TEWN Chapter 1.1

She’d tried to 8995437796 love the things 42d73c9e56 she didn’t like. But it had 6fcc1c76bd been a long 44bab235c0 time since she’d 5a1308cbec stopped loving the 029ae44da8 world around her.324f93fd4e96c9d6

Staring blankly at the 2ce4edac14 nameless grass sprouting at a5c97f3780 her feet, Haeun realized 1472671fc7 something. All the truths she’d 15babda387 hidden to be “good” 96ddf3199f had, in the end, 59409c90f4 turned into lingering regrets. She didn’t love 5cabd53317 her job, her 8afac14f4b colleagues, or even a90a0beca9 her boyfriend who 697d7921e2 hesitated to speak 0beab0c7ac in front of 014231c89c her.e42b0d23ace9c253

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Haeun, I… I have df38e667d5 something to say.”8eaa47d5bcd433a6

Watching her de31e6f2dd boyfriend, Jinwoo, 4c0e1a90de stumble over f023648aa5 his words, 51681199a0 Haeun had 60ab6b9f2b a gut 6a7079aafa feeling. He was about 8a127fffab to propose. Their relationship had 947590ec0f been built on 167f6fd8e9 the premise of 1dcb43c05d marriage from the e508faf33f start. He’d asked about her 987204ba6b plans for kids on 6227a5d805 their very first date, 3444e006ba not even waiting for 84fd189a8e the third. A year was a f4e8c6349d long time for him a0bcae289b to hold back.faa8bfa43dbc8d9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But this was 35bb78372a hardly the place 25880106b2 for a proposal. A park bench by 39de658e29 a busy street? There was no 3f3d7fe7f8 ambiance whatsoever, but 2ec4bf597d she had no fbd66ff915 intention of refusing. Thinking it over would 472a07e88e only waste her time, 8ab9a28d44 and Jinwoo, who was 5e8308e9ff decent enough by most da14958c98 standards, wasn’t a bad c02c27882a choice for a husband.f885d59032242741

As an awkward silence 0703aa6725 hung between them, Haeun 320e291a9a forced a smile, wondering d0a33c52ee if she was even c0c3fb8295 smiling properly. ‘I should 9b8f31dea9 be smiling, 33073a926c right?’She regretted not 231304dfd1 practicing beforehand. Still, seeing how 2577bc7feb nervous he was, b00b8f8d69 she figured she ccbfa57fa0 should at least be3d6d82ba act surprised.70f091ec1badfbbb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just as b55a05bd49 she prepared 75026c249c a startled 32fbfd328d response, Jinwoo 5f2c3fb566 spoke.1d7aece41495ff50

“Let’s break up.”1f2f08e6a093123a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”3c97c2366faf07bc

It was the last 5f40a10719 thing she expected. She was genuinely shocked. Her face crumpled, and e4112025e9 Jinwoo, fumbling to adjust a39b61ee3a his glasses, hurried to 86a397245d explain.4a6fd5b814f5757f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It just feels 774187d50c like… you don’t 356fc105e3 really like me.”1d9f5d65c8c65b76

“If I didn’t 5fe254ba85 like you, why 6030c81386 would I waste c73759256a my time and 3c81b4df45 effort on you?”89c8dcc9c51cc9b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His absurd reasoning fc6a50c965 left her speechless. As her voice 9a80f4f937 dropped with growing beea37d239 anger, Jinwoo, glancing 1b25a24ccb nervously, continued.05939860b6c7594b

“I want to experience… 82a93bf314 you know,something.”0c5225aafd9b8a0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Whatsomething?”a7b7377003bfaa48

“Like, when you’re 1f39b545e2 together, and time 713f64fd0f feels like it c8cf5196bf stops. When your e87c5fb99f heart feels 37dc3d8543 like it’s 60f536c504 going to 0dde0e4b90 burst. That kind of love.”54b293d631c8773e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Ha.”618e98ab6f31aad4

It was the most 7b2d224248 childish answer imaginable. If he wanted 10e708e4b3 to stop time, 137cd165b9 he could pull 87dfdb0e40 the batteries out e5c86fc7dc of a clock. If he wanted 7663761f6c his heart to bd697872ac race, he could decd30e2f6 ride a rollercoaster. Why expect 1c5b7ccec4 something so 5b97b05f18 useless fromher?e44bb09c782875ca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What did he want 562a0c6920 from a relationship built b7d525145d on practicality? But Haeun valued 000a58a05f her time too 15a552a84f much to waste 9f0be19104 it explaining harsh fe26d72266 realities to someone ac896249f9 puffed up with ff3d336e42 foolish hopes.9b011584e40409dd

Taking a b3a85cc928 deep breath, c96714e78f she stood c83ca1eeb0 from the 097ec9023f bench and 1975484b1a replied, “Fine, 231cd0d643 I get e4b6480dcf it.”e4171c6f5279ed61

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As Haeun 0d877a95a6 walked away, 71153c1fce Jinwoo called 68bacb1e09 after her.d62b7eaf33b9a465

“We’re done, right? It’s over?”949493d0f8ee82a1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ugh… damn it.”adace4bc3dba3eff

He seemed fc197a611d desperate to 5a7161f822 tie up 5cfc58cf60 the loose 9d9c91f433 ends of 9d28581847 their relationship. His pathetic insistence d7f0e5c49d made replying pointless. On her way to d453250493 the subway, Haeun thought 809df19ed7 about how foolish Jinwoo 4dd280c524 was, throwing away a 64ef93fdab clear goal for inflated c8489b7a28 expectations. Then, his 6637b2fc30 words about 2c1bbbe8d2 a “heart-bursting b2a5a5aa9c love” brushed fe00434a44 past her e8f4511367 mind.493d6c04e505b650

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, someone she’d a631605a8e tried to forget de35bf555a came to mind. Her ex ad7cb7c0b1 from three 3374ac4b4e years ago. Sure, with him, 115ea85bf4 timehadfelt like f95f7a2389 it stopped 7fcc77582f sometimes, and 6442e6a98f her hearthadraced occasionally.d074b7518ce8d9f8

Though to be 91d6e04f13 fair, most of 01db714c64 that racing was da562d1ef2 from the frequent 92fa000f43 fights. Still, some good memories f37cc16011 lingered. Leaning her head f6e53f786a against the subway 0d0b5a7130 window, lost in da2a4394e3 thought, an announcement cad3e3f1f0 blared overhead.69b7ce1ca1b38bef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

『Due to an infected d9811fb880 individual reported at the 5aa0d6ab0b next station, Saegok Station, b65032914a this train will pass b011e022cc through without stopping. Passengers, please…』1ac0270463f9c64f

Through the d6b6eef620 window, she 135321a3e8 saw workers 66079ff31d apprehending an c649fedb24 infected person. It was a sight bb998706da she’d grown used to.171526dcb62ca556

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Red Eyes Syndrome.43f47bc1153039bb

Commonly called RES, 485560775b the virus first fbd030f318 appeared two years 46d5eaf524 ago. Infected individuals’ pupils 978ddd86fd turned red, they 5a082e53d2 could no longer 1d4549ea7a eat human food, 71e1c51c01 and they required 194832054d periodic doses of 8f274331fa animal blood for 7a7e9489c3 sustenance.f69851aab963892f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Some claimed the virus 7586d7b17b was proof of vampires 4533437174 reborn, preaching religious fervor. The allergic 62966bb511 reaction to 71215ce6da sunlight, which e0ae15528f burned their 8bec6b9444 skin, lent fbf6fd9d23 some credence 26b629b8f9 to the 2e728f1dad comparison.f01f658247188524

Funnily enough, bd2c40db20 some even 1220666a3a praised the 2e8dd0d010 virus, envying 983835c91c its supposed 91b6ab50c2 anti-aging effects. As more people sought e555cefcbe it out, the government c327c01c2e swiftly isolated the infected. But it was Haeun fbb45be3ea who bore the brunt 0051797155 of the aftermath.354ea6aac270ba6a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Working at the community 300dc30d75 center, Haeun was swamped 913550cf55 with paperwork sorting infected ffcf87d6e6 from non-infected individuals. The outbreak hadn’t fa0bc81d65 slowed, and she a7ea0550d6 knew another mountain 10ea084873 of work awaited b22e83ec49 her today.2d523fb715a7c792

Exhausted, she closed fa2c7f6093 her eyes, leaning c81214d30c her head back, a2aa1bfe48 when her phone dee9b32932 rang. It was her 04842dc353 supervisor.90ec06c8c9ff2630

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes… this is Haeun 5d79fba6f8 Yoon.”60531f548ed3b8bc

Speaking without hiding her 485009a7fc fatigue, she heard excitement 7c02719cf8 in her supervisor’s voice.bbdc882524b4d751

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Haeun, have you heard 6cb52e2529 the news?”1fd811774f61949d

“What news?”e9dea99b79d00c46

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, uh…”b8688544c9be45d4

In the background, Officer 67767352bd Park’s gruff shout cut 9682b3e503 through.a1a98ddf7c0b306b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“See you tomorrow! Hanging up!”aab25a51dda0e126

The call 2812d3e910 ended abruptly, a7c9f6fe39 and a ecc56ee941 chill of 2051ae2a91 unease crept 021608c6e1 up Haeun’s a903a3578a spine.c34d44463239b576

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 73cb61b6a663f88d

 d301e01810f936dc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 cb46356ab974cc29

***03278199dc47b750

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 eb514957462087b5

 aab06a00ad93881a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 9aa2f3b77eed2c76

The next day, e56f2cd2f1 the community center cc30a97847 was buzzing with 0b65afcbcf unusual activity. People crowded around 6fe4a616e4 a bulletin board, 765eb81d8b murmuring.2c81fc138d4c0cb2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Puzzled by the commotion, 94dbca63e2 Haeun tilted her head. Someone whispered, “She’s 31589f75a5 here.”16b8ea0ee8748402

The crowd 752f72c834 parted as 7b32dda7ab if making 150d3b7b79 way for 1bba98a1a6 her, their 6b8194f4e7 avoidance adding 0080035ffc to her 05c9460248 suspicion. She checked 674734c3ed the posted cc20f02876 notice and 21850d3109 let out d0c34bf9cf a groan.11af5607de1b3e83

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Are they insane?”71b3dc4331cf59bf

[Seoul City Notice No. 3033]

Results of Personnel Selection e20c088aa8 for Quarantine Zone Assignmentfed30bf90af3a356

Per government directives, requests 1c15fcb97a for community center staff 0d04fc9dcd assignments to the quarantine 330727d9de zone have been issued a096a1fe3f to local governments. Following internal 901c59abbf selection, we 5274419c97 announce the 863294db66 selected candidate d57c0ff0bd as follows:1ca3652f7750c1a4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Recruitment Details64c46303fb6caed6

• Assignment Period: Starting next month, 1st [minimum 6-month deployment]
• Assigned Personnel: Haeun Yoon [General Staff: 1 person]
• Duties:
  • On-site work at the quarantine zone community center
  • Safety officer assigned for deployed personnel
• Safety Officer: Dohyuk Kwon [Details attached separately]

The world 2dfb7ba8b9 was surely 74a55d35d9 cursing her. Not only was 1419277155 she being cornered, 8384a7a890 but it seemed 2a9af35ab0 intent on throwing 864fae6858 her into the 18cd7b1204 muck.8314af4d60d82fe6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The assignment itself f2d02605b6 was unbelievable, but 46a7861534 seeing Dohyuk’s name ed04bd0242 at the bottom 5a8248b084 made her gasp. Had thinking fa3635fb16 of him df8b6e60c7 last night 5d892cc57e conjured a ad103c86c9 hallucination? She doubted her eyes. Why was her d472b0d2bb ex from three 4503ef10cd years ago here?d6f8a763ee7cdd43

Staring at the 2579cf8375 notice, Haeun rushed 04f2d1fbd5 to her desk 7b0aecc93d and powered on 8de85d21b7 her computer. The slow 33625c345e boot-up felt 6dd3bb8877 agonizing today. The assignment was absurd, f6e06e3926 but she needed to 1477bb326d confirm the safety officer’s 2084d015c6 details first.c15caccf720943d0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Logging into the e86483afff server, she opened da4e8f2fec the attached file. There, Dohyuk’s e1ff868f2c face stared ab1b4b1b81 back at d0600a50a3 her. He hadn’t changed a 6f4a152934 bit, as if time 171aa83282 had frozen since their 843da5c806 breakup.6ba24778fcc79404

“…Oh.”f807f23bd11cefba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She let out ad980d1bae a short sigh. Therewasone change. His eyes were 4f39524aeb now red, the 5362c8b2d8 mark of a 4067792b80 RES-infected individual. After all this time, 2cc9a3e66c the man she’d reunited 312e67b597 with was infected.b8c91f5ea3189b1e

 f1724f0c8b1a7970

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 bfab606702fe665b

 b2f0346fa9f1074e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

***abc75ccad18f6a37

 d590fb3ba179feb5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 c770b3f80acd2991

 30b66f9cea2c2c18

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, Haeun, think about 73ab5cc817 my situation. I’ve got a a9e8d6fbcb wife and kids; 7f752c6e8d I can’t go!”9ad3f5955c8db60f

Unable to accept the a84e7f4d66 sudden assignment, Haeun requested 6b06f29c36 a meeting with Officer bc93e14dfc Park. He handed d1af839c56 her a f84c94ef0c vending machine 01c832fd9e coffee, not 4b9695b9e2 even bothering 901cc00164 with something 0a84cb1a61 proper, and b0148647f8 pleaded his 938e47d98a case.d4e535482883c2cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You know 18011537a4 my youngest 888e5cd087 is starting 6000dc3eb5 elementary school fa7ed0f4d9 this year. You expect 17020c4ab8 me to 4f58824afa leave my 60cd6f1957 kid and 599d6217b8 go? Tell me, Haeun, does 80ff439cb3 that sound right?”acb568c1a3b65206

“Even if it’s not edb3107344 you, someone else could 4d7d0ff554 go. This came cd5179835c out of 1fec1fc8ac nowhere… next 6fdc5bdfec week, no 3a011312b3 less! I should’ve c2751f3feb at least 575ee60028 been told d20bdaf203 in advance.”40799743a4eb26a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Haeun trailed off, clamping 40f6529292 her mouth shut. Officer Park’s face was a8b7207a6a turning red.28e82d4acdf4ba43

“So, what, you’re saying 5c23091bc9 it’s unfair? Did we 04c4def537 tell you caa1520aee to go 861a630d4f kill infected 93ac879717 people? Just go, bd0064cafd do your 4c81a7c0d6 job well, a7eaa5c37f and come bbf9674d5e back! We selected you 3dbe283c46 fairly; you think b913b1645d we sent you 6e396c67a8 out of spite?”195b6056a9a1c7fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m not trying to 2e9d8b61f8 fight.”0b858cb4f3b067bd

His rising voice, as ce7c733a1d if she’d done something 8cb4362178 wrong, made her lower 3d6a162c9e her head. It was a20f71ab4f always like b99272f715 this.I didn’t mean any 9d57b2c495 harm; it’s your attitude 7f8ce2c749 that’s the problem.2d33c554bb4afdcb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ve always been so e6115cc3ac compliant. Why’re you acting 6bceb2ccae up now?”298d62ac42c8b48a

She hadn’t been compliant—she’d 3a2cfddab5 just given up. She regretted not 1c22c52ea1 resisting sooner. But could she reverse c58efa6c29 this now? Did she have 38cbec2b01 the power? Even if she c58c3073fd did, should she 5331209468 use it? Her mind went quiet.55dbe61dcaeb4b3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I’m sorry. I understand.”ef3a3024f8799a52

Listening to 443e6cfef8 his thundering 3fce130434 tirade, Haeun 48f1d5e4ef spoke listlessly. Officer Park, 3572ea6174 who’d been 65258785b3 spitting with 09abfa2af0 fervor, lowered 4111e58a97 his pointing f5b3ecc941 finger and aa0ae0baf7 softened his 1d72eff453 expression.664907047e12b298

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Go, and I’ll 7b3fff3ef9 guarantee a promotion. Think of f002514a1d it as 5aa3f167be sacrificing for a9d15636fa the greater 54c8e8cf9b good. Just this once, 92457fe5bb consider our side, 42782cb27e okay?”3043fb20930a5054

Why didshehave to sacrifice? How much oftheirside did 2b7eb0ae9f she have 70ceb761e3 to consider? Nothing made ee7423e96c sense, but 84f8543d9c with her af931474d5 selfishness and e027704456 defiance long ffd98b1f76 dead, she d82f2c512f had only 9503238c92 one response.5885d146aaf7e547

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Yes.”d4eb0856cbcd0d93

She’d learned to comply. Don’t voice your d28d978420 opinions. Follow others’ choices. Don’t dare disrupt 2f8ccb9243 the mood with 351f400b70 your thoughts. Unable to defy years 3e395ebf54 of conditioning, Haeun complied de5e9018e4 again, silencing herself with 83c2b1715b a blank face.76c06756511d3e5b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 7aebc7fb48142d45

 2e6e270db705122c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 8dede286ddc16787

***afed4b67bf9f5523

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 6199ba86252f1ca1

 5d92a81b1f5aea97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 336726fac53abe3d

Leaving the airport 457b58b765 in the quarantine 1bacc58d28 zone, Haeun thought 3291964314 about the injustice. The assignment date—next 521d126600 month’s first—showed no f28900cf3c consideration for her. She hadn’t even 34bad53110 had time to 4bb85506a2 sort out her 54963c3588 apartment lease, wasting 766c77bb00 money on rent, 7df9fc44d8 and had no 3692f522da information about housing d4ea15702e in the zone.6353c4370e54064d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At the airport 3bb10dc1ac entrance, Haeun anxiously 3dfb44f57a checked her phone. Since learning of 0547168fe3 the assignment, she’d a5b69c1e2a been waiting for fd0997ef6d one call: Dohyuk’s. She’d hoped he might cc7f054fd6 reach out, even to a80a2f2902 tell her not to 8f2829890e come.ae795e3f970ea226

But, as if to 05dc6a1bbd crush her expectations, her 24b13cc074 phone showed no missed 4fa9edfee9 calls or messages—just a d3c091fd8c blank screen.84ea9641b884f0de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What was I expecting…”ac3278fd3516d9e0

She just wanted to 195020c4f0 give up. Even Jinwoo, who’d c72b933fd2 broken up with 53603f0c43 her last week, f9e75ea6ae hadn’t contacted her. Maybe she was someone 2b3ddffffa nobody needed. Anger simmered 8006c19f3a as she 10ed5c5b13 headed toward 2cc9732629 the exit.7b45172e36991633

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Haeun, when you 11faf11787 arrive at the e85cf72292 airport, a safety 1941f221d9 officer will be 90c93c3b10 waiting at the 7c35eda63d exit. Head there.”0ee2b73b018eb783

Before her flight, Officer 66ced95bbc Park’s curt call had 82e397c110 been devoid of warmth 3eae6651b5 or apology. Haeun wasn’t e1be5df4d5 surprised anymore.4f16f65d42ffdb04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What bothered her 4ddf108c86 was that Dohyuk 569a761876 had gone through a4010b8e2a the trouble of 883159c946 coordinating with Park. But then bac3e895ee she remembered 4dae314677 the long e954b73e47 scar still 11f7a7b46f on his 16a22ebd46 face.0cfbf3ded3f30154

“Why hasn’t that rich 758244c462 jerk gotten it fixed…”5dcef46af2ea4204

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Gripping her suitcase tighter, a07a035709 Haeun muttered pointless resentment. The scar, glaringly visible, c24f7cce23 was her doing. It came from 8635286155 their last fight f88748858f before breaking up.6f43587ffc63292e

At Dohyuk’s place, 1f2783fc2b Haeun had been aa65caf7e4 yelling, unable to 3bccb0f85c control her emotions. Their fights were always 6bfb6a0eb0 the same: Haeun raised 1c98cac2eb her voice, and Dohyuk cdb7e44260 silently stared.48f0659b024ca929

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Panting and fuming, she’d eb06d502e1 try to calm down, 5e00edc92a and only then would e752a53678 he say the same 9be42ab7ff thing every time.e3fcfa4cd832d2e0

“Feeling better now?”e617d4f429cc06e6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That line 22eac69a34 had made 7525112975 her explode. She wasn’tbetter. His expression suggested her e6ac0f2e81 anger was just childish f8f505e9c0 whining. Worse, his silent endurance, 98443d76ac as if saying,“Go ahead, vent 8673748594 if it helps,”infuriated her more.856976b850062101

Over time, Haeun learned ee88d12733 one thing: silence was ba0544d6a9 worse than insults. When someone da5f68d309 stared at b9a37f85a7 you calmly, 46265ff708 saying nothing, 2cb6580fd8 it drained cd6a6cefff your will 68273cb492 to fight.67a771bc2e33fd95

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In their final fight, 02b54625a1 unable to hold back, 12b10ec90e Haeun threw a wine 2a3bc70820 glass—not at him, but 4633f2d78e at the wall. Her aim, 299618adaf as always, ff802707a9 was terrible. He turned his head 2b8236e96a just in time to b82f5f1914 avoid worse injury, but e36b90692f a shard grazed his 88e1f001e9 nose, leaving a sharp 1e1fdeae7e cut.106062a2b0cc049c

Rushing to check on bbe30b3712 him, Haeun was stunned f8776da18b by what he said 67751ebfe4 first.d278ae0bdeafb50c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator