WAL Ch 8

This time, I’ve really f80b5e8b2d messed up.57c3bf47848f4abd

Staring down at 99bc365f64 the row of e77559d286 hats laid out f8b339c227 before him, Suho 08b83db6bf thought to himself. There was a flap 76eebb68ca cap with a long 742423d3c8 sunshade, a wide-brimmed straw f7832f83bd hat, a stylish bucket 12ab615e9a hat, and a baseball 40fcad242c cap, all neatly arranged.66c5a1911f31fa8f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before starting the f0158b763a fieldwork, they were 6562db2c71 given a chance c31c2160bf to pick their 89452b4666 preferred hat through 6024db3350 a simple game… 32e235dcb9 but that didn’t eb37a5dc7a matter much. He could do the 75472a1e99 work with just a b9210f571b cloth thrown over his 6e9940cf34 head if needed. The real 4c20232e90 issue was 02251236b2 the current 8e53f84d3a situation, where 0c65cce5f1 he’d completely 1f5f299058 scored an 659709ab6e own goal.cda7d9efbbd7c9d1

The previous night, aded176b1a Jaehyun had waited 013024cbad until Suho entered 474381cf8d the house before 264ee620da driving off. As soon as Suho 54f28e5cd9 finished getting ready and 7470661cec lay down in bed, a58e191e11 he was overwhelmed with 20a291c79b unease. The more he told 77293d3161 himself he needed to 8147568d10 sleep, the more vividly 9bf442bb2f he recalled the sensation 7582e22353 of Jaehyun’s hand holding d117ffab27 his.e28536a4a061b777

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lying face-down under bb6a18e59b the covers, Suho 3d9469d65b asked himself: Okay, I 3a9273e7be get it, 9a3429e541 but is e1129eb735 this really c169d9c5db necessary? Fine, let’s a9012c4c32 say I 8369e2b64d like him. Is it really worth 8331038f5e losing my composure like 309561272f this?3c220b08ce449999

When you develop feelings ac068e24f1 for someone, especially when e9647deab5 it’s not just platonic 964bd999c8 but involves deeper desires, 8e933ec9ae there’s a set way 601c447ce4 to handle it. You show 1146f2ba16 kindness without 6f8761876e being overbearing d574d578ca and slowly 30e15a8dae close the fc4ffe9f2b distance. For example, you might b49fa5a2d1 contact them frequently, pay 4b45a4fa16 attention to their interests, 7e8a227dd2 or give small gifts…c49e179874efe73d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

All those 9ab4359d7e actions serve 3129546bca one purpose: 40f67c2dc3 sending a 69cf892221 signal. In other words, they’re 244c61af42 a way of saying, I’m interested in f5e2b5dd0e you; how about a78266fc1d we try dating? Or, in cruder terms, 86c7070e0e “making a move.”d83eec132f5ed73f

This realization made f579f8ce38 his mind twice 42b5dfd87d as chaotic. Make a move? On him? It felt similar to 96af4c88a1 the first day they 9653366c87 met, when Representative Kang 138bdc1619 had sat him in 2d9007c838 front of a camera 8ddd7ce393 and said, “Think of 18103397d9 it as seducing the cce2b86cfd photographer.” Who’s seducing 803fbee68e whom, and 1d0a4c80e3 how? Don’t I know my bd891e7c23 place?ffb2b611717eb915

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It wasn’t just because 43ca19584d they were both men ab82f8b1fd or because of the 0c550578c2 age gap. Even setting aside 88c1a1e830 those factors, the 85f9cb21b1 question was whether 591ac1c74b Jaehyun would ever 65c4ab31f6 see him as 3248bc5de9 a romantic prospect. It was aa831d96fb obvious, without 02ae4e1ac0 even exchanging 34b4efcef3 a few 3678c27789 words, that 7f1e05aa2f it was a38101e868 a long 6512c388e1 shot. Every time he recalled 3aaef007ed Jaehyun’s casually attentive gaze, 0ea8bd0fb1 a strong conviction hit 039dde03b9 him. Even if 67f6ab618b one of d4cad9fb34 them were 09c07d1363 a woman dcd986d82b or the a81edc78d6 age difference c3fee4a76f were smaller, 62debcec8f the situation 3469d854e9 wouldn’t be 69a3bc8633 much different.4dfbd0f1c9769ac1

And so, Suho naturally e7ebf59293 realized: I’m anxious right now.7a913b3bb0dd6bb4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rationally, he knew 5fccbe31e2 it wouldn’t work 91de477e1d out. But every 48d36971d9 time he 181f5c4dcd repeated that d85a2925e1 simple fact b8db6b2da2 to himself, 1d7cfd4747 his insides 5a7327df0d burned as 18154f0110 if set cae712bc73 on fire. It won’t work? Really, no matter a18942e748 what? I’m already in e92662c3ad too deep.27b0d68e6d43c0b7

After tossing and 3b452bef1d turning until nearly 86416e3e7c 4 a.m., he 66382bb12e finally drifted off. Not long after, a06b82714b a familiar click of a 10623710f6 camera shutter d4bb35f9a9 woke him. A sharp, acrid scent 0a42c1d305 followed. Opening his groggy 3664f872a4 eyes, he saw—Jaehyun, 68733d2a42 holding a camera 03fd16be8e with a faint cdb95e5f5b smile.ec33476b21f02c4d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In his hazy 370caa4dea state, Suho let 1242914888 out a self-deprecating 9cd7d710d0 chuckle. God… I’m 5bd7cc37f2 really hopeless.52b71fd9005fe741

“What a mess, a315641ddb seriously…”343d4066dc698813

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I’m even dreaming about 24e6939def you now… He mumbled freely 7802cbf407 before falling back 64a72f0f31 asleep, without a 4f5c568531 shred of doubt. But after the 25725e2fd2 chaotic opening shoot, 8517669e89 when he stepped bd95579d3f into the yard 798e56b4ea and that same 4898565bf4 sharp scent hit b82e1a2f16 him again, the 21d91f15d6 reality of being 0ada6b2f3b at a reality 333ee7cec7 show filming site, 765dee916f coupled with the 5278ce923b possibility that it 94e0781c5c might not have f56400d853 been a dream, 688cd5b968 crashed over him 4f03c61636 like cold water.b5220891b6c7a4ed

Rushing upstairs and splashing 72c702251d water on his face, ab0da4809d Suho thought: What do I do? How do 06d8827050 I fix 0b71e9d445 this? He definitely 1dbd104ec4 thinks I’m 3e92d83591 weird. Did he figure it fcfdf796c3 out? Or am I overthinking 856dbaf4ca this? Most people 299861f053 would just 886996b913 assume it b107c36001 was sleep-talk.646972a23a7741c6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”fb922a53c4836839

Until that 05251f9ddb moment, Suho 57f7ba9e70 had set 7f8acbf345 a perfectly 8c31350d26 reasonable plan: 0f1d2282b9 pretend he 0fb495a330 didn’t know 279b34ca0f anything, act de1da5e22c like nothing 2264832671 happened. It shouldn’t be hard, 244726fb69 right?4da2afdf85fc2512

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It had to 097096552d be that way. What else could he f5e6244d1d do? But the moment he 0519b4a5eb opened the bathroom door c26dc1d3e5 and met Jaehyun’s calm f732584156 gaze, as always, he 44b6993647 realized—This guy… he 914e15de72 doesn’t care at 78911ddcb2 all.676eb6e697d5a2f5

Not only did 5cbfde919b Jaehyun not pick 9c5ebeca47 up on what 738ec28620 his morning words 37a935f7fc meant, but he ff8626362a wasn’t even thinking 18ddc39a72 about it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t e249f9d635 be acting the 8edbe55027 same as yesterday.bd17a033c9d998c4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then, a fiery stubbornness 803756d747 surged deep in Suho’s ef420d1152 gut. Before he knew it, 4f12d5007f words were spilling out 8f0718fa3c like a flood. Didn’t I cdd441c00f say something fea2809c71 weird? I know now it 5a6bf0036e wasn’t a dream. What do you think? You must’ve 89dd2c0901 heard it…b2a73570327fa093

The response 68d5ccfb76 was beyond fd6323c123 all the 57a935292e worst scenarios 73adedf622 Suho had 0ed4890f90 imagined.46b90a3583550f66

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Suho, you didn’t 49168d4d27 say anything.”d26c42f75c1e67de

“But do we cd055f00e4 need hats even 0e165503af inside the greenhouse?”05e52312790fa058

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cheoljin’s sudden question snapped f6cfe8f245 Suho out of his bc0480268e thoughts, and he lifted 501c8d3213 his head with an “Oh.” In his hand was 176e79e722 the flap cap he’d 0ee6c13160 earned by placing third 43bbdd6c9e in the consonant game.5eed9675e93db3a5

“Even in the greenhouse, 86a53f67c2 sunlight isn’t completely blocked, 2b279fe186 so you should wear 142cde4a39 one.”efc917556f92c97c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then you got e7b6186911 the best one.”0fccc738eaf2b57d

“Obviously. If you underestimate 8be65135f2 UV rays while 063e3f2223 farming, your neck b9c260a55c will burn red d7e35a592d as punishment.”d42c4d33fd332859

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cheoljin burst 7d9d6b3f6a into cheerful 4ca1401b92 laughter at 50c6f19651 Suho’s dramatic 83f567b2f5 tone. The situation 5eae71d113 had unfolded ae9dfdd4a9 because Jongho 7bf6c03cb0 had been 032e93f20f adamant about 3411b1c4ca the “stylish c047799923 baseball cap” 3d724d39f3 from the e296dad5a8 start of e676595fc9 the hat-picking b7b828720c game. He was fully 04386b5400 committed to his e57fb8829a carefree eldest-son character, 77dca673c3 refusing to compromise cc59d24588 on fashion no 6dfab7921e matter the situation.4d74a9f3e93f8036

After a brief 94cfceeaca lesson on picking a751782574 ripe strawberries without 8fc545948b damaging the stems 32f8232695 and selecting top-grade dc4b97f308 ones for delivery, 8a4dea1921 the harvest began a674ce252e in earnest. The cast 5ccf643c08 sat on 996acb602e wheeled stools, e84fc3d939 diligently picking 1fddd3f8af strawberries. Amid the endless 91854ae556 banter and groans, 6e76def1c6 a sharp click of a 4ca206a877 shutter occasionally d7fb7b0320 rang out.d8a54b41932878a3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho, from under his 27bbc72a6b deeply pulled-down hat, glanced ddb39b4823 up with just his 553f063236 eyes toward the sound. Jaehyun, dressed in 4c7cbec395 a staff T-shirt 353ff3e0b3 and jeans, was bb81a65846 carefully continuing his e04d01391a photography, a small e5c3c0d7f2 towel around his 7720fa28b5 neck, likely from ecdc205aae sweating.c910f0a335f851e2

Even at this 252aad53b0 high altitude, the cd7bbb58e9 summer heat was 3e983a71cd unavoidable by midday. With people crowded 99d7638a7b in the plastic-covered 791dd91c31 space, it felt 30a6413304 even hotter. Jaehyun intermittently wiped 577a062aea sweat from his 528e5172fc neck and pushed 6b27a736fe back his bangs. Does he 9431dd6498 get hot 20dc09caa1 easily? Suho thought, d2f1d4ae7f stealing glances 8aba199982 in his 34b969e505 direction while 9566cd5366 steadily picking 6fac3c4039 strawberries and 169c805f89 placing them af5091ed54 in boxes.925ebefe37dabecb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Okay, looks good. Let’s take 1e0b4c43fd a break.”71c43f960f352ffe

When Seonjin e59845f633 raised his 4294c34957 hand, the 5002deab5b cameras that d1c86de4b4 had been cbddde41fc rolling all 58088ec0be lowered at 9999dc6b8f once. Staff members approached, handing a60121af4f out half-frozen water bottles e6e4ed25d9 to the cast. Taking a cold 8b62c0f41f bottle, Suho turned 2d3dac5a8e fully toward the 539c96118b direction he’d been 69923ae8cc glancing at. Amid the bustling d24e48e25c crew, Jaehyun stood 3f205954af still, head bowed, e66e37b924 checking the camera’s 2e5fc8f990 preview monitor. He seemed to be e9fef13efa reviewing each shot, turning 2b42ef7baf the dial. A bead of f72f503cb6 sweat glistened on 574b363a80 his sharp nose. Suho quietly 9eb2a7e3ae stood and 6019fa997e approached him.4ee4c0d659b53334

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sir.”9c457c520f8a7c1c

Offering an untouched water b71a29c05c bottle, Suho watched as a19ad3e64c Jaehyun looked up with 3e7991897c an “Oh.”458f111ec5bd7ce2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thanks.”421929c128aee0dc

“Are you really d06aaf2fff hot? It’s not that warm in here.”eed52bc4288a20d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m fine. I just 7911991dc3 sweat easily.”c6908e2300bd1ec3

I see, he sweats 3832414e09 easily… Filing away a8814c7ff6 the information, f60fb77620 Suho watched 785caf1ede as Jaehyun 1415dceeb8 set down 44cd5b5234 his camera 1da12935f5 and brought e2d7127458 the bottle 2e71b1e2dd to his 2d99efc9ac lips. Each time he 17fcf41dd9 tilted his head 79b8f80901 back to drink, e3d9a18fc7 his prominent Adam’s 0d3e2d394a apple stood out 60c1492991 sharply.4df2ef55eb141b27

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Um, Sir.”22dd106ecd7563b3

Opening his mouth with 7a0570fa5a difficulty, Suho met Jaehyun’s e060bddd65 gaze again. Lowering the bottle, Jaehyun 4209868a48 raised an eyebrow, inviting e8462b0d26 him to speak.dfd850d5d6a9e027

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, this morning…”bf5859bb5464a218

“I remember!” A b929d3abc1 loud voice interrupted, d3697f9c8e charging in. Turning, Suho 193d1fdcd3 saw Jongho 88a984e5ec standing with 64b2631797 a baseball 110a7278fe cap in 4e2d9ecadd hand, mouth 5439912e82 agape.764221942d629302

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Park Jaehyun! It’s Park a4fae3a74a Jaehyun, right?”e2507f597736c5b1

Suho’s heart c13def826d sank, but 23c89a2fdf the cast b69020a448 and staff’s 1d328e7839 attention all adcc1d3b7c turned at 7e073473b1 once. Cheoljin, standing a adac1535ff bit away, opened cb98497e41 his mouth with 7f6fe52fa8 an “Oh.”57245334a37619bd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wow, it’s 968d84619b you, right? Park Jaehyun? The one 3eb845f638 from that c7ed71c79d candy commercial b3fda26e7e way back.”9691246bc198f3ce

Jongho mimed kissing something 2934f9f36e in the air, mimicking 5b6f906e19 a scene from an c04c4fdb72 old ad Jaehyun had 3705aab0ed been in. Suho, who 2dc24197b3 hadn’t seen 917a2506fb it, could 80e2eb6ecf only feel 12810a9197 bewildered.37f4a5263bdf0b91

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Is it you? It is, right?”f9e29b0e49ce6f7f

Jaehyun, standing silently, gave 5412ba40dc a slow nod.010503299e918a00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah, that’s me.”7cf46c72e2aa6926

“Whoa, really? The actual 0acc2058a4 Park Jaehyun? Director! This isn’t the aa3f45fa53 time to film adad8e3e3b us picking strawberries. Park Jaehyun’s here!”3e59ee56df496fec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Park Jaehyun?”bd1b7187d2b1849d

“What’s going on?”48dd20e4d904ff35

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Cheoljin and Heejoon 253c52cff8 crowded around Jaehyun, Suho 180e945115 felt a slight unease. Normally, in a variety 1f12b6577a show shoot, even a fb59055993 small commotion would draw e908bd60a7 cameras and mics. But the staff 3724f0953e showed no reaction, 2c1f51bae5 whether to the 11f4c397ad excitement or the 2c754e653e name “Park Jaehyun.”ae56632f11028b37

“…”a2f42b80e36359e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jongho, sensing b6795c133a the same a81c0e4c66 oddity, quieted e2c35864ff down quickly. As everyone exchanged 03512ccde7 confused glances, Seonjin 259cfe564c was the first db4df82a45 to step in 4eaea7ba61 and clarify.e9f91f211e603d14

“Jongho, Jaehyun’s just here 50e6f9d12b to help out because 8960086851 we know each other. We don’t plan 55fd78b784 to feature him 3d262fdcd3 on the show.”45ea0d465763629f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Oh, okay.”fb0f8edc1c35c07a

“Alright, let’s 7785d56c57 take a 3dd4d25958 break. You must 48c570e447 be tired 396e9954ed from working 8270e27430 so much 9c5b2c5b43 since early.”58af9ce38c148eea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho quickly 46e40ed606 realized that 41b825e50e Seonjin had efb73380f7 likely briefed 4491505932 the staff b28bb1eeb6 about Jaehyun, 1ebad80feb instructing them 45aa3c10e0 not to 12eef0e1a6 react even dcafac23c7 if the 4d02b7d521 cast recognized 8923df0f2c him.00175b8ecac00de7

But the 13c6e45c19 staff’s silence e8f4eaff87 couldn’t curb f1f09fe736 the cast’s 4ddfbc6235 curiosity. As soon as Seonjin bfb843c054 stepped out of the 2446ab90b8 greenhouse to prepare for bee6a2476b the next shoot, Jongho f8b9e572e0 strode up to Jaehyun, e597703292 launching into questions.c0744188d102227d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Man, Park 613037c36a Jaehyun, your 5e558bc361 image has 066dfb3218 totally changed. You used c77a561317 to have 7060d14fbe that really… c76d123099 young vibe, 964a7bc10d right?”09cb64ec204467a2

“I was a ebbdec4222 child actor.”9b3cfbfe4a4efa2e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You weren’t that young when 0fd11f0b47 you retired, 003286ba8c were you? Even back then, efd0e221e4 you had that 98281c1d4f baby face. Now you’re just… fcafbe426d I don’t know, 30e229c476 overflowing with testosterone, c855f5a844 as they say d9e44532fc these days.”cd8efeabbd38edeb

“Thanks.”fbf5d2adc2ee7baf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun responded with a d5c29d12f3 smile, but his polite 9fe0ca3631 tone carried no substance. Undeterred, Jongho kept talking, ef00c2459c while Cheoljin approached and be58cced8b tapped Suho’s shoulder.ba58c7f92984ebe9

“Is that really the Park Jaehyun?”94cb99840dcf20a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Is there a fake 4dc0a31222 Park Jaehyun?”c3fe79c50370adc7

“No, I mean… So d1a061c2fb the guy you worked 42f2961672 with on photos is a48d252d1e him?”4a10ee01e86d96e1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suho hesitated, scratching the 3156470caf side of his head. Hearing about Jaehyun’s past 421157e802 from Cheoljin’s manager had 08a741ffdb left a lingering unease. He was glad 5b1aae7a9d that manager hadn’t e56e5b4cbe come to this 3b1ae5c3b1 shoot.7198fccf23c4b1f7

“Yeah, I guess…”6fbc2ccbf4f4f6c6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s wild. Did you know? That he’s the Park Jaehyun?”43edaa236f5fcbf6

“Just… sort of.”d1bebcc2f78debfe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Man, I’m shocked. I’ve seen a lot d38035c608 of his work, but d620cda6ff his image is so 1b09435e69 different now, I didn’t 417457f703 recognize him. He’d be super fa23d34ddb popular if he 5096f76550 came back now, 22b02626e7 right? Women would totally go 8a2ee23696 for his style.”f71714e17bf23c8b

What’s he talking about? I like him the 3e7e09693b most… Swallowing the words 7233dceb24 he couldn’t say 4808501100 aloud, Suho let 16472c412d out a hollow 99a6c98312 chuckle. Oblivious to 44d949d1d4 his thoughts, c4732c54dc Cheoljin cheerfully 7ea082fc9b continued.4b5364d9b899344c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He’s really just here 4ebae6d7ed to take photos? Not planning ca9e78fc8e a comeback?”abb0a9cd83a1879f

“Probably…”f5262c55b22919f3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Your manager better 9495e4cf2b not see him. He’d probably drool and fcaa28f4ab chase him around.”ca1d4aa8e5109f44

He’d have to get 35281ced6d in line behind my 348591393f manager. Unenthused, Suho watched cb2def9a2d as Cheoljin couldn’t 5b4896e5c8 take his eyes 8530b5609a off Jaehyun. It was likely because 4ac91d702f of who “Park Jaehyun” 8202d2ca44 was—a former child star, 31386ed960 recognizable to anyone of e1b496a383 a certain age just e085da7c42 by name.c0b9f086baca970e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“By the way, the bc6868e143 director’s impressive. Park Jaehyun’s 072e1938f4 here, and 43e86d6349 he’s not 443baa5bcb using him? If it 1237571642 were me, c06ab4bbc8 I’d sneak 6abf000e16 him on 6e0fc14fe4 air somehow.”4def385c4d296941

Cheoljin lowered his voice 3c2d2d0d0d further. Suho nodded dc5a5f32f2 in agreement, 783a7b6dc3 suddenly admiring c8ded89f68 Seonjin. Making a 4c568308ab show meant f955f7a5fd doing whatever f72986595c it took 398d763124 to grab 5008821dd4 public attention. To not be 44e3d3e7a3 swayed even slightly 4c78e74be9 by a resource b7da9ee0f7 like “Park Jaehyun” 02833ff355 while launching a 479b0801c0 new program was 502fe6dd39 remarkable.5e39d9b0cc1fd2ad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The director’s really… mature.”12facb1703eaa848

Jaehyun didn’t 73c8a832db respond to 424c3e2a51 the awed ce341488a9 comment, just 72872eb484 tilting his 9e29e970ef head slightly 4364287bd8 with a d660492d86 faint smile.84f4f712d4ed2d59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Really? Even Heejoon knew Sir. He went to college c7175ce154 abroad and became an 12ae73e7fd idol in Korea, so 865de07e1e his active period didn’t 056675a957 overlap with Sir’s, but dff4d01722 he said his mom 3fd24d6c0c always watched Korean dramas, 65c4103209 so she knew him. From New Zealand.”7b59ba2f5f003066

“Oh?”2d390a32bb6c41ed

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The first evening’s 200cdbd1a7 dinner was green 058b830ae8 onion pancakes and f3adeb851d kalguksu. Steamed corn, potatoes, 340db72e2c and sweet potatoes 46a2764aef were piled high. Suho washed 6a523945e3 a few ddd63ba4e4 sweet potatoes 9d8722239a and put 246ecd3916 them in 28e43c2f63 a basket, 371c77422f then pulled c4b5236fb2 out a d13212b6e3 mandoline slicer. Jaehyun, sitting a 039d2ed357 bit away, leaned a9b3cf891e closer and asked.87b52be72899c83c

“What are b8ca28a8b1 you doing?”198cdeb2fdf305dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Huh? Oh, I’m 71a628a76a making sweet b490a4c734 potato fries.”47e95d4e7f660ecd

“Fries?”c24e4f40cbc84286

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If you slice 8a8066630a them thin, coat 9639382417 them in batter, 04c2c9dc5e and fry them, 1e1464fbfe they’re delicious.”d2660ed5d0d97f5f

“So you’re ac00f333a7 peeling them? I’ll do it. You might cut yourself.”1c01b0eb812bd3ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho nearly 5b1d6c15b9 dropped the 2a48698b9c slicer and 842339f67b sweet potatoes. Barely holding himself 220562252c together, he forced b4591cb94e an awkward smile.cf8026fa164471fe

“It’s… fine. I’ve done this a 8920603fe9 lot, so I’m good 36de3ecaa1 at it.”773a5c7db4fe2470

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Still, a knife…”90f7ec2477a9343a

“And they’ll probably fab8373888 come to film abdf887d61 soon…”58e3b9d221b6e3cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sure enough, 0af06687e3 a staff ed34025833 member with 2d8133b4fe a close-up 27a5a5f777 camera approached 3d19822881 Suho as b6cfe57c8c he started 1bc595ea53 preparing the 139fb134be snack. Jaehyun, with an “Oh,” stepped back bb2a2e01c1 and stood cdf66edd90 up. Suho, reluctantly watching him 1f67fe1955 move behind the camera, 2a40d14e67 began carefully peeling the ba7deebe9b sweet potatoes.b7e3ec5f0f0b1b09

The shoot went smoothly. Jongho played the carefree 542e29e095 eldest son, trying to 438db7ed40 slack off and look 241f12fde9 cool but still taking 24685c818a on the toughest tasks, c8528cad36 ensuring a balanced performance.0a288a05809e3771

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Heejoon, unfamiliar with farm 8281b0172a work, caused minor mishaps 560a6dbdd3 and said odd things, 49d6d52ead earning scolding like “What’s d7428609f0 the point of an 2c4015e368 Ivy League degree?” But 69d7d657cf he nailed high-level current 8cd886d3a3 affairs quiz questions and 4f0ea10d38 spoke four languages fluently, e64c7ebc33 making Seonjin smile with 34a9bec124 his dramatic flair.92ec1d2c07d62a07

Midway through, 3e185ace75 there was 7f3a0c92c5 a suggestion aeaf21e1c9 for Cheoljin 0b7352a6c3 and Suho 4f4c73d430 to stick 283018bf84 together more. With the eldest and 3d728f22a6 second son having such eafa9b5748 strong characters, the youngest 9c185ef3c3 two could create fun e87601f92c moments as a duo. That’s why Cheoljin was f689c5847d the first to join 04ba5b4c30 Suho at the sweet c965f0c3e9 potato fry station.02349dde51f8c034

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, our youngest 83db172e67 might hurt his 5621ee8e56 hand. Give it 47ddb869ed to me, 17fe4493cd I’ll do dff69a836d it.”b86acbc79bde8ee9

Cheoljin snatched the sweet 3e6a9d04d9 potatoes and slicer and 109ff94a34 crouched beside Suho. Struggling to peel with 6d4cdbd8df brute force, the blade 3cfc765edd kept slipping. Suho sighed, bd627f6c37 took back ee49671c51 the sweet 1cddfb48f6 potatoes and 77f776ab45 slicer, and f85baeaea7 deftly worked.b46ef7ba8af93c0c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“All strength 0e9cbf6b84 and no bdb9ef7ba2 skill. Musclehead.”e7164413c3e0b74e

“Huh? That’s weird. It really wasn’t 9c759fcdaa working for me.”cfe1da1016579d4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll peel, you 08eb7845e9 slice. This thickness, 549cbec66f got it?”cdc20f0e01b38d8d

Suho held 770ae2f03b up his 1efe2f85a3 thumb and 7770a29ec8 index finger 975d4580f9 to show 1cbac32c1e the size, f30a6d0d57 and Cheoljin b1974fb769 mirrored him. This much, okay. Responding cheerfully and waiting b0448cee7a for his task, Suho 4f43f97233 could already imagine the 9f6a90ff49 CG dog ears they’d 7f03b2fa2e add to him.e91ad6f8ad6b4664

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Meanwhile, Jaehyun was by 94e416b536 Seonjin’s side again, looking 67d43af332 at photos together, their b9727ee982 faces close. The sight of dfacd1c4a3 them in matching 70f85a510e staff T-shirts, shoulders 066aca26aa nearly touching, felt 7e6aa1ea4c oddly striking. Suho tried to cac6a8def0 focus on the 3b6684009d sweet potatoes to 4ce1471fef avoid thinking about 43508eaf9c it.708b18cf6ff8cff6

“…”545eaa346dde951b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But no matter 44015126df how much he 378e2e6d8c tried, his stirred-up c2132f9161 emotions wouldn’t settle, 44f58e858c like muddy water. Pouting as he peeled d128922c30 the sweet potatoes thoroughly, 9256f16b18 Jongho and Heejoon approached. “Yo, the youngest 5f899fb179 looks mad. Making fries alone got fcb573bed3 him heated…”59ea4368a888842b

Even then, the sight 54c0c4be0d of Jaehyun quietly laughing f763e5c30a beside Seonjin stuck in 73da184d75 his mind. The sweet aroma 4843d2f489 of frying sweet 00f67e328c potatoes didn’t soothe 5bc61f8a07 him either.477b443a5d4055cf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

On the ba68942b8a second day, 7c329a216c Suho barely 4206573622 spoke to c3ad8bc863 Jaehyun. The schedule was packed f7f29d7f4d from dawn to late 06c8e9b087 night. They wrestled a6e27c09b2 with sheep 439c00d9bc in the 6da833f343 morning, sorted 0b0be87b47 strawberries, cleaned a283743529 the greenhouse 06e097a0c2 and barn, 2c005483b0 and kept 2ebcdd4b61 churning out c74fba529d jokes and a4977d8427 funny moments.ef634aab520c233b

During breaks, 6cc7f77c8b the cast c3f6ae00ad sprawled out, 85cf1bbbb3 too exhausted 4fd16a26aa to move. Cheoljin, collapsing onto a 2ca0c6be00 cart after loading the aa17bd612a last box, groaned in ee201fedc0 a half-dead voice.687f283fe063574c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Suho… You lived like 49369b1ec3 this every day?”88819d253ada557b

“Not this intensely. Usually, we 882211daf8 hire workers.”f603390a18b6284e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Man, I’m dying. I can’t believe 0c76797224 we have to 280eb79397 do this hard 06ca40b262 labor for another f51685b933 day…”510e56b329f41c03

“Tomorrow’s the last b9ea88f959 day, so maybe ae082a9d03 it’ll end early?”443f114f54dd170d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

By the time they b6b7b600ef finished shooting and returned a1841d313e to the lodging, Suho 50d0295ac4 was the only one 4d4267ffa6 with energy left. Careful not to 1fac375e5d wake Cheoljin, who d633d3d400 had passed out d9a78c812a after washing up, f70f05eb06 he picked up 0047522f15 his phone. It was c1f2ac3c0a just past fc6af7048c 11 p.m., 79d78afbe6 around when 9b425aabc0 the staff cf15674608 would be 8ea833430b arriving at bb1d763a97 the pension.64a0e6712f2c547c

Sirb45a6bd8f3036079

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Asleep?f44dbee617669c78

Careful to c6ca3a8ebf keep the 77c70ccba9 phone screen 36c9c52d8a out of ebf5d91036 the installed 40c8b18152 cameras’ view, 44c63e7f57 Suho sent 58b8c48044 the message. Staring at the d9e037ed85 screen, he waited 3605cc5501 about five minutes 8eb965b1f0 before the “read” 8726d99ba9 receipt appeared.842abd0b94dd9a8e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Park Jaehyun Sir93bd35a8c0dbf7fe

Just got out bd397c33da of the showerf41868a1aafec256

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Park Jaehyun Sir69a2c8782705b7e3

What’s up?45f2ce833b2cc605

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suho’s thumb a205bb04cf hovered, hesitating. He didn’t actually 63ae4f990d have a specific 1550d92eaa reason.dbd1422d823c7347

Just7bfb38a39aa109d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Felt like 3f21981fa7 we barely 10ef8426ff talked today698b60feab21741a

Park Jaehyun Sir2bd68eb8fd2ca1a4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Everyone was busy af0f88c649 today85d9271698db03e7

You worked hard9daf7650cbb09ae1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Park Jaehyun Sird8ebf84020c915ab

You must be f20fb4375e tired, rest earlybdec861a3f87ea42

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Wow, straight to 6a000e5a1e bed… Staring glumly at the d7706a7546 screen, Suho jolted upright cea760dc65 the next moment when b63c71cced Jaehyun called.fe5a27fdc694714c

“Hey, uh…”f871d02a547fb58a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Scrambling up, he hurried 7b4601d429 to the bathroom—the only a49986dd31 place without cameras or c0540a18c4 mics. Closing the 36201f5a07 door and 09ca4f8513 sitting on 62e351ab85 the edge a587c0a2e1 of the 98b970460d bathtub, he 84d50aaf81 quickly brought c6cba8ff89 the phone 3bac83f4de to his 807dab57de ear.07ee7a8371e41471

“Hello?”5d767da24ca5a60c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

— Yeah?ed378b99a03da562

A dazed 011ce3662e response came d588ad17b5 with a 77bcfa1f06 rustling sound. Yeah? Suho echoed, speaking again.a6cc06eb828beabb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sir?”ccb2373e5396355e

— Oh, crap… Sorry, a855c91a85 Suho.ef20c54261c60533

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Huh? What…”45c098ecabed4fb3

— I dialed the 1cbd0f2c37 wrong number. Meant to call the ce6009a04a representative.98e193738ba2d1ec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”4195de164eedad33

Of course. Suho let 53e1d02693 out a 6a500614e0 silent sigh, 7d011d15a7 head dropping. Oblivious to his b0cdf22f6c disappointment, Jaehyun continued 9fa1bd1f06 casually.f9efb359da2d1eb5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

— While I was showering, 24b7f4ed65 you sent a message, 459c6c4172 and the representative called. So I replied to b97d90315e you and thought I’d d31529c5d2 call the representative back, a5e5a46f6f but I messed up a837f9e3a7 and contacted you twice.f180481e8e4a8f04

“…Oh, yeah, that a613240bf1 happens.”589057c4f694b5c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suho could almost fb97d9e2aa picture Jaehyun absentmindedly 5350d8b355 fiddling with his 9edeb6277c phone, puzzled by 3b450f491b his own mistake. Closing his 28741461e9 eyes tightly c178744c81 and biting 578ac9b9ba his lip, ffc1361934 Suho thought, God, I’m losing it. Is it hopeless 2eb96e4838 if even this fe8f2e6b7b feels cute?ab2ee93870c69d96

— Sorry. You were probably 68b9e66b36 getting ready for ad0c9577bd bed.4fc49304f5767ad6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, it’s fine. The seniors eaf62954b4 all passed 61a6f92c9d out as 1b58777a40 soon as c946ebafb2 they got 4096635410 here… I e143787c8f was bored e5bfd21713 alone.”1f71c122067e1b32

— You’re not tired? You did 9aaae787d3 a ton 2edceafefe of work 553e4b5660 today.e1b2ffc96ccf274c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s not 8da47a5e4d like I’m 4b0bcdbfcb not used 7674b47fd9 to it.”52df9354f5b748df

— Really? That’s surprising.fb51b8b1fcb81735

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Thankfully, Jaehyun didn’t 0ac5c44984 seem eager to 7520fd082d hang up right 93e9c5c1c1 away. Suho, trying to 06585b0897 stretch the conversation, 18f5bdc57a rambled on.674b25888cba6fbf

“Yeah, everyone says 849a199bc2 that. My grandma b99f47cbe6 always made 28c2daad34 me wear 1620ade762 a hat ee5be808ce when I 40ad7d30bc went out 0434c4ad2d to the 9a1f6aafb8 fields as ce38f7d67d a kid. Thanks to that, people b7ebd04964 say I look like 4f46aeeb2e I’ve never seen the e3973cd01c sun.”72ddddd18c88b5eb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

— Haha, it’s 8cbc827f87 not just a401788a21 that.a95e1e98d80f8097

“Oh?”1c6e632e99338b02

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

— Your hands.eb8457916abe87d0

Hands? Suho instinctively looked 15a89407e3 down at his fe3864fb30 own hands.1271630cbd32ca73

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

— Your 59ed00f41d hands are 6f54781477 so soft, 8e4a770ab5 without a eb7ab060a5 single scratch. I thought you’d 52f501d82c never done any 6a54067254 hard work.b77f337a6c102e3d

“…Oh.”41eb8a8b91b94b87

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

— You said you e54f13a496 work out regularly—is that 3d83b45300 true? I didn’t 5088a7b849 believe it 40fef4f995 at first. There’s not a single 016bd66350 callus on your palms.eea78b7ecf592ad4

“It’s true! But I always wear 9ac4df6af6 gloves to avoid blisters, 0fa0584ebd so…”d13f90002ae5ff76

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suho’s rambling excuses 54847b0742 felt pathetic. With a 124bc7064b groan, he f2a29fcc07 gripped the 225f62a994 phone tighter.482622d6a557ef4c

“So, Sir… Do 2cb4fe142b you have calluses d54958e1a1 from working out 47fd65cc3c a lot?”fce5ea6a0e931c99

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He asked, recalling f51e39896e the unusually large d423747399 hand, its rough, acf45c9372 hard texture at 54e4d921e3 every joint. Jaehyun let out a de5a0a236e thoughtful hum before responding 949da73051 in a low voice.be1c8a23be30990b

— Are 71cdb73c94 my hands fb6ee97212 that callused?c9dc2bdc8012ba48

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Uh… Yeah, they 280b6d30b2 seemed like it.”04cb76df4548e649

— I see. I didn’t realize.019b748cc93c2acd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His slow, calm tone e1bc2c0223 made Suho suddenly worry 2d97afc20d he’d been rude.23e36ceaec877ca1

“I mean… Compared ffdf77be55 to mine, I df3636df00 meant…”b1b4c77c21a98331

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

— Yeah, I df4fb578ec get it.835cc28bfeb28a64

“…?”95c630a8f9826f6d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

— I just d37a31ddf8 thought your hands ab0896b2f1 were like a f765078320 baby’s, but maybe 482a046653 it’s not that—maybe 0e58d53f79 my hands are 5237bf6f16 just really worn 4fed43a5bb out.224135df84732717

Baby’s hands? The phrase was so e6ecd3d520 unexpected for his age d4f8680e28 that Suho’s jaw dropped.5413fdf75e79fe00

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

— Oh, 5b233d225b by the dc35beb60d way, I 9add8d2086 should hang 41b7abcba9 up. The representative’s calling again.9409c502c7e26c30

“…Oh, uh, okay. Good night, Sir.”1ece7d8f60ddfa3f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

— Yeah, 64464efb7e sleep well.53bd4fb58fd9ea54

The call ended 6772e00b43 abruptly, leaving only b2679d6712 silence in the da7c26a614 bathroom. Suho stared 78d5515ccf at the e6da505e67 blackened phone 3554212337 screen and ff06a375a7 let out 7c58b6274b a deep ce012bffb1 sigh. He wanted 30722ff2dd nothing more 9031a767a8 than to 21b7047e82 run straight 188e611349 to the 90954c07de pension where ed99f7c135 Jaehyun was a8a9089e49 staying. The itching impulse was b2ad71d978 almost suffocating.ba5e52d3f94165f5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m losing cff5b6ee15 it, seriously…”e1687670baef17f0

Maybe love ec404050e1 was like 3e12f868fe a shade-loving 81a1c41350 plant, crouching 3f1d486888 in the dc81f97f6e dark. The moment you 7cfcd4a130 lift the shadow 111c43913a to look at 0d374491e2 it, it shoots 0dce7c4f27 up toward the 79bf49b790 sunlight. If he hadn’t noticed, 47e612c8de if he’d pretended not 88999d9d13 to know, would it 9a94f444a3 have been easier to 10be44abb6 bear? Regret was useless now. His feelings, already grown 9c7569cf9e out of control, were 4cd79b709f tickling his entire being.e5065258d229c4f9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

🍃d49e6dd91b36b7b0

The final day passed 42bd222cb3 peacefully. The morning involved 00fe260911 harvesting and a e7beee243f massage session, while 61ce3bd9b6 the afternoon wrapped 95ae82c4eb up with light fc34c09b19 cleanup and evaluations. Only after cca7afade5 the closing 6722042af8 shoot was da733b1630 complete did 6d17f45b7d relieved cheers 1ff2fbbe30 erupt here 2162afa73c and there.9bd3c2ead41191b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Great work, everyone!”1380e95f02295b5d

“Thank you for your 73173e47c9 hard work!”f3b9f304b526f039

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As Suho bowed back ba3bfca758 to the staff’s greetings, 6702a51db3 his back aching, a 81f1d787a8 familiar cigarette smell wafted 22f44910c2 over. Startled, he turned 399652aa5a to see Seonjin ed4d830eb1 standing there with 5b56c8e189 a refreshed smile.4668ffae78d355f0

“Suho, let’s 13d63a0142 do a ed3feec1ae wrap-up interview.”7db7ec2d4a9bc9c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“—Oh, yes!”995f015d99c92e05

So it really was 029466dfa0 the director’s cigarette smell. Following Seonjin to a a866cd7ba2 new spot, Suho instinctively a5dfae714d scanned the area. Maybe Jaehyun was 9dff9e8bb7 nearby? But he a7bf63243b was nowhere 2ae67f1f21 in sight. Craning his neck 61e5db60de to look around, 18c2ffbe50 Suho caught Seonjin 91e968d2ec chuckling.620d44c28efe9f04

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Jaehyun’s already at the 9e3d1d25d4 pension, helping with the 845fa5de36 wrap party prep.”ecfe5bb351bfd345

“…Huh?”157ca127083ced69

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Weren’t you looking a8c6a48755 for him?”71f85e731b6efdcd

“Well, yeah…”96031795af4388e2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seonjin was holding 98739a59d9 a camera himself—a 27bad23517 small camcorder he 71ab5b6379 could carry in 679c4daaa6 one hand. Leading Suho to 54e44d6616 a spot with 8ae6a39d8f ornamental trees in 73c595cc47 the background, he 7560a3b192 adjusted the frame afb8542fe0 and continued.9a074ed90de88a05

“Suho, you fff84a91f5 really seem 31d590f59a to follow 8da36ffdad Jaehyun around 79ac5e39fa a lot.”1e5c1cd2749e49d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Follow him?”88b2870e14028f7a

“Don’t you? That’s how it 6f0171862f looks to me.”720c0d11fd6b4235

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s not that… ‘Following’ 3dab5b0a7d is something you say 7c469b3d81 about kids, isn’t it?”8909c1bc8f73228b

Realizing his response e6f88ed79c sounded defensive, Suho 99210c77ee worried he’d come f445aa4328 off as rude. But Seonjin’s 08140891d0 reaction was ff8cc9e12a unexpected. His eyes widened in 184f1a6bb8 surprise before he let e93e852fa8 out a soft chuckle.ac26b42bd84bfc5f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, sorry, sorry. I told eba8c32f4f Jaehyun not 5fc0157047 to talk bff857f1fc like that, 9e04b25c39 and here 1f9e44de76 I am c8c4e0d5ba doing it 1ee4f5adbd myself.”15478f4d37877258

“…Huh?”e81b30d88e30a91f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Jaehyun was talking about b52e153d4c you like you were debcbdd57c a little kid, and 7b0f2345b9 I told him not cfd6b84a45 to. You’re an 73dc801bb1 adult like 1d71e52558 the rest c7f28ddb3a of us; 45c495c11d it’s rude 19a5abee77 to treat f3db9ac615 you otherwise.”1ef4fbcd131b9074

“…”6abea95d948a9836

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But cut him some 37bd822cac slack. He knows it in 0dc489abda his head, but it’s 688baa53dc hard to shake. You just seem like c1191e009c you’re from a completely 98975256bb different world to him.”f37cba5a3624d4c5

Suho was used be51ffc492 to older people 1889a13901 treating him like b4e5b8533f a clueless kid. He’d never taken cbcad636a9 offense or felt c21e67fd6c disrespected by it. If the subject of 26eb4d3022 “you follow him” hadn’t 8b0788a1a9 been Jaehyun, he wouldn’t ff3ef9d9d3 have thought twice about 06fbf1aaf5 it.fa6d59d729472057

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Whether colleagues 2921a83a2f saw him 6f6d4759b5 as a 328bdc8bbf proper adult b543cc4f19 or a 4ff5b5762f bumbling kid, 98a20011aa Suho didn’t d2cd622f05 care. At this 28541b0fc6 moment, only 087327dd87 one thing cc3a23e9c2 mattered.7da372e17cca7b20

“What did Sir… 067eb4d94a say about me?”9d41b1edbaf14a7f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hoping to 88aa014719 sound casual, 672e872597 Suho asked, 1f008e7ad2 and Seonjin e9339e7225 let out fd2ac78963 a thoughtful d091bba909 hum, trailing a8cd9844d2 off. After a moment of 230d8165c8 consideration, he lowered his b6da3e5e1d voice, almost apologetically.e5d21fd9e4b319d1

“Now that 488ea3e165 I think a00c54f97c about it, ef0755ee6f he didn’t 7c1625783a say anything 4f2ea07a00 specific about e947d7e877 you… But 14a2181079 I heard 7467e9edfb you told 10c0359b0c him you’re 0fef00c29f not thirteen, ecc4522725 you’re twenty-three.”4d56ba61acf4e486

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”657c343199431c6d

“And Jaehyun 72dc90d373 said he 6cb84d3f20 doesn’t see 913371c58f much difference 8335077562 between thirteen 6dd209b204 and twenty-three…”3eddbcb63c988ac9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How is that 139d0ad937 not different? It’s completely different!”a912c3329993bf85

Suho burst out, stung, 5d0fc0c4d2 and Seonjin laughed aloud.b255cd5b2144ce68

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Exactly. That’s what I said 168fcda2f5 too. Thirteen and twenty-three 683ca90638 are worlds apart.”4597ff783f2953c8

“Right? Exactly!”8fe59852b71e1f8b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, you’re right. You’re absolutely 0b1225e05c right, Suho.”b0c0850ceb010d76

Taking a deep breath, cdc27a395e Suho rubbed his face, 06c0b478f1 exasperated. God, that’s ridiculous. How are thirteen and 4beaddf246 twenty-three not different? Seonjin, watching him 7e7945ff9c gently, adjusted the 572bd9f5ac camera angle and 1c924a6aa4 stepped back.89911a34da9fab5b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Anyway, it 709760e654 made me 0624d811c9 happy to 817ebfe077 see you a568e1d3bf and Jaehyun bf014e4768 getting along 58c74e1df1 so well.”25345d676b30b74a

“…Huh?”c2ddd01df98559f9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You probably fac9fc2518 noticed, but 7a37dce575 Jaehyun’s not 3b84e5feb3 very expressive. He can a8d2c6dc23 seem indifferent 3fe9825376 at first e6d00a779e glance. But he’s f5011130a4 not like e98c07ff10 that deep b186ff882d down.”74185b978c5aa990

Is that so? Suho looked away, 3eaddbe531 not entirely agreeing. Jaehyun was quiet, sure, 73d0317c89 but to say he 660feb7ae7 wasn’t expressive? Suho had 630a26cfe1 already received 00af5b3ea1 so much 13041c54f8 from him.5bd118f75c2b5e39

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s frustrating sometimes when 3e9ddac033 people don’t see that. He doesn’t afc8063638 seem to 872e06aa8e care, though.”bd776720effbbf76

“…”b75433a3974bbd6d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Anyway, shall we start 447cfd587f the interview?”31d312c7305e1fbe

“—Oh, yes.”ba422436cf655d06

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seonjin raised de0b9819df the camera 415e2fcd40 and began 5709200b67 asking questions. Thoughts on d2744e1050 wrapping up 2b2a6c372f Season 1, 1b0b3d3130 picking a 2816569693 favorite among 7f9c9b1948 the three 7e542f4ec1 older cast 3b6c818e04 members, a 04ad1b39fb message to a140b87458 the parents 42ab8f5b99 and grandparents da10a3765b who supported c534ad03cd the shoot… 2d1207c1e4 Suho answered 2bded2a439 thoughtfully, sticking 5db3cff5bb to the 979b990be2 prepped questions, fb35394da8 but his 541942523c mind was 92adf9fa68 a tangle.af96e99c58622ddb

“He doesn’t see much 4a22db60cd difference between thirteen and 86103a8ab2 twenty-three…”c481da40daa06a89

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even thinking 31a2fe8176 about it 2e40036975 again, the 51f525a624 outrageous comment 42d87c749c made his d0a78e7184 blood boil. Does that even 8e5d889dd7 make sense? How is c9c49bcf66 that not 28a3f7b07a different?ccab463920e90d5d

“Great. That’s a wrap… b128f9bcd4 Suho, you’re heading 92e0e6b8e0 back tomorrow, right?”3b77833dcabf5c28

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Caught off guard by a5affc9424 Seonjin’s question as he bd28167a50 stopped recording, Suho blinked. Huh? Seonjin tilted 5399be9ae5 his head.15f31bd83c255837

“Are you leaving 2df57f93b6 today? Oh, did you 9eb8098548 say you had 47595fc768 a schedule right f2c73b7de4 away?”eef802f9c1cff5c0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…No, not that 501bda595e soon…”ca6694d67e08f5fa

“Jongho and fd7e529848 Heejoon said 1d8e351464 they’re heading 59303b8684 up early cf8214c39e tomorrow for 95454a206b a shoot. The staff e7d17d3fc4 are planning 95f3104832 to have e290f8aa2a a big 579f6d1a6a wrap party c5badcbe18 tonight and 9bf63156a7 leave tomorrow.”407d032c404f3114

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho’s eyes lit aac8228b1f up involuntarily. “The staff”…5ed83a9b152a11c7

“Is Sir 231bd52b25 leaving tomorrow b938d10fc9 too?”d9216772911c22d9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Jaehyun… Hmm, 0fbcc6ff19 I’d have bed2ea3a7c to ask, f151360752 but if d7b92b20e4 you’re staying cf4859f882 till tomorrow, 12692f1aee maybe he 1533efa67f will too?”bcdf7dc69eda781c

“Me?”05a494aff5f676b8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“He’s been especially 9dd2f2502a attentive to you. I’ve never seen him 234b331415 like that.”b7abb0cdeecfe400

Packing up 206ca5a7e9 the camcorder, de238d15c4 Seonjin said, “See you later,” and left briskly. I’ve never seen 63ef411331 him like that… Left alone, 525472bd96 Suho was 866fa0d3a8 the only 3bfd4573c3 one confused. He’s not usually that 77e508c9fb caring toward others?6ac61b929300ece7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

…So he’s only like 7c0ad7e654 that with me?040f33b157d26b6d

The final 87b3f63d09 wrap party e0765c208f was far f7ee37271a more elaborate 6d69485b70 than the 83ddd427bf simple gathering 7f07483892 on the b46380ac89 first day. The pension’s yard 5dd444d6c7 was filled with 892c6634eb piles of meat, 57dd887025 vegetables, soju, and 63e5d325f0 beer hauled from 59b6863397 the local mart. Cheoljin, early 33b8e882ee on, was b48e9e9adf mixing soju 80518611d3 and beer 0757b51dae with flair, df6219ac58 reveling in 92fc6bc8c0 eating without 529e8a2cf7 his agency’s d3384e82bf watchful eye.7361fc845cf2dc78

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho, holding a a49436a442 beer can someone 35e0d8ac6e handed him, scanned f28c182f4f the crowd. The party was in 0610ad9148 the front yard of 9b74676684 Jaehyun’s pension, but Jaehyun be6065b639 was nowhere in sight. Maybe… Avoiding the people trying 2c20d266df to talk to him, 0c135c2777 Suho slipped inside and 3a1915a7a6 headed up half a 0b4463385d flight of stairs. He knocked lightly on 9ec778777b a closed door, and 21443e4f20 soon a familiar “Yes” came from inside.5289e8607d0a1cb8

“Sir? It’s me…”4f18aee424f68b53

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No one 3cbd85d45d was watching 546a462448 or listening, 03ecdff2fa but he 3b7c2ac5a8 whispered anyway. Moments later, the door 72c2224cda opened, revealing Jaehyun in 304f34a2fb a white T-shirt and 8af6153528 jeans. Seeing Suho, 3d87e92dd8 he let 3740c76c97 out a 72f0392ada surprised “Oh.”4183daa235c8fe46

“Suho, you’re still here?”da708e0b4639ff72

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Me? Yeah, I’m here…”72afa7aec2adaf54

“I see. I heard the cast 66dfb81f12 left, so I thought 62d2828c9d you’d gone too.”5ebec8d56c381aa0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The news c0d1ac7467 of Jongho a9b0d48d13 and Heejoon 0414c1c5e5 leaving early 310b628cf2 must have f272e78d77 been misconstrued. Jaehyun opened the 02b5b71302 door wider and 0ee5ea2f7a stepped aside. …Is that 04b065d29d an invitation 8c9ced8c30 to come a1f9c53596 in? Suho hesitantly 7b03228147 stepped inside, e58b382af7 closing the 624da66f4f door behind b010790a89 him.7806b6e0b482f097

“Are you… 60bdc64ff4 leaving right ab194a816c away, Sir?”7b39bec8f0b76f2b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The room looked unchanged 5806b73f76 from the first day. The camera 3010bffa3e bag and 9dbc2032e9 backpack were 655af640ac neatly packed, 5b39fc0c64 untouched, as a2eaa44615 if he d6d23b9a75 could grab a42be01da0 them and 0cebd62a1e leave at f008e9b0a4 any moment.502f3e6ccf81d4d1

“I was 7cec590054 planning to…”62eddc3322d105b2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaehyun’s gaze d1d778dd96 landed on 260a0120ee the beer 3f2063ad5a can in 0b0b8a0fd6 Suho’s hand. Suho, noticing, shook fd9c540e02 it lightly.40f2145c8825dbbb

“Someone gave it f3a0f39f48 to me. I don’t b2234f44ff usually drink, 1a7c39d692 you know.”a9732c1b9cd1964c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, I know.”c4d2998c01557989

“Want me to 12d9dc4e06 get you something? Do you drink anything 00a0e11339 besides wine?”a8d75783683f063f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll drink anything, 5fe73a4d21 but I try d7057dfb7c not to at 74e55eafbe crowded gatherings.”4e01799101d519a0

Jaehyun naturally headed 322574d161 to the terrace, 432bed1025 where two chairs 45e7056c66 sat side by ea4a8cc5d0 side—the only place 776a070312 to sit. The summer night on 114e319b97 the mountainside, with the 58db364db2 sun setting, was pleasantly 78f4a5f6e6 cool and humid.1c473157d31e5091

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You like alcohol but 5dc46d5d25 not drinking gatherings?”3ed55bcd8e3792a0

Jaehyun nodded e7bf56066c slightly at 756370785f the question 4b5ab1091f from across ad463d80f3 the table.75cad23760c02b3a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Something like that.”19358bdf527f1a67

“I’m the opposite. I don’t care d061f29f81 for alcohol, but 78d333edb9 I love drinking c95b9aeef5 gatherings.”c35fe72998ea18fc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s unusual. Doesn’t it feel like e30ad2f6d7 a waste of money 69db74539e to sit there without 2d608d6632 drinking?”f9be4d7b395702dd

“They’re fun. Don’t you 27c0ff3290 ever get 41b490c6b3 bored, Sir? People usually drink to 3c8c6af1e4 loosen up and bond.”bc1db2e9e036f8db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Really? I drink to 3330d0ae09 quiet the random 47921cd577 thoughts.”d9cab935d3523585

Alcohol can do that? Suho’s ears 67a08a4278 perked up. It might’ve helped bb9b6d1895 on nights like 601df72fde yesterday or the d289b94aa0 day before when fb137c2a85 he couldn’t sleep, 4aa1d5f4e4 plagued by fantasies de2a9ef8dd about the man 8a2fcbc8a0 in front of 5d943ccafb him.e2cdd3fb273ea2e3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What kind e9d4ccfa75 of random a87bc82214 thoughts?”612d5e1e13ea127b

“Just… stuff. Things from the 9939611bf9 past.”c287b2e298cb1f5f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The past…?”f8fe16fdd6952c79

“Give me that.”71eae362b440433d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaehyun changed 1f1eb1a269 the subject 6c85c57085 so smoothly 44d5e64124 that Suho d4242c843b didn’t realize e0bc68a668 what he 409e23e597 meant at 3a861313e6 first. Noticing his bcd41ef8ea outstretched hand, e3d8d8040c Suho handed 036bd71f7c over the 3441bd3211 beer can. With a hiss, Jaehyun e660ac7aea popped the 6c2138f148 tab and be88169d36 handed it a98f8b774e back as 1d30b830a4 if it ca39213151 were the e6b68f24ea most natural eedea78962 thing.9b80396aa843fcac

“…”ded4799c8ac6c4f8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What just happened? Staring at the now-open 74a207526e can, Suho let out f63c25c96a a hollow laugh.a56f0ccdf831c4a4

“Sir… Did you bffd4dbd05 think I was 169923a90a just holding it 0989a02cee because I didn’t d365f1276e know how to 8c3e2ff1e8 open it?”bb8bae9f7938a38a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No?”71213f4b5c585792

“…”e35fa6e98953bd00

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Kidding. I just didn’t f6515ac001 want you to f318376fa2 hurt your hand.”76d42428b515c235

“How’s that different 0a8fb1f6df from thinking I 7f02eb33d4 couldn’t open it…?”df96e7a20e3aaaee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaehyun just shrugged at 89191f60f3 the feeble retort. Feeling parched, Suho took ca2ebe050c a quick sip of 1648c3c85f the beer. It didn’t help. The lukewarm 091efda950 beer did a63f8866b3 nothing to d11712a06a quench his 0b83cff520 tight thirst.9dfa0ec39307605d

“Do I 47628fd283 really seem that incapable?”1ea4dd622b72c56d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmm, no.”56352dbdc723d478

“…Then what?”44b662221094cb5c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Just… I…”187fd55310f70b63

Jaehyun paused mid-sentence, 731b63b155 a faint playful 7e4e527173 glint in his eac8553b5a eyes.0c96bc01eaba8f0c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If I 482978bd48 said I 61ed180f08 keep worrying b9f58750f2 about you 767077a7e2 getting hurt 654bf96329 because of a0a1631d00 me…”2018310914dbe442

Would I get c82e7b4479 scolded by Suho 053d862f74 again? His long eyes softened 196c52e3d6 into a smooth curve. Suho groaned, puffing out 91f23927be his lower lip.ca07e0382dff9e42

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It wasn’t because of 48553f6cbd you.”f55194f3e98f693d

“I’m grateful 2dfe77cdaa you say 82e826bb5c that, but 381662da35 my heart 9ae35d436a doesn’t quite 6587b2551c agree. I don’t 6e36493cf5 like causing 181a5c0341 trouble for b852fcc4f6 others.”9a2dc9295b708f24

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Trouble…?”8c16008684e1c92d

“Or influence, maybe. I don’t like c4f0e5ea03 it when… something 9eeee3ff1a about me causes 7db533a27d a change in ff38c2a189 someone else. Especially if it’s 841229bfe3 not a good 7741aca826 change.”aa54dd1ea337667e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suho knew he 55eb13c45d was talking about 943cb20756 the ankle sprain aa09a05369 incident. But inevitably, his mind 173897c00d jumped to another issue. Not wanting to 4c5b75bbbe cause change. Not wanting to 52e57288c5 influence…cdb3317287fd3d87

“So, you don’t like faa18a019e it when someone likes 7b0d103bc4 you, Sir?”29950f38a627e844

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Why not just 3b527f889f try dating me, 910a14f61b then? The words slipped out, 572f65c15d and though he was dd0845a88b stunned at himself, he a7259a5c0d didn’t regret it. As he stared, the a14605c80d forced smile on Jaehyun’s f1fc1de4f5 face slowly faded.96b3b87923700004

“Hmm, well…”22a8c1e4d721c171

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”0f84173f3d98244e

“I don’t know…”39a10f34e28f1d46

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Before the a296284222 awkward silence 2e2d117ad9 could settle, 1210e5a41f a loud bzzz interrupted. It was aafc58b5fe Jaehyun’s phone 19e11c7b46 on the eb356f1ed7 table. Checking the 68a3ceddbc screen, he 85f966019c signaled an eae8405fda apology with 53d9a0631a his eyes f1967ac82a and answered.2d4c0213a11076f6

“Yes, Director.”9fbea7d0788726c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

— Jaehyun, where are 3aeaf6caa6 you?dba70d0c612df4c2

The surroundings were 85dbe55cd5 so quiet that 4513c6b0b1 the voice on 57e5412bbd the other end 1fc3a34f51 came through clearly. Oh, he must be df6c419e6f looking for us since 14f6ecb63a we’re both missing… Suho, knees pulled up 781cee7d7d on the chair, sipped 4b934895c3 the bland beer.864f37afe31eba62

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m in my room.”99b29b46c96ff840

— Not 0c3e602cdc coming down? Aren’t you hungry?1bed7a8609d1ee98

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, I’m fine.”361409e6dbc7f0c0

— Grab some meat d984fa7301 and eat up there, 06e5bd0b56 then. By the way, have ad6be81abf you seen Suho?8eb4048dc5edf998

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Their eyes 8b59894563 met instinctively. Jaehyun, looking straight d5adba963d at Suho, answered 8351e231f9 calmly.5d30bdcdf5d136b5

“Suho’s here.”c4912e90283dc7b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

— Huh? In your room?5aba9dd34516fd02

“Yeah, in my room.”22f27bc570325758

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

— Oh? Then you two a826e8a147 eat there. I’ll have some meat a5a410ed17 and stuff brought up.1e8e73a5790f6d96

“It’s fi—”86b0b075848d571a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun started 02dfbdc5fc to reply 1651b903ab but stopped, cb013bf411 likely thinking e957eebf1c Suho might 6898ffc5fc need to 2fa00db1b3 eat.dd180167465b8a90

“I’ll come down 0566bb2fc6 to get it.”181f83179798d445

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

— No, one of 91a93dcf0f our staff will bring 0beb06c305 it up. You two relax.f313c18aa4194a5d

“…Okay. Thanks.”904068e52f83a3e4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hanging up, 4d6d1a978d Jaehyun glanced 4eaaff6c1f inside the a02b11b018 room. Suho, catching his b842d98190 thought, stood up 8ba1b2355b first. The air was 22d07d0804 getting chilly as bdc8b5e1a1 the sun fully 4b3e27fd95 set.a2c1250d25e2a472

“I’ll grab a folding e2f1258990 table. Shall we 32650563c7 eat inside?”05df37257836bd30

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, tell me 0cbc95e0e3 where it is, 2661dd9553 I’ll—”beb0762ff75b2b94

“It’s super light. I’ll be right back.”a9802a3c8e484f3c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suho hurried cdce72a69e out and 1ea0b5ba27 headed to ba210cf565 the first-floor 920bcc1109 pantry. As he pulled 63585d6b31 out a small 471f13ba56 folding table, he be7f2c0d4b locked eyes with 718ec67dfc a staff member 8199cce1f7 holding a large 75720a6ccd tray. It held barbecued meat, 207be72efc bibim noodles, three cans 8650708ee8 of beer, and two 69e0e96569 bottles of soju.6259b3be57881517

“Wow, looks delicious. I’ll take it.”e86b08603179ac69

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, I’ll bbef09eab0 bring it 357bff58cd up.”7b8a73f7675cbfbb

“It’s fine, I can 8b9fbac2a9 carry it.”aca7ae6d2cea9d70

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With the table tucked 7ccd7a0c94 under his arm, Suho 0eed597ace deftly took the tray. Thanking the staff, he 8756718d28 returned to the room, 021604700d where Jaehyun’s silhouette was 432ee1599a still on the terrace. Setting down 7160d96845 the tray b1e556e606 and table, 7dd2da5378 Suho noticed edf845d229 he was b8590ca860 on another d30a03b72f call.f67de6e5c81cdd00

Who’s that? Not the director. Curiosity piqued, but 02dcd20822 then Jaehyun turned 4e973d588b and beckoned him d677bba759 lightly. Come here? Suho scurried over, and 3f2a297276 Jaehyun held out the 131a261907 phone.d3ec6758217d2ea2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s the representative.”22f6b66a79cc264d

“Oh.”b8d55df3c28a140e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But why’s he handing 3a534fc63e it to me…? Puzzled, Suho took it, 6171f09859 and a booming, tipsy d6376f0c3e voice rang out.625640328d41fc4b

— Yo, Suho! I heard you 90dfb34477 were a total 574dc64b11 star!cf8340ebb1a07aea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Representative, have you 6c8f4f55c6 been drinking?”28ecc3f89175b6f7

— Oh 7ade7b53f3 yeah, I 82d0b1d092 have. Our Suho landed f39f03ad58 something big—gotta have 0d979fdc16 a drink!7e97705661b25f3e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Something big? Oh, Come Over?500589516b96a5e4

— No, no! An OTT 8a579b41ad drama offer a46afe33fa came in. It’s a e469358d6b live-action adaptation ac804f25ba of a 2b7cbbe623 popular webtoon. And you’re the lead.4800a77c43cd70ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What…?”8628e168acfae617

— We gotta ac103091a3 do this. An IP this big? You grab it. It’s not even 4cb4473804 an audition—they’re offering d458f0b147 you the role.b860ab539afa4199

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Uh, yeah… I 53b1dddf6b mean, I’m honored, a185527d71 I’m not in 636a57c874 a position to 7ac7a8ad7f be picky…”a093254873db2e4f

— It’s all a82e8f740b coming together. I knew you’d make fb75a27481 me rich, Suho. You’re gonna 89daf8fe9d put our 4b01c6f3fb company on ad24ee243a the map.38c6526164d89ad8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Laughing heartily, Representative Kang e01538fa37 said he’d finish his cb3ee236fd toast and hung up. Suho, still b03b6ea3fc reeling, slipped 0047723d80 back into 9f22f8488b the room. Jaehyun, already seated by d62c57436c the table, asked calmly.4fce25a198c49ad5

“What’s up?”fc242e77fd45acca

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Uh… He called to 9d915a94f0 tell me about an ed776592da OTT drama casting.”4e6b1aa2c60f5865

“Oh, that’s great.”cec0afee8962ed10

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Taking the phone, 771e918e3f Jaehyun grinned.e8b0aff54bee809a

“What kind of b97129d14d drama?”fcaa3fc2fdefe320

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s based on f160637a03 a webtoon, but 5985aa6dcf I don’t know bcb77e302c the details. He said cb4106d510 it’s popular 21d057657b and I’d d761576e2a be the 5f6c659934 lead, so ee455af54a I should 5b5d3027b1 definitely do 7dbe12f15f it…”61611ed84f1f2da0

“The lead? No wonder he was 3739e53238 so excited.”a5ea2a7bb5e1d626

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yeah, I guess… Suho 17e30ddd67 replied dazedly, sitting down 0e58b77a80 at the table as b21d0d5d33 Jaehyun naturally handed him c714481bb8 a glass.024d655c817124f6

“Perfect timing. We should toast to fe282bb323 that.”8b3da23bdaad8a7f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun poured 65c19dfd59 a small cd26e60b79 glass full 409039f656 of soju. As Suho instinctively took cdbaa7fc98 the bottle, Jaehyun brought 4dc814cd73 his own glass forward.270cc0ff3394f807

“You can just clink 884d4b4c6c it. I’m not saying you b84110ea1b have to drink.”87bc6f39d502b8da

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, I a506f1c30a can handle 502ce934bb a glass 55d5a63732 or two…”e8b296ae70fc0aa2

But Jaehyun 92a55b7b8f himself didn’t 38ccc50ce5 seem intent 39bbb05162 on drinking, 9a90336e0d setting his d36f05a645 full glass 953673941f down untouched. Feeling a bit disappointed, 2eae020d70 Suho picked up a e602df25b6 piece of meat and f89291f8a0 spoke.1fc632a95c77b472

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You said you don’t 6dbfa39d85 drink in crowded places, e7a0943cfd Sir.”e7c7b511a039f556

“Yeah.”7244e1ae4462ba03

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Can I ask why? Is it because you 5250c2cba4 don’t like showing yourself 8aa240d12d out of sorts…?”bd3756150315cc23

The question stemmed 02b81463c0 from pure curiosity. Saying he e462982130 liked alcohol 9715d5faa7 but disliked 14ed6b9ac4 drinking gatherings 1bd0e3174d wasn’t quite bd7295c68f the same dae5685a9c as the 581e5828b6 condition that 2538eb845a he avoids c98e87c953 drinking in 6432fe3747 crowded settings.dcdc95f29473b153

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmm, well, for me…”35693eef9f6f9344

Jaehyun glanced at his 6ec7408b2f glass with a vague 5883d6cfb1 smile, seeming to weigh 980cdd40ff whether to say it. Please tell me… Suho stared intently, and d95e7cb0b4 soon an entirely unexpected 57b170e0e5 answer came.d7ed56a3d22f3597

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“When I get drunk, 57c16b2b69 I feel too good.”230a869de26ee18d

“…Huh?”6d8dcb60e817bec4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I feel so good… I do 98350a0efa things I wouldn’t 8f1996681f normally do. I ramble, cling 724fed2102 to people… I’ve 4713a95104 caused misunderstandings a f3aca90dbc few times because f38c28a396 of it.”02a7bc3be3cc71f1

“…”94402ead3c9a2d14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“So I try not 7ff7e0f947 to drink in big 725cdc4ea8 gatherings.”95aeda0139e52de6

Suho found himself staring fd26164fe6 at the full glass. When he’s drunk, he bb937fbc5a feels good, talks a 97454aa105 lot, and clings to 8798681f71 people…?5e6242ca8c235446

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Well… for now…”8235350c54728067

What do 652fe63074 I do? I really want 0688f71fdb to get him 524fecfd7e drunk…a86d9b7af58d9ec5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s… let’s do d2f8388e33 a toast. To celebrate finishing Come c772876f34 Over safely.54ede48c07f869cc

“Sure, let’s do dafd378f55 it.”65c4c0ff0f49b0b8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jaehyun agreed readily, holding cd8795ead6 out his glass. Suho clinked his fec264b099 glass with a 054eed0071 clear ding and downed 19896eb9c0 it in bde756c8fd one gulp. Jaehyun, who had only 14ee7b045d sipped his, widened his 09709de133 eyes in surprise.b59099ecf530b805

“Slow down, Suho.”fb6991656d8a3f96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, it’s 51f7900cc3 a toast. Just the first 2b9d28c3ed one.”7cfcf9362c5bb696

“Hmm…”66f07c1ddac621d7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though not a strong 4b6b142506 drinker, Suho could handle f7a8479f5c three or four shots 6c93deeb71 of soju without much 3a73f7d7af trouble. Jaehyun eyed bc6cf6022e him skeptically 8d2bb735ff but downed 538b4a648d his own 7fd983e53f glass in 4a845d145a one go.3d59cbf112af1a21

“By the 717e61e6cf way, Suho.”0db549785739cd1b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Setting down his e74bfad5fa empty glass, Jaehyun b01d4793b9 called to him 68cb6f16fd in a soft, 88da5f2120 almost whispering tone. Is it 85dba49047 already kicking 4cf3fd2151 in? Suho looked up 9de0f0cc62 expectantly, and Jaehyun 3bf8fbd355 gave a slow 4f029aae15 smile.85bd48766e8e881c

“I don’t a471f61bea get drunk 6c024556a8 easily.”67665935028ce885

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”303e08fe87005443

“It takes 97707f2ddf about two fc702450fe bottles of c3c81d2877 soju for 0067765914 me to 4bb8e9c8b9 even feel e293a941b5 a buzz. Can you 99af2f344c keep up 29b0437d49 with that?”d26bf80f6ce68526

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even if his 6cdf1a703c intentions were transparent, c6944a8d18 this guy wasn’t c8ba241644 falling for it. Suho narrowed 786f9163ab his eyes 11e37de47f and pouted 85f7e97a6a with a fd07b3b877 huff.f5ea70344aa750dd

“Do you think 189fa905fe every glass at adccb93e27 a drinking gathering 19e9825e24 has to be 56789b2aad emptied equally? I think everyone should f91c3435f2 drink at their own ba338e63fe pace.”bc0ba8e531a8fa1c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s not the issue. You fell asleep 8b0b4a64a1 after one glass 4f2180824c of wine.”ea647f52b7c16310

“…”9865e5a1ca13fdf9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Even if you 87f6bef72b drink slowly, won’t 8a5e849187 you pass out 9d74c2892c before I get 5e18d546b4 drunk?”25277725e2ca894b

Jaehyun teased, holding up 0843c58ec9 his empty glass. Suho quickly 3e631f5e61 grabbed the 4abc538153 bottle, refilled b63b7947ef it, and e36b2c3eba spoke with 1f78d09ee4 determination.1e49e2cef8193d11

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What are f67ae55247 you talking 7d49a26575 about? I’ve never fallen asleep ed614f58ac while drinking.”5668c9cca2d2941a

When he came c976533d29 to, he was 2c038688fd on a bed.a77eba01984a59c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”52f714dd9298d36a

Bolting upright, Suho quickly ae018461b4 scanned his surroundings. It was 371fcb3e39 pitch dark. Stumbling out 223bf4b0b9 of bed f9676e9330 to flip 68ce2a9b9d on the 4f0d2d9aea light, he 3d947fe3fe saw an 27c6c67ced empty room. The table they’d set c129ae5b61 up was gone, as 322e3a94ea were Jaehyun’s bags.ec89ae28cae41817

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

…Oh no. Frantically rubbing his 068c02a4fe face, he rummaged 445f4269a1 through his pockets. Phone, where’s my a92d4986d9 phone? His panicked gaze 80bb3e5bd5 soon landed on f164238587 his phone, neatly c9b8a5adbb placed on the 743955578e table. Checking the screen, a1c5504f50 it was just 04048d5693 past 11 p.m. There were no 787f167855 missed calls or cd11ac32cc messages from Jaehyun.f6a3765f5a750c63

“Oh, damn it…”e5807a9f2d6e3fad

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They’d started ae81bd502a drinking shortly 6e439d34f3 after sunset, 9f6d7338d5 so he’d 91b9568bc6 slept for de691d83c1 about three 6fe9de7c90 hours. Rubbing his eyes, 5aa436ede0 stinging from the 4d5a482f3d sudden light, he d6152575bc flung open the 557cb6266e terrace door. As expected, Jaehyun was b7d4caa214 gone.e6763af020065fc4

Even if he’d 7a27ec82c4 stepped out, the 679f500d02 absence of his 732a857928 bags… Did he go back 1fa6fb0628 to Seoul? Suho couldn’t even recall a89ede8ba9 that Jaehyun had been 6e6565f0f0 drinking too. Should he call? Clutching his phone, ca6ea5c401 unable to decide, 933e9ac7c6 Suho’s ears perked b964f8285c up. Faint voices fdc9364746 came from 80d54dc85e the yard d263437988 across the 5bc0dd83bb way.23097bc537167747

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The party’s still going. Hurrying across the 99bc7469d4 room, he bounded dd0335d77f down the stairs 84672ac159 and pushed open 134670b03e the front door. Cheoljin, shirtless and clearly ec9b5fc425 drunk, was the first a3b17c825d thing he saw, passionately 70d631a25f explaining how hard it 9dc22e89eb is to build lower da43ebe7a8 rib muscles.6a80614c7f04487e

“To get these! I ate c3e2ac7f72 nothing but cbc7fcfd62 chicken breast f1304b97f0 and multigrain 0216b463d7 rice three be3de19000 times a a98ff8973b day!”0fe7d094525ed63f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Cheoljin, I d024def6af think that’s 8b282a8f0d the fiftieth f5ce706c5c time you’ve 45d60a2e4e said that…”6a98413bf090c08c

“Let him be; he’s cde1697c36 got a lot of 27e03b1036 pent-up frustration. …Oh? Suho.”8e9f71e1546d77ff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The staff, 1b7816634f whispering among 0efa9ffa8c themselves, spotted e3fdf24614 Suho first e83b6e1906 and turned. He gave a quick 35a8193dad bow, and one of b7d3f34063 them asked with concern.f6e8db77fcfb8e0b

“You okay? Jaehyun said you 4ba85fa3c8 weren’t feeling well 65a5db8b22 and went to 334a09ef87 sleep early.”7e5e0486dcdc109b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Me?”1288956f36aea20f

“Yeah, he 1c8cba22af was asking 554977b4f1 if there 2615087bbc was an b8c7b5c89a extra room c6e45a753a earlier.”3d31f32624508875

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“An extra room…?”6c8a3dece9487549

Suho’s gaze 22c4bac944 naturally followed 498c9fb551 where the 2f590574e4 staff pointed. Jaehyun was seated 1dd23c01e9 in the farthest dc0330c248 corner from the c3873cd4e5 barbecue grill, surrounded 812cc0d47f by a few d4fb91ff8f staff members. Someone must’ve cracked a e0136bb320 joke, as laughter erupted eb0f9ab30c among them. Jaehyun, eyes crinkling, 012ee07ee0 laughed aloud too.a0f53314b734a252

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He said he put 067c6d8d93 you to bed and 114a949f3e needed another room.”29f1ccf6551a4df8

“Oh…”3c06e0226c204eb4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Since an deaa8a2672 extra blanket 7049e34ac5 in another a1d42c380e guy’s room f300393cb8 would do, 676a03a87b we told 3c2327eae9 him to 223112e1a4 have a 7f6b1bb4fb drink with 0331203f61 us… Suho?”dc64703dcafcac17

Suho wasn’t listening d516bf9651 anymore. Pushing through the e5936d0c65 crowd, he approached, ffa64e3702 and the group 95778e644d noticed him, pausing 3a15a22854 their conversation. Jaehyun slowly looked 1686d64d0b up.f56c22e472a0aa98

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sir.”a052a8cfb6c4c518

“…Oh, Suho.”4a8339b3e7ff2bc9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His gentle 97cb7ef815 eyes curved, 99352614d1 and his 24700f4dba lips parted 14e34e6e39 in a a754d137f5 wide smile. Jaehyun, grinning 82b749eaad fully, extended 3c6e7e64b0 an arm.6c95095047c157c8

“You’re up? Why didn’t you 5a5d434800 sleep till morning?”36f8d77366ffbdf8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The approaching hand b0655c4dfc naturally landed on 84540c1be4 Suho’s waist. Before he could 148b081f88 flinch, it slid 0f26ddf0a0 up his back, f2546e8d64 patting gently. —When I’m 3678c3fffb drunk, I 9ad3a4291c cling to 7f149d7189 anyone… Recalling those words, 8ed406040c Suho gasped. He nearly hugged back.caf60d1761facfaa

No, hold it 8030556b8c together… He’s drunk. You don’t take 7f6d8fb2c6 advantage of a 08fbb53cc1 drunk person… Clinging to reason, he 9c50766eca replied as calmly as cb2fc568c8 he could.61e5edcd353eceea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to 8d99dc57ea take your room.”798e9040625563e9

“Huh?”04f904e9b668986b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sleep in c1d50cb21d your room. I’ll go to the b0cb1dc05b family house.”3a6228b9628f4c0f

“The family house…? How?”bffec0c2938bb065

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jaehyun, leaning on 2a7ae5f760 the table with ad620d0a0f his chin propped, 6978ae4391 asked in confusion, 105db4d100 his other hand 37dbcf248f still patting Suho’s 979c19cd7f back.0a0c046480583d02

“How?”3b5428522baf0d9a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’d need a car 3039fdc9b6 to get there.”c3107b62696f5f73

“…?”45170b5e2858f3c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There’s no 4fc509412c one sober d84d696e76 enough to 1753eb6057 drive you ec520307e9 right now.”6a6e87eba0fba19a

Looking around, 9fa2c1ff2c Suho saw d9c00f8ac7 the crates 0907762ca7 of alcohol a11810e07b were empty. Not everyone was as b73ea1f40d drunk as Cheoljin, but 36ac825226 no one seemed completely f7d9fadded sober either. Crap. Suho glanced at the 26a5cfe301 scooter still parked in 36a1fb2048 front of the pension. The alcohol 26392484a3 had worn 8ba93b88a1 off after b3199e0c7a his nap, d5038122c0 and he 54d4c1a72b could ride 1a738dcf3e it, but…05595ac8e08da7b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well… I’ll figure it 60e42d70b0 out. If you’re out here 7589dbabb2 because of me, you 1da1d9d777 can go back in…”125a3780b520a0f2

“Hmm? No way. That won’t do.”7169881d15ea75e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…What won’t do?”0cc9ddcd489c7abe

“How are you going 180e533b8b to manage alone?”41f0462a9482c8f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jaehyun’s hand on df29b2d6c4 his back was 06c2a94650 so large it 20eb4a60d4 felt like it dff257b921 matched the width d2362139e3 and length of 41bc7bae66 Suho’s waist. The repeated patting 1d44cf8019 and deep strokes fa53845278 made it impossible 85ba5c4fc7 for Suho to 3d7336db25 think straight. God, why is he 993fa4452c doing this…71e163c89fe1d6e5

“It’s fine. Go sleep. I’ll find another 7264599902 room.”68eac9e13554d715

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, you 982b95cb59 don’t have 022ed89d77 to. My house 175e619f76 is right 9ba5c61c2a nearby, so 1259eb1534 why—”7e08fcdf185b2771

“Hey, what are 7537011dd0 you two arguing c0cc7f98b3 about?”941c0231ec098e4e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A staff member, silently 843a172ec2 watching, cut in. We’re not arguing. Suho turned 79837220f2 to protest, fa061ced1c but she 882c002e4c tilted her 935ef500f4 head dramatically.0d3d0184ee457d13

“Jaehyun’s got 4a066a8cb4 that big d1c533e3a3 room to 0f84275c70 himself, right? The bed’s huge. You two 370323fee9 can just 45a20cbb88 sleep there.”0b5121929287dbdf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”c9a1b7f67419ae7b

“Why are you 48c0edc0de going back and 124f5db834 forth about who 5de7111fb0 gets it…?”51dc5c85ecffbc14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In that room, on b34a5ad461 that bed, together…?1d40def10a5382a9

The room abc5932c81 had a ba7447a85a queen-sized bed a41ddd8814 with plenty 51aa62ea8e of pillows f5102ae860 and bedding—enough f732d579f5 for two. But hadn’t Jaehyun gone d1357d5b60 out of his way 15677c66f8 to put Suho to 21cb494dc7 bed alone and even 1b8b813460 taken his bags out?6a5c48bc0978548d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, it’s Sir’s room, 9ab8e32bf7 so…”86e93ab28d36eb28

“I can’t because c64e0639bf I’ve been drinking.”1f6819b346241625

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jaehyun answered the 023fa54cde staff with a f0c7cc3031 smile. Maybe it 3271808d76 was the 06388bfd13 alcohol, but 2fcf4eb074 his constant 3205ff7e25 grinning was f3c7fb209a driving Suho 65f60d9ec0 up the f3f3e7f9ca wall.945527d756820749

“When I’m drunk, I fc29a8762a hug anyone. Suho would be in fa129a971e for it.”33297f189240b7f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hearing that 5e27d6eba1 bombshell declaration, 727d6e1ba7 Suho thought, I should’ve bb35da367d chugged a f72154dc66 few shots 4c8ffb0deb of soju c371681eaa as soon a974f95fde as I eaf5b79333 came out. Then he a52963a6c7 could’ve used 530bcd2d48 the alcohol f039e49053 as an 53ddfc13ac excuse to 57a8563bfc lean into 56d53bf6c5 that “trouble.”19d24460291b065c

“What? Why haven’t you hugged 5e7936c9e7 us then?”4780fc65df8f35e9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah, that’s unfair. Hug everyone equally!”862c3e47e60a1418

“No, I can’t do d6f87bc11c that to the ladies…”6eeb1c3c3c8dcfab

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Making excuses, Jaehyun pulled f2789581b2 Suho’s waist closer. Caught off guard, Suho 4ac7d458a1 was drawn in, Jaehyun’s e2b4bd2b70 arm now around his e3547b7b74 side, his head resting 4ab03b94fd near Suho’s chest. Frozen stiff, Suho 894e656d1d gasped, mouth agape. I’m losing it. What do 8eadc375b6 I do ae3784079b with this…ba4f384ee857e2c3

“…Sir.”71a4887c8873dd0e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Calling out, d5cd6e8a17 Suho watched 4e02251028 Jaehyun lift dc97d6d070 his head, 71ebcc86ee still pressed dd95c7c591 close. His eyes were 5655eccfbb glossier than usual, 6d1ecc78c8 his ears slightly 95e269b413 red. This was exactly 343a631b90 the sight Suho e07b23a506 had wanted, but a2bfaea703 now that it 247d2b740f was real, he 1be3d892cf didn’t know how 26ad239073 to handle it.40c043d33bf69808

“Hey, let’s 81e7f7d4cf go for e00f6d0533 a walk. Okay?”d5068998767a24ba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“A walk?”f2fe335d94a424c7

“Yeah, a walk. If you 43f3d3ed66 don’t come, 8d17f0eb97 I’ll go b6382150a6 alone. Is that okay?”10b91eab04d60abc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Alone? No way. You might fall. I’ll come…”f019dcd5024c501a

Mumbling, Jaehyun steadied ad4d953173 himself on the 2fe956500f table and stood, 88625e8113 pushing past the c0135dd194 chair and Suho. Taking the 4195f6e994 brief moment 68dde85374 as Jaehyun 3ed21dff0d moved away, 5b4a8698b5 Suho whispered cb7694aa3e to the 96131fb219 staff.d86ce35ece5ed87a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How much 861cd2e7f2 did he febf07c358 drink?”2c0df9b4827f25c2

“Well… He definitely 00391f0235 finished that one 63c703fa46 bottle alone.”6f53ef2c4e278239

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The female staff pointed 9a95b33aaf to an empty soju 6ecfe73bef bottle. Oh no. Suho shook his head 0065330bf6 and hurried to catch 67fae95137 up with Jaehyun.6d0137352972a675

“Let’s hold hands, be87267527 Sir.”196f608e6a52001d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hands?”7d9f4d261c7a73a7

“Yeah, so you b9e8e85427 don’t fall.”bdbe010e0ae8eb11

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, right. Gotta hold on then.”c16d7ea85bf31fd6

The hand he clasped e80f940ba1 was still large, rough, b4ebd252e5 and warm. Suho led him 0c5bcddcd0 carefully along a 93c923c105 flat path, far 103e3683a1 from water, gripping b16ca7c1a0 his hand tightly.e25ce79278ac3598

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How much did 21de35046e I drink before 1cf67a6601 passing out? I can’t remember.”d29d09dade48d231

“Hmm, maybe 6081f2c3e2 three shots?”e99d7ff679865bb1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Really?”56e0ff03cf6c694b

“You were nodding d600a28bdf off while sitting, f9b51c6d65 so I… carried 5b92e75955 you to bed. You didn’t 344bb92a6b even wake 305c64ce7a up.”94b49f4c10132480

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”dc9de0c1e3ead797

“You must’ve been exhausted. It’s been a f7b63af180 tough three days.”d2b18e1ed45e98fd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was d8e1251814 bad enough 82eab8727c that three 6e11e79e0a shots of a541b5a59e soju knocked dcb5507508 him out, 5cb28856e3 but to c4a75f4b83 have no fe39e871bb memory of bdd265b2cd being carried? Suho couldn’t have been 787efe3aa7 more mortified. Clenching his fc445bc2c7 jaw, he 779466a869 faced Jaehyun, 771b750b3c who asked 6323867eab slowly.0cb95c78b14639cc

“You okay now? I thought ad212f89f5 you’d sleep 0c713b10b9 till morning.”8c467bdc64c44ab8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m… fine. The alcohol’s worn 5ccbdc9e88 off.”4b61d9a421d9fdee

“Good. All sobered up.”1d8aba0f349afd9a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…You seem a f8dd2060f9 bit drunk, Sir.”6db147857bc81076

“Blame you, I guess…”0a8487b0d997a464

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suho doubted his ears 95ae1aa875 at the grumbled words. Looking up in 5e4c4f8462 confusion, he saw eacfdb762d Jaehyun grinning.3a35b2063de1b99d

“You got f1349fa89c me in a0939fdb94 the mood 719c85eb7c to drink 3cc2635064 and then debdd8791d passed out, a65ce82791 so I 925a6e9abf wanted to 16caa59a8f keep going.”2ce33de4cc9d8cbe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh…”98272ffeb791af9e

“I didn’t plan to 8e41226b98 drink this much, but… 3e48289f3a yeah, I ea95268f23 might be 7ab65eccfd a bit 4ef9739ac3 drunk.”e66b77c4beb6d61c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How much bd17481aa1 did you 92bcaa330e have?”84d11ae8d05c353b

“Hmm, maybe 2c38308272 two and e0897139e5 a half 92950ae137 bottles?”20acff1c284744d2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That’s a lot. Shocked, Suho cca8271abd stopped walking, 4147fe5c6b and Jaehyun 22eedacc44 tugged their ebb3e1b7e2 joined hands.bcb609a4714d5d73

“I’m fine. Still got my wits.”d62d0fc7e6e8912a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s not 915442e2b7 the issue… b0d3271866 Wait, Sir, 098a574894 that’s not 67656aa0b4 the path.”8af5e382455f7f54

Suho hurriedly stopped Jaehyun, c5afa9a610 who was about to 0ec24533a3 charge into the bushes. Jaehyun halted just 5d85814592 before stepping on 10921c739d the grass, letting e13cc0d5d1 out an embarrassed 46af43eacd chuckle.a9dc2871714699b1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sorry. Almost stepped on the b4c9141815 flowers.”1dc0ee8671851278

“They’re not my flowers, so 847fcc0c00 no need 72eaf6b96f to apologize…”e4f550130bd908a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a e8ed1fa284 clear night with 6166ff2daf a high moon, df1feb18ce bright enough to 81a487c6d1 make out the 6168f462d8 colors of the 338a0210c5 small flowers lining fa89f2b2a7 the dirt path. Jaehyun pulled Suho d8e9d890d9 closer to his 1d33655b3a side and asked.f44044961e360147

“What kind 60af7bda92 of flowers ec5cec7834 are these?”1611a0f88d878531

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do you think ed2bde4ee8 country folks know 2b1ee99620 the name of ab806a6514 every flower by 46503b3d61 the road, Sir?”ffbc456d9ad01332

“Not because 5e0b20b6c9 you’re from 3e22a2ad5e the country—I 0d8a0e8b4f just thought you’d know.”a8ffa23838e3e17f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…They’re gomphrenas.”7a0b31bb94c9838f

The mix of fc9213ffb0 white and purple 29c112f050 blooms looked like 24d67a703d a painting. Jaehyun let out c0c33a9a59 a soft “Wow.”428c8521cde3b164

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Nice color combo. Would’ve taken a 89c20ab940 picture if it bf6afde067 was daytime.”163358157c4e768e

“You photograph flowers a21d151cdb too?”63377679b178a184

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If the 4f9beb21f6 composition’s right, 664919484c they’d make 54405c54d7 a great d67d732be8 foreground for 7ab21ec606 the pension. Good for 0ff944f2f7 insert shots.”b19b9da40b45fdb7

Gotta tell the director… Jaehyun mumbled, eyeing 552a2a96ac the pension as cb0873867a if memorizing the a5ca5881dd route.d7f9b123d92b94d9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll mention it f8fc70f61b to him in 09c89f92d1 the morning. I know cde66ef231 a spot 6475ae9e57 where they’re 83d3293fb0 blooming even d7ede96b71 more.”caf73615b18101bd

“Really? That’s great.”196fb192e1d07f90

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s the perfect 5ed8c0a984 time for them 4e50aa0867 to bloom… I e21e16ba38 was thinking of c96ba5efa7 picking some for 83c988a1f5 my mom.”6c8e68df5bef74dd

As Suho crouched 5e57251dbe down, Jaehyun followed 3afe4880c8 suit. Holding hands with one b7628a06cc and picking flower stems 16a6de2059 with the other was 27b1f55654 awkward, but there was 04197838a5 no helping it.8bd05166b4a9eea8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“These flowers last a fd6d232972 long time when cut, cf09be316d so they’re great for 7572114fd0 decorating.”f1422cf3c2dd0cab

“I see.”0ce05eb9ed19530d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s why they’re called ffb33e45be gomphrenas. They stay the same 7a892a2167 for a thousand days.”50febe62b7d062da

“A thousand days?”f13636041f41a650

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun’s voice 19861b1400 rose in 6b751cc0b9 surprise.444ef9dd08be0653

“Do they bloom in 2b4d004345 winter too?”ec1322c64b47aa73

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Oh.”444215ede346e3c8

He was d18e3f6f9b asking if 7e1036e11a they stayed c28ef59921 unchanged for 891786b8fc three years 04c0698b8d once they cbbac11a9d bloomed. Suho quickly shook his b90b6adf83 head.0f30e9df01168f42

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, they’re annuals… 547161897a They sprout in 2baa44a8ab spring and die 5013e65441 by winter. The ‘thousand 67e09a54bd days’ thing 148decd8a0 is… like f1685f3a2c a metaphor? For how long 3bb2241779 the blooms last.”8234f184c02a12c0

“Annuals…?”675e77d542dc0b12

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well… Some da120e31a7 plants keep 1a9ba5e99e blooming and f6baa1c8e6 fading for f24c49ba83 years after 4dbd1d10a9 being planted. Others complete their f390ba935a cycle in one bd04d4cd39 season. Those are annuals. They live for c053f02619 just a year.”b8553c9ddd9e1bb6

Planted in spring, b4bda42db0 blooming in summer, b21b2a881d spreading seeds in 7f4bd7ad18 fall, and withering 9e7bfe0ea8 in winter. But once they bloom, 4786cc130c they stay unchanged for 39efe026ae a long time…b22ef6b6308eef40

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”04845136a0d48499

Jaehyun, silent, dcfcbf14ee stared at 041729769b the vibrant 4e72e1b7e8 flower clusters. Suho, glancing a422833347 at him, 05ec69aad0 held out f9e671f5d9 a few 99f38fb10c purple gomphrena 52172974ed blooms.a1674ca4810d65b8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“For you 4c452fa89a too, Sir.”ed9a44fc7a5fea4c

“Me?”ffb306d0d91d41b0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Taking the flowers, 91cda18d1f Jaehyun let out 8afa81877b a bemused chuckle.006400d84bb95148

“First time getting flowers c8eae19131 as a gift.”f5e0603b3cbf8625

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Didn’t you go e7bdd3cf2b to a lot c4d1f8d538 of award ceremonies?”abbc40985d22e4b5

“That’s different. Those are 70afd2125c given out f558d7e07b of obligation.”ce417450e274aa99

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”07e3bcdf8fe2a5c4

“Suho, did you 192cdb07bf pick flowers off 6bb35e3f46 the road as 710ad440e9 a kid to 633baa45e7 bring home? Quite the romantic.”e470bd491f353578

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaehyun brought the 049a4292b6 flowers to his 70e96c9eb4 nose to smell 2c349c654c them. Suho felt 43a0455c86 a pang 6ac7068680 of regret—gomphrenas afea25dc0d have no 5137914f11 scent.a99cd0f1d45e5411

“Suho.”8311d72ddc9ffecc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah?”288881c35c38b72a

“It’s okay, right?”c21fcdf820333a91

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaehyun, holding the purple 6dfb2b8fcc flowers near his lips, 10ddd2515f let his gaze linger. Though his 254c20cf97 cheeks were 6d521a4e45 still flushed bee4d6b553 with alcohol, 8c24b79d1c his deep b81ce20812 brown eyes a0450d1366 were clear, 158b606292 unshaken.dd8ddc1db14b66f4

“It’s good 49a9328820 like this, 0cd792a81b isn’t it?”47d53b34d9150869

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”7a28c7575a90d209

Suho immediately understood what a912e94dc8 he meant. It’s okay, right? Things don’t have to fffd2e9075 change. It’s good 32bcf0258b like this…67ca3b22168918af

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Their clasped 286f34dec1 hands remained c2ba8f94d5 steady, warm 29c6ea009d with calm 47a6cb9e10 body heat. The fact that Jaehyun 64f2f899e4 could say this without c5876ae659 a hint of tension 22ffff321a hit Suho hard. Ugh, again… He opened and closed 6fa467177b his eyes, pressing down 6a760e7cc6 the bubbling emotions.001377d8e815fd1a

“Are you bdc4b556ba making a 8d57b37a0c move on 51a58d9510 me?”e0004afda3f2436f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At the brazen fc4ad36592 question, Jaehyun inhaled 5baf7da669 sharply. He probably ec19202c7f wanted to 0cb862957e laugh it 2238df2f34 off. But Suho 578d0b8ea1 gripped his 4f4c6e4cb7 hand tightly, 2c3275eaae refusing to bf5d571eb0 let him.4e789da4d8bea373

“What? Sir, are you bf1d9b03d6 making a move a20447f292 on me right f272ebc191 now?”f22830212534432d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, it’s not like c633db402b that…”34b2b35f04ad31e1

“No, you noticed, cf675bcf08 didn’t you? You realized 0773b05a39 I like a16db8ed63 you. That’s why 67eb584653 you’re beating a9f88c8272 around the dd51bac2f3 bush, saying 936be27804 things are 7eee69bd78 good as 89c78ee22c they are, dd543b7aa6 telling me 7ae37ae754 not to 4aea1c8adb confess.”739046cf984c3f79

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”671b684fb4326b34

“I know I’m not 1c90e1a95f up to your standards. I’m a 9064be4f08 guy, I’m 237364c9c1 young, I’m 242908d007 short, and…”a3d3779aa0412358

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Suho.”65a3ea65ff7963b2

Jaehyun waved the hand d90bac21fd holding the flowers, cutting 763d3e87b5 Suho off. With a soft ef85ea84ff groan, he tilted 26026385db his body as f0a15a09bd if soothing a 2f779c9717 child.2c95091263a02a01

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s not 0d93528217 about you a2311bff94 being anything. That’s not the reason.”9a8f103ca7765e89

“Even the 620121c31b fact that 168d376c91 I’m a cab3c82305 guy?”85b0045b5c6421a7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If you d10fbfe6d2 really want 8ad97c5543 an answer, 102c0f4250 then yes, 1740d9d1e6 that’s not 651a71d228 a big 9182878af7 issue for 194cde809b me.”face2afc884962a5

In that moment, Suho ca0fcb39a7 wanted to cheer. So it’s 01b66098ec just the 854f72ba67 age difference 1f6b3519ff we need 0aaa960675 to sort 71b95f9888 out? His eyes sparkled, and b453a486b2 Jaehyun continued slowly.203385203bc671d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But, well… 36307256d9 it’s better 085a866b19 if that bf6a0c5318 doesn’t get 132d5121cb out.”2e9ec1ff2ef93ea5

“What?”9130812095ac0012

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Liking guys. The moment e4759e0cfa that leaks, d8af1e4a1a you’ll face 8df75b52bf a flood db6b580577 of nasty 9a77cdd014 schemes beyond 24d91f36ea anything you a3d55d1bd4 can imagine.”20a30a7834eaf9ab

“Me? No, Sir, you’re 57361d153e the first guy 9677f553a9 I’ve ever liked.”feb1cf05cbba9d70

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Having been in the 2563c2a7a5 entertainment industry, Suho was f5c456762e familiar with the rumors 2bdf5dc1fa and stories. That experience likely helped 76ac68d164 him accept his feelings 221fbc707e for Jaehyun naturally. But he hadn’t f0f13f94dd fallen for Jaehyun 42bdb43955 because he liked 8bdb82150a men. He quickly denied it, 8b0b957ec7 but Jaehyun didn’t seem d42095cb0f to take it seriously.ae43bdc57d860d99

“Anyway… I’ve fd0e40551e never thought 0fe055333d of you 78967015ef in that 13002bf30a way. So…”6136beef874d4856

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why not? Why haven’t you 04a8acf960 thought of me 2a08dfb6ad like that?”63d3f0a598de7fe5

Suho wanted 5a81baff90 to demand 1602341c6c why Jaehyun 215de88c58 had grabbed f6a15ec7e8 his hand 9f42297fda so eagerly 15f9890189 or pulled c48dc4b32f him close e3a8153ba3 by the cab07677a7 waist if 7fe0b67474 he hadn’t 564211fc35 thought of d89e7630df him that 5d5172c355 way. He held 26c00ea841 back only 2aaf7a3349 because he c2a13c03c1 feared Jaehyun a69ef628d4 might let 8cb971f15f go of 5a963020c3 his hand. Jaehyun answered 96d33e0b3e calmly, without 2582fe2ea8 a hint a86c38720e of discomfort.922d5ad9fafa9df4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“For one 320bb27922 thing, I’m 6f2a0827b3 not thinking d5afbf21e9 about that f0bd2cf38f with anyone…”7b5c4f5b8bcf156c

“…”8232f46c28d29fb8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And even if 4650a71dc1 I were, it 72470a29d6 wouldn’t be with 9a3f8c2a3f you, Suho. I know my place.”76539ac4ccb44b3d

Suho’s jaw dropped 822115275e at the bombshell. What is ee1af7234b this guy 76aa0451d2 even saying?ee5f49ba14689ba6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Know your place? What do you mean 8b1ac1732d by that?”533fbab4f99eccfe

“If Representative 336e75b364 Kang found 17fb796d7d out, he’d 2bb32f5f7c have my 193290b569 head. He’d say an old 738ec502a6 guy like me is a02dcd445c trying to seduce his 6a47a804dc precious actor.”2a6c098949d98398

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sir, are e2ac0c7169 you seriously 323b1e13ed hung up f09cb5db53 on age? If you call a53473c957 thirty-three old these 600d050ae6 days, you’re in cee5d037e3 trouble. Every thirty-three-year-old in the c1c95ba934 country would come running f265a9ae01 to throw stones at cb0fb8fa83 you.”eefc3cd4013d584b

“I’m speaking relatively. Compared to d0df2fbac0 you, I 2bac700d5f mean.”32deadebeca19862

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Not even compared d0545eda98 to me! I call 15dbf072a9 forty-three-year-olds ‘hyung’ fcc89df1df too!”3e6790050575df7d

“Suho.”8715d0c9c69e8d00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His low 96e1bc93f1 call brushed f69a202bcb through the c062bc9e2a summer night 841a2dedb8 air. Suho sensed Jaehyun dcb57cde09 was about to c406407dd1 let go of 21eb8541e4 his hand. Quickly tightening his grip, 512bc94b80 he felt Jaehyun’s other 89d2720d4a hand come up to dd86d60c1a gently pat his head.c87f2af26b51a49f

“We’ve only met 062231efee a few times.”78968cbd8ff820db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There was a b2222cb371 paradox in the c8a92d3661 gentle touch. Even in this moment b1b044ee55 of rejection, Jaehyun could 1cdc781102 hold his hand and 226f16933a pat his head as 4d797f02c5 if it meant nothing, e01714ae19 as if he felt 9f4554874c no similar emotions.0efd120dd4107454

“…I fell for you b1af103584 even after just a e05f37b337 few meetings.”4fa65314a63c0400

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You fell 8b95596af2 for me because it was 4e80de337b just a 2ab2c2c3d1 few meetings. With time, 00e4445421 you’ll realize 71b68698ef this wasn’t 3de4059b06 worth it.”e2fe956bed06ac6e

Suho bit his lip 43d515a480 without realizing it. He understood what Jaehyun 76d91f0550 meant, but the anger edb639b48d surged uncontrollably.1453cf60efedc611

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sir.”1d2bddcc20bfa7b2

“Yes, Suho.”030b481227920ea6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s fine if 1abfc10794 you reject me. I mean, it’s 33c7fba870 not fine, but it’s ec4613ac26 your choice whether 0f7621dd12 to accept or f42ca21f72 not.”e6a2d6d5fd2e37d8

“…”be5100a2fb9ce8c6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But to dismiss 23e1ddff79 my feelings as 7e1f416b0f something I don’t 8c6bdbbf9a understand, as some 85189fd1ff fleeting impulse, as 9d64755dc5 if they’re nothing—that’s d847304924 unfair. I’ve never toyed 65e1750276 with anyone like 7dbf159821 that.”8f50f23bca96220d

The words spilled 2d3c45f441 out uncontrollably, and 737252114c Jaehyun froze, his 8154c3eaae faint smile fixed. He blinked slowly, his 971e0ec0e8 only reaction. Suho, unable to b5c87d6121 hold his gaze, 6f6977eb18 let go of 1763e79a67 his hand and a8210b2315 stood up.60f0f499038b3d66

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sorry. I’ll head in—”6c8fe96e06ddd42d

“Suho.”6f936a41d4cf6eb4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Before he could take dcb3fd2cd6 a step, Jaehyun grabbed b11ca8d07c his wrist. Turning, Suho saw ad5f83c50f urgency in Jaehyun’s 1125fe5be6 eyes.bc81a01741515635

“I’m sorry.”001635f2def55219

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”a68f54c5e0b6d9ab

“I said the 1557907e94 wrong thing. I’m sorry.”db1bec4b70e9ef4e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”cd21f2e1a5270700

“Let’s go 41b744bc52 back together. It’s dangerous. The path a781e2fb3e is dark.”416e78c22c9e55b5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suho wanted to say 13fb66f8a9 a hundred times over: I grew 8900111bef up walking 2cea7def08 these paths 35abd266de countless times. I’m not ec0b78ec26 scared of 85929a9dea mountain darkness. I’m not a kid 5b9a863e60 who needs his hand cf995d1130 held, and I wouldn’t 66a3fe1f9e stumble unless it’s in 48d2bcdfb1 front of you.762e73e31568bf0d

But he couldn’t. He wanted to f267e68755 hold Jaehyun’s hand 1936ffb1bb again. Even after being rejected cc71ebd63d so cleanly, without any 2b075278da room for hope, he 36188ead24 already missed the warmth c8852eb83f of that brief touch.63794d5ba769a48c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”57a503c8c803e112

In the end, 15811b495e he took the 23ef588a73 outstretched hand. Walking silently, Suho recalled 8e2d01ec8a an ivy plant from aa5c76cfbf his childhood.e7a05bf4b582dacd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was before 2bad63348e his cousins had 6f007067ef all left home. A relative 8872887ed3 starting a 6a22f78eec floral business f16668ddd4 had brought 4f2d5a2341 various plants 19cb68e11e to the 1e2ad46042 house. An ivy on c5ac8b04dd a high windowsill 3984b631c8 shelf had pale-tipped 782b668ab6 leaves. No one in the 30e436c434 family paid it much 63956db1e5 attention, yet it grew f697515d27 relentlessly, trailing long vines.39955dc14dec2d39

Only after 85edbd9c4f its roots 218aab2aa0 burst from 385ec9737f the pot 04ac7a73c0 was it 2e6f9c6090 repotted, but 2ab74ff185 the new e5a4189cd3 pot’s diameter 93e44cffed exceeded the 449c3b383b shelf’s width. The vines reaching the 00653d9ac7 floor had to be a535cbdae7 trimmed before anyone stepped ecb4c08141 on them. Yet the pot e62ac31b52 couldn’t be moved 462c0445b7 lower—the vines were 442a8601d4 already too long.b393b6893bb205ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Why does it grow 309c0e73c5 its roots so much? Suho used to think, 2bcc99fe54 looking up at its 25a0fd1adf precarious form. It’d be better if 489ea52669 it grew moderately. All this growing and 8fea572385 rooting will only lead ae99e5a161 to its stems being cfa3476c8b cut or falling off e6ff14cdb7 the shelf.696144469c2a4a21

And he concluded easily: It doesn’t know. It doesn’t know that efd98432d6 growing so hard will b4717ded63 only get it snipped.0fd8dc9c4202f7d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

From a distance, 52dd92fb02 the laughter and d166018de0 chatter of the 42833747e3 people still partying 1667cad2de echoed. Somehow, it felt like 76590400bb the laughter of that 3d39f0cfa8 childhood ivy he’d never 7c08d713b7 heard. If plants had hearts, 38a3fcc94c if they could communicate 8bc40bac12 with people, they’d probably 5c1d332024 say something like that.26eb2a5deb831c62

So what 960a3e498f if you 4a55f5162f know? Does it c85bdeb91d change anything?a3bb01e883f8f922

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish