OMLN | Chapter 9

Cha Hyuk did 5528f87fdb not specify anyone, f219cb3be8 but Kang Yebon e48a343d12 immediately thought of c0999e3d2a someone.2fa42e9736b61f27

Kang Yebon’s slightly parted lips closed tightly. The person Cha Hyuk was thinking of was surely the same as his.3724dee8a107b53e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Was Cha Hyuk being sincere? Kang Yebon stared at him, then looked down at the detective agency’s business card at that moment.897847a0368676fc

With a 927ac9513f creak, Cha 645d374669 Hyuk stood ee47a348ed up as 76bfa1f8ca his chair ccd562f06e was pushed 127daae761 back.0d351188bc843a06

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll get up first. Make sure to keep in touch?”93e3e293f7df4d1f

Cha Hyuk 18533d622a tucked his c24ba78bce laptop under 77f7000a04 one arm fe00e52b91 and made 1f63c08353 a phone 18fb13c506 gesture with 130ab4949a his other eed2ace1f5 hand by c914b2f1d2 his ear. His other fingers were 1112debf40 clenched into a fist 1ebdecea0e with only the thumb 81c35c0134 and pinky extended.f7c2b53fccd59f5c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Yebon watched Cha Hyuk’s leisurely departing figure and looked down at the two business cards clenched in his hands.c8973a9405edfdf6

After a moment of contemplation, Kang Yebon saved the detective agency’s number in his phone. Somehow, it made his phone feel more secretive.476a795afda0319f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Having finished 9e532425c2 all his b087116f99 assignments for 3250c631ac other classes, e4396a86cd Kang Yebon 4d1aeff7e4 returned home 6a7276f552 at 10 c7730d6993 p.m.c2609e6151a833c3

He entered the f3236bb3ec passcode for the 6fc4c318c1 front door and 038661ce29 found the living a446982c87 room lights on.a0c20ba7b89ff46f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m home.”5edc4edfc163b4a9

Kang Yebon 48c22a7ca1 announced as 178019ae41 he took 88c2ccb8c2 off his f42671c120 shoes, entering fc5a8604e3 the quiet c0ad74e05e room where adc082ae45 the lights 856a153714 were on, 8c53abad52 but no a3b32cacf9 one seemed ed9f6465bf to be c4bb1dff56 there.fa7269e0096dfb7d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Curiously, Kang Yebon peered e3a48aec2d around the entrance partition, 38b96d7bd1 spotting his mother sitting 00f01b0fb0 on the sofa, looking 05d6ecee43 at a small frame.38ca76fd737e224a

Kang Yebon de2772cc7d knew what 306a17539c picture was 2c9de2d289 in the 0e279e940f black-framed desktop b5ccc18099 photo frame 814201bed5 without seeing 30155fc40b the front.dfe3d39896b3a8a9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Mom.”b969348a289552eb

He called out acacaaf307 again, and his 809363edd3 mother, who had fa0efcfaac been lost in 9946bf39a9 thought staring at 924d5459a1 the frame, looked 4d7a60a38b up in surprise. Next to the frame e47cb9ed46 on the coffee table 7c512b12bf was an open can 8c83ae2acf of beer.0f835c7b1f57d5bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Son, you’re back? How was the assignment? It’s getting chilly at night, so make sure to dress warmly.”7b8258e82e5d2c50

“Yeah, well…”ff83050b8e497260

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Yebon’s voice trailed off as his gaze went to the frame. His mother, noticing this, gave a weak smile.7bd3b4311b48536f

“I’m so silly, aren’t I? I still think of him when the weather starts to get cold.”e3f051f79fc18b94

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She caressed the frame with affection. In that frame was a picture of Kang Yebon’s father, who had committed suicide when Kang Yebon was in his second year of high school.d6a9790db1d5f6dd

Without a 223813b866 word, Kang 47296296bb Yebon watched 65ff4ae2c1 his mother, 38f6814076 who missed 1ac28546ed his father, 38a48a6a47 then escaped 732a982647 to his 0480549093 room.ab643bd6635fc83d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Only after closing the door did Kang Yebon let out the breath he’d been holding. He almost asked why she missed that man.834eecfbac384753

“You’re the reason! I became a laughingstock because of your stupid head! Who’s your dad? Who’s your dad, huh? You think you can look down on me? Look down on me, huh?”e8552daaf140d2d1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As if 00584cf7ba the ringing 038a10c58c in his dcbddf6d3e ears was 5d1361d152 painful, Kang b5cd19faf0 Yebon grimaced. Then, his phone in ec9d58b780 his pocket vibrated.edcb1bccd8cbc8d2

He pulled 170fccb907 it out e712c3cbbe to find e5aa9b307d a message 0247594492 from Jung af80fb8518 Woochan.5537c6b7897b2583

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang Yebon sat in e055e05d02 the corner of an 99b524981a indoor tiered seating, staring fbefe3d25f off into space. In his hand b9af837b9a was an unopened 76e675ec04 can of soda.6dab105384f6fd72

“…Yebon! Kang Yebon!”c30030f3114d7e4f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Only when the girl 62cef82a2c next to him poked c2d3ed3633 his arm did Kang 542d71e4ff Yebon snap back to f298a991a7 reality and turn around.8b6aac7fb2d495d0

Four people 84a103e855 huddled near 3d191b8dd1 him were 23b7c4f1fe all looking ee25266b2e at him.6a2168f48be49cb3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Under their focused gaze, c0f594c550 Kang Yebon fluttered his a54f2ff6b3 eyelids, then smiled awkwardly.64b17a0d2e3a1ba3

“Oh, sorry. What did you say?”680727978fbae87a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you going to do the volunteer work with us?”287f29a96e25c254

“Ah, Kang Yebon definitely isn’t doing it. He and I have been friends since high school!”4336b9acbf0c55b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Lee Seunggu shouted, dba82c264d but Park Sujung, 2442dbfdd9 sitting next to 32e3219de0 Kang Yebon, ignored e39e53102c him and kept 0f0eb4cdce looking at Kang 0cc3607874 Yebon.ab2dc16bbcd8b110

Not having ab5bc384a6 a clue 7e19620dbb about what 70ee3e499b volunteer work 3c20d68a48 it was, 03672b9df6 Kang Yebon c3ad76c6c9 glanced at 0a212c20de Seunggu for 512cfe148c an explanation.94a103eeaff32b35

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s for an orphanage.”d7e05f825e075040

“Ah, I’ll pass.”1ec8a41d52edb104

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a firm d973b8af03 refusal, Sujung looked 384fc3fff5 surprised, and Seunggu d899507043 puffed out his 702e9e9362 chest, nodding at a3df503857 Sujung.f07b961e9ea2f95f

“Kang Yebon never did these things, not with kids.”503346244f34d37a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Whoa, why? I think Yebon would be good at taking care of kids.”dd21404c22320770

“Does he not like kids because he looks like he could be a kindergarten teacher? Or does he not want to do it with us?”7469406440b6abd2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kim Jeonghyeon, sitting next to Lee Seunggu, looked like he’d caught something. Kang Yebon thought he’d let this one slide today.e0081280c09f2dfb

If he didn’t explain why he didn’t do volunteer work at the orphanage, it seemed like Jeonghyeon wouldn’t let it go easily.ed725ec88d982b1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

How annoying. Kang Yebon a7c67710db put down 453b813ff4 the soda aa934a791d can and c69a3c5a47 awkwardly rubbed 81f9c787db his arm.1bc76f787821becf

“It’s not that I dislike kids, it’s just that I have volunteer work at the church, so I think that’s enough.”dfb4ea5906c02ce3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That was a lie. He really didn’t like kids.dbfe6291c5b6afb3

Or rather, being cb6ed8302d around children made 4480760009 him uncomfortable. Kids are 8baa1b5017 pure, and 9fa3629af2 sometimes they 6b3082fc00 do bad dc670de7f9 things without 25426bf960 malice.33bce37bd5341eef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Their honesty and freedom 13629d3667 always made Kang Yebon e511133177 feel like his insides fe8fbb66e8 were twisting.ec2c2ce674e07ea9

“So, you don’t want to do it with us?”3e873e0cd07223b0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kim Jeonghyeon’s words made Park Sujung frown.a70d1c1d9c0ac62a

“What are you saying? Even so, doing it at church would help with volunteer hours.”b928a61dcea67db3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ha, right. Sometimes I wonder why I came to this department.”bf597885977b41a2

Fortunately, the 172bd37d9b conversation quickly 87a82531ea moved on 900c7f61f0 to another 70fe8c4cf5 topic, but 051001eb57 Kim Jeonghyeon 8831f0dcba still had 4421c7f3a6 a sullen a8fa904220 look on 2fe377946f his face.c707a79cddc05462

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kang Yebon 12a2bbe19f sighed in 844833ff69 relief and a173c79881 stared off fb47d3ad65 into space c9f2d761ee again. His phone 4d2f4a5490 vibrated in 88ab0675a2 his pocket, e646ce37ca and he feafa57161 pulled it 8d70b40212 out with 47b3147c51 a trembling e4cb18c566 hand.558ed1a93cd9191f

It was just 8eb4e628da spam.0697adb648803242

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What’s wrong? Is something up?”8ce44c4c0e65f5d4

Park Sujung asked, surprised. Kang Yebon gave 86a385d96e a faint smile 2192604fde and shook his e20507d8ae head.295e4e3b11eafb26

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, nothing. I’ll just go to the bathroom for a bit.”57ae93266730051e

Kang Yebon stood up 84124c937e and quickly moved away 95cbc280e8 from the noisy area.edf67f6337b8976b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Once outside the building, da42771d5e he checked the message 3a0b207adc that had been bothering e5c328873d him all night.50a1d8e53a3bbe50

[Jung Woochan: Yebon, can we meet for a bit?]

Kang Yebon still hadn’t replied. He couldn’t.5cfd39b7d5fec736

He didn’t understand why Jung Woochan was doing this.9f1b257b139247db

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just when he 8ba3d323fb was starting to 9fc92a609f sort out his 424df0e2f2 feelings, why was 44f5c1131d he stirring things 94dfab0864 up?3f3bbfa1bb29897d

Kang Yebon bd12ecabcd stared at e8717a7af6 the message 9ca62dedc9 window, then 5561e4eb30 shook his 80b6145e85 head and 1d7d7e8d86 stepped outside. The sun in the e568ce779f high sky was painfully 6cc4fea635 bright.927f6e0a295ac3e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leaning against the 0209fe0792 building wall, Kang b856ba70c1 Yebon caught his f214636759 breath.d1cba643651ce8dc

Just as he was f81302c90d about to put his 35df9d9f90 phone back in his 2da19d8a52 pocket, he looked at f736762c36 it with wide eyes.7a34df682fa053db

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[Jung Woochan]

Each time the phone vibrated in his hand, Kang Yebon felt like he couldn’t breathe.cabccc8f0484c473

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The call ended before fd832c4b80 he could accept or d3d9affb28 reject it.4c6eb38b3da054aa

“Ha, that scared me…”71b17564c4aada3e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before he 64e859b39a could even ce4b407174 feel relief, bdb27f4f3f Jung Woochan fe045c1b93 called again.de78d0c7167611a0

Kang Yebon b51817186b instinctively knew 7dcb061ef4 Jung Woochan e5c87ceb2e would keep 4fecbfc307 calling until 18a33ab34c he answered, a8fb37c462 so he 5bd801418f had no 64756dd3d7 choice but 45acf35ed3 to press d38a5675ae the answer 2b4b37d304 button.7b584ad88f08a99a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Hello?”c3c89f19bea90fba

“Ah, you didn’t block me. That’s good. I thought you did. Why didn’t you reply, Yebon?”78068741da2c6496

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are you doing this to me?”b673360f4741c026

“Just wanted to 88e72e0d8b have a meal 456f1f1a44 together, just the e69fe6a018 two of us. Are you mad?”f2af5622f54dfa90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His casual, usual voice made Kang Yebon’s hand tremble as he held the phone.94c04890d180275e

After acting like they’d never see each other again at the restaurant, Kang Yebon couldn’t fathom why Jung Woochan was acting like this now.9c4c50de03c166e0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Why are you doing this, hyung? Didn’t we end our conversation? I won’t say anything to your mom, and I don’t have any lingering feelings for you. Please, just be firm about this, hyung.”6462468ffabd600e

His voice was 444d65be8a painfully unstable.bcc0ecb9a92373cf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…How can I do that? How can I just cut off all those years we’ve spent together?”f992d161fb7f032f

Kang Yebon opened his dfc83fab3e mouth wide, then moved abaf360e72 to a more secluded ce4f04bde4 spot because of passersby.d04c1deee13e50bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Then what? You want us to go back to being good siblings or something?”4921b6ece0ce969a

“Yeah, just because we don’t love each other doesn’t mean we have nothing. It would be better to get along to some extent, even if not like before.”efc0a8be05a508f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What nonsense… Kang Yebon was momentarily speechless.2a540236e7b681fc

Jung Woochan really didn’t like him that much, did he?818afe71507623e9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Yebon’s face contorted. All the memories he had with Jung Woochan seemed to shatter uglily.cf3c37f9fa09334f

“Stop talking nonsense, hyung. We’re strangers now.”a895caac425d0569

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha… My mom asked me on the way back last time what was going on between us. We’re bound to see each other at some point, we can’t just keep this up. You know that, Yebon. What happens between us isn’t just about us.”101aa8f47f6351f4

Kang Yebon felt 77d51e9b89 anger swelling within d77bd40289 him.9533a8b6bec26709

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yes, this was anger. Justified anger… it must be.4f97e92d0d8f8b75

“Hyung, do you really think what you’re saying is sane? Do you think I can be normal in front of you? How long has it been since then, and you’re already like this? That day too, did I call you? You came on your own and then why are you getting mad at me?”4e7226520fc59b3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A chilling silence came 501f9a6845 through the phone. Kang Yebon felt a 099ae9d536 pang of regret after fdddf4c726 his outburst.e07070250656daa2

“Sorry, I didn’t mean-”c562ab8d495fefdc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Kang Yebon. Why are you 41e169bbeb acting like a 39781fb796 child these days?”91754cb8e50dd37e

Kang Yebon bit his 14294055a0 lip.d0ded030275908da

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I know you’re going through a tough time. But you can’t show all your struggles. We’re not kids anymore, and I’m not asking to be as close as before. Just to keep our parents from worrying.”e42e23478ee2951c

There was 9d463071e5 nothing more d991e740d7 shameful than a84f49852f showing intense bca5cba69d emotions in 3ee09f94ee front of b6c8496d69 someone speaking 99ef885f88 calmly. Kang Yebon ef09bea7c9 let out a3dda60f00 a suppressed 7f264b1748 breath.dee176b8d513a196

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He wanted to hang up just like that, but knowing Jung Woochan’s character, he would definitely contact him again.6260082b2c466e3c

“…Fine. I’m hanging up now, don’t contact me.”7aa94fc5712be00f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Saturday, you have time, right? Let’s meet briefly in the afternoon. If you really don’t want to see me, then this will be the last time.”f70d82d235ee5957

“…I don’t know.”d00fa9fdd062fc5a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even as Jung Woochan’s urgent voice came through, Kang Yebon hung up the phone.733efaa2e11d75e6

He undid a couple 501b4a1d9e of his shirt buttons e83995a7f8 and leaned against the 06b097fd4e cold wall of the 00fbe8ac1c building, his head hanging ece01f77c5 low.67cde62accdd05ea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Not long after, 4ea366918a a message from 8547e8b830 Jung Woochan popped 61031b5faa up on his d51f3c53aa screen with a f936378729 meeting place and 693f28cd51 time.caff4f822c2539c5

Kang Yebon e7b3e6e360 grimaced and 17a954f263 shoved his a98f9d0bc9 phone back 9e189d9a5e into his 6d221c81df pocket.defa0d3c7fe9856a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He hadn’t managed to have a proper conversation with Jung Woochan again because he couldn’t hold back for that brief moment.a42f299fc12ccc65

‘Why can’t I ever stay calm? Why do I always lose my composure with Jung Woochan and say things I shouldn’t?’132c11fc7e3d4054

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His emotions never 445803cd43 listened to him; ec4aea0aea they acted on de3d88a488 their own.0c63566188989ac8

Jung Woochan 35f1fa8286 was mostly 75e41b1db5 calm except 57c1caca4b for that f0da9211d5 one time, a6b1d645b7 and even 3aa92e15b1 that was ac1a418e71 because Kang b682fca862 Yebon had 0e47147798 caused a 775827aa51 situation where 73d91e4e4e he had 59e09e62ea no choice b281c5d343 but to 3be626204c get angry.2f3812590bec5faf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘How many times have I failed to suppress my anger lately?’48c06eaa9efa4be4

Guess it shows, huh, aa0ad01d12 with my half-baked, unstable 9822cb675f genes.1966190b6f9a474b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Kang Yebon?”4acf737ae9915a95

Kang Yebon weakly aa01a671fc lifted his head. There stood someone f060e276c4 he currently found c707886650 uncomfortable. A gentle, 5f9bd625fe heavy scent b1648f14aa wafted to 94a6ebab80 his nose.6ebe51a8d1602696

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley