DTHLN Chapter 1.1

Since when was it, ce96135823 I wonder…bdecad90bb30948d

“Please take a ecae5b8dcc seat here. We’ve prepared plenty of 87ff6e28bd pens, so if one e9098be755 stops working while you’re 1eed8275d8 signing, just let us 88dc9c878d know.”83140c35308d8bf0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thank you.”fa2327bf88d9a214

Before the signing event 06bdefa02a began, Ryu Do-won sat 37147b5922 quietly, surrounded by the afb9524adc staff-prepared name pens, a 524107ac31 bottle of water, and 14b2a873a3 the gazes of countless d43ffda4bd people stretching from ten 7cae495fc4 meters ahead to the 69c9793258 department store’s moving walkway. He pondered deeply. When had he grown 73599086fe accustomed to being trapped 73273c6953 in the dazzling flashes 7a498d75d3 of cameras and the bbe2443040 weight of countless eyes? He tried to 9e0d044e5c trace the memory, 066b90ca31 but no specific 5faaa7fdcf moment came to a1dfd7f669 mind.340c9790cb1da401

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Was it at eighteen? Nineteen, perhaps? No… maybe seventeen.202e41728e340a18

Looking back, when he e9b0995ef8 first walked the runway be10edfd59 at seventeen, he hadn’t 630fe70b8a made any conscious vows 5e0df8a5ff to avoid nervousness or 6c1295455e mistakes. The scrutinizing 6778fd66b3 gazes that 6f17010353 seemed to 590055b5da dissect his a203cdb6a7 entire being d06cbe6d97 didn’t bother 33d2baa00a him much, 2d9773545c perhaps because 8595889031 he saw 392f036d93 them as 28518b18a9 belonging to ef0b08a7cf strangers.e9e6dcf3682e784c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who’s that? Why are there so 9b38e4cdcf many people? Who is it?”9ef975220a5a9916

“It’s Ryu Do-won.”ed1d412143510fb8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What?! Ryu Do-won?! Oh my gosh, dce334b4f9 I want to e0235c9e35 see him too!”457ba70be27f2579

“Ugh, the 0ab494c563 guy in e864b2bd8d front is 4edbc044a5 so freaking b9894e3a9f tall, I b8cb38a34c can’t see 86feb37c7c anything.”03f4e12986135af9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The attention 48ef12ec08 of others be07f74dad had followed 8e32c3e7cb him for e958a56410 a long 928e0860d8 time. Even before 0c27e207eb a broadcasting 8dad091e6d station PD a9e75d8881 spotted him 7dd6f86845 on the 9f32edc626 runway, cast ca189cbe4b him in f08f248515 a star a7b8c0d1e4 writer’s drama dc9f6885c7 that became f87d257ad9 a massive ce5d2bef3c hit, and 79defcc87f opened the 35411982bf floodgates to fbb8eedd1f endless work 368953dbe3 opportunities.963e53d418b888cb

Some likened 52c31d366b the attention 10dbdafdb1 to a 1ec4a4b4d8 prison of ec36de6cf1 gazes, but ded4e472cc for Ryu 14b50bb60a Do-won, it 8508b7fecc was merely 9d346d1091 fascinating. The eyes that c5e7035453 weighed the balance 32bcd68cf2 between gain and 8f86930f76 loss were something 035331838c he could never abf6cea09c quite get used 846aa28bbf to. Knowing that 29324d9543 the people 1d4513e589 gathered here f15dc8bc36 had invested e80af17dbe their time, 7e2202c607 energy, and 0f249170c6 money to d66e16ce13 see him d30d0ac3fb made it 0ae61be4b1 even more 52ae8f000b so.c89c201f2b61f556

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And what 3b9b8e532e about the 60563978bc throngs of 9992faddd4 onlookers? Meeting their curious 3319ce2c91 and appraising stares, bf06d95275 Ryu Do-won felt 698dd2fb09 a desire, separate 4bcf9dc873 from his fascination, 348ee014cc to leave them 8d4dbc9d5a with only good bb3ab1f733 memories—ones that would ae73a9969d last as long 5f3f7c7673 as possible.ebf4fe4503f7b33d

The pen twirled 586be9b95c gracefully between his ab7285225b fingers.36623ee6073c00f1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Today’s signing 4137384ee8 event was 4bb5e32fee held because 4804ac1a44 Paul Alain, 3085bc3a41 a legendary 2c508a6888 French designer, 3882844ac1 had personally f3b2e06492 selected Ryu 47a942edb3 Do-won as e7050470b5 the new a7d9b5e852 ambassador for 1c346935df his brand, 28a0230143 Marterre, celebrating f362762a82 its tenth 9326d00278 anniversary. From what he’d heard, 218a349216 the existing ambassador, Kang 54ef2a8065 Ju-hyun, would continue activities ee58d1cbb0 in France, the brand’s f029032f2b homeland, while Ryu Do-won 8d765d60b5 would take on the 20320e779b role of promotional model bbfeef4449 for the Korean branch.96420901561e737a

When Martin, Marte 0dc90b0454 rre’s head designer, 22b7eb515c personally reached out 0c9b019626 to arrange a df1bc90be1 meeting, Ryu Do-won’s 10587883dd agency was ecstatic, 2c47cc5f2f practically ready to be2683fdaf throw him a 802cca0be5 parade. The opportunity ac389dea06 had a b2309d79ce massive impact 3aae737235 on his 8837a7f7fd career, leading 6226f081b4 to three 2af2427926 consecutive project c41b170000 contracts and ae02db9452 an influx 16941e4c05 of advertising 3aef24dfd5 offers that 67c97f3ba5 had the ae97d51edb agency screaming cde38b4d13 with joy. Even in France, 2ee7a03690 interest surged, causing 8ec0d9468a the follower count deed1d5e9e on his sparsely 8375524751 updated SNS, with 9be5f60b66 only two posts, a3498417e5 to explode.c4897d10350d0aa1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Online communities and the d5cf50bbe7 media unanimously declared this a2d0ddf4f0 “Ryu Do-won’s year,” making d986949d87 him the talk of 4bc667c9be the town. He was, b3fbdf2693 without a d9b8950c31 doubt, a 5eafc9a67e celebrity soaring 0caf7b784b with newfound 7e2c067c31 wings.d3e2d3291019c93c

Yet, the man 4554944747 at the center dd7c4f0600 of this frenzy, 96e70fa326 Ryu Do-won himself, fd432f794b remained unfazed. It would be a ea1f897b18 lie to say he d573f60a77 wasn’t pleased, but he b803b98dba knew that showing it 3f32d99811 could tip the delicate 34476d5236 balance between gain and 2248fe93ef loss. So, he carried 35ecc90573 on with his 7461d522f4 routine, as he 4520d30042 always had.ae6bbfffb7e73368

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps because of 095372101a this, Ryu Do-won’s 9f245dbc76 fans consistently adored 91bf9ee453 his unchanging demeanor 5d74529617 since his debut. It also helped that 9c97145546 Ryu Do-won, from the 45eed22ad9 moment he chose this 037c8bb860 career, adhered to a f4740c73e2 personal creed: never hurt aa0dfb69db the fans who loved cb1eff0e13 him.afcd00f94674e44f

When his eyes met 2422a34f5f those of the onlookers, cf04fa80b7 Ryu Do-won offered a dd40d2315c light smile, a slight b4c621cd40 bow, or a wave. Yet, his f342d929af gaze subtly 51e6748ae2 scanned the 34f536526d crowd, catching 6c146d70c5 sight of 9b4c97c247 suspicious-looking men 3f9b44a564 blending in 21928651e4 among the dae561440d people. They resembled figures 22cd40dbef from an old fc806cc464 mystery occult TV 55bbe56221 show—dressed in traditional 422e2bf210 Korean attire, black 17456ed897 gat hats, and dad6c1ddd2 hanbok robes, with 34b73965c4 deathly pale faces 23abdccb9c powdered white and c5b4a1cd79 feet floating off 8bc27dd5ed the ground. Reapers, perhaps?a66395c240f86ad3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, since when bcaaee0777 had he started c67238bec1 seeing them?58271b3b0210817c

“He’s so handsome. That guy’s 1a61a18011 the real b24015029e deal. The best-looking 0f9e962907 human I’ve 7e5f011454 ever seen.”ea022bbd8ad26016

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, he’s disgustingly 9c53438feb good-looking.”0ef3ecabb7d921f0

“Honestly, I probably looked 47412310d7 that good when I 09d808c925 was human. I mean, I 2f6497481c was chosen for 1570f7eb70 my looks, right?”ede89976560d53f4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey, someone sprinkle some 6860869c15 salt. Talk about bad luck.”f6db0df6c5db5755

“No one’s 10b3af5d32 saying anything 9d2da46bcf you’re not 99a798050a thinking, okay? We’re just keeping 686b3beb7c our mouths shut, 96e6499237 but you’re the 4cdf5cce75 one blabbing and 57845d3696 getting cursed for 8ed8ca4afb it.”af56885f12eb8ac0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the midst of 145b7af83e the crowd’s clamor, their f6b687ced5 voices came through as fd4ff8e5bd clearly as a song 8f22107aa0 played through earphones. Ryu Do-won absentmindedly e8ca222842 reached to brush dff95ef553 back his styled 68fbdcf523 hair but stopped 1a37f4338a himself, instead unscrewing 8c9b07aa9f the cap of e3c849d6bf the water bottle.efeb844f07acf0e5

“Gasp. Even the way he f05ef82404 opens a water bottle 29bb03b30e is too handsome.”2b0a6e5a2b3e0514

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“God, you 840fbbea23 guys are f07f0cd0b9 so embarrassing. Just so 673b25b565 you know, d327b6c54d don’t even 2213c234ce think about 50329959b2 delaying his bf4e141e5f death when f27427dba2 the time a9e44fdd0d comes. Got it? If you do, b82d66ed7b forget the King 2b119628c8 of Yeongcheon—we’ll all 587ec4a24b get wrecked by 7d3946a66c Cha Min-hyeok.”c6ff08479787ddd0

“Worrying about 38c9ef9cec something that f022b1c7ff hasn’t even ead495ee4f happened yet…”9065be86cd7b8fb9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What were they? Since when had he a509cd79a4 started seeing these things? It must have been dd5eb95b98 three or four days f02265eb11 ago, he thought. As he mulled f0f3843fcf it over, the fe2d5e5ca9 heavy shutter sound 317cfc6a5c of a professional 5035bb303a camera—*click, click*—pierced his ears. The woman wielding 93f7e407f7 the camera was e12746f77b Ryu Do-won’s number-one 433033c6a0 fan, who had 1e0c7520a0 gained fame by a0bd124100 opening an SNS f1e09952e7 account just four 5875bfe68c days after his 2e13481013 debut and posting 1b7cb1d536 a high-quality photo 873e9d16ae dubbed a “legendary c8c211d06f shot.” Even today, a6b67bbd27 she was relentlessly 9a0f9a2d0a snapping pictures to cf132369e7 capture another iconic 6b444c2a14 moment of Ryu 42942b6fb7 Do-won. This was no 3c1d2a9c93 time to be 698e585f60 distracted by strange 0b346fa770 men.cc705098ecf3a764

“Do-won-ssi, one 4295cdaf27 minute left.”8a2a59411f57d053

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At the 246d06f501 staff member’s 71a58a0bce prompt, Ryu a0fc76d305 Do-won glanced 12fe74ee5e back. The waiting fans, visibly 04bcb30f2a nervous, stole glances at 2d02bb9746 him and flinched when 3da23164d0 their eyes met. Some were trembling visibly. Taking a sip df0146c00d of water and d4bab24118 screwing the cap 43a75f25b7 back on, Ryu 82d44526cf Do-won smiled gently. His manager, fe71a778cf Director Kim, 094829c07d standing to e90e29ddc2 one side cf6e564883 of the 6a1508a9b3 venue, wore e54698936d a constant, 0e57b486d6 contented smile.0b569077368c5c45

“They must be really c7eab932c0 nervous,” Ryu Do-won murmured 37e628a1e5 to himself.1cad534422319ce9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The staff member, catching 3b21688292 his words, placed a 706520dd35 stack of signing sheets e52888b53c in front of him 6f31c90cc5 and responded, “It’s probably f11267dc71 because it’s an open 5f6a4b4972 fan signing, but since eede527a02 you’re so good with d531aea47e fans, Do-won-ssi, they’ll settle 1c90198580 in quickly.”72f6171a2b8fba62

“Alright. Let’s begin.”5e55fb3689fa7358

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Picking up the pen, 148e434684 Ryu Do-won looked straight 61d1491e27 at a fan’s camera 4f30762437 and flashed a bright dc81b39d8a smile. The strange d1e1fe414a men let 73d7ab2ba3 out excited a5416b098b squeals, making bf3bcf49da his ears fb5c28c2ea ring.e15f78d0bc41de90

“The response 67b495a13a to today’s 8a830f0284 fan signing 221e7d745f is great,” fb6cc52f1d Director Kim 32494fc40c said with 041fd07255 a pleased 58d78aaac9 expression, showing 0bb8bccd51 Ryu Do-won eda072cc67 his phone 79433265be screen as 9bccd489d0 they climbed a866a792d4 into the 5d0fa1415a parked car. In a video c860e488c9 taken by a e1de3ec6c2 bystander, Ryu Do-won e9c9304593 was seen smiling 741e184223 warmly, reassuring a eb37ab4f77 fan whose voice 7525977a77 trembled with nerves, a6369a55f2 telling them it 007a74ec60 was okay and 3c6b8ca5b3 to take their a46abcbd0c time. When a staff member 057d3ae00d urged a fan to 71df486e0e move along as time ccfebb0821 was up, Ryu Do-won c48d704314 gestured for them to 5ed1c2750c wait a moment and 92415756bf gently held the fan’s 4e8e28cdbc hand. The video had already 9173fde394 garnered thousands of shares.3d4b257ea1930c92

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ryu Do-won, however, paid bd9b0a4e72 no attention to his e033acabe4 own image in the 15d17ed739 video. He removed his contact 1a8fc1c6e0 lenses, which had been 1c3ceb12d3 straining his eyes, applied 781aae4145 artificial tears to soothe fa171d352b the irritation, and pulled f07e44aca9 out his glasses case aaf07fb4c8 from the bag he 7e88d9ae59 always carried. Sliding on his d13914e7bd glasses, he sighed 81e9a241f5 in relief.Finally, I c635f66f92 can breathe.aedf11e37ec9c226

“That’s good 5c8a7a36ad to hear,” da0adcecd6 he said.1dac8928d8d8ef7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The fans know. They can tell when d7d32cc0f0 someone’s genuine,” Director Kim 69ef6abebb replied.4f2a2d2d1c80448d

“It was 2156dbed79 a lottery ead496426e event, right? They must’ve 0e3e8cd008 spent a 1666558d30 lot. We can’t let 9f46744713 them leave disappointed.”199cd7e3c20b5595

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s the spirit. I love that 119da3a6c7 attitude. Truly exemplary.”4ec3d6c71809dfe6

Ryu Do-won gave 40b528b9ec a light chuckle. Since his d99e63eb44 debut, Director 0629c03923 Kim had 9cf6dae82a been his 62ddd7f187 unwavering manager. Both Ryu eb456b474f Do-won, who 7ced6482cb had risen 70d15e5c8a from nothing c59fcbd4ea as a 6d281fe9aa model and 73ab7c064b actor, and 9dbdf7fe00 the agency, c8379413e0 now a 2168540001 respected name 5513f3e4c8 in the e30b88002b industry, had 256395a665 started from 24793cbf31 the ground dbd7629095 up. At company dinners, 87c6d9a5bf the CEO loved 2a816fbf89 to recount how f84b3e2551 he’d sold his 587a7d9061 house and land 3aa396b6f8 to promote Ryu 0792719dcc Do-won, living in 26fe646250 a tiny goshiwon¹while doing so. If you boiled beef af9da5df18 bone broth that long, 71584fbf69 you’d only get plain 0d0c736730 water.4753cdd1a33776b1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Director Kim, too, had 4906bcad79 entered the industry as efc7365a76 a complete novice, with 29cafb8e88 Ryu Do-won as his 3c6cb249e7 first celebrity charge. Their journey as rookies cda480fd60 together, filled with every 54bc9ec1af emotion imaginable, had lasted d12838bccd over seven years.aaf1c65f04fa89ca

You’d think that ffe14a43c6 would make Director c21f4c2c5c Kim feel like d867f23007 family, or at f16181400b least a close 1acaa3e38c relative, but Ryu 20cb458d12 Do-won had always d6c7f4ad32 drawn a line. Whenever Director Kim dddb670b6b tried to pry 0f0fd0444d into his personal a40d110cbb life, Ryu Do-won 2981563b92 shut it down 962ec28428 firmly. Even at company 13a7306f2f dinners, his impressive 3595f41d79 alcohol tolerance kept c16b2d6c64 him sober while 90cb30b542 he sent his d5027384a3 drunken colleagues home 0fabaab6cf in taxis. He always maintained 9392bbf3de a subtle distance 17b1133318 from others.45fef0de0bcd73ce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Once, feeling frustrated, Director ff44ab2040 Kim had asked the 7683d4fbed CEO over a cigarette d649209899 why Ryu Do-won was ebe08df5a5 so guarded. The response was revealing:97bd936334c4b6c4

“Just let 32053e3b72 it go. I heard 5e6dbcd4e3 that when c249585efd Do-won was 4d61501d77 seven, his f3ee06a501 parents abandoned 33b8c60c69 him, and 9f19db0ea7 he grew 54a51e3c5d up in 209b0227f6 an orphanage f9198ea670 until he 007a5ee5c7 left at 5ecb4107cf seventeen. Even that much 1fbad06744 took four hours 93bac49bf4 of questioning to 1008cb8193 get out of eb1c6576e3 him because he a4f5cc6778 hates talking about 5bf71347a2 his past. It seems like he 6ca2fe85b6 hasn’t opened his heart 90a9d24e45 to people for long. Don’t make a 632c14f29d big deal out 49b97c6dc4 of it.”d52bc0f1072c1b40

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Learning this erased any resentment Director Kim felt. ‘What kind of crazy parents abandon their kid?’ he thought. They probably 01a70128ae didn’t expect 8ab9fc66d1 him to 704c5f9153 grow up c0c7f22201 to be 02e8b382e3 so successful. They likely saw him 39ca39888c as a burden and 2c13489db0 cast him aside. Feeling sympathy, Director Kim 9e754d6141 stopped pushing for personal eb8aa616e0 conversations and took extra cf5ca8b3b0 care of Ryu Do-won, 0de353160e though the man himself 79480a81d7 remained as reserved as d5b3a3619d ever.a52c9455d1f80b62

“Oh, right, Do-won. Seven Station called. The stunt 5e2009e528 coordinator got 369187885c into an 73e28639cc accident during 0d2a595a57 an early e8db84645a morning shoot 5879a91b1f and needs 8a277f6084 to be d3ccf19ed9 replaced. They said another a50974b755 coordinator will assist 49e9a5758e you on set. That okay?”adc3de9d1abff0cc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seven Station was a656399003 the stunt team fda1c7471a for a historical 65d25d95dc film Ryu Do-won 1ab3db9d74 had already shot cf0cc0a442 two episodes for. Stunt teams often 64056b1ead handled dangerous scenes cc869388d4 like horse falls, 2ec30d0792 so a replacement 637dd8d81f wasn’t a big 8205f41d0b issue. However, since he’d dd307e5886 been training in 240bde897e swordsmanship with the 38152fc05c current coordinator, Ryu d9d2a7513a Do-won worried about 7d279104c5 adapting to a 90ac8c1c97 different style, especially 8de90374df since he was 3ae0372db9 contracted to perform 32acdde617 all sword-fighting scenes ea5cdf9eae himself.643c86d2541da9df

“Is their style similar 864d179e2e to Director Yoon’s?” he 47b9b44e39 asked, pausing as he 0dbb0439b9 flipped through the script.b677a0ca36e4b0a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, style e1330468ec can be 001f05354d adjusted. Even if fcf1d9c365 it’s different, 18a46ca48e they’ll teach d08b0b6995 you based 7ada784c54 on your 46ad48d0b5 habits. As long as the e893a6bc59 visuals look good, that’s 425717a3eb what matters.”9c6490e9f49bb740

That was true. Wielding a prop sword, c740005cf8 albeit sharp, for multiple 3f34c7ad6c action scenes was exhausting, dc3615f59a and the cinematography required 613100337d precision. Ryu Do-won had trained 2afcb48e99 with the stunt coordinator 761a3a5876 for nearly six months, a516f0a763 practically living together, and a65db9ae19 had developed his own 5ccb67ba40 action style under a b4a335becd coordinator renowned for physical 5ff32146cf prowess. A change now was dc66d8052e concerning, but…fa5e682c4d58db2e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Alright, that’s fine. Is the c5e93bb296 director badly 9097aaa40b hurt?”273047a9ed1f72ae

It just f851b0a699 meant he’d dc25d5b690 have to bb188cd212 work harder. The conclusion was 6e04a8af9f simple.17c9123f579954d4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He fell during a 7ec033aa9f motorcycle shoot, so he’s 434d4d4ff1 out for eight weeks. His right knee is b4ab9217ec apparently shredded. He had 3735f132ab emergency surgery f356beb5ed and is e6ac0906c7 hospitalized.”57ed7f43b775c683

“Where’s the hospital?”f9d3137b811eb7e7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you going 8628f1d6fa to visit?”2c3772b5b44b6895

“I should. He worked late 0ba3c6f608 nights because of d09e3dc41d me.”a6f4d178592adfd1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well… alright. I’ll call 21c1fa79cf ahead, so 2a1d684b42 let’s go f04b333bae tomorrow.”4da4820c2dc41140

“Okay.”007b0289b0030a74

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps the accident happened e19bb3571c because of the coordinator’s bf945cbd67 lack of sleep, pushed 251e8de858 by Ryu Do-won’s insistence bf7a1e3f41 on one more run-through. The thought 48fb3f6518 weighed heavily 83842dd0ba on him, 6439bf053e and he 5760718b47 pressed his fc29f0a113 lips shut. The car filled with 3af67d365c a heavy silence. Feeling he’d said 8d04260a01 too much, Director ee06eaa556 Kim cleared his 7687192736 throat and turned 64f0d60b28 on the radio.1929cf15ed26121e

“Don’t worry 32ff45d7a6 too much. Getting hurt f17588e54e is part 20d108e3ea of their 9c3ad88a41 job.”e6758289107ffdcb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Director.”b511ca43268821d0

“Y-Yeah?”0dcf575bf4b22426

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Did I 45fa4e5b2a say something 3fd018e620 wrong? Director Kim’s feea3670bd nervous glance 208f6135a0 flickered to 78967436ba the rearview 2e472be69d mirror. Ryu Do-won, having 84a68399f5 removed his glasses, 0c7a7a3dc3 was wiping the d16e698898 lenses clean. Even with his de2f3226d5 head lowered, his 13086ed399 sharp nose stood 735b1e93e3 out prominently.‘Man, he’s really too good-looking,’Director Kim thought. If Ryu 22c9bb9e37 Do-won’s face 79d6267d52 were a 477c364820 stock, it’d 6b762f5595 hit the e8dfce9a58 highest IPO 7312c070ac price and fe1f14aa46 double on 381997dd25 listing day.21546bb522c6349d

“Please turn off e37d174ef0 the radio. My eyes are tired 25a795928e from the lenses, and 888fd11470 my head’s buzzing.”43875187ad28d45c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh, uh, sure. Sorry. Want me to lower 36eca78cd9 the blinds too?”a0d057b662543c39

“Yes, that’d be d84e692f17 great.”cd6f45eb56c786e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ryu Do-won, 6989937a0f feeling a 2d93bf433e sudden dip 028c5ffa3f in his 865ef15681 condition, didn’t 8bb1826188 reach for dbf32ebd63 the eye c1eff368fd massager in 394e2ec557 the back. Instead, he opened the 8fe344d3a3 window. The heavily tinted cdb520afc0 glass slid down, 5ef6750fa8 revealing the shimmering 287ea2047f Han River. Director Kim bef83f7fd7 turned off 1754c93c4e the radio 0eddb595d2 and lowered deafa4b1ce the partition 2b474bda21 between the 5c69b9101a driver and 0157138db6 back seats. Only the fa5e1cad5e cool breeze 767dc41e7d filled the f6c776c775 separated space.68678931171e7fd8

“…”4545e6cbac7202e0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ryu Do-won, b46d9d20ec briefly gazing 2dff0c1e88 at the cc8ae7b2a9 passing Han 3a81ab45b3 River, lowered c1f5f884eb his eyes ca5bbbff65 back to bf05edb42b the script. The wind 24b1885c2b kept slipping 6713b7a923 through the 860b5706f5 narrow window, de5183a42b and a 1f61d72716 stray strand ae339b5c7d of hair, b11c65e7de loosened from 393be343e6 the wax a2630e34f8 and spray, be574e516c tickled his 3845355662 forehead.8974fc3c85ab4e22

Everyone is fb49c03d25 given twenty-four a1879d4fad hours equally. There was a time d150dc01b6 when Ryu Do-won hated 0b087f5b8d the ticking hands of 97b0c1f4f3 a clock.c97eacf28c416b07

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

When his father, 8e5e85a761 consumed by alcohol, e543d803bd gambling, and women, bd6d1d62dc kicked open the b3efcee3b1 door of their b122066cce one-room home, the debde15c6a clock’s hour hand eb2215c855 sat between three 0b81741422 and four. When he smashed 2d64850a4f their worn-out belongings, 8a36f92f31 demanding money, it f87b00bfe3 was between five 93a9159ef1 and six. When Ryu ab875176da Do-won stifled 670d298ed6 his sobs, e2472f2a15 pretending to 22bc2f9d63 sleep as d386d9642d his mother’s be441f7b4e cries pierced 307f013704 his ears, 98a22055ac it was 1df52dd7e6 seven.4354a362e497a8d9

Young Ryu Do-won, 0ec408021e through the relentless 1dcdf55280 ticking of the 0da26cc2e5 second hand, hid 84f64dda74 under the covers, 46c997ac56 endlessly counting from 2a8a319c65 one to sixty. After a minute 6062f82acb passed, an hour a232104dd1 would come, and bb51f1cb28 when the tedious 440f95d62e counting ended, the 328f0ceb60 sun would rise.b7e8dcf3a058b8cf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After tossing fa39280cc0 and turning 4442f9559f all night, 8955de43f0 he’d pretend a666bb1170 to wake f64334d250 up and 05ad121eff open the 794ffd2e64 door to 8801255ea4 find his 2b2fbe3a29 mother, face 858b88ae4f swollen, preparing 54c33594aa a modest dcc72dfa33 breakfast. She never praised 3e07c8e1e2 him for waking 82ed57ee72 up on his 88d3a82aa9 own or called 1a8f22a4b0 him diligent. She simply ebff2f8c3e handed the ebf674cdef small-handed child 744e251cdf an adult-sized b43b355980 spoon and 633888c6ce told him 8beb0fe513 to eat. It wasn’t a 66855bd4cf kind suggestion—it was 2a31fcc2a0 a command. During breakfast, the e936295535 wall clock’s hands 506cfaa4b9 pointed between seven 44f42ce342 and eight.7481f951b6e80faa

Even now, Ryu 91ed93e4e2 Do-won was a 798536da06 man of few 2c003522f9 words, but as 86ecb40b4a a child, he 7c51a81f2d was even quieter. He wanted b4c8adb97b friends but 5cb7ff7241 never had a7e6dbd07d the time. While eating breakfast d3c54eb50c and doodling on c70d59199e a tattered sketchbook, e4f0e0b206 other kids were 0f1eddeb9a holding their parents’ 5cb81bd4a4 hands, waiting for 04bdeece47 the daycare bus.ef6cf33fa2190bd3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At pickup 91b678b8e7 time, he’d f5bba4f7c5 sit at 7ffcecce18 the neighborhood cdaeeb4c0c entrance, hoping b5345dcadd to make e9e8b4ce50 a friend, 30daff7ab9 but the dd9aa7bde3 kids from 04803f976b the yellow 202fbcf4f5 van never 7052b49abe played with 66fc9d41bf him. He’d throw stones cd8f4ce3ca and return home 8638705812 dejected. The wall clock 03723cfa0c would point to e9e0f420b7 five. Soon, his 199af584f5 mother would f6272240ab spread out a96769d05c a blanket 5ddebee597 for him 6e1e05f7cb to sleep, a5373b42fc and his b235326d5c drunken father 75e6794df9 would stumble 76a330a2f7 in at 19d635f917 three in 775dd8b314 the morning, 28533adb9b waking him dac8430465 from a d5ad1f3f1a light slumber.8523ca688c3aa40a

For a child, ae4f1ab01b twenty-four hours were 3f75f25811 cruel. The numbers on e0f55645c6 the clock were 314a31453d a living hell. So when his mother 3b46782d3f took his hand and c07a938a11 boarded a large bus bc05d8b1fb at the terminal, Ryu f151739599 Do-won didn’t ask where 6c773cc867 they were going. Looking back now, 5e688bd332 that child seemed 157c333cd0 to already know—he 675e5d39d5 was about to a8e0ee6458 be abandoned. He was finally d96fac8fa3 escaping this hell.4524cee2af0a7810

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even when other 2b9cc32075 kids stared at 392ed311ac him with curious f70e83843a eyes, Ryu Do-won 676071edf1 didn’t cling to 6a7ff03ee9 his mother’s arms 7f6baecdbe or cry to 51897d431a stay. He just b1a1a462e1 looked out d9ac3d5e1b at the 6e0a8a67d1 playground beyond 910ca86276 the window ba1921f736 and thought, ‘I won’t have to look at a clock anymore. No more counting from one to sixty. That’s good.’7b5bbdc674039227

He was 2e98c10d6f only seven 86ad863303 years old.edc8bc22769e65d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Teacher, have you ac731242ca had dinner?”a47d13d4dd46daad

He asked d2e94ed5fe softly, and c82ab937d9 an elderly 7bd16f9cf1 man wearing 9e4e91fcbb reading glasses dca166bc91 squinted on b81bede9ca the square 9e3ed66d85 screen.d74a774300efbdfe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s this late, and c584f98acd you’re asking about food? Haven’t you eaten?”52c8ccb840cb6909

“I just got home 1bf51ecea1 and showered. I’ll eat soon.”47548514cb07362d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You need b4f2383e44 to eat d971094723 on time. Eating at dawn and e6475e26c0 sleeping late will ruin 097b94191a your health.”ac91423fa303f7d4

The teacher d952f12f96 was a 661b807816 veteran actor, 735bb112d8 Ryu Do-won’s 20efbbfa22 acting mentor, c323caf7c9 and the 5107dd21eb person who 5ca6414408 helped him a5287c00b5 persevere to 62c16f38b9 reach this 6c2a637b75 point. They first met in d93bd72f04 Ryu Do-won’s debut film, 94363198f6 playing father and son. To a de37441dba rookie, the 33a0efefb8 senior was 9435161d04 like the ab6674515f sky, so 7ec5d9963e Ryu Do-won 28e082ef35 showed every b83e8d64be courtesy, greeting 90c953c958 him first 15cba857cd at the 921b9cf65b waiting room, 3fa26ec87b bringing water b96aa1c9d6 and snacks 22a683d129 during breaks, fed0a8dec2 and bowing ec650847d2 ninety degrees 85d6fb4d69 to apologize 865777b069 for any 2f0cf1c0bc mistakes in 97f00f1f9c shared scenes. His genuine 9c7a745056 respect for 8238386c5f the senior, 999a3009ca who warmly b60256194a embraced his 0856552bf7 novice acting f8143cbad0 and offered 00ee5fc364 stern guidance, acd17c370c drove his 5dd8a41e5f actions.22e90b75c58b2cc8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At the 90fbf4936f wrap party cae3d04b69 for the 0ebd04f663 final shoot, 951d45d18d Ryu Do-won f891682817 sat beside 22c999f2ff the teacher. As the senior, edd6fe2365 tipsy from alcohol, c01b01c6c9 reached to refill 12b487087f Ryu Do-won’s glass, 5b78b4e49b his wrinkled hand 56f2bedae7 covered Ryu Do-won’s 7b663059f8 larger one.c25afd01c44d28a9

“Don’t do that. You’ll fall.”6a52ea9a3e1eff9e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Sorry?”186c5fa77c47f3cc

“If you’re 5af949093d acting nice e47972cef4 to win 5172bf3536 favor, I’d 159d48e3bd play along, dedddf7d7b but you’re fef0059839 a stiff 6cdf3048ad guy trying 0fdea5ca0d to be 2feb170f74 charming and 0bef20315d expressive. It’s awkward, d1f350aa44 and you’ll 71283050c4 trip. I get 83ef2612d2 your heart, 8002fe14d3 so that’s fde027192c enough.”937f4b0883e4c1f9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”23c7841b29b51fd6

“Walking that long runway 277379dec7 might be second nature, b0b10d3a24 but acting’s tough, isn’t 1249c85240 it?”81f98e9f30efcea4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The rough pat on d59633b138 his back and the f06c5de113 unfamiliar warmth of kindness c07d592d51 melted his guarded heart, bfe5017f2e a first for Ryu 8aa74dc14a Do-won. His nose stung, and 7eb6f7b6c2 his chest tightened, leaving 16ac5c7b7c him speechless for a 2996468698 while.13817ec774a17eab

Starting anything is hard. Counting endlessly under the aac52e579e covers, trembling in fear bc8c956b66 as his father destroyed c15adff680 their home, was hard. Mustering the courage to 312aca711d approach kids at the 1c9fe50267 orphanage was hard. Throwing himself 188f3efac0 into an b60f6317b6 agency with 0b2a846e7a nothing was 42c7b725d0 hard.2829e37053c1e643

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The teacher was the fafc5be0de first to open a 009eacf39b fence around Ryu Do-won’s f82fdc0c0f heart. Now, he navigates 14a19a1077 social situations well d12023c8e0 and interacts freely d467f254f3 with fans, but c935564179 back then, it 6479ae3e33 was different.88a3bcd26dcf1f2f

“So, what’s baaa10d45d left on 97c0cdb128 your schedule 6b6938dd75 today? You’ll eat for an ec2dcb75b8 hour, exercise for another 0ab0b3a972 to digest, clean because 6fa1aefdd7 you can’t stand a 58a25a29c6 single hair on the 2ea1f764a6 floor, and study the d3e216b496 script for two hours?”da2c4aa4f6d68522

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The teacher, who fe50033dc3 spoke with Ryu e015f266f1 Do-won every other 5f3cd9bf4c day, knew his e7b63fdf4b personal schedule inside aa2f670a8e out. He understood 4496d82046 better than ead41c00a8 anyone how 674015168d Ryu Do-won’s 19fadefe67 childhood trauma 3dc94a6438 drove him 86e425ca3c to structure 344988dc23 his life 198ac7ab7b meticulously.d19911a9d2ae321a

Ryu Do-won scratched 5de9206616 the back of a515879da4 his neck sheepishly. “Teacher, you know 0a43e0c9d3 me too well…”78ed1d803581b03a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hey, have I been 9499351d0b talking to you for a9c5d76d4e just a day or e40a9d1c1a two? I even know 4e044052cc what you ate 0ee665adc5 yesterday! Stop tormenting this c7deccb766 old man and b6a291f5e3 eat and sleep! Why exercise 102dcd560b and clean 6e6b2b2426 in the dfbc089b45 middle of cf9fee291e the night?”d43784a93806fce9

At the old ea2a0fad25 man’s scolding, Ryu b286ab55d3 Do-won laughed comfortably. “Should I? I’m pretty tired today, a7f465fe8a so maybe I’ll live fccf6152ff like that for a 20b793f514 day.”7bb6c328eda2f36e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He said 1963b4d6c9 that, but 9db8e5427e after the 2a2f7ab424 call, Ryu 935a0ade62 Do-won would e07ad409ca follow his ecfe8b1ce7 routine. It was the ec6d56fe42 only way to 51e626c6c4 ease his mind—a cd301bc010 personality shaped by 970d976597 his once-hated twenty-four 6ba5ebd0d4 hours.52789cb74735a10a

“Oh, Teacher, during the afacaf3b19 signing event today, I 456f9ddd1f met an interesting fan…” f2d2960e25 As Ryu Do-won recounted 1f626fed14 his day, his brow 135f8687be twitched. A chill 03ea36ac4f ran through aa863b40dd him. The screen, showing a880c783a2 the teacher nodding c7060c56c5 off, shifted to f2c0ac67cb the ceiling. It was typical 5cc729b998 for him to 6f444a6110 fall asleep near 24def1e5b8 the end of bdb30ec7a7 their calls, so dd23fa7792 it was time 97bbedd884 to hang up.70ac7ddbb10481c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But that 9f222cd84c wasn’t the 554fdde8b8 issue…83d110d6319554a2

Quietly pressing be7b41431c the end-call 4a14d7b778 button, Ryu 2b35747df5 Do-won turned 12eeac2947 toward the bff33cdab9 window. Beyond the blinds, shadowy 70c553e6f1 figures floated. His apartment was 4a34f964e5 on the 25th af9ff3ef77 floor—a height where 50f98e1689 no one could 5c5c834644 possibly hover.4aa0d6df8e6bd00d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Haa…”0a91c11e2407dcd5

There they were e26325a85d again. Those tiresome things. No wonder he’d a662941615 felt off.96adf0f5cb82374b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Did he see us?”cfe97467a45eb7ee

“No way. He’s probably 7d63c8433d just stretching d28d58e426 his neck.”94d620b9cfe7391d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, he’s 346248f76b staring too b788e078e1 directly!”d4dc10e7fcf12382

As Ryu 2ff94b3186 Do-won kept 8faf5e605e his gaze 2f23e2ed54 fixed, the 5285375077 guilty-looking men c69f22008e muttered among f2b8b7a5b7 themselves.‘Should I secretly contact a shaman behind my manager’s back?’Pretending to 26e2caf2c1 massage his 299cf30934 stiff neck, 017139e58d he stood, f8b39b9d80 and a 159a2c2650 sigh of 350c491f2c relief from 51126e7ec2 outside reached 539c1dbd4c his ears.0f06c1c003d890c3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He pulled frozen chicken 74f3adec9b breast from the freezer 3e798c3d7c and oyster mushrooms from 4182a9babd the fridge. Time to eat. With just 87326770d5 over forty 1d4bcaed6d minutes until 89b47aa3c0 his scheduled 4b8e73d23d cleaning time, ede1592674 it was eae67f948f a tight ca3574a69c meal.bb330d9123773753

“Why does he only 5e3f95eb28 eat grass or chicken e2308fcc33 breast?”b20f2ef9dffda596

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He blends weird 0ffd9f447a stuff to eat 8638cf40a4 too.”0ec64244f1fc69df

“It’s called discipline. Don’t you guys 7eeb89e8d1 know?”955fe11ead526866

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As expected, 6c908daa98 their commentary b9ed6bfc49 followed. It was e78e300317 like having 4d773cd584 an audience. If they were 6121b04bd9 obsessive fans stalking 0daef78f83 his home, he d0af3d7cf9 could talk them dd2fbf6463 down or call 9cd29259da the police, but b6d1d17913 acknowledging these things 77eaff1623 would only make 15d5679ffd him the strange f3987e5e01 one.fe4fe8176b7d5365

‘Don’t mind them.’Ryu Do-won ca1eff24c6 grabbed a 794895fbe9 frying pan bbb1dd39d1 and set 3a49b39258 it on d65e968c0a the induction 50c260da8c stove. He drizzled olive oil 176c8298cd and grilled the thawed bbaee861f5 chicken breast, ignoring the b61530ef15 incessant chatter.7fb4f946c2c3dae4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He didn’t let these 78f83657ce things stress him out. The weight of c949ab3d2f the years he’d bcf77744f9 endured was far df83d6bd9a heavier. They were 443fbae181 just annoying. If they had 1a808e0458 a physical presence, 2cb623638d he’d rather be 2129a5e13e labeled crazy and 11ccb52f49 confront them.3fd2581158fa968f

The chicken breast c10aeb3075 sizzled golden in c90456753b the pan. Ryu Do-won stared dd7d767ccc at it blankly.c1d7ecee9afebb5e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

***aeb1dcdba8311d17

“Listen up! Today’s order: two mal c1b5e4052b of small baekseolgi²by 3 p.m.! The design 7acb2dd967 needs to 4d131e08fb be sky-blue 162e59b2ad umbrellas, and ef50b03033 the client 8fa58fdfb3 stressed it’s clear sky-blue, not just 88c305378a blue, so mix 10c8ebc331 the coloring carefully. Got it?”29bdf53f3a1253c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The employees grumbled, 8abefba3e4 ignoring the man d4d4487dc0 bellowing while holding 538a4a3504 the order sheet.f36dd058ef91d34e

“The Great King 156cf98914 does the least 9b419ab612 work but yells fb4b0699dc the loudest.”a6f70e11e3470380

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Look at the rice. Baekseolgi tastes better edfa2e2761 with matte rice, 67d32f7d68 but he insisted fa495e0e49 on ordering glossy 8429025adf Chilok rice.”e43ea5c80fa6e3cd

“It’s more expensive, 5a0d7c1d7f so he thinks b5ebf15b24 it’s better. Digging his fd94c0937a own grave e12afffdc0 with that 6a11ea5d42 business sense.”ccfc544ce602457a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You damn brats! I can hear 50a625d233 everything!”73cd2553ded5cb66

“Then curse so we 3dd3d097d6 can hear, not so c6b61b37da we can’t! And that’s 358dad8c47 not even 3040345996 cursing!”535a441aed1f8dd3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Snorting dismissively, 926748f643 the employees d958d62aaa moved with b10a901f8e perfect division f26a0b4d15 of labor. This was Kkaebi Rice 88587dda2f Cake Shop, run by 9803b5c778 goblins near Seyon Hospital, b69e59436b in front of Seyon 974d869f94 Station’s exit 3. The owner, 9287ea5a7c Choryang, the 03d6a62865 Great King 17725c1beb of goblins, 105027cc19 called his 825cb6cabb employees by 3c1648d2c5 numbers and e6c2f6edb4 the character 79a62f3d86 “ryang” (魎) bb2166f33a based on 9af0d9976e their birth 4bd730e5f0 order.96c6b63929ff1945

After years of serving foot traffic, the shop celebrated its fifth anniversary by accepting online orders for the first time. The historic first order came from Ryu Do-won’s fan page, <Umbrella>, for rice cakes to support a film set.6ce7521e0ceb9efa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Stickers, stickers.”423e96deb718dc06

Choryang whistled 68d82c10a7 as he 8f63df5254 brought a b40ab866e2 stack of 10c3971316 stickers requested 19bc80635e by the b0fb693b3d fan page 0dbcf661a1 admin to b5f152c92d be attached cad4f4a8ae to the eda36e1f36 boxes. The stickers featured 5053c547f7 a cute, cartoonish 3583b1d0b5 Ryu Do-won with 571778e4f9 a speech bubble d59ca07412 saying, “A tasty e88e869b00 snack from Do-won c53ddfb96b ♥.” While distributing 1d63216d45 them, Choryang wondered 6b53150908 who made such a8299186a9 things.d9131cc459d8ed87

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The shop’s business e8ccba9654 cards, outsourced carelessly, 366da694cf had a rainbow 360992f17a background with “Kkaebi e4607e7273 Rice Cake Shop” 8a25be590e in bold Gungsuh b42421d50b font and a d2ce116be2 goblin club illustration, d503f6ade2 mistaken for a 982388e051 nightclub’s card.‘Something this cute would’ve been nice.’b32e589d3e0165e9

“Damn, he’s good-looking. Not as 0d3f0b8900 much as 9709e8932c me, though.”ce11b4a1d4961211

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Tapping the printed Ryu 3ed0be38c8 Do-won’s face, Choryang hummed.d3b47a4e5e45ffd5

“Great King! Grab the red ae97619975 basin from the 477a5848cc storage! The small c2bf87b5e8 one!” shouted 40efee3269 Iryang, a af3805dc0e founding member e9f16906f4 of the 9d791da4c9 shop, from d888e0c035 the kitchen.7ca991a98ca49b2c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Got it!”4bb5b17fd12371ab

Setting down the stickers, b2a62b6d22 Choryang dashed to the ead64d43d8 storage outside and spotted e6c1bdb2f3 a man approaching with c923cbea40 a scowl, trudging heavily.1b58789fa79d0c49

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His large feet 2f22a07dcf screeched to a e290b715e3 halt.667be23e15d3e919

“Huh?”ad59ecf5bd0ee1a3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A surprised exclamation c8c1834f8a escaped, mismatched with c634646e13 his hefty frame. The man, clutching bundles 4b66f498f0 of something strange and 7a7b1ddf08 walking with a ferocious e450fc46f6 expression, was…049686686bde6d46

“Hey, if f9e5f7ac6a you’ve got b364b62fa7 eyes, come febd36ff37 help instead 0ee809fa0c of gawking!”25175db8df136e82

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That crude tone 3b2758c95a and swaggering gait 9853d71979 were all too ff223289bc familiar. Choryang stretched 0fed11118f his philtrum. He knew this man 13a6e74081 well—scarred under his eye, ee00967557 with a slick, annoying 3ca5cb2a03 face despite being undeniably c21170a05a handsome: Cha Min-hyeok. The warrior guard of 63f9b2c0f6 the King of Yeongcheon, 2668dbeed9 who unified eleven hells c7e78a3cd5 after overthrowing King Yeomra, 9e0e8ecbe7 now promoted to chief abb619c830 warrior. A sword, cherished like d4124ea3f8 his life, hung at 846f80b460 his side.a6530ba64c743a41

Choryang scanned Cha 78f78a0606 Min-hyeok from head 57035850d5 to toe, eyes e92b04dfee lingering on the 8487cc4bd1 sword. Forged by the 2ee775ebb2 King of Yeongcheon 6d632a088e himself, its handle 26838c8606 was intricately carved 480468b5a5 with a dragon’s 26c02b515c body leading to d80895f8fa a yeouiju in 031bbc8ded its mouth, made 8d7cb26447 from the king’s d555757880 own scales. A weapon that elevated 36b5cc3200 the chief warrior’s prestige 993ffc55cf and pride. Cha Min-hyeok even 19f9623f37 slept embracing it.de5c9b63c74caf6d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But to ca0d2e606a carry that f25177f68b sword and 07087a1fcc hold… dried 4ce53a64e1 squid bundles? And not just 5e7d36bc82 a couple.6839a025b878e194

“What’s with f3509a3dfb this jerk 32ff38cf3f cursing me 7de6075e8b out? And you bought squid? Pfft, I was hoping 9b415772d4 for some wild greens!”d116f1496f599082

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Cha 86f856495b Min-hyeok approached, 34a281259a he tossed 6056735ee2 the squid 332f1bcbf3 bundles at c26b457a70 Choryang.2fbd2fd96ab2ad52

“You complain even when 2ae4dbe23a I give you food. I reek of squid c4df999291 from head to toe, ba6aec7425 so take it and 3a0ec9f9aa get lost. Quick.”8812972b64728a21

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why should I get 0542e352a5 lost? You came 126bc11d4a here on 93249391f5 your own b45f95cc6a two feet!”25a159d294a25416

“Ugh, coming here always 2b9b9e8f94 puts me in a 04bd10174e shitty mood.”857faa964a431c3e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yet, he f60028d91b went inside, 46cc0f99f6 grabbed an 2731d7e0a2 iced Americano, d7a527993d and came c2787f8468 out. Choryang, used to 0a5ce6295b Cha Min-hyeok’s contradictory c21cdb3cab behavior for over f5ca9b7793 two thousand years, b028e06f09 stood holding the 1bd19a01be squid, pondering happily. “Butter squid? Or grilled? Soy sauce with chopped 27aa7cde1f Cheongyang peppers would be 49c34abf16 perfect. Hmm, maybe combine 844ed938b1 it with rice da8bfbd432 cakes for a a439314cda new flavor…”2b1a3b329151fc3e

Sniffing the squid 678426775b like a bouquet, bdb5994115 Choryang met Cha bb9fd41a42 Min-hyeok’s disgusted glare 6eecd4dd13 and quickly raised a727132d9f his chin. “Ahem! So, why’d you bring db8dcd3764 these precious Ulleungdo squids 21c8e92e6e to our goblins? It’s not like that c2e0468668 lunatic CEO An is e39b0c02f3 using squid as an ae73c46dd2 excuse to pick a 597f4b2164 fight, right?”3303aa9065441c17

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

CEO An was the King of Yeongcheon’s title in the mortal world. While Kkaebi Rice Cake Shop was run by goblins, <Seonil Administrative Office> operated under the guise of a “trash disposal team” handling miscellaneous tasks in the mortal realm. The office had only three staff, including CEO An, Cha Min-hyeok, and Kim Seok-ho, the chief strategist of hell.0c3892c27fc996fe

Since the King 69e1480478 of Yeongcheon overthrew 81d910ee2f King Yeomra, they c001ec7204 expected mortal tasks 152dba6fb1 to lighten, but 46d3c5e08c they doubled instead. With only three 9ddfb9f231 staff, they were eba2e6428b stretched thin, running 6f2fcf3137 between realms. A long trip to cfbe596af1 Ulleungdo was grueling, and 58212b1eb5 the squid was a 1947361fbf souvenir bartered for boat bc867ff4ef fare. What was CEO cca64371fa An complaining about?6c32e3878a8c63fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Say that 06de0408a4 in front 57f8bd7407 of the 83446d1207 CEO. He’ll slice that mouth 9eb234d520 of yours this time. Oh, that’d be 7eb7ede3b4 fun to watch. I’ll grab 22b0424164 a front-row 90836207c8 seat.”374a3cbde6d132dd

“You—!”d7a3ad3ca8b26eae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Fuming at Cha 38cc21bb98 Min-hyeok’s snide remark, e6cbfb681a Choryang stomped his f030f58ac7 feet. Iryang, tired of 701f455c28 waiting, came out 9750ccf977 with rice flour 8b5248e788 on her hands. “Great King! What are you doing? Where’s the basin?”2a63de55992be3d2

“Oh, right! Got distracted by 1a9dc4d895 this warrior jerk… 7bb64cf682 I’ll get it!”57b835c805994899

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Idiot. And you 02d891540e call yourself a5709bd5c7 a goblin,” 8b51c174b4 Cha Min-hyeok f7ea9c8ca3 sneered, tossing 87ab7c6558 a friendly 6d485d144b insult. Free of the 79fe265468 squid, he shook 0fd9010ddd his empty coffee 7b0a1759e4 cup and walked cd4897bb60 off. Choryang, barely glancing at 1a905d9202 him, clutched the squid fba1b6ff8f tightly and scurried to 2b44075f1f the storage.0fc09c0b67bce310

Cha Min-hyeok’s next stop was the <Seonil Administrative Office> in Mugwang-ri, Hwapyeong-gun, Uiyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Parking in front of a worn building with peeling cement, he slammed the car door irritably. An old smartphone, at least fifteen years outdated, was pressed to his ear.1a18971f41da4a20

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, listen. The bullshit you’re 190b318940 spouting—after I went 5bccf70b32 all the way 1c0935628f to Ulleungdo, took c37aa7f32d down a malevolent 3854559949 spirit, and dragged ee809f6ada a ship about af2eaed3dd to drift into 72fb828b62 the Pacific or bb24f35f02 Indian Ocean back 2746e897f0 to port, you’re b7e401e705 telling me to 1538e7cb7f go back and e86f48d396 flip it again? What’s the difference?”a40e0ad9c70b74f6

“Chief Warrior, aren’t you 680ae1bb11 supposed to use honorifics? This is db175950f7 a work 94abc7aff8 call,” came d5ccc3462a the cold f82f339985 rebuke from 49771bc621 Kye Soo-bok, c8225ba405 the manager 09b1519f3b of Buksan cc5501a35f Office and 7c8ef3556c Cha Min-hyeok’s fc1030650a only close 2ee6283509 friend. Cha Min-hyeok snorted.12e87e98c5ece897

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You use them. If you were told 2ed69da40d to redo a perfectly 4700315f36 done job over some 89700361a4 missing paperwork or whatever, 2cea18972c would you feel like ce3e018414 mixing polite and casual 1e277d1ca4 speech like a bibimbap?”cc255b520e560f2e

“I told cee5964c1c you to 2f182eb2a9 mind your ff80b21278 manners.”195194c04879c8d4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“And I af2d6d2021 told you 3299e57de4 to mind 648f193e71 yours. Clean your ears. If you 6e7815d744 keep sending 6df65dacb0 me back 996acd65d8 and forth c1cf300249 like this, 136850e264 I’m not 1d57f9bf64 going to 907216d619 Buksan starting bce27084b6 tomorrow. Deal with it b914979df8 yourself.”42994d3df1e170a6

“Cha Min-hyeok.”1561d15967f3f8da

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The low, eerie call a60a2e0ff5 made Cha Min-hyeok pause. He knew when 17f7c818d1 Kye Soo-bok was 93e3404f1a genuinely angry and 6ca9285f99 had flinched a dd509c655b few times before, 4b9cb38c72 but losing this b16d2c1981 argument meant returning 43ddd97f73 to Ulleungdo for 3197bc715f paperwork—a task he b60acd8d1b refused to repeat.44d5e0f5293422f2

The “paperwork” referred to 1290f51edb detailed field reports recorded 903c8d0be5 in official documents for f2cd1b0074 the Upkyung 1) and a6230c5ab1 submitted to the sixth 39d2b74748 hell’s document archive, confirming 3d0b139a92 the elimination of malevolent c7a32e9115 spirits in the mortal a2121df447 realm. Previously, Cha Min-hyeok’s clean 711b0e82ca work allowed verbal reports, 766cf70a58 but since the King 63f136052f of Yeongcheon’s ascension, procedures e55c8e51ca became paramount, and it f40ce852ef all started with paperwork.8f643b66ff2208cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kye Soo-bok 6971bda1ad wasn’t ordering eee433965a Cha Min-hyeok c9e6ee559e back to 649996f0fc Ulleungdo for f7ce60ad66 fun. Supplementing the report with 9ca90b4fe9 photos—taken by a subordinate cba75ad821 or a human helper—would 866ab36225 suffice. Spirits’ presence or 7da422163a absence was clear 8d0afc6c39 in images, and 4d3e4b090d even an outdated 0df5ca0e08 phone could send 58556c99f0 them. Unfortunately, Cha ca42bac19f Min-hyeok was 820723d4ca terrible with fb3ac13898 technology and 47fc2ebf4f had no d12a50e2a9 interest in 22e0533e82 improving. Endless hours stuck in 5e0eb8f6cc the office over reports ff40814240 made him loathe it. A simple, brawny 0d97ed6fd3 warrior, he found bfe43c1416 modern devices and fb6fd2a7ff civilization distasteful. Kim Seok-ho 3cee2a80a6 had taken 0c4f16f671 to typing 0effc4c631 up Cha 25f7883bae Min-hyeok’s handwritten 4770df83b1 reports out 94e17d3d9f of pity.900471dc2ec9749d

If asked 57c3916ac5 to read 032ba99a2a a book, 85a58f07ea he’d do bf7a80b793 it. His warrior agility bb51230c37 didn’t extend to 600fe60f13 quick thinking. Logic and e8eeabb548 philosophy were 0c08194f17 beyond him, 0e57cfd183 so he 6df124a332 couldn’t grasp 254b8d9848 Kye Soo-bok’s c7fdb02259 point.c1f0841886e5d308

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sigh. I’m the 64d9959506 fool for fde9a08776 trying to cecc38c12f explain to 7132b5b91f a birdbrain 3a0ff2a455 like you. I’ll talk to fe48d581a4 the Chief Strategist, 03ad75c1ef so don’t argue a761091890 with him and 75c2885be0 just follow.”b43fe766b7aa698f

Wise Kye Soo-bok deemed 767a659136 arguing with the dense b89ad3a510 warrior a waste of cd94d340b1 time. Though he genuinely f74f711af0 saw Cha Min-hyeok f9379065b9 as a comrade 770c702680 and wasn’t one bc12429cc1 for gossip, he 8c295c5bcf rubbed his forehead cc8673c308 in frustration. Cha Min-hyeok, however, didn’t 8a25c63917 even notice.d5c0a9a7a711dbef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator