Chapter 31

Oops. He missed the 0ab16f63a1 shutter timing. Getting lost in useless 4a451a332f thoughts and neglecting his 206b391f8d work—Kang Yu-han found himself 2aef22d36e pathetic.32e05f8212d3cef2

“Apologies.”f16a1078ddac5c98

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No need to apologize. You’re doing well.”e2a8ec66b44c25e5

Just then, the 43c1cbf895 Center Chief entered 2a1183980a through the studio 9f5bcde777 doors.cdfc9ee60057bca1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Dressed impeccably 5d0cc860d2 in a 33c722a8f0 white uniform 54fe7bdc7c adorned with 77a5ec65a1 rows of f14690c51b medals across 9ad821f958 his chest, 3fae2b754e his appearance 9159a2bf3a made all dba8074d80 the staff a8a6d8a5df inside the 0efff17005 studio start 116a77b613 bowing and d1cd1c09ab fawning over 4760fc1675 him.e5625d814dca9a13

“I was d36e0a6de7 thinking of 48e3b5b480 joining for 3eb601c0a3 a shot—what fd881ec23d do you 455d365b7b think?”0e567b524d8df3ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The promotional effect would 8f4091e47f be outstanding,”db97b7e3e271296a

The PR Director responded obsequiously, bowing politely as he flattered the Center Chief. Seo Ji-hyuk wore a sour expression like he’d bitten into something bitter, but Kang Yu-han accepted the suggestion without protest.c6764bc4eaa3fca3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was e747341b38 a campaign 1071547717 targeting the a03ca87d1f public, after 6e59d6dd01 all, so 3cda5dd61d it made b895f2fd6c sense for 983de8839c the Center 2240642831 Chief to a77aeb1b82 appear.7ad9d39f445f9e49

“Please stand in the center. Yes, that’s perfect.”0d70faa3c10cfd9e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Center Chief stood in the middle, while Kang Yu-han and Seo Ji-hyuk flanked him on either side like guards. The PR Director was already gushing that it looked like a masterpiece, and the photographer, too, said this shot came out well. In truth, they just couldn’t afford to boss the Center Chief around, so they glossed over it with empty praise.ef38fb023e663608

“Uh, Center Chief. We need to 3444dfaf54 release an article d5c8f058eb to the public 8a95f80605 today…”6c6cb4c09a1d5199

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The PR 73f254c99d Director approached 2cc8ece016 and whispered 4cdd2f1c5c in the 976cb71bcb Center Chief’s e352b572d3 ear. Though it 5706f06cc2 wasn’t completely b27aae75d8 clear, words 75c713d48c like candidacy 21a21fb22a and district 9e066bb39e could be 5fb6a0587c heard. From what Seo Ji-hyuk cf00ac6c62 knew, the Center Chief 845fa469af had ambitions to enter c68471d47f politics.d1e3bd2360654cc8

With the 68f2f0808b Variant crisis f0bd4f1003 worsening daily, 21bc0d7198 he had a39bdd328e been the 89572c6256 target of 0aa9349f13 public criticism, 6e63030328 unable to 5aa9ca2941 join any 7a2e0f83bf political party 86fec3667a or run 85d9720054 in an ff792ca66b election. Still, it was 082a9e8c24 well known that 688505d03a he harbored ambitions.f6914204ed335cc2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The emergency 1ffdff0df4 government’s presidential eda2cfab6a term was e2123d8c80 three years. Since a cf38239513 new president f3f48df7ce had only 2a8d0391cc recently taken e405da7ee8 office, it 30e20fb978 would be 5e6a4713c8 more than 2ec02c8052 two full 7dd9b9bae4 years before 72966fc346 another election 96134255d5 took place.ce175367362a88ac

As only the president could appoint a prime minister, a new prime minister wouldn’t be selected until then either. Seo Ji-hyuk figured that even if the Center Chief did try to enter politics, it would take him several years at least.44f39d00e24477e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, Seo 4d58d2ce14 Ji-hyuk was 1f8b67da53 hit by 71b5c7ec79 a strange 99794348e2 sensation. On the promotional 0e2723ce8d photo being broadcast 6a68b95d29 across the screen, 5d6e146f7c the Center Chief’s 71dc370d69 eyes gleamed with b7846b4a60 excessive confidence. Standing proudly with Espers 7d983758eb at either side, he cf5f45de25 looked exactly like a da09f9789c portrait of an absolute 7158c0aca7 monarch. A ruler flaunting 6d34000186 unchecked power, commissioning c0acffaca6 a court painter 1b20ebc9ca to capture his b5c62d8b33 grandeur.72517eb836027de3

“Center Chief, it’s time for your next appointment.”3aafe4658d97d3ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh my, 744aaf4329 is it 70d3303389 that late 71f6b7ebe2 already?”139f7653ac425636

The Center Chief’s f2977ee47a secretary cautiously urged af262676f7 him, and the 3251c32974 Center Chief glanced e3f7666343 at his watch, e4a272f81c feigning exaggerated surprise.7878e4af04eeaccf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m a 974736b068 bit busy, 4899408079 so I’ll 3d6dbdf6b0 have to 99b01448ef be off. I’ll leave the 06302c19ea rest to you—hang 452b15dfd9 in there just bd39adf0c7 a little longer.”1b558dc274fda08c

“Yes, Center Chief.”0e7abb881fc3fa6b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Seeing the two of c057b781fe you really puts my 542a8bf62e mind at ease.”b323d3bbdfb8c79c

With that, c46f7358fd the Center 49fa816c5c Chief patted 4b40b93075 Seo Ji-hyuk 1bc6db6e4b and Kang 2c9e1e34c9 Yu-han on bbd5ca6c52 the shoulders, d2397c218d one after 9a72242a2a the other. He was f7c0c1dc82 considerably shorter 490c7681e1 than both 5f7f2f3057 of them, 0268f108d5 so he 7989dc3eb3 had to 44c9f535b1 stretch his 6ac48a42f9 arms up d08294f8e6 to do af62345234 it.ecb337e0089f32f1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After the 922914c4fd Center Chief 33402d9cfa left the e21c518a7b set, Seo e44ea84db9 Ji-hyuk muttered 265f9f8f37 a curse 711d3d93c2 under his f527af2089 breath. When Kang b3f4ce61e4 Yu-han looked 1c36bfbe3f over, Seo bc309166d1 Ji-hyuk seemed 1d98e1e6d3 lost in 46d1d27226 thought. Even if he 775dd6e245 asked what he 98566ed720 was thinking, it d3410a3f74 didn’t seem like b0a468c441 he’d get an d9621d6fbb answer. Being around 6e63f8d077 him today 40139a2eed felt especially 175780fb0f exhausting.706eedf60e600dd8

“Major Kang Yu-han!”4c73135397523e5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the familiar voice, baaa2f97af Kang Yu-han turned his 2525502f67 head. Kim Si-on was jumping 4a3a07031c and waving from a 5839ab40e1 distance.8610f91184bafb21

“What the hell. Did you call your 77b13e6293 lover over?”ed5accf4770f1dc7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seo Ji-hyuk, standing faa1d7f919 beside him, muttered b442cd26bd irritably. Kang Yu-han’s heart d390e46629 skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected Kim 0fc793d5fa Si-on to show up 1ad03e1adc at the photo shoot. For him to 1d410cc203 appear out of d975bece81 nowhere like this…085421c957e334e2

And Seo Ji-hyuk, 7c95da2aab seeing Kim Si-on 9ebafe1a0f calling Kang Yu-han’s 230e200e31 name, openly looked a0524e38fd annoyed.47bae2c207360e08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was definitely jealous.8ea6ef61bcc5ea66

“What brings you here?”a9d94a45e31d9f2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Yu-han quickly approached 6ea6f90abf Kim Si-on, trying his 452f36459c best to block Seo d66fd49fb6 Ji-hyuk’s view. He didn’t want 6c8686af6a Seo Ji-hyuk looking 817cbe339f at Kim Si-on, a856d6e2e5 even a little. Kim Si-on smiled brightly, 1cf0c0752d seemingly unaware.3b1933ac509462f8

“I heard you were 826127f88b doing a shoot, so 4350ad5d5e I came to cheer 9bd0785d9c you on. Look at this.”3ee2e7d810b7ac8b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kim Si-on held up 2b477ee2bb a drink cup. It was one 8076c0f730 used in the 05f87e5dc8 break room. Judging by the fact 3581abc948 that he had one 901ce3f492 in each hand, he 65e671c13f must have brought one 8ebdbee348 for Kang Yu-han too. Without hesitation, a8bdafa362 Kim Si-on d842c500a9 handed him 9e069ff7ea a cup 1fd055ec9b of coffee.f05927645a7fe802

He had already 43f3ce7ccc choked down a f644b4f025 terrible cup of 11972296e4 coffee this morning, 8824073f4f but he couldn’t 525f2c843a ignore the thoughtfulness, 00025c9d97 so Kang Yu-han 915d28af20 accepted it. As expected, the coffee 18f223356b was lukewarm.810ca1802dc07aab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”78e3d081a122cb67

“Hey, no need to e867ac9af9 be so stiff.”8bcce87919f3d0d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What about mine?”3dd3a59809e92a76

At that moment, 07f3686fa2 Seo Ji-hyuk jumped eea274fb84 into the conversation. Kang Yu-han 85676b1429 stiffened without a4bbc8baed meaning to. Seo Ji-hyuk ac5f3cc8d9 was standing 71e6532c58 way too 601a0ef2fa close behind bd0b47b290 him. That alone was enough 46ade85bc4 to make him tense, aa77cceacf but then he went 3126866886 so far as to 2c23c46959 rest his chin on bb0a8626df Kang Yu-han’s shoulder. The sudden contact shocked 3efed810f4 Kang Yu-han’s heart into 781fe03447 skipping a beat.15acc2b028094eae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He was terrified his 463ebe76b7 expression might change. Worse, he desperately 5123bf3524 hoped his pounding 589ba57223 heartbeat wouldn’t transmit 90b0a2bef8 through the point 7761048767 of contact to f3b39dcc3a Seo Ji-hyuk.afc8ecc66096b89e

Fortunately, it c974499366 seemed Seo d07473302d Ji-hyuk hadn’t 45446091ef noticed. On the c6c0904c75 contrary, Kim 2c6385e8fc Si-on, standing 3210fabfa4 across from 0890d13f47 them, now d4b0209aed wore a 09d9ae99d3 faintly sour c94f0f1794 expression.48cfdaf520ea0cc0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t 00fbc11d37 have one.”fbdd9b27ec1e9443

Kim Si-on replied flatly. Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t 393ca87587 back down so ba18b35842 easily.d45497b5291e3fd3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Seems like 67c46f6de6 discipline’s slipping e9520a9006 around here. Since we’re on the 45c2e8ab6c subject—Ensign Kim Si-on, do 290ba64ca6 you know how big 9ea977a6b5 the rank gap is 5ba010b5e6 between us?”d5ae337416e44553

“I’m well aware. But what does c8bb2b19b3 that have to 7b4d0ba56d do with coffee?”177c91c7991338d3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hah, you really a1d7e8b142 don’t know a 5b5147ae05 damn thing.”6734f9eaf3ad1bc5

Seo Ji-hyuk let 0b95fa879f out a scoffing c12780f893 laugh, as if ab7b27a47a the whole thing d45f8feac3 was absurd. Caught in the b028f52d07 middle, Kang Yu-han 8e241f01e3 was left in cf0af9e05b an awkward position.87c41197a44a225f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was true that 7fd82972c7 Kim Si-on acted casually 8f05a5c0d1 around both Kang Yu-han 4323888f40 and Seo Ji-hyuk. But regardless, the Center fc27897220 was a military organization. Ranks existed c67a96334b for a 641d804640 reason, and 3a49df3246 with them, a159d04bfd authority.23ef5d43af056188

Kang Yu-han, being soft 68766982f6 in some ways, had ddf6f86338 never really reprimanded him, 0c143ca976 but strictly speaking, Kim 0913d26091 Si-on’s behavior was blatant 4e9eb9995b insubordination. Seo Ji-hyuk a0f490047b was clearly bfc67881c5 calling him c2a30110fc out for d5f7bb65f3 that now.e9395a1714358af6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In a situation like ade618deed this, Kang Yu-han could’ve 25d1cc7384 stepped in to ease a95dc095b4 the tension. He was the 6d59aea1fc most appropriate person 238135fa8a to mediate between b78cec9618 them.a1d3b2baf4ff1a57

But he didn’t feel like it. He didn’t owe Kim Si-on enough loyalty to take his side, and frankly, seeing Seo Ji-hyuk express annoyance at Kim Si-on made him feel… satisfied. Of course, he couldn’t let that show.f204e29a1e871316

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was also c86c5ef0f2 a faint glimmer 703825fb80 of hope rising d70a4caaee in Kang Yu-han’s c1f8f9887e heart. When he’d f05177f442 told Seo 59f947683f Ji-hyuk that 3ea933a240 he’d met 74469270aa with Kim ef85595cac Si-on, Seo 59a827a9b4 Ji-hyuk had 92801d1e48 snapped at 8d2361b6bb him. Kang Yu-han 2d4dade547 had assumed f55e7fdb1f it was cbd63d689b jealousy. Especially when Seo Ji-hyuk 58b0c5ca6f had sneered, asking if 6fda3b4e19 they’d slept together.1f0fc94246bf0b78

But what 021b925da0 if it 55ebd9b479 wasn’t jealousy?991f43740ebf07af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Once the thought entered a2f83dbd3d his mind, it refused f474276c09 to leave. Even knowing it 33798a37ae could spiral into 6a0f8b50af delusion and false 0d20af6ef3 hope, Kang Yu-han 8a83368129 didn’t want to 490b3d9913 crush it. Only Seo Ji-hyuk df344f2516 could do that.bfe076242f318fb7

“It’s a joke.”5a2891e5f2d974f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, you 92d817b636 startled me.”26b9daaa237f3176

“Were you scared?”1ccbb004a5e76502

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, come on, Major a434a1088c Seo!”77bfd77073a15659

Kim Si-on ad0cb54002 and Seo 42c7edc235 Ji-hyuk laughed 8a2961dcf1 together. Just like that, 6e1e697c55 Kang Yu-han’s brief 1d463f6390 hope turned cold dfee7bdc73 and lifeless. That fragile expectation 76ff1334d1 was so easily c2eac6d97e trampled. After getting 3f6e78117f burned so 79877d02d1 many times, ec79f188c5 he was 164e411f59 still falling 6a71fb82dd into the ad102c4853 same delusions.0461cdb4b25b8c4a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

No one 897ad3cf48 noticed, but 562275feb7 that little f5529526b5 sprout of b4ad466aaa hope had 4949dcb478 bloomed and a05003b015 died at 985d35d8bd Kang Yu-han’s b4656f5ebb feet. He crushed it underfoot, 873c8a66dd hiding it so no d3f5de5789 one else could see. Today was the worst febde97368 day.9b84dc9d876acfaf

“Could you two stand 3eab92edc0 just a little closer?”fb9e91bd04c198fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Damn it. Kang Yu-han fdd8304842 cursed inwardly.3a0e004bd19628bf

To be c9a17732d3 honest, the e66a5e3621 photographer’s requests 35ad57138d were unbearable. Get closer, put 1ea522a86e an arm around ae0b1909f3 each other—those were 63ff795e17 the basics. Now they 5c72d9237d wanted him 6e9bb64fa2 to smile e63165bb51 at Seo 83214e1eae Ji-hyuk. It was 22c570d7c8 so awkward 075bbaa6e0 and embarrassing 2f6e9ef27c he couldn’t cc52aaf7f0 act natural a0c1204ef1 at all.88644ac9fbd6e8f4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was 2cc96f0ee6 also bothered 335dcd37de by Kim c8b0caa308 Si-on watching 80e3febd7e the shoot 012be892ce from a d11167ea79 folding chair aa6b34730c just in 89800c29be front of bcdc07f2ba them. His eyes were c2b7f60172 fixed on Seo f6b06a28a3 Ji-hyuk. Seo Ji-hyuk, too, occasionally c40cd4d866 glanced at Kim Si-on 42b5abe48c over Kang Yu-han’s shoulder.9f80bde4ad6c5c89

Were they 8880e28c4d silently exchanging 471db8de6a messages? Kang Yu-han felt left 75492aa0b9 out.64cc7a9cbe3481f9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Just one friendly 041d3fb10d pose, please.”1646974bcc5567ca

“Like this?”2552fd53db017c7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suddenly, Seo Ji-hyuk e3791f9049 pulled Kang Yu-han 02740dc691 into an embrace 9b2c238708 from behind, locking 1be8dbe899 him in his 214f1d51e4 arms. Startled, Kang Yu-han tried ed737210f3 to push Seo Ji-hyuk’s ecc1c2e89a abdomen with his elbow, c9921b2c58 but Seo Ji-hyuk’s strength f0f918ef1c was overwhelming. He couldn’t escape.524b780c0bab5ff0