Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 186 A Rising Star Designer – Jessica Jung (Please Subscribe and Vote)

One day in June 2013.

The tavern was missing its usual figure standing behind the bar, but instead of Lin Xiuyuan, Shirley's slender figure took her place.

The same familiar faces were sitting at the bar: Park Jiyeon, Ham Eunjung, and Jessica Jung, but Lin Xiaolu was not there.

That's because she went to Kim Eun-sook's place to study the script.

After all, Lin Xiaolu will be officially meeting the crew soon. Although she has grasped the personal emotions well by taking the shortcut of 'method acting', she is still a little immature in handling details. So this period of time is a good opportunity to polish her skills.

"Jinri, your bartending skills are still a bit lacking compared to oppa's."

Park Jiyeon took a sip of her drink, then leaned on the bar, looking at Sulli with a teasing smile.

"Then don't drink what I make, go find oppa."

Shirley pretended to be angry and replied, then smiled and reached out to snatch the wine glass from Jiyeon's face.

Startled, Park Jiyeon quickly leaned back, clutching her cup, and laughed, "Hehe, no, it's delicious, delicious~"

At this moment, Jessica Jung, who had just closed her laptop on the sofa behind her, came to Ham Eun-jung's side. After exchanging a smile with her, she looked at Sulli and asked, "So, Sulli, you mean that Lin Xiuyuan's time portal has evolved again?"

Today's gathering was organized by Shirley, and her purpose was to report on the situation of this 'time portal' to the members of Team 13.

She also offered a suggestion: that Lin Xiuyuan take some time to visit each person's apartment or residence to check their location, provided that safety is the top priority.

In this way, whether it's a dinner party or a casual meeting, as long as everyone coordinates the information, they can use the time portal to travel directly and avoid the media and fans' attention, without worrying about any more problems.

So after hearing Sulli's explanation, Jessica Jung immediately shut down her computer and came over, both shocked and vaguely expectant.

"Yeah, pretty good, right, unnie?" Shirley winked smugly and poured her a glass of ice water.

At this moment, Park Jiyeon also said with a hint of resentment, "As expected, it's good to live close by. If it weren't for you saying it, we wouldn't have known about these issues."

"Oppa didn't mean to not say, it's just that you guys are too busy, either rehearsing or filming, it's impossible to get a date with you."

Faced with Park Jiyeon's complaints, Sulli also defended Lin Xiuyuan a little, and then laughed and said, "Besides, I've already told everyone that from now on, if oppa doesn't have time or opportunity to contact you, I'll speak for him."

"Secretary assistant, huh?" Park Jiyeon teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Wrong, it’s a little traitor.” Shirley grinned, her tone playful.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

The atmosphere became more relaxed. While they sat at the bar drinking, they began to seriously discuss the specifics of the time portal upgrade, as well as whether it was possible to pre-plan certain entrances or set up hidden passages.

After thinking for a while, Jessica Jung suddenly turned to look at Sulli and said, "When Lin Xiuyuan comes back next time, tell him to include my apartment in the location tracking."

“What if you’re not available then, unnie?” Sherry asked.

"I'll give you the password, you can go there yourselves."

As she said this, Jessica Jung narrowed her eyes slightly, then slowly opened them after a moment, her expression showing that she had made up her mind.

At this moment, Ham Eun-jung chatted with Jessica Jung about some recent news she had caused, "Jessica, your clothes and bags are starting to appear in a lot of news and magazine forums. Did you pay for this, or did the media write it automatically?"

……

Recently, Jessica Jung has been frequently seen wearing clothes and bags of her own "design" at airports and in private, and these items cannot be found in the market, which has aroused great attention and speculation.

Thus, her identity as a "designer" came to light, officially kicking off the story.

One report after another appeared on the front page of the news, praising her design concept, interpreting her use of color, and admiring her personal aesthetic taste.

Fueled by Jessica Jung's popularity, this news quickly spread throughout the K-pop fan base, further amplifying her influence and popularity.

SM Entertainment was not entirely uninvolved during this period.

They did try to reach out to Jessica Jung, hoping to launch a clothing brand under the guise of a "collaboration" to mass-produce her designs.

However, since Jessica Jung has neither monetized the brand nor registered an independent trademark, and all products are currently "self-produced and self-used," the company cannot find a suitable and correct position to intervene in this matter.

Unfortunately, Jessica Jung, who had already seen through these tactics, directly rejected them, even using the excuse that the patent did not belong to her alone to neatly and decisively shut down all possible excuses.

Indeed, although these designs were 'designed' by Jessica Jung, she added Lin Xiuyuan's name to the patent.

For no other reason than this excuse.

After SM investigated and found out the truth, they had no choice but to back down, only giving her a symbolic warning: "Don't do anything that's hard to explain without going through the company; it won't benefit anyone."

Jessica Jung naturally ignored this "threatening" reminder.

Knowing what the future holds, she no longer likes to clash with the company, but she will never suffer in silence.

Anyway, as long as there's no actual conflict of interest, no one can say anything about her.

I don't sell, I don't collaborate on production, and I haven't independently created a brand. What grounds are you going to use to criticize me?

Are you using my popularity as a basis to boost the visibility of my "designs"? Does that mean it's illegal for me to wear clothes I designed?

Are there any conflicts between endorsement deals and performance contracts? Are there any non-compete agreements?

There's also the internal dynamics within the team.

While you all use Girls' Generation's fame to start side businesses, open fashion brands, and provide resources for your relatives and friends.

Whom have I questioned?

Have you ever said that you're exploiting Girls' Generation's popularity?
Now you're all jumping up and down just because I wear clothes I designed and carry bags I designed?
If you don't like it, you can just flip me over, but make sure you don't sit on the wrong side.

I have a clear conscience; I'm just afraid you'll embarrass yourselves without even realizing it.

Her words were a direct rebuttal to several gossipy members after they had been nagging her, and everyone fell silent instantly.

Without solid reasons or clear mistakes, even if someone is resentful, they simply cannot launch an attack.

Jessica Jung knew perfectly well that the reason the 930 incident in another timeline broke out was because she had indeed been caught red-handed.

But now it's 2013, and having been given a second chance at life, she's already being very careful and will never repeat the same mistakes.

During this period, she acted efficiently and decisively. When she confronted people, she even showed the same sharpness and humility she had when she first debuted. She also knew exactly how to maintain proper boundaries with her seniors and juniors.

Respectful, yet arrogant.

The atmosphere within Girls' Generation was subtly tense, as if it had returned to the high-pressure, high-profile phase before and after "Black Sea".

During this time, Kim Heechul, Lee Donghae, and others came to talk to Jessica Jung, hoping to ease the tension and make things less awkward.

But when she laid out the whole situation without reservation, the "Blue Family members" who were used to seeing all sorts of things immediately understood the truth.

Although it's inconvenient for them to publicly take sides, they haven't been idle.

First, he advised Xiuyan not to be too impulsive, and then he privately reprimanded several people with "bad intentions".

They're both family members, and that's all they can do.

Of course, they are not unwilling to take sides, but they feel it is unnecessary.

Oh, except for Kim Heechul.

Kim Heechul pointed at some people and started cursing. After he finished, the atmosphere immediately calmed down.

……

"Some of the promotional resources are ones I found myself, but most of them aren't. After all, I'm currently at the peak of my popularity, and the cameras are already on me. I can only say that the timing is just right. A little earlier would be too risky, and a little later would be too late; neither would be an easy start."

When Ham Eun-jung asked her a question, Jessica Jung answered frankly that she had nothing to hide from the members of the bar.

The word "time" made Ham Eun-jung frown slightly, recalling the scene of her grabbing Lin Xiu-yuan's collar that night.

What she expected back then was actually not much different from what Jessica Jung is saying now.

If Lin Xiuyuan had opened the door two years earlier, perhaps T-ara's fate would be completely different now.

Even if they are victims of power struggles at the top, without a clear "clue" or "handle," they may not be the ones to be sacrificed. In the end, the victims may very well be transferred to other groups.

Unfortunately, everything is a foregone conclusion.

Ham Eun-jung understands that the past cannot be changed. The only thing she can do now is to work hard to earn money as soon as possible, so as to secure her future and old age.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glance at the people sitting at the bar.

One is Park Ji-yeon, a future female CEO; another is Sulli, a promising screenwriter; and the third is Jessica Jung, a rising star designer.

Suddenly, Ham Eun-jung felt a little lost.

What about myself? What should I do next?

……

……

While Jessica Jung and others were having a small gathering at a bar in 2013, Lin Xiuyuan, far away in the Maldives in 2025, finally got up lazily in the morning sunlight streaming through his window. Not long after the two finished washing up, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Then, the villa's personal butler entered and gracefully placed the breakfast on the round table in the living room.

The exquisite island-style breakfast, accompanied by freshly squeezed juice and brewed coffee, is adorned with a delicate wreath made of tropical fruit slices, making it as pleasing to the eye as an art exhibition.

After the housekeeper left, Lee Juri came out wearing a light gauze cover-up and sat down gracefully.

She forked a piece of avocado toast, took a bite, squinted her eyes, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "Xiuyuan, you are simply a turning point in my life."

"what?"

Lin Xiuyuan also sat down, picked up a glass of juice and laughed, "That's a bit too high a compliment, Juli. You remind me of the turning point in your 12 years. I don't want to become like that."

"Nonsense." Li Juli rolled her eyes at him, with a hint of allure.

Then she changed the subject, her smile subtle, "But Xiuyuan, I have a question I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead and say it," Lin Xiuyuan said, looking at her.

"Why did you agree to come to the Maldives with me? You knew exactly what I was planning. You could have refused, or... you could have just slept with me in Seoul."

When she said this, Lee Juri spoke casually, but it was as if she had dropped a bombshell.

In fact, even if Lin Xiuyuan refused to come, Li Juli would not let him off the hook; she would just need to put in a little more effort.

Lin Xiuyuan was drinking juice when he heard her words and almost choked on his drink. He coughed twice with a smile and said, "Juli, can you be a little more reserved? I'm a little taken aback by your directness."

“Isn’t that the truth?” Lee Juri raised an eyebrow, looking completely justified.

Lin Xiuyuan clicked his tongue, as if recalling something, and then chuckled softly, "The reason? Actually, the reason is somewhat related to what you just said, and it's quite simple and straightforward."

"What?" Lee Juri's eyes lit up, clearly showing interest.

"That was when I was exploited by Jiyeon and the others in Seoul. Thinking about the number of people there, it's better to come out and have fun with you, Qri. You're all alone, at least I can catch my breath. This kind of situation should be considered a 'vacation,' right?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lee Juri was already laughing so hard she was doubled over, leaning back in her chair, tears welling up in her eyes. "What kind of ridiculous reason is that? Exploitation... Hahaha, Jiyeon and the others? No, I'm going to laugh myself silly. Aren't you afraid I'll tell Jiyeon?"

Lin Xiuyuan watched Li Juli laughing so hard she was practically falling over, and could only shake his head helplessly as he peeled a plate of tropical fruit and gazed at the boundless sea in the distance.

"By the way, Qri."

Lin Xiuyuan suddenly spoke up, "Where should we go today? I looked at the nearby itineraries last night, there's a speedboat tour around the island, snorkeling, and that... underwater walking."

"There's also a helicopter tour around the island." After laughing, Lee Ju-ri sipped her coconut juice and added, "But I don't want to be too tired today, mainly because I was a bit stressed last night. I'll do something simple first..."

"Then what do you want?" Lin Xiuyuan asked.

"I want to stay here and soak up the sun for a while, and then go snorkeling when it gets warmer at noon."

Lee Juri paused, a smirk playing on her lips. "By the way, Xiu Yuan, I brought a lot of swimsuits. Which one do you want to see? Nurse style, pirate style, or catwoman style?"

Lin Xiuyuan nearly choked on his juice again after taking a sip. "My God, Juli, are you here for a vacation or to shoot a photo album?"

“Nothing like that,” Lee Juri said seriously. “I’m here to woo you.”

She spoke without any pretense, even resting her chin on her hand as she looked earnestly at Lin Xiuyuan, "I was worried you wouldn't be able to handle it, so I only brought a few sets. Now that I think about it, I was too conservative; I should have brought more."

"I think we can buy them here too," Lin Xiuyuan said, his eyes lighting up.

……

……

at the same time.

In early summer 2025 in Seoul, sunlight streams slowly into a bedroom of a luxury apartment building through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Jessica, who had just woken up, walked barefoot into the bathroom wearing a silk nightgown.

In front of the mirror, she brushed her teeth, cleansed her face, applied toner, serum, and face cream, executing the entire skincare routine with the ease of muscle memory.

But when all of this was over, she looked up at herself in the mirror, and her slightly tired face still showed no sign of "renewal".

She paused for a moment, staring at herself in the mirror, when suddenly the scene from yesterday flashed into her mind.

Krystal's flawless face, her radiant skin, and her confident demeanor that seemed to glow with vitality.

And her casual yet meaningful question: "Do you want it, Jessica?"

Do you want it?
Do you want it...?

Jessica looked into her own eyes in the mirror and whispered the same sentence over and over again. Almost without hesitation, the answer came to her: Of course I want it.

What older woman could resist that kind of relationship?
Even the young are always yearning for "better".

Especially for her, Jessica, who once stood at the center of attention, it was even more difficult to accept the reality of being "left behind by time".

Even if they don't say it out loud, their hearts are already gently stirred by the emotion called "jealousy".

Unfortunately, even though she clearly expressed her desire to Krystal that day, Krystal still didn't tell her how to obtain it.

Thinking of this, Jessica frowned, and the image of a certain person appeared in her mind.

Actually, even if Krystal hadn't said anything, she could vaguely guess who it was.

Krystal's transformation began after she met him.

Before that, she was just a slightly sharp but occasionally confused younger sister.

But after meeting that person, everything seemed to start to "get out of control".

That incident, in particular, made Jessica realize for the first time that Krystal was no longer just "her sister," but someone who would stand against her on some kind of ground.

That shock, grievance, and disappointment still linger in my heart.

As she thought about these things, Jessica sighed softly, then sat down at the vanity and began applying her makeup.

Layer upon layer of makeup concealed those unspeakable emotions.

Finally, she braided her long hair into a neat braid, and after tidying herself up, she went into the dressing room to look for clothes.

After hesitating for a moment, thinking about the person I was going to meet, I finally chose an outfit that was more mature and sophisticated.

A loose white shirt was casually tucked into denim shorts on one side, while the other side hung down, exuding a relaxed yet not bulky aura.

She wore nude low-heeled shoes, carried a light blue handbag, and wore a simple gold necklace and black-rimmed glasses, exuding an intellectual yet playful vibe.

In front of the mirror, Jessica checked her overall look one last time, smiled slightly, and whispered to the person in the mirror, "Jessica, you can't lose your aura today."

After speaking, she turned and left the apartment, took the elevator, got into her car, and drove towards the agreed-upon location.

It was a secluded French restaurant hidden deep in a Jiangnan alley, with a quiet and refined ambiance. Reservations were required, and there was no sign at the entrance.

When Jessica entered the restaurant, a sharp-eyed waiter recognized her and politely bowed to ask her to follow him, leading her to a round table by the window.

As she approached, the two people who were already seated looked up at the same time.

Upon seeing Jessica's outfit, Krystal smiled, her eyes bright yet revealing a hint of contemplation, while also giving a slight smile to the dragon cub opposite her.

Meanwhile, Jessica, who thought she was just having dinner with Krystal, was surprised to find Da Longzai there as well. When she saw Da Longzai's face, which looked just as youthful as Krystal's, she was completely stunned.

That face, though familiar, seemed to radiate a glow that didn't belong to someone that age.

Her skin was firm and radiant, and even the curve of her smile exuded youthful elasticity, just like when I saw Krystal last night.

Seeing Jessica like this, Krystal's smile grew even brighter, almost unable to hide her slight smugness and scheming.

This dinner party was something she had carefully planned.

The purpose of calling Jessica out and also bringing Da Longzai along was quite simple and clear.

Stimulate, stimulate, and stimulate again.

She refused to believe that any older woman could withstand such a visual assault.

They don't give you time to ask "how to improve," they just show you the "results" first, leaving you no room to hesitate.

At that moment, looking at Jessica's slightly dazed expression, Krystal suddenly remembered something that Jiyeon had said in the villa.

When dealing with older women, don't beat around the bush; just be direct.

Ok……

She now completely agrees.

　I've had several acupuncture needles inserted, but they're not very effective. It's frustrating!
　　I'll see if I can update another chapter tonight. Don't wait any longer, just check tomorrow morning.

　　Also, if I don't complete the daily target for 10,000, it's not included in the daily target debt, so everyone doesn't need to worry.

　　That's all. As someone with poor handwriting, I'm begging for monthly votes and subscriptions!!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)