Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 239 "Unnie, please don't call Xiuyuan anymore, it will make me misunderstand~" (Please subscribe and vote for monthly tickets)

Krystal: [How is it? How is it? Peach, Little Peach, Big Peach, answer me!]

Krystal: [Aren't we done talking yet?]

Krystal: [Seriously, what are you guys talking about? Can't you even glance at your phone?]

Krystal: [Okay, okay, everyone's busy, so you're all ignoring me, huh?]

Krystal: [I'm flying back tonight after I finish work. Choi... Peach, you just wait.]

Krystal: [...]

Earlier, when Shirley went downstairs to meet Lin Xiuyuan and Dalongzai, and then went back to watch the play in 2013.

The phone screen, which was in the guest room, was constantly lit up by Krystal's barrage of messages.

After everything was finished, when Shirley returned to her room on the second floor and finally picked up her phone again, she saw that Krystal had sent so many messages in a row. She almost burst out laughing, her face contorted with embarrassment.

"Oh dear, I didn't mean to, Soojung~"

Sherry, talking to herself, couldn't help but cover the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, but she couldn't stop smiling, and her shoulders were trembling slightly.

The next second, his fingers excitedly flew across the keyboard, his eyes sparkling.

This is the moment when she most wants to confide in someone, and Soojung on the other end of the phone is like a gift from heaven, a safe haven.

Sulli: [Krystal, come back quickly! I promise you've never seen such a spectacular meeting. Oppa and I were both shocked.]

Sulli: [I've recorded a video, Krystal, come back quickly, the video is too difficult to send.]

Sulli: [You have no idea what that scene will be like... And given Jiyeon's condition, I'm a little worried about your plan. If Sooyeon unnie really meets her, I'm afraid she might try to kill someone.]

Sulli: [Okay, I'm going to sleep now. Let's talk again tomorrow, Krystal~ Goodnight~]

After sending the message, she couldn't help but stretch with a smile, turning over like a satisfied kitten.

Then she got up to get some water, only to find that she had already drunk all the water in her glass.

Left with no other choice, I took the cup and walked out of the room toward the water dispenser at the corner of the stairs.

There was a water dispenser in the guest room, but the adapter for the small water pipe was broken, and Lin Xiuyuan hadn't had time to buy a replacement, so he had to go out to get water.

However, as Shirley walked to the corner of the stairs with her water cup and was about to press the button on the water dispenser, her ear suddenly twitched.

Intermittent sounds were coming from the direction of the third floor above.

At first, it was just a vague whisper, but soon the voices became ambiguous, suppressed, yet still conveying a sense of blushing and heart-pounding.

"..."

This situation stunned Shirley, and her eyes widened suddenly.

She nearly dropped the cup, but luckily she quickly gripped it tightly.

But her face was already as red as a ripe apple.

"God..."

Sherry couldn't help but mutter something under her breath, her breathing becoming a little rapid.

The next second, she practically ran away, turning and tiptoeing like a frightened little rabbit.

Water? She had long forgotten about it.

After crawling back into the guest room, Shirley slammed the door shut, then threw herself onto the bed and covered her head tightly with a pillow.

My heart was pounding, and my ears were burning.

No matter how hard I tried to calm myself down, the fragments I had just heard kept replaying in my mind, and I could even piece together the images automatically.

So she turned over helplessly and muttered under her breath, "Oppa went too far."

But the blush on her face just wouldn't fade.
As a result, that very night, amidst confusion and agitation, she had a night full of erotic dreams.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, warm yet dazzling.

The little dragon lying on the bed slowly opened its eyes, its body still immersed in the afterglow of last night, as if it had been repeatedly washed by the tide.

My mind felt heavy, as if it were filled with too many things. Memories of last night flashed by, filled with shocking and unfamiliar images.

The information made the little dragon raise his hand to rub his forehead, his mind a jumble of thoughts, like a spilled palette of paint.

I turned over and found the pillowside empty.

The little puppy that clung to me last night and had been raised with a 'wolf-like' nature by many people is nowhere to be seen now.

Seeing this, the little dragon lay quietly for a few seconds, with only empty silence in its ears.

Then he opened his eyes, stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts seemingly still lingering between last night and the early morning.

After a moment, he slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the foot of the bed.

The heavy curtains blocked out most of the light, making the room dark and oppressive.

"call……"

With a soft exhale, the little dragon suddenly threw off the blanket and reached out to pull a loose T-shirt over its body.

Bare thighs slumped on the soft carpet, exuding a lazy and unguarded casualness. He walked to the window and reached out to swiftly pull back the heavy curtains.

Instantly, the intense sunlight hit her in the face, causing her to squint instinctively.

After my eyes adjusted to the light, the scene gradually became clear.

The large, leafy tree stood quietly in the courtyard. The morning breeze blew, casting dappled shadows on its branches, creating a play of light and shadow.

The little dragon's gaze followed the branches and leaves downwards.

Two figures were busy in the courtyard.

Lin Xiuyuan, dressed in simple home clothes, bent over and fiddled with the barbecue grill, his movements skilled and confident, as if he had long been accustomed to this kind of life.

Shirley squatted down beside him, holding a small tool in her hand and handing it to him, muttering something to herself, with an unstoppable smile on her face.

The morning light fell on her profile, making her clear eyes sparkle.

The dragon cub's gaze gradually locked onto Sherry.

Those slender hands, the smile on her face as she squatted in front of the shelf and looked up, and the way her hair swayed gently in the wind—all of these were deeply imprinted in her eyes.

In that instant, the scene and the memory overlapped.

But they are different.

The figure in my memory always carries an indelible sense of gloom and sorrow.

But the Shirley in front of me seemed young, vibrant, and cheerful. She laughed without reservation, as if the whole world was brightened by her.

Thinking of this, and looking at Shirley in the yard, Da Longzai suddenly felt an indescribable feeling welling up in his chest.

Even though they had met last night and experienced a shock that shook her to her core, she still couldn't help but feel her heartstrings tremble when she saw this figure, who "shouldn't exist" anymore, again in the morning sunlight as she woke up.

"It still feels so unreal."

The little dragon murmured softly, its voice trembling slightly.

Her fingertips unconsciously gripped the hem of the T-shirt, pulling the fabric into several small wrinkles.

She knew perfectly well that the Shirley in front of her was her from 13 years ago.

She wasn't the same person from 25 years ago, but her breathing, laughter, and expression were all so vivid.

The feeling was like fate playing a cruel joke, making someone who had long since passed away reappear before my eyes in another form.

This made the little dragon feel a pang of sadness, and his throat tightened slightly. He then bit his lower lip.

The intensity of last night still seemed to linger on her skin, and her slightly sore arms told her that last night's offline PK was not a dream. But at the same time, the morning sunlight brought her a sense of clarity and reflection.

Leaning against the window frame, Da Longzai's gaze followed Shirley in the yard. He let out a soft breath and murmured, "It's so nice, Shirley... I'm really happy to see you laughing so happily again."

Outside the window, Shirley smiled and looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, saying something to him. Her eyes were bright, like a clear spring.

The little dragon was stunned for a moment, and a faint smile unconsciously curved his lips.

Just then, Lin Xiuyuan seemed to sense something.

He put down the clips in his hand and looked up towards the third floor.

Eyes facing each other.

"Wake up!"

Lin Xiuyuan laughed and called out, "Come down now that you're awake. I'll get you a grilled fish later."

Sherry, who was standing next to Lin Xiuyuan, couldn't help but laugh when she heard Lin Xiuyuan's greeting.

She casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a smile spreading across her face, her eyes curving into crescent moons, radiating a bright and youthful aura.

"Haha, unnie~"

She looked up at the little dragon cub who had come up to the third-floor balcony through the side door, her tone a mix of coquettishness and teasing.

“Oppa just saw a video of someone eating grilled fish and insisted on having one for lunch. I told him to just fry it on the griddle in the kitchen, but he wouldn’t have it. He insisted that it had to be grilled over charcoal to be ‘authentic’.”

Da Longzai leaned against the railing, looking down at the two people in the yard, feeling a mix of amusement and emotion.

The morning light cast a soft glow on her profile. She raised an eyebrow, her voice lazy and slightly teasing, "Whatever makes you happy. But Xiuyuan, when did you get up? You didn't even call me."

In the courtyard, Lin Xiuyuan looked up with a smile on his lips, his tone matter-of-fact, "Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I was too lazy to wake you."

As he said this, he bent down to set up the newly bought oven, and then carefully placed the charcoal into the oven layer by layer.

A moment later, he lit a few more pieces of tinder and bent down slightly to fan the flames.

The intense flames gradually consumed the charcoal, and a faint aroma of charcoal filled the air, carrying a unique atmosphere of life belonging to the courtyard.

"Truth, you keep an eye on the heat for me here, don't let the flames get too big."

Lin Xiuyuan gave an instruction and handed the fan to her.

"Okay, oppa~" Sulli readily agreed, took the fan, and obediently squatted down to the side to keep watch.

Lin Xiuyuan patted her shoulder, then turned and went into the house.

The air in the kitchen suddenly became much quieter.

A large fish was already laid out on the cutting board, its scales scraped clean and its belly opened. It only needed to be washed before being placed on the grill to roast.

But before that, he had to prepare some side dishes for the grilled fish.

Bean sprouts, tofu skin, onions, chives, etc.

The sound of water and the rhythm of the blade striking each other created a quiet and familiar atmosphere.

However, just as he was engrossed in chopping onions, he suddenly heard soft footsteps behind him.

The next moment, a pair of warm hands wrapped around his waist.

Lin Xiuyuan paused slightly, the blade resting on the onion, but he did not turn around.

He sensed an unusual heaviness and seriousness in that embrace.

"What's wrong, Jiyeon?" he asked in a low voice.

The voice in her arms was soft, yet sincere and earnest, almost trembling slightly, "Xiuyuan~ thank you."

Lin Xiuyuan lowered his eyes, his fingertips gently stroking the hilt of the knife, and a smile slowly crept onto his lips.

He understood, of course, that her "thank you" wasn't just for the grilled fish in front of her.

Rather, it was last night, this morning, and even the complex emotions in her heart that had been torn apart and pieced back together by fate.

So he didn't turn around, but just smiled and replied, "In that case... then from now on, you'll be in charge of the villa's water, electricity, and miscellaneous expenses?"

The little dragon was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at his back, and then burst out laughing.

She gently pressed her forehead against his broad back, her voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "Ah, Xiuyuan~ can't you be serious for a moment?"

"So, are you going to give it to me or not?" Lin Xiuyuan still didn't turn around, but his laughter carried a hint of teasing and flirting.

"Here, here you go." The little dragon laughed along, his eyes crinkling at the corners, as if he were a little smug.

After all, the fact that this little boy was willing to take my things meant that he really accepted me.

Then she peeked out from behind Lin Xiuyuan, her hair still slightly damp, gently draped over his shoulder, and looked at the large fish that had been cleaned on the cutting board, her tone filled with curiosity.

"So, Xiuyuan, is this what we're having for lunch?"

"Don't you like it?" Lin Xiuyuan put down the knife, glanced at her sideways, and smiled. "Then I'll make you a steak."

His tone was light, yet it carried a hint of indulgent casualness.

“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Da Longzai shook his head, his eyes drifting away, and his tone softened. “It’s just that I haven’t eaten it in a long time… When I used to work in China, I would go out for late-night snacks with Qri unnie, but I haven’t eaten it much since I came back.”

When Li Juli was mentioned, she paused for a moment, then pursed her lips, her gaze returning to Lin Xiuyuan, and her tone became more serious.

"Oh right, speaking of unnie, Xiuyuan~ you're not planning to tell unnie about her, are you?"

Lin Xiuyuan's cleaver froze in mid-air, the blade pressed against the onion.

He didn't answer immediately, staring silently at the cutting board, as if he was choosing his words.

After a long pause, she spoke softly, "Well... I really can't guarantee that everyone will think the same way after knowing the situation. Those who know so far all have concerns and desires."

The little dragon blinked, his brows furrowed slightly, and his lips pouted a little. His tone carried a hint of complaint. "Then why didn't you tell me before? Why wait until 13? It's not like I don't want my family to be healthy."

Lin Xiuyuan let out a soft breath, put down the knife, and looked up at her. His eyes held a hint of helplessness, but also a hint of indulgence, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"The main issue is that the 25-year period has already been experienced and cannot be changed. On the contrary, the 13-year period can be changed, so in terms of binding force, the 13-year period is naturally stronger."

"Your reason is so far-fetched, Xiu Yuan~" The little dragon pouted, his eyes full of "I don't believe it."

Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands, looking surrendered, his eyes filled with helplessness and amusement. "Okay, to put it bluntly, I hadn't met you back then. I met you later, but by then Zhiyan was already going crazy over there..."

"Are you cursing me like crazy?"

The little dragon immediately chimed in, humming twice, his eyes narrowing into crescent shapes, carrying a hint of playful provocation. She tilted her head, staring at him, her voice sweet yet barbed.

"Hmph, you old woman~ Xiu Yuan, do you think so too?"

Lin Xiuyuan finally couldn't hold back his emotions, and a low laugh escaped from the corner of his mouth. Then he shook his head and said, "Don't be silly. Do you think I don't know whether your figure is old or young, white or pink, or how deep your 'well' is?"

"Hmph, you're sensible after all." The little dragon proudly raised her chin, a hint of satisfaction in her expression, as if she were the undisputed victor of this conversation.

However, she quickly chuckled and gave a coquettish laugh, annoyed at the little puppy who had teased her all over, "But Xiuyuan~ you're really getting better and better at flirting with women."

"That's all thanks to your excellent teaching."

"Virtue~"

Outside the kitchen window, Shirley was still diligently fanning the charcoal fire in the yard, completely unaware of the ambiguous yet lighthearted atmosphere between the two people in the kitchen.

As time went by, the aroma of grilled fish soon filled the entire villa.

The charcoal fire in the courtyard was burning brightly, and the fish sizzled on the wire mesh. The sparkling hot oil mixed with the aroma of golden fish skin, making one's mouth water.

Lin Xiuyuan carefully flipped the fish with tongs, occasionally getting splashed with hot oil on the back of his hand, but he just laughed and cursed and continued working.

At this moment, Shirley brought out several plates of cold dishes and hot soup from the kitchen and placed them on a small table in the yard.

Sulli put down her chopsticks and turned around excitedly, "Alright, oppa, it's almost time to start eating!"

After saying that, she couldn't help but lean closer to the grill and take a deep breath, her eyes shining like a greedy kitten. "Wow, it smells so good!"

She clapped her hands and excitedly looked up at the third floor, shouting, "Unnie, hurry up and come down, or I'm going to start eating!"

The big dragon cub that had already come down had changed its clothes, so Lin Xiuyuan rushed up to change it into a loose T-shirt.

Hearing the sound, I went downstairs and smelled the aroma of charcoal-grilled fish. I couldn't help but smile, and my eyes warmed up a little.

Without further ado, the three of them sat down around a small table in the courtyard. Steaming hot fish and side dishes were slowly grilled on an iron plate, which was full of food, creating an indescribable sense of warmth.

"Come, come, have a taste."

Lin Xiuyuan picked up a piece of fish belly meat, first handing it to Shirley, and then to Dalongzai.

Wow, it's so tender.

The little dragon picked up the piece of fish and put it in her mouth. As soon as she bit into it, the fresh and crispy texture made her eyes light up.

She couldn't help but squint her eyes, chewed a couple of times with satisfaction, and then gave Lin Xiuyuan a thumbs up and waved it, "Xiuyuan, this technique is amazing, better than anything I've ever eaten outside before!" Shirley also took a bite of fish, chewing and laughing, "Mmm, delicious! But unnie, don't be fooled by oppa, he actually learned it on the spot while watching short videos, and he almost burned the fish just now."

"Hey, Zhenli, don't expose my secrets!" Lin Xiuyuan said, both amused and exasperated.

After a burst of laughter and banter, the atmosphere gradually quieted down. At this moment, Shirley couldn't help but bring up the topic, "By the way, unnie, you just said you wanted to go back with us to find Jiyeon. What's wrong? You don't want to fight again, do you?"

She blinked as she spoke, her tone playful, but she had already made up her mind.

If that were the case, she would definitely have to buy an action camera to hang around her neck, lest she miss a big show.

Da Longzai put down his chopsticks, narrowed his eyes, and said with a hint of amusement, "We won't fight anymore. I was just a little angry last night."

As she spoke, she paused slightly, her gaze falling on the fish on the table, as if she were looking through it into the distant past.

"Actually, I just wanted to talk to Jiyeon about breaking into the Chinese entertainment industry. I've been through it, so I know very well that it's a perfect choice. The market is big, and the money is easy to make. With their qualifications and the opportunities they had at the time, if they could seize the opportunity and the company could cooperate well, they might be able to make a more perfect transition than we did last time."

Her tone was calm and unhurried, but her expression gradually became serious, and a hint of pride flashed in her eyes, as if she were looking at her younger, more hardworking self.

“Eunjung and the others mentioned this last night, so Jiyeon, you don’t need to bring it up again.”

While eating the fish tail, Lin Xiuyuan casually chimed in, his tone very natural, "Recently, it seems that more and more second-generation idols are going back to the domestic entertainment industry to compete for jobs. But it can't be said that they are competing for idols' jobs. It's more like they are taking over the jobs of those internet celebrities... It's a bit like a dimensional reduction attack."

"Do I really have to say I want to go back and visit, Xiuyuan?"

The little dragon was interrupted and couldn't help but glare at him, a look that carried a hint of coquettishness and was full of charm. She gave a soft snort and laughed seductively, as if she really wanted to tease and bicker with him.

Immediately afterward, as she listened to Lin Xiuyuan's words, a sense of emotion welled up in her heart.

She lowered her gaze for a few seconds before speaking softly, "Yes, yesterday at dinner, I heard Hyomin unnie say that the company had also contacted her, and they've been communicating recently. And it's not just her; there are people at JYP as well. In terms of short video platforms, the Chinese market is indeed more profitable than the international market."

"It's not simply a matter of making money," Lin Xiuyuan said softly, picking up a potato slice to eat. "It's because things have become standardized over there."

Over the past two months, he has watched some live streams and trending topics, so he naturally has a general idea of ​​what's going on.

At this moment, Shirley asked, "So, unnie, do you also want to do that?"

"Me?"

The little dragon chuckled at first, his eyes brightening for a moment, but then quickly dimmed, his voice softening, "I don't want to move after 25 years, I'm really tired."

She took a sip of soup, lowered her eyes, and said in a calm voice, "I plan to maintain this semi-retired state, occasionally showing my face, and spending the rest of my time being Xiuyuan's secretary, helping him hide, make phone calls, and manage everyone's timelines. That's fine."

Upon hearing this, Shirley paused, her hand, which was picking up food, froze in mid-air.

She stared blankly at the little dragon, her eyes widening, her lips pursed, and finally she couldn't help but blurt out, "Huh? Then... what about me?"

The courtyard was quiet for a moment, then Lin Xiuyuan and Dalongzai looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

The laughter, warm and tinged with affection, gently dispelled the heaviness from just moments before.

……

……

While Lin Xiuyuan, Dalongzai, and Shirley were eating steaming grilled fish in the courtyard of their 25-year-old villa, their laughter echoing in the sunlight.

Inside a shopping mall in 2013, the afternoon schedule was still pending.

The corridor was brightly lit, and the air was filled with the mixed scents of coffee and cosmetics.

Staff members leaned against the wall in twos and threes to rest, some chatting quietly about the upcoming announcements, while others passed the time on their phones.

The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but it still conveyed the busyness unique to the entertainment industry.

Park Jiyeon stood on one side of the crowd, biting her lower lip with some hesitation. Her palms were covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and her gaze shifted back and forth between the figures.

After a while, he finally made up his mind, took a deep breath, and walked quickly toward Ham Eun-jung, who was pouring herself coffee.

"Unnie, come with me for a moment."

The voice was urgent and left no room for refusal.

"Huh? What's wrong, Jiyeon?"

Before Ham Eun-jung could react, Ji-yeon grabbed her arm and half-pushed, half-pulled her into the depths of the corridor.

She nearly spilled her coffee, but quickly steadied it, her face full of confusion.

The two turned all the way to the end of the road, where it was a secluded and quiet place with dim lighting and almost no one passing by.

"Phew..." Park Jiyeon looked around to make sure no one was there before letting out a long breath.

The expression on her face was indescribably strange, carrying tension and hesitation.

"Don't scare me, why are you being so mysterious?"

Ham Eun-jung felt a chill run down her spine from her gaze and unconsciously rubbed her arms.

Park Jiyeon bit her lip, her eyes darting around, but her voice was very low, "Unnie, I saw an old woman last night."

"Huh?" Ham Eun-jung froze, blinking twice, completely not understanding. "You said...who?"

"The old woman, which is... me at 25 years old."

Park Jiyeon blurted it out in one breath, her heart pounding.

Ham Eun-jung was stunned, and after a long while, she managed to stammer out, "Wait, Xiu Yuan brought her back?"

Park Jiyeon nodded. "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Ham Eun-jung chuckled, as if trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, "So how was your chat? One of you is from the past and the other is from the future, you must have had a lot to talk about."

"We didn't talk." Park Jiyeon lowered her head, but then suddenly looked up with a complicated expression. "We had a fight."

The air suddenly became quiet.

As Park Jiyeon uttered those words, Ham Eunjung's eyes widened as if she doubted she had misheard, and she froze on the spot.

After a long pause, she managed to squeeze out a sentence, "Ji-yeon, did you say something wrong? What did you just say?"

"Unnie, I'm not kidding you."

Park Jiyeon's eyes widened as she gestured with her hands to describe the actions of the previous night. "We actually had a fight after we met last night. It was awful! She's clearly an old woman, but she's incredibly strong and knows how to cheat. She almost beat me to the ground, and my hands are still sore from the beating."

Ham Eun-jung was completely stunned. She almost crushed the coffee cup in her hand. Her eyes widened and her lips trembled. "What...what are you talking about?! You guys really fought?"

Her voice unconsciously rose as she spoke, but she was so startled that she immediately covered her mouth and hurriedly lowered her voice, as if afraid that the secret would be overheard by others.

Although Ham Eun-jung knew that Park Ji-yeon had been practicing Taekwondo, she always said it was to "beat up that old woman in the future."

But in her heart, she always thought it was just a joke from Park Jiyeon, at most just young people being cheeky.

She never imagined that Park Jiyeon would actually get serious about confronting her 25-year-old self.

Next, Park Ji-yeon simply recounted in detail how Lin Xiu-yuan had barged into her apartment last night with "Big Dragon Cub".

When talking about her "passive defense," she even demonstrated a few punches and kicks, looking so serious that it was exasperating.

Finally, she paused abruptly, nodded firmly, and said with a hint of frustration, "That's it, unnie!"

Park Jiyeon's eyes flickered, filled with unspeakable grievance and resentment. "That old woman is too cunning. She actually used some tricks that I don't know. She even blatantly cheated, which resulted in me losing to her instead... It really makes me so angry."

Ham Eun-jung was completely dumbfounded, leaning against the wall of the corridor for a long time before she came to her senses.

Then she murmured in disbelief, "When Yoona and Luhan meet, they at most tease each other a bit. When I meet myself, we don't even argue, we just talk about serious matters. When Taeyeon and the others meet, they hug each other and cry... How come when it comes to you, it turns into a fight?"

She reached up and rubbed her forehead, sighed deeply, her heart filled with mixed feelings, and couldn't help but say with a hint of helplessness, "Didn't I tell you? Dae Ji-yeon has a tough time too."

"Hmph! Who told her to make me angry!"

Park Jiyeon looked aggrieved, crossed her arms, and puffed out her cheeks. "Unnie, you don't know, what she said last night was so explicit and infuriating. I was so angry. Who would make fun of themselves like that?"

Hearing Park Jiyeon's words, Ham Eunjung really wanted to stand on her maknae's side, but Daeyong was also her maknae, so she smiled and said, "Well, aren't you also calling her an old woman?"

"Hum hum--"

Upon hearing this, Park Jiyeon was immediately speechless. She could only grumble a few times as if she was sulking. Then she rushed over and grabbed Ham Eunjung's arm, shaking it playfully. "Ah~ unnie, are you on my side or hers? I'm the maknae!"

Seeing her like this, Ham Eun-jung couldn't help but smile.

Although there is indeed a new maknae in the group now, the "little dragon cub" in front of me who I watched grow up is still the one I love the most.

"Of course I'm on your side," she said gently, but with a hint of lecturing. "However, I can't just stand by and watch you throw a tantrum. If you're really unhappy, you should say it properly instead of resorting to fighting right away."

At that moment, Park Hyomin, who had just finished talking with her manager, turned around and found that her two best friends had disappeared.

She frowned, and just as she was wondering, the new maknae next to her cautiously pointed outside.

So Park Hyomin walked out of the corridor, looked around, and finally saw Ham Eunjung and Park Jiyeon together at the end of the corridor.

Her eyes darted around, a hint of curiosity rising in her heart. Instead of calling out, she quietly walked towards the other side.

As I got closer, I could indeed hear intermittent sounds.

"Don't fight next time you meet. It's all your fault. What's the point of fighting all the time, right, Jiyeon?"

"Unnie, what if that old woman wants to start a fight? What should I do then?"

Do you think that's possible?

"Yes, who knows, right, unnie?"

Just as Ham Eun-jung was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of Park Hyo-min standing behind her out of the corner of her eye. Startled, she quickly swallowed her words, "Ah, Hyo-min, when did you get behind us? Wow, you scared me."

"Did I scare you?"

Park Hyomin crossed her arms, her eyes full of suspicion, a hint of temper tinged with playfulness, "You two are being so secretive, whispering in the corner, what are you talking about?"

She blinked, first staring at Ham Eun-jung, then glancing at Park Ji-yeon, her tone teasing, "I heard everything just now, you know, fighting, old women, and whispering in the corner. You guys weren't talking about me behind my back, were you?"

"Huh? No, no..."

Ham Eun-jung chuckled awkwardly, still somewhat shaken, and instinctively reached out to touch Park Ji-yeon's head, as if trying to cover up the awkwardness. "It's just... just playful banter. Ji-yeon's been naughty, I was just joking."

“Yes, yes, yes~” Park Jiyeon nodded quickly, looking guilty. “Unnie, you’re overthinking it. The old woman we’re talking about isn’t you. How could it be you?”

"Hmm?" Park Hyomin narrowed her eyes, her suspicion deepening. She put her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks in anger. "Who is it? Tell me! You've been hiding too many things from me. I'm really getting angry!"

Upon seeing this, Park Jiyeon was speechless for a moment, her eyes darting around, feeling incredibly guilty.

So he quickly made up an excuse, "Ah, it's just... that villainous old lady in the TV series! We were watching it yesterday and complaining about her, saying she was really annoying, so we just used her to curse her."

"TV drama?"

Hyomin looked at Ham Eunjung suspiciously, "Is it true?"

Ham Eun-jung forced a smile and nodded, "Yeah, that's right. You know Ji-yeon, right? She gets really into it when she watches TV, and when she gets excited she'll just use lines from the show to curse people out."

"Really?" Park Hyomin was skeptical, turning to stare at Park Jiyeon. "But Jiyeon, we've been spending most of our time together these past few days, and the TV in the dorm hasn't been turned on for ages. Where did you watch that drama? What's it called? I want to go watch it too."

"Oh dear, unnie~ Why are you so sensitive? How could I bear to say anything bad about you?"

"What drama?!" Park Jiyeon, who was making things up, realized she was about to be exposed, so she immediately grabbed Park Hyomin's arm and shook it again, just like she had been flirting with Ham Eunjung. "You're my favorite Hyomin unnie, really, no way."

"Hmph, that's nice to say."

Being comforted by the little girl she loved, Park Hyomin felt a little warm inside, but her temper hadn't completely subsided. So she glared angrily at Park Jiyeon and Ham Eunjung, "Then you two are not allowed to secretly chat behind my back anymore. You have to talk to each other if you have something to say, otherwise I'm really going to get angry. You've really been isolating me a bit too much lately."

"Okay, unnie~" Park Jiyeon stuck out her tongue, looking obedient, but secretly she breathed a sigh of relief.

Ham Eun-jung also stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "That's right, the three of us sisters are of one mind, how could we have any secrets?"

However, out of Park Hyomin's sight, the two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with worry and helplessness.

Park Hyomin, having been 'fooled' once again, looked at the two of them. Although she didn't ask any more questions, her curiosity and dissatisfaction remained buried deep in her heart.

She muttered to herself: These two are definitely hiding something from me... Humph, when she finds a chance, she'll definitely find out their secret.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ba, who was in the waiting room, stared at the door of the waiting room, wanting to go out and check on the situation of the other girls, but dared not move at all.

……

……

In the blink of an eye, it was already evening.

The setting sun streamed into the villa's living room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire space in a warm orange-red hue.

In the villa in 2025, Lin Xiuyuan and Dalongzai were snuggled on the sofa watching a movie, while Shirley went back to her apartment in 13 to take care of some things after lunch.

To put it bluntly, it's about keeping track of the messages and phone numbers, in case the TV station or film crew tries to find her and can't reach her, then it'll be troublesome.

Da Longzai leaned against Lin Xiuyuan's chest, his hair falling over his shoulder, and he was holding a small bag of leftover snacks in his hand.

The two spent the afternoon watching several movies, laughing and complaining, enjoying an unprecedentedly relaxed time.

This was also the most relaxed and enjoyable day she had since meeting Lin Xiuyuan.

Last night's heart-to-heart talk and intercourse between the two completely closed the physical and emotional distance between them, making them even more intimate.

"Should we find something to eat before we get back to 2013? I'm a little hungry."

The little dragon turned its head to the side and muttered softly, its eyes sparkling, "I remember there were so many delicious things over there, but they've all closed down now, it's such a shame."

"Sure, what do you want to eat?" Lin Xiuyuan smiled and ruffled her hair.

As he was talking, his phone suddenly vibrated.

Lin Xiuyuan picked it up and saw that the caller ID showed Li Juli.

"Qri unnie?" The little dragon blinked, his expression immediately becoming wary, his eyes narrowing.

Before Lin Xiuyuan could react, she reached out and snatched the phone, then cleared her throat and answered, "Hello? Is this Qri unnie?"

Lee Qri, on the other end of the phone, paused for a moment, then laughed, "Jiyeon? Why are you answering?"

"Unnie, don't call Xiuyuan anymore, it'll make me misunderstand." Da Longzai said confidently, even with a hint of pride.

Unnie, I know the secret you didn't know before, now I do!
Lee Juri was taken aback, then burst into laughter, "Oh my~ what are you thinking about all day long in your little brain?"

"Hmph~ Then why did you call him?" Big Dragon Baby persisted.

"So what if I make a phone call? It's none of your business."

Li Juli was speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Anyway, Xiuyuan is mine these few days, so please don't bother us, Unnie. We want to have some time alone."

Da Longzai gave a final snort and hung up the phone decisively.

On the other end of the phone, Lee Juri stared at the black screen, stunned for a good ten seconds before she reacted.

When did this maknae (youngest member) become so bold?!

However, before the little dragon could even feel smug for a few seconds, his phone vibrated again.

She assumed it was Lee Qri who was still upset and called back, so she smirked and answered without even looking at the caller ID, "Hey, Qri unnie, didn't you understand what I just said? Xiuyuan is mine these days, so don't call and bother me."

There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone as soon as I finished speaking.

Then, an unexpected voice came, "Ji-yeon?"

The little dragon froze, staring blankly at Lin Xiuyuan.

The voice coming from the other end was filled with surprise and disbelief; it was Jessica, who had just returned to Seoul from London with Lin Xiuyuan two days prior.

"Huh?" The little dragon was completely dumbfounded.

When she finally realized what had happened, her face flushed red to her ears. She hurriedly shoved the phone back into Lin Xiuyuan's hand, then buried herself in his arms like an ostrich, refusing to look up.

Lin Xiuyuan, quite shameless, held up his phone and said with a smile, "Hello, Jessica, it's me, what's up?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Jessica's cool voice came through, "I was calling to tell you that Krystal landed in Seoul in the early morning, around 4 a.m., did you know that?"

Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback, raising an eyebrow slightly. "What? She's coming back? I really didn't know that."

……

Sulli: It's all my fault, oppa.

Krystal: Peach, you just wait.

……

　The voting for the 10,000 votes has ended. Thank you to all the godfathers for your support and votes.

　　Monthly votes surpassed 10,000, daily votes increased by 1 per 10,000. Thanks to the lovely Linlin for being the patron, daily votes increased by 1 per 10,000.

　　Daily progress bar: 83/91.

　　Please vote with monthly tickets!! Please subscribe!! Please donate!! Please do anything!!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)