BBK Ch 22

Minho didn’t stir until they arrived at the parking lot. Gyuoh had to wake him, he couldn’t let him sleep so uncomfortably. But he also felt bad disturbing him, knowing how sleep-deprived Minho was. After a moment of contemplation, Gyuoh turned off the ignition. Just until he wakes up. He’ll wake up soon anyway.e2d5ef4070161723

He unbuckled his own aa8377125b seatbelt, then reached for 2f97a9c3de the passenger side buckle. Click. Even during the faint sound, Gyuoh kept glancing at Minho. He slowly unbuckled the belt, his gaze fixed on Minho’s peacefully lowered eyelashes. Thankfully, Minho didn’t wake up.6220e8d908271921

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…A little…close, isn’t it?”f09c80fd57f18e30

Leaning in, they were now very close. The sensor lights illuminating the parking lot clearly revealed Minho’s features. Gyuoh held his breath for a moment, taking in Minho’s appearance. His jawline had become sharper recently due to slight weight loss, and there were shadows under his eyes. Warm breath escaped his slightly parted lips.03af44a399a97e18

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Had he ever seen Cha Minho’s face this close before? He had always kept a certain distance, so seeing Minho’s face from so close felt unfamiliar. He knew Minho was handsome, but now he seemed to exude a slightly strange aura…68d031c24b11e4ca

“…”2679fe000a4d7206

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was incredibly uncomfortable, holding himself up so he wouldn’t touch Minho’s leaning body, but Gyuoh continued to look at his face for a while longer. The silence was so profound that the sound of Minho’s throat bobbing up and down felt loud. His persistent gaze continued until the sensor lights in the parking lot switched off.2610ce26fdcf40d0

“Ah.”887edb8bfa8fbd45

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Gyuoh flinched 3b7dd57b8f and pulled fbf7f184d9 back in 4a2819e14d surprise at 4a23058710 the sudden 348adde20a darkness. Thump, thump. His heart pounded loudly in the darkness. The image of Minho’s closed eyes lingered like an afterimage. After blinking a few times, the vivid afterimage faded into the darkness.7bece9b64d9004b8

Too bad.6fad98ffeba076fc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He quickly shook his f48e400c12 head, dismissing the fleeting ca37da443f thought.8a955902c9dff9a5

He needed to 86005439ab focus. As soon 3dee1fe3ba as he 98f5a42ae2 reached that f0a8adce63 conclusion, he 275a4bdb57 pulled out 011db026b4 his phone f176052781 and started 4cc4b94405 a game. Beep, boop. He fixed c6388f8a79 his gaze 3bc2db9ac0 on the c512101832 screen, keeping 7f3f5c196d the out-of-place ecf5f7609c sound effects 2325953fdf at their 8cc54925c1 lowest volume.91bd6c10503ed533

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

About 30 minutes e7162578aa passed. Minho started to stir. Gyuoh switched off 4021776a3e his phone without fbb2ff60c2 hesitation and slipped e12ef6b679 it into his 77b7b8d336 shirt pocket.105cc2d8e5ad08fa

“Awake?”de5a94d83db591cd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Hmm.”f38769c428ae50ad

A long c1d770cfbc sigh served 5c0a3dbae8 as a 626fda981a reply. Minho, who had been 1b92f4964b completely buried in the a13a9c09f1 seat, lifted his head.549e4573183645c0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…When did we get here?”8ddff0508e91c759

“Just parked. I was about to wake you, but you woke up perfectly on time.”07a1480fff9ebbc8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Really?”b1ce67d10b238e33

The end of his words, heavy with fatigue and sleepiness, trailed off. Gyuoh reached out and covered Minho’s eyes. Only after feeling the slightly higher than usual temperature against his palm did he turn on the interior light. His own eyes stung from the sudden light, but Minho’s dry eyes were his priority.b512518f15f303e0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lights on.”a5d217a25f942178

“Uh-huh.”de3ab8790550cb5e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suppressing a laugh at the dazed reply, Gyuoh slightly spread his fingers to let Minho’s eyes adjust to the light before slowly removing his hand. He bit his lip, looking at Minho’s drooping head, obediently accepting his touch. Even though he was usually aloof and sharp when awake, he had these unguarded moments.873938c4a43dd62f

“Did you leave your tie behind?”8d04d13be188a7a3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minho blinked 25b32e3712 a few b172b645ef times and d630701055 fumbled around b0aca361b9 his neck.40da34cf68563d83

“Mister, you’re holding it in your other hand.”56524774f428c39b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Only then, as 7042949ae0 if finally noticing 04e1a91e30 the other hand 408b9f532b resting on his 6b4b88c09d thigh, Minho gripped 31decb56f6 the tie tightly. A bewildered 0b3d707a49 murmur followed.1f2e2872d2d0bf2c

“Oh, right.”43531cea32fb4590

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He ruffled his hair b19ebc3b8d roughly, messing up his 008c47541c neat hairstyle. In dramas, fathers 8fdcc02de7 returning from company 0f2adc00b7 dinners always acted 16aee7bb35 like this. The fact 8c609b7549 that Minho 9873415cbd gave off 6a23ce44a5 the same c4d41a5fc1 vibe after 9c0626ddb6 just a b9e768d6f3 few drinks 04fa46b185 made him 3a0208db5b want to 830aa64229 laugh, but 72f9407b49 he held 284da2326a it back. If he laughed, he 390d0c6230 would surely be met 0fd285771f with a glare.f887ecc177d67cef

“Let’s get out.”5ec9d680eafc8efc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ah, why is my body so stiff?”98a2bc94898adff1

That’s because you slept sitting down for 30 minutes. Without adding anything further, Gyuoh got out of the car. All the way to the elevator, Minho kept rotating and massaging his neck. He felt a pang of regret for not waking him up earlier, but he was relieved that Minho looked less tired than before.12274f0279bbd50d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That Son guy, I think he’s involved with the managing director.”42205c75328e4d3d

“Really?”be226d15a0db818e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Gyuoh, who had just bd2cc89809 called the elevator waiting 5c2ac58f76 on the basement floor, 64c9cbb006 gestured with his chin. He followed Minho inside 53a1132bbf only after he entered.c73345ec6c0d4497

“I can’t pinpoint anything specific, but it feels that way. It’s not just a simple golfing relationship.”f59d2bdf0d684cba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Minho pressed the button and tilted his head slightly. With an expression that didn’t resemble someone who had just woken up, he inhaled sharply.c9fe118ff8d6292a

“Is there anything they could be involved in?”9b567b4a092a0d7f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Gyuoh couldn’t fully concentrate on the conversation. His mind was preoccupied with their silhouettes reflected in the elevator doors.c204ccc42c639acb

“I can’t figure it out.”c3fe49528d896283

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Minho muttered, tilting his head and rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His touch was so rough that the tie in his hand swung back and forth. Gyuoh unconsciously stopped the movement. Even though he knew Minho’s gaze, with one eye squeezed shut, was directed at him, he stubbornly stared straight ahead.42a52b3dcdb565ab

“You’ll hurt your eyes like that.”15271ecc134f0ac2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh.”f368e4a015c105ab

“…”5a0761cd39431528

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps still slightly drunk, 11dd126834 Minho obediently relaxed his 7ddef0983b hand. As Gyuoh 9409e9501b lowered his 584672f4cd gaze, he 92d587f7b3 saw the a481e2f9ff limp tie 56cec483b4 in Minho’s 09185c1661 hand brush facc2c8232 against his 35252ede3d thigh. Although it 2d70cac71c was such fffff3cf43 light contact a925b39b1c that he e61818ab1e barely felt f867f008a4 it, an 44bd9f93a3 unbearable itch cfeaa7c53e spread through 2ab455651f him.57756c97eef0b5ae

“The managing director probably has a lot of people clinging to him. Let’s focus on Mr. Son. They might be closer than we think.”a123c43be697cf61

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Okay. I’ll look into it too.”499f1fc80fd65d7a

Despite having one eye red from rubbing, Minho continued talking about work. Sometimes he acted like he had nothing but work in his life. It was both admirable and impressive, but… Gyuoh suddenly wondered what it would be like if all that attention was directed at him.7f299a8d0252397c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ding. The elevator, as if it had completed its task, opened its doors wide. Minho yawned and walked ahead. As he passed by, the bitter smell of alcohol lingered. Even though Gyuoh hadn’t had a single drink, he felt a churning in his stomach like he was drunk. Why was he like this today? Gyuoh closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.7990e3d215660025

Ding. The closing elevator 6394f4a5b2 doors jolted open f663cbdb5f again. Minho, with a b457fbbc2c tired face, had d481e956e6 his hand outstretched, e1ec52f359 pressing the open d07a3ce95a button as he f31c0188be looked inside.1f562442277d3ccf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Aren’t you coming?”4fd345d3c9f3726e

“…Yeah, coming.”ff4dbcfff0819e82

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Gyuoh scratched his furrowed brow and stepped inside. It seemed he was also pushing himself too hard. He wasn’t feeling well. He clenched his tingling hand tightly and followed Minho. The man half a step ahead still emitted a scent that made his stomach churn.96a974773ebce19c

‧₊🍒˚✮e766033512214a4f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Gyuoh woke 1e2056d797 up at 3b428ef736 6 a.m. and headed c4e21322e4 to the f0cff3c15f kitchen. As if 644bcc8e1c it were 5ab00b8a80 his own e135029cfb house, he 3baee36162 rummaged through 8abd0d4f2a the kitchen fe991986aa and pulled 236698aa44 out four 8cad747280 packets of b05d047cd0 ramen and 09e23ca893 a large 894245662b pot.5eebb213c3978fe4

Minho didn’t usually eat breakfast, but as long as he was staying at his place, Gyuoh had to make him eat something. Especially since he seemed to have had quite a bit to drink last night, he would need something to help with his hangover. Although he wasn’t sure how a few drinks could cause a hangover.3b81d1c75a5855a2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He was 52928fb379 excitedly filling 18e64d5409 the pot b7fac89681 with water, 8d570cf4d5 anticipating praise, 7e104f929f when a 1e46db6334 low voice e01b916c6c interrupted the 08837a4e7d rushing sound.f8e7e8f1c33b22e1

“Ramen for breakfast?”017099e761b056bd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Now that he looked, Minho’s eyes were slightly puffy, and there were pillow marks on his cheeks. He must have slept deeply. Why did this make him feel so proud? The corners of his mouth crept upwards.706add391919ce08

“Funny. You say that, but you’ll eat it all anyway.”741fcf627a11cc3a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”31d55f7f0fb747fa

Minho scratched 70b91b7bf7 the back 99b4c2934b of his 3861e25851 neck and ee85b90772 trudged to 44bad8cdae the bathroom. Gyuoh began 64e86e7097 tearing open c791aca29f the ramen ec6b7b31eb packets, contemplating 6edfb34957 how many 26963c75ba eggs to bcb65a0a91 add.d4cbeb2a1250e945

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As soon 4d6976003e as he 5c921ec20b set the a52f26eb36 table with 2389da1a3f the deliciously 8520a561e8 cooked ramen, 629e637967 bowls, chopsticks, f095f550de and water, 176602b82d Minho emerged d464594b96 from the 436b5ccda9 bathroom, toweling ad37952eed his hair dea051fadc dry.272f026e93ced9ad

“Smells amazing.”6bfcadfee988b10d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Tempted by 9d72f460b3 the smell 2325186e9a of ramen, a670826f80 he pulled a43925b84b out a 1d7e9d8ba8 chair from c109f37fc7 the dining b7dcf43f0a table, pausing f33390d32f his hair-drying.23b21bbf7cbde89e

“Right? It doesn’t just smell amazing, it’s the kind of ramen that makes people fight over it. They want to hog it all to themselves.”d397d16fe41cf41a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Am I going to die?”79426ea6701aaf07

“Of course not. We’ll share nicely.”3108f6aa5f8d496e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Gyuoh quickly filled a bowl with noodles and broth for Minho and handed it to him. Then, like a chef awaiting judgment, he leaned forward, intently watching Minho’s every move. He swallowed hard as Minho lifted a spoonful of broth to his mouth.52e5d8978f11d629

“Refreshing, right? Clears your head right up?”e672d1b6c663e75b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Minho simply nodded in response. To anyone else, it would have been a disappointing, perfunctory reaction, but Gyuoh knew this was Minho’s highest form of praise, so he was happy.6d46dda0f542f3e1

“See? You can’t underestimate 20 years of ramen experience. You have to keep lifting the noodles while it’s boiling so the air can—”f20d582824ef4b71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Shut up and eat. Before this ramen actually kills one of us.”9c56ae4d723357bc

“Okay.”d567fe9a136361d7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He smiled faintly, but if Minho caught him smiling, he might throw his chopsticks and leave. Gyuoh, practically burying his face in his bowl as he devoured the ramen, suddenly looked up. His eyes met Minho’s, who was just filling his second bowl.75c27868eae17f0f

“Director, I’ll brief you on today’s schedule.”8115fd370d964068

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Suddenly?”131000bfd1c0a64e

“Lunch is bulgogi stew, tea time at the cafe around 3, and healthy beef for dinner at 7.”6ad4c81e3a516eda

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Since he 58707458b4 had noodles 24884734bb for breakfast, da5ca3b0f0 Minho needed 4eb967e5da a hearty 5f08000595 lunch and f586d4a4c7 dinner, and 616cf3b3b3 caffeine in c8f5327ac8 between to ec49f34df6 keep him c659b12084 from getting ee6bc5512e irritable. As he rattled ce200d742d off the schedule, 0c38cbc531 Minho chuckled, interrupting 82e81b62a2 him.767786b0a577e484

“Why is your entire schedule about eating?”e59f7cd6172da632

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Correction. Gym after work at 7.”23583f214043b4af

At the c7309d1e63 mention of b9c397d95d the gym, caa789125a Minho agreed, 2ad168e3b9 saying his 2b3da929d1 body was f929f1243b stiff anyway.147506ed735b5e1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Shower, eat beef, take me home, and pick me up later.”1bfcf2cec0c4bad8

“Where are you going?”2155149d730a0ba3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You said that Son guy seems suspicious. I need to investigate him.”5b49e6f690396d53

Even though he was tipsy last night, Gyuoh emphasized it several times, so he had to volunteer to look into it first. Otherwise, Minho would surely be running around trying to do it all himself. Even if he couldn’t be of much help to Minho, he was confident he could at least reduce his workload.da28ee3ba197f0e2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh. I can check him out too.”b631453136a18348

“I’ll start looking into things today as well.”b2159ff18f6b0623

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Minho nodded slowly. He had so much work that he didn’t bother objecting to Gyuoh taking this one task off his hands.9c4285dd895a264c

“But where did you leave your car, and why are you asking me for a ride?”5b090fcd8acfc594

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”b255442a8f516825

“What about your motorcycle?”ee0a6e0a3f0f5d0a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“They’re at the hospital.”1a102cdda8e9a71d

It was a lie, of course. Both his car and motorcycle were waiting obediently for him in the parking lot. The reason he made up this excuse was…he needed to make Minho feel responsible, to prevent him from straying while he was gone.a9a66006a46cddaa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had been so 8ec47176ef anxious leaving Minho alone e18402f09e for those few days 474560ad20 while he trailed the 6b2d9ccac4 cult leader. Even though he’d f991444edf made Minho promise db7113da27 not to go df75d7926e out, some strange df085af807 guy could still 4261cfa49f show up at 7683bb6191 the company or 4d1a40fd1f his home.298665a43e1398ab

“Hospital? Why?”be6f3957023e37de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“They’re sick. I was your designated driver yesterday, so you have to be mine today.”7efa0a743919904b

“That’s a hassle.”575ff044171b1263

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He knew Minho wasn’t serious and didn’t mean it maliciously, but Gyuoh felt a pang in his chest.955ccac21df0e3a4

“No. Don’t find me a hassle.”35c573a86d33cd9e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”f827e37178f474a8

“It’s against the rules for you to find me a hassle. Don’t you know that?”a0d7baefe57bd121

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Rules are for breaking.”bb1dc7377951a05c

Their conversation was 250193005e as meaningless as e33732a3ac always, but Gyuoh ed1e5214b4 suddenly lost his d0e782cb6b appetite. Why did he dc856e858a feel a pang b1639192f6 of hurt in 0915ddbd26 that brief moment?c90f1a025a1c1f12

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The sudden question continued to linger in Gyuoh’s mind.d2d3f353f735bb13