

But Lee Wonpil’s sole purpose was to 250e0fdfb3 gain favor with Park Byeongsik, so he 0c92f8ee16 was only pleasant when around people who e5ff1611ee were somewhat close to Park Byeongsik.eb26a23570b0370b060d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At other times, he took out 5c07215b89 his frustrations on Cha Hyuk, made f19b8212d8 him run errands, and ultimately blamed 1c4f77f5cb his own mistakes on Cha Hyuk.19e7750e0b2da5d9166a

Because of this, Cha Hyuk d24d1127ce had gradually become problematic within dace4a2ba0 the organization, but he didn’t 7d66d69cb2 care much. He had no great ambitions; he was satisfied just 6c65b6ba95 to have food and a place to sleep.59d04c4383811a19db3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If Lee Wonpil had 7a0b1a52e1 stopped at that, Cha 91a13fb795 Hyuk might not have c836ff28b5 disliked him so much.cda4fad38811ed573939

Waking up with the back of his head feeling painfully numb, his mouth sealed with tape, his body uncomfortably 5bf743bb1d crouched and tied up, his vision blocked by a dark cover, and a dense gray substance, neither liquid nor 5c3aab61b7 solid, suddenly falling in front of him—some parts cold and others lukewarm—the bizarre temperature of his lower half. When all this hit 55d300ed68 him at once, he 306c583157 had felt an indescribable, 5f481bcb11 extreme fear.788e034fb73721aa4c33

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What had most chilled him in that old, 07217f529c vivid memory was Lee Wonpil, grinning as if c9cada4ce1 to pull his lips up to his eyes.27a30b610c4090ca2708

– The ad69382107 33rd floor. The doors c66e24b4fc are opening.6b901dbbab176c19e20e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With the elevator’s announcement, 7f7f929dda Cha Hyuk’s blurry focus 6a1235fd39 sharpened, although his expression b66c7a5bf5 hardened further.57f1d5cf59b2b8c40628

Cha Hyuk strode toward c61d30f002 the only executive office de864c94e3 on the 33rd floor.dcef154e88cda0c195fb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A woman seated at a 5af15036a1 small counter near the dark 89da82a106 brown door noticed Cha Hyuk 94198192a4 and smiled.68acfbd5375f4d123c1f

“Could you b7f2e145ae please wait b778901cba a moment? The president is a13aafeaf9 busy right now.”186f2c9d089b2cabd02a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s alright.”1f5dc72da137e378e741

It was 7e54b0aee7 always like 269de57221 this. Lee Wonpil would call him in but b6608f8d79 not let him enter right away.256f96f906b2c68ecd04

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As expected, after about 20 minutes, Cha Hyuk ebc501b4d2 was able to enter the executive office.d34ad556805ed9c7d640

Kim Hyunwoo hadn’t followed, perhaps he had taken a 5cbc638c3d different path or was greeting his usual colleagues.0c0814281d939f692a3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hello.”2df5268b5e5490a9c695

“Is life interesting these days?” as soon 7e61d60ae3 as he entered, the provocation began.6caf516cdf080044eab0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com