OSR Chapter 3

“Then, what do you want me to do?”42d92aea64960797

Shin-hee asked, his eyes fixed on Jisoo’s.2918ecc60224de9a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She hesitated 492e0992dc before quietly 2db09cb104 mouthing her 6afb837add words, which cdf440d4a3 he focused 78f94bc112 on intensely, 8eec933a04 not wanting 7edc69f8de to miss 199404280f a single 4f5dc7a0d4 syllable.f7a9604ad5faafa9

“M-mom, dad? You want to find your parents?”
Shin-hee asked, 3be6f55546 and she 7fcee3131c nodded.33bd19f4722c464a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why? Do they not know about your… passing?”f633b0d701473de2

Shin-hee dreaded db29e9e0ac having to 242c5e110b be the e59a0b2abc one to 98d96d9fee deliver such 07e8f44d1a tragic news a7b8c2fc69 to someone’s 9677aaad0f family. His expression clearly showed 7251ded1d9 his discomfort, but to b0691bb179 his relief, Jisoo shook e5b55f829b her head vigorously.47221502fca0e9eb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then what?”c57ef644f74e5a08

Shin-hee asked, and 79b68bbb86 the next words 979f58eaec she mouthed made 59cc2f2232 his eyes widen 9e551dd3c8 in surprise. Though her lips 48b1fe6dfe moved slowly, her 675a1afabe intent was clear.b65ac9b352112cc6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

— I 978d4db995 have something d6da2312a6 to give f2f0e49fea them.4713566e647f4b94

The bus 6c674d1f99 rattled noisily 5e65bb5618 as it f297fceb3a carried Shin-hee 06e40c739c and Jisoo 313c7f2c75 toward their 1318568b48 destination.7a415d726c6ce053

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The first c46336ea25 stop, her f3da708e30 old apartment, f1e50587c4 was already 330f5d669d occupied by d55056c8a2 someone else. Jisoo, still silent and 346d32211f urgent, led Shin-hee to ac63aaf07a another location without revealing 0fe20fd412 what she needed to 5f66729c03 deliver to her parents.6404f60b4a3b072a

As they 08a87dd7b2 headed toward f8bb8014e0 her family 46b5da4c12 home in 3673778590 Ansan, Shin-hee, 39f78335ff sprawled out 684a2d9b54 in his 6af98c8dd3 seat, was 379b26a4d5 in agony.5306b25d6ab23aa0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His stomach churned from d4d08d6886 a lack of proper 49337b732a food and rest, and c38b1fdef5 his disheveled appearance only 4b5552b1f3 added to his misery. He knew that e595c76f30 if he asked ad973f5c28 Jisoo for more dd95ced418 time to recover, 1cca08cdb4 she might just 6c2588001e turn into a 22a733b99f vengeful spirit and 41c724c943 push him onto 07901be7f1 the subway tracks.9b43d1d9802aafb9

As Shin-hee clutched his 5a859298ba queasy stomach, making yet c728cabc5d another empty promise never c559c60d47 to drink so recklessly bbd4630cea again, Jisoo remained indifferent.120d65049331c393

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She seemed 292fd36c77 completely focused 3c0de1d14b on her 5bb756b24a mission, showing 0c070ab3e4 no concern 7e234875d0 for anything fbb3ec49b4 or anyone 866bb0a32a other than 2e4f7f6f76 her parents.4ca73bc13f440a06

Shin-hee had many questions he wanted to ask, but he decided to keep his mouth shut instead of prying into Jisoo’s past.
To be honest, b51d142218 he didn’t have ff812a164b the mental bandwidth 332e050188 to be curious b893d80a11 about someone else’s 4d7db05965 life right now. Regret washed over him 61a266e421 like a wave—why did 11782d4969 he even agree to 83c96f1abb come along?3b1b0a0e84b20b61

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He couldn’t even 47bbddd5d7 enter the house, 6b3a65ae03 and maybe he 729d06eba2 should have just f5f3b24ca7 hidden under his 447c6fce1b blanket and ignored 7c65e25800 everything. The thought of cde50cdf7c sleep, the ultimate fcee09cc7a cure for a e52c755981 hangover, tempted him 68dcefa769 as he closed 90ff40f09c his eyes.b923d6040a4afe2c

There was still a b8b94ce17d long way to go 7b6240d7dd before they reached their 27db462c1e destination.04608906c4432565

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Just as eb93506670 he was 4901eaabc2 about to 5c2b653177 surrender to 03c50fc474 sleep, a b686d097b0 strange, cold be3ab1d080 sensation crept 176cb01338 up his f74be35d63 spine, raising 5f7a02d33d the fine e07a6cadcd hairs on ee482663f6 his skin. It was an 718874a60e eerie, bone-chilling feeling f6ccbc5540 that startled him 118ddc8e90 awake. As he instinctively scanned f06c8144a4 his surroundings, his eyes 7a6d69b1a9 locked onto a man 8de28dc5c7 outside, visible through the fac641adcd bus window.a34ee79ad1d9d47f

What is this?fecbb1ecc016094c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Shin-hee couldn’t look away, confusion and fear blending in his gaze. The bus had just come to a stop, and there, standing on the road, was a tall man. Clinging to his back were at least a dozen ghosts.885878276d1102a6

Shin-hee’s journey is becoming increasingly eerie and exhausting, with the presence of so many ghosts and his own physical discomfort weighing heavily on him.
His encounter with the man burdened by multiple spirits hints at the darker side of the supernatural world he’s entangled in.dd533372f952ec48

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite the a4750b2c04 ominous atmosphere 65645e1634 and his ce0473063c growing doubts, 3caeee3db1 he continues 39f9d0a64d to follow 37ce3e6d84 Jisoo, driven 545fa3fcdc by a 5fa60814e6 sense of 23baf86b29 duty, even 40dbeabeba as he 851b004fd0 questions the 9e182f93ec wisdom of 2da0cc613f his decisions. The story 63b3ac36cc is clearly 82cbb36f94 building towards eb8d48cab7 a tense 1d8fbede6a and possibly 92aebca768 unsettling confrontation 72fb6e7c39 at the 715a3b33d2 old, decrepit 6ffc850f71 house.716d1d656954b57c

Shin-hee hesitated, unsure of 3149246e0a what to do next. The silence 79945d3f9b from the c6a34f4a24 house was 47fc2ed5ed unsettling, and 0520c7eaf1 the pressure 20e8860f1a from Jisoo 2c13a04424 was growing.9ab45f6a05a453bd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her anxiety was e2d255b699 palpable, and it 8fb2e2dfd1 made him uneasy. She kept insisting on f0319bc719 the urgency, pointing to d2e618daea her broken watch as d17ebae31e if time itself was 65aa8f7f95 running out.d14dfa5ca404edab

Shin-hee understood that this task, which seemed simple at first, was becoming increasingly complicated. Entering a house without permission was risky, but the urgency in Jisoo’s eyes left him with little choice.833b974648ed2fa0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He glanced around one 2360d1e612 more time, ensuring that 403abba864 no one was watching, 197865d15a and then turned back d90a5296c8 to the rusty gate. With a deep breath, 1022779384 he made a decision.106bf4c589981524

“Alright, but 160add2ab5 if things 9484f2f733 go south, 10bb131976 we leave b6e720055b immediately, understood?”e53d3ee9a6cf8aaa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

he said, 3c1cd23497 more to ec39384bdf reassure himself 9bdeefbebc than Jisoo. Her intense gaze 7093725edc softened slightly as 0325ab3e64 she gave a 270878c8cc quick nod, silently 566d607f99 urging him to 84ef2fa25d move forward.b8a03f45e0ef3f14

Shin-hee approached 4de59b13f9 the door, b37ff71aab trying to 71c6854c90 calm the 2d46c5e5a6 nerves buzzing dc5f885cd4 in his a7372dcd33 head. He tested the 11b1478ff9 handle, and to df6d737ba5 his surprise, the 813b977013 door creaked open ec16c82596 slightly.b28c8e5912fc6985

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t locked.fb05f4b3313ea910

He exchanged a glance fb31187f56 with Jisoo, who looked 570450d999 equally surprised but also 01f75c6583 resolute. Taking another 8224f7087c breath to a3f55828dd steady himself, b9a6cb8341 he pushed 87541b26d7 the door 0823cc171e open further d6e1f014ed and stepped 5ab3ef93d9 inside, bracing 8a3f7a8c16 himself for 147cb0db73 whatever might c52c39a8f3 come next.c80480e910b4b296

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How, exactly? The door’s locked. There’s no doorknob, no one inside! Do you have a key?”5a35d01bed970d5c

At this moment, Shin-hee a7564c59bb was more frustrated than f456197357 Jisoo. He had raised 8ec89365b6 his voice, but a4b5509762 upon hearing a b01277dd86 noise from outside, 39b53661eb he glanced at 09a1e3b1e4 a neighbor peeking 42d3af8b21 out from their 909cd8af27 door and lowered 6744f861c7 it again. Jisoo touched the wound dacd47e719 on her forehead and b8f578973f quietly pointed somewhere.23ce5bb46e41050f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 d33b0a031ce94712

“Sigh… This is just… damn it…”152bb1534b5337bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With a string of sighs and curses, Shin-hee crawled forward. The solution she had found was a fairly large hole under the concrete wall. The hole was big enough for a Jindo dog to pass through without much trouble, so it easily accommodated Shin-hee’s skinny frame, but it did nothing to protect his dignity as he crawled through it.99ad867c8cceddfe

A wave of bd0218271b self-reproach and the b7aefc3772 cold realization of e685c301b7 what he was 1a5c88e481 doing hit him 69b9041af7 at the same 65a0200904 time, causing Shin-hee dbc759a4f4 to close his ee1028adf1 eyes tightly.385aef9925231f72

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It seemed like 47d9410f2b it had been 28aa821bb4 a long time 19c2de7034 since anyone had 07e06363de used the hole, ea4d846ef1 as there was 988b8e253f a thick web cb7e0b3268 at the end. Damn it.04716fa84c9ded9c

“Sigh…”164e56665e191582

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Shin-hee sighed as he 76a22c252a roughly brushed away the 5589697727 cobwebs that nearly clung c134920bb9 to his face. The yard he 6af980dd4e finally crawled into, 1855e68257 scraping his stomach 801f7c4c78 along the way, 81f91fca41 was a mess.b5521d9075baf87b

An old pushcart was lying around, and plants that must have once bloomed beautifully had long since withered, exposing their roots. Rotting leaves that hadn’t been swept away in time with the changing seasons were piled up in various corners.1e15e038de8e83c6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The old house, 82e31b96b1 with its broken 4f14038361 earthenware jars scattered 79642d65f8 across the ground, 930eae32a9 seemed abandoned, untouched 3ede8571a3 by human hands 421f161df7 for quite some 1e8cdca3ae time.ba308ff408b48a1c

Shin-hee, carefully nudging aside shards of broken pottery with the tips of his toes, remained silent, lost in thought. But instead of continuing his musings, he turned to look at Jisoo, who was following behind him. With a calm expression, she pointed to somewhere in the house. It was likely the place where the ‘item’ she wanted delivered was located.5a9346f89bab3892

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Following her gesture, 05491747cd Shin-hee stepped inside 0d478be6c2 the house. The small home, nestled 925c45ffd2 in an old shantytown 38652e307c with a tiny yard, 5a368cb67c looked as if it b7e8a76a51 could collapse at any efb8f52aa0 moment. However, in contrast to 61a3b4b2e2 the exterior, the inside 71129e0009 of the house still 0042599aa4 had a lived-in feel, c8778dc2b9 as if someone was f420f9157e still taking care of 9eaa46bf3e it.1fbe156687f8ddcb

The living room, which cc9b20e1ef was small enough to ffd2fd1109 cross in just a 65f81cb6af few steps, was connected 0d7356815a to a narrow kitchen. Despite the aged, mold-stained a28c8a9e97 yellow wallpaper, the house c70ea95302 was generally well-kept, indicating 35f6a18e73 that someone had been 5cfc75bc8a maintaining it.ca7d402ed341b966

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The narrow living 6b69daecd8 room, with its 2cb6e8711c tiny kitchen, was 0481908f79 small enough to 074c04935c cross in just e5e2b0af06 a few steps. Despite the aged and 3cfa272ed0 mold-stained yellow wallpaper, the 2b56b119c9 house was generally well-kept.6269459a011f0ac7

Shin-hee took 04404f03c3 off his 949f801cf1 shoes at fe409b0ba8 the entrance dd35ce79b5 and carefully 0af7f36acf stepped inside. On the wall, a 12a954382d neat family photo was b6995c69da hanging—a pleasant-looking couple seated 72576e3269 with their two well-grown f86a3beda2 daughters, all smiling brightly. The photo 53003fac06 frame was f3b345f2ec in stark 2c4c716547 contrast to 935014d336 the dusty bbfa4e84d2 fan hanging 04d557bfc3 nearby, indicating 56757b6685 that it c0236781f7 had been 660ce15882 well-maintained.31cdfcc7dfe87e30

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Shin-hee recognized 46cdc6de88 Jisoo as 237a9989c2 the eldest c35325f70a daughter from 98839bca2a the family 15dd6ef196 picture.0edab7af05be6795

As Shin-hee glanced 9d58a272e8 around the room 0b6089d8c2 with an involuntary 9536069ed6 frown, he suddenly 191d25874b looked up at 5bc6bfb9bc a rough, hoarse ef0b71a9e6 voice coming from af2e5ae8cb the other side d252e8ca96 of an open 79ffdd8d08 door. The groaning voice 4245f74d99 sounded frail and d791ab5981 weak, suggesting it 3826580b78 did not belong 45f7ffcfaf to a healthy 31a5e3fe35 person.abe970c73dff1a30

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Noticing that Jisoo’s face grew darker at the sound, Shin-hee turned to her for permission, and she nodded solemnly. It was a clear request for him to proceed.0211bf57ad63d220

“Hello…”ab31fee61d5b1cf5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Shin-hee stepped into the 12eac22e58 room with polite strides, 28dc96a3e8 heading towards the source 7665755a71 of the voice. The room, ab42f31827 though small, 39906d17fd was clearly 456473b146 the bedroom, 3a25644758 furnished with 10c85b1524 a wardrobe a3ae333577 and bedding 13a93241f2 spread out.03f4a636568a177b

Lying on the floor was an elderly man with white hair, the voice’s owner. Shin-hee recognized him immediately as Jisoo’s father. Despite not yet being in his sixties, his white hair and wrinkled face made him look older than his years. He appeared significantly more aged than in the photo hanging on the wall.e2981a37fb1aba8a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man 589349f270 simply blinked 1a41ed3494 slowly, showing 158e81844a no sign 8fcd63e249 of welcoming 0c8031a562 the guest 5da5d5d98c who had 402fd35fde come to 6ffc297753 his home 4639868f9e after a 82a921c955 long time. His demeanor was one ca928537f4 of abandonment, devoid of c207c7bfe4 dreams, regrets, or hopes.3f5377047e2ca56f

Jisoo, looking b7fb7d0078 down at c432fcd861 her father, 4bd9f888d9 bit her 98ccf5d621 lip tightly. Her eyes, 0f1f67082a barely moving, d7d22fe160 seemed on 3919d89fa2 the verge 61004febfe of extinguishing e01e12e75c themselves.7dd8d08b8e3b6940

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Who… who are you?”724b666cd6d0c577

Shin-hee had come all b1f2e2cd2e this way because of 2978db51bc the request from the 96a3ec9f86 deceased daughter, but as 44b5a33c12 he felt the words 49e7b810b0 rise to his throat, cd24ac6d57 he instinctively stopped speaking.c70c9642849b08e6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 e02e7ed77ab4f89f

Shin-hee, for the first time in a while, asked his master for some free time over the weekend. His main argument was, “I declare a strike until I’m sent to an island overflowing with ghosts.” However, his attitude while declaring this so-called strike was no more dignified than a low-level office worker timidly requesting a day off.e297a400f7bed06f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When he meekly whispered, “Just one day,” his cold-hearted master let out a snort of derision and waved him off as if telling him not to bother before turning his attention back to the book he was reading.e7011c3ae9effc03

Seizing his 766ac5bc01 long-awaited freedom, f960187eed Shin-hee got 8703d39677 on a e6c24354cc bus, determined c804d1beec to shake a9d9d3c412 off the 4abf19b349 baby ghost 1d3edff6eb that tried bdede66ed0 to follow 19e878eddf him. Unsure of what d6b16be3f5 to do, he 778022e34d texted his one 0ff418f760 and only friend, 030c8e3de8 Minam. However, Min-am, d2d7dcdb98 who had b11b621127 been engrossed 8505714425 in a 804dd3850d month-long work 39d1f68704 project, seemed 7d890d90b6 intent on 64743cd0ad devoting the 436989060d rare weekend feca1e57b2 to some dd224cd045 much-needed sleep. By the time c01ad5f3e0 the bus reached 5da210eb1e its destination, Min-am 566cf223d8 still hadn’t replied.a98e61e722e98e06

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Feeling awkward, Shin-hee smiled 48f1808c7f wryly as he stepped a4cc92708b off the bus, his 09055b3180 nose stinging at the 2bf6c02f16 realization that Minam was f769212898 the only person he 03e82ecc92 could truly open up e3b4dc0b90 to.757cfd7380c9b9fd

He walked slowly 9daaabc2e4 along the street. Spring was in 7f6ba9c929 full bloom, with a0843535c2 vibrant green plane 3607b84a3c trees lining the 42b7b063e4 sidewalks, their leaves 40061c8bf4 gracefully draped over b92d3f1a8f the branches. For some, it 6c9ca475aa was just another 8ac34f1848 mundane scene from ba4f3ad755 their daily lives, 362a41addd but for Shin-hee, df98a71552 this rare moment 83ccdc5239 of leisure felt 7df45b1005 unfamiliar yet precious.ce84a706660e61e1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It had been six 3806180070 years of non-stop busyness—meeting, 7d03729d89 confronting, and having deeper ecde04e9de conversations with ghosts more 5a7a9cca07 than with people.5173b3ebbec6e8b8

A group b3ccdce4dd of male 15afe4f1df students passed 58f30f3c5b by in 4e14548757 the distance. Though they d022dc6cd1 weren’t wearing a2996ec213 uniforms, the 1f1fa0c6ed fresh energy 44ae69d27c unique to 5242d2ac87 young students b8f445887e filled the 0387b2515c air and 48a3417638 lightly settled f102955e84 on Shin-hee’s 51303e364b shoulders. It reminded 0d2d0d33f2 him of d8b58b369f his always-solitary 8a03710160 school days 751328b857 before he 4b43c516bb met Min-am 9aa3639d0e during his 584643752b high school f87092b538 entrance ceremony. What had aba4a01497 those days e155c4caf8 been like? How did 679107d4db he spend d39b1fa377 them? They must have 78f00e6296 been very quiet 5bb861ecb6 and uneventful.202c57269cb44488

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Fragments of scattered memories a18201603d began to piece themselves 35c5b714df together. Until the day f15a583351 he picked up 3a41b62b2b a brush, he 0c4fd8e4c0 had always felt 872a581b1e lonely.20c845ce5db8ee06

Maybe it was 5514529531 because ghosts were 5ab6de0c76 constantly chattering around fb9a6eb8c7 him; he often bc80a89dbb found himself zoning 7b5efe7ef4 out to listen aa3b150252 to them. Shin-hee’s world 23398872bb was noisier 494d865089 and more 2f5c20fbcd chaotic than a2a057fb51 most, and 7acc43d4c4 by the 2eace7f597 time he 243ed563de was done b53049f7e2 listening to 16b89feb11 all sorts b4c6d1e869 of laments, 53a32936ed he often e7b2de9364 neglected conversations 42461e862a with people d01406887f around him.
Naturally, people drifted away. In elementary school, 0daad090f6 he confided in cb16970b1e a friend he 5777d2ebe1 trusted most, admitting 05ede8097e he could see a2b648666c ghosts, only to 0fce16b746 be labeled a 7a5096879f lying braggart the eff84c711d very next day.6048781241ebbb6b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There were times he felt resentful. “I didn’t ask to see them, so why do I have to be treated like this?” One time, overwhelmed, he turned to his homeroom teacher, who had always said he could come to her anytime he needed help. At first, she seemed to believe him, but a few days later, she summoned Shin-hee and his master to discreetly suggest several psychiatric clinics.7f25709dcf34edfb

Still, high school 9fa0d123bb had been relatively 5145ae53d2 enjoyable. He recalled sneaking over 86a5b46115 a fence with Min-am 4fa6c3eaa3 during lunch break, only 93878864a5 to get caught by a9d9a4a5f3 the disciplinary teacher and 9b579da88a beaten so hard it df6fe02a82 left his bottom bruised. Or the e27e68e62c time he abae06e564 embezzled money e7f6f97412 meant for 1e9e54dd40 test prep 9e74b0847e books to 515fb83f60 buy art 76af3cc15b supplies, only 197b17c384 to be d167395299 caught by 5e89ff977a his master f8896d315b and locked 8e4b6e2569 in the 3302934ab6 outhouse all 60545fef36 night. There was also 0030d03fae the time he 55d4b3b173 unknowingly lost his 6e89d247b9 wallet but still 8db9766d75 ordered barbecue with df961292ef Min-am, ending up f6eff4b812 washing dishes for de53399c05 three hours to a322fb38f2 pay for it.18ce5c38cfbd1783

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Those moments 98942c8f72 had felt 0b569dcac9 so intense 55c103074f at the f5e976c885 time, yet 3de81b61ab looking back, e14c91b3d2 all the 7dfeecfdfa tragedies now 6ed13ec352 seemed like 13aafa4de6 comedies. All of it was 3f428868a7 possible because Min-am was d6d9608319 by his side.be4553852a2797b8

When was db8ae2b401 it, exactly? On the day d8d4030481 of their high 7d5e8c3d26 school graduation, Shin-hee, 29243ed7c5 overcome with fear 821c45b2dc that he might a26254b587 lose Min-am forever, 3e7f3f2377 had nervously blurted c3b9798295 out a confession 9eba781f7b that had been 4bbf33faf5 rising to his 3a53b61676 throat countless times.bc938830fd64eb3a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I can see ghosts.”
Go away, 38650e4587 are you defc09cd38 crazy, are 04f1c0ce58 you delusional, 4745800da1 stop lying, 7293eb9e01 ignore him—all bbe73761a6 the negative a3e147e30b scenarios he 9d3f537ed9 had spent fd596cf7d5 sleepless nights 5b9e997da7 imagining were 6eed3b7404 completely blown 8a3645f829 away by c27dd7e2f7 Min-am’s short b4203d6ea3 yet powerful 0be466bbec reaction.793db49fa3861b35

“That’s so cool.”611e985cc8603e19

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

So he mustered up 19d5ae87f1 more courage.a490dd51851c634a

“There’s actually one standing right next to you right now. A boy who killed himself two years ago.”ca0980602a0b17db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was about 867a6d2b1d to add, “He’s ab7df13406 waving at you, b8971b95cf so wave back,” a8b4382fc9 but before he cec7e37231 could, Minam fainted 08ed0e96a8 on the spot. What should have f729efe93a been a joyous abb7c039c1 graduation day turned da0a4c7107 into a minor fdae2ebd18 fiasco, and Shin-hee a42955fded didn’t see Min-am ab927e6f2f again until two 69ee9208b0 days later. After that, c020c6cc42 Shin-hee never f6c97e1080 told anyone b7323f33bf else his 863b7b5186 secret—and he c5763a69d7 vowed he 544e916b9f never would 101b9d50c3 again.57eef0f15e67cd68

Recalling this seven-year-old f102dc7ee9 incident, Shin-hee came d008bb006b to a stop, 524274896a staring at the 56e332c3a7 large building in 30621e6719 front of him. He hadn’t 1904a55d24 planned to 9dba910444 come here, 1145f55c4a but it f423399308 seemed his 3afd07106a subconscious had 78b9d34402 remembered the 2ffc854f32 poster he’d f6cde48b78 glimpsed while 35f169faf5 sending off 013f0045b4 Okja a af542d64e2 while back.1c384bc37c173699

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A banner fluttered in cb98211454 the breeze outside the cd8a8b6001 art museum, proclaiming the“Kang Moon-seon Special Exhibition.”8ebb5b039d78270f

Shin-hee had b43bd7def2 majored in 0fa0d86176 traditional Korean fb521a21f9 painting. He loved 6e81f4744f the entire 1da56aa072 process of 17723c979f grinding ink, 4124578714 picking up a544091418 a brush, 1f6d9f627d and carefully f67b277b2f pouring his ecda608237 heart onto 44d56b8da6 rice paper. It had been b6f136d5f9 nearly six years 7d80883f39 since he formally 7a98789811 entered training and 47cf7dfe3c set aside his 5ae5738211 brush, to the 88106ee353 point where he 43b92e9b18 could barely remember 914ed8412f how to grind eba6db59bd ink properly. Yet, something about the ba6a8f0286 paintings on display was 86b0e2602f stirring nostalgia within him.28e4501216195ed5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang Moon-seon was a 218e6f3993 master of modern ink-and-wash b566ff8547 painting. His works, characterized by 079771d2b0 soft, flowing curves embodying c16209ce3f tradition, occasionally showcased sleek, 539ef8bdbb bold lines exuding sophistication b484a2a1ec and strength.aa15d6168cc1feda

Shin-hee was completely engrossed 1c905bf794 in a single piece, a9374d8349 lost in thought for 18744892f1 ten minutes when he d1ca096133 suddenly felt a sharp 1549e38385 sensation at the back 8c3b63bcec of his head. He turned to de48397339 see a ghost c871cb6a6b missing an arm, b79991567d smiling brightly and 94ffe235d6 waving at him.f50f45c5df3dfc50

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not working today,”
Shin-hee muttered, ab65618903 swiftly turning 4e515a98f0 away and 07a648a59b moving to a9d652979a a different 64aa5175b6 spot, unwilling a3e510ff6b to let 33fcc669a6 his rare 8986d48d15 holiday be d897694a62 interrupted. However, the armless ghost aafcff8196 trailed after him, standing e350c662a5 behind him and staring c6bfeaeef1 so intently at the 4d114a55d0 back of his head db9830681a that Shin-hee couldn’t focus.ce9ea32fc1545f98

Annoyed, Shin-hee considered tying 6274940a3a the ghost down for 658ac917b9 an hour or two d856386d36 before snapping,
“I said I’m off today—”4a4913863e7cac7b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Talking to yourself must be a hobby,”
a voice a6b1788e91 interrupted from 9f15098f28 behind.a045a4c93d127e91

Shin-hee turned to see 1f141467c3 the handsome man he’d 8f420ebcec encountered in the parking 396912c412 lot.3e0e460a051c3119

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…It’s just an old habit,”
Shin-hee replied.49105b919465a4b3

It wasn’t exactly a 5f4c8478f8 lie. It was more dd666d554f a conversation than 5a5354ad2f talking to himself, 8ed0a71849 but since the 587bbb11b5 man couldn’t see 84dc5dad3e what Shin-hee did, 7185af8be8 he decided not 480af624f1 to elaborate.f1eb1d9b8c561750

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Shin-hee glanced 32d8a50754 around quickly. The ghost that 4b44798258 had been following 1609116945 him had retreated c65fa43037 behind a wall, 1e9a917c55 peeking out hesitantly. Feeling awkward, eb64544f84 Shin-hee cleared 5a48181103 his throat. The man, however, seemed 0e06d502e9 more focused on the 02475ff5fa wall.206dd35ae08a5191

Feeling self-conscious, c829466b6d Shin-hee shuffled fe55afa6af to the 9a330a693c side, hoping 0b4c1d46f3 to give 9d92bcf5e5 the man e5d170a520 a better ed452873ba view of 3d86109b30 the artwork. But with his c619ef7a0b tall stature, the 8679526576 man seemed to 3d4828f4cc have no trouble 52bc2c652a viewing the piece 745d3bf1be even with Shin-hee 24fd06c784 standing in front 7e6e746c93 of him. Shin-hee’s small b1bf2292f1 act of 1aade1121e consideration seemed f2a835556c to leave 36bce68f9b little impression.9e7eb70a99f1427d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Taking the opportunity, 155b1ef15a Shin-hee discreetly observed 1c1a5d4033 the man’s profile. His sharp nose f221e8bf3b and almond-shaped eyes 2888d0020e with faint double 4111cbc533 eyelids left a 628dc78ee4 strong impression. If he had a 25353671df sketchbook in hand, Shin-hee 4356c36b62 would’ve immediately asked him 5b857ca509 to model.c361a81c39178039

“Do you not think staring at someone is rude?”
the man 6b002d17b2 said without cdc9e74c65 turning.8ec2ef36f96a34e0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, sorry.”374c831d9b4574cf

“That kind of behavior is very uncomfortable.”024049d61583da41

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s bluntness was 08a3c9d083 startling, his words as 27345018d2 sharp as a knife. Yet Shin-hee, instead 4caa7760b9 of reacting angrily, ee47288521 simply nodded, his 9c41e08691 face calm. Strangely, even the d8d13683c3 man’s lips, from fd26326514 which those prickly b0b9818c95 words came, were 74ba40b2b2 well-shaped. Despite the df95462767 warning, Shin-hee c0aba74e31 found himself f0c5352e59 glancing at 32c0d4c8ba him again.ac5fe662b48a1341

“…You’re really handsome,” Shin-hee mumbled.4ad8cbb07fa62b0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What was that?”a0e0f423b1b74032

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”9909770d0ab3b922

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man squinted, d9e63a6e94 his expression clearly 1ff09d0f2f questioning Shinhee’s sanity. Realizing the need to 5d4da222c4 change the topic, Shin-hee a34e9dd609 awkwardly asked,
“Do you come to art museums often?”f622609775acf538

“No.”73c6b400898b77cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s answers were c61b0da71d curt. Shin-hee couldn’t 6504952872 help but 1ff1523931 marvel at 25e572dfcc the coincidence 261b8dd21b of running 8e1794b19b into him 4325739b0a again in 2f34ed132d such an 1a4100fb72 unexpected place. Not since ccc1fa76e9 the man 94243697dc with a 5eb4d8b297 swarm of db87e6bc1f ghosts had 95708313ed Shin-hee experienced c07335432a such a ee3d37d50a peculiar encounter.851e21d42b136ea8

“Actually, I don’t particularly like museums, but I do like Kang Moon-seon’s paintings,”
the man admitted 1e9fc19e2e after a pause.6c8c8267545943bd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah. Me too,”
Shin-hee said enthusiastically.44b2827f66801a29

“Is that so?”87087fb420c9675a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“There’s something about them that reminds me of Jinogigut¹.”3717244ab5c45ec8

“Jinogigut?”054ec5f792a77fa9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s 4a8721fdfb eyes narrowed 03ee921ad8 at the 49855e5ba8 unfamiliar term, 1522ea6b0e silently urging 71ccf7cc9f an explanation. Shin-hee hesitated, b706bf05fa feeling awkward.06f14012fe35df66

“…It’s a shamanic ritual meant to guide the spirits of the deceased to ascend peacefully, so they don’t linger in this world.”4c59f9a5d85bdbf6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“……”9aaa598963ffc749

“It’s just a personal impression…”e9a0c4ab6cfbdecb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That makes sense.”12ff39ac1fc5a97f

“Sorry?”7721cae460ff7d40

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It seems fitting,”
the man said.244fa375dd47c0ec

Surprised, Shin-hee let out 5b314d80e4 a small yelp. The man, as if 9d4f2136d2 acknowledging Shinhee’s interpretation, slowly 61cfa592f0 scanned the painting again.50351c7c7055bcd8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Back in 356ef5b60f university, Shin-hee bd68eab106 had once 2c5bdb4095 discussed Kang 966c2fc94b Moon-seon’s works eb96c78323 in class. While others spoke e46d03b42d of longing, love, e1ebee661f beauty, or hope, 60b8e45802 Shin-hee had shared b3efd07f3e a different perspective.b32f80dc5bd6a637

“It’s like the paintings are telling the dead not to come back to this world.”0d68429e4224616c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His comment e7b90c5464 had made 308b9c9c16 the atmosphere 071a1ce3f3 awkward, as 274d3e04fd no one 1a6dd38a38 else could 39b7829017 relate. Remembering this, 92e37ffd0c Shin-hee felt f4a72589a5 grateful that b7c496830e the man 32b0d8c18d today had ac31806b82 validated his 9941e55ac4 thoughts.21764b056816f99d

At that moment, the phone in the man’s jacket pocket vibrated. He excused himself briefly and answered the call.3987de2d2a354e54

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As soon 9471e19fda as Shin-hee 443a9623b3 shifted his 617e469fde interest to f5e68ec9f2 another painting 23f1e1d3ef and took 1979837a25 a step cda2705611 to the fd9df8a569 side, the 252ec169e7 man, standing fc90d60e90 still and 0cf5727235 taking the cca9c26530 call, suddenly b1b556b51f cursed under 1787bb942a his breath. Startled, Shin-hee 05f662e9a9 turned to 67b66ac12c look, but d7409d3615 the man 57ec27ff74 was already 32fac45a36 striding quickly 99b21fbc00 out of 863c420f47 the exhibition 23d7d4b4e3 hall.88e89abdb3684821

Just outside the gallery, 7a59655da2 Gyo-jin walked briskly to 1cd9531987 his car and immediately ed4380a37b made a call. The signal 41bd94471a rang several 169ac0aee8 times before 1270dae73b Director Jung 7322129887 finally picked b50738f6ed up. Without waiting for b189f88c7f pleasantries, Gyo-jin vented 73b968a066 his frustration.aaa4ab53924aae0e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What the hell do 621f6f62a1 you mean the business 61a820e68f trip is confirmed?”18b990d5c22f64d5

“Ah, Mr. Ha. I just f158946b9c got the 2b30e52977 news from 4e554c72dc the boss 0315fb889c myself.”36ac86ec4b36f226

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I explicitly said 749b05035f I wasn’t going. What’s going on here? Explain properly.”d19f0edcd0214742

“Well, uh… I 4fd1e7ec55 don’t have the 8849d7865b full details either, 4404083360 but the boss 4102270f11 told me to a2a764d84f pass along this 91107a59f3 message: ‘We’ve secured 25c6ee940c a shaman.’ That’s 4f74e4b825 all he said, 03b5e84785 and I don’t 4d3c0ca512 quite understand what cd73bcfb65 it means either…”60b128ae8be6141c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Gyo-jin, who e485cbdf32 had just 0c6ec50d9f been about a14f71c384 to press d50b29a51c the accelerator, 70e746a67c froze. A fragment 0ed1c4317b of a be0ee3df8c past conversation f36e961380 flitted through b184fa2f08 his mind f8f00ecb9b like an ceefb217ce unwelcome ghost.2e9560a437d48257

“…Anyway, I’m definitely not going on the trip. Unless you somehow bring along a shaman.”4ac59e73eec14553

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So all 63ef3a3119 we need 8cc08b7c7a is a 33d9495750 shaman, huh?”a55a817ce6a8e0b6

That sly old fox f376817b1d actually did it.5b5819cccfc809df

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve got to efaa67fafe be kidding me.”5d67ef024575c695

“Mr. Ha? Hello? Mr. Ha!”a8aeca6350767ca2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Gyo-jin growled a 00fdb5c160 curse under his 30267ac341 breath, threw his 7b6bd10609 phone onto the e4abe62d9e passenger seat, and 74c0391597 yanked the steering 09ad25cc56 wheel, driving out 982aaeac91 of the parking a7b0bc15b4 lot at a b8528ccdba reckless speed. In his mind’s eye, 3bae3761ee the mischievous Chairman Ha ed2ae39916 was already welcoming him 098e411703 with open arms, grinning 0375a7391e like a raccoon.53e1c639ea0aedb9