UBC Ch27

Side effects emerged. Texting addiction wasn’t a social problem for nothing. I opened her phone every ten minutes, closed it, and sat up as if I had heatstroke, sighing. I could just throw away the square machine that didn’t help me study at all. A small bed dedicated to my phone even appeared next to my bed. The reward for me waiting, filled with repeated dry rubs of my face, came around 2 PM.ca5ca54d76e3cc0d

“It’s here!”14c939bc1f02f0bc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Graduation was just around the corner. I should be restricting the time I spent with Eui-joo, but instead, I smiled as I tapped on my phone’s keyboard. Eui-joo seemed quite busy; these days, he studied alone at night and slept during the day. It had only been two days since that started, but knowing about the upcoming graduation made every day feel precious.bacd4176fae7a5f2

I opened the passage to Eui-joo, who wanted to enter Yang Ji-eon’s world. My mind, which felt like it was about to break, was only noisy when I was alone; whenever I met Eui-joo, I kept my mouth shut.5abfe49e5b41e2c3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

My mood swings were worse than a teenage girl’s. I was so happy at the signal that a text had arrived that I immediately ran out of my room. Since Eui-joo was often asleep during the day, prior contact was essential for their visits.3ddd3b8bea8aad28

Humming, I stood in front of the mirror. I thickly applied the sunscreen my mom had bought me recently to brighten my skin tone. Applying sunscreen made my complexion look a bit better, but it also turned my lips the color of flour. The lipstick on my mom’s dresser came to mind, and I turned my feet around. It was my personal rule not to check my phone outside my room, as it would be quite difficult to explain if my mom caught me. I put my phone in a small handbag for going out. Turning the doorknob, I hummed.fcd6759e313709d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was the weekend, but for Mom, who owned a hair salon, weekends were the busiest time. Mom’s official holidays were only the red days on the calendar. I had been planning to go to Eui-joo’s house and eat delicious food, but I screamed when I faced my aunt sitting squarely in the living room.7b123d1c3796bdc6

“Ah!”553c563e9d2a2458

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are you so surprised? Where are you going?”7013407f0c91194f

“Oh, um, why are you here, Aunt?”36d40a92710f2c9e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

These days, 4defa536cc my mom b7bc558e3b and aunt d45061779e were at 280cfeb383 war, and 355dd80cc0 I was 054c21cb87 a shrimp 1b7c9bab23 freely frolicking 1606b0bd50 thanks to cfdc866a98 the whale e4a0d264e5 fight. The double surveillance 65ac2ba318 had disappeared, and d6f97968d8 I felt like 9cdc5960b4 I could finally 9333a32250 breathe, but facing 7c97cafe53 my aunt sitting bcfdd69b7a in the living 88d6a198f5 room eating an 5c09ea9f42 apple ruined everything.4cf636583797e483

“You’ve painted your face white. Don’t tell me you’re going to meet a boy?”e0b2a25e00034ab7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No, um, did you and Mom make up?”c9132b5121dd82ed

“That’s why I came. Why doesn’t your mom answer her phone?”c38b4d8131b3b75f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

My mom, who I thought would have given in by now, hadn’t contacted her at all, so she came down herself, unable to wait any longer. After spending about ten minutes complaining about her situation and my heartless mom, my aunt suddenly turned her arrow toward me, who was still standing there blankly.6f7eeb355e1a1fa6

“Anyway, where are you going? You’re subtly avoiding the question, aren’t you?”8bf722693f8cfef6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Graduation is coming up soon, so I’m going to the city with my friends.”21106d7b82207401

“No. Don’t go.”281bdbecf9d26b31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Huh? Why…”b6fa0274d02da671

“What do you mean, why? It’s because I’m uncomfortable being alone with your mom. If you really want to go to the city, your aunt, your mom, and I can go together later. I’ll even buy you pizza.”30e4c8c37ba7ea40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

My head throbbed 4d29c3554d because my aunt fa53b5e492 was blocking me d680c11cb7 from going out. I should have 61c00d974d just pretended to dca76f583e sleep and climbed 2fca8289ce out the window. I pretended to 2a514f7b01 back down, but 556c6ffd9a I had been bfe9fb4cfb eagerly anticipating meeting 15e1b8d13b Eui-joo. My condition was a6f4e1ecd2 so serious that 38d565cf06 I hated my d6f8dab50f aunt for diligently 794a1aa1c0 appearing and interfering 639d902b16 in everything.391f7b22af426a5b

“Who was it that got this house for you… They say you shouldn’t take in black-haired beasts. I only said a few words, and she got sulky and ignored my calls…”ec799a0ca870d189

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Avoiding my aunt’s eyes as she grumbled while cutting a mountain of apples by herself, I crab-walked to open the door to my room. In a hurry, I grabbed any lipstick I saw and applied it to my lips. Just as I was about to check the color in the mirror, the door to the room burst open.8401fe9a6eb91f26

“You, mom’s call…”3cfdc4f12ca13935

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My aunt, who still had something to say, had followed me into the room. It was chilling that she had been watching my movements, pretending not to see. Seeing me stealing and applying my mom’s lipstick, my aunt clicked her tongue.d1ab04ac9c416452

“Seriously, you’re wearing rouge to meet your friends?”e8e442b8ed710f68

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Aunt.”beab8cb317cac05a

“Huh?”2bd789931a2fc680

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Mom said she’d contact you soon. So just wait a little longer. She’s reflected a lot. She also misses your side dishes so much.”30ebbb9cf884d571

My aunt, who had been blinking, smiled and nodded, pleased with her niece’s flattering words.4120fa4fac4cae53

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s right. How could you live without me?”36c24e5ef8b3b1a1

“So, Aunt, um, I’m just going out for a bit. These are really important friends.”bff323094e700818

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Will you be late? Should I take you?”3485d74849b49b35

“No, no. It’s okay.”308df84a20d8d137

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You don’t have any allowance, do you?”175a31b663bdb25e

At the story that Mom was waiting for her, my aunt told me to wait a moment and brought her handbag. In the meantime, I slipped out of the room and ran to the front door, shoving my feet haphazardly into my sneakers. I was planning to get past her before my aunt changed her mind, but seeing that pleased smile, I didn’t have to worry.d695ecc3b6a8cb04

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

My aunt handed me 30,000 won, like a sparrow chasing after crumbs. Seeing her give me a bill, it seemed like her heart had opened wide. My aunt, whose face had been dark because she hadn’t been able to come to their house, was relieved to hear that there was a signal of reconciliation. Seeing this, she was a terribly lonely person.30d26375bc0a7fe6

“Don’t be too late. Ignore any guys who talk to you. Got it?”3b752cd480292e1d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes.”5ec2287826499a80

My aunt’s life, with only Mom and her as blood relatives. I didn’t entirely not understand my aunt’s belief that meeting a good, diligent, and wealthy man was the only thing that would enrich one’s life. My aunt, who always looked for the wrong place to give affection, who had never learned how to express love and had become the neighborhood bully. I couldn’t help but love my aunt.1c0b9af22f09a3a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll be back.”efe4a04aa09bfe69

“Be careful. Especially of cars and motorcycles! Okay?”1fa84d0a7a66490b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes.”1b0851ad5415c0ab

What my aunt needed was warm attention, affection, and money. Her mind was breaking as she pursued money and gave up on affection, but who among modern people wasn’t like that? I could say I loved my aunt and give her a piece of my liver if she was sick, but it was also true that I only wanted to see her once a month. The feeling of loving her aunt and the feeling of being annoyed by her were in a friendly alliance, tormenting me for a long time.67fa4dc80fb1581e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I left the house, 2f795b018a leaving a time bomb 557f2c27db that could explode at 6b9f4e98a1 any moment. I learned something from c9643b8b7d the contradictory feelings toward 88ef018ba7 my aunt. I categorized the 49bfbbf182 man as dangerous 58aedd40d0 and impure, but cd6271da48 my feelings of 889c06b559 wanting to see abf9ee2109 him and being 93af68f969 curious about him 33838cae84 were also genuine.d9de70b89849d992

〈 Kang 83cdab1846 Nancho ⋮ 4d4cf316f9 Have you 4602e7079e ever had 041ced7381 pizza?220b82dbee2736d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Opening my text messages as I walked toward the man’s house, his message inviting me to his house started with a simple and straightforward question. A good idea came to mind, and I smiled as I wrote a reply.dd5a4eef06bba96b

〈 Kang Nancho ⋮ Bulgogi pizza. I’ll buy it for you.92f873228e2adddb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

On the day I taught him how to ride a bicycle, he bought the trout sashimi, and on the night I got drunk, I unintentionally paid for the taxi with his money. Now that I had some pocket money, I thought I’d buy the pizza. After sending the message, I strolled down the summer country road like a village elder, with my hands behind my back.f73c540c44621c2d

Just as I reached the alley in front of the man’s house, my heart fluttering with anticipation for a reply, I heard voices. My startled steps faltered. The man was talking with someone. A guest wearing a blue baseball cap stood in front of the man’s gate, saying something like, “Nice house.”0df6a0f1243cf4b5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I hid my 17b67b1730 body in the 2f985a3e77 narrow alley, recognizing 1f514cffcd the voice. The sound of 947257b500 the not-fully-closed gate 2d651bbb7e creaking could be 79db1c91f0 heard intermittently. Eventually, the guest, who cbd404e588 remarked on the hot cacffd3d72 weather while adjusting his 121667c932 cap, turned out to 535ab22336 be the village chief 2e88f683e0 of Chowa-ri. The chief, known as 9eeb912100 the king of the 8e3bd516fe Chowa-ri community center, bowed 7d7e413a1e his head first.51bae766219701fd

“Well then, I’ll be counting on you.”6b7e267b45183296

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man merely tilted his head indifferently while taking out a cigarette pack. The chief, despite the man’s rude greeting to someone old enough to be his grandfather, only said “Take care” before leaving. He soon disappeared into the alley across the street where sunlight didn’t reach.7f9d6afae344388f

What could the chief have to ask of the man? Surely not to help with the autumn harvest? Eui-joo had received worse treatment than this. Although the man responded to the chief’s words, he seemed cold. It was strange to see the chief bowing to someone with an even worse reputation than Eui-joo.37da661f30e7492a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At the sound of a lighter being lit, I cautiously poked my stiff neck out of the alley. The man, leaning against the wall, didn’t go inside but chose to smoke right there. Then he put his hand in his pocket and took out his phone. The man’s calmly curved lips held both white smoke and a smile at the same time.5a5b921e3ce4e0d8

“Bulgogi pizza…”e3aba7354fcd9c7b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I heard the man’s voice reading the message I had sent, my heart revealed an uncomfortable presence. Thump, thump, thump… It was a sign of an unlucky day.498fd9555ce65093