Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 178 Everyone is here (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
Night fell, and starlight quietly shone down.

After taking a shower, Da Longzai stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her long, wet hair hanging over her fair skin, and her slender neck could be vaguely seen.

After looking at himself in the mirror, Da Longzai smiled slightly, picked up a towel to wipe the water droplets clean, then slowly combed his hair with a comb, and finally neatly tied it into a high ponytail.

In the blink of an eye, the dragon cub in the mirror, which originally had a cute and charming aura, suddenly became sharp-eyed and had a charming smile on its lips after its high ponytail was tied up.

Then she went back to the bedroom and walk-in closet, took out a striped shirt, and paired it with a pair of well-fitting jeans, which perfectly brought out her mature and sophisticated aura.

A pair of pearl pendant earrings dangled gently, shimmering with an elegant luster as they turned. With a slight turn, her eyes revealed confidence and charm.

Echoing this scene is Lee Juri in front of the mirror in her apartment.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror at home, her outfit made her look much younger and more energetic compared to her usual mature and seductive style.

Her once elegant long hair was tied into a playful bun at the back of her head. Although it looked slightly messy, it also had a youthful freedom and exuded youthful exuberance.

A simple white T-shirt paired with ripped jeans creates a fresh and natural look that makes her appear like a ray of sunshine, embodying both the urban girl and an untainted innocence.

Meanwhile, Kim Tae-yeon, who had just finished rehearsing, quickly returned to her apartment and went into the bathroom to wash away the fatigue of the whole day.

Half an hour later, she stood in front of the mirror, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

However, the fatigue on her face had been washed away, and after a simple makeup application, her face regained its charming glow.

After taking one last look at herself in the mirror, Kim Tae-yeon turned and went back to her bedroom to change into the clothes she had already chosen.
A close-fitting knitted vest, understated yet subtly sexy, paired with skinny jeans, the waistband slightly rolled up to reveal her slender waist.

Her delicate fingers gently traced the curves of her waist, and she smiled slightly, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

The sporty bra subtly revealed a fashionable charm as she moved.

After cleaning up, the three quickly packed up all their belongings. Da Longzai slung his bag over his shoulder, and Li Juli put on her most comfortable sports sandals.

Kim Tae-yeon draped a coat over her shoulders, covering a few strands of her fair skin.

Soon, the three of them walked out of the apartment one after another, feeling the freshness and coolness of the night air. The neon lights on the street decorated the night with colorful lights, and occasionally a few cars drove by, leaving trails of light.

Their steps were light and rhythmic, as if they had become a unique sight in the city's night.

Soon after, the three of them got into their respective cars and headed straight for Lin Xiuyuan's bar from their respective apartment complexes.

Besides them, two other cars also started from different locations and headed in the same direction.

Unlike them, Krystal didn't need to spend time traveling at all, because she was already in the villa next to the pub.

Having just finished showering, she was walking seductively toward Lin Xiuyuan, who was sitting on a small sofa in the corner of the bedroom.

Her damp hair fell naturally over her shoulders, and she wore sexy black lace lingerie that subtly revealed her alluring curves, which appeared even more alluring under the dim light.

Her light footsteps made the air in the bedroom seem even more tense and silent, like an undercurrent.

Finally, she stopped a short distance from Lin Xiuyuan, smiled gently, and a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Xiuyuan, do you like it?"

"It's a bit too revealing."

Despite Lin Xiuyuan's seemingly serious words, his eyes betrayed his true intentions, staring intently at Krystal, barely blinking.

The main thing is that Krystal's figure in front of me is slowly bending over, her movements are not hurried, but she deliberately maintains a light yet very seductive posture.

Her smooth back curved slightly under the light, its lines flowing and graceful. Her silhouette was faintly visible through her black lace bra, and a faint fragrance filled the air, causing Lin Xiuyuan's breath to catch in his throat for a few seconds.

“So what if I’m showing off? I’m not showing it to anyone else,” Krystal chuckled. “This is one of the gifts I picked out especially for you.”

Krystal's gaze fell on him, carrying a silent challenge. She knew very well that every move she made at this moment could have a strong impact on Lin Xiuyuan.

So she smiled and reached out her finger to gently touch the other person's shoulder, the warmth of her fingertips carrying endless allure.

Just as the two were about to take things further, Lin Xiuyuan's phone, which was lying to the side, suddenly rang, breaking the silence.

At the same time, Lin Xiuyuan unconsciously swallowed, his throat and mouth slightly dry from excitement.

Krystal turned her head to look at the screen, smiled gently, her eyes filled with a mixture of provocation and tenderness, and then lightly kissed his lips.

Then he slowly raised his head, paused slightly, and said softly, "Okay, answer Jiyeon's call."

Lin Xiuyuan, having moistened his lips, recovered slightly and answered the phone, "Hey, Zhiyan, how is it?"

"Xiuyuan, is there any fruit left in the tavern?"

Da Longzai, who was originally driving over, stopped his car in front of a fruit shop. "I remember the tavern has been closed for a while. If you don't have any fruit, I'll buy some from here."

"Buy some, the fresh ones are probably all gone, only some chilled ones are left."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't think it was inappropriate to let Dalongzai spend money after hearing this. He even ordered some watermelon and coconut jelly to make a few watermelon coconut drinks.

Upon hearing this, Da Longzai immediately smiled and said, "I know, but you have to make sure I get a good drink later, or I'll make you reimburse the bill."

"Buy it first and then we'll talk," Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile.

After Lin Xiuyuan finished his phone call with Dalongzai, he looked up at the other side and saw that Krystal had changed her clothes. However, the clothes she wore surprised him.

Wear a pair of Adidas King pure cotton three-stripe athletic shorts, paired with a gray undershirt, and topped with a dark blue denim jacket.

With such an ordinary outfit, who would imagine that underneath it is actually an incredibly sexy lingerie set?

The contrast was so striking that Lin Xiuyuan was stunned and his eyes widened instantly.

At that moment, an idea popped into his head: he wanted to strip off the cotton tracksuit and really admire the lace-trimmed fabric underneath—it was simply too alluring.

Krystal clearly noticed Lin Xiuyuan's gaze, so she smiled, put her hands in the pockets of her denim jacket, and raised an eyebrow slightly, "How is it? Not bad, right?"

"Krystal Jung, your contrast is quite tempting."

This was the first time Lin Xiuyuan had called Krystal by her Korean name. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "You don't call me Noona anymore, but now you're calling me by my full name, right? Xiuyuan, you're getting wilder and wilder."

"So, would you prefer me to call you by your full name, or Krystal, or perhaps 'Good Do'..."

"Get out of here, shut up, let's go, it's time to get ready at the pub, everyone else is already there, we're not even here yet."

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan got to this point, Krystal immediately guessed what he was going to say.

So he grabbed the towel he had just used to wipe his body and quickly threw it at the other person, hitting him right in the face. Instantly, a fragrant scent wafted over, making Lin Xiuyuan stop eating.

Then she chuckled softly, "Krystal, I remember you were the one who taught me to say that first."

"You still say that? I didn't teach you that, so don't make baseless accusations."

"It is clearly true."

"I was talking about you, not asking you to use it on me."

"But your posture..."

"Shut up!!!"

"Hahaha."

Soon, the two, who were arguing as they left, walked from the villa to the pub in less than a few minutes.

Krystal followed Lin Xiuyuan back into the tavern. This was her first time entering since the renovation. She couldn't help but notice that the dim, soft lighting had changed the colors, making the atmosphere of the tavern even warmer and more just right.

Besides that, there's another difference: the record wall has a bit more novelty.

Several old record posters were hung up, as if quietly telling stories of the past.

The bar had the same familiar layout, and the bottles on the shelves, illuminated by the light and shadow, radiated a warm glow. Everything in the bar made one feel the tranquility of time passing by.

So when Krystal came in, she immediately went to the wall covered with records. Her eyes wandered over the covers of classic albums, and her fingertips lightly brushed the edges of each record, as if she were picking out her favorites from those old records.

Then, she tilted her head slightly, glanced at Lin Xiuyuan who was already busy at the bar, a smile appearing on her lips. Suddenly, she pointed to a classic album on the wall and said, "Xiuyuan, this record looks pretty good. Where did you find it?"

"Which one?" He looked up at Lin Xiuyuan and immediately said, "The one Park Hyomin gave me."

“Park Hyomin? Hey, Xiuyuan, can you change your XP? Stop messing around.” Krystal immediately thought of something bad when she heard the name. She frowned slightly and looked back at Lin Xiuyuan as if giving him a warning.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled helplessly, "What are you thinking? It's just a normal gift to celebrate the opening of the store. Last time she came, she said it wasn't right to come empty-handed, so she brought a gift later, which is a few CDs."

After he finished speaking, he continued to wash the cocktail shaker with clean and efficient movements, each rinsing of water accompanied by a slight, crisp sound.

"Oh, that's alright, that's alright. Just don't get too close to them."

"I know, long-winded."

As he prepared the base spirit and organized the ingredients, Krystal finally picked out a record she liked and put it into the turntable.

She then turned and walked to the bar, sitting down and smiling as she watched the busy boy while the familiar melody slowly filled the bar.

The musical notes rippled like water in every corner, and the air in the tavern seemed to be imbued with them, carrying Krystal's scent and a touch of provocation, making the whole tavern even more interesting.

Just then, a familiar electronic sound and the sound of wind chimes came from the entrance of the tavern, and Kim Tae-yeon pushed open the door and walked in.

Upon entering, she glanced around the bar and her gaze quickly fell on Lin Xiuyuan, who was busy mixing drinks at the bar.

Seeing him intently mixing drinks, a warm smile involuntarily appeared in her eyes, and she slowly approached.

I quickened my pace deliberately, like a gentle breeze, carrying an unspoken sense of familiarity.

"Hi, Xiuyuan, Xiujing."

Kim Tae-yeon called softly, her tone slightly playful, "Is the wine ready for tonight? If it's not enough, I'm going to complain about this bar."

When Krystal saw Kim Tae-yeon, she asked with some surprise, "Unnie, why are you here so early? Didn't you rehearse until the evening? I thought you would arrive later."

"I took a shower after get off work and came over. I figured I might as well come out and sit for a while since I was just staying at home anyway."

After saying that, Kim Tae-yeon seemed to remember something, and then raised the object in her hand, "Here, Xiuyuan, this is a bottle of Louis Royer brandy that someone gave me before. It's been sitting at home for a long time, and it would be a waste to leave it there any longer, so I might as well give it to you."

"Why are you giving this to me? It's a waste to use it for mixing drinks. I can just drink it neat."

Lin Xiuyuan took the bottle, glanced at the contents, and then smiled slightly. "This wine has a fruity flavor and is smooth on the throat without causing a headache. It's perfect for ladies to have a couple of drinks at a private gathering. That's what they were thinking when they gave it to you, right?"

"Never mind, I rarely drink at home. I'll leave it here and come back when I want to drink."

After hearing Lin Xiuyuan's explanation, Kim Tae-yeon did not intend to take the bottle back. Instead, she turned to look at Krystal with a questioning look in her eyes. "Krystal, although I haven't seen you for a while, how come your face doesn't look your age at all?"

"Unnie, I had cosmetic surgery done." Krystal was quite pleased with this, so she smiled slightly and casually replied.

When the topic of cosmetic surgery came up, Kim Tae-yeon immediately became interested, and the two of them started chatting enthusiastically together.

Lin Xiuyuan took the opportunity to open the bottle of Louis XO, threw three small ice balls into the glass, and poured a little for them to taste.

Shortly after, the roar of a car engine came from the tavern entrance again. Daeyong and Lee Qri arrived almost at the same time, followed by Sweet Eunjung, who arrived a minute later.

This made Da Longzai, who had just mentioned the fruit, immediately turn around to look at the car. After glancing at it, he smiled and went to greet it, "Unnie, how come you're so punctual too?"

After turning off the engine and getting out of the car, Sweet Eun-jung looked at the fruit in the two people's hands and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, why did you buy so much?"

"Some of these are what I want to eat, and some are what Xiuyuan wants. Unnie, could you please help me get some? They're so heavy."

Just as Da Longzai was about to hand the fruit to Tian Enjing, he heard a reply that baffled him: "I'll take one bag; I'll need to use one hand to open the door later."

"Open the door? Open what door?" the dragon cub exclaimed.

Then, along with Lee Juri's equally surprised gaze, they watched as Sweet Eunjung walked to the pub entrance, reached out to verify her fingerprint and iris scan, and then, after the electronic lock beeped, the pub door slowly opened.

Sweet Eun-jung gently pushed open the door, and the melodious sound of the wind chimes rang out.

But at the same time, the dragon cub broke down in his defenses, "Wait a minute, Oni, how did you manage to unlock the door of Xiuyuan Tavern?"

"Because I became a member."

For some reason, Sweet Eun-jung seemed inexplicably relaxed after last night, and her words carried a hint of provocation, which made Da Longzai clench his fist in anger. "No, I'm asking how you became a member of Xiu Yuan's tavern?"

"Because I caught a fish," Tian Enjing replied with a smile, a hint of pride in her eyes. "Alright, let's go inside and talk about it."

Although Da Longzai had many questions he wanted to ask, it wasn't realistic to discuss them on the street, so he had no choice but to go into the tavern with Li Juli first.

As Lee Juri passed by Eunjung, she stared at her intently for a moment and said, "Eunjung, why didn't you tell me during the day?"

“You didn’t even ask me,” Sweet Eun-jung replied nonchalantly.

"hateful."

Inside the room, the moment the little dragon stood still in the doorway, her gaze immediately locked onto Krystal at the bar.

Like her, Lee Qri followed her in. Their eyes met without hesitation, as if they could instantly see through Krystal's appearance and discern every subtle change in her.

Krystal, noticing their gazes, was slightly taken aback at first, then came to her senses and smiled as she met their eyes.

The three people exchanged glances in the air, seemingly searching for something, before realizing that their faces hadn't changed much.

They breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere quickly returned to its familiar state, no longer so tense.

"Jiyeon, unnie, you're finally here! What good things did you two buy this time?" Krystal was the first to break the silence, her voice light and friendly.

Lee Qri smiled and walked towards Krystal, glancing curiously at the glasses in front of her and Kim Tae-yeon. "Why are you two at the bar so early? You've already started drinking?"

She then continued, "I was a little late because Jiyeon needed to buy some fruit."

After speaking, she didn't forget to greet Kim Tae-yeon, and finally smiled at Lin Xiuyuan with narrowed eyes, "Good evening, Xiuyuan~"

Good evening, thank you for your hard work.

Lin Xiuyuan stepped forward to take the fruit, and after glancing at the abundant variety in the bag, he nodded in satisfaction.

Now he has all the ingredients for the fruit platter, saving him the trouble of ordering takeout.

Sweet Eun-jung was the last to enter. As soon as she came in, she greeted Lin Xiuyuan, "Xiuyuan, I'm here again."

"Welcome, welcome." Lin Xiuyuan, who had already brought the fruit to the bar, looked up and smiled.

At this moment, Da Longzai's voice rang out, "Xiuyuan, how did Unnie become a member? This can't be the super gift package you were talking about, can it?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded. This was the excuse he and Tian Enjing had discussed, and it was indeed quite reasonable.

"No way! If you had said that earlier, I would have gone fishing myself, Xiuyuan!" Li Juli let out a wail immediately after hearing Lin Xiuyuan's reply.

The little dragon was equally frustrated; she lowered her head slightly and pouted, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

Although it's reasonable, I'm still a little annoyed.

The winner-takes-all rule is just too unfair.

Just as the group was about to continue their discussion about the membership package, the tavern door was pushed open again.

The person who entered this time startled everyone in the room, and each person leaned back slightly.

Only Kim Tae-yeon sat on a high stool, looking at Jessica who followed Im Yoon-ah in with a slightly complicated expression, feeling a mix of emotions and surprise.

　Thank you for the generous donation from Duotian Duhoumeng, now it's +1 per day.

　　However, working in this kind of weather lately, I'm constantly on the verge of heatstroke, and then I come home at night to write, which has flared up my tenosynovitis again. I guess my body is really about to burn out.

　　I'll see if I can manage to write another chapter later; if not, there's nothing I can do.

　　So don't wait any longer, everyone. Check tomorrow morning to see if it's there. If not, consider it a day off for me. If it is, that's a pleasant surprise.

　　Thank you all for your support!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)