Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 208 July: Everyone's New Beginning~ (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
July 1, 2013, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, inside the tvN television station building.

The area in front of a conference room was bustling with activity and a lively atmosphere.

Outside the glass door, a banner hung straight, its words boldly written in Korean: "Script Reading Meeting for the TV Series 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo'"

Inside the meeting room, staff members were busily moving back and forth, with cameras, recording equipment, name tags, and posters of people all readily available.

The walls were covered with character groups and relationship diagrams, and the air was filled with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming journey.

At 10:00 AM sharp, ten minutes before the study session officially began.

The conference room door was gently pushed open, and a tall, slender figure walked in.

Today, Sulli has shed her usual sweet and casual girlish style and put on a more sophisticated and writer-like outfit.

The upper body is a dark green military-style short jacket, with a three-dimensional lapel and waist-cinching cut that outlines a capable silhouette while still retaining the unique feminine soft lines.

Wearing a black and white floral patterned knit sweater underneath, the lively and playful pattern jumps against the dark tones, adding a touch of fresh and artistic flair to the overall look.

She wore a gray high-waisted A-line skirt, which was neither flamboyant nor restrained, exuding a calm yet perfectly rational and self-controlled air.

With her makeup simple and elegant, she let her short hair fall naturally over her shoulders, and wore a professional and polite smile, but she couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes.

This was because it brought her excitement and pride as she made her first official appearance as a "screenwriter".

Upon seeing her enter, the staff members who had been conversing in the meeting room, as well as several actors, quickly stood up to greet her, "Writer Cui, you've arrived."

When the words "Writer Cui" were uttered by someone else, Shirley's heart stirred slightly, and a gentle sense of recognition and honor quietly spread through her chest.

So she smiled slightly and replied softly, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone."

She then walked to the screenwriter's seat in front of the conference table, opened the leather script folder she carried with her, pulled out a few neatly marked copies of the script, carefully checked the lines, and quietly looked around.

This was my first time appearing on a TV series production set as a formal screenwriter. Before, I had always played lead or supporting roles, so I couldn't help but feel particularly complicated and excited.

Before long, light and rhythmic footsteps could be heard again outside the conference room.

The female lead... Krystal Jung has arrived.

Her appearance was as clean and bright as the first rays of the morning sun.

Unlike Sulli's intellectual and composed style, Krystal Jung chose a youthful outfit that best suits her personality today.

A neatly tailored white shirt, tucked naturally into high-waisted denim shorts, makes the wearer look fresh and capable, with a touch of playfulness and an effortless sense of ease.

She wore a pair of white-soled, blue-trimmed platform canvas shoes, paired with high white socks, which outlined her long, straight legs. The look was clean and neat, like a simple sketch, yet made exceptionally exquisite by her frame and posture.

She casually carried a small white shoulder bag, her phone tucked between her fingers, her expression relaxed and natural, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

As soon as she entered the room, she became the focus of everyone's attention.

"Krystal is here!"

"Wow, it really is our leading lady! She's so energetic today!"

Hearing these sounds, Shirley, sitting in the front row, didn't look up; she simply smiled faintly and didn't respond.

Her fingertips turned the pages of the script copy in her hand with even greater concentration, as if the whole world had nothing to do with her.

But the slight smile in the corner of her eye still subtly betrayed her feelings.

Upon entering, Krystal Jung first glanced at Sulli in front of her, then bowed slightly to everyone in the room, her voice clear and crisp, "Hello everyone, I am Krystal Jung, who plays Kim Bok-joo this time. Please take good care of me."

Although this was not her first time participating in a TV series, at the script reading session where she was playing the female lead for the first time, beneath her confident tone lay a slight, barely perceptible nervousness.

It was a kind of cautiousness—a desire to perform well while fearing being seen through—that subtly overlapped with the character she played.

After greeting her, Krystal sat down next to Sulli and whispered, "I'm a little nervous."

Shirley turned her head and winked at her, then whispered, "It's your day today, relax and do your best."

The tone was comforting, yet it also carried a gentle firmness that pushed her onto the stage.

"You too, Sulli~" Krystal, feeling a little relieved, smiled slightly at her.

Meanwhile, in the surrounding seats, the male lead Nam Joo-hyuk, along with young actors such as Lee Jae-yoon, Jo Hye-jung, and Lee Joo-seung, had already taken their seats.

With the arrival of the "writer and the female lead," the atmosphere in the conference room gradually became more lively.

Everyone naturally sat down in front of the seats arranged by the crew. A long table divided them into two rows, with name tags, scripts, bottled water, and several brightly colored highlighters in front of each person.

Soon after, the director, PD, producer, and other key members of the creative team arrived and took their seats.

After exchanging pleasantries for a few minutes, the host walked onto the stage, tapped the microphone twice to test it, and then announced in a gentle but somewhat ceremonial tone.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Today, we are officially starting the first script reading for 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo'. Please relax and get fully immersed in the story."

Sulli, who had been whispering to Soojung, stopped talking and immediately became focused.

She straightened her back, opened the script in front of her with both hands, and her eyes fell on the title on the first page.

It was a transition from "friend" to "screenwriter" in an instant, and also a way of paying homage to the characters and the words.

She knew that from this moment on...

My future will be completely changed.

Similarly, Jung Soo-jung, sitting next to her, also took a slow, deep breath and focused her gaze.

She understood that turning each page wasn't just about the lines, but also about a new starting line.

In the corner of the conference room, a small camera phone mounted on a stand hung quietly, its lens pointed at the people at the long table.

If someone were to look closely at the screen behind that phone, they would find that it is currently in a video call with someone.

Although the person facing the painting was not physically present, it seemed as if they had been watching everything all along.

……

On the other side of tvN TV station, in Lin Xiuyuan's apartment, two figures were sitting lazily on the sofa.

The TV screen in the living room was projected to synchronize with the live feed on Sulli's phone. The feed showed a script reading session taking place in a tvN meeting room, and the scene was as clear and realistic as a scene from a movie.

Lin Xiuyuan sat in the center of the sofa, with Krystal sitting cross-legged beside him. The two were very close, each holding a freshly made cup of fruit tea, but their eyes were almost never off the screen.

Watching Shirley sit in the screenwriter's seat, staring nervously at the script in her hands, occasionally looking up to nod and exchange words with the director.

Jung Soo-jung, sitting next to her, was engrossed in reading her lines with a focused expression on her face.

The scene was quiet and orderly, with a fresh and enthusiastic atmosphere.

After a while, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but chuckle, "How amazing! This kind of script reading session is more interesting and fun than those edited ones from TV stations. And Zhenli's presence as a screenwriter in this reading session is quite composed."

Krystal, leaning on his shoulder, spoke with a gentle yet proud gaze.

"Yes, it seems that he has really become a screenwriter who can stand on his own."

After exchanging a few more words, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Jung Soo-jung, who had clearly gained some weight, and said with a teasing smile, "But haven't we been neglecting you a bit? This is Jung Soo-jung's first time playing the female lead."

After Lin Xiuyuan mentioned himself, Krystal remained silent for a moment, then simply stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure on the screen.

She suddenly realized that this journey to save Shirley in a parallel universe seemed to be a way of saving her own younger self.

As this thought emerged, an indescribable warmth and relief welled up from the bottom of my heart.

Then she sniffed softly, turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, and whispered, "Xiuyuan..."

"Hmm?" Lin Xiuyuan turned his head, his gaze meeting hers tenderly.

The next second, Krystal's eyes welled up with tears. "You know what? Actually, during the time after Sulli passed away, I really... almost couldn't hold on anymore."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan's expression softened, and he was about to say something to comfort her.

Unexpectedly, Krystal suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly as if she had grasped a lifeline.

“Back then, in the first few months after Sulli left, I just couldn’t accept it. Every day I would go through our old chat history, listen to her voice messages, and rewatch her variety shows… Whenever I closed my eyes, I felt like she was still there.”

Her voice grew softer and softer, and tears silently streamed down her face. "I had so many dreams, dreaming that she was standing at the dormitory door, saying, 'Soojung, I'm back.'"

Her voice grew softer and softer, yet it seemed as if a heavy weight was being suffocated from the depths of her heart, and tears streamed down her face, as if the pain she was enduring had finally found an outlet.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't speak, but gently pressed her head against his chest, as if he were using his embrace to shield the beautiful figure in his arms from the storms of that world.

She gasped, her voice choked with emotion, “I kept thinking back then, if I could have done something, would things have been different? So when you told me that we had gone back to 2013 that rainy night… you can’t even imagine how complicated my feelings were at that moment.”

She paused for a moment, and when she looked up, her eyes were already red and swollen. "But now... when I see her sitting there, with such a firm look in her eyes and such a clear voice... I really feel that I can finally let go, and finally save my younger self, so that she won't have to go through everything I went through."

Lin Xiuyuan reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his tone gentler than ever before, "In saving them, you also saved yourself."

Krystal nodded emphatically, but tears still streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Xiuyuan, I'm so happy... I've never been happier than I am now."

Her voice was soft and slightly fragile, as if at this moment, she had finally found her own peace.

Lin Xiuyuan hugged her even tighter, as if giving Krystal, who was finally willing to be vulnerable, a place to lean on after letting go.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the television screen, Shirley was opening the script for the second act, intently reading the dialogue.

Her voice was clear and distinct, and she wore a faint smile.

Sitting next to her, Krystal Jung looked up slightly and gazed at her tenderly, her eyes filled with support and encouragement.

The two girls, with their distinct styles, meet at this moment and begin a new chapter in this conference room filled with scripts and dreams.

……

at the same time.

On a bustling street in Shanghai, the morning sun shines through the gaps between the tall buildings, illuminating the front of a newly opened store.

The store has a distinctive style, with a striking red banner hanging at the entrance that reads: "Warmly celebrate the grand opening of the 'Flame Selection Mala Tang' flagship store!"

Although it wasn't noon yet, the area outside was already bustling with people. On stage, Park Jiyeon, dressed in a clean and sharp white suit, stood smiling brightly in the sunlight, surrounded by her fellow T-ara members, who were also dressed up. Ham Eunjung, Park Hyomin, Jeon Boram, and others all made their appearances.

As soon as they appeared on stage, they were met with a deafening roar from the fans in the audience.

Support signs and banners rose and fell, and cheers and screams came in waves.

"Queen Jiyeon is the most beautiful!"

"T-ara, I love you!!"

"Long live Mala Tang!!"

"Little Ming, that was awesome!!!"

"Eunjung oppa!!!"

"Soyeon, the big Soyeon!!!"

"Heavenly King covers the Earth Tiger, I, Lan, am only 1.5 meters tall!?"

"Juri, Madam, you will always be a goddess!!"

Seeing this scene before them, even Park Ji-yeon and Ham Eun-jung, who had already learned about the "future intelligence" from Lin Xiu-yuan, couldn't help but show some genuine surprise and astonishment.

The other members, though unprepared, managed to maintain perfect composure and smile with ease, thanks to their stage experience.

"Oh my God……"

Ham Eun-jung whispered close to Park Ji-yeon's ear, unable to hide her shock, "This scene is even crazier than ours in Busan at the end of 11, right?"

Park Jiyeon smiled, but her heart was pounding slightly. She then surveyed the sea of ​​people, surrounded by cheers and shouts.

"Yeah... even if you know some things beforehand, you'll still be scared when you're actually standing here."

She answered softly, but her eyes were unusually firm, and she became more certain and clear about the path she would take in the future.

Soon, under the host's arrangement, the store's opening ceremony began with a lively ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The crisp sound of golden scissors cutting the red silk marked the official launch of "Flame Selection Mala Tang's" first franchise store outside of its directly operated stores.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and the air seemed to be filled with the aroma of chili oil mixed with the fans' enthusiasm.

The members of T-ara, who are the brand ambassadors for "Flame Selection Mala Tang", then entered the store, signed autographs for fans, took photos with customers, and were interviewed by the host.

The moment they raise a hand, turn their head, or smile, their fans respond with a roar like ocean waves.

Several die-hard fans from remote areas even arrived two days in advance to set up tents outside the store, clutching their old support merchandise and handmade photo albums tightly in their arms.

Many people were moved to tears upon seeing their idols in person.

"We've finally waited for you to come back..."

"We have never left."

A genuine following, burning passion, and a throng of fans.

At this moment, the members of T-ara truly understood what it meant to say: "This is not just about market potential; this is a genuinely huge stage."

Behind the crowd, a low-key agent dressed in black was holding a phone, silently recording the grand opening ceremony.

He took photos of the long lines of fans and also recorded the highlight moments when Tara and others were called "Spicy Hot Pot Queens" on stage, and then quickly wrote them down in his notebook.

"The offline commercial activity in China is astonishing."

"They have extremely strong appeal in terms of brand endorsements."

"The T-ara reunion effect remains strong here, with extremely high fan loyalty."

"It is recommended to plan the China tour schedule within 2-3 months as soon as possible."

"Business collaborations/endorsements are open to mainland Chinese beverage/cosmetics brands."

As he finished writing, he suddenly stopped, switched to a red pen, and circled two lines of text in large circles in the blank space.

—Go back and discuss it with the company; we must restart our China market strategy!

— Lots of money, few people, come quick.

He closed his notebook, looked up at the radiant figure on the stage, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

This is not just about opening a mala tang (spicy hot pot) restaurant; it has also rekindled the flame that had never been extinguished in the hearts of a group of people.

……

Around noon, at Seoul Incheon International Airport.

Sunlight streamed through the enormous glass dome onto the ground, and the airport was as bustling as ever, but today's excitement was heightened by a group of special visitors.

The members of Girls' Generation stepped out of the van one after another, surrounded by assistants, managers, and security personnel, with rows of suitcases slowly moving forward like a ceremonial procession behind them.

Flashes of light followed one after another, and screams and shouts rose and fell, as if the entire terminal building was shaking slightly.

What first triggered the media's shutter clicks was not a deliberately attention-grabbing action, but rather a composed and elegant figure.

Jessica Jung stood out in the crowd.

She wore black-framed sunglasses, and her long, smooth hair fell over her shoulders. With a casual flick of her wrist, the movement resembled gently smoothing the rhythm of a breeze.

She wore a light pink plaid suit jacket that exuded both gentleness and competence, paired with dark blue denim overalls. The gold buttons shimmered slightly in the sunlight, perfectly blending fashion and retro charm.

This outfit maintains her usual elegant queen-like aura while also exuding a fashionable and youthful vibrancy, as if she just stepped off the runway and could be featured in a brand's magazine the next second.

The black and white canvas shoes she wore cleverly broke the sense of distance in the overall look, adding a touch of nonchalant approachability and casualness to her style.

She was carrying a small chain bag that had just come off the production line not long ago. It was made of white leather with a black trim, simple yet highly recognizable.

She exudes both independence and a strong "fashionable aura".

Unlike the other members' sweet or casual airport outfits, Jessica Jung's look is like a walking magazine cover, with a high degree of recognizability.

So naturally, the media's cameras automatically focused on her.

"Sooyeon's airport look this time is absolutely stunning!"

"Was that suit designed by her? It's so stylish and has such a great attitude, it's really eye-catching!"

"She's completely forged her own path; she's a true designer now!"

The reporter took photos and praised the subject, his words revealing his genuine admiration.

What's even more special is that a group of Jessica Jung's fans had been waiting for a long time on both sides of the airport passage.

Unlike other fans who wave light boards, glow sticks, and offer gifts and flowers.

They were almost all wearing replicas of Jessica Jung's past collections: skirt suits, jackets, and small handbags, among other things.

With a unified color scheme and a sophisticated style, it looked from afar like a mini fashion show organized by fans, and its presence was in no way inferior to the starlight at the other end of the airport.

“We don’t just follow celebrities, we also wear her designs.”

A fan proudly showed off the same jacket, his face filled with pride and determination.

Even though Jessica Jung's current design and planning are still in the early stages of development and she has no intention of making a profit.

But her fans have turned "promotion" into a belief, a shared emotional connection, through their actions.

Upon seeing this, Jessica Jung paused slightly, then a gentle smile appeared on her lips as she waved softly to the group of pink and white figures.

This time, her role in the trip to Taiwan is slightly different from that of the other members.

While others may simply travel as idols, Jessica Jung has already been invited by numerous fashion agencies, independent buying platforms, and brand studios to participate in a week-long offline fashion show, design sharing, and brand exchange event.

Furthermore, several independent brands from Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore have recently expressed interest in collaborating with Jessica Jung.

Even some small fashion shows have extended formal invitations to her to become a designer.

Although these are not international big brands, these niche and professional invitations represent an important step for Jessica Jung in her transition from "celebrity" to "designer".

So when she looked back one last time before boarding the plane at the group of fans who were wearing her designs and still standing straight under the scorching sun, a gentle yet firm look finally appeared in her eyes.

At this moment, Lin Xiaolu, who was in front, suddenly slowed down and came to her side, smiling and saying, "Unnie, how are you feeling?"

Jessica Jung pondered for a moment before softly saying, "A sense of accomplishment."

She tilted her head slightly. "So, Yoona, when you got the lead role that time, was that how you felt too?"

"Pretty much." Lin Xiaolu nodded with a smile, "It's like the excitement of wanting to secretly spin around but having to pretend to be calm, and then laughing heartily in bed at night."

Then, a figure strolled over. It was Sunny. "Oh my, Xiuyan, your fans are so amazing. Where do they get these clothes? They look pretty good in everyday clothes too."

"It's a counterfeit, I didn't expect this, I was quite surprised."

Jessica Jung chuckled softly, her expression surprisingly surprised.

After speaking, she glanced at the familiar figures walking quickly ahead, raised an eyebrow slightly, and remained calm without any worry.

After all, this is all out of the fans' own initiative and has nothing to do with her.

……

……

　I'll try to finish the next chapter tonight, but if I can't, I'll update it tomorrow morning.

　　Then I'll rest tomorrow and focus on writing, and see if I can adjust the update schedule.

　　If I keep staying up all night like this, I won't be able to take it anymore!

　　That's all: Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)