Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 233 The "Cabinet Meeting" in Girls' Generation's Dormitory (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

The night in Cheongdam-dong was as quiet as a thin veil. The occasional passing vehicles cast long shadows of their headlights that shimmered on the wet pavement.

Outside the large window of Girls' Generation's dormitory living room, the warm yellow light from the streetlights shone in, casting a soft halo on the wooden floor and reflecting the undercurrents that were about to rise inside.

The tranquility of the dormitory was abruptly broken as the members of Girls' Generation returned from the company's rehearsal room.

Footsteps, the rustling of fabric as people change clothes, and whispers mingled between the living room and the hallway.

Some people laughed and shoved their way into the room, while others complained about how tiring the rehearsals were as they took off their shoes.

Outside the bathroom door, the low hum of a hairdryer and the splashing of shower water could be heard intermittently, and the air was filled with a mixed fragrance.

The refreshing shower gel, the sweet fruity shampoo scent, and the warm atmosphere unique to girls' dormitories.

Before long, everyone had finished washing up and changed into loose pajamas and loungewear. They sat around the sofa and carpet in the living room, looking slightly tired but focused.

On the table were fruits, fried chicken, and beer bought on the way, but no one was in a hurry to eat them. Everyone's eyes were drawn to Jin Ruanruan in the center of the sofa.

She sat there with her back straight, her hands clasped on her knees. Her expression was no longer as gentle as during the previous rehearsals, but rather serious and restrained.

"Let's start with the first topic, which is the atmosphere in the team recently."

Jin Ruanruan's voice was steady, but it carried pressure in everyone's ears.

Her gaze slowly swept around and stopped on Jessica Jung and Hyoyeon Kim. "Especially the situation between the two of you, especially Jessica, your temper has become noticeably more irritable lately."

After a slight pause, as if leaving everyone some leeway, his tone gradually lowered, and he spoke softly.

"Everyone should speak their minds tonight and stop holding back. If you continue to cause trouble after tonight, I won't try to smooth things over next time; I'll call you out directly. After so many years with Girls' Generation, the last thing I want to see is someone falling behind in the final stages, and I don't want to be used as a 'negative example' by younger groups."

The air seemed to freeze, as if an invisible rope was strangling everyone's throat.

After a few seconds of silence, Kim Hyoyeon spoke first, her brows furrowed slightly, her tone filled with grievance and confusion, "Taeyeon, don't ask me, I really don't know why Jessica has been targeting me lately."

Upon hearing this, Jessica Jung raised an eyebrow and gave a sharp, cold laugh. "So you've forgotten how you forced Sulli to attend the party?"

Her tone was like a blade slicing through the air, crisp and cold, "But if you really want to deny it now, I can help you recall. So do you want a face-to-face confrontation, or are you going to keep making up other excuses?"

Kim Hyoyeon opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to defend herself, but Kim Yeon-yeon raised her hand to stop her.

She calmly concluded, "Xiuyan, why are you so easily angered? What's wrong with you?"

Despite her calm demeanor, Kim Yeon-yeon's next sentence turned cold, her gaze fixed on Kim Hyoyeon: "Hyoyeon, you should attend fewer parties and stop making random phone calls."

Kim Hyoyeon, who was singled out for criticism, froze, her breath catching for a moment.

But this person, whom his teammates and fans collectively called an "idiot," quickly dropped another bombshell.

"Since tonight's topic is Girls' Generation, I'll be frank: isn't Jessica's designs the biggest problem? Every time our team has an event, her outfits and designs always steal the spotlight."

As she spoke, her gaze towards Jessica Jung was hostile, and a hint of provocation lingered at the corner of her mouth. "So, can I also follow Sooyoung's example and launch my own fashion brand?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Cui Xiuying's face changed instantly. The blanket she was fiddling with froze, her eyes flickered, but she couldn't find a strong rebuttal for a moment.

Because... this is true, and the planning has already been underway.

She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady, "This next one is a charity brand. All the money earned will go to charity. It's not a trendy brand. Hyoyeon, don't talk nonsense."

However, Jessica Jung is not one to let her off easily.

She slowly narrowed her eyes, her tone unhurried yet subtly sharp, "Charity? Is it your personal charity, or the charity of your teenage years?"

She looked around. "If it's an individual, does that count as making a profit? If it's a group, why haven't I received any notification yet?"

Jessica Jung stood up straight, her elbows resting on the sofa armrests, exuding a cool yet confident aura.

"None of my designs to date have been sold, and I have never used Girls' Generation's name to advertise for anyone. It's all for my own enjoyment, and it has nothing to do with anyone else or the group's name."

As she said this, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, an elegant curve that carried a hint of coldness, without a trace of genuine smile.

"If you are capable, you can do what I did."

The voice that spoke was like the sharp edge of a blade gliding over glass, calm yet carrying a sense of pressure. "Anyway, I won't say anything, as long as you have the ability. But I just hope there won't be any plagiarism scandal, otherwise it wouldn't be good to drag Girls' Generation down with you."

With a sudden change in tone, Jessica Jung fixed her gaze on Sooyoung again, her eyes like ice suddenly frozen under the light, sharp and piercing.

"So, if you, Choi Soo-young, dare to sell even a single penny of goods using your so-called charity brand, I will immediately lodge a protest with the company."

As she spoke these words, she spoke slowly and clearly, as if nailing each condition down to the last word: "It's still what I said before, everyone either entertains themselves or they can openly and honestly wear the name Girls' Generation."

After she finished speaking, she slowly exhaled, as if to put an end to her words, but the sharpness in her voice did not completely disappear.

"But if they try to skirt the line and the company turns a blind eye, I won't suffer in silence. With the internet so developed these days, who knows if Dispatch might break a news story?"

She raised an eyebrow slightly and curled her lips into a sarcastic smile. "Just like Kim Soo-hyun, isn't he? Anyway, let me preface this by saying that you should all think about it yourselves."

The living room fell into a deathly silence, as if the air itself had been paused, with only the second hand of the wall clock ticking crisply.

Choi Soo-young pursed her lips, her gaze slightly darting away, as if weighing whether or not to accept the challenge.

The fingers, clenched into a fist, unconsciously tightened the edge of the blanket, and the knuckles began to turn white from the force.

Tiffany glanced at her and coughed softly, as if offering a silent reminder.

This is a subtle way of telling the other party to stop quickly and not push the situation further out of control.

Kwon Yuri sat to the side, arms crossed, her brows furrowed slightly, yet revealing a hint of struggle.

His expression suggested he was weighing his options, but ultimately he chose to remain silent and not add fuel to the fire.

Seohyun kept her head down, her hands clasped on her lap, her expression seemingly calm, but her eyes were actually carefully scanning everyone's expressions, as if she were silently recording every detail of the scene.

Only Sunny and Lin Xiaolu sat quietly together, their backs somewhat relaxed, as if watching a storm that had nothing to do with them, without any intention of interrupting.

Kim Ruanruan took a soft breath, her back still straight, her eyes darting back and forth between Jessica Jung and Choi Sooyoung, as if waiting for their emotions to cool down a bit.

However, she didn't speak immediately. Instead, she let the silence linger for a few more seconds until the tension in the air was almost suffocating before she finally broke the awkward silence with her voice.

“I know that each of you has things you want to do, as well as your own dreams and plans, and that’s fine.”

Her voice was low, yet it carried an undeniable power: "But you must understand one premise: we are still in our teenage years."

She turned to Choi Soo-young, her tone becoming more composed and gentle, "Soo-young, I have no objection to you starting a charity brand, and I will even do my best to support you."

"But as Sooyeon just said, since she has set an example, I hope everyone will follow this pattern and keep profits above the bottom line. As for 'charity' and stuff, Sooyoung, don't emphasize it too much. We're all in the industry, surely we can understand the underlying meaning?"

Then, she looked at Jessica Jung, her gaze direct, "Jessica, you have talent and the ability to design, but sometimes your attitude makes things worse..."

"Don't worry."

Jessica Jung snorted coldly, but her eyes did not look away. "I can shut up quietly from now on."

As she spoke, she turned her head slightly to look at Tiffany beside her.

Thinking the other party wanted her help, Tiffany immediately smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "We've all been together for so many years, there's no need to turn this into an attack, right? Anyway, it's all for the good of the group."

However, the next second, upon hearing Jessica Jung's reply, her smile seemed to freeze instantly, and her entire face stiffened on the spot.

"No, I mean, I expect to be very busy in the coming days."

Jessica Jung spoke casually, yet with an undeniable determination, her gaze sweeping lightly over everyone present.

He then casually explained, "The variety shows and endorsements I missed have recently come to me again. I originally wanted to continue focusing on design, but since some people think it's not good, I'll find something else to do."

She paused, seemingly considering whether to continue.

Jessica Jung's seemingly casual words pierced Tiffany's heart with every single one.

"There are also magazines and interviews in the United States. I'll be very busy with my tour, so you don't have to worry about seeing me too often."

As Jessica Jung uttered those words, Tiffany's expression was one of utter astonishment as she stared intently at her.

Because she had been handling all the resources the other party mentioned since last year, and the cooperation went very well in the first half of this year. However, recently, after a full year, some problems seemed to have arisen, and she hadn't even had a chance to ask the company about them.

The answer is now clear: it turns out Jessica Jung took it back.

Or perhaps these resources originally belonged to Jessica Jung, but last year she didn't find a way to find actors, so she started attending parties to find a way out.

At this critical moment, Tiffany seized the opportunity and negotiated these resources from the company.

Unexpectedly, after only a year of eating, and before they were even full, Jessica Jung simply reached out and took all those resources back.

What made Tiffany even more uneasy was that in Girls' Generation, she and Jessica Jung were both "overseas types." Although there were some conflicts in their images, their basic character settings were quite similar.

Her popularity and status are far inferior to the other party's, so she can basically only eat the resources that the other party has left over.

It wasn't until last year, when she formed the TaeTiSeo sub-unit, that Tiffany gained more attention and fans beyond just being described as having crescent-shaped, smiling eyes.

It's said that the spot in this sub-unit was originally intended for Jessica Jung, since the Tae-sik and On-yeon pairing has been a staple since their debut.

It's just that Jessica Jung chose the path of acting last year, so it's her and Seohyun's turn to take the lead.

In reality, if we're talking about ability and background, Sunny should be one of them.

This third brother is just someone who doesn't fight or compete.

But now that Jessica Jung has stepped forward again, and her popularity hasn't suffered any setbacks due to last year's issues—in fact, it's even increased—Tiffany, who was originally just a substitute, is now just a subunit again.

Thinking of this, Tiffany felt a pang of bitterness and asked, "Wasn't the division of these resources agreed upon last year?"

"Well, so I haven't said anything all year."

Jessica Jung spoke calmly, even with a hint of indifference, "I've been quiet for a year, and even now, a year later, it wasn't me who actively sought out brands; they came to me. You can ask the company about that."

Her words were clear and direct, like a sharp blade slicing through the silence in the air.

At the same time, Tiffany realized that the other party had no intention of hiding anything, so she seemed to want to refute, but found herself at a loss for words.

"I……"

Jessica Jung's words were very clear and also very hurtful.

What's the point of asking the company? Since the brand has designated someone, if you go and promote yourself, aren't you just stealing resources?

If this really escalates to the point of fighting for resources, Tiffany can't believe what kind of resources Jessica Jung could possibly obtain if she really uses her company connections to go all out.

Fortunately, there was still a small team.

At this moment, the atmosphere had become heavy. Jin Ruanruan spoke again, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Alright, tonight's little meeting is for the sake of the team, not to embarrass anyone, but to help us get through the days ahead more smoothly."

She looked at Tiffany, her tone rising slightly: "So Tiffany, if you have any objections to your situation with Soo-yeon, just talk to oppa directly."

Tiffany silently shut her mouth; she had so much to say, she even wanted to give Jessica Jung a push.

But Jessica Jung's sharp edges made her hesitant to make any rash moves.

The main problem is that the other party doesn't have any obvious weaknesses that she can use against them. Their only "weakness" is her ambiguous relationship with a boy.

This is clearly not something worth making a fuss about; it's not a valid weakness at all.

After all, she and Nichkhun were in the same boat, and Hyoyeon and Sooyoung were even dating.

Who can explain something like this?

Seeing Tiffany remain silent, Jin Ruanruan's gaze slowly swept over everyone this time, her tone slightly raised.

"I want to emphasize again that as long as the group has not officially disbanded and the contracts are still in effect, the name and image of Girls' Generation belong to everyone. Anyone can do whatever they want, but they must ensure that it does not affect the reputation and work of the group."

Every word she spoke seemed to strike at the heart, carrying a sense of responsibility and an undeniable force.

All eyes were fixed on her, and there was a momentary pause in the air.

"I don't want to hear any more gossip behind my back, I don't want to see any passive-aggressive behavior, and I especially don't want the outside world to know about our differences beforehand."

She paused, then gave a faint smile. "If I find something like this again, I won't hold a meeting here. I'll just call people out in the company's conference room. I really don't want to become that kind of team leader."

At that moment, her smile was not warm.

Just then, Jessica Jung spoke up calmly, "Since you've all spoken, I'll also offer my opinion."

Jessica Jung's aura tonight was incredibly strong, not through an aggressive tone, but through a straightforward and direct attack that left everyone with nowhere to retreat.

Now that everyone heard that she was about to speak, their attention was immediately drawn to her, as if pulled by an undeniable force. Even Jin Ruanruan slowly turned her head and quietly looked at her.

"I know what I'm about to say might make some people uncomfortable,"

Jessica Jung's voice was both gentle and sharp, each word landing precisely where it should. "But as a member of Girls' Generation, I feel there are some things that need to be said face to face."

As she spoke, she turned to Sunny and smiled slightly at her. The smile carried an ambiguous sense of closeness, but it made Sunny's heart tighten, and she reflexively straightened her back.

"It's actually very simple. At the upcoming rose meeting, I will suggest to Oppa that we arrange for Sun-kyu's resources to be distributed fairly among everyone."

This passage, delivered in a calm tone, was like a pebble thrown into a still lake.

“I don’t think Sunkyu has any status or background to speak of. If we’re talking about background, it’s not that no one has a better background than Sunkyu, but they’ve received just as many resources. On the contrary, Sunkyu has had very few resources over the years. Over time, it’s inevitable that people will feel that Girls’ Generation is favoring one over the other.”

Jessica Jung's tone became somewhat emotional as she spoke.

"Moreover, Sunkyu has suffered injustice for too long since his debut. I could let it go before if Taeyeon didn't bring up these issues in meetings, but now that we've had a meeting and everyone is willing to speak up, I think it's okay for me to say something fair."

At this point, Jessica Jung's gaze slowly shifted between the members, as if she was quietly waiting for someone to refute her.

But in the end, it was Jin Ruanruan who spoke up, "Wasn't the company already arranged for Sun-kyu's matter?"

"The company's arrangement was based on the premise that we all kept quiet, which I now feel is unreasonable."

Jessica Jung's gaze was fixed on Kim Yeon-yeon, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.

Although she wasn't the captain, she was the most senior member of the team.

"Just because she's a niece, does that mean we have to maintain complete transparency?"

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire dormitory living room froze, and everyone's attention was focused on her.

Jessica Jung then changed the subject and continued, "Over the years, who in the group hasn't received kindness from Sunkyu? Now I'm not asking anyone to repay their debts, nor am I asking anyone to speak up. I'll handle the communication with the company myself."

Then he looked at Sunny and said, “Every resource that should be given to Sunny must be given. It’s fine if it’s transferred from me, taken from you, or shared among others. Everyone should have what they deserve. Since we’ve started this meeting tonight, I’ll be blunt.”

Jessica Jung's tone was chillingly calm, but every word struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her expression resolute, as if she had made up her mind to lay all the unreasonable things bare and resolve them.

Having just returned from 25 years ago, Kim Yuen-yuen's eyes flashed with deep thought. She had already learned some unknown secrets from Kim Tae-yeon, so how could she not see through Jessica Jung's thoughts?

So she looked at Jessica Jung, her eyes narrowing slightly, and said, "Jessica, you're being a bit unreasonable. Everything was already agreed upon beforehand. It's not like we're going to wrong Soon-kyu."

Jessica Jung met Kim Yuen-yuen's gaze without flinching, and said calmly, "So before I said anything, I meant from now on."

Kim Ruanruan took a deep breath, her sharp gaze not diminished by Jessica Jung's counterattack, but instead became even sharper. At the same time, Sunny had been too shocked to speak since Jessica Jung began to speak, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, completely unprepared to suddenly find herself in such a complicated situation.

So when she saw Jessica Jung and Kim Yeon-yeon arguing, she quickly spoke up to break the deadlock, "Hey, you two don't need to argue. I don't plan on needing any resources. I'm pretty lazy. It's fine as it is now."

Her voice trembled slightly, and although she tried to appear relaxed, her eyes were filled with helplessness and anxiety.

She really doesn't need it; she just wants to play games and slack off.

However, those who wanted to drag her down knew her thoughts best, yet they still responded without hesitation.

“Sun-kyu, you can be lazy all you want, but you still have to do your job. Although personal activities don’t count towards the profit sharing, the total income is tiered. With your income, we’ll get more bonuses.”

Jessica Jung had already prepared her excuses, and she delivered them flawlessly.

Sunny opened her mouth wide, stunned, and even felt like cursing.

Even if she doesn't take on this task, someone else will, so why is she shifting such a huge burden onto herself?

Others tried to speak, but were stopped by the people next to them the next second before they could open their mouths.

Speaking up at this point would be incredibly stupid, and it would offend a lot of people.

The main point is that Jessica Jung's request and suggestion were very reasonable, and she had no ulterior motives whatsoever; she was simply speaking up for Sunny.

So if someone were to say something negative at that moment, the scene would be unimaginably beautiful.

Because in this situation, only three people can speak.

One was the team leader, one was the one who offered suggestions, and the other was the person involved.

So Kim Ruanruan glanced around lightly, finally fixing her gaze on Jessica Jung, her tone devoid of any emotion.

"So, according to you, Xiuyan, you're willing to offer some of Sun-kyu's resources from your side?"

"My side?"

Jessica Jung raised an eyebrow, her tone becoming even more certain, "Taeyeon, you misunderstood. What I meant was that the resources allocated to us by the company should be distributed fairly. I'm only referring to the resources allocated by the company, not those resources that were specifically requested from individuals."

Jin Ruanruan frowned slightly, glancing around and noticing that some members had clearly lowered their heads and avoided her gaze.

Finally, he turned to Jessica Jung and asked in a calm tone, "So, we need to give up a portion of everyone's share? Have you thought about everyone in this regard?"

“Sun-kyu has suffered enough losses over the years.”

Jessica Jung did not respond immediately, but instead gave her a deep look, her gaze so sharp it seemed to see right through people's hearts.

"Haven't we avoided each other for so many years? You yourself said that we are Girls' Generation. Why is it that some people are always profiting from other people's misfortunes and then turning around and making sarcastic remarks within the group?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's eardrums like a heavy hammer.

Finally, Jessica Jung leaned forward slightly, gently placed her hands on the table, and coldly swept her gaze around. Her tone became even more resolute, "So it's time to give her justice."

“You can’t just say we don’t want to. These things need to be discussed.”

Jin Ruanruan's tone remained steady, but there was a hint of deeper meaning in her eyes.

"So this is my suggestion," Jessica Jung nodded.

"So now I'm just offering suggestions."

Jessica Jung smiled slightly, her tone crisp and decisive.

"So what do people say?"

Jin Ruanruan turned her head, her gaze falling on the faces of the other people one by one.

Kwon Yuri nodded first, "I agree with what Jessica said."

Seohyun softly echoed, "Me too."

Jin Ruanruan looked at Tiffany and Kim Hyoyeon, "What about you two?"

Tiffany pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "Okay."

Kim Hyoyeon shrugged. "Sure, I'm fine with it."

Choi Soo-young added in a low voice, "Okay."

Lin Xiaolu raised her hand, made an OK sign, and smiled with a hint of relief.

Sunny, who was left behind, felt a surge of emotion as she watched this scene.

She looked up at Jessica Jung, her eyes filled with genuine emotion, but at the same time, an inexplicable sense of unease lingered, as if something was amiss.

After these major topics were discussed, the atmosphere finally eased, and the tense air seemed to have been released.

The remaining minor issues are nothing more than focus during rehearsals, time management, facial expressions in front of the camera, and maintaining good relationships.

These, in fact, don't seem like problems compared to the topics mentioned earlier.

The aroma of fried chicken wafted from the table again, and Sunny was the first to reach out and grab a piece. "Now that the meeting is over, how about we have some late-night snacks? They're getting cold."

"Should we heat it up?" Kwon Yuri suggested casually.

So one by one, the group started to eat, some picking up their chopsticks, the "clatter" of beer cans echoing as they slowly returned to the living room amidst their relaxed conversation.

As the aroma of fried chicken and beer in the living room gradually masked the tense atmosphere of the meeting, the members began to immerse themselves in food and casual conversation.

Jin Ruanruan put down her beer can, glanced around at everyone, then gently touched Zheng Xiuyan's wrist and tilted her head slightly towards the French windows.

The two of them stood up almost tacitly, walked around the sofa area, and came to the window seat.

Outside the window, the night view of Cheongdam-dong unfolds, and the neon lights cast the shadows of the two people side by side on the glass.

Jin Ruanruan leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, her expression remaining calm.

Jessica Jung leaned slightly forward, resting against the windowsill, a somewhat enigmatic smile on her lips.

"You really got into character just now," she said in a low voice, a hint of teasing in her tone.

Jin Ruanruan gave a soft "humph," her smile not very deep. "If we didn't do this, how would they open up and reveal everything in their hearts?"

Jessica Jung raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eyes. "That's why I deliberately said a few more sarcastic things, otherwise Hyoyeon wouldn't have revealed her secret so quickly. And Sooyoung's matter also needs to be exposed as soon as possible, otherwise it might become a powder keg under my butt one day."

“Yes.” Jin Ruanruan nodded, her expression serious. “That’s why I lowered my tone to make them behave. As for Sunny’s matter…”

She paused, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. "How was it? I cooperated pretty well, didn't I? You pushed, and I pressed down. She hesitated, and the others couldn't say no, so we got it so easily."

Jessica Jung smiled gently, glancing through the glass towards the living room. "We are quite in sync, but I think some people have probably noticed something. But it doesn't matter, I have a legitimate reason for this, and every word I say can withstand scrutiny."

"Yes, in reality, all this little meeting can do is postpone the time a little bit."

"So it doesn't really matter whether we're at odds or not."

"Well, whether it is or not, let them think about it slowly." Jin Ruanruan's voice was very calm. "Some things can't be said directly, so we can only use this method."

After a brief silence, Jessica Jung suddenly changed the subject, her tone slightly inquisitive, "By the way, what was it like when you first met Mirae?"

Jin Ruanruan's eyes flickered slightly, as if a sensitive spot had been touched.

She didn't answer immediately, but turned her head and glanced at the group of familiar faces in the sofa area.

Sunny was chatting and laughing with everyone, her voice as clear and melodious as a bell;

Tiffany looked down and fiddled with her phone, frowning occasionally, as if she was dealing with something.
Seohyun, meanwhile, continued to eat her rice cakes in small bites, her expression quiet and gentle.

Jin Ruanruan stared at all this, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, she slowly spoke, her voice soft yet carrying an unwavering certainty, "Compared to life and death, these things... really are nothing."

Jessica Jung stared at her, asking no questions, and silently looked away.

The night outside the window remained deep, as if swallowing up the brief conversation, along with the secret between the two.

After a long while, the living room returned to silence.

The lively atmosphere seemed to have dissipated without anyone noticing, and many people had already washed up and gone back to their rooms to rest.

Only Kim Yuen-yuen remained, sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at the television in front of her. Her mind wasn't on the content of the meeting that had just taken place, but rather on the information she had learned from Kim Tae-yeon.

At this moment, Lin Xiaolu came out of the room, glanced at her, and then sat down next to her.

Because of the circumstances, she couldn't say much, so she simply said, "Unnie, don't overthink it, just look forward. Everything will get better after you found out about that door. If you don't believe me, look at me now, look at Jessica unnie, look at Snowball~"

Upon hearing this, Jin Ruanruan smiled faintly, "You guys have been hiding this very well."

Lin Xiaolu shrugged helplessly and complained, "This has nothing to do with me, it's their membership system."

Then she quickly opened her arms and hugged Jin Ruanruan tightly, "Okay, unnie, get some rest, you're tired tonight too."

"Ah."

Jin Ruanruan nodded slightly, got up, and returned to her room.

Sunny was still awake in the room.

Upon seeing Kim Ruanruan return to her room, Sunny spoke first, her first words being, "Taeyeon, you and Jessica went crazy tonight, lifting up everyone's skirts like that is bound to cause an uproar."

"This is hardly lifting up a skirt. It's just releasing a little bit of the pressure in the pressure cooker, so that it won't explode one day like you said, which would be a real problem. Besides, at that time, it won't just be a problem within our team, but the company will probably have even more problems."

"You knew?" Sunny was surprised and cautiously asked.

As an insider, she actually knows quite a lot, even more than Jin Ruanruan did before today.

Jin Ruanruan was aware of this, but she hadn't paid much attention to it, and after today, she had no further thoughts about it.

So he laughed and said, "What do you know? I don't know anything. Go to sleep."

Then he lay down on the bed, covered himself with the blanket, closed his eyes, and left Sunny with a mysterious and enigmatic back view.

The room fell silent, with only the gentle breeze blowing from the window, bringing a touch of chill.

……

……

The next day,

That is, the day after Wimbledon.

London sunlight filtered through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a warm glow on the sheets and scattered clothes, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Lin Xiuyuan woke up groggily and saw Krystal lying next to him, still half asleep with her head on the pillow and her brows slightly furrowed, as if she wasn't fully awake yet.

Then he rubbed his eyes, turned over and picked up his phone from the bedside table. When he saw the time, he couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "Holy crap, it's 1 a.m.!"

Krystal, seemingly startled by his sudden voice, frowned slightly, half-opened her eyes, reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, and lazily asked, "What's wrong?"

"We slept a little too long, it's already one o'clock in the afternoon," Lin Xiuyuan replied with a smile, reaching out to tidy the strands of hair that were scattered on her cheeks.

Krystal slowly hummed in agreement, still holding her arm tightly. "Are you hungry?"

"A little." Lin Xiuyuan leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Get up, wash up and go out to find something to eat. Jessica is probably already awake."

Krystal gave a soft hum, still unwilling to let go of him, and hugged him even tighter, muttering, "Someone like you is really not suited for a life of sleeping in late."

Nevertheless, Lin Xiuyuan pulled her up and forced her to put on a hoodie. She laughed and scolded him while also bursting out laughing, "Seriously, Xiuyuan~ don't you think this life is too busy?"

When they finished packing and came out of the guest room, Jessica, who had received the news earlier, was already waiting at the door next door. She was wearing sunglasses, carrying a bag, and looked refreshed.

Jessica raised an eyebrow, looking at the two of them who looked like they had just woken up, her lips slightly pursed.

So what if he's a young, cute guy? Showing off like this every day.

The air on the streets of London was slightly cool, and the group chatted casually about their return journey as they walked.

Krystal said, stepping on the paving stones of the sidewalk, "I still have some activities to do here, so I'll probably have to fly to LA for a couple of days."

Jessica pushed up her sunglasses, a hint of weariness in her eyes. "Then I'll go straight back to Seoul. There are still some things I haven't settled over there. I'll be back for two days, and then I'll also be going to China."

Krystal turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, a slight smile on her lips, "Then take Xiuyuan back with you, so he won't be lonely."

Lin Xiuyuan just smiled, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Jessica frowned slightly. "Jung Soo-jung, why do you sound like I'm just there to make you look like an extra?"

“That’s right, Jessica,” Krystal said with a smile.

So the three of them, who were always decisive, quickly decided on their itinerary after a quick lunch, packed their things and left.

At the guest room door, Krystal held Lin Xiuyuan in her arms, whispered a few words that only the two of them could hear, and then stood on tiptoe to place a passionate kiss on his lips.

"I'll come back to Seoul to see you when I'm done with my work."

"understood."

"I'll find you when I'm done! @ @ That's enough, it's time to go, it's not like we'll never see each other again."

In such a sweet and romantic scene, only Jessica was depressed.

A few hours later, Lin Xiuyuan and Jessica boarded a flight to Seoul.

Then came more than ten hours of flying, which left everyone physically and mentally exhausted.

It was late at night the next day when the two felt the cold wind blowing against their faces at Seoul Incheon Airport.

"I'll call a ride-hailing service," Jessica said, dragging her luggage and preparing to take out her phone.

However, Lin Xiuyuan directly reached out to stop her, saying, "No need, let's go this way, I've arranged for someone to pick me up at the airport."

So when he led Jessica out of the terminal, they were greeted by that familiar SUV.

Meanwhile, Lee Juri, who had promised not to stay up late, was leaning against the car door, her eyes already fixed on the exit.

Upon seeing Lin Xiuyuan, she immediately flashed a bright smile and greeted him, "Good evening, Xiuyuan~"

Good evening, thank you for waiting so long, Qri.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and gently hugged her, then turned to look at Jessica. "What are you daydreaming about? Let's go, or are you going to take a taxi yourself?"

"Don't talk nonsense, Xiu Yuan~"

Lee Juri smiled slightly, then stepped forward and greeted Jessica.

After a brief chat, Li Juli took Jessica's luggage and handed it to Lin Xiuyuan.

Lin Xiuyuan took Jessica's luggage and casually put it in the trunk. The relaxed atmosphere finally made this tiring journey a little easier.

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(End of this chapter)