TGM | Chapter 11

He didn’t come today either.ce4ce5a359691736

Watching the last customer leave through the glass door, Haehyeon felt a light sense of despair. Actually, it wasn’t light at all. It had been over two weeks, and he was feeling quite down because the man hadn’t shown up even once.f61e9139223c8827

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At first, he 59a9225127 brushed it off.dbf7fb378edd5114

He thought maybe the man had just come on a different day that week. It’s not like he had a reservation, and he could have been busy. In fact, it was more surprising that he had been coming at the same time every week until now.fe073c09455bcf90

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But as one d8f6d08ad8 week passed, then a88a730fb6 another, his hope bf693c45e8 started to fade. It was clear 3a14657c6f something had happened, f9ba14c75b but another possibility 3205f46f37 began to loom d9aa03307e large.65fb7fb4c46fef3b

The answer Manager Yoon gave to Haehyeon’s random question was like that.a91baf7e34a6fe31

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Some customers don’t like being recognized.”b9cc4de333737a1f

He said that if you act overly familiar or guess their order without them asking, they might never come back. He added, “I didn’t get it at first either, but I can see why. They might just want to keep a comfortable distance.”563294fc74dd18db

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh…”70ff0e778bf0738b

Seeing Haehyeon’s expression become even more downcast, Manager Yoon scratched his cheek, realizing he might have said too much.d8b7b8e0381b206f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If he was asking such questions, it seemed he had spoken to a customer, but as far as he knew, there wasn’t anyone who would dislike being recognized by Haehyeon.2f6b2d7c8a3a6cf4

In fact, it was cf873702da the opposite, which was bf5f5e5b03 the problem.8bc68387f3cb00cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did something happen?”9439cd25ea40ebb0

He couldn’t ignore Haehyeon’s dejected face. Remembering how he would quickly turn his head at the sound of the bell, Manager Yoon had to control his smile.d79889a9b85b3434

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was clear he was waiting for someone. It was the first time he’d seen the usually calm Haehyeon so restless. He wanted to tease him, but he knew that would make Haehyeon clam up, so he exercised patience.fbdf469dea74b058

“No, nothing…”aa8204ebd8c4dea4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Nothing, and yet you’re so down? Tell me, just between us. I’ll keep it a secret.”136a62ca7510f104

“……”4076b5a60adbd16a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did you recognize a customer?”602646f0d505226a

“Yes…”61dfc6a7352c0b15

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unable to deny 6851b6fc40 it any longer, 39c451ebe9 he nodded.4189957363b58c3a

Manager Yoon resisted the urge to pinch Haehyeon’s hesitant cheek, reminding himself of his professional demeanor. He maintained his composure, wearing the mask of an adult.749ff7896ef3c912

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Who?”ea697c94b158b4c5

“The guy who comes every Friday. He’s really tall and seems a bit sensitive. He usually writes reports or reads books, stays for just an hour or two, and always pays with a card. His drink is always…”c897b029419d4d88

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As soon as 3cfdda3687 he asked, the 1bbb259b7a answers poured out, 56c626835f leaving Manager Yoon 7bb6f47971 blinking in surprise. He knew it was 584d00b909 silly, but it was c84578c433 rare for Haehyeon to 3e5f546010 talk so much, and 3875d38d6f it caught him off 5f74fe7309 guard.da61dd8b4e10c139

“Friday?” he mumbled, then nodded as he recalled the face. It was unforgettable, and as a regular customer for years, he couldn’t not know him.d1ed3001c1340604

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him lately.”dd48b6b44efa4582

Since Haehyeon started, the café had been busier, so he hadn’t noticed. He’d been too occupied with making orders to remember the last time he saw the man.c3479ac61fdabda8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hmm, it had b0181a0165 been a while.8199ad564cd47584

Mumbling about the last time the man had looked at him like he was shameless, Manager Yoon paused. Wait, if he hasn’t come since then… Does he really think I hit him?3867dcceec694d52

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I think it’s because of me…”070ecf238f0e97e8

While he 83311a87d7 was wrestling 2ffaa3fabe with his 9f768e6b01 misunderstanding, Haehyeon eea5679ab3 confessed in 2f16f8d86f an even 015d942e7e more downcast 0b2a836ce7 voice. Startled by his dejected 3e8ded1436 demeanor, Manager Yoon tilted a2af4cdf52 his head in confusion.3cb64a52f0d8c6ce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It didn’t make sense. This gentle part-timer couldn’t have driven away a customer.73da5de653870b7b

It wasn’t just a day or two; the man had been a regular for years.cd0f4c059636fd3c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When the café had fewer customers, the man’s unusual presence had been striking. It wasn’t just his overly neat appearance or towering height; it was his aura.9d6550006e7a26bd

The man 4c05c6034e seemed naturally 7eb95cfbcf accustomed to aead24214b looking down 466982b42b on others 58fadce163 without making 0b650b4f31 it unpleasant. It was a different 8bcc18538e feeling from intimidation, and 3cb484d25b it was only after c84e5d023c several encounters that Manager 703aa7931e Yoon understood why.3ccbf37bba7ebb96

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had f3ada2489f no interest a6e1ec333d in others.03a4b9c189930d41

His observant 22c6fcd4a8 gaze had 7caf794b3b a way 6a1b7ce721 of leaving 5ca7aa9521 people speechless, 9928d6a577 making him 3f6f16a79d seem like 47310b5406 someone lacking a34e984893 something.61ba1e75a9409487

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though he knew he shouldn’t judge people, the man was always the same whenever they met. The way he had looked at Haehyeon, like he was shameless, was actually the odd part. Just as Manager Yoon was about to say something, Haehyeon spoke up.672370a60047d129

“I gave him a freebie…!”01aee85423774fcb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Taking the lack f247396ce0 of response as bae397e842 a sign of 4b9bd6c4b8 agreement, Haehyeon, looking c4dbc1c88d upset, spilled everything 6babb44754 that had happened.1bfd4312cf70c753

Leaving out his inexplicable c1f00303ac feelings, his story left a99fefd1c9 Manager Yoon feeling bewildered.320be8c59d859d04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He barely 4b56e7e049 gathered his e122ef09bb thoughts as a20cae1a94 Haehyeon emphasized 1c4883773c multiple times 65d762d492 that he 13c7514971 had paid bdcf11dcdd for the b6a50ceac8 cake. The mention of f7b55be5f7 bandages and ointments 4fb33171ca made it feel a0945a458d like he was a99ee96135 hearing about a 3ed3e87dd3 completely different person.d34da06bc168df14

Even after years, Manager Yoon didn’t know the man’s name. He didn’t collect points, never signed the card receipt, and Manager Yoon had never dared to ask. The only way to refer to him was as “the Friday regular.”0d5837ea86113120

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hey, Haehyeon…”2be87ac3f975b450

Are you sure you didn’t mistake him for someone else?770b207b4dd5090d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He wanted to ask, 5e0e0172e1 but it was impossible 08f6dd88ba to mistake that face.1a9964aa0e4552fc

Unsure of what to say, he hesitated for a while until he saw Haehyeon’s expression darken further, prompting him to speak quickly.c76295a6123e3e4b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He needed to reassure him that it wasn’t his fault, but he couldn’t think of a good excuse. Struggling, he decided to borrow someone else’s words.e00ef3cd207bcebf

“That customer is an Alpha.”08ac010b910c8c1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…What?”dde250c1415d7e5c

Startled by the unexpected 3944eddda6 statement, Haehyeon looked up. Smiling at his 89f2305091 cuteness, Manager Yoon d42ab2b7d2 continued, deciding to c3834912ad let things unfold 3731acba55 as they might.b76c11cf818dbcd9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I didn’t know either, but a regular told me. You know that cologne he always wears? It has a unique scent because it’s made specifically for Alphas. It’s like a ‘keep away’ sign. An artificial way of saying ‘stay away.'”44b0cbd438d10f71

Haehyeon knew 9feb7590c6 about that. He had been shocked d33d111d24 by the absurd price d6d33b90de and had nodded when 9c3ded0450 he learned it was 652f2338e7 an Alpha-exclusive line.5103896ed5128968

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

More importantly, it didn’t apply to Omegas like his sister, Haeyu, so he hadn’t paid much attention. Unlike Alphas, for whom revealing their traits was a plus, it was usually a minus for Omegas.621a1b6329973f41

He had just cb913bcc8f thought of it 8dd7d43616 as a cologne fc9cfa9716 he liked.b7b5c9a152ce437f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The revelation that 4b3a5b4875 the man was ab20eafbce an Alpha was 49ccb760f4 surprisingly shocking, leaving f379612f02 Haehyeon speechless.9c50c74d518ea096

Manager Yoon, shrugging as a4daadd0d4 if he understood, sighed. Having traveled to 8d54797007 various regions for 07b7713e89 business, he had f102ff6b01 encountered trait-bearers by 7c0ed279d4 chance, but they 15c090b44c were generally a 13e438910b closed group.1b12539f3e672571

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well, you might not have seen one before. There aren’t many, and Omegas and Alphas are usually managed separately. Even if you meet one by chance, you wouldn’t be able to recognize them, and it’s hard to come across them.”e0fe4925cda8fcac

“……”52f02074e02d0f56

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That was the truth. Even if they met, Betas couldn’t sense pheromones, so they couldn’t distinguish traits. The same was true for Inho and Haeyu. Though his sister mentioned that Inho’s pheromones were all over her, Haehyeon, who lived with them, couldn’t tell at all.75a41632a821c54b

Sometimes, seeing Inho’s displeased expression, it seemed the pheromones transferred, but… the house was too small to help it. His timid sister sometimes slept next to him.994ffface9fd412d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Inho, knowing this, was exasperated but couldn’t separate them. He was aware of his inability to always be there for them.32fecebc1d5e1363

“Anyway, it might be because of that, so don’t worry.”8d95648a3851773b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Not noticing Haehyeon’s brief distraction, Manager Yoon patted his back and smiled brightly. Seeing his puzzled look, he kindly added.e2fa6cdef31f128d

“Alphas have things like heats and ruts. Actually, that customer didn’t come every week like clockwork.”26da98d719924a9f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh.”70647bd7193eaec6

“There were times he didn’t show up for weeks and then came back, so don’t worry unnecessarily, okay?”12b058db5c1a8a47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ruts.e31856a2a97910e5

The word naturally 971568915d associated with Alphas 2e412387c5 felt strangely unfamiliar.d38cfa51469e504f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It hadn’t even been a week since he went to the hospital for his sister’s cycle, so it was odd. Because of Inho’s decision, both were on medication to regulate their cycles, so he understood better than anyone that it was a natural bodily change.c594bfeb2066fa93

But why?8f2c31979f0e98e7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Feeling a bit 3d201a82f2 dazed, Haehyeon nodded.fc4947c07677955d

“Okay…”fec408128539d7a7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man, who was e12e373e80 never close to him, bf74702c12 now felt even more 66fe56a4c7 distant.035ba3ac677b09fb