Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 191 The Small Gift for Bae Joo-hyun and "Respect" (Please Subscribe and Vote)

Early in the morning.

Cheongdam-dong, the underground parking lot beneath Girls' Generation's dormitory. Cold white lights shone on the cement floor, illuminating it spotlessly, exuding a sense of tranquility and aloofness.

Lin Xiuyuan skillfully reversed the Mercedes into the empty space, turned off the engine, unbuckled his seatbelt, and then got out of the car.

The movements were swift and decisive, with almost no unnecessary hesitation.

Kim Tae-yeon was already standing on the side of the car, arms crossed, watching him get out, and then she stepped forward to greet him.

Lin Xiuyuan then handed her the car keys, a teasing smile on his lips, and said, "Remember to have the tire replaced tomorrow. Don't rely on this spare tire to drive; it won't take you very far."

"Oh, I see."

As Kim Tae-yeon took the keys, she smiled, but the corners of her mouth also curved slightly, as if she couldn't hide the helplessness of having her feelings exposed. "I still feel like you're teasing me with those words."

“This time there really wasn’t one, I’m giving you a serious reminder.” Lin Xiuyuan smiled, his eyes open and honest.

Are you guys going out for a late-night snack?

After hearing Lin Xiuyuan's words, Kim Tae-yeon asked a question as if it were just a casual remark.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Shirley in the passenger seat of the Land Rover, realizing this was probably her explanation, and nodded slightly, "Yeah, I came out with Shirley to find something to eat, do you want to come along?"

Although Kim Tae-yeon was somewhat tempted, she ultimately shook her head, "Never mind, I have work tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll be going now." Lin Xiuyuan nodded in farewell, his tone gentle.

Looking at Lin Xiuyuan, who had already turned around and was about to leave, Kim Tae-yeon actually still had a lot of questions she wanted to ask this boy.

But the words that came out were just a soft reminder, "Okay, drive carefully."

"Relax." He turned around, waved, and smiled casually, continuing his walk towards the Land Rover without stopping.

Just then, a clear, slightly drowsy female voice came from the entrance of the parking lot, "Oh, hello, senior~"

Lin Xiuyuan paused and turned to look.

Bae Joo-hyun was wearing a casual gray-blue long sweatshirt, her hair was loosely tied up, and she was wearing slippers. She was holding a phone in one hand and what looked like... some freshly packed late-night snacks in the other.

Bae Joo-hyun's gaze lingered on Lin Xiuyuan's face for a second before moving past him to Kim Tae-yeon not far away.

A look of obvious surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly recovered and bowed ninety degrees to Kim Tae-yeon, saying respectfully, "Hello, Kim Tae-yeon sunbaenim."

"Hello." Kim Tae-yeon nodded, her voice gentle.

She remembered the girl; she was a prospective member of a new group the company was preparing to launch.

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and greeted him with a smile, "Long time no see."

At that moment, Sulli, sitting in the car, seemed to notice the commotion. She rolled down the window, curiously poked her head out, and asked in a lighthearted tone, "What's wrong, oppa~"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Bae Joo-hyun was clearly startled again. Almost reflexively, she turned her head and bowed once more, saying, "Hello, Sulli sunbaenim."

"Oh, I remember you. You're a prospective member of the company's group, right? Hello."

Shirley smiled gently, her eyes showing a hint of surprise and warmth. "Your name is... Joo-hyun, right?"

"Yes, it is."

Bae Joo-hyun nodded, somewhat incredulous, her voice tinged with a flustered awe.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing to the side, seemed to suddenly remember something, so he slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, right, I almost forgot about that."

Kim Tae-yeon and Sulli both looked at him, and Bae Joo-hyun also turned around.

Soon, Lin Xiuyuan turned and walked to the trunk of the Land Rover. He rummaged through it and took out a delicate little bag, which was obviously prepared in advance.

After walking back, she looked at Bae Joo-hyun with a relaxed tone and a smile in her eyes. Her smile was clean and gentle, and she said in a relaxed tone, "Here, this is a gift I promised to bring you when I saw you before. I didn't expect it to take so long."

This is a small item that Lin Xiuyuan saw when he passed by a shelf while choosing a gift for Dalongzai.

When I thought of Bae Joo-hyun, I brought her along as well.

Bae Joo-hyun stared at him blankly, then looked down at the small gift in her hand, her mind seemingly going blank for a moment.

She never expected that Lin Xiuyuan would actually remember this little thing that he had only mentioned in jest.

His eyes were wide open, and for a moment his reaction was a beat slow.

"For...for me?"

She stammered, as if confirming or disbelieving, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the bag's handle.

Shirley, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned over and glanced at the scene, then immediately raised an eyebrow.

Kim Tae-yeon, standing behind, tilted her head and looked at Lin Xiu-yuan with a meaningful gaze.

Bae Joo-hyun stood there, holding a bag of late-night snacks in one hand and the gift in the other, as if she hadn't recovered from her surprise.

"Thank you, senior... really... thank you..."

Kim Tae-yeon looked at Bae Joo-hyun standing there dumbfounded, and finally spoke up, "Speaking of which, did you come down here in the middle of the night to buy a late-night snack?"

When asked this, Bae Joo-hyun's expression changed instantly, and she froze as if she had been struck by a pressure point.

So he subconsciously hid the bag of late-night snacks behind his back, looking at Kim Tae-yeon with a flustered expression, "I, I... I'm just... a little hungry... I didn't eat after practice..."

The voice grew softer and softer, as if waiting for the judgment of fate to fall.

After all, the company has extremely strict requirements for the weight management of trainees who are about to debut. If they sneak food in the middle of the night, they will definitely be scolded.

However, Kim Tae-yeon just smiled gently, her tone unexpectedly tender, "Don't be nervous. When I was a trainee, I was often with her..."

She pointed at Shirley, unable to hide her smile, "Let's go downstairs together in the dark to buy fried chicken."

“Yeah, Taeyeon unnie and Yoona unnie took the lead back then.” Sulli smiled and her eyes crinkled. “She even taught me how to evade company inspections. I had to throw the food away right after eating, open the windows for ventilation, or spray some perfume or other scented things to cover up the smell of the food.”

"Really...really?"

Bae Joo-hyun stared wide-eyed at these two seemingly unreachable seniors in disbelief.

“Of course it’s true.” Kim Tae-yeon nodded with a smile. “So relax, it’s not illegal to have a late-night snack once in a while. As long as you pay attention to maintaining your figure, it’s fine.”

"Mmmmmmm!"

Bae Joo-hyun nodded repeatedly, like a pardoned chick, her face earnest and touched.

Seeing that the atmosphere had relaxed, Lin Xiuyuan didn't linger any longer. "Then we'll be going now. Taeyeon, you guys should go upstairs and get some rest too."

As he spoke, he patted the car door and looked at Shirley inside, "Let's go, Shirley."

"Yes, oppa~"

Shirley smiled, waved gently, and then closed the car window again.

Just as Lin Xiuyuan was about to start the car and leave, he suddenly seemed to remember something, rolled down the window, and called out to Bae Joo-hyun, "Oh, right... Bae Joo-hyun..."

"Huh?" Upon hearing her name called, Bae Joo-hyun almost instinctively stood up straight.

"..."

A moment later, Kim Tae-yeon waved slightly, turned and left with an expression that Bae Joo-hyun couldn't understand, and walked towards the elevator.

Bae Joo-hyun remained standing, watching Lin Xiuyuan's car slowly drive out of the parking lot until the taillights completely disappeared at the exit, at which point she let out a soft sigh.

After the elevator doors closed, Bae Joo-hyun finally came to her senses, then composed herself and, carrying her late-night snack, crossed the parking lot through another exit.

Passing through the building behind them and up the familiar stairs, they quietly returned to the temporary dormitory that the company had prepared for them, the trainees.

Upon entering, the warm yellow light in the dormitory shone on the wooden floor, spreading a soft warmth and a faint woody fragrance.

"You're back? Why did it take you so long?"

On the living room sofa, Son Seungwan was watching a drama while hugging a cushion. Hearing the noise, she immediately jumped up and ran over to greet him.

"Yes, I just ran into Kim Tae-yeon and... Sulli downstairs."

Bae Joo-hyun's tone was still somewhat dazed, and her movements as she carried the snack bag were a beat slower.

"Wow, really? What are they like?" Son Seungwan's eyes lit up instantly, his face full of surprise.

"They're all... all very good..." Bae Joo-hyun said as she placed the late-night snack on the coffee table.

Then, as if remembering something, she carefully took the delicate little bag out of her bosom, her expression becoming inexplicably serious.

"What's that?" Son Seungwan leaned closer, her eyes immediately drawn to it.

“A…gift from a senior.” Bae Joo-hyun said softly, somewhat incredulous herself, “He said he promised to give me one…and he actually did today.”

"Daifa, could it be that he likes you? This is so strange..."

Son Seungwan, as if she had discovered some treasure, excitedly moved even closer, "Come and see, open it and take a look."

Bae Joo-hyun nodded and carefully opened the small bag.

There was no gift box or jewelry in the bag as I had imagined, only a semi-transparent kraft paper envelope containing a card.

She gently pulled the card out of the envelope.

The next second, Son Seungwan exclaimed, "Wow!"

"This is so beautiful!" She patted Bae Joo-hyun's arm, staring wide-eyed at the card. "Unnie~ Is this you? It looks so much like you."

It was a delicate and artistic pencil drawing.

The girl in the painting wears an exquisite hair accessory and a well-tailored dress. Standing under the spotlight, she tilts her head slightly, exuding confidence and composure, as if she is standing in the center of a stage, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

This is her on stage; this is Bae Joo-hyun, who will stand center stage in the future.

Bae Joo-hyun stared blankly at the painting, as if her soul had been deeply touched at some moment, and she fell into silence.

"Who drew this, unnie? The senior who gave you the gift?"

Son Seungwan asked in a low voice, his tone full of envy, "He can actually draw, and he draws so well..."

Bae Joo-hyun didn't respond immediately, but gently stroked the edge of the card with her fingertips, her movements soft and focused.

In the lower right corner of the painting, there is a line of hasty yet elegant Korean handwriting: This is for your future self. When you stand there, you will be more dazzling than you can imagine.

The moment she saw those words, Lin Xiuyuan's smiling words before he left suddenly came to mind, as if they were ringing clearly in her ears again.

"Um, Bae Joo-hyun. If a stranger suddenly approached you and started talking to you, given your personality and circumstances, what do you think your first words should be to grab your attention?"

Why would that senior ask such a question?

But why would the other person give her such a... special gift?
Could it really be as Seungwan said, that he likes me?

"Hey, Joo-hyun, why aren't you saying anything?"

Son Seungwan leaned over and shook her, "Let's sit down first, there's still supper, eat up."

"Oh... um..." Bae Joo-hyun came back to her senses, only to find that she had no appetite at all.

Then, he reluctantly picked up a piece of rice cake and put it in his mouth, but he couldn't even taste it.

Her gaze quickly returned to the card. She looked down at the hand-drawn picture, her heartbeat feeling as if it had been gently bumped, a warm current rising within her, rippling outwards.

She had met many seniors who were articulate and caring.

But this is the first time I've seen something so meticulous and thoughtful...

Beside her, Son Seungwan ate while looking at the painting, and couldn't help but mutter, "This senior is so talented, unnie, is he trying to woo you?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Bae Joo-hyun was startled and immediately glared at her before quickly lowering her voice, "Keep your voice down..."

However, when she thought of the senior figures who had appeared around Lin Xiuyuan one after another, Bae Joo-hyun felt a little uneasy.

She... dared not think too much about it.

Even so, the gift and the carelessly written but resolute message were like a seed that quietly took root in her heart.

She thought she would remember the card. For a very long time.

……

Meanwhile, Lin Xiuyuan was driving to Zheng Xiuyan's apartment. At this moment, Shirley in the passenger seat was staring at him, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Oppa, what did you just give to that company's future god-like face?"

Sulli also learned a rough idea of ​​Bae Joo-hyun's future through short videos, so she jokingly said, "Using information from the future to win over a girl from the past is a bit too much, isn't it?"

When faced with Shirley's question, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and brought up his sexual orientation again, saying, "I have no intention of trying to woo her. I don't like girls with a 50/50 body proportion. Slim waist, long legs, and big breasts are my favorite."

Upon hearing this, Shirley glanced at herself discreetly and chuckled, "So it's the kind of girl like Qri unnie who went to the Maldives with you, right?"

"Hyomin is fine too." Lin Xiuyuan smiled faintly.

"Hey, oppa, you're such a wife-obsessed guy. You can say whatever you want, but don't ruin other people's marriages!" Sulli was startled and immediately corrected him in a serious tone.

"What are you thinking?" Lin Xiuyuan smiled helplessly. "I'm talking about Hyomin in 2013. She wasn't married yet, right?"

Faced with this answer, Sulli smiled and replied in a different way, "So if you can't eat the fully ripe fruit, you'll pick the unripe one and try it too, oppa?"

"Wow, those are sharp words, Sherry."

"Humph~"

The two chatted and laughed as they quickly arrived at Jessica Jung's apartment.

Entering the door, going upstairs, and unlocking the door—all in one smooth motion, without any unexpected situations.

Upon entering the living room, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the decorating style and quickly looked away.

Having grown accustomed to the avant-garde and fashionable style of 2025, the aesthetics of 2013 do seem somewhat outdated in comparison.

Then Lin Xiuyuan led Shirley to a door, grasped the doorknob, and gently pushed it open.

The living room of the villa behind the door came into view, and it was indeed a 25-year-old villa.

"nailed it."

As Lin Xiuyuan said this, he led Shirley into the villa, then closed and opened the door, revealing the apartment from 13.

When the window is closed and reopened, the scene inside returns to Jessica Jung's apartment.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had returned to this side, looked at Shirley and said, "Mission accomplished."

"Although it's not the first time I've seen it, it still feels so amazing every time I see it."

Shirley stared at the door in amazement, "It's even more shocking than when you took me directly to the villa in 2025... How did you even manage that?"

“I also find it amazing.” Lin Xiuyuan shrugged. “But if you ask me about the principle behind it, I can only say that I don’t know.”

As he spoke, he placed one hand on Shirley's soft head and ruffled it. "Alright, there's no point in thinking about things you can't figure out. While we still have time, let's set up Lin Xiaolu's apartment too. We'll go grab a late-night snack later, and then I'm going back to the Maldives to rest."

Back in the car, Shirley was still replaying the time-traveling door in her mind.

She leaned back in the passenger seat, tilting her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, "Honestly, oppa, every time we travel through time, it feels like a dream."

"Are you implying that you don't want to pay for the late-night snack later?" Lin Xiuyuan teased as he started the engine.

Sulli chuckled, "Ah, oppa~ it's my treat, I made some money."

Amidst laughter and conversation, the car started and drove into the night-lit streets of Qingtan.

This time, the destination is Lin Xiaolu's apartment.

The process was the same as before: locate, confirm, start—everything was so familiar and smooth.

Lin Xiuyuan even took a bottle of water from the apartment's refrigerator. The whole process took less than two minutes, but it left Shirley somewhat stunned once again.

"What we're doing right now... feels more like a protagonist than the main characters in those sci-fi dramas, oppa~"

"Then please don't spoil our future plot in the future."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't turn around, just said something casually, then smiled and patted the door panel, "Okay, everything's set up here too."

Then he reached out and patted her head again, "Let's go get some late-night snacks."

Half an hour later, at a barbecue restaurant near Cheongdam-dong that was open until the early hours of the morning.

The charcoal sizzled, and the aroma of smoke and meat filled the air.

Shirley skillfully flipped the pork belly on the grill, then picked up a slice and handed it to Lin Xiuyuan, saying, "Be careful, it's hot, oppa~"

Then, looking at Lin Xiuyuan across from him with amusement, he said, "It's strange, oppa. You're not bad at cooking, so why can't you learn how to grill meat? It's so simple."

As Shirley spoke, she demonstrated how to grill the meat.

However, Lin Xiuyuan was only focused on eating and completely ignored her instruction. "...Hmm~ This barbecue is pretty good."

Shirley shook her head helplessly as she watched him eat, then laughed, "Of course, I never make a mistake when it comes to choosing a late-night snack place."

Lin Xiuyuan raised his Coke cup, gently touched it with hers, and smiled, "Then you definitely deserve credit."

The two lightly touched glasses, creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere.

After taking a sip of her drink, Shirley leaned back in her chair, blinked, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, moved closer to Lin Xiuyuan.

"By the way, oppa, the script I wrote is getting a very good response from the company lately."

Sherry lowered her voice slightly, but her tone couldn't hide a hint of excitement.

"Oh?" Lin Xiuyuan looked up and glanced at her. "The 'Weightlifting Fairy' project, right? It's already been approved by the TV station, so your company's response isn't needed."

"Well, that's it."

Shirley nodded, her eyes shining. "But now the company is starting to know that I'm a screenwriter. When I go back to the company recently, many people start calling me Writer Choi instead of Shirley."

Seeing Shirley's cheerful expression, Lin Xiuyuan smiled gently and asked, "So, Shirley, which nickname do you like?"

“I like them both, they’re both me.” Shirley smiled.

He continued, "By the way, the female lead has also been confirmed, and the contract has been signed."

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but think of Lin Xiaolu. "Haha, compared to your progress, Lin Xiaolu's is really a bit slow. You're almost catching up with her pace."

"It's different. Oppa, Yoona unnie's drama was filmed on various real locations and even went abroad. My drama is very niche."

Upon hearing Lin Xiuyuan's answer, Shirley quickly offered an explanation for Lin Xiaolu.

"I know, I was just saying." Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

Across from her, Shirley glanced at Lin Xiuyuan and continued to shake her drink can with a smile, "Seriously, oppa, this change is really amazing. Even the entertainment department representative, whom I hadn't met much before, came to talk to me about the direction of the next project."

"I just saw your potential... ugh, the size of your cash cow," Lin Xiuyuan retorted.

"I know, but at least it showed me a sense of respect."

Shirley's casual reply made Lin Xiuyuan look up and give her a deep look, and she quickly smiled and said, "It's nothing, oppa, I was just feeling a bit sentimental."

"Let's eat the grilled meat."

"Inside~"

Eager to eat, the two continued chatting and laughing as they ate until night deepened and a light rain began to fall outside the window, at which point they slowly left the shop.

After returning to his apartment, Lin Xiuyuan didn't rush back to 2025.

Instead, he sat and chatted with Shirley in the living room for a while before slowly getting up, saying goodbye to her in front of the time portal, and heading to the Maldives in 2025.

……

With a click, the door closed, and Lin Xiuyuan stood once again in the living room of the beach villa on Vila Island.

The white floor tiles still retained the dampness of the day, and the distant sound of waves rhythmically lapping against the shore made everything seem as tranquil as ever.

However, the smell of barbecue clung to Lin Xiuyuan at this moment was particularly strong.

"Tsk."

Lin Xiuyuan frowned, sniffed himself, then simply took off his shirt and headed straight for the bathroom.

Hot water sprayed down, and steam slowly rose into the air.

With his eyes closed, Lin Xiuyuan let the warm water wash over his body, and it seemed that even the fatigue from working non-stop all night was being washed away little by little.

He bent down to wash his hair, water droplets sliding down his forehead and neck, outlining his muscles under the light, gleaming faintly.

Suddenly, a series of very light footsteps approached quietly.

Before he could turn around, a pair of warm and damp arms gently wrapped around his waist from behind, pressed tightly against him.

"Wow……"

Lin Xiuyuan suddenly opened his eyes, startled and almost slipped. He quickly grabbed the tiled wall with one hand and turned to look behind him, saying, "You scared me!"

The person who came was none other than Li Juli, who had been fast asleep.

She was wearing a soft long T-shirt, clearly having just gotten out of bed. Her hair was still slightly messy, and she stood barefoot on the tile floor, her eyes still showing signs of sleepiness.

She was standing behind Lin Xiuyuan, her face pressed against his shoulder blade, her warm breath hitting his damp skin, carrying a hint of coquettish laziness and longing.

"Why are you awake?" Lin Xiuyuan was both amused and exasperated.

"The bed is too empty, I can't sleep." Lee Juri's voice was a little hoarse, as if she had just woken up from a dream, or as if she was deliberately slowing down her murmur.

Lin Xiuyuan turned his head to see what she looked like, but as soon as he moved, she quietly bit him on the back, lightly, yet like an electric current.

"Then how did you fall asleep before I was here?"

“The past is the past,” Lee Juri replied without hesitation, “the present is the present.”

Then she hugged Lin Xiuyuan even tighter, her fingertips tracing the muscles of his abdomen, as if casually tracing them, or as if confirming his presence.

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled speechlessly. Just as he was about to turn around, Li Juli reached out and pulled a bath towel from the shelf next to her. She walked straight to his side and said in a light tone, "Don't move, I'll help you wash."

"Seriously? What kind of treatment is this?" Lin Xiuyuan said, half-jokingly.

"If you like, you can do it every day."

Lee Juri looked up and gave him a charming look, then began to carefully rub the foam off his shoulders, her knuckles gentle yet firm.

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled softly, closed his eyes, and let her hand slide slowly over his body.

Whether it was the comfortable water temperature or the sense of security brought by the close intimacy, I suddenly felt a rare sense of relaxation.

Li Juli rubbed Lin Xiuyuan's shoulders down his back, then slowly down his waistline, her knuckles applying a light touch, seemingly intentional yet unintentional, which was more alluring than direct teasing.

"Did you bathe other people like this before?" he suddenly asked.

"No, this is the first time."

"Your movements are too practiced."

"So, do you want to focus on taking a shower, or do you want to focus on talking?"

"…I can't argue with you."

The sound of water continued, the light was dim, and the atmosphere became increasingly enchanting. Two blurry figures were reflected on the wet, slippery tiles, pressed tightly together with almost no gaps.

Lin Xiuyuan braced himself against the wall with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her into the water.

"Since it's already like this, let's take a shower together."

Lee Juri didn't answer, but just looked up at him, water droplets dripping from her chin and falling between their intertwined chests.

The answer was a slow but firm kiss.

　As usual, I'll update another 3,000-word chapter later. You can wait until tomorrow to read it. This chapter is what I wrote from this morning until now; I'm truly a writer with terrible handwriting!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)