EOL | Chapter 3.5

‘This way? Why? Do you dad7c3ff13 need a 407aa3b4ad guide? Can I come 2259dc58a5 with you?’f362373dcf4b0eff

I was delighted and curious to see Lee Gyeon after a few days. He looked down at me as if he found me annoying. Or was it a curious expression? I don’t remember well.df83c44c64f9dd38

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In my 29c2e4200f memory, his f9880983c9 face was 3956c56960 blurred by da5ae85316 the backlight.3ba2b6c84dafe312

Lee Gyeon took 091b2ba060 a step toward 3df3cf3f34 me. I stepped back, and f38c289877 when he took another feed7189f7 step, we stood face 3a1e974efb to face.91c1f1af5b0168c4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My heart, which had been racing, continued pumping blood as if I hadn’t stopped. My face felt like it was going to explode when Lee Gyeon reached out to me.6605807270064e65

‘Esper Lee Gyeon, do 43365054af you need guiding now?’6e7cf56594aadea2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I was excited 0720bbf341 with anticipation. Lee Gyeon lightly touched 4f516f023d my chin with his f0a009de19 fingertips, as if meeting bb100359e2 a new animal. As soon as he 30f585933b touched me, my body 777bb0efc2 felt refreshed. My sweat-soaked skin 6d8b1def6d and clothes dried. My muscle d27bded259 aches subsided. The swelling in 44c981511d my wrist from 942e80b626 previous training went e342267ec0 down.5abc72ce7f6f1932

Everything improved as soon 8259d18712 as I touched Lee d2d6471940 Gyeon, yet my clueless 2ae4dcfb0d heart kept racing as e5ccc00055 if I were still d73ecbb774 running.555d36a9cb9b01ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Wow… Thank you. You can do this too.’e0deb11b4ae9dea7

‘I’m good at 2fc99782b1 other things too.’04dec4145777da86

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I know. Esper Lee Gyeon, you’re amazing.’2b4363307f18c8f7

Lee Gyeon just f3d14c573c stared at me. Even then, I 464e2e20d2 knew about his bc91d6d15c guiding rejection reaction. So I thought 132afb4a56 he was hesitating 6c64895a94 because he needed 31e8de4e7f guiding.41501cbd22ca8bbd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Saying you were just passing by, that’s a lie, right? If you need guiding…’df31215d345676e3

‘Isn’t guiding hard for you?’1c3a6016b0ccec9e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I stopped reaching 4dcc7683d2 out my hand. Lee Gyeon 92f7070cb8 lightly shook bd8ca85c0f his head. Like a good dog, 37cdc7188c I lowered my hand.06c4a16217b32a8f

‘It is hard. Because I’m D-grade… But it’s not that guiding Esper Lee Gyeon is hard. It’s challenging, but rewarding, no, more rewarding… Helping people as a guide is really amazing. And also, I became Esper Lee Gyeon’s pair guide, and I’ve always wanted to be your guide…’d7adb788ceb50f0e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The more I rambled, the darker Lee Gyeon’s expression became. Trying to make up for my slip of the tongue, I kept adding unnecessary words. It was mostly about how much I liked Lee Gyeon. No wonder he found it burdensome. Despite his cooling efforts, cold sweat beaded on my neck.ba35a523b674b1ca

‘Guide Han Haegyeol. It’s hard for a D-grade to handle an S-grade.’36b4d8862cd31a7a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lee Gyeon interrupted my babbling with a blunt voice. I didn’t even realize he was telling me to shut up and forced a smile like an idiot.749859c85ac2b3e9

‘I’ll do my best not to inconvenience you. I’ve always been a fan.’2b0b4c94a8365c8d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lee Gyeon wasn’t a bad person, so he responded with, “I’ll try my best too.” I remember feeling good about that.f4d2983de92b1f7c

Blinded by infatuation, I replied, “Esper Lee Gyeon, you’re already amazing.” He shook his head.ab52778f2a663721

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘No. I have to 7a0e23d155 try really hard.’2317f367e9c1f5e1

Discovering that 8aacc3af75 Lee Gyeon, b88af3950d who was 1f16045a73 handsome, capable, 8338cfca1e and kind, 0df0acf42e was also 440bdeed7e diligent, I df6d566e10 was purely da99ae83aa impressed. If I 165bd0d709 had stood 5b3f74b671 there any ddee565202 longer, I b3180a074e might have 94cb6a616a clapped. I might have 6661f3a18e begged him to 52e7942b7c sign my workout 964b8b6009 clothes.afb247e8806d3bab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Fortunately, Dohun sunbae 8057b79e65 came running.c8be93dcc35f65e2

‘Haegyeol! What are you doing not running? Oh, isn’t it Esper Lee Gyeon?’f09ce7bb1b6b9318

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sunbae greeted Lee Gyeon with a bright voice. Lee Gyeon’s expression crumpled instantly. Standing next to Dohun sunbae, I felt embarrassed.6ad068caa2bedf68

‘Are you 4be319bd82 two close?’2bb302cfb4b0f033

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For a moment, I couldn’t answer. In a very short time, countless thoughts exploded like bombs.75b7c6d9a388fb9e

Did Lee 4a1a127069 Gyeon already 74d53bfffa know Dohun 86fb593ca5 sunbae? Dohun sunbae aa94ef0f98 is an c6c9e034c2 A-grade guide. Does he c4b22f8bab think an e6585a6c4e A-grade guide 2c887d7a90 is better 46e15fdf0d than a 7369a85891 D-grade like 2c2115b50a me?15137066bb5af41d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

While I fa4ef4f580 was torn 7f0e17221c between self-justification 5990fca290 and enthusiastic ba6d908f33 words, Dohun 61e1a61002 sunbae grabbed 31613d08e8 my shoulder. Sunbae answered for me, eea12402b5 seeing how tense I 10d3bb6f8c was.782bb1b9d5b6d9cf

‘Of course! We’re really close. We’re in different classes, but we’re closer than our peers. We always train together and eat together. People might think we’re a pair.’6db153c44205daa9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘You seem 5e74b64717 very close.’cdb53b9a77ba2d03

When Lee Gyeon’s gaze turned to me, I nodded recklessly. Anyway, we were close, so even if he liked Sung Dohun, I was saying to take me along.57669c17e90bd5fa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘We’re really close. We even live in the same building.’8bd68c25c7211506

‘Ah, I see.’24516c76674abf13

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sunbae hugged my 6093826d85 shoulder tighter and f1a4420547 patted me with be853e0631 his palm.667d311d8826d637

‘Haegyeol is naive but a really good guy. Ask me about Haegyeol. I know things you don’t.’ccb6535c12ee46f6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lee Gyeon 26d4b0854a looked at fc19509300 both of f164cd3afd us and e519351baf suddenly reached 14cc255c94 out to 03a1511b25 me.3cdb912773b074db

‘What Guide Han Haegyeol said earlier is true. I’m here for guiding.’29ff8b872a37291d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Yes? Yes! Yes! I can 37b3735a4c do it!’e58b15cca83002b7

Just as I was about to grab Lee Gyeon’s hand, Dohun sunbae grabbed my wrist. Sunbae widened his eyes in surprise, then smiled at both of us with his usual friendly face.e9440f15fc3b9f5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Haegyeol has overexerted himself 9dd4627c57 today. Can I guide you 1d60bb36a4 instead?’35fac81bbe8e4158

It was a kind but rude suggestion. Both Lee Gyeon and I flinched. Espers with a pair generally don’t interact with other guides. It was both customary and polite. In a situation where Lee Gyeon had to adapt to my wave, it wasn’t good for him to encounter another wave.50db3e1c23fe3ed1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Sunbae!’9b0f0c1e6a02229d

I grabbed sunbae’s wrist. Dohun sunbae feigned ignorance and patted my back.4bdb6e2672e9d248

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I’m worried. You’ve been really tired today.’a4ec268592f72275

‘But…’714c2326f82de766

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I stopped myself from saying Lee Gyeon was now my esper. We hadn’t been paired for long. It was an overreaction. Since the day we tested our matching rate, I hadn’t guided him. To Lee Gyeon, I was just a paper pair. That fact made me feel a bit small.8a4c164e9ba9be2d

Did he b315abdfe3 not need 8a97a44edd me yet? Was it 739831a999 okay because 652984f053 he was 441579ad4d S-grade?6b694cba2c01d379

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I didn’t let go of Dohun sunbae’s wrist. Even if I was still inexperienced, I was the only guide who could guide Lee Gyeon. It had to be me.290af7577d2591fc

‘Dohun hyung 6c67f87a86 is also 9d280c9747 a fan 9502142a8c of Esper 2c7c32f190 Lee Gyeon. We talk a lot 5bc644c1e7 about him.’f82707d1398ccb0d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My attempt to gloss 8a393dfe13 over things somehow irked 7fda9c867e Lee Gyeon. Who would 651255d159 like being a040152ba4 talked about b8d19a35d7 by others?c072dd921167086c

‘Hyung? You call him hyung? Not sunbae?’bee0da1449978ac7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The topic shifted sideways.97b16121b7139282

‘Ah, we’re so close that I sometimes call him hyung, but usually I call him sunbae.’e95486bfb42993ca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘You should call him sunbae. In the guide center. Guide Han Haegyeol. The center isn’t a private space. Be mindful of your titles.’0505b6bb656b231f

Lee Gyeon had an unexpectedly rigid side. Yet, not entirely rigid, he snatched Dohun sunbae’s hand that I was holding.9ff12bfaa25cc9a9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘If you can guide, go ahead…’2499450046048bcf

Contrary to his confident grab, Lee Gyeon crumbled easily. Before he could finish speaking, he threw Dohun sunbae’s arm aside and turned his back. He covered his mouth with his hand, bending over as if he were about to vomit. He looked like an angry cat. It was my first time seeing Lee Gyeon’s guiding rejection reaction.1648ae666cbfa00b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Esper Lee Gyeon! Are you okay?’736fb685a3729dc4

I ran to 3650071f6b support him. When I held his 754bcebd57 shoulder and waist, he e2c805b76e placed his hand over 29e47f5507 mine. Worried that my def15da5fb wave might seep 3b00e0b6aa in and cause 1b7bdaa6b1 side effects, I 24294fdab5 quickly withdrew my 8e5293d59c hand.60055c4931a25caf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Guide Han Haegyeol.’361d0bf252c60ee9

‘I’m sorry. I should have stopped it.’de6567b6911595d6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though it was d494bbca21 Lee Gyeon who ed09a7a75f had boldly approached, be68146273 somehow Dohun sunbae ec70c9ecf8 was to blame. Why provoke 1bffe5a248 Lee Gyeon b4af63ba82 and cause b4efd7ef35 trouble?6a18807771f06c85

‘Your matching rate bd94f26cf5 must have been a19f481986 low.’e4a7c6701ff4e7d6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I looked between the two. Their expressions were a sight. Dohun sunbae’s face was scrunched up, perhaps from embarrassment. At that moment, I resented sunbae for hurting Lee Gyeon.5826447e9a897d99

Lee Gyeon furrowed a0e2161e85 his brow and 2cd7631833 leaned his weight fad830fbfc on me. Cautiously, I placed e5f14fb234 my hand on f4de965dcb his body. I worried that ae5b2f30be guiding might happen c5c60d59c7 without me realizing bfdc9bd800 it.74ed30758ef40ff6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘It’s hard with someone who’s not a pair…’bcf8aef11a14a5c7

We stayed silent until Lee Gyeon regained his composure. It was awkwardly uncomfortable. It would have been nice if sunbae apologized first, but he kept his mouth shut, only glaring at Lee Gyeon. Lee Gyeon didn’t back down, meeting sunbae’s gaze.030891c3ae62000d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I heard Esper Lee Gyeon has a guiding rejection reaction, but I didn’t know it was this severe. I’m sorry.’0f45a230034bdb5e

‘If you didn’t know, it can’t be helped. I’m sorry too.’dd3d1299ee947c6b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Both apologized verbally, e1b7b95a2b but their expressions e7b14fb38a looked like they b94003eacf were about to a8436d8da2 hit each other. After a 6c42c5e326 winnerless staring 7b70c8998a contest, Lee ec1b60c337 Gyeon gestured 1a7e1cd318 toward a f58dbbbba4 bench a 1b7b7b9f57 few steps 357fc5d7da away.5c02c1c7a96f98eb

‘Shall we 7c0e02c3bc talk alone cb87ba2328 for a 209dbaef80 moment?’d86f5507d36db8d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Lee Gyeon led me f44f2b979f to the bench. A little e86bba099a away from 96cf487fc4 Dohun sunbae, c43729e647 he reached ec4f2dfbbe out to ab00bceb2c me. It meant to 390fe604a7 guide him. Understanding, I took 8325e6ec55 his hand.19ed28ecdb388d22

And I looked directly at Lee Gyeon’s face as it twisted moment by moment.9e201852ff0bc5ad

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Less than 6c8260d7b3 ten seconds f337b64a6b after holding e742d00b9e hands, I cbb268cfe9 let go 6997e65377 first. If I 83826d9295 continued, it cf427fb79c felt like 94f385b13f Lee Gyeon 70e47061cd would break. I just had that ba7180d7a8 feeling.68f22777ef2de065

‘I must 30505c64c4 be lacking, 6efa49eba7 making you e0e8409a9e uncomfortable.’dabcf5de49adb0f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘No. It’s fine.’ac28dd9fcd67d7b8

Lee Gyeon’s expression was anything but fine. He seemed restless. Though it was a hot day, the sweat on his neck looked like cold sweat.16059b6d97182009

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I just thought I couldn’t receive guiding from anyone but Guide Han Haegyeol.’f63d2f5d3355deeb

‘You don’t usually get guided. This is only the second time… The first was during the matching rate test.’016a750a62725c41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I didn’t need guiding until now.’7f68fed56b68a1aa

A blatant lie. If you asked 252241829d who needed guiding ceb0ca14c3 the most at 2971f76116 the Esper Center, 989f3d6149 it would undoubtedly 46fc53b77a be Lee Gyeon. He had many missions 3ad6ce6df3 and had received little d5e96055ea guiding.b9af9003ae4c9e92

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His words 61340a4c2d felt more 091d848ca9 like maintaining 554736e1af distance than 1eeb3e7d68 being kind.947fb0a06173f068

‘Do you want a 62ceafa16f guide with a higher ef0ecffc76 matching rate than me?’be73d6f3c812f3f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I voiced the most 01cd0e4a9a reasonable, yet personally displeasing, 687d0bf2bc possibility. Lee Gyeon seemed about 2a626baeb3 to say something but ddf1a963c9 looked up at the 9629b7171b sky. When his f23e72fdc1 gaze returned, b179a92782 it was a72fb28dda calmer than 62f8d0563f before.cc3b47963ca3a2e6

‘Once a contract is made, the pair can’t be changed. Moreover, I have no intention of changing it. Getting used to the designated guide should help with the rejection reaction. Right now, Guide Han Haegyeol is the only one who can guide me.’9c8b62116d6ddc8e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Lee Gyeon said it was a “rule.” When I asked if there was a separate regulation at the Esper Center, he said no. It might have been a rule he decided on his own.066a9db5b7e8c871

‘I’m fine with it.’247428622f6ef5c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For me, it was a rule I welcomed with open arms. Lee Gyeon was my hero and my goal. I couldn’t let go either.e40f4dbf4ae896ea

Lee Gyeon 77e7ac26e7 mentioned another dc4a1bc460 rule. The mysterious rule he b0b3390583 brought up when with 517c00263a Dohun sunbae.53c125b4aae159d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘The center is a place with strict rules. I noticed you called that guide Dohun hyung earlier. From now on, call him sunbae. We can’t let discipline slip.’a633e045fa1785b7

‘But…’af71f500f93d0a1a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

We turned our gaze a5c71b2dc8 to Dohun sunbae. He was 5ca2ed9100 standing there. I heard Lee b103f35c91 Gyeon click his 2bcebd5e74 tongue.298326aa1269f41f

Somehow, Dohun sunbae seemed to have gotten on Lee Gyeon’s bad side. I didn’t mind. A guide of a higher grade than me was, unfortunately, a competitor. It was beneficial for me if there was one less guide eyeing Lee Gyeon.6ba124f4bc216e86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Understood. I guess I didn’t know.’d573e410774a134f

‘I know you’re close, but rules are rules. As you know, I’m also a director at the Esper Center. I’ll overlook it this time, but next time, make sure to use titles or call him sunbae. No calling him hyung.’67ed9a7db1a0df8a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, with a 77c1e2c6f2 very serious expression, dcf29553b4 he added something e9b2aa0803 that might have 820082e5ea been a joke.2773d9ade5bd91e7

‘Surprisingly, pairs 34e9faba8f can call 7be5a8d1cb each other 1b9a117d8d hyung and d2746608f8 dongsaeng. Pairs have bdb0b1c3bb a bit 92c673133e more freedom 70155696d4 from such a3863d1c5d rules. Familiarity affects 6d8ceabdf0 guiding success 49af69a14a rates.’5c04047120a28e73

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Ah, really?’402d268746f4847d

I thought 626779ac42 it was 61300416fc nonsense while ab9eca35ab listening, but a841317cea it made dae09db415 sense after b5442e4504 hearing it. So what should eabc337b12 we do?8854d7cece45451c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘But Esper Lee 004f75890b Gyeon.’e9660f5651c64227

I had to 58533623da ask seriously.05bbad1c4035ec09

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘We’re the same age, right?’f2fc537a60cc6d09

‘…’28e47bca7ee21db8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lee Gyeon seemed unable to find a suitable answer and said he’d go inside instead. For a moment, I thought most of the rules he mentioned might be jokes. But that was it. Looking at his sharply defined face, I felt like I could do anything he asked.76dc920dccac2f7b

‘…Go inside.’d15e4aea46f91301

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suddenly, two umbrellas bc80ca1c35 were thrust in caf4d0f4b7 front of me.a0b987d34520b6e6

‘Umbrellas?’e670691940c50585

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com