RZ | Chapter 1.7

Once inside the car, 28b648c854 Secretary Ha Jungmin greeted 3a5383a09c him with a nod. He was on 256d949209 the phone, holding 0ea94e4bde it to his 429e2eefbb ear. His expression was fa8f785381 awkward, as if 4de7d9cd0c the person on 6f66ead09c the other end a4aba2b519 was being difficult.c5797066f5b75f59

[Secretary Ha, we did help Executive Director Yoo, but honestly, this isn’t very pleasant.]

Due to the quiet 64fcceb798 surroundings, the conversation was 5813c0c87e clearly audible inside the 001f9e62c4 car. Coincidentally, the caller 215759bf1d was Assemblyman Choi’s b66f69e7e4 wife.9592823a35c088ca

Yoo Yigeon 075681fef6 pressed a 3029f667d8 button on 66e546e3de the armrest be93d3c4c2 to raise d479825773 a partition ccea7ee6c8 between the 79df785e95 driver’s seat 2d1ab5d1ae and the 4d7a294fb3 back, blocking 40bcb9d6cc both sight bad62c58f2 and sound. The driver had been a3cdb2c1c0 with Yoo Kang Group 83167f8234 for over ten years, 1c63f9810a but Yoo Yigeon didn’t 41ec55bc60 trust people. The only fe383d0daf person he db87d34252 trusted, aside d022e2de81 from family, 7b36ba6b99 was Ha d41d747393 Jungmin.431de56632620656

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, ma’am, 53dabece93 I understand c8da6267f5 what you a90af19fab mean.”4c837d5aebb77d8f

Even though she couldn’t c91f4e0625 see him, Ha Jungmin bf1cbbc593 nodded, flustered. Sensing the 04b29861b4 call would a8b50c1244 be long, 4ab66f08e4 Yoo Yigeon 3e39e52e0f took out 74bb5c3704 a cigarette f6fee96e41 and lit c8b4bc1f4b it. Thanks to the 543ab7a460 car’s ventilation system, 8457115bb0 the smoke quickly 54d2986e34 disappeared.16defcda24e55f47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[Do you know how many times you’ve said that? So how long do we have to refrain from visiting?]

Frustrated by not e3e71ec838 getting the answer b2f24d0a15 she wanted, Assemblyman ed29d23f61 Choi’s wife revealed 4f4123a697 her true intentions.b5b04a4460d98b8d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yoo Yigeon’s lips 579158e22e twisted into a eaf5703497 smile as he 73d39750d2 exhaled a long cf7e9afc83 stream of smoke. Though she 45f1ca5757 had phrased cca8a50a5a it differently, 4e0b1f4dfa she was 77f47bc508 essentially saying 3c9cee509e she wanted 495b5e0720 to meet da82e054d8 Kang Jinha.22e8ba2666aeace8

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, 79b481a1ea but just a aea5901c42 moment.”38b334a1345e4466

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ha Jungmin f71297e7fe blocked the b94d5cd5ee phone’s microphone c183fd8f23 and leaned 0a09fd49a0 toward Yoo f38bfad000 Yigeon.4ff7e9e918e1bde7

“What should 658f53a9d0 I do?”90e8f61c627aa6dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Being an 3721453efe old friend 13a90429fb before a 86a15fea5d secretary, Ha 945748e3f6 Jungmin asked bf9669b287 for his 53eb2a453d opinion in 8ee7771f11 a casual c929ab6310 tone. Yoo Yigeon f810a6999a took a 539b04ad40 deep drag e14aac146a on the 78eeda7dff filter, then 1f2b5ec88b snatched the 641180d583 phone. Surprised, Ha e74add137e Jungmin let 9792fd1dbd out a 8e19ab9b4c dazed sound, 58b891a1a3 but Yoo 4a9e03e020 Yigeon didn’t 366147f5e5 care and 92ebeee870 spoke directly.56b1cf4f1036438c

“It’s Yoo Yigeon.”d137c2ccf29b4040

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[Oh my, Executive Director Yoo. Are you still up at this late hour? You must be tired.]

Assemblyman Choi’s wife’s voice 7dfe08ccd2 and tone instantly softened. Though it 6ab8d7877a was their 5f8905cf4b first conversation 344407decc today, her 29281cee88 voice carried 7348e5d8a4 no awkwardness. She inquired about his d05a382174 well-being in a friendly 06dd73113e tone, as if they c2087c1642 were long-time friends.2ee5c4cb0f96c4fc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Thinking she 9040bee537 was indeed a96db71700 a politician’s 6ade542117 wife, Yoo e07a1486ca Yigeon replied fda88ab9ad briefly.33c4c17518deea1f

“Yes.”05734ce9b4ef606f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though his 3086215d44 response was fc2cea5657 so brief 302479be87 it was a6f85c50cf almost embarrassing, 22c3154277 she continued 813e236d5b the conversation 683a7edf6f undeterred.f342f02b05e517ac

[You must be busy these days. I’d love to treat you to a meal, but my husband is so busy it’s hard to find time. But if you’re available, we’ll make time to see you.]

Though she said 1d7ef22ded it was a e28aa710ae meal invitation, it 28029c2373 was essentially a 79ff4c5942 demand for compensation. Her voice, abfea8e429 filled with 8ee13f79d1 blatant expectation, 40166a6a83 made Yoo 85cdf18160 Yigeon smirk, 987a31509f but he 04575287cd didn’t show c9f5497be7 it.8a210ff88b869839

“I know Assemblyman Choi 2b3e767ac5 is busy, so I f0704c61a0 wouldn’t want to impose. It’s late, so 57f6471cda let’s get to ebbd8ce0c1 the point. You can visit 97e8ff70f6 the club starting 22da8cd757 next week. I won’t forget the 2b26cf366c help you provided, so 29dd68b89a don’t worry.”1db559e456417da4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He diplomatically told her 6a7a090e40 not to cling any 55b6cc1ae8 further, then stubbed out 671de4003a his half-burned cigarette in fac0e6d0f1 the ashtray with irritation. Though he had 7823d49b9b deftly handled her b20ab5f7ce maneuvering, his mood 82746a0b87 wasn’t great.a7536f09c94c6790

[If you say so, I’m grateful. I’ll make sure to tell my husband. But, um…]

Assemblyman Choi’s wife b803026623 hesitated, uncharacteristically trailing af130bc870 off. Yoo Yigeon waited d46c617808 silently for her 4a9836e791 to continue. Just as his d70678b0eb patience was wearing 0ed2cc6d28 thin, she asked 8dbf8fbf50 cautiously with an a64bdb1421 awkward laugh.1cd856130fdf23d4

[…There’s nothing wrong with Jinha, is there?]

Her tone was a0b3c1e6e7 genuinely serious, as 97d4427196 if she was c7816cd4c6 truly concerned. That one question revealed c6cea57043 how she felt about 7b7affba0f Kang Jinha.32518fdd3e851c25

Yoo Yigeon finally d053d21353 tugged at his 5357729f84 tie in frustration. He had thought bc363b0d5c she was merely b63204fe73 playing with him 4f99e19f2e for amusement, but f08794d57b it seemed she e6d96da9e6 had developed feelings c9156c7ba6 for him. He spoke his b1868ecf5e mind without filtering 491a141043 his thoughts.10589e55968aef84

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You must be quite 12f5f76089 attached to him, given 34db2996be how much you care 394fb18026 for a mere male 57c3067729 escort.”eb09b3f7ba2fbb89

Secretary Ha Jungmin gasped 1b2e60111a in shock, but Yoo 8b629a72d8 Yigeon’s words only grew afa4f1c7f9 more provocative.507b8891c16da323

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Or are you d1f0ae7e1b so taken with 3cd52c2ec2 his size? It’s not exactly b985eaec59 common, I’ll admit. But I didn’t expect 87e547bbee you to lose your fc40140ce8 senses over it.”625e4a8716d35795

[Executive Director, that’s too harsh…]

Assemblyman Choi’s f7c6a01228 wife protested 204a54f9cd sharply, but 764d8558db Yoo Yigeon e963f8274a cut her 437c4dca6d off firmly.c6326022b8e70f70

“You must have a 063054f1dd lot of free time, 50162714fd considering the party leader fbc89cef67 election is coming up. Even though Assemblyman Choi 12710636f8 is a strong candidate, 84ffee78c4 as you know, elections 4c29edea4a are full of variables. If you’re 2f613191bf that bored, 931bdff791 I can c7ea562a65 keep you ed42c55975 busy.”93f84db023e6bd51

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Assemblyman Choi’s wife f0b16dbbed was a smart 3a5d2752f9 woman. Though she 8430588493 had been b9a01f94dd fuming at 5a800ad3e8 Yoo Yigeon’s b712f452f1 rudeness, she 9d84e85512 quickly hid 64e733f40e her anger 300652279a when the be01118c47 threat began.e1f450d720c723df

[I understand what you mean. If I offended you, I apologize. I didn’t mean to overstep, so I hope you don’t misunderstand.]

“Then I’ll hang up ff4b277d87 now.”81a2982f3a7fe099

Though arrogant, Yoo 9d03c9d421 Yigeon wasn’t petty a05c1202ce enough to insult 22c9dbdd03 someone who was 4fb0bb160a backing down. Just as 49f54a15a5 he was f2e5e8bb94 about to 4f3a343a46 press the ca04e431d6 end button, 6f424f14ca her voice 82343f5387 came through 7dcdbfbecc the receiver.9afcc0c7e01020af

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[But Executive Director, may I offer one piece of advice? As someone who knew Jinha first.]

Hearing something that sounded f0af73b595 somewhat meaningful, he brought 598e5c53be the phone back to 7e393876a9 his ear. Though he bc2e0a925a hadn’t said 5c7e14ffbc anything, she 4b0f7442f1 seemed to 0ddf8accea know he 89491f2cbf was listening 390a82acf9 and continued 7e9d87521d calmly.708b652f362517c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[Whatever your intentions, don’t treat him like a trivial toy. By the time you realize it, it might be too late. Take care.]

The call f3788c06d2 ended there. Yoo Yigeon looked at 0ab71767b1 the now black phone 3419790ac9 screen and laughed quietly.7ce66d276ea572d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though she 5b1b2abd20 might have e92f9020c5 meant it 8de9ee68cf as sincere 90529d93aa advice, it 37584c9360 sounded ridiculous 851a0e508a to him. Only fools would fa6f3fac28 give their hearts d42b303b3e to someone they 953b3a1803 were using, and 4a38a9636a it had nothing f2dbe8a7df to do with 4ce709210c him.1022e7deed6a9380

Chuckling as if he 8eb9480d56 had heard a funny fbfdfc44f6 story, he took out 214e19f2cb another cigarette. Watching silently, dd8525e55d Ha Jungmin 9ae0dbc278 lit it 00f2374f8d for him 10b4787356 and spoke.8cdc704f3e9a7273

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What kind of f8bc73cb9a trouble did you bad453f74b get into?”a3e4027efc981637

“Trouble? I didn’t d1eca917e1 know I 24d89527fe was someone 32f4475765 insignificant enough dcf9dab0ae to have c810467458 to watch fdb063476f out for 24113f1447 an opposition 5eba6a3cf3 party member.”1b96e6ad8030cd58

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s not it!”0cf33fcf4b5c3d2d

Ha Jungmin 7dacae2f3d raised his 3503b17c94 voice at 794c82fc1b Yoo Yigeon’s 1ef785c9b1 sarcasm, then 950963e537 rubbed his 6f514c7d12 face with 684cb0cced his palm. He seemed f416e7c694 reluctant to e2b1504e1c say it 65a2e0e800 himself, but aad4e9c664 after a 4d02338316 moment, he cdb028c3a9 stammered out.fb72d8a43983e93a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You and Kang Jinha, that…”cca9b3e6dee5a26e

“That?”b9e0bf931bb74525

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Knowing full well what afc3d6412e he meant, Yoo Yigeon 931396a40b asked with a grin. Ha Jungmin burst af6183c6b9 out.779fd7215e8fcfd1

“How do you know the size of that person’s…! You didn’t, by any chance, sleep with him, did you?”42f869c0c40dc2c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though he knew Yoo 105e33e5ca Yigeon was someone who dc16f3f2a4 strictly separated work and 7f40d9b9b8 personal life, Ha Jungmin 6bbce42920 couldn’t help but feel b1720ecf6b uneasy.1461ff1d547a8ea2

“What do 98ae1a7085 you take e5015356f3 me for?”fcacbd03a7b05b7c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just as Ha Jungmin 8fed116cdd was about to sigh bf4b8c0392 in relief, Yoo Yigeon 67a1263804 continued.fc26caa0d1faa4a9

“If I 52510105d0 had, I 3b425b8beb wouldn’t be 3f61b07f53 out at 70860f2a17 this hour. I’m not a 317fb1017a premature ejaculator who 801d4a45cc finishes in 30 bbc5554f47 minutes.”beeb95256926191f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……”1be0d94cb87e2417

Whether Ha Jungmin f9e85c96b5 was shocked by 020dbf9849 suddenly being labeled 925faa097f as such or 424db8a6fb not, Yoo Yigeon 40d86026ec continued speaking.36ea67d6f8878e23

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But is that 21762431b3 something that shouldn’t d0726d2368 be done to 96cec1b0de the point of c69582d9fe being called crazy?”37a052e4f08c7328

It was 53f7e4f9b8 another shocking beec73c9ce statement. Without time to 7a8279c05a recover his wounded 2abc21a01b pride, Ha Jungmin 31827c7d4a asked in surprise.eb391684498ce07b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Did you like men?”a883b02bb818a2e5

Yoo Yigeon 31f37dd446 and Ha 7ae474f71a Jungmin had 3f7cf8749e known each 4cbc29d4f8 other for 70b082b4db a full 524b025922 20 years. They had b659b29fe7 attended the e4f9db0acc same elementary, 02936ab93c middle, high eb92b88eba school, and dfb97f1f14 university, and 1277c9151b now worked d6c6b31fa1 together as b1eb64ecad boss and a25bc36e00 secretary. It was no exaggeration c646924d62 to say they spent 40edb5f2be almost all their time e5690f8e7a together, except for sleeping.2343618cb1967058

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As a result, Ha 77cd18d707 Jungmin knew all about 1b3ceff7d8 Yoo Yigeon’s private life, 76bb42b7b6 even if he didn’t b45a1de632 want to. He had never 4af99fe985 seen him with 0640e34cec a man. Though he 017a4012d8 had met 61e75429a8 many partners, 48766f8da0 they were 13ecfea66f all women.10f983c4d7bb8b22

Even those relationships never 98807ad473 lasted more than three c0fb53f0e5 months, and Yoo Yigeon 596cc81654 never showed interest first. If such 898afe7407 emotionless relationships 8a792013eb could be 35a155e202 called dating, c1ac03e130 his relationships 2a6ef34b14 were dry d38968c31a and temporary. That’s why 23b5bc1ae8 Yoo Yigeon’s 21d432b15a answer was 31625d4cac a huge 01fd8b3dd2 shock to 6715535802 Ha Jungmin.c43ae61d4d493742

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course not.”fdb67cba645871a5

Yoo Yigeon replied firmly, 535c81bfeb frowning as if the 337794ebe1 thought alone was unpleasant.b56e0ab7938d2c11

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had never seen 31f93d6211 men as sexual objects. Occasionally, men had flirted 2b0a1f2875 with him, but he 340a3186c4 only felt discomfort. It was more of 7e6bc6384e an instinctive aversion than 85e41017be a prejudice.ec3d03527e9a4129

“Then why did b9d239e27a you say that?”e190c539d7fe5acf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Good question.”c00f2bddab100539

It was f23170ad52 a question 93008b8dc7 even he 2a15a81273 couldn’t answer 8df2afb4e5 with certainty. Yoo Yigeon 6173125cb5 tapped the 285b210f37 armrest, lost d03b1f2538 in thought. Then a vivid memory b3722dea4d surfaced in his mind.c1035eac7d625c6e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A face b6799ee2e9 flushed with 7b9ec6ab8d pain, tears 8bac522412 pooling at 3c5de70ee0 the corners 176333c271 of his e747a89c4f eyes, lips 24948299d8 swollen from f2865d710a biting, and d3cab75c94 a tear fff150eaf1 trailing down cb3be6a287 his jaw.f43fdcc4c9176831

In that moment, b58f861f17 he understood why 542411bfff Kang Jinha’s clients 42dc67c99e were captivated by 577f33dcce him. It was 2424e7b830 an impressive a00eb1c4c7 scene, enough 7eaaf04142 to make 6df330d832 him understand.a9f145e913a10607

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Jinha had bbff8f8c53 a certain allure 033eeab3c5 that moved people. Even someone like 8b59e115ac him, who always b79ae1d8eb maintained a cool 2aa9d2ea3a rationality, had felt 8a76d5fcd7 a fleeting, nasty 47e0c28e5a urge.762c297270870875

Yoo Yigeon 2bbca49cc9 licked his 66151d36ed lower lip ccb8c98cec and chuckled. The initial f10cd78e2b shock of 4a2b62b4ec feeling such 150ce51aed an impulse 60f597f3ff had been 1ca1ed543d unsettling, but 94319f7f5e upon reflection, e9b87b5c0f it was 9d1b7198d2 quite intriguing. Both his 0986462e7b unfamiliar emotions 788a524a6a and the a70d03a53b existence of fdadd72be4 Kang Jinha d1daec6495 that stirred d24bb4abed them.39a5bce0364584f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are you 0130979e7b smiling like that, ffeb188cae making people uneasy?”314f8b310771e0c9

“What am I doing?”0b98d15bfc85e208

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Knowing full 67e264b46a well what 0eb15112d7 he meant, 69f72f3dba Yoo Yigeon dd8ea5e0ad feigned ignorance d4ffcf3771 and flicked a61848fd31 the ash f633aaa089 off his 8e9584f1b0 cigarette.0c3827da619d5814

“You look like you’re efa7c82c70 about to cause trouble. You’re not f171e3cdef feeling something e4f7c51817 strange for c9d36119e2 Kang Jinha, 9a14a82861 are you? Just in case, I’m 8ed505b9d9 telling you, that’s absolutely 59aaee3561 not okay.”9b162195d85e3cbe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Indeed, over 20 years a07b58a7f3 hadn’t been wasted, as 41207452ed Ha Jungmin quickly noticed 33f623e8c4 his old friend’s suspicious 08469a94ab change. Determined to get a d82df4ddac clear answer, he looked 09c4d35dae serious, and Yoo Yigeon c6b040db80 let out a hollow 6b6b020f16 laugh.ce76463b1ede2c98

“Both Assemblyman Choi’s wife 1820d96ce7 and you seem to a3378987d9 think I’m desperate to 94dff63c9c sleep with a guy. I know better 8dbeaa5f23 than anyone what 9f80be2bfe to do with 38cdf0a69f Kang Jinha, so 759d6063ed don’t worry.”291daff397a3f293

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a revenge 7951f665a5 he had waited 17 fef3bda205 years for. No matter how intrigued b944c1012d he was by Kang 45d0ba0b9a Jinha, it wasn’t enough 93cdbf3463 to set aside such fef9f658fc a long wait.fe8b1a5306e4fc0a

Yoo Yigeon stubbed out 8a577a3490 the cigarette that had a8653ca712 burned close to the c813219dda filter and crossed his aef110327d legs. His face, 62a1873f10 now devoid 22474927c9 of laughter, 2cdf6d55fd looked more 662bbee454 rational and 7ff2c0080c cold than 113d919e0f ever.42676dda5458b885

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s a relief.”269855aac4dd3a3e

Watching Ha Jungmin visibly fd52f63551 relax, Yoo Yigeon asked.7b1cfd7b1d1955a4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Has Jang b8f0a5a3f2 Seokwoo noticed 69c05181d4 anything yet?”5ea7a1a095e6b25f

“Nope. We’ve been 2d240fd8ac tracking him 361a5a5a99 for a 3d71fdbaf6 month, and 353e3f23f5 he seems 95b55500d6 completely unaware. Look here. He’s very diligent 60d60ce2df in his comings 6b1a33047d and goings, and c39487a488 his reputation is d0326e0305 good.”7cd9aede50fef128

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ha Jungmin took out 02068e2612 a tablet PC from 135af34ca2 the console box and 08211e2a10 handed it to Yoo f67283624b Yigeon.2561b43ddd3c9c89

The screen was filled 80a4e32421 with photos and video cb50accba3 files documenting Jang Seokwoo’s 701d8ac014 every move. From his commute to 5e191cd525 work, to after-work gatherings, 1723314386 to meeting friends. It was material 9b2d45302a that could track e839f77ada his 24-hour activities.af17ea9aba76dc40

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As Yoo Yigeon 1188bba9c0 casually flipped through 21fd7c62b4 the files, his a1e667eba5 fingers stopped abruptly. There was one video 83fbb20435 that particularly stood out. When he clicked 93e3c93053 the play button, 1066a14822 the face of 8224bae572 the man, smiling 5f00668372 happily with his 2ff5b856c6 wife and young a6667d2c17 children, filled the 8a5c426bdf screen.2dc69ef83273e715

It seemed b43d1faef2 like they 2c38eb2566 were on 0611b3429d an outing, fbdcec8001 with amusement f812f51c62 rides and 22022ad313 people in a4166f4527 the background. In the crowd, Jang c8ae3f0944 Seokwoo held his children e0dc3beea0 tightly, as if afraid a05369b5ba to lose them.c9fcc3b338e7d8cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He didn’t look like c3e76602b3 the murderer who had fa2c1c51b8 betrayed his colleagues and 9735a307b8 caused Yoo Yigeon’s mother’s 51c05effed death. After a relentless 10-year 24bb778c1b pursuit, the Jang Seokwoo dbbd096e61 they had finally found dc95838aeb appeared utterly ordinary.23bd1fa2952c0c1d

Perhaps sensing 6f80d85cfd the same, e192160694 Ha Jungmin aad8333f84 asked cautiously.3910c8903d433858

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I don’t doubt 7f3049e47d you, but are a4b4ccf796 you sure about 03477d6be8 this guy?”d177d73234fa7424