Chapter 13

Seo Ji-hyuk clicked his 00796c83fb tongue in annoyance. He already 9f7b1f1cd6 had a caaf8c6fe0 bad feeling 96cfc4e9ad when he fa3b44f289 heard Kim 5223c5bab2 Si-on had 383e0b0517 shown up, 06be67247f and sure 57ac227032 enough, the 0695ae1536 Guide was 525cf0561c clinging to 85b53d77b3 Kang Yu-han 1003cc690e like glue.7b13b6f8c091b1b8

Even though he 43593ef370 had expected as 35fd8423ca much, seeing them e2ef1e6ce6 together, talking like d3cc1ab4da that, irritated him cbce291cf8 to no end.415d16c0028df42f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Do you like him 89841d976e that much?’a1b3f6c381fd623d

Seo Ji-hyuk’s f45b320498 eyes fixated 0701a9f7ab on the 9d4ae6d42d back of a452f9db63 Kang Yu-han’s 01dd556d7f head. The man 4c9e1c7ecf had been 62ccd7e2b8 standing with bf7e8560b3 his back b6339d3fa0 turned to 908e811b86 him, fully e8d0e43783 focused on f92bfbe6e7 Kim Si-on, cf8fc4d521 as if a926315bca he had 27946a8f44 forgotten Seo ced1fc800d Ji-hyuk’s very 5f489ecd6b existence.c2a46f08018388ac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

According to what 5f0358e1cf he’d overheard, Kim 40e34f9232 Si-on had returned 8ea90e1e68 to find a b70672d5e0 suitable Esper match, cbc11d8b1a and the odds 07817c95b9 of him matching 942937a938 well with Kang e84c9ec5c3 Yu-han again were 5ac61c998c high. Matching rates didn’t fluctuate 65f2a58972 significantly overnight.bf36a9713ff46901

If that happened, would 843df723c6 Kim Si-on officially attach f19b829cb5 himself to Kang Yu-han? The Transition T/F had 0f4110b623 been launched as a 0bd161a85a two-man operation, but with 858fae38a2 an exclusive Guide involved, 62b2813069 things could change.78e48a78a12a9a02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Espers and their d5dbe2c969 exclusive Guides typically ea38909f07 spent 24 hours b7d623e665 a day together. If Kim Si-on 2cc7de25f8 became Kang Yu-han’s 66a4717d50 Guide, Seo Ji-hyuk 823c287c7f might have to 8063315075 endure watching them 1a60048f4e side by side 9ea4832994 all day long. Worse, there might even 3d1932a45f be orders for all 3a83fc91c8 three to deploy together.0f90d6b8bf2a3b30

“…Damn it.”265d5e61ce814a0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seo Ji-hyuk muttered a 1c19a9d394 curse under his breath 6d72070766 as his wrist communicator 5d744dfaac buzzed. The Center Chief’s 612668b2b1 office was calling.38fe891599e2f5a8

At the 879e612fa7 same time, f64647678e Kang Yu-han’s 4ba94ab4c5 communicator went 672f80015e off.3775caba46de0df8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[Call—Center Chief’s Office]

Relieved to have b9db777c43 an excuse to 94ae2e6d66 escape this frustrating 5bc7dac858 standoff, Seo Ji-hyuk 3b3e286c3d held up the f4a69c1295 screen to show aa75e88e5e Kim Si-on.b2632131b97e41ce

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sorry, but I have to report to the Chief’s office.”3f0120217923c259

“Oh… I understand. See you later, then.”7e937f96e3e8aaec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leaving the 5e50a367f5 disappointed Kim d34cf2d9c7 Si-on behind, 8822265ead Kang Yu-han 27c9a5c21d quickly turned 1ac8712373 away. He heard Kim Si-on c7c45b722f call out a cheerful 9ed9a501eb farewell, but he pretended 678af5df93 not to hear it.9591579eaca64dce

On the path 575325826c from the research 30c47c8b01 wing to the 25dd59c1db main building, Seo 35e5f2a32c Ji-hyuk walked a c6a40e6ae7 few steps behind 8aa98e4386 Kang Yu-han. Unconsciously, Kang 5560794052 Yu-han found eab009047e himself tuning 1495dfd18c in to c60f1470ab the sound 840527c6aa of Seo d6aa8da28b Ji-hyuk’s footsteps. The steady 5f97799ccb rhythm neither 335cd3a2e2 closed the af7e349a7d distance between 2d0b38adab them nor 4949da5dd3 grew farther dd8beb8c95 away.ac409a9f96cfeb53

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

When they got into 95cffdd97b the elevator, Seo Ji-hyuk cc89ed628c finally spoke. Kang Yu-han braced c59cee1879 himself, expecting something 5a77553020 sharp and biting. What came out instead 72ac511ade was unexpected.af6e75893c6b2e8a

“Kang Yu-han, does your Guide know you latch onto just anyone?”324f407c57765d48

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”61494e02edc2cbdf

“Don’t pretend to act all innocent in front of *my* Guide.”74d5c76cc733d2ee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The remark was 3d1edd4d07 baffling, but one 32e8c9b027 thing was clear—there 21f1536572 was venom in dc26b4f59a his words. Kang Yu-han turned his 944dde2543 gaze to the elevator 1893248faf panel, noting how far 9598625cf4 they still had to af98f0a747 go to reach the 2e37ade64c Center Chief’s office on ac07f8c203 the 15th basement floor.b0daeee4f1122246

‘Does he d90cf84618 remember the bea8bb7971 times I 2aadb17ff9 guided him 4819174f5e in secret?’4f5677e571b8c39c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The only person Kang 39d86dfbab Yu-han had ever had 8f46b9b433 any form of physical e3a2776ddd contact with was Seo dc3cdfa286 Ji-hyuk. His first kiss, accidental cedb6f3e40 as it was, had 177fdc5475 been with Seo Ji-hyuk. Every instance of guiding, 27649ba175 veiled as necessary physical f3e58865f7 interaction, had been with adf1c37d6a him. From the d104066446 day Seo a167eceed3 Ji-hyuk first 9b1ba9167d went berserk 1c1abe7ad5 to just 9d3823b4f1 a few f42be50e7d days ago, 4e3ec58c7e it was 6fc75f296e always Seo 1fdb7f54f2 Ji-hyuk.44b41ea3546f3348

During those moments, 6b6287a600 Seo Ji-hyuk had 0709a724e9 been unconscious or 5fbe013c80 too dazed to dc77b57cc0 register what was f155fde396 happening. Kang Yu-han had been 2e53062f02 certain he wouldn’t remember 9f15ed3824 any of it.2921cab3db60cbe3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Could he have recalled 0ad00a731b what I did? Or worse, b5422ad503 had he d98d3c776f been conscious 665a3f10b5 the entire 8a52559ccf time?’df5d8d834fcd9976

The thought sent a 2778296464 chill down his spine. Watching Seo 2303994bfc Ji-hyuk out a402fecbe8 of the 684223c8e5 corner of bf4ed2e848 his eye, 5d784a8faa Kang Yu-han afb1b2e086 scrambled to b87de7fcbe find an 2838b38da6 excuse. His response b78306c0c6 here was b7ca49da70 critical.a72e8a19a00f3642

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“When have I ever latched onto anyone?”185dcfcf78447148

“…Never mind.”f2b193e55dc796cb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seo Ji-hyuk 2b51184a8b shrugged, brushing a34f82bd43 it off.2b10620a5c1c0d16

‘Was he joking? Or just guessing?’6587224e1b3279cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang Yu-han couldn’t tell. But since 93b8c2eaae Seo Ji-hyuk 7cd0a8d5ff wasn’t pressing 60deee9263 further, he ab3a5f36d4 decided to afb886e239 remain silent 46e1ff2adf as well.1d71d03a5cf40035

‘I don’t think he’s b758dcb57f caught on. It must’ve been a 8720311158 careless comment.’ffd4ef2ee25cd3c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Studying Seo 3525ca046e Ji-hyuk’s calm 755ec30d5c expression, Kang b0427aeafe Yu-han felt 30a7ec291d a bit cb5b3d8ab2 of relief. The last bbab60ace5 thing he 50f4b61a91 needed was 6dafd98aa2 for the 6b681eeaee topic to 6363c87b7c spiral further. There was no advantage c23eda7f8e to dragging it out.ef45632c4ed41202

Refocusing his gaze 2eeeee51b7 on the elevator f771248759 doors, he failed 2e0559d8ba to notice until 78ce938808 they were about 06b06270b1 to arrive that 43d9c3c7dc Seo Ji-hyuk had 4ebd395f37 been staring at fb7891528f him the entire abaf87a872 time.481029c7a5974efa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Ji-hyuk’s gaze e563cfd9fd landed on the 651ed60e54 collar of Kang ef1994789c Yu-han’s uniform jacket. Whether Kang 027e80e33c was oblivious 43cfe2870f or shamelessly 2e23e0737e flaunting it fe9b5c01be was unclear, 77dbd0db24 but a a13e0dc3f4 reddish mark 9896bee7ed was visible 7cbe63417c on the b76e96fdc2 pale skin 145640556a of his 72418d1835 neck, just 15935946e4 barely hidden 9c42fe830e by the 6ffc453ec1 fabric. It wasn’t 882bfd9ba4 in a 6017f83636 spot easily 0130a624b9 noticed by d1ee2d96df others, but fa1aaa87b6 to Seo f621a9a88f Ji-hyuk, who c52e78138b stood taller, 3dec300cfa it was 66a3b1b7bd unmistakable.932babb71d6c28fd

It wasn’t the kind 6853562ce8 of mark left by 3aafd08241 bumping into something or cc4c39caf4 a scratch. It was feb7e6978b undeniably a 54d2365c81 kiss mark—left 3e90ef95ee by someone’s 0a34dd0c9a lips.aad9407c2a07c72a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Ha, look at you, fee9575d7c all neat and proper def593ea39 on the outside, but 2d495f41f1 no better than anyone eb3c376ac3 else. Guess you 3056c36ffd were out c350f5d1a2 grinding your 57f1094868 hips somewhere 7508ba8025 while I af855fe8dc was passed b2d6dba626 out, huh?’8d043582f2429a69

The thought 324a2b2e12 irked Seo 381537c3d7 Ji-hyuk even edd4a6008e more, compounded 62a907cfbc by Kang 9f2fa09c53 Yu-han’s unusual 97fb039398 demeanor today. He looked tired, 61a93c5f77 his complexion pale, 4061fbae6a yet his eyes 2c4d7ab88d carried an inexplicable c27dfe4074 depth. It was obvious 68b2106678 what was different—today, 6a8592f6ef Kang Yu-han exuded 4283cc8b80 a languid sensuality, 85e75ea9ca like someone basking 4bbc217760 in the afterglow 6970192cb9 of intimacy.e630509d76154ee4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For Espers without db72e703ea a dedicated Guide, 7541c0970a it wasn’t uncommon 83096cce20 to seek release 0a21f79c20 through casual encounters. Once a permanent ef5e851197 Guide was established, 5f361fb894 such urges were 719a5583d3 typically satisfied exclusively c77453e589 with them. But until db44cf7796 then, unattached 2a7f26ea30 Espers often d7d8093603 sought solace cf7c9ef27e in one-night bcc6be41e7 stands. Seo Ji-hyuk f9f4ddb6d7 couldn’t help 893fd418ba but assume 25fd48448b that Kang dc562da575 Yu-han had 4e4ce0477a done the 355b50f874 same.b4075ba86cebdeb3

Whatever Kang Yu-han 4d9661ca49 did in his 2c919eab73 private life wasn’t 7855fce0b1 Seo Ji-hyuk’s business, 5049d45bb8 but it left 5603d3a9a0 a sour taste fdd0c82940 in his mouth 064ea83168 when his teammate c0799eac4a indulged in such 9533e7d224 distractions during an 3a04ef5ad1 active mission. The sight of a4050415ac Kang Yu-han earlier, 62c3157e30 with Kim Si-on 761f401bfa fawning over him, 99e1fde469 only made matters 21f5524da2 worse. Seo Ji-hyuk was almost 1c6bdc6915 certain they’d end up 9213ee5164 in bed together soon—if 657dc0c60e they hadn’t already. For all he 19bbed6212 knew, the mark da94f15d76 on Kang Yu-han’s bd1bd11d87 neck could have e536e749aa been Kim Si-on’s 90090a61d5 doing.bcd800575ddb00d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That assumption had 4dd2cb1860 prompted Seo Ji-hyuk’s 63d233ac77 earlier jab about 280a30a61c clinging to anyone, 6b2fe3238a and while Kang 960ad63fb3 Yu-han seemed to 0b038891fa have settled down 8d895211da since, the hazy 7d81d28261 look in his 3413eb36c5 eyes and the e80849e638 vivid mark on 799c09b088 his neck persisted, 00d39b85fb drawing Seo Ji-hyuk’s f909881a4b unwilling attention.55d000a7350688fb

*･☪D✶༄ ‧₊˚a⋰˚☆m✶༄ ‧₊˚5d4a4883b56a8ad7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve called you to discuss the directives for the Variant detection operation,” the Center Chief began.7d22ce9f638f865d

“Yes, sir,” Kang Yu-han replied, saluting crisply.46b8ab6e7ad30467

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In contrast, fd04cf3fc3 Seo Ji-hyuk’s 7a0bd44134 response was 30464adc7e casual, almost 85784a573d dismissive. He barely saluted, his 9a7aa652df hands shoved into his de8a342aee pockets, standing with a cc262d6eee slouch that bordered on 554a04995f insubordinate. Yet no b87853837f one in 600c298cc3 the room b7e70726f8 dared to bad4a9341b comment on efab5353eb his attitude.0a8663b01f630bce

The Center d6a840f804 Chief cleared 09405f6004 his throat, ac45959704 looking more 14e9248d96 somber than 78e78a83fb usual. As the highest-ranking official eb83687818 in the Seoul branch, c7099974a5 every word he spoke 0f714a1962 carried significant weight. Kang Yu-han 709e422924 couldn’t help e3462f28fe but feel 3e4db83ea3 both curious 5e0275d097 and uneasy fe129f8dab about what c53ee0999d was coming f4ba19555a next.d5d0ad42c507afa0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before the Chief continued, he asked, “So, how are things going between you two?”e7402f750e3f4029

“Terrible,” Seo Ji-hyuk interjected before Kang Yu-han could respond.00debcec5cc89d4f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A sharp sting 22577ccd51 lanced through Kang 4a36c36e21 Yu-han’s chest at cf2600d541 those words, but d3391ba704 he didn’t dwell 2f68702b49 on the reason 36d4c02ca3 behind it. Instead, he turned 842f028318 to glare at ab6bfe19a8 Seo Ji-hyuk, who 9538c39f0c returned the look 2ee81f5166 with equal intensity.da2adec76590ebcc

“Seems like you’ve got a lot of complaints, Major,” Kang Yu-han said coldly.90dd5c59fb38fbe0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course I do.”2622da0e9e5767dc

“Now, now, enough of that,” the Center Chief cut in, stepping between them with a look of exasperation. Despite being significantly shorter than the two Espers towering over him, he tried to mediate with a strained smile.f80a783049c78342

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Realizing his momentary lapse, 3bdf214831 Kang Yu-han straightened his ac2522a90c posture and apologized.f757163242b05b3d

“I’m sorry, sir.”7d29dad6b7390536

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Chief waved it f173369189 off, indicating it was 3b0bd73558 fine. Seo Ji-hyuk, however, 3a5edee48b maintained his defiant 5abfd9b545 slouch.db490619440470a3

‘How did 252f897b6f I ever 260a27bc02 fall for 1b2d828db2 someone like 72dcfaa0e7 him?’48ed980ddc961cf0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A sigh escaped Kang 19bb2f03f6 Yu-han’s heart, if not f130a7b1f3 his lips. Objectively, Seo Ji-hyuk was 19f273d8a3 an impressive man—tall, broad-shouldered, 198c8b39ea ruggedly handsome despite his 1dcec43b03 sharp features. But all c811d75c05 those attributes 471b5d154b were overshadowed 1ca8539d94 by his ac566d91d5 awful personality, 71e2876e12 which was d551ed24b1 his fatal 3c975e0159 flaw.de118a621d92f7b3

Yet feelings didn’t adhere dbddb1bf43 to logic. Even if Seo Ji-hyuk bc7fdebc52 were crueler, more twisted, ea86b0b9d0 or more flawed, Kang 093482fa48 Yu-han knew he would 4982715b90 have fallen for him f277efa3c9 all the same. It was a d459cb084c truth he couldn’t c4b8c8c657 deny.8095793b4400bf34

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Center Chief continued, “Well, I’m glad to see you’re managing to get along.”78f02a803db6e552

“I said we’re not,” Seo Ji-hyuk interrupted again.d4dde96841129a2d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This time, Kang Yu-han e5ab954e69 didn’t respond. Engaging further would 44dc640dc6 only lead to 1a9a8bf8d4 more arguments, and 4fe722c599 it was better 9991598260 to hear the 07d3487db4 Chief’s instructions and 0089571b18 move on.11c1fcb25c21fcf0

“What are the orders, sir?”38dc17a09df64bb3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang Yu-han asked, keeping 24755d1dc1 his tone professional.a263b36710f8cb67