Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 175 "Salty! En! Jing! You just wait!" (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Inside the practice room, Park Hyomin was chatting with the dance teachers, while the new maknae was diligently memorizing the dance steps and practicing her positioning in front of the mirror.

Park Jiyeon sat quietly in front of the bench, breathing softly, trying to regulate her breathing.

Just then, a voice came from behind her ear: "Jiyeon, don't talk about yourself like that anymore. You'll have a tough time in the future too."

This unexpected remark struck her heart, causing Park Jiyeon to widen her eyes and turn to look at the person in surprise.

The next second, her eyes were filled with shock and confusion, because the one who said those words was none other than Eun-jung unnie, whom she knew well.

A moment later, Park Jiyeon quickly scanned the surroundings to make sure no one was paying attention, then immediately stood up, grabbed Ham Eunjung who was all smiles, and ran out of the practice room.

She finally stopped at the window at the end of the corridor, her voice filled with surprise and uncertainty as she asked, "Unnie, what...what do you mean by this?"

“It’s been 25 years since then, so you’re not surprised I knew,” Ham Eun-jung smiled slightly.

"Wow, oh my god, no, when did this happen?"

Another surprising statement completely convinced Park Jiyeon of Ham Eun-jung's identity, but at the same time, she was full of doubt, "But you clearly didn't understand my investment last night."

"Last night is last night, and today is today. A whole night has passed, so isn't it normal to understand?"

Ham Eun-jung's answer made Park Ji-yeon seem to understand something, and her eyes widened. "So, unnie, you mean oppa took you there last night? No, he just brought Taeyeon unnie back the day before yesterday... Wow, what's going on? Has oppa gone crazy?"

Seeing Park Jiyeon talking to herself, Ham Eunjung smiled and patted her arm. "Don't change the subject. We'll talk about whether Xiuyuan is crazy or not later. Right now, we're talking about you, Jiyeon."

"Me? What happened to me? I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine now." Park Jiyeon pointed to herself and then shook her head innocently.

Ham Eun-jung gave her a deep look and said softly, "Ji-yeon, although I know you're not happy about your future, the Ji-yeon over there isn't as lucky as us. She didn't have Xiu-yuan to help her open a time portal to 2025 to go back and correct the information."

"In fact, it's normal for people to take the right steps every time."

“A wrong choice is a wrong choice. We can’t judge our future selves by the lens of the past. Back then, she was also figuring things out on her own, and she was essentially making mistakes for you. That’s why you have the information to criticize her now, Jiyeon.”

"But you have to understand that you were also lost in the fog back then. If you were given the same chance, without meeting Xiuyuan, with the same experience and mindset, what choice do you think you would make?"

"So Zhiyan, you can't judge your future self from the perspective that Xiuyuan has given you now."

Ham Eun-jung spoke softly, yet every word was sincere: “Just like how we met Xiu Yuan in this time and space, every step is an arrangement of fate. We should cherish everything and take good care of ourselves, whether you are here or there.”

After Ham Eun-jung finished speaking, Park Ji-yeon just stood there, staring at her without blinking, her lips tightly pressed together, as if she hadn't heard a word she said.

Helpless, seeing this, Ham Eun-jung couldn't help but sigh softly and had no choice but to use her "trump card," "I heard that Ji-yeon over there is in a hurry to get married so that Uncle can personally send her off. Is this reason... easier for you to understand than what I just said?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Park Jiyeon's pupils contracted sharply, as if she had been struck in the chest.

She froze, her entire body almost frozen in place.

Ham Eun-jung's reason just now felt like a needle piercing her heart.

"Wh-what?" Park Jiyeon repeated unconsciously.

Ham Eun-jung did not answer immediately, but just looked at her quietly with a hint of pity in her eyes.

However, Park Jiyeon quickly came to her senses, her brows furrowed, and she looked at her questioningly, "Wait, unnie, where did you get this information from? Oppa doesn't seem to know either, does he?"

“It was me who told me this 25 years ago. Although the other party said that Jiyeon had not given a specific reason, but had only talked about it, it wouldn’t be too far off, otherwise she wouldn’t have divorced so quickly after getting married.”

Ham Eun-jung continued to tell Park Ji-yeon the situation in a low voice. Although she knew that the resentment might not be very deep, it might just be some emotions being expressed verbally.

But as an older sister, she has a responsibility to tell Park Jiyeon something.

That is, when you gain "experience from others' mistakes", you shouldn't blame yourself for taking the wrong path back then, because you didn't do anything wrong.

This time, Park Jiyeon finally quieted down.

She stood there blankly, her gaze unfocused, and remained silent for a long time.

It wasn't until Park Hyomin came out of the practice room that she saw the two of them standing by the window from afar, their expressions quite different.

She walked slowly closer, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Park Jiyeon's silent expression and Ham Eunjung's serious look, and asked cautiously, "What's wrong...did you two have a fight?"

Hearing the sound, Park Jiyeon came to her senses, looked up and smiled, shook her head gently, and then naturally took Ham Eunjung's arm.

"No, unnie, don't talk nonsense. Eunjung unnie is comforting me. Let's go back to rehearsal, unnie."

"We really didn't argue, but you all look upset."

Park Hyo-min was somewhat suspicious.

"I'm not feeling well today, unnie, it's really nothing." Park Jiyeon waved her hand casually.

"But something just doesn't seem right... Are you guys hiding something from me?"

“Yes.” Ham Eun-jung suddenly raised an eyebrow, her smile slightly mischievous. “But we won’t tell you.”

"Hey, Ham Eun-jung, you just wait."

Park Hyo-min stomped her foot in frustration.

……

……

On the other side, in 2025.

Noon the next day.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, falling on the snow-white sheets.

Sweet Eun-jung slowly opened her eyes, the images from last night still lingering in her mind: the warm car, the receding figure of the Mercedes, and Lin Xiu-yuan's gentle expression as he covered her with a blanket.

She stretched, her cheek rubbing against the pillow as she turned over, a faint smile playing on her lips as she murmured softly, "It's really hard to imagine that such a magical thing as a time portal exists, but thinking about it, it makes sense. Otherwise, how could Xiuyuan be the elixir of rejuvenation?"

After saying that, she sat up, rubbed her hair, yawned, got out of bed, and walked barefoot onto the soft carpet into the bathroom.

But while washing up, looking at that familiar yet weary face in the mirror, I suddenly became serious for a few seconds.

[It seems like she's not as pretty as Ham Eun-jung anymore.]

Thinking of this, Sweet Eun-jung stood in front of the mirror for a moment in silence, then washed her face, dried the water droplets, and went back to the bedroom.

As she drew back the curtains to let the sunlight stream in, she casually picked up her phone, which she had left on the bedside table the night before, intending to check if any messages had been sent.

As soon as I turned on the screen, I saw a series of unread messages.

She slid it open and burst out laughing:
Lee Qri: [What should we do? Eunjung still hasn't replied to us, it's past midnight.]

Big Dragon Cub: [Unnie, are you still posting? It's past midnight. Ask Eunjung unnie again tomorrow.]

Lee Qri: [I can't sleep, why should I cut in line, Eunjung~ I'm the one who told you.]

Big Dragon Cub: [I have to say, Unnie, you're so silly! You hid it and ate it secretly!]

Lee Juri: [Just like you, right?]

Big Dragon Cub: [I don't.]

Park Hyomin: [Can you guys please stop ignoring me? What are you talking about? Answer me!]

After a few hours of interruption, the message service resumed activity at 9:38 AM.

Lee Juri: [Eun-jung, are you awake? Have you eaten? Please reply to my message. I don't dare call you, afraid of waking Xiu-yuan.]

Park Hyomin: [So unnie, can you reply to me?]

Big Dragon Cub: [Unnie, you're so noisy! What time is it?]

Lee Qri: [I can't sleep, I just can't sleep, sob sob~ Eunjung still hasn't replied to me.]

Seeing this, Sweet Eun-jung burst into laughter. She went from standing to sitting, and then rolled around on the bed.

My Qri unnie is so funny, how can she be so adorably crazy?

After laughing, Sweet Eun-jung lay on the bed, kicking her legs as she replied to messages in the group chat.

Sweet Eunjung: [Unnie, stop messing around, I just woke up.]

Then, the reply in the group chat came instantly.

Lee Qri: [Eunjung, have you eaten? Are you full? Are you asleep? Are you sleeping well? Are you enjoying your sleep?]

Seeing these rapidly increasing words of concern, Sweet Eun suppressed a laugh and continued typing a reply: 【What Jiyeon said yesterday was quite right, Xiuyuan really smells good, even better than I imagined.】

Big Dragon Cub: [?? Unnie, you really ate it?]

Lee Juri: [The sky has fallen.]

Lee Qri: [Eunjung, where are you? Don't move, I'm coming to you. Let me smell you.]

Big Dragon Cub: [???? Unnie, you're such a pervert.]

Park Hyo-min: [Can you see me?]

Sweet Eun-jung, who was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, originally wanted to tease her "crazy" Qri unnie a bit more.

Unexpectedly, the other party couldn't hold back any longer and made a video call directly.

After hesitating for a moment, Sweet Eun-jung finally answered the phone.

The next second, Lee Juri, who had just woken up and was still wearing a silk nightgown, appeared on the other end of the screen. Her sharp eyes scanned the background of her on the screen like a scanner.

"Where are you now? Eun-jung, where's Soo-won?"

"Xiuyuan?"

Sweet Eun-jung smiled slightly, "He went back. Of course I'm at home. Unnie, stop staring. Really, he's not here with me."

As she spoke, she got up and walked to the bedside, then gently pulled the blanket off onto the floor.

Then he raised his phone camera, slowly circled the room, and finally focused it steadily on the messy bed. "See, he really isn't here with me."

Lee Juri's gaze was fixed on the quilt lying on the floor, and she gritted her teeth as she squeezed out, "You deserve to die, Ham Eun-jung."

"Hahaha, unnie, you're so funny."

"You just wait, I'm coming to find you right now."

"Okay, then remember to bring me breakfast," she said with a smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I was a little tired last night."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a response that was almost uttered through gritted teeth.

"Salty! En! Quiet! You...you...just...wait...for...me!"

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(End of this chapter)