PEN Vol 3 Ch. 16

Of course, Cheon Sejoo had other qualities beyond that. 

Cheon Sejoo was the most handsome man Sejin had ever seen in his life, someone who, to be honest, was without any physical flaw.  His striking face, captivating enough to make anyone’s head turn even if viewed upside down while doing somersaults, exuded a cool and serene atmosphere. His smooth skin was so soft it seemed like it might feel like a baby chick’s feathers to the touch. His lips were so perfectly shaped that he could be a lipstick model, and even the way he smoked, a habit Sejin disliked, was breathtakingly alluring.

Beyond his appearance, he had a surprisingly kind side, was naturally courteous and good-humored with others, and didn’t show the typical bravado or empty talk that so many men seemed to have. On top of that, he was extremely smart, did exceptionally well in school, and… well, the list kept going.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As Sejin continue to think about Cheon Sejoo, he suddenly realized at some point that he was running out of ways to praise him. Biting his lip, he sank down where he stood.

Do I actually like Cheon Sejoo?

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

It was hard for him to believe.

Sejin’s denial persisted, for better or for worse, for what felt like a long time or maybe just a fleeting moment.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

When Cheon Sejoo scolded him while helping him study, it made no sense to him, but when Sejoo patted his head, praising him for solving a problem well, he couldn’t stop his heart from pounding. When Cheon Sejoo sat dishevelled posture wearing his robe, Sejin found himself lecturing him to sit up properly, only to later dream about him, shirtless, at night. 

Sitting in the passenger seat while Cheon Sejoo, a terrible driver, fumbled with the car, he would think, This guy is the worst. But when Cheon Sejoo turned his head toward him while backing up, Sejin’s mouth would go dry, and he couldn’t help but want to reach out and touch those lips right in front of him.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Time passed endlessly as he repeatedly denied and then relished his feelings.

At the end of May, right before getting in the car to take Sejin to Ehwagak to see Kim Hyunkyung, Cheon Sejoo gave him some fever medicine. Sejin had been running a slight fever for several days, and by now Cheon Sejoo knew it was a sign of Sejin’s growth spurts.

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

“You’re really going to keep growing, aren’t you?”

“I told you I would.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I thought you were just being stubborn because you wanted to.”

“……”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sejin gave Cheon Sejoo an annoyed look. But with his flushed cheeks, he didn’t look intimidating at all. Sejoo brushed a small bead of sweat from Sejin’s long eyelashes with his fingertip, then took a blanket from the back seat and draped it over him.

Perhaps because he’d been inspired by Cheon Sejoo’s stories of going to school even when his fever had hit 40 degrees Celsius, Sejin refused to miss a day himself. Though Cheon Sejoo found it admirable and had even taken him to school, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy about taking a sick Sejin to Ehwagak after school. 

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Looking at Sejin, who was sweating profusely, Cheon Sejoo placed his hand on his forehead and Sejin flinched. The heat from Sejin’s flushed cheeks made him look even more vulnerable than usual.

“Are you sure you can go? Should we just go next week and let you rest at home today?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Cheon Sejoo asked, but Sejin silently shook his head. Knowing that this was a once-a-month occasion, he didn’t want to postpone it. Since Sejin was stubborn, Cheon Sejoo didn’t push the issue any further. He focused on driving, thinking they’d get it over with quickly and head straight home just as fast.

As they traveled down the now-familiar route, Sejin dozed off. Unlike usual, Cheon Sejoo drove carefully, frequently checking on Sejin.

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

Once they arrived at Ehwagak, Sejin was still visibly exhausted. Watching Sejin go to his mother and hug her weakly, Cheon Sejoo clicked his tongue and left the dormitory. He didn’t want to interrupt Sejin’s time with her, especially since the he had come all the way despite being sick.

“Mr. Cheon.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Enjoying the summer breeze that grew warmer with each passing day, Cheon Sejoo leisurely smoked a cigarette outside. As he did, Han Jiwon, who was reading through a file as she head somewhere, noticed him and approached.

“Manager Han. Hello.”

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

Cheon Sejoo said with a friendly smile, and she returned his greeting with a nod and a smile. 

As he stubbed out his cigarette, he asked Han Jiwon.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Have you been well?”

“Oh, I’m doing fine as always. By the way, I heard from Hyunkyung the other day. Apparently, she’s on a diet? She didn’t really say why, but it was nice to hear since it put my mind at ease. You know how it is, women can be sensitive about their weight.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is there a need to be sensitive? I don’t think either you or Ms. Kim Hyunkyung need to worry about things like that.” 

Han Jiwon burst into laughter and playfully hit his shoulder at his smiling remark. As he’d noticed before, her punches had quite a bit of force behind them. Pretending not to notice the impact on his shoulder, Cheon Sejoo asked.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Has anything happened since then?”

“Nothing much, but even though I’ve told her she could stop dieting, Hyunkyung isn’t eating well. I guess it’s really on her mind.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Has she lost more weight than last time?”

“Yes, well… a little?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Han Jiwon shook her head as she answered, seeming to agree that Kim Hyunkyung didn’t need to be dieting. Cheon Sejoo chatted with Han Jiwon for a while longer until he heard Sejin calling him, prompting him to head inside the dormitory.

The dormitory living room was empty. Unlike the day he’d injured his hand, today it seemed the other staff had gone out to work, leaving only Kim Hyunkyung and Sejin inside the room.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Standing in the kitchen, Hyunkyung looked even thinner than she had the last time he’d seen her. Seeing her so frail, as if she could break with a slight bump, Cheon Sejoo swallowed down a sense of bitterness. 

Does she really have to go this far?

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

She seems perfectly fine as she is.

He thought, though he knew such a comment would likely fall on deaf ears. Shaking off the thought, Cheon Sejoo took a seat in the chair that Sejin indicated.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why don’t you have dinner before you go? It’ll be late by the time you eat at home.”

A dinner prepared by Kim Hyunkyung was already set on the table. Naturally, Cheon Sejoo looked over at Sejin.

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

Seeing Sejin’s condition, Sejoo thought it would be better for him to go home and rest, but Sejin, as if unwilling to leave the meal his mother had prepared, sat leaning back in the chair next to Sejoo. Worried that Sejin might collapse, Cheon Sejoo stood him up and swapped seats with him. Even after seating Sejin by the wall, he couldn’t relax, so he pulled his chair right up next to Sejin’s as they started to eat.

“Honestly, at first I was worried that Sejin might give you a hard time, but I don’t have to worry about that anymore.I feel reassured seeing how well you take care of him, Mr. Cheon.”

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

Watching them, Kim Hyunkyung smiled and commented. It seemed she wasn’t the only one with Sejin’s welfare on her mind. Cheon Sejoo chuckled softly and replied.

“I guess you weren’t worried that I might give Sejin a hard time.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. As you well know, he’s got quite a strong personality…”

“Just eat.” 

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“See?” 

At Sejin’s blunt words, cutting her off mid-sentence, Kim Hyunkyung laughed, gesturing toward her son. Cheon Sejoo, too, let out a small laugh as he looked at Sejin, who, despite sweating, was stuffing the food Kim Hyunkyung had made into his mouth. After not having her cooking for months, it must taste amazing.

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

Only nineteen years old, Sejin’s youth became especially apparent at times like this. Cheon Sejoo watched him fondly and pushed a side dish towards him. Sejin’s sullen gaze briefly shifted towards Cheon Sejoo before focusing back on his rice bowl.

“By the time I see you again, my sone will have grown a bit more, won’t he? How will you manage without your mom around?” 

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Kim Hyunkyung murmured thoughtfully during the meal, also clearly concerned about Sejin experiencing growing pains. Sejin didn’t react well.

“What do you mean ‘how will I manage’? I’m not a kid anymore; I’ll be fine with some medicine if I get sick…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If it hurts a lot, ask Mr. Cheon to hug you. They say it’ll hurt less that way.” 

“Oh, stop it.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

At her playful tone, Sejin snapped. 

Her words reminded Cheon Sejoo of last winter. It was the day he’d picked up Sejin from school after hearing he’d been in a fight with a classmate. When Sejin’s fever suddenly spiked, he had clung tightly to Cheon Sejoo’s shirt as Sejoo laid him down in bed. 

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Was that his way of asking for a hug? 

Cheon Sejoo chuckled and said to Sejin in a teasing voice,

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Alright, I’ll give you a hug. Just let me know—I wouldn’t not do that much for my eighth-place student, would I?”

“Enough…” 

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sejin, cheeks flushed, put down his chopsticks at Cheon Sejoo’s playful banter.

Sejin had come in eighth place in his last exams. The reason he hadn’t done any better was because there were students who had gotten higher scores by guessing than Sejin, who had diligently solved the problems. Kwon Sejin was deeply shocked by this fact and had give up studying for a while. But recently, he had started studying hard again, only after Cheon Sejoo reassured him that those students probably wouldn’t be able to rise above 8th place anyway.

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

Kim Hyunkyung laughed, playing along with Cheon Sejoo’s teasing. Sejin remained sullen throughout, but it was still a warm, enjoyable meal.

Watching Kim Hyunkyung and Sejin care for each other, Cheon Sejoo thought of his sister, Cheon Hye-in. He couldn’t hide the bitterness he felt, remembering how rarely they had shared meals and laughter like this.

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

On the way home after dinner, as had happened before, Sejin’s fever climbed even higher. Cheon Sejoo carried him on his back, with Sejin breathing heavily through his mouth, and took him into the house. He went to Sejin’s room, turned on the air conditioner, and laid Sejin down on the bed.

And Sejin, once again, held onto him.

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

“……”

Cheon Sejoo looked down at Sejin, who, despite having his eyes closed, was clutching his shirt. Though Sejin’s face was still small, his hands were now almost as large as Sejoo’s. 

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Just eight months. 

Though he’d only been with Sejin for such a short time, seeing how much he had grown since they first met made those months feel much longer.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

These days, Kwon Sejin seemed to be doing well. The shadow that had loomed over him when they first met had completely lifted, and he no longer seemed anxious. He’d even managed to regain his balance and Cheon Sejoo could see him quietly walking, albeit awkwardly, in the direction he’d chosen for himself.

How much have I contributed to your happiness? 

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Have I made you even a little bit happier?

At some point, Cheon Sejoo realized he couldn’t imagine his life without Sejin. The shared meals, the daily routine of going to and from work with Kwon Sejin, his presence had grown impossible to ignore.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

But there were only seven months left that he could spend with Sejin.

Until then… 

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just a little longer. 

Swallowing his selfish desire, Cheon Sejoo lay down beside Sejin.

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

Holding the hand clutching his shirt, he pulled Sejin into his arms and held him tightly, hoping that as long as Kwon Sejin was by his side, he wouldn’t have to suffer.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com