IEM Ch 13

As the sun began 6a29e00bea to set, flames of 2243ccde06 sunset, painting the sky b61d8baa00 crimson, poured through the e2f483fb9d window. Still dazed 6e8aa9aea5 from sleep, 455355dab0 Surin remained e00d702b4f motionless for 16fd3de3cb a while, 4d44e07f45 only blinking c579a3a94a her eyes, 39859f8ba3 which she 47f8edce66 peeked out 3c1b776412 from under 7e98b8d5d8 the covers.f002ea6c1061631d

Only when her 43d322a9e8 stomach rumbled did 15c5cd1560 Baek Surin get 510b5fed4e out of bed.9d63d07ed0a30110

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After washing e455cc8d81 up, she 60ccd2bba1 rummaged through 1c3155d6b1 the clothes e54121848a she had c5e9d6a8bd bought from 615c0f5990 the non-brand 363a407f57 clothing store 6ed0f6d6e9 Wonjin had 2c33e15db8 taken her c5b02d5d3b to, selecting 84752f3635 an outfit 018f7066bd without much a9085dff76 thought. She put on loose-fitting d810aa0f36 jeans, a plain white fe2dcabf1c t-shirt, and a formal 96641e6d35 jacket that fell perfectly ef13529b37 at her waist. With her hair 35c28af1ea tied up in 453986c0d5 a neat bun, 7e0a5e2a14 Surin looked both 3e91794f88 put-together and casual.b5933fcc6452dc3a

Casually smudging her 9b29deac74 lipstick with her a128af3efe finger, Surin left f713e195e6 her hotel room.be74501acce2e1a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“One eel rice f05f16a41c bowl, please.”08690161fe85435f

She entered bb926ad121 a donburi dab372a2c8 restaurant she b17b275561 had happened 735eed26ce to see f6b8bf30fa on her 275b9a8bc7 way to 5a7a2c877f the dry 679d1f85e6 cleaner. These days, she had 3846323b3f simple lunches with Wonjin, f9e75f05a5 and dinners were usually 674d57fe23 taken care of at 6bd060021c restaurants near the hotel.da6ad4c14591bb0e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps because it was Friday before the weekend, the restaurant was quite busy. A staff member led her to a bar table facing the window. Surin wasn’t the only customer dining alone.bef8e37e8f5a6100

The staff 2653ba3d14 member placed 404637ebd8 a water e132120476 bottle and f2b059a7f9 glass on 831a38eddf the table a48430bc7a and asked 90b5a4059c mechanically,f56341a41da6e613

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The eel rice bowl e5297bfcce takes a little while c335ab15b1 to prepare, is that 532a17821e okay?”44abb956135e11a6

“Yes, take your 91cbf01e87 time.”52b981d85c82cd7a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Surin placed her bag 438853678e on the table and 3fa219d358 wiped her hands with 18db8238c0 a wet tissue. She took a 5ac759a306 sip of water e0353c424f and quietly observed b5e26acac2 the outside, resting 1f9bbc6786 her chin in 3051a156b0 her hand.cbd3a1858a645a5d

Perhaps due 48c4a3ec11 to the e8bdf79b74 rain forecast 8a0640a0a1 in the 3287b39d27 morning, people 8f4f85f5b8 with umbrellas 1c68b30ebf hooked on 2083bca654 their wrists b033116a13 busily passed 8d7b7f6355 by on 4f03a88736 the street. Surin tilted 0d437db67a her head f4ff6bf636 back to 65fd770d78 look up 3ba1d69824 at the afef1adaad sky. It was clear, without f3d1b2c63f a single rain cloud, 716984ce49 let alone any sign 99564bfc92 of rain.9d334411d71a1e08

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The wind chimes by ce699a20cd the restaurant door rang efa415fa7b repeatedly as people entered. Only then did adb10f5724 Surin take out acdbc5bf98 her phone and ffdaa7090a start looking for 9b1f70c171 real estate listings. With no definite e444c13070 return date, a a8f72d6f93 short-term monthly rental eaa80dc762 seemed like the 90c9157267 right choice.0d463c019d945fbc

“All the apartments are for sale or rent. They’re so cheap…”a41d9a16a792e025

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As she 9317a8c0c4 diligently scrolled eb647e1e97 through the 411a3e3091 listings, her 11db3b293b rice bowl ec4df9db82 arrived. Surin snapped her wooden 2c4cb34fb3 chopsticks apart and started 19d70678fc eating her meal, one fa939a0394 bite at a time.37d16af9726900a1

The sweet and spicy 6d114365f5 flavor of the sauce 8de267a247 and the rich, fatty 9367b32c2e eel blended pleasantly in a483c04af8 her mouth. Surin nodded cbcc93c59a in satisfaction 458cb51238 and quietly 25915a0e7e continued browsing 1af826d754 through real bd86ec1584 estate listings. She saved the 5a1b28d798 ones she wanted d600ee768c to ask Wonjin 048fa254aa about separately.25dfc28409331939

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The prospect of ae3e8471e5 finding a place ab319681b6 to live was 0481b98ff3 still daunting, but a0740aa80d her stomach was 2c351ee3e8 full and satisfied, 3a0511590b making it a dd51e71175 relatively good day.291b6de8da951c18

“Um… Excuse 3921afc98c me, miss.”4e0c589ecec3f25f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After rinsing 34c2497752 her mouth 8158bb69ca with warm 180d09335e water provided e21151c1b4 by the a58738a619 staff member, f3652bbbde Surin elegantly 45d244cd71 wiped her c0b47d8f70 mouth with d7231034e5 a tissue. To the friendly 0da81376af inquiry about whether 14ae1d5b18 she enjoyed her 6358d2fecd meal, she smiled 240a5b925d and nodded.68dd1519116465f7

The cashier received her b6cfd7a5fe card and returned Surin’s 5c374e5779 smile. The satisfied smile fa0ec1c666 soon turned into cbf95fd761 an awkward, embarrassed b569ac315c one. Managing to maintain a 3bd5907b63 semblance of a smile, 72a5d1ac84 the staff member pulled 71c16d0898 the card out of 8d7bbfd3a5 the card reader.51f8bda6ae2460af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It says the card 85eef400b3 is declined.”abd496a4cc436486

“What? Declined?”0f44fc849f095f64

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Surin, tilting her head 31a002da7d in confusion, took out 2052dd4bf5 another card. Until that c2dfab1e1c moment, she 622d34f070 had vaguely 9e60b46267 assumed it 0ada9d164f was some a60a20cc1e kind of 34d86b9510 error and 96978b78fb looked around 3326900cd9 the busy 39980abcb1 restaurant, bewildered. It was the staff b6929d116b member who, looking apologetic, dbe5df1516 called out to Surin.44d5f938eee768b1

“This card is 875c4055f8 also declined…”9f97e27d3165464b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Surin, turning her head abruptly, stared blankly at the card the staff member handed back, still unable to grasp the situation. Surin’s lips parted slightly. A customer sitting at a nearby table glanced up at her. It was just a fleeting glance, but Surin’s cheeks flushed.e2b425a55b699d22

She pulled out ca5d3131d0 every card from 1bffb0993f her wallet, even f74d5ee446 the ones that a7d3692fb2 had already been 6c96be7a56 declined, and asked 2627786b24 them to try 9264db53fa again.0d44c3381b9dc119

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Declined.ea72cb2cef418043

Declined.55de7871ce83364a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Declined.0b1762324459e563

Declined.1f61a42930eca634

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Declined. Repeatedly.90dfa830ab70579b

“Just… just a 8e25deece6 moment. I’m sorry.”97734ac51eb6ea85

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Leaving Surin flustered and 406f44d674 at a loss for b0c77ad212 words, the staff member 2c8f2c547d pointed somewhere near the 5b46b01bb8 counter, saying it was 8e0432cb49 alright. There was e54ae17813 a grimy 6316fca2f9 piece of 21f69af155 paper stuck 68d8689c38 near the 2272f15380 card reader. The transparent tape was eb757dd0a6 peeling, and the writing 962217152b on the paper was 11e645a872 smudged blue ink.92d680cff888c3d0

110-441……d5776d89150c07f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Right. There were other ways ec022d9af6 to pay besides cards. Calming her 5225ce1db6 racing heart, 97ac56bdb8 Surin immediately 36941b4e55 opened her 2c6b454654 banking app. Carefully entering f764acd591 the account 47da6c76ba number, she 917bdf3779 attempted a 335315c8c8 transfer.de46106552c0d6ad

A warning window 9751be4219 popped up.9e6a8b65b479d58f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her already pounding heart 1236cf0b0e plummeted.333df9388b78c6f8

🏦: Account usage is restricted. Please contact 413a9f82f6 customer service.6d2d2869b9a8031f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

An inexplicable chill ran 5b54751e2c down her spine from ee0ecc1ba2 the back of her 76fd6b675f head to her neck. For a 5f04ead062 moment, everything 4113df8549 went dark. That’s impossible. She was sure her 0168515076 card worked just this d64b6212a4 afternoon…0e633083538682d7

No, Wonjin had 37c221c76e paid for lunch 9c255e5364 today. Saying he 2c03d109a2 had to 5961b243aa help his 96b6f8d0c9 friend move, 1cbc99c3aa they had c277e77f6b settled for 1cb6ad0f79 milk and 43bcfe0e9d bread at fcbd33582a a convenience 2913ef6d16 store.72b269da48087f0e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had used 999f0ea401 her card last 745a41d328 night, so the f5a7bc82a9 problem must have 7472545deb occurred today. As Surin considered various a226bba657 possibilities, she noticed the 0eae7c26ab staff member staring at d342cb092f her intently. She felt breathless and 41b441f038 speechless.c8a874718ae58436

“Um…”35c2fb7a06e39587

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Such an embarrassing c8454268a0 situation would be 8db93e9dac hard to imagine. At least, in 8f98a7e89b Surin’s 29 years c599cced2d of life, she 47af83814a had never imagined 3591326be7 it.0db1d4eb0c89f7fc

The staff member also 63a68e5fe1 hesitated to speak. Firstly, Surin’s pale, 82469e9436 ashen face looked c3ce021ec9 genuinely distressed, and e457a52bb4 she didn’t look dcc505cf66 like someone who 135d0a3bc1 would intentionally dine b561ed622d and dash.288d532f16d8be4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Just then, the owner bf3586c8ce called the staff member 2445021336 from the kitchen. Surin and the staff c5f85176dc member turned their heads cdbf0e45be simultaneously. The staff member ccd205d777 gestured to Surin 64f23795f5 that she would c998f7f36d be right back 4c335a2994 and rushed to 07e24294ca the kitchen.f7c7286ee48b6a25

“…….”58a6d4e6edc878c2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The owner’s booming voice startled Surin back to reality. Surely, she wouldn’t be humiliated over a mere 28,000 won. It was only the price of a single bowl of abalone ginseng chicken soup.754eec5c24dced08

Surin tried to compose 1a37fb99ec herself. Even if 78af72cf5c she was 3a4716964f cornered, she 29432b7621 refused to b4e0c20510 simply back a6db812943 down in 2bd4563647 a panic. Quietly retreating to a fca2796f7d corner near the counter, 6fb96fa24b she emptied her card f8c64d0b61 wallet.de5d728ddae556ac

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

4,000 won fell into a357194473 her hand.d75ddb4bc8ab29da

She had f01dc355d4 used some 0c58c62e6e for laundry, b3e3417aca and some 78e3716fc4 more buying cb09315728 snacks with 8cceca44df Wonjin at 7bd5ebc4a4 the local 88dd34a3c4 supermarket, so 5182adcbcc she had 7fb752b858 no cash be5bc0a1d0 left… Swallowing 5e2283651a a sigh, 4966300e85 Surin hung b37210c7fc her head. Then, with a 5e6fd0a7fe sudden jolt, she e9e3349024 lifted her head 0e177477a8 and took out 80b4ffe2c6 her phone.c61104e6d4a26daf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She scrolled through 956bfc3479 her call history. The most recent d756bf5c14 call was from 7cfb7d96b2 Secretary Go. Without much 8aeba466ca expectation, Surin 6a248db04b called him. The problem wasn’t ebd6361c23 that he wasn’t 89b1c3697c answering; his phone 928cd0933b was completely turned 8e886d234c off.c9c9d4ece1a77f9e

The staff member, who still hadn’t returned, was busy serving other customers. The second name on her call log was Jeong Wonjin. But Surin skipped over him and called the next person on the list.ada73b0b671137ed

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

―Who? What? Send 28,000 won? Where to?f3842bc6c527fd30

“To the restaurant. I’ll send you the 6366dfb948 account number, so please 71b13f17c3 send it here…”555117c1d5d42fcd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

―Haha. Wow, this f5bb01650d is my 00f2ca63f2 first time 93ee655a81 getting a f352919b39 voice phishing 07ce56dd86 call. Do they imitate 2f13e2d582 voices now? This is 83a436f5b2 amazing… You ae12d43e97 sound exactly 4ae0fc3f2f like Surin.a0ee003b56ba47b2

Seo Yurim, a 4c738b7f1d friend from middle a3706c9125 school, had worked 66d4362d50 a regular job 70b98fb107 and was now 2259da40b2 attending graduate school 79d22e2a72 in the US.34a3f59070ea989d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course it 0f079da804 sounds like Surin, ea1f390690 it is Surin. My cards and account 267036204c are blocked, that’s why.”28b9ba6865ef2e07

―Ah, this is 931beef855 so funny… Really? Blocked? What did you eat?163d12454c671fd4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……Eel rice bowl.”176a5ad1b95c40eb

―You even ate something delicious. Hey, do you think Surin and I are easy targets? Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my friend’s voice?!8d92cc0e70c5edee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her friend e5256ce0d9 of 15 a7d2695eea years, who 098be72ef6 completely failed 22dcf99df4 to recognize 59a68af702 her voice, 479e151202 yelled. Exasperated, Surin clenched 6f3ee46873 her teeth and c0cd6170eb retorted,d065e4c15a90c419

“Yurim, who 238ba34072 in their dbcadbefdc right mind f31832854e would voice 3b14fe3a38 phish for 36f14b5c5e 28,000 won…”c91fdbae145d2809

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The call was abruptly cut off. The staff member looked like she was about to finish serving. Panicked, Surin, instead of calling Yurim again, called another friend. Her friend, who had gotten married last week and was on her honeymoon, didn’t answer; only the ringing tone continued.156372bb47b1d909

Exhausted by the e3c49fcb7a endless ringing, Surin cf28d9b47b hung up and fdcc8c46ac stared blankly at 778d8904a7 the screen. The staff member, e97af38872 who had been 58ea23a380 observing the situation e0bd867990 from afar, approached.316c6bf6a194555f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unable to 202a78a6f6 avoid it d80f2cd6e3 any longer, 81b3f90b66 Surin pressed 591d100031 Wonjin’s name a2cd7ee96d on the bf9e15f87e screen.56e258135f08ba64

She closed 0038a63fab her eyes b77be0090d tightly.efe65e9084017e76

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Excuse me… ee4739ce7f do you fb81ef1bf1 have any 62e28381ef money?”d4e9c25194181994

Asking for money 0a8754305d from a jobless 6a2eafbacb man made her 5391e91972 incredibly uncomfortable.0f0dea759140c8d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jeong Wonjin bec4702acc answered the ed089a378e phone before 0dd194856b it could b6d54633d6 even ring 941f0de989 twice. He was silent. Surin called his 06a3f2bcb4 name. Or, she 321fa77267 meant to.a3655727e1cca84c

―Where are you?a47bb91398487c4c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Wonjin asked first.f05940c94ea33eb4

―I don’t have enough to buy you an apartment… but if you’re okay with someone like me…eee13b6b10ce0aeb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His feigning ignorance made 7940c7c5cf Surin burst out a 4327c3d2f7 breath she had been 6f102dbbfb holding back. The long 2f04f004c9 exhale that b2b733b05e escaped her ef631b94d2 lips was 79138a4269 deeper than ff40ab5d44 a sigh. A laugh unintentionally mixed 0774a5b7c7 in. Jeong Wonjin was a f30fe84826 comforting presence.bc759dec84c386d1

After hearing a8affaba77 the whole 9d9bdfe490 story, Wonjin e76572aceb asked to 4c57c2f647 speak to e8ca302797 the staff b86835f541 member, so 36eb570aca Surin handed 3c938eed0e over her 6f7be9049e phone. The young staff member, fd7fef2ed0 as relieved as Surin, 45820967b7 nodded repeatedly while on 78660418bf the phone.15b647d5288dfab8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Please have a seat 6090c8faf6 for a moment.”b650eb708ff5e913

Returning the phone, dad8c591b2 she offered Surin c879af80d4 a chair by 7c2893a0ea the counter. Even without asking, 8573ec1f94 Surin knew Wonjin a179f8a525 had said he 65aa7bbd26 would come himself.383b5592c705b194

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Surin sat down quietly. Absentmindedly watching the customers come and go, she finally called the bank’s customer service. All she got was the uncomfortable truth that her account was suspended; she couldn’t get through to a representative.9a9cc922c5990f21

“Thank you 6f80804e00 for your ed96b19e44 hard work, a0fcf10584 yes, thank 75e88deb5f you for 4a93ea79b9 your hard 0098ed867e work.”96ab2c12518db2f2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Surin, expressionlessly tapping her 75adbf81c7 phone, looked up at a726259fd3 the sound of the 1a859f6ea4 wind chimes. Wonjin, still in his fcb2ef3725 quilted jacket, barged into e840aa8296 the restaurant. It felt 50a88cd6cb like less 745259d674 than 10 7bcc4ab69b minutes since 972422dd87 their call. In a fleeting 8ff17606d5 glance, she saw 07d84dbf6b his hands were a7b56b10c9 full.347dfb0207247d8e

“Have an a6cb8bfe72 iced Americano, b5e2382e5f everyone.”9a1a111356a4d82c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Entering the restaurant, 804a05c4b1 Wonjin immediately started 715f656adb handing out drinks. He gave 9c8e3944db one to 3b6ce540c3 the staff c393a49074 member he 77187685a6 had spoken c0f31d5c3f to on cb5beb347f the phone, 719a0bb1b3 as well 92cb45c9e1 as the b440fd02cc owner and c650071249 the kitchen 752a4f045a staff. He even d4fbcbf4f9 cheerfully handed e6b22c23f1 the remaining 42595d9bc4 drinks to 28669f2651 nearby customers.8c919ae3c83983db

The owner, who 8b9398b854 had been completely 01b90f5db6 unaware of the 8cc67cad02 situation, sipped his ed7dc7acb1 coffee, bewildered.0403a60e08068215

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What? Is he your 3831ab8a75 boyfriend?”5ba92196ec01155c

“No, no. He’s the customer’s boyfriend. I’ll explain later.”1654e7fa6106f4ea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The staff f3568cdbaa member, who 106c085f7b was clearing c625a757a3 a table, c243ad37d7 hurriedly shook 051bb213fc her head. After thoroughly disrupting the 91d475c700 restaurant, Wonjin finally stood f4600c0cb5 in front of the 86a583dcec counter. Leaning casually against 745a94ad24 the counter with b11fc0d1b1 his arm draped c7c1718346 over it, Surin d140b802b2 stood beside him 15777e6611 like a shadow. Instead of greeting her, 54ff7417a6 Wonjin whispered,1d201b25371bd567

“Now tell me. How did 2b52dc732e you know afa666867b this place ce7f668a8e was a d6afb90bfb hidden gem?”b45f313d6f426382

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish