Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 189 "Isn't the scenery beautiful, Taeyeon unnie Jessica~" (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Vila Island.

After Lin Xiuyuan and his companion finished snorkeling, they were both relaxed and returned to the villa to shower. They also took care of any remaining activities they had done in the sea.

It wasn't until the afternoon that we arrived at the island's resort.

In the massage area, Li Juli and Lin Xiuyuan opted for a simple foot massage and spa treatment. The warm water and professional massage techniques relieved the fatigue they had accumulated while swimming in the sea.

Lin Xiuyuan closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment, feeling every inch of his skin being gently relaxed.

Lee Juri leaned back on the massage bed, letting the warm water patter against her back, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying a moment of peace.

As the massage ended, Li Juli and Lin Xiuyuan seemed to relax even more. When they left the SPA area, the sun was still shining brightly, the island air was fresh and humid, and the tropical atmosphere surrounded them.

So the two returned to the villa's private beach, lay on beach chairs, and decided to relax and sunbathe.

Lin Xiuyuan, wearing sunglasses, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the caress of the sunlight.

Lee Juri's gaze slowly moved down from his handsome face, lingering briefly on his well-defined pectoral and abdominal muscles before quietly sliding towards his deep "V-line" and the "dragon's nest" below.

Then she chuckled softly, took out sunscreen from her beach bag, squeezed out a dollop of lotion into her palm, and rubbed it in her palm first.

Then he sat down next to Lin Xiuyuan, his eyes filled with a hint of cunning and mischief, and smiled slightly, "Xiuyuan, let me help you apply sunscreen. You helped me yesterday, so I'll help you today."

Lin Xiuyuan instinctively wanted to refuse, "Isn't that unnecessary? I'm a grown man, it doesn't matter if I get a tan."

However, when he saw the slightly aggrieved look in Li Juli's eyes, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Apply it, apply it, whatever you want."

As he spoke, he rolled over and lay face down on the chair, half-jokingly saying, "Is that enough? Go ahead and apply it."

Li Juli then smiled and gently applied sunscreen to Lin Xiuyuan's shoulder, her fingertips lightly gliding across his skin as if touching a warm patch of skin.

As she moved, Lin Xiuyuan also felt a subtle sense of comfort, his back straightening slightly as he enjoyed the tenderness.

Lee Juri's fingertips gently circled his shoulder, her soft fingers touching every inch of his skin, delicate and slow, as if silently teasing his nerves.

Lin Xiuyuan trembled slightly at this. With his eyes closed, he felt the delicate touch from the back of his neck, and his blood flowed faster involuntarily.

The lying position made it difficult to initiate certain responses, so I subconsciously raised my hips.

Seeing this, Lee Juri's smile deepened.

My fingers slowly slid down the spine, the sensation growing deeper and deeper, each touch seemingly bringing a subtle emotion.

Her movements became slower and slower. Li Juli deliberately lingered on Lin Xiuyuan's back, her fingertips gently circling his back as if in silent teasing.

Just as her fingers moved down again, Li Juli suddenly chuckled softly, stopped what she was doing, and looked down at Lin Xiuyuan. "How is it? Xiuyuan, is my cooking alright?"

Her tone was slightly mischievous, and her eyes sparkled with delight.

"Didn't I just experience your craftsmanship?"

“That’s all talk,” Lee Juri retorted.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Neither of the two tasks is complete, so let's say it's half and half."

Faced with Lin Xiuyuan's provocation, a flash of impulsiveness appeared in Li Juli's eyes. She then leaned closer to him and whispered, "So, Xiuyuan, you want to continue?"

After saying that, she turned over and took the initiative to make the decision.

After an unknown amount of time, the two walked towards the beach.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, casting long shadows on the beach.

Li Juli walked in front, with Lin Xiuyuan following closely behind, their footprints on the beach being gently blown by the sea breeze.

The two strolled along the island's paths. Li Juli turned to look at him and smiled, "Xiuyuan, how's today? Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Although her tone was relaxed and casual, her voice was a little hoarse. She needed a while to recover from the discomfort of choking on her snacks.

"Seafood, fish, or beef, to supplement your protein intake, but I don't think you need that, Qri."

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled softly, his gaze silently falling on the corner of Li Juli's lips.

"No, I need..."

Li Juli gave a soft hum in response to Lin Xiuyuan's answer, her eyes still sparkling with eager anticipation, even after a day and a night of torment, she still felt that her desire had not been satisfied.

And so, the two casually walked into a small restaurant on the island.

As night gradually falls, the sea reflects a soft orange glow, and the warm night is enveloped in an intimate atmosphere.

……

……

At the same time, in Seoul.

In the evening, Jessica returned to her apartment, sat on the sofa, turned on the TV, and feeling a little bored, she randomly picked a movie to play.

Then I went to the refrigerator, took a glass, put in ice, and poured in some whiskey.

Finally, I settled down on the sofa, listening to the sounds from the TV while browsing the news or watching short videos.

She would occasionally get up and sip a refreshing drink, but even while doing these things, Jessica was still thinking about the scenes and conversations she had with Krystal at lunchtime.

During this time, subtle emotional fluctuations made her feel restless and uneasy for some reason.

After feeling annoyed for a while, Jessica let out a long, frustrated sigh, put down her phone, got up, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

After taking a shower and putting on her pajamas, Jessica sat back on the sofa, poured out the previous drink, and replaced it with a new one.

I picked up my phone, thinking I'd scroll through social media again, trying to distract myself.

But when she opened the news page, a familiar face suddenly caught her eye—it was Lim Yoona.

That radiant face, whether in event photos or fan photos, seemed incredibly dazzling at this moment, instantly stunning Jessica.

Then she sat up abruptly, her eyes wide open, and her heart began to race.

Then she began frantically searching for photos and videos of Yoona's activities in Macau. One photo after another quickly appeared on her screen. Those bright smiles, that radiance so different from when she met her a few days ago, stirred up a complex feeling in Jessica's heart.

At that moment, the things Krystal had said to her at noon came back to mind.

"Want it?"

"Look at what Lee Juri has become."

"Xiuyuan is in the Maldives."

"..."

Those words echoed in her mind like a spell. She was somewhat confused, and just as she was about to calm herself down, a phone rang, breaking her thoughts.

She glanced down at her phone; it was a call from Quan Ningyi.

Although she frowned slightly, Jessica still answered the phone, "Hello, oppa."

"I'm currently in Seoul communicating with my business partners, so I won't be going back to Los Angeles or New York anytime soon."

"Well, although there's no penalty for breach of contract, we still need to calculate some materials and the final payment."

"Haven't most of the debts from the previous judgments already been settled?"

"What? There's still more? Didn't you say it was all taken care of when you told me before?"

"Now what?"

"No, I have to go to China at the beginning of next month, I don't have time. Either you come to Seoul, or you go to Shanghai."

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow."

The content of this phone call almost made Jessica faint, as she was already feeling a bit overwhelmed. When she ran out of things to say, she quickly gave the other person a few perfunctory replies and then hung up.

She then collapsed onto the sofa and let out another long sigh. She hadn't expected that even after closing the shop, she would still be plagued by so many troubles.

There's no escaping it, and no way to escape it.

Just then, the phone she had just put down beeped with a message. Just as Jessica thought it was from the person she had been talking to, she picked it up and saw that it was a few photos from Krystal.

At first, Jessica didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just a landscape picture.

Because the two sisters often post these photos and chat about where to travel next, I casually clicked on it.

However, when Jessica opened the photos, she discovered that things were not as simple as she had thought.

These photos show the Maldives from behind, and the two people standing in front are none other than Lin Xiuyuan and Li Juli, whom we talked about at lunch today.

There are four photos in total.

First picture: Lin Xiuyuan and Li Juli are enjoying breakfast in the living room of the villa. Sunlight filters through the leaves onto their dining table, and the two smile brightly, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant. Lin Xiuyuan is looking down at his bread with a fork, while Li Juli raises her coffee cup, looking at him tenderly.

Second picture: The two of them are wearing wetsuits, standing at the edge of the snorkeling area, ready to go into the water.

Lin Xiuyuan looked a little nervous, while Li Juli smiled brightly, the whole background filled with sunshine and vitality.

The third photo: This is a solo photo of Lin Xiuyuan. He is lying on a beach chair enjoying a sunbath, with his eyes closed and his face relaxed. His strong physique radiates a healthy glow in the sunlight, with the azure sea and clear sky as the background.

Fourth photo: This is a solo photo of Lee Qri at dinner time.

She was wearing a simple beach dress, looking down slightly at her plate, her face gentle and delicate, completely different from her previous demeanor, as if her entire aura had become more radiant.

As each photo unfolded, Jessica's shock intensified, all stemming from Lee Qri's dramatic transformation, a shock that she could not ignore spreading through her mind.

Then she flipped through the photos of Lee Juri again and again, zooming in and out, then zooming in from a different angle.

After looking at her for a long time, the Lee Juri in front of her seemed completely different from the Lee Juri in her memory, who had a thin face and dim eyes.

In the photo, her skin is firm and smooth, radiating youth and health, making her look younger than ever.

Jessica sat bolt upright, nearly dropping her phone, her breath coming in ragged gasps from shock.

Her eyes were filled with astonishment, her mind went blank; after all, the person in the photo was simply unbelievable.

What exactly did the other party go through in those few short days?
Jessica couldn't figure out the reason. Her intuition told her that the reason couldn't possibly be as simple as a vacation.

This change in state is definitely not something that can be achieved through ordinary rest.

After a brief moment of shock, Jessica couldn't contain herself and immediately sent Krystal a message questioning her.

Jessica: [Krystal, what does this mean? Are these photos photoshopped?]

This was almost her last stand; she preferred to believe the photos had been edited rather than accept that Lee Juri's condition had really changed so drastically.

They were even less willing to believe in that so-called fantastical state of 'rejuvenation'.

Why are you unwilling to believe it?
Because it wasn't her who experienced rejuvenation.

Krystal seemed to be busy with something, as it took her more than ten minutes to reply to Jessica's message.

During this time, Jessica was extremely anxious and irritable. She looked at those photos over and over again, desperately trying to find any trace of editing, but she couldn't find any at all.

So as soon as Krystal replied to her message, Jessica opened the chat window.

Krystal: [This is a direct shot from the front camera of an Apple device, Jessica. No editing at all. What do you think? Is the scenery beautiful?]

landscape?

Upon seeing those two words, Jessica involuntarily bared her teeth, her anger surging instantly, almost making her want to bite someone.

As the eldest sister, she knew very well that the photos Krystal sent, combined with what happened at noon, were definitely not meant for her to see any so-called scenery, but rather for the person in the photos: Lee Qri.

With these thoughts in mind, Jessica quickly replied to the message.

Jessica: [Impossible! It's only been a few days! How could Lee Qri have changed so much? Krystal, what secret are you two hiding?]

Krystal: [Still calling it a secret? Everyone knows it's practically a secret now. Anyway, I still suggest you buy a ticket to the Maldives.]

Jessica: [Lin Xiuyuan?]

Krystal: [What does this have to do with Xiuyuan? I meant you should go out and clear your head, don't think too much. Don't bother Xiuyuan, he rarely gets to enjoy a proper vacation, he's bound to be in a bad mood seeing you.]

Jessica: [...]

Upon seeing this sentence, Jessica's feelings went beyond just "depressed"; she felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

Then I tried to suppress my emotions, but the anxiety and confusion in my heart grew stronger and stronger.

Unbeknownst to Jessica, in a high-end hotel on Hong Kong Island, Kim Tae-yeon was also troubled by several photos of Lee Qri, and her mood was not unlike Jessica's.

"Yoona, did Xiuyuan send this to you?"

Kim Tae-yeon stared down at her phone screen, saw the photos, and then abruptly turned to look at the video call on the tablet next to her, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.

"Isn't the scenery beautiful, Taeyeon unnie~"

That's why fans all think Krystal is Yoona's younger sister. Look at their personalities, their mischievousness, they're practically identical!

Kim Tae-yeon listened with a helpless expression, "Are you trying to make me just look at the scenery, Im Yoona?"

"Hehe, I'm going to rest now, unnie, you can watch it slowly by yourself, goodnight~" Yoona's tone was still as relaxed as ever.

"Oh, it's Im Yoona."

Kim Tae-yeon pursed her lips, and her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels as she shouted, seemingly at a loss.

She instinctively wanted to ask more questions, to understand the truth behind the photos more deeply, but she couldn't find the words to speak.

……

……

Around ten o'clock in the evening.

In the bedroom in the Maldives.

In the darkness, a hand reached out from the large bed, groping to pick up the pants and clothes that had fallen onto the carpet.

Soft moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Lin Xiuyuan's slender figure.

As he quietly got up, Lee Juri on the bed remained deep in sleep, her soft breathing echoing in the empty room.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced back at the beautiful figure lying on the bed, and a few thoughts arose in his mind.

This guy must be really tired. He fought so hard so many times, and it's a good thing he had a cheat code, otherwise he would probably be the one lying there sound asleep right now.

He then quietly put on his clothes, carefully avoiding making any noise, and then quietly left the bedroom.

A moment later, Lin Xiuyuan went to the living room, opened the refrigerator, and took out a bottle of ice water to soothe his throat.

He picked up another bottle of beverage, tore off the label, turned around and walked back to his temporary bedroom, gently pushing the doorknob.

The originally dim room was suddenly illuminated by the bright light behind the door, casting a play of light and shadow. Lin Xiuyuan stepped over the door and casually closed it behind him.

The rooms in the Maldives returned to silence, as if time itself had stood still.

The apartment in 13.

About ten minutes later, Shirley, her hair still slightly damp from her shower, was about to leave her bedroom and go to the living room to continue watching her new drama.

As soon as she opened the door, Shirley froze in shock.

The room, which had been empty before, now had Lin Xiuyuan sitting on the sofa, with a variety show playing on the TV in front of him. He was looking down at his phone and was completely unaware of Lin Xiuyuan's presence.

His sudden appearance startled Sulli so much that she almost collapsed to the ground. After regaining her senses, she exclaimed, "Oh my, oppa, you scared me!"

Hearing the voice, Lin Xiuyuan looked up, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "So timid?"

Then he raised the drink in his hand and gently shook it, saying, "This is a really good drink I had in the Maldives. I brought one back for you while I was traveling."

Hearing this, Shirley paused for a moment, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart. She then took the drink, gently unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

The refreshing taste of tropical fruit spread across her tongue, bringing a touch of coolness and brightening her eyes. "Wow, this is really delicious! Hehe, thank you, oppa."

"It's nothing." Lin Xiuyuan smiled and waved his hand, his relaxed tone tinged with concern. "By the way, has anything happened here these past few days?"

Shirley leaned against the armrest of the sofa, shrugged slightly, and seemed to think it was nothing serious.

"Nothing special, I just mentioned that door to Soo-yeon and the others today, and they all said that you should go and locate it when you come back. Ji-yeon and the others did the same."

Hearing Shirley say this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but chuckle, "Why does it make me sound like the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique, just like when I went to get a jutsu mark?"

"Shall we go?" Shirley asked.

Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly, "Go ahead, let's set off now, I'll take you for a drive."

At the same time, Kim Tae-yeon was also driving back to Seoul from Jeonju.

Outside the car window, the night grew darker, and the streetlights on both sides of the street twinkled like stars, casting a gentle glow.

Inside the car, melodious music flowed gently, seemingly blending into the quiet night.

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(End of this chapter)