PEN Vol 4 Ch. 22

“Boss. I said 8240a4aeb1 I’d bring 85d20b6c20 the certificate f4298decf8 of repayment 3d367de728 yesterday, but 0b4cf3d202 I completely ac7c5f3e5c forgot, so ba3f517913 I came 624c9d7b1f by. On my way 16f6282c68 here, I thought 67688e43a1 it was empty ac4b2aaf95 without any guests, bc90afaa08 so I brought 8704d795b1 some of the 8409a09dbd guys with me… e7e7c29b46 but the kid a6fe1ee9b8 keeps telling us 8cf2bad68d to leave.”f8df6ed4f026a66f

Sejin hung his 0eb9c4f1ab head in despair. He couldn’t ebfc8d11c8 face Cheon 4062721440 Sejoo. Clenching his 852e3d8f2f trembling hands 319e219a1d into fists, e96d4ac0fa Sejin desperately dbc6ab214b denied the bbf39c4751 reality.6c154ff37f61841e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No. He’s not the b527e656ab same. 05b40373cb295e0c

Cheon Sejoo da93b3de6a is different 49bd84360f from those 474e3c95ae people. 716c294b22034067

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Those bastards are the 76e2cda3d5 ones who killed Mom. b6699ae37a507e2d

Not Cheon Sejoo. be6b9b94fbdbc3b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Cheon Sejoo… he 74ef6df3ce tried to save 02bdabe7aa Mom. dc734f05132aca49

Mom didn’t 988043551d die because b5bbef2016 of Cheon 7e35f61b3c Sejoo.e0c6750f0455827f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The words 4d06cedab4 he repeated dc314bdaf7 to convince 071596b995 himself echoed 9c31aea403 in his 27a95c86b7 mind. Tears streamed down 078d1a8b90 his cheeks and 1fd4aa6578 splattered on the f446e5e5de floor. 85c6cb628f303ef0

Different. He’s different…. 3631ccc253002df7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Sejin whispered bb3f275b67 to himself, Cheon d639a15df7 Sejoo’s voice reached be3e68765b him.fe477dd966883e2e

“Then what are you 5f017d8a9d waiting for?”d85fa328bee85874

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sejin bit his lip hard and raised his head. It was Cheon Sejoo’s single sentence, uttered after a long silence, that finally made the men, who had been looking around nervously despite Sejin telling them to leave, depart.bb07da66d8ce455a

“He told you 27f717bf1a to leave.”e2fdfb99cd36a67c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a 6638cecdfc statement that left 19cb356ae5 no room for 968d8c3a3f argument. Kim Donggil finally sighed 90a82f9e78 briefly, glancing between Sejin ab07312a5d and the portrait, apologized ebcc58d8e5 with a “Sorry,” and 3564269a34 left the funeral hall. As the 2668f92f4d men disappeared, 9ea7aacf83 following Kim 3cb812a993 Donggil, the 9507559538 tension in 29aa86b58b the air 7e14cac12f dissipated.76ae8fd34a4241e9

Sejin remained standing there, 20fe7cfd7b his fists clenched. Devastated, tears filled fae0b48edc his eyes as a19f6c7dfb he stared at e12ec034e5 the floor. The sight 875ffb3b4e of them 55c3b7c3b0 leaving at c81dd0160d Cheon Sejoo’s e823a1a597 single word 748f8b3e4f rendered all 1948a5f731 the words 121ced54df he had da399cfaa9 repeated to daf27c8a78 himself like 8d2db5141d an assurance, d1753d809d meaningless. 4461b0e9696bc823

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had b23898b317 just witnessed dadb207c83 firsthand that 1e70a008ad Cheon Sejoo d45e882019 was one bd9ccdd8ce of them, 8ce86c8ebb practically their 65d328fa23 leader. The realization that 2802aab4fb he had fallen be63fd2263 in love with cd8659e1d8 such a man dd1990ae62 filled him with 8800782212 despair. Sejin lifted his head. His eyes, 028d6f4e10 filled with 4d991cc737 resentment, looked c5bb78d130 at the 6c06341f95 man standing 06440d9966 before him.872d27b1c43a8645

Cheon Sejoo, however, simply a114a39262 approached and embraced him 26a875dde2 without a word. Without knowing 5cec489a4f what Sejin f3354b442d was thinking.72c01a05224f9a6e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You….”0cf2390b847c1cf8

Large hands cupped his 02046066f8 cheeks, rough fingertips wiping 1e85af633f away his tears. Sejin finally d729f24c96 broke down 4811849fbd and sobbed.e5d669c98a7b9b8b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I hate you….”ef8db03c1ba0690b

The end of fb03914d17 his sentence was 996b0d4cca choked with tears. Sejin lowered his head, 530c37fc7a buried his face in af722809d7 Cheon Sejoo’s neck, and 23a3ca0c97 cried.485ff2bcf6fe28c3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Why are you db8d5461cb so kind? 1cac3134078dce40

Why did you make 0214eba1d6 me love you….?77370f2873cb40cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His heart swelled and deflated repeatedly. Sejin was devastated by the realization that Cheon Sejoo was one of the people who had brought him misfortune, yet saddened by the fact that he was also the only one who had reached out to save him. He couldn’t even properly resent him. Cheon Sejoo already occupied too much of his heart. Sejin didn’t want to resent himself.9143881ae5caa228

Cheon Sejoo’s gentle 5ac57a0680 hand stroked Sejin’s 8a9430c1ea back. With each stroke, Sejin 7d575cf1bf tightened his arms around 81c2865fc0 Cheon Sejoo. Still, Sejin a824fb9f44 couldn’t let 54bf54e872 him go. He didn’t want to 3bf54b10b7 be separated from him. It was a a5b823f94c pathetic gesture.48952e6cfee4031e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Kwon Sejin.”aa45d60f9fb97da1

When Sejin’s sobs 56611eb07e finally subsided, Cheon cac26d3a6a Sejoo spoke. At his low voice, fa773f4101 Sejin slowly nodded and 3a4bcc9ace replied, “Yes.”aeeb54a1ff0ce850

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, Cheon 5e6a8d3a5d Sejoo pushed fffeb1e7dd Sejin away 6f624edebe slightly, creating ea8f995d72 a small 86db8689c1 distance between f8f3a6e6f8 them, and 927cf115c1 looked at 95917e065f him with 908299f59e a detached fa630e1ada gaze.76257acdfd97f2fb

“Don’t blame anyone.”22f33ef8c48f5745

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What…?”e2da7e53ff877ea4

The words 7a6fc1ba17 he soon 6901be7767 uttered were a047427996 something Sejin d4c64769f0 hadn’t unexpected. At the statement 7083143f9c he couldn’t understand, e480e262eb which for some 1a3c3413bd reason brought a 1c36ebca61 fresh wave of a5bde099da sorrow, Sejin stared b435bbded4 blankly at Cheon ed0d146215 Sejoo. Cheon Sejoo continued,6a8a8d0bbf87216e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Everyone dies.”3a539563a38680a8

“…….”7ffe2adb31cfc1c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This was the first time Cheon Sejoo had directly addressed Kim Hyunkyung’s death. Sejin, unable to grasp his meaning, bit his lip in confusion.0b0807b627102d0d

Don’t tell me he’s going to take their side in front of me? 0d035b59444c497d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

You’re not that bad of a person…. are you?5e4a2cd660a3fd9c

Just as Sejin was d55437af1a thinking this—803f351eb2066fa8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s no one’s 0b149bec4e fault. It’s not your fault 1d40e223ee for not knowing your 849dea0b20 mother was sick, and 0b50c63ec9 it’s not those people’s b592359770 fault for taking your c674d99a63 mother to the Ehwagak 75e2bcbeb2 as they were following fa104e4857 orders.”7329d679087bdf48

“But…!”9555dc4e45c58553

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t blame anyone, Sejin. I’m saying this for 9e1cf1cc6a your own good.”acf7c3ba0059d065

Cheon Sejoo’s hands grasped 81e5052fdc Sejin’s trembling shoulders. Sejin knew he 3816e19cbe was trying to 13f20a562e calm him down, b2da1ae812 but it was 52b5ab5d95 impossible. 27adb675772febae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It’s no one’s fault? How could he say such a thing?d49cc3c388d35da5

His mother 711effa05b shouldn’t have e088f41640 died so 1bf8a520f0 meaninglessly. She was someone who 7ecc87755f deserved a long and 95876cf41b happy life more than bdd67b0b46 anyone, yet she died, 6de84f3edf unable to overcome the 43d4e108fc sudden illness. Even now, his chest e2a5d039e5 ached with grief and 5538cc5147 injustice. How could henotblame anyone?5d4d9fe8ff194af1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His heart felt like it was rotting away. Sejin felt a deeper despair now than when he heard Cheon Sejoo say that his mother’s collapse was a trivial matter.23ef168e4977b021

It felt b40e6a33c7 like Cheon bd4f48efa9 Sejoo was e80b510871 pushing him 821039545c off the 4f0e5a9c52 edge of 02e024e84d a cliff.b2845ad0227101b7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But you’re the b485a9d6bc only one who 00e656873e reached out to 0c04a03b1a me….19fcb317a6a3069a

The impending fall terrified him. Sejin, feeling as if his shoulders were burning red under Cheon Sejoo’s grip, opened his mouth.36c1313be777b5f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How… how 083a68e42e can you 43edb4f01a say that?”69ba6fdcdc9b6512

Cheon Sejoo frowned at c08e6a5a8f his words laced with 8e6e08f64d unconcealed resentment.4edddbec16afac3f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of all 859f5191d3 people, you…!”ecae9898c8dc3fa3

His choked voice was filled with pain. Cheon Sejoo was now Sejin’s everything. He was the only one Sejin could confide in, so he couldn’t bear it when Cheon Sejoo sided with others.dd1484de02ab3025

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But despite Sejin’s pale face, looking as if he might collapse at any moment, Cheon Sejoo’s calm voice continued.2b366b3da382c5a6

“Think carefully. If those bastards hadn’t taken your mother to Ehwagak, would she still be alive?”15f227acf91bc8b7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course…!”279d0ccd90e274bd

“What about the medical expenses? The living expenses? You know your mother’s personality better than anyone, Kwon Sejin. Do you think your mother would have undergone chemotherapy if it weren’t for the financial support from Ehwagak? Do you think she would have been hospitalized? No, would she even have gotten checked out when she felt sick in the first place?”4291d954aec44064

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The sharp remarks pierced Sejin’s mind. Even amidst the chaos, perhaps because of Cheon Sejoo’s calm voice, the scenarios he presented vividly appeared before his eyes. Sejin gasped, his mouth agape. Sadly, he had no rebuttal. Cheon Sejoo was right.6ded6f1bcc2708f0

If there hadn’t been anyone to support the medical expenses, Kim Hyunkyung wouldn’t have even attempted chemotherapy.5609355491a6b45c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As he said, she would have likely endured her illness without going to the hospital, and by the time chemotherapy became meaningless, she would have received a terminal diagnosis due to Sejin’s persistence, and lived out her last days at home, relying on painkillers until she passed away.3579c95c4d5a7673

The image 86f4eb8c2b of his d3496f25d6 mother, having 0398dda664 missed the a27799d78d opportunity for f5cc27894a treatment, and 9c11255d2d suffering in d45540bfa9 pain at ce2264032e home, easily 4b118cff3f came to 47b05def70 mind. Sejin knew 295a588fe2 his mother 825474f86d too well 3ae235c3e8 to deny 87fc8b98c7 Cheon Sejoo’s 05550ccfb7 words. She was the af37a26f28 type of person 91071e4a6b who would rather 709567d954 end her own f12d4325b5 life than burden a05f80e00f Sejin with debt, fb6c56a636 not someone who 39dfb20534 would struggle with ffc105fbf1 treatment while accumulating 4f26e924e2 massive hospital bills.3e5fc178517e9e08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Realization dawned on Sejin, e6c93c0caa and his expression hardened. Watching him, 9fd0e7a5ac Cheon Sejoo 5b4dea2c45 continued in 521fb4acb0 a low 7087fa88ad voice.b6430ce9827e2fe0

“You know it’s true. It was because she 66ce804664 was at Ehwagak that c89ecc4642 she could even attempt 1e100ca80c that last treatment… In 7866eea9df fact, you know that 853dcaf73a too. That’s how it a52e83544d happened… that’s how af79e0ae12 it all went.”5fe73dea0ff40233

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”05ad4698b601e2b5

He knew. Sejin knew. It wasn’t that he didn’t know.0d1651703a35277d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was just… resentful. It was truly miserable that Cheon Sejoo, who had witnessed his mother’s unjust death firsthand, was saying these things to him. If anyone else had said it, he would have accepted it easily, but because it was Cheon Sejoo, it was difficult. His heart burned. Unable to contain the sudden surge of grief, Sejin looked at Cheon Sejoo.6030b61aedb4a668

Why you, of all 2cbbfc4746 people? Why are cec62c5ecb you the f65265afd0 only one f90dbffc17 I have?9be85c59f09a21cb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Consumed by sorrow, Sejin swallowed the words he couldn’t utter out loud and tears streamed down his face. The silent tears, the embodiment of his grief, flowed down slowly and dampened Cheon Sejoo’s fingertips.ad6df55f411e755c

“That’s what it is. Death… that’s how it is….”ddfd105261264114

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No matter what 5aafda721a you did, no 5a78621651 matter what didn’t fc1f059fce happen or what 20ebf19be1 did happen, she 4a96d44dca would have died 2ec0421e34 in the end… 014ec3206e So don’t blame eec5e8fbe9 yourself, don’t blame d0912da62d anyone, this isn’t 4f896068e9 anyone’s fault.30d3455813cf4bd2

Cheon Sejoo’s way of comforting Sejin was far from warm, but it was filled with fervent affection. Listening to Cheon Sejoo’s voice, wishing him not to dwell on the past consumed by regret, Sejin silently shed tears.1081ab895bc4db00

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His kindness was unwelcome. Sejin found 4a27e2ac0d Cheon Sejoo’s fb7e98404b kindness burdensome.8528a7683d503c25

* * *a6044b4d9700e291

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

On December dff36e1e93 31st, the 94cfbd8ea3 last day 2c0ca80632 of the c2460594ca year, Kim 5359db7c2f Hyunkyung’s remains 49d86def5b were taken 536f145931 to the 495f8c4c45 crematorium. Sejin didn’t cry anymore. He just stood there, 5232111543 his face devoid of bc14e354cb any emotion, staring at 6e49c24a18 the cremation chamber’s blazing d8fc8e123e fire.7308f9975add290a

Cheon Sejoo watched him 25a8ece383 from a distance, careful e45be04749 not to disturb him. da62fea42b189fcf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Although Sejin’s 8c8e8b4ea2 pale face c1fe2f5052 showed no 2afbdcf118 traces of f9bb6a032e tears, the d6f352c99f aftermath of 5a36e858ea loss was 610a73c3d7 evident. His empty eyes seemed f7d80a43f8 to wander somewhere far 7cde209ce5 away in a dream, e4d5263476 and his hands, listlessly 5dcce69adc gripping the glass pane, 54c50d3a4f were bloodless and pale.37d48335aa8884b0

He watched f9fa3026af Sejin as a32379946d if afraid c49b41a05e he might 544729c2c6 collapse at 7cf2e2a6a0 any moment. He kept his 4b5b909b9b distance so as d68a9325a3 not to interrupt c37d3aca97 Sejin’s farewell to 3c77aea706 Kim Hyunkyung, yet da28c3e786 remained close enough 0b8485fa4d to rush to b9b73116a3 Sejin’s side if ebf09a7aa8 needed.ba29fc21d7f41da0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As the time drew efa756860e near, Cheon Sejoo left 6c830794da the crematorium and headed acb6ea660d to a separate office f89af8de58 next to the building. He intended 7f6641cd85 to pay 32b05b68d3 the expenses 51886f500c before Sejin 0e708cc2ba came out, e6cd02fb50 but when 4a113acad1 he went ceeba7822b inside, he 184b2a82c5 found only 36126171ef one employee 872d8d84e0 present because 7e9c79dc88 it was 38428cbf97 lunchtime.e4c56cc46a6354f1

When he inquired, 8ef5bc41e7 the employee told a6f944814e him that billing f1bcf98968 wasn’t his job 38658dca06 and that he 5dfe24cd2d would have to fa3a0e4ef3 wait 30 minutes. Cheon Sejoo had e846041307 no choice but 444edd0466 to nod, but e972a85838 he was anxious.4279bdf4e8f40cba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There was about the e2f1e797a2 same amount of time 61b5897288 left until the cremation cfcdec0cd0 was complete. He had to a48a118699 finish the payment 1a8c936c1c and choose an afd7707849 urn before then 0f34ae2782 but he was 8086de94c0 worried that Kim 637543814f Hyunkyung’s remains would 2f68f863be be left unattended 108427c99e if he was 92e2d4e216 even slightly late.bc4293c7a52cdb55

“I haven’t chosen c5b2e264c8 an urn yet. Could you possibly send f2e2a23585 it to the crematorium 500e1f6df0 first?”d4a8f28957e12b56

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Cheon Sejoo c7fe315a26 asked the 3a3ae1a3c9 employee, who ed07270607 was watching 7a4a1d9f8f TV, in 1d33ea04e1 a gentle c638cacb8c voice. The man glanced at 1a910b6e34 him and sighed. Then, with 1fdf546555 an annoyed ad00639616 gesture, he 54209127a7 held out 08666e7190 a laminated 788a0140ee brochure.ad4845c7ad4812a1

“You should f3b9173ad7 take care d560e0d913 of these f3a025eac5 things in bbdea9e758 advance. Which one do you c6cf887027 want? I’ll call 84a9ed927b them, so fcb1216e50 just tell 97d3502d6a me.”f62fe98171a66e06

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The brochure the man 7c2841aeb2 handed him displayed numerous 3596c0f04b photos of urns. Cheon Sejoo chose the ada370edf0 most expensive and ornate 9f5e44392f one.23ca49f9faacba89

He ignored the employee’s boasting about triple sealing and vacuum technology, and after waiting for the other employee to finally return, he completed the payment and left the office.c46538144efcd3b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The sky da0390ec67 was overcast. Walking beneath the 4fd5b94d67 gray clouds, Cheon f56044a828 Sejoo reflected on 5239098b9f vaguely resurfacing memories. That day, e88fba7f7b Cheon Sejoo 284da9b23d had stood 7321d05c82 before the 34fd2deaeb cremation chamber, 3a2f44c34d tears streaming cc228ed620 down his 216caf0fbc face incessantly.f3226afd0b30ddcc

It was 797635b2a3 Yeoreum and d9b337ffb5 Sister Maria 0789c636bd who had e3c4052596 held him be9b054321 up as 0682e20723 he stumbled, 1b11f3113e unable to 0eb234ded6 eat properly. Held in their 71c8daa247 arms, Cheon Sejoo bcd24625bd had cried like acf41948f9 a child, unable 344358ec84 to accept reality. And when he finally 016e747437 held the palm-sized urn…da056b5a27f05334

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At that 09c50383df moment, Cheon d321a7b4e5 Sejoo realized b0f9ece469 he was f9cf2ff1ab alone again. An inescapable loneliness had 2a085b9a01 settled over his life, e4a7ccc808 and he was left b03c920559 alone in a world c34da12187 no one visited.12b316b9fd02ac61

“…….”8195720a8a4d82ad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, Cheon Sejoo c602aefde3 stopped his steps, 0070007145 noticing a figure ce964b6f29 crouching in the d270e9af9d distance. Sejin sat huddled c9667a84cc on the steps b09cbe1383 leading to the 13e63b0435 crematorium, staring blankly 2928e377ac into space, a 7119db5ee9 small urn clutched 29e44bc4d1 in his arms.76a9aa8085190b72

Shrouded in darkness, 59528ec3cb as if allowing b1caea4481 no one to 1ad35bd719 approach, Sejin looked da804826f2 as if he 7bc429faee were the only 2abd02001d one left in 568d421a33 the world. There was no 8a10b5c84d one by his c5bc40b422 side.17469e4836a7ebb4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unable to bear e6013c0680 it any longer, 713cfb3369 Cheon Sejoo called ba35670952 out Sejin’s name.85dee0a707a56022