Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 211 The Storm Ends (A long chapter of 10,000 words~ Please subscribe and vote!)

February 2013, 7, late at night.

Inside the studio of Kim Soo-hyun's management team in Cheongdam-dong, the air pressure was so low it was almost solid.

Kim Soo-hyun paced back and forth barefoot in the living room, his face as gloomy as the night sky.

"Where did these things come from!?"

He practically shouted those words.

The agent was pale and his voice trembled. "I don't know. According to the information Chief Pei gave me, he asked some employees at D Company through his channels, but they couldn't find the source of the information either. It's said that multiple intermediaries were used, but it's very likely that it came from overseas."

"foreign?"

Kim Soo-hyun's eyes turned cold, and the first thing that came to mind was the girl who had just left.

The girl he had just fallen in love with, but who suddenly left him.

"Liu Yina!!!"

The timing and visuals of that video were so familiar.

The terms "overseas channels" and "multiple springboards" immediately made Kim Soo-hyun think of her identity.

He was aware that the other party held citizenship of the United States.

"Soo-hyun oppa, are you... sure it's her?"

The assistant's voice was as weak as a needle, piercing the deathly silence.

No one dared to answer the call.

Kim Soo-hyun was silent for three seconds, then suddenly raised his hand and smashed the glass on the table to the ground, scattering shards everywhere.

"So what if I'm fucking sure? The most important thing right now is to deal with Dispatch. Producer Kim's phones are ringing off the hook. The movie is showing right now, do you know how much box office revenue we're losing for every minute we're delayed?"

Kim Soo-hyun's screaming and rapid speech indicated that he was on the verge of emotional collapse.

In fact, he was very glad that this revelation did not come out last month.

If this situation occurs in early June, the box office of his film "The Great Hidden Ones" could be halved, or even worse.

At that point, given the way Producer Kim is, who has connections everywhere, he won't just call to urge him. Kim Soo-hyun is really afraid that he will be thrown into the Han River.

Seeing this, the team leader quickly stepped in to calm things down, saying, "Now is not the time to hold someone accountable. We must fight back immediately, or we'll have to wait for the company's senior management to sever ties with us."

"Okay, we'll suppress the news first."

The deputy quickly drew up a contingency plan, typing on the computer as he said, "Contact the portal websites and block the homepage push notifications. Use our own statement to top it up, first completely denying that it's fake, maliciously edited, or deliberately fabricated."

"You can also release some negative information about artists from other companies to divert attention, but don't touch the big companies."

"By the way, we'll generate buzz for your new movie and establish your 'honest and emotionally stable' persona."

“If necessary… we’ll buy a few ‘authoritative self-media’ accounts to endorse the video and say it’s fabricated.”

Kim Soo-hyun closed his eyes and pinched his brow hard with his fingers, as if he was trying to suppress a headache.

"Go do it, go do it quickly."

But before he could finish speaking, his phone vibrated violently, as if it were about to explode.

Because Dispatch has already made a move.

……

Early in the morning of June 7.

Dispatch's third-phase evidence package arrived as scheduled, completely igniting public opinion across the Korean Peninsula.

This time, they no longer evaded the issue but instead launched a direct attack, targeting the core issue.

The title is as sharp and powerful as a blade:

[Key Materials Exposed] - Kim Soo-hyun's Complete Chat Logs and Audio Files with Underage Girl on Social Media Platforms Released
This is the first time Dispatch has directly mentioned "Kim Soo-hyun" in the title without any attempt to conceal it.

The evidence is rigorous and incriminating, with a complete structure and meticulous logic, covering the following parts:

The initial acquaintance at the end of 2012, the contact and manipulation at the beginning of 2013, and the complete private message records clearly show the wording of "secret lovers" and the communication with psychological manipulation implications.

The victim's handwritten diary from that year is accompanied by a handwriting comparison report certified by a third-party authentication agency.
Unedited audio clips include Kim Soo-hyun's coaxing tone and scenes of coercion after the girl clearly refuses;
An anonymous statement from the victim's mother, accompanied by a lawyer's statement and a letter of authorization for publication;

A detailed timeline chart compares Kim Soo-hyun's public schedule in early 2013 with video timestamps.

The entire article concludes with a single sentence, so calm it's almost cold:

We are not responsible for convictions, but we believe that society has the right to know and the public has the right to judge.

Less than ten minutes after the news was released, the D-Community website server briefly crashed due to traffic overload.

In less than half an hour, the top 20 trending topics were all occupied by this incident.

In less than five hours, online public opinion completely shifted, evolving from initial confusion and shock to overwhelming condemnation.

The wind direction has changed.

One of the most popular comments garnered over 100,000 likes and shares, becoming the most representative voice of public opinion that day: "This is not an idol's downfall; it is a long-hidden darkness that has finally been dragged into the daylight."

……

July 12, 7:00 AM.

The news channel on TV used "The Moment the Bubble of Fame and Fortune Bursts" as the title of its special report.

Online, multiple brands have been calling Kim Soo-hyun's company, with four of them sending official notifications.

[Announcement]: This brand has terminated its cooperation with Mr. Kim Soo-hyun and firmly opposes any behavior that violates social ethics.

The investors of the film "The Great Hidden Ones" took a more direct approach.

"If the alleged crime is confirmed, the box office losses will be borne by the actors, and the guarantee agreement will be terminated immediately."

Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun's PR team barely slept all night.

"No matter how much you yell, this is no longer a public relations issue."

In the Cheongdam-dong studio, the manager's voice was hoarse, "The denial statement we submitted last night not only went unbelievable, but it was also used as a joke for analysis, with people saying that your sentence structure and tone were avoiding key information."

—What kind of apology is that? 'I'm sorry if it caused discomfort'? That's a lawyer's version of speech, not human language!

—Now is not the time to explain, it's the time to give up!
Looking at the comments on the computer screen, Kim Soo-hyun leaned back on the sofa, feeling completely drained.

His face was ashen, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was almost hoarse. "The police... are they really going to investigate?"

July 12, 14:30 PM.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency held a briefing.

The original plan was to simply respond to the question of the authenticity of the information leaked by Dispatch.

But before the press officer could finish speaking, and before the microphone was even properly set up, he dropped a bombshell opening statement.

"The police have received the formal report and have some videos and materials. The case is currently under investigation."

The reporters at the scene were instantly in an uproar.

Is Kim Soo-hyun listed as a suspect?

Has the victim's identity been confirmed?

Will Kim Soo-hyun be summoned?

The police spokesperson gave a very straightforward answer.

"meeting."

"And we do not rule out using coercive interrogation as a means of investigation."

This statement signifies that the case has officially entered the criminal investigation stage.

Meanwhile, at KeyEast Entertainment headquarters.

The company's top management held an all-night meeting, and the final resolution was summed up in one sentence: "Remain silent externally, and immediately initiate risk isolation internally."

To put it simply, it's about preparing to cut.

Everything about Kim Soo-hyun on the artist's official website was quickly removed, his assistant team list was cleared, and all related artist projects began the contract termination process.

Meanwhile, a copy of Kim Soo-hyun's contract was quietly moved into a folder named "Frozen" on the internal server.

When the news reached the studio, it was already 11 p.m.

July 12, 23:41.

Kim Soo-hyun finally took a car to KeyEast Company again; he wanted to see Bae Yong-joon.

He knew very well that the issue was no longer about whitewashing or controlling public opinion.

Rather, it's a final window of opportunity to save one's life, freedom, and even the last shred of dignity.

Inside the office.

Bae Yong-joon sat behind his desk, a stack of evidence compilation manuals from Dispatch spread out in front of him.

At the very bottom was a thin but weighty termination application.

Then, he looked up at the student in front of him, his brows furrowed, and spoke first.

“It’s not that the company doesn’t want to help you. Actually, the moment D Company got hold of this material, someone on my side tipped me off. Then I contacted the higher-ups at D Company immediately and tried to buy this stack of stuff with money.”

Kim Soo-hyun suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

But only for a moment.

Because Bae Yong-joon continued calmly, "...but no, they refused very decisively."

If it were just a few blurry photos or ambiguous records, they might still hesitate.

But this time, your chain of evidence is too complete. Time, location, video, audio, chat logs—each link connects seamlessly, forming a closed loop, watertight.

As he said this, he glanced at Kim Soo-hyun, his eyes sharp as needles.

"This is no longer a leak, this is a carefully orchestrated plan. It's obvious that someone is targeting you, and even if it wasn't Dispatch that released the information, other media outlets would have done it sooner or later, so Dispatch wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip by."

Kim Soo-hyun clenched his fists, veins bulging, and his voice was almost forced out through gritted teeth.

"Who is it? Who's trying to get me?!"

Bae Yong-joon took off his glasses, slowly wiped the lenses, and spoke in a low voice.

"If you insist on asking who's behind this, I can only tell you it's definitely not one person."

He put his glasses back on and looked directly at Kim Soo-hyun:
"There's a group of people waiting for you to fall."

Bae Yong-joon, who was carrying the document, pointed to the pile of documents on the table, his tone as cold as ice.

“The KeyEast internal shareholders meeting just ended before you arrived. Several investors holding more than 10% of the shares have made it very clear that they want us to sever ties with you, for one reason only: to protect the company’s market value.”

Kim Soo-hyun's face turned deathly pale.

"You know that this year and next year are the key periods for the company to attract investment."

As a result, once this matter came to light, all investment plans were suspended.

Both Sohu and SM Entertainment are taking a wait-and-see approach, keeping a low profile for now.

Bae Yong-joon paused, his expression growing increasingly somber.

"So the company's shareholders gave me a final deadline of 48 hours, which is two days."

If we cannot come up with an effective countermeasure against public opinion within two days, they will officially announce: "KeyEast has terminated its contract with artist Kim Soo-hyun and is fully cooperating with the police investigation."

The office fell silent for a moment.

Kim Soo-hyun's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice hoarse, "And what about you, Master...you're also one of the major shareholders, could you...could you..."

His voice trembled, as if in a final struggle.

But Bae Yong-joon simply shook his head slowly.

"I've done all the work I can to help you until now; it's the limit of all my connections."

You need to understand that the reason Dispatch dared to release the third phase is because they had already predicted that you were doomed.

The question now isn't 'whether it can be washed off,' but whether you even want to make a living.

Kim Soo-hyun gritted his teeth, his hands clenched tightly on his legs, looking like a wounded beast, huddled in the chair panting.

Bae Yong-joon's tone remained as calm as iron, his words like knives, dissecting reality one sentence after another.

"This is no longer just a battleground for the media."

"Those people you've offended are already waiting behind your back to kick you when you're down."

After saying that, Bae Yong-joon reached for a thick report summarizing public opinion on social media platforms and slammed it heavily on the table.

"Take a look at these for yourself."

“In an anonymous group within T Company, there was an anonymous comment from one of your ‘male co-stars’ who directly named him: ‘Finally, someone has exposed his true colors.’ He said that you stole roles, slept with senior actors, and forced female actresses out, revealing all of your misdeeds one by one.”

"There's also a small idol team from J-Company that directly released a video of your private gathering from many years ago, using this wave of traffic to promote their own newcomers."

"Why are all these things that no one ever mentioned or dared to mention in the past suddenly being brought up again?"

Kim Soo-hyun gritted his teeth and muttered, "They're afraid I'll climb too high."

"Yes."

Bae Yong-joon nodded, his tone devoid of any pity.

"You're too famous, too famous."

The film "The Moon Embracing the Sun" achieved legendary status.
Hidden Great broke various records as soon as it was released.

You are not an ordinary actor; you are a gold mine in the eyes of capital and a variable in the power structure.

The number of people you've stepped on, the resources you've cut off, and the forces you've blocked over the past few years is far more than you realize.

He then sighed, his voice as low as the night wind:

"Now that they see you're about to collapse, of course everyone's scrambling to finish you off."

Your hotel records from when you were filming a drama abroad have also been dug up.

There were even anonymous posts alleging that you 'harassed female international students when you were studying at language school'.

And then there are those crazy 'righteous netizens' who actually started digging up clips of you recording variety shows with me when you first debuted, asking if I was also involved in your messy affairs.

They've even started targeting me now.

The office fell into a deathly silence.

After a long silence, Kim Soo-hyun finally whispered:

"Then... what do you suggest we do now?"

Bae Yong-joon looked at him, his tone steady and firm, like a hammer striking wood.

"First, you should be prepared to be investigated by the police."

Dispatch's materials have been submitted to the prosecution, and under public pressure, the police cannot afford not to file a case.

"Second, don't fantasize that everyone will save you."

The beverage brand and the athletic shoe company you endorse have sent me letters of intent today, intending to pursue breach of contract penalties, estimated to exceed 7 million Korean won.

"Third, the only thing you can do now is not to be stubborn, but to save your life."

Don't provoke public sentiment, and stop spreading those plagiarized articles claiming innocence; you can't convince anyone.

What you need to consider is: if you actually get in, can you prevent a second or third victim from being apprehended?

Kim Soo-hyun froze, his eyes suddenly showing a hint of panic.

"Yes, stop pretending."

Bae Yong-joon's tone turned completely cold.

“I’m not a police officer, I won’t arrest you, but I know who you are.”

The main reason you got to where you are today isn't your acting skills, but your keen sense of smell, your packaging, and your methods.

But you've forgotten that methods can never outlast time.

Bae Yong-joon stood up, walked to the desk, and patted Kim Soo-hyun on the shoulder, as if smoothing the collar of someone about to be beheaded.

His tone was low and slow, yet every word and sentence was like a knife.

"What you should be thinking about now is not 'whether you can turn things around,' but how to make sure you don't end up in a really bad way."

Kim Soo-hyun's voice was hoarse, "Master...please save me, I don't want to go to prison, do I have any other chance?"

Bae Yong-joon took a deep look at Kim Soo-hyun and sighed, "If this had happened six months later, by this time next year, things might not be the way they are now."

"..."

Kim Soo-hyun looked up abruptly, puzzled, as if wanting to ask Bae Yong-joon why he said that.

Bae Yong-joon spoke calmly, but with an undeniable sense of regret.

“I’ve actually been in contact with HBE recently—you know? Jun Ji-hyun is going to make a comeback and film a drama. If you hadn’t gotten into trouble, I might have been able to get you the male lead role in that script.”

"Jun Ji-hyun's comeback drama is destined to be a phenomenal hit. If you can capitalize on the popularity of this drama and elevate your status to another level, I will then package you as a representative of the peninsula's cultural export."

"By then, even if something happens to you, the company will do everything in its power to protect you."

At this point, Bae Yong-joon said helplessly once again.

"But that's all nonsense now. You're just unlucky; the bombshell dropped too early."

“Right now, in terms of status, value, and positioning, there are plenty of comparable actors in the market. The company has no reason to drag the entire company down for the sake of one actor like you. Especially this time, you've directly caused us to lose several potential large investors.”

At this point, Bae Yong-joon looked at the student he had personally mentored, a complex emotion rising in his eyes.

Starting with "Dream High," he treated Kim Soo-hyun as his trump card, pouring resources into promoting him and gradually elevating him to stardom.

But now, he has no choice but to push him down himself.

Bae Yong-joon, being in the same boat as Kim Soo-hyun, didn't actually think Kim Soo-hyun was "that bad."

In his view, who in this circle can be clean?
It's just that it wasn't covered up properly.

But Bae Yong-joon, who was thinking about all this, also knew very well that even if he was unwilling, he had to cut ties with him.

He then sat down again, his tone even colder.

"Soo-hyun, there's another issue. Besides your personal situation, the company will definitely seek compensation from you for your losses. You'd better prepare for that in advance. I can't help you with much here."

He sighed and whispered one last time, "But I have a piece of advice for you: keep your mouth shut. That way, you might still have a chance."

If Kim Soo-hyun really goes in and talks nonsense, not only will the company not let him off the hook, but Bae Yong-joon will also suffer.

With KeyEast Entertainment's headquarters relinquishing control, everything seemed to accelerate, pushing Kim Soo-hyun into the abyss he deserved.

……

2013年7月13日，上午9:45，首尔警察厅。

Under immense pressure from overwhelming public complaints and relentless media scrutiny, the police issued another public statement:

"A formal investigation has been launched into Jin's suspected illegal activities, and we plan to summon him for questioning in the near future. We have already obtained relevant audio and video evidence and will work with the network forensics technology department to verify it."

Meanwhile, the prosecution confirmed that it has received copies of the original evidence materials from Dispatch (D社) in three phases and is working with the victim's legal team to gather evidence.

Same day, 10:32.

Yesterday, several top-tier brands that had not yet terminated their endorsement contracts jointly issued a statement announcing their termination:

[Given the significant negative controversy surrounding artist Kim Soo-hyun, in accordance with the cooperation agreement, all brand collaborations are hereby terminated immediately, and the right to pursue economic losses is reserved.] Less than two hours later, the other brands that had endorsed him followed suit, announcing the termination of their contracts one after another.

Within just half a day, all of Kim Soo-hyun's endorsement contracts were terminated, and his advertising images were removed from major shopping malls, stores, and official channels.

At the same time, the official account for the movie "Secretly Greatly" announced an emergency suspension of updates and deleted all promotional materials related to Kim Soo-hyun.

July 13, 3:10 PM.

The lawyer representing the first victim held a press conference and played an audio excerpt.

All the reporters present fell silent.

The girl's voice trembled but was firm:
“I’m not doing this for revenge, but to ensure that there will never be another me.”

This sentence was like a spark falling into a haystack, instantly igniting the entire social network.

With over a million reposts and comments, the hashtag surged to the top of the trending search list.

#WeWeWeWereThatGirl

#KimSooHyunGetOutOfTheEntertainmentIndustry
#The days of using power to buy silence are over.
It became a top trending topic on the three major platforms: Twitter, NAVER, and DAUM.

……

September 7, early morning.

CNN, BBC, NHK and other mainstream international media outlets subsequently broadcast the report, with the headline:
Asia's Top Actor In Scandal of the Decade

Global attention has surged to its peak.

The Korean Peninsula Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a joint petition from several overseas women's rights organizations, calling for a thorough investigation of the case and ensuring the safety of the victims.

It was this "international news" that completely sealed off Kim Soo-hyun's chances of survival and brought about an irreparable price for everything related to him.

After all, for the Korean Peninsula, the entertainment industry was once a symbol of the country's soft power.

Today, this scandal has become a mark of national shame.

When the United States also expressed concern and raised questions, this "celebrity incident" officially escalated into a "diplomatic crisis."

This situation will be the final straw that breaks Kim Soo-hyun's back.

July 14, 10:00 AM.

KeyEast's stock price immediately hit the daily limit down upon opening, wiping out approximately 79 billion won in market value in a single day.

Subsequently, the company published a "Major Risk Statement" announcement on its website:
[Kim Soo-hyun's contractual matters have been handed over to the legal department. The company will cooperate fully with the investigation and pursue all breach of contract damages in accordance with the law.]

Meanwhile, the comment section of KeyEast's official Weibo account has been flooded with messages, with many netizens demanding a thorough investigation into the "internal cover-up chain."

Public opinion has shifted from Kim Soo-hyun personally to the power structure of the entire entertainment industry.

Some netizens posted photos of Kim Soo-hyun meeting with Bae Yong-joon and CJ executives in his early years, saying bluntly: "This is not just a house collapse, it's the entire group collapses."

At the same time, Dispatch released a major teaser.

The final compiled data for the fourth phase will be released tonight.

The accompanying image is a blurry scan of a contract, but the signatory is still identifiable as the head of legal affairs at KeyEast.

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

July 14, 19:22.

Kim Soo-hyun made a low-key appearance at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to cooperate with the investigation.

A news van stood guard outside the police station, and a photo of him wearing a mask and looking pale became the front page of all the evening papers that night.

It went viral online, sparking another public outcry.

Inside the police force, a mid-level officer in charge of evidence collection remarked softly, "This case is bigger than we imagined. Kim Soo-hyun is just the entry point."

The middle-aged cadre in front replied without turning his head, "Don't say anything more. This matter is probably over."

……

7 month 15 day.

At 1 a.m., D-Company's servers suddenly experienced a brief downtime.

They were originally scheduled to release the final evidence package for "Phase Four," but it was postponed at the last minute due to "technical adjustments."

Within five hours, it dominated headlines on almost all South Korean portal sites, search engine trending lists, and video comment keywords.

All of this happened with astonishing consistency, silently shifting the wind direction.

Kim Soo-hyun's name seemed to have been stripped from the internet by an invisible hand.

There was no wind, no aftershocks, and not even a wave remained.

No one said it outright, but everyone understood.

This scandal cannot be allowed to escalate any further.

……

July 16th, 9:7 AM.

At a routine press conference at the Blue House, a foreign journalist pressed him on the government's stance on the Kim Soo-hyun incident.

The spokesperson took a sip of water and said only a few words: "The Korean Peninsula is a society governed by the rule of law."

The words were understated, yet like the final hammer blow, signifying that the country no longer wanted to waste any more energy dealing with the "idol scandal."

After all, in just a few months, the Korean Peninsula will become the host country for several major international sporting events and cultural festivals, with billions of won in investment and foreign investment awaiting finalization.

No one wants the country's borders to be tainted by the name "Kim Soo-hyun" at this time.

The board of directors of the capital behind KeyEast also held an emergency closed-door meeting in the early hours of that day.

In addition to executives from CJ Entertainment and Kakao Entertainment, representatives from Mirae Asset Management's risk control department were also present.

That meeting was for the sole purpose of deciding one thing.

That is: sacrifice the pawn to save the king.

……

On July 17, the court formally filed a public prosecution against Kim Soo-hyun.

The charges include three serious counts: forced molestation, enticing a minor to have sexual intercourse, and others.

KeyEast issued an announcement that evening:

[Our company respects the independent judgment of the judiciary and has terminated all contracts with Kim Soo-hyun. Any compensation matters will be subject to arbitration by a third-party institution.]

That night, Kim Soo-hyun was transferred to the Seoul Detention Center to await further trial proceedings.

At this moment, he had no fans to greet him at the airport, no flashing lights to follow him, and only a silent lawyer and himself by his side.

Just when the outside world thought the dust was about to settle, the next media storm was quietly brewing.

Three days later, a veteran South Korean variety show host was exposed for tax evasion, quickly making headlines and becoming the new focus of public opinion.

The media began to shift their focus in tacit agreement, and the trending topics list changed as ruthlessly as the tide.

Within just 24 hours, the discussion surrounding Kim Soo-hyun almost completely disappeared.

His incident was like a circus without a closing ceremony, ending abruptly and quietly.

Someone commented quietly on the forum:

Is it really over?
—No, it was just locked in a deeper cabinet.

Several victims who had spoken out were also relocated with the help of NGOs and have remained silent ever since.

Some people tried to ask further questions, but could no longer find any useful clues or responses.

It was as if a calm and firm hand had made the decision for them.

"That's enough, it's time to stop."

……

On July 25, KeyEast's stock price rebounded slightly, and investors resumed negotiations.

The reporter from D News Agency was transferred to the overseas section, and the original report was moved to the members' archive without any public explanation.

Thus, the entire incident, from its inception to its closure, took only a little over half a month.

Kim Soo-hyun, a cultural icon who once represented "South Korea's soft power," has now left behind not even a formal "fall from grace" label, only a rumor circulating within the industry:

"He hasn't been forgotten, he's just been suppressed."

--------split line--------

And it all started on the morning of July 10th.

After reading the first piece of evidence released by Dispatch, Lin Xiuyuan realized that he could now gracefully retire.

Then he glanced down at the still vibrating phone. On the screen, in the "Relief Garden" group chat, a string of @mentions kept popping up.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled gently and typed a sentence on the screen with his fingertip.

I've stayed up all night, time to sleep.

A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door.

Shirley's voice came through the door, soft and familiar.

"Oppa, why don't you have breakfast first before resting?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his temples, pushed open the door, and stepped out. His steps were somewhat weary, but his eyes were clearer than ever before.

Outside the door, Shirley smiled brightly at him, like the first rays of dawn in summer.

Soon, in a corner of the kitchen, she stood by the dining table wearing an apron, carefully setting out breakfast plates.

Two golden toast sandwiches with fried eggs and lettuce; Shirley's movements were slow, yet steady and quiet.

"Okay, oppa~"

Shirley, who had placed the plate on the table, smiled at Lin Xiuyuan and said in a voice as soft as the morning breeze, "You can eat now, oppa~"

"So fast? Thank you for your hard work, Sherry."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was looking at the news on his phone on the sofa, turned around and smiled at her, then walked to the dining table, sat down, picked up a piece of toast, and took a bite.

The toast crust was crispy, and the egg yolk was still warm and runny. One bite, and it tasted even better than he had imagined.

"This egg is fried so well, you should have some, Shirley."

Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile, while chewing and looking up at the person opposite him.

Shirley sat opposite him, nodded, and was about to speak when she suddenly lowered her head.

Lin Xiuyuan noticed something was wrong, stopped what he was doing, and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"

Sulli paused for a moment, then softly said, "Thank you, oppa~"

Lin Xiuyuan was slightly taken aback. "Why are you thanking me?"

Shirley looked up at him, her eyes filled with a complex expression. "I checked the news at the villa and found out that the me from 25 years ago was probably also bullied by someone like Kim Soo-hyun."

She paused, as if trying to choose gentler words to cover up those memories she had never encountered.

"So... seeing how badly you've ruined him in 2013, to the point where he can't even recover, makes me feel incredibly relieved."

Then, biting her lip, she continued, "Although we're not on the same timeline, it still feels like you avenged me."

Lin Xiuyuan did not answer immediately, but just looked at her quietly.

After a moment, Shirley lowered her head again and chuckled softly, as if trying to ease her emotions, "In ancient times, such a deep-seated hatred would have been settled with one's life."

Lin Xiuyuan stared at her face for a few seconds, smiled slightly, took a bite of toast, and said in a gentle tone.

"The idea of ​​repaying someone with one's life for truth is outdated. The most important thing in this day and age is knowing what kind of person you want to become, especially for you."

Shirley was taken aback, her cheeks flushed, but she nodded seriously, "I know."

Outside the window, sunlight filters through the blinds and gently falls onto the tabletop.

The wind was gentle, as if drawing a tender conclusion to this long, settled slumber.

After finishing the last bite of his sandwich, Lin Xiuyuan took a sip of milk, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh.

"Ah, after several days of hard work, it's finally done. I'm going to get a good night's sleep now."

Sulli nodded and said softly, "Oppa~ Why don't you go to the villa and let Soojung know you're safe? You haven't been there for the past few days, she's probably very worried. I'll keep an eye on things here for you."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't say much, only responded softly, and got up to walk slowly towards the time portal.

Shirley watched his figure gradually disappear behind the door, let out a soft breath, and raised her slightly reddened eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

the other side.

Lin Xiuyuan, upon arriving at the villa in 2025, had just stepped out of his room into the living room when he was squinted by the bright sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

In fact, he did not completely stay away during those ten days.

On the day he returned to Seoul from overseas via a detour, Lin Xiuyuan had briefly visited the city, but only stayed for a short time.

After briefly informing Krystal and Yoona of his current situation, he immediately returned to his apartment in 2013 and sat in front of his computer, watching the storm that was about to erupt.

Now that the incident has begun to explode, Lin Xiuyuan no longer needs to keep an eye on things.

So, at Shirley's prompting, Lin Xiuyuan returned to the villa.

After sending Krystal a text message to let her know he was safe, Lin Xiuyuan went up to the master bedroom on the third floor, ready to get the most peaceful sleep he had had in days.

From the moment he handed the evidence over to D-Society, Lin Xiuyuan barely slept a wink.

So today he plans to sleep like a log.

When Krystal saw the text message Lin Xiuyuan sent her, it was already noon.

After quickly washing up, she hurriedly left the house and headed straight for the villa.

Sunlight streamed obliquely through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire living room with warm light.

The curtains in the master bedroom on the third floor were half-drawn, and soft light fell just on Lin Xiuyuan's profile.

His breathing was steady, and his expression was peaceful, as if he had fallen into the most peaceful dream he had experienced in days.

Suddenly, a series of light yet restrained footsteps could be heard in the living room on the first floor.

When Krystal arrived at the villa, she found the living room empty and quiet. After calling out but receiving no response, she immediately realized something.

So I looked up at the third floor; that person should be up there.

Sure enough, the moment Krystal entered the master bedroom, she finally saw the figure that had been on her mind for the past few days.

Lin Xiuyuan lay quietly on the bed, fast asleep. A few strands of hair on his forehead were slightly disheveled, but he had a sense of relaxation and exhaustion as if he had been relieved of a heavy burden. Even his breathing carried a sense of reassured fatigue.

Krystal leaned against the door and quietly watched him for a few seconds, her lips unconsciously softening.

Then she walked over gently, carefully lifted the corner of the blanket, lay down next to him, rested her head on his shoulder, and gently hugged his waist with both hands.

Although she had just woken up, Krystal, curled up in his arms, felt that she could sleep peacefully for a little longer.

Time slips away unnoticed.

As a streetlamp shone through the blinds into the room, landing on the wooden floor at the foot of the bed, Lin Xiuyuan finally slowly opened his eyes.

The warmth beside him had vanished. Lin Xiuyuan reached out to touch her but couldn't find her. When Krystal lay down at noon, he was still conscious, though not awake.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuyuan sat up, put on a shirt to cover his bare upper body, and then walked out of the bedroom.

Faint laughter drifted from downstairs.

Lin Xiuyuan squinted his eyes, which were not yet fully adjusted to the light, walked to the staircase, leaned against the railing, and looked down.

The crystal chandelier hung at an angle, its soft light swaying gently in the air. Through that hazy light, he saw the warm scene in the living room.

Krystal changed into a casual set of loungewear, her hair casually tied up, and she leaned back on the sofa, holding a cushion in her arms, looking relaxed and at ease.

Sitting next to her was Kim Tae-yeon, whose eyes were crinkled with laughter, and Lim Yoon-a, who was scooping up ice cream spoonful by spoonful.

The three of them were relaxed, chatting and laughing about the little things in their lives.

Just then, Kim Tae-yeon, who was the first to notice Lin Xiuyuan upstairs, smiled at him and said, "Oh, you're awake, Xiuyuan."

"Hmm," Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his hair, looking at the familiar yet lively scene in the room, and smiled, "What brings you all here?"

"I've come to visit a 'great hero' who acts on behalf of heaven." Lim Yoona raised her spoon and smiled mischievously.

"I heard you haven't slept a wink these past few days. You finally got some rest today?" Kim Tae-yeon said jokingly, but with a hint of concern.

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled and let out a sigh of relief. "I've been a bit tired these past few days. It's been a long time since I've slept until I naturally woke up... What time is it now?"

"It's past 8 o'clock, are you hungry?"

Krystal looked up at Lin Xiuyuan and asked, "I ordered you some light meals. Go wash up and heat them up."

"Okay, that's great, I'm actually a little hungry."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, turned around and went back to his room to wash his face quickly.

A few minutes later, he changed into a clean T-shirt and came downstairs. He plopped down between Krystal and Yoona, picked up a chicken wrap and took a bite.

Then he looked up at Yoona, who had been staring at him, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you staring at me?"

"Why didn't you tell us about something this big beforehand? If I hadn't asked Krystal a couple of days ago, Taeyeon and I would probably still be in the dark."

As she spoke, her tone was half-joking and half-serious.

Lin Xiuyuan chewed and swallowed his food as he spoke, "The intelligence came suddenly. After getting the evidence, I immediately went back to 2013. I really didn't have time to say anything."

"However, it's almost over now, and Dispatch has already started its move. Even if this wave doesn't crush them, they won't have much room for development in the short term. And with this news, Kim Sae-ron and the others shouldn't be so easily swayed anymore."

Hearing this, Kim Tae-yeon was still somewhat shocked, "I didn't expect that Xiu Yuan, you really managed to bring that bastard down."

"It's not 2025. In 2013, his foundation wasn't solid enough. One 'The Moon Embracing the Sun' wasn't enough."

At this point, Lin Xiuyuan began to explain, "Besides, this isn't some kind of scandalous news involving infidelity or a third party. If someone is a lawbreaker, even if they manage to protect themselves, it will be difficult for them to make a comeback."

“I was worried that Bae Yong-joon would lend a hand, so I made some extra preparations. But now it seems that Bae Yong-joon can’t make decisions at KeyEast either.”

Lin Xiuyuan had just finished speaking when Lin Yoona took his arm.

"Hehe, you're right, so Xiuyuan, hurry up and open the door. We want to go over there and see how things are going. It would be such a waste not to see the reaction firsthand with such a big story."

Kim Tae-yeon, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but smile and nod. Krystal was also somewhat tempted, but her gaze paused slightly when she saw Im Yoon-ah linking arms with Lin Xiu-yuan.

However, he only pursed his lips slightly and didn't say anything more.

Kim Tae-yeon, who noticed her emotions, gave a slight glint in her eyes but did not point it out.

Then, led by Lin Xiuyuan, the group traveled back to their apartment in 2013.

Sulli is still rehearsing in the practice room today and hasn't come home from get off work yet.

Upon arriving, Yoona and Krystal acted as if they were at home, familiarly entering Lin Xiuyuan's room, turning on the computer, and starting to refresh the news pages one by one.

Although Kim Tae-yeon wasn't very familiar with the place, she went in with them and sat down at the computer, watching with great interest.

Lin Xiuyuan was left alone in the living room. He stretched, yawned, and then turned and walked towards the small bar next door.

Tonight, let's drink to victory!
Let's drink until we drop!

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(End of this chapter)