Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 203 Jessica: Thank you!! And "Eun-jung, what about you~" (Please subscribe and vote!)

Inside the apartment's kitchen.

The sound of the cleaver hitting the cutting board rang out. Lin Xiuyuan's hand moved quickly under the knife, and tomatoes were cut open one by one on the cutting board, with juice splashing everywhere.

Beside it, a bowl of beaten eggs waited quietly, while steam rose from the hot water in the pot, as if urging something on.

Two boxes of beef were soaking in a pool of water a little to the side, being thawed by running tap water.

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom.

Jessica had just stepped into the bathroom, closed the door, stood in front of the mirror, and gazed at her clear reflection, the sound of her own heartbeat clearly audible in her ears.

Lin Xiuyuan's words were like a gentle knife, lightly cutting open a hidden corner of her heart and stirring up countless indescribable emotions.

This made her pause slightly, recalling the other person's unintentional expression. Her restless heart left her unsure how to react, and the complex emotions in her heart also made her inexplicably annoyed.

Amidst these chaotic thoughts, Jessica sighed deeply and then tried to relax her shoulders.

Then she turned on the shower and let the hot water pour down her hair, washing away the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

As the bath time passed, she gradually relaxed, and her mood became much clearer.

But Lin Xiuyuan's image still lingered in her mind. It wasn't enough that he had stirred up her anger and resentment before; now he was getting greedy, as if he was preparing to plant a seed deep in her heart, intending to let it take root and sprout silently.

After a moment, Jessica shook her head, took a deep breath, and shook her head to temporarily put aside those chaotic thoughts.

Soon after taking a shower, she changed into a simple set of pajamas.

The soft blue pajamas accentuated her slender figure.

Then, she stood in front of the mirror, tidied her hair, applied skincare products, and subconsciously sprayed on a little perfume.

The aroma that wafted towards me carried a familiar sense of comfort.

Finally, he gently opened the door and walked out of the master bedroom.

The next second, a warm, smoky aroma filled the air, carrying the scent of stir-fried dishes and a certain warmth of life, which made her pause slightly.

The living room was dimly lit, and two dishes were quietly laid out on the dining table.

A plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, red and yellow hues intermingling, glistening under the light, is like a familiar memory being stirred up by the steam.

The other plate of pan-seared steak had a slightly crispy skin and a rich aroma, with the beef fat creating a warm, savory aroma in the air.

However, the man who had been busy in the kitchen was nowhere to be seen.

Jessica subconsciously looked around, even glancing at the bathroom door, but it was empty.

This situation made her frown, and a sense of inexplicable tension rose in her heart, until she noticed the corner of the dining table.

There was a sticky note quietly placed there, with only two words on it: Gone.

Looking at the note in front of her, Jessica was stunned, and a wave of indescribable emotions slowly rose in her heart.

As a public figure, she is too used to being surrounded, arranged, and watched.

But precisely because of this, it's rare to experience such a simple yet heartwarming atmosphere of everyday life.

Just a few hours earlier, she was sitting alone on the sofa eating pizza, as if she were filling her stomach, or perhaps chewing on a kind of loneliness.

And now, in front of us are these two dishes, this little note, and the kitchen that has been cleaned up spotlessly.

It made Jessica feel as if she were in another parallel universe, a place without spotlights and labels.

An inexplicable tenderness welled up in my heart, and I was even somewhat moved.

Although Jessica didn't know when Lin Xiuyuan left, the atmosphere of the kitchen remained. The lighting was soft, and the air was filled with the aroma of food. All of this was completely different from the life she was used to.

Thinking of this, she slowly walked forward, lowered her head to approach the plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and took a gentle sniff.

The aroma is enticing, the sweet and sour flavors are just right, and you can even smell the softness of the eggs.

Then his gaze fell on the note again, and a complex feeling welled up in his heart.

The man seemed to be expressing some kind of unspoken care to her by offering her a hot meal.

Thinking of this, Jessica sighed softly, looked up at the two dishes on the table, the colors and aromas creating a scene that was simple yet heartwarming.

Then sit down, gently pick up a piece of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and put it in your mouth.

The taste was unlike any meal she could remember; it was simple yet warm, like the most basic human touch in the city, and every bite made her feel the warmth of life.

Although Jessica was still eating alone at the table, her feelings were already different.

As she ate bite after bite, the food gradually decreased, and her mood softened little by little.

She recalled the loneliness she felt when she ate pizza alone earlier. At that time, she only felt lonely, as if she were the only person in the world. But the two dishes in front of her made her feel a warmth she had never experienced before.

Although it wasn't like no one had ever cooked a meal for her before.

But no one has ever cooked for her like they did tonight.

Different starting points for emotions naturally lead to different feelings.

So Jessica's gaze unconsciously lingered on the empty space in the kitchen, and she imagined Lin Xiuyuan cooking for her.

After thinking for a while, she unconsciously smiled, as if the scene suddenly became somewhat pleasing to the eye.

After finishing the last bite of her steak, Jessica put down her chopsticks and reached for her phone.

She didn't immediately dial Lin Xiuyuan's number, nor did she dwell on the reasons. Instead, she chose to call the number that had removed her from the blacklist.

With a gentle tap of the finger, the familiar contact's name appeared on the screen.

After a brief pause, a complex feeling suddenly arose in my heart.

He hesitated for a moment, but only briefly, before typing two words decisively: Thank you.

After sending the message, Jessica put down her phone, took a deep breath, looked up at the dining table and kitchen, and suddenly felt as if she had found a long-lost peace.

In any case, tonight's meal and this silent care came a little too suddenly.

The aroma in the air gradually dissipated, but the kitchen still retained that lingering warmth, as if silently telling unfinished stories.

Jessica smiled gently. Although she was eating alone, she didn't feel as lonely as before.

……

……

the other side.

After quickly cooking two dishes, Lin Xiuyuan didn't plan to linger and left Jessica's apartment directly.

Although the elevator in that building required a card to access, the stairwell wasn't locked, so he slipped away quite easily.

After returning to Krystal's apartment, they went back to the apartment they had lived in 13, and then back to the villa they had lived in 25.

He wouldn't dare try such "supernatural" things in public.

When Lin Xiuyuan stepped into the villa's living room again, the people on the sofa immediately looked at him. Among them, Jessica Jung spoke first, "What did Soojung want you to help with? It's been so long."

"It's just taking a picture of a contract."

As Lin Xiuyuan spoke, he lazily sat back on the sofa and casually forked a piece of fruit into his mouth.

As soon as he finished speaking, Kim Tae-yeon laughed, "Shooting a contract took almost an hour? Krystal's contract must be over a hundred pages long."

Yoona added with a laugh, "If I didn't know better, I would have thought Krystal was over there too, and that you two were putting on a good show of being all lovey-dovey."

Facing those malicious eyes, Lin Xiuyuan shrugged while chewing fruit, "Krystal isn't here, but her sister is."

"Ok?"

Jessica Jung, who had just put down her snacks, suddenly became alert.

Lin Xiuyuan pursed his lips, "I was filming the contract when Jessica suddenly came downstairs, which scared me so much that I almost ran away. It turns out she came downstairs to take a shower because the hot water was out."

"Hmm? And then? Xiuyuan, tell me more, the plot seems a bit familiar." Kim Tae-yeon laughed and patted Im Yoon-ah's thigh next to her.

"And that's it."

Faced with Kim Tae-yeon's teasing, Lin Xiuyuan remained unfazed. "I went up to check and found that the idiot hadn't paid her bill. They cut off her gas. I helped her fix it and then came back."

He omitted the fact that he had cooked two dishes to avoid being surrounded by gossip, which he felt was not worthwhile.

After hearing this, Jessica Jung finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then unceremoniously raised her hand and slapped his arm.

"Hey, you can curse all you want, but can you please stop calling 'Jessica that idiot' all the time? It's really irritating to hear, and it feels like you're including me in your insults."

Lin Xiuyuan, who had been hit, felt a little aggrieved. "I deliberately stopped calling you by your name, Zheng Xiuyan. I said Jessica."

“It was me too.” Jessica Jung said matter-of-factly, refusing to reason.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the people on the sofa and realized that no one was going to say a word for him; they were all suppressing their laughter, as if watching a good show. Helpless, he could only shrug and say, "Fine, whatever you say."

"So you're calling me stupid?" Jessica Jung persisted, her eyes widening.

Lin Xiuyuan was left feeling helpless by her, so he simply stretched out his hand and said, "Forget it, let's skip the formalities and just call. It'll save time."

Everyone on the sofa couldn't help but burst into laughter. Kim Tae-yeon rolled around on the sofa laughing, and even Im Yoon-ah covered her mouth, saying, "This is too much of a willing way to get hit."

Once the laughter subsided a bit, and it was getting late, everyone prepared to rest.

Since Lin Xiuyuan hadn't yet accessed the map of Tian Enjing's apartment, he couldn't take her directly home, so he called a designated driver and accompanied her there.

The remaining few were straightforward. Shirley went back to her apartment from 13; that was the anchor point.

Jessica Jung also returned to her apartment from 13. She had already located it and went straight to the door.

Next up are Yoona and Taeyeon, both of whom can be reached directly from their 13 apartment by simply opening the door.

So after dropping the group off, Lin Xiuyuan and Tian Enjing waited at the villa for the designated driver to arrive, then got into her car and headed to their destination.

After the car stopped in the parking lot downstairs at Tian Enjing's house, the designated driver said goodnight and left, leaving Lin Xiuyuan alone to follow Tian Enjing to her apartment.

While waiting in front of the elevator, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly smiled and remarked, "Tsk tsk, I suddenly feel that my situation is not bad. At least I have a reason to come and visit your place instead of waiting for you to come to the villa."

Sweet Eunjung, who was standing next to her, smiled gently and said in a tender tone, "If you want to go for a visit, I don't think anyone would refuse. Besides, the way Taeyeon looked at you just now felt very familiar to me."

"Familiar?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, the way Qri unnie looks at you is exactly the same."

Sweet Eun-jung blinked, her smile tinged with a hint of teasing. "Xiu-yuan, you're really too attractive to girls. Remember to take care of yourself regularly, or I don't want to go back to see someone and find you completely drained."

Faced with Tian Enjing's blunt statement, Lin Xiuyuan frowned but smiled and said, "What you said makes me a little uneasy."

The two chatted and laughed as they took the elevator to their apartment building. Like Jessica's, Sweet Eun-jung's apartment was one unit per floor, spacious and quiet.

So when they reached the door, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly became interested and blocked her from unlocking it.

He wanted to try out the new feature, but he couldn't budge the door at all.

"OK, I understand. I was originally going to see if this time portal was a universal key, but now it seems that it can only be used on doors that can be opened at will."

"You're already amazing, what more do you want?" Tian Enjing smiled as she opened the apartment door, welcoming Lin Xiuyuan in.

Then he asked, "Would you like to sit for a while?"

"No, it's too late, I won't disturb your rest."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, then opened the door to the second bedroom, preparing to return to the apartment from 13.

But just before he was about to step inside, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Tian Enjing behind him with a smile in his eyes.

"Eunjung, you just said that Taeyeon's eyes looked like she wanted to eat me alive, what about you?"

Sweet Eun-jung was taken aback by Lin Xiuyuan's question. Her gaze briefly met his, and she was about to say something when she was surprised.

But the other person had already turned around with a smile, stepped through the door, and left decisively.

She was left standing there alone, stunned for a moment, before finally smiling gently and helplessly.

Then, looking up at the door that had just been closed, my thoughts drifted back to that moment that evening.

That is, the scene where Sherry came from the past to the future and stood in front of her.

The indescribable shock made her heart tremble slightly, and it also stirred up some longing for a certain relative.

After a moment, she murmured to herself, "Compared to that, I prefer the past, Xiuyuan~"

Unfortunately, Lin Xiuyuan could no longer hear those words.

And so, today's story finally came to a quiet end.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiuyuan, who had returned to his apartment 13 years ago, said goodnight to Shirley and then went into his bedroom.

Wash up, turn off the lights, and sleep soundly through the night.

……

……

The following morning, in 2013, inside a beauty salon in Seoul.

As time went on, the Girls' Generation members, who arrived for makeup according to the order drawn by lot, entered one after another.

In the blink of an eye, the nine women had each taken their seats in different corners of the beauty room. Hair dryers and combs were busily moving about on the chairs in front of the mirrors, quiet yet orderly.

Jessica Jung, who was originally in the back of the line, took the initiative to switch places with Yuri Kwon today and quietly sat next to Lin Xiaolu.

Lin Xiaolu, who was looking down at her phone, noticed the change beside her and curiously tilted her head to ask, "Unnie, what do you want to ask?"

"Did you already know about Xiu Yuan's matter?"

Jessica Jung said in a low voice while fixing her hair, not revealing too much, since there were too many people around to hear.

Lin Yoona was clearly taken aback and looked up in confusion, "What's wrong? What happened to Lin Xiuyuan again?"

Jessica Jung didn't say anything after that, she just patted her face.

Lin Xiaolu blinked at the sight, then shook her head, "I don't understand."

"When you ate with me last time, didn't you think you looked much better? Here." Jessica Jung added this sentence before patting her face.

Lin Xiaolu understood now and her eyes widened. "Unnie, you went to the villa last night?"

"Yes, I know everything." Jessica nodded, then emphasized, "I heard you knew even earlier, is that right, Yoona?"

Lin Xiaolu, who was being held accountable, could only laugh awkwardly and spread her hands helplessly, "I know it, but I didn't dare to try it. It just felt weird."

Upon hearing this, Jessica Jung sighed softly and then said...

“We’re too shy, or rather, we don’t value this much. As far as I know from last night, that guy is being used as an experience point over there. Everyone’s eager to become a juicer and have him make them soy milk.”

"Sigh~"

Upon hearing this answer, Lin Xiaolu immediately realized something and gasped with concern, "Then Lin Xiuyuan wouldn't be..."

"I don't know, my brain is a bit of a mess right now. I took in too much information while resting yesterday, I need to sort it out properly."

Jessica Jung shook her head, looking somewhat tired.

Besides this, Jessica's situation also made her a little melancholy.

At this moment, Lin Xiaolu, who was mentally prepared after the initial surprise, quickly regained her composure and resumed her thinking.

"So, Unnie, there's a reason why he doesn't go back to the apartment. There are so many beautiful women at the villa, and we're all working. If you were in his shoes, would you want to come back here and just sit around doing nothing?"

"Yoona, do you think this is the problem?" Jessica Jung looked at her.

“I think even if there are other factors, this issue accounts for the majority of the problem; that guy is very young.”

After listening, Jessica Jung stared at her for a while, then suddenly sighed and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Before they could think about it further, the makeup artist pushed the door open and came in, so the two had to temporarily stop talking about it.

Meanwhile, in neon-lit Tokyo.

The six members of T-ara finally finished their rehearsals and schedules, and having some free time, they went out together to relax.

Just before leaving the house, Jeon Boram, who was changing her shoes in the entryway, suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Park Jiyeon, "By the way, Jiyeon, how did you two meet the guy who bought my apartment?"

"Huh?" Park Jiyeon was a little surprised. "Unnie, why are you suddenly asking this?"

Even Ham Eun-jung, who was standing next to her, cast a curious glance at her.

"Because he's been pushing games on me lately, sending me three different messages a day, and asking all sorts of questions."

Jeon Boram's tone carried a hint of distress, "I was just wondering... what exactly is your relationship with him? Maybe I should..."

Jeon Boram, who was about to block and delete her, suddenly hesitated.

Although Lin Xiuyuan was a little annoying, the mini-games he promoted were really fun and filled the boring time she spent waiting.

It would be better if she weren't so proactive; she's socially awkward.

At this very moment, Lin Xiuyuan, who was fast asleep in his apartment, had no idea that his public image was about to collapse.

　The day has ended, another day of burning out. Thank you to all the godfathers for your support and votes.

　　Daily progress report: 59/67.

　　I'm begging for monthly votes, subscriptions, donations, anything!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)