Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 251 Jessica: "Jung Soo-yeon? Same name??" (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

As Jin Ruanruan's remarks in the "Relief Garden" group became increasingly passionate, the atmosphere in the group also became heated.

Just as everyone was still immersed in her passion, suddenly, a small voice emerged.

Sulli: [Unnie~ I have a small question. Oppa's in this group too. Is it a bit... a bit... to be talking about this so openly right now?]

The moment the news broke, the air seemed to freeze as if someone had pressed the pause button.

Jin Ruanruan: [Hmm?]

Park Jiyeon: [Oh yeah, oppa's in the group chat too.]

Ham Eun-jung: [What the heck? I thought when you guys were making those promises, you were saying them directly to Soo-won, but it turns out you forgot.]

Seeing the conversation suddenly fall silent on her phone screen, Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but burst out laughing in front of Jin Ruanruan in the waiting room, her shoulders shaking.

"Hahahaha, I can't take it anymore, unnie, you're so funny! You look so cool and silly at the same time, hahaha~"

She laughed so hard she almost dropped her phone.

Jessica Jung, standing next to her, couldn't help but purse her lips tightly, her eyes filled with suppressed laughter.

That forced, restrained demeanor only made it seem more mocking.

Only Jin Ruanruan was stunned for a moment, then frowned, her expression more serious than anyone expected, "How about we kick Xiuyuan out of the group?"

Lin Xiaolu and Zheng Xiuyan: ? ? ?

The two of them turned to look at her simultaneously, their expressions filled with a speechless "Are you serious?" look.

Jin Ruanruan, however, thought it was more and more feasible, "If we kick them out and then add them back, they won't be able to see the messages we sent, right?"

As she spoke, she had already opened the group page, her actions swift and decisive.

Unfortunately, the next second, she discovered the cruel reality.

She is not the group owner and does not have the necessary permissions.

As the founder of the group, Lin Xiuyuan is an existence that cannot be shaken.

“This…” Jin Ruanruan’s brows furrowed even more, and a hint of impatience even appeared on her face.

Lin Xiaolu looked at this unnie's serious yet somewhat clumsy appearance and laughed until tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't help but reach out and hug her shoulder from the side, laughing and comforting her at the same time.

"Unnie, your little brain can be very clever at times, but it can also be quite eccentric at others. Don't worry, you don't need to be too nervous."

"Oh no, what should we do?" Jin Ruanruan was still a little anxious, her eyes fixed on her phone screen.

"It's simple. His phone is with Sulli now. Just have Sulli delete the chat history." Jessica Jung gave the suggestion while quickly typing in the group chat.

Jessica Jung: [Sulli, bring Xiuyuan's phone and clear the chat history.]

A few seconds later, a message hesitantly appeared on Shirley's end:
Sulli: [Ah...oh...but unnie, what if oppa asks about this later?]

Jessica Jung lifted her eyelids, gave a slight smile, and quickly replied.

Jessica Jung: [Just say I asked you to do it, say we were saying some private things in the group chat that weren't appropriate for him to observe.]

Her seemingly indifferent tone suggested that everything was under her control.

Sure enough, the group chat immediately became lively.

Park Jiyeon: [What secrets can't oppa see?]

Jin Ruanruan's eyes lit up, and her fingertips quickly typed out a string of words.

Jin Ruanruan: [Discussing self-defense techniques, debating the sensitivity and setting of ricocheting bullets, and exploring topics related to male size and stamina.]

For a moment, the group was silent for three seconds.

Ham Eun-jung: [...]

Sherry: [? ?]

Park Jiyeon: [Unnie, you're so brave.]

In the waiting room.

Lin Xiaolu stared at the few lines of incredibly bold words on her phone screen, her pupils contracting slightly, and she subconsciously swallowed.

Her heart pounded, and her fingertips felt cold. She looked up at Jin Ruanruan sitting next to her, and was completely stunned.

"Unnie, you..."

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to ease the tension, but the words stuck in her throat.

A strange feeling of both fear and amusement swirled in my chest.

She knew very well that if Ruan Ruan suddenly turned to her and asked why she hadn't just sat down in Tokyo last time and wasted time, what would happen?
Lin Xiaolu would really freeze on the spot if that happened.

So Lin Xiaolu had no choice but to shut up, swallowing back the words that were about to come out. She froze on the spot as if she had been pricked by a needle, and her expression was so embarrassed that it looked like it was about to crack.

……

……

However, Lin Xiuyuan was unaware of the commotion and madness that occurred there in 2013.

At this moment, he is immersed in the bowling alley of 2025, locked in a fierce battle with Jessica.

The stadium lights were bright and cold, reflecting a faint halo on the smooth wooden fairways.

The air was filled with the smell of wood wax and paint, with a slightly dry and irritating sensation.

The booming sounds of the pins hitting each other echoed like the constant beating of war drums for this duel, making it impossible to breathe easily.

At this point, the score had reached the fourth game.

In the first three rounds, Jessica and Lin Xiuyuan were evenly matched.

With several near-perfect hits, she put the situation on the edge of its seat, her expression even becoming somewhat cold.

But Lin Xiuyuan was no pushover either. His enhanced physique after eating a 'person' made his touch incredibly stable. Even with casual movements, his shots were still tricky and precise.

This is Jessica's turn in the fourth round.

With an exceptionally focused expression, she exhaled a long breath, her slightly tilted shoulders rising and falling with her breath.

His fingertips gently caressed the smooth surface of the ball, as if he wanted to immerse himself completely in this shot.

"call……"

The moment the ball was thrown, her shoulders trembled slightly, and then her gaze was fixed on the front.

"Strike!"

The pins fell down again with a loud crash.

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged and walked casually to the fairway.

Unlike Jessica, he didn't take it seriously. Instead, he picked up the ball casually, as if taking a stroll, with an irregular posture and an astonishingly short aiming time.

As the ball rolled out, it seemed to have deviated from the optimal path.

Krystal couldn't help but mutter a soft "Eek" to herself.

But the next second, the ball subtly adjusted its trajectory at the last moment and slammed into the pin.

"Strike!"

This sound was like a thunderclap in Jessica's ears, freezing her smile instantly.

The fifth game was the decisive one.

The noise in the stadium seemed to have faded away, as if only the two of them were left competing.

Krystal was holding a milkshake, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them, even forgetting that the straw was still in her mouth.

Jessica was the first to make a move.

This time, her movements were clean and precise, and the ball glided along a perfectly straight line.

Boom~
Another perfect shot.

But before she could be happy for long, Lin Xiuyuan slowly walked forward.

He first looked down at the ball in his hand, then suddenly looked up at Jessica with a half-smile.

"Want me to just take this shot? I'll give you a way out."

Jessica's eyes immediately turned cold, and her tone carried a clear warning, "I don't need you to give way."

These four short words, however, carried a heavy weight, as if they were imbued with a certain pride and stubbornness.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and, without saying anything more, raised his hand and threw the ball.

The ball spun rapidly on the fairway, faster than he had done before, with an undeniable domineering force.

Boom~
The pins collapsed instantly, making a deafening sound.

Jessica's face darkened.

Because the score was already set at 3 to 2, her only advantage was the score in the last game.

After collecting the ball, Lin Xiuyuan slowly walked up to her, with less than a step between them. The faint moisture on his body mixed with the scent of wood wax in the air, causing Jessica to subconsciously hold her breath.

"The result is obvious now."

His tone was light, as if he were announcing some irreversible fact.

"Three to two, I won three games, and you won two."

Jessica pressed her lips together, not responding immediately. She knew this meant the rules were about to change.

The other person could ask three questions, but she asked one, so now there's only one left.

"Don't make that face."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled casually, his tone laced with nonchalant teasing, "You also have one chance. You can ask me any questions, and I promise I won't renege on my promise."

Seeing this, Jessica's resentment deepened.

She was unwilling to be questioned by Lin Xiuyuan in the first place, because her intuition told her that he seemed to have dug some kind of trap for her, and once she answered, she would be led by him.

At this moment, Krystal seemed to sense the tension in the atmosphere and gently eased it, "Alright, you must be tired after playing for so long. Come and sit down and take a rest."

As she spoke, she clapped her hands, a hint of a smile in her eyes. "Your match was really amazing! I've watched a lot of professional matches, but compared to yours, they're nothing special. Jessica, when did your skills improve so quickly?"

Jessica didn't respond.

She turned back to her seat, deftly picked up her water glass, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp to hide the complex emotions surging within her.

She knew very well that she had just performed exceptionally well, and it was the best she had ever bowled in recent years, with the best feel for the ball.

Even so, he was still defeated by Lin Xiuyuan with ease. So, is that guy a professional player?
Seeing Jessica remain silent, Lin Xiuyuan acted as if nothing had happened, and followed her to the rest area, casually sitting down next to Krystal.

Krystal, on the other hand, acted like a spectator, sipping her milkshake while her eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, her face full of curiosity and gossip.

She occasionally pursed her lips, a smile flashing in her eyes, yet she tried her best to maintain the posture of an "observer".

After they sat down, they ate something and drank some beverages to calm themselves down.

As the atmosphere gradually eased, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Jessica with a smile in his eyes and said, "Why don't you ask first, Jessica?"

He tilted his head and looked at Jessica, his tone light and casual, as if the previous contest was nothing more than a minor squabble.

Jessica turned her head to the side, took a deep breath, and replied, "You won more, so you ask first."

She had intended to keep her questions to herself and decide later, but something felt off, and she even considered getting up and leaving right then and there.

But her proud nature prevented her from cheating or backing down; she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes, and without saying anything more, he said directly, "Alright, my first question."

He leaned back slightly, casually draped his arms over the back of the chair, and said with a smile, "Actually, it's nothing. I just wanted to ask Jessica how things are between you and Kwon Ning-yi now. What exactly is your relationship?"

Krystal was stunned by the question. The milkshake in the straw made a "glug" sound and blocked the air bubbles, and she almost choked.

He muttered to himself: That's a really direct question.

She originally thought Lin Xiuyuan would take a long detour, but she didn't expect him to cut straight to the core.

But considering this guy's personality, he didn't seem like the type to beat around the bush, so he quickly turned his gaze to Jessica.

Jessica did not respond immediately.

He simply raised his eyes and stared straight at Lin Xiuyuan, his gaze deep, as if trying to see through him.

The air between the two froze instantly, as if the noisy stadium around them had been shut out.

After a long pause, she slowly spoke, her voice tinged with a hint of mockery, "I see..."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged.

Then Jessica narrowed her eyes and suddenly asked, "Lin Xiuyuan, these questions... no, I should say the last two questions, and the situation of asking you to come here today, are not what you wanted, are they?"

Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled up slightly, but he did not directly answer her question.

Instead, she smiled and said, "So Jessica, are you going to use your only question slot to let me answer this question?"

A subtle tension and a sense of probing filled the air, like undercurrents surging beneath a still surface of water, making one hold their breath in anticipation.

Jessica paused for a moment, her brows furrowing unconsciously.

"No need," she replied coldly, her voice low but revealing a hint of stubbornness and defensiveness.

Upon seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan simply chuckled and remained silent.

The smile held a hint of meaning, as if it were subtly telling her: Guess if I'll tell you the answer.

Jessica felt a surge of anger. This was the feeling she hated most.

That feeling of being led around in circles, of being kept in suspense even when someone could give a direct answer.

Unfortunately, she had just lost a bowling match.

Therefore, one must accept the consequences of a bet and face reality head-on.

Krystal, watching from the side, was itching to speak and wanted to shake her sister's shoulders: Jessica, hurry up and tell us, or I'll suffocate!

She genuinely wanted to know the answer, mainly because every time she asked Jessica, she would avoid the question, or she would lie and say that they were still together and that their relationship was great, treating her like a child.

After a moment of silence, Jessica finally spoke softly, "Not very good."

Her tone was cold yet steady, as if she didn't want to give the other party any opportunity to take advantage.

Then, her gaze swept over Lin Xiuyuan intentionally or unintentionally, and she added in a low voice, "It's just a normal business partnership."

Krystal instinctively exclaimed "Huh?", completely bewildered.

She had expected to hear at least some juicy gossip, but Jessica brushed it off with just four words.

Lin Xiuyuan, however, maintained that ambiguous smile, as if he had expected this answer all along.

But even this dry answer was enough for him.

Since Jessica hasn't given a definite answer or defined relationship, it indirectly suggests that the two have pretty much broken up.

In the photos from their last wedding, the two were not standing close together, clearly indicating that they only attended together because of their supermodel friendship.

To some extent, all of this seems to be coming to a head according to a set pattern, but it just needs time to settle and cannot be made public immediately.

As for that conflict with myself...

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes. Could it be that that guy has taken a liking to Krystal and sees her as his "possession"?

Jessica felt even more uncomfortable looking at his slightly provocative expression: What exactly does this guy want to know?
However, she didn't show it; she simply pursed her lips again, suppressing her emotions.

Lin Xiuyuan leaned forward slightly and smiled, "That was a pretty straightforward answer. It seems you're not the kind of person who cheats; you really are willing to accept defeat."

After saying that, he leaned back in his chair with a relaxed smile on his face.

Jessica gave him a cold glance and said nothing more.

Then Lin Xiuyuan smiled and continued, "Are you going to ask this time?"

"Stop nagging, I already said you should ask first," Jessica said again, frowning slightly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan shrugged, then suddenly thought of something and hatched a little scheme.

When asking the second question, he cleverly incorporated the last two points that Jessica Jung wanted to ask.

"Do I have to ask first? Let me see. What I want to know is simply what your plans are for the future, and whether you regret some of your previous choices, so just answer accordingly."

When Lin Xiuyuan said this, his tone was nonchalant, but the boundaries of the issue were blurred.

This tactic allows him to get Jessica to answer smoothly while also extracting more information—a typical manipulative man's method.

Krystal, who was aware of the situation, noticed this immediately.

She turned her head and stared at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes conveying the meaning of "You're really cunning."

The other person's "dead pig" expression made her lips curl into a slight smile, and she chuckled softly.

Jessica wasn't stupid either; she raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Aren't these two questions?"

Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands and smiled innocently, "It depends on your answer. I'm fine with anything. It's just a chat."

That nonchalant attitude made the scene both hilarious and shameless.

Krystal couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh out loud, her eyes sparkling with mischief: Sure enough, this guy was just trying to get information out of her, purely to observe Jessica's reaction.

Jessica rolled her eyes, a hint of helplessness in them.

She clearly didn't want to engage with this kind of tactic, but the phrase "a bet is a bet" acted like a gate blocking her heart, preventing her from easily giving up.

"From now on..." she repeated softly, as if trying to buy herself some time.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, "It's just normal work, working to earn money, nothing special to say."

Lin Xiuyuan wanted to ask more questions, but she changed the subject and her voice suddenly became firm, "As for whether I regret it or not, the word 'regret' has never existed in my dictionary."

Upon hearing this, Krystal paused for a moment, while Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Jessica calmed down noticeably as she spoke. In her view, life is not just one path; if you take a wrong turn, it just means there will be more potholes and thorns. Anyway, no one will die from falling, so a little pain is fine.

Thinking of the "boundary between life and death," Jessica's gaze no longer drifted towards Lin Xiuyuan or Krystal, but instead became slightly unfocused.

She seemed to be looking down on the trajectory of her past life from high above, and several familiar figures flashed through her mind: some people had given her warmth and companionship, while others had made her experience betrayal and loss.

Krystal noticed her silence, her gaze softened for a moment, and she was about to speak to ease the atmosphere when she realized that Lin Xiuyuan was just quietly looking at Jessica without saying a word.

So he pursed his lips slightly and fell silent.

This restraint—not pressing or forcing—surprised Jessica.

She thought Lin Xiuyuan would continue to pry, but to her surprise, he just smiled faintly, as if waiting for her to say more.

A certain place in my heart was gently touched.

Then she lowered her head, casually tossed her hair, and exhaled softly as if to hide her emotions, suppressing those subtle feelings.

Then he slowly raised his head to meet Lin Xiuyuan's gaze, with a hint of teasing, "There's one last question. Go ahead and ask, satisfy your perverted voyeuristic desires and curiosity."

Lin Xiuyuan held onto the last question, but didn't speak immediately.

Instead, he half-jokingly laughed and said, "How about this, let's play another round. If you lose, I won't ask any more questions. If you win, I'll only ask one. Consider it a chance for you to get back at them."

Jessica didn't even lift her eyelids, simply waving her hand dismissively.

"Forget it, just finish your question already. I don't care about winning or losing anymore."

Her tone carried a hint of weariness, yet also a touch of detached nonchalance.

It's as if she's let go somewhere deep inside and doesn't want to be bound by "rules" anymore.

Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback, not expecting her to be so agreeable. He was even a little confused, because he had already asked his last question using a little trick, and now he hadn't thought of what to ask next.

The air seemed to stand still for a few seconds, with only faint echoes from the stadium and the creaking of the wooden floor.

Just then, Krystal suddenly interjected, looking at Lin Xiuyuan tentatively, "Xiuyuan, if you can't think of anything, you can keep it for now."

Jessica immediately shook her head, her expression serious. "No, I'm willing to accept the loss, but he has to ask the questions he should."

Lin Xiuyuan raised the corner of his mouth, catching the opening, and said, "Then you ask first, I'll think about it."

Jessica was taken aback, but quickly realized that she had just been fooled by this guy.

His eyes immediately flashed with anger as he glared fiercely at Lin Xiuyuan.

That glance was sharp, yet he met it with a nonchalant, almost mocking smile.

"Okay, then I'll ask."

Jessica narrowed her eyes and slowly spoke, then stared directly at Lin Xiuyuan, "I won't ask anything else, just one question: Who exactly wants to know these questions?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Krystal froze, her body tensing instinctively.

Her eyes flashed with obvious panic and worry, seemingly even more nervous than Lin Xiuyuan, who was actually being asked the question, because she knew who the questioner was.

But Lin Xiuyuan remained calm, even leaning slightly against the back of his seat, his posture relaxed, as if he had expected this question.

His expression showed no sign of panic, only a slight upturn of his lips.

That nonchalance made Jessica feel even worse.

Facing Jessica's clear yet sharp eyes, Lin Xiuyuan didn't play any tricks this time, but went straight to the point, "Actually, it's Jessica Jung who wants to know."

That short sentence was like dropping a small bomb in the rest area.

Krystal's eyes widened instantly, her heart jolted, and she sat up straight as if pricked by a needle.

She was the first to react, but she couldn't say a word. She could only stare intently at Lin Xiuyuan, afraid that he would say something even more shocking.

Jessica was slightly taken aback, then blinked, looking a little confused.

"Jessica Jung?"

She repeated it subconsciously, then curled her lips into a slightly teasing smile, "Just someone with the same name? Why would she want to know that?"

Her tone was light and even a little joking, clearly not thinking about the absurd idea of ​​"her past self".

Krystal froze on the spot upon hearing this. She stood there stunned for a full two seconds before managing a dry "heh heh," as if forcibly trying to hide something. Inwardly, however, she couldn't help but mutter to herself:
Sure enough... not many people can believe such an outrageous thing as a time portal.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Krystal, his expression remaining calm, and slowly said, "I don't know why she asked these questions. She was just asked by a member. Now that she's finished asking, I'll go back and tell her later."

Jessica paused, raising an eyebrow slightly, as if she had finally grasped the key point.

"So, the Jessica Jung you mentioned... is a member of the bar?"

Lin Xiuyuan nodded without offering any further explanation.

Jessica glanced at him quietly, her eyes deep and complex, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, but she ultimately didn't say them.

She didn't press the matter further. Instead, she lowered her eyelashes, slowly picked up the small fork on the table, cut a small piece of cake, and gently put it into her mouth.

Her movements were quiet and her expression indifferent, but anyone could sense that she was not at peace inside.

A scene suddenly popped into my mind.

That was the scene from when she found Lin Xiuyuan's address last time. Some thoughts that had been dormant resurfaced at this moment.

The next moment, he instinctively asked, "Lin Xiuyuan, your membership isn't some kind of cult, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal both laughed, then shook their heads in unison in denial.

Even so, Jessica was still a little worried, but she didn't say anything more.

After Jessica's "key question" came to an end, the atmosphere among the three of them calmed down slightly.

There was no more confrontation, no more unnecessary probing. The desserts and black tea on the table exuded a soothing aroma, as if reminding them to temporarily soften their sharp edges.

Lin Xiuyuan, Krystal, and Jessica sat quietly together, enjoying their afternoon tea in peace.

The fork occasionally clinked gently against the porcelain plate, producing a soft, crisp sound, as the setting sun slanted in through the window, casting long, orange-gold shadows.

When only one or two small pastries remained on the dessert plate, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly remembered something, put down his teacup, and turned to look at Jessica thoughtfully.

"By the way, Jessica."

He spoke with a half-smile, his tone casual, "Have you ever thought about marriage?"

As soon as she said that, Jessica stopped abruptly, her fork in her hand that was about to cut the cake. The next second, she gave Lin Xiuyuan a huge eye roll without any politeness, "Is this the bullshit question you came up with after thinking about it for so long?"

"..."

Lin Xiuyuan felt a little embarrassed, his lips twitched slightly, and he muttered to himself that this kind of retort was really sharp.

Immediately afterwards, Jessica snorted coldly, flicked her fork, and spoke in a tone as sharp as a knife.

"Why get married? Just to get divorced? And then go all out on your career? I'm not stupid or an idiot. I know exactly what's good and bad, and what the consequences are."

As she spoke, she deliberately raised her chin, immediately throwing out an example:

"You saw what happened to Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin of Tara. What happened to them after they got married? I'm not going to make that kind of joke about myself."

These words were crisp and sharp, like an insurmountable wall, leaving Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal speechless.

Lin Xiuyuan: "..."

Krystal: "..."

The two were completely speechless after Jessica's retort, and for a moment they couldn't think of anything to say in response.

Krystal even opened her mouth, but then felt that saying anything would be superfluous, so she could only suppress her laughter and secretly glance at Lin Xiuyuan.

Jessica, having finished her meal and tea, abruptly ended the conversation.

Then, with clean and efficient movements, he stood up, picked up his bag, and grabbed Krystal's wrist.

"Let's go back."

Jessica's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable force.

Krystal was slightly taken aback, and before she could speak, she was naturally pulled up by the other party.

Jessica glanced to the side and added coldly, "Who would do something like you, helping an outsider scheme against their own sister? Come back with me and explain yourself."

Krystal coughed guiltily, not daring to argue, and obediently let herself be led by the hand.

So, Lin Xiuyuan was the only one left at the afternoon tea table.

He leaned back on the sofa, a helpless smile playing on his lips, and reached for his phone, swiping aimlessly for a few seconds.

Suddenly, his thumb stopped.

A short video was playing on the screen, with a backdrop of blue sea and sky. The person in the video was wearing a light vacation dress and had a bright, radiant smile.

It was none other than Li Juli, who had recently traveled to the Maldives with him.

Lin Xiuyuan paused for a moment, then lightly tapped the screen with his fingertip, his expression gradually becoming playful.

It's been a while since I've seen this "lady," it's time to go and reconnect.

A moment later, he picked up his phone and contacted the other party.

……

……

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the master bedroom of the high-rise apartment, and the sheer curtains were gently lifted by the breeze, casting dappled patterns on the wooden floor.

Lin Xiuyuan slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he heard was the unique tranquility of the city skyline.

The faint sounds of traffic in the distance were barely audible, blocked out by the enclosed glass walls.

He turned to the side and saw that Lee Juri was still curled up in bed beside him.

Her long hair was scattered on the pillow, and the slightly messy strands made her cheeks look even more rosy.

In her sleep, her brows and eyes were relaxed, and the corners of her lips held a lingering sense of satisfaction.

My skin has a unique glow afterward, as if it has been moisturized from the inside out, and even breathing feels lighter.

Lin Xiuyuan's gaze lingered for a moment, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his lips.

He reached out and pulled the blanket up a little to cover her bare shoulders.

Lee Juri seemed to sense it, and stirred slightly, but remained immersed in a peaceful sleep.

The traces of last night were still clearly imprinted on her body.

Lin Xiuyuan sighed silently in his heart, got up from the bed, washed up quickly, and changed his clothes.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he once again felt the layout of the apartment: a high floor with a wide view, overlooking half of Seoul, which must be an incredibly dazzling sea of ​​lights at night, and at this moment the morning light was gradually waking up the entire city.

A dozen minutes later, Lin Xiuyuan prepared breakfast, snuggled up to Li Juli for a few moments to make sure she was still sound asleep, and then quietly said goodbye and left.

Stepping out of the elevator, driving into the garage, getting into my car, I let out a soft breath.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and then started the engine.

As the car slowly drove out of the parking lot, it merged into the gradually bustling streets of the early morning.

He didn't play any music the whole way; only the deep rumble of the engine accompanied him.

The images from last night still flash through my mind: Lee Juri sleeping peacefully, Jessica's expression...

He quickly suppressed his thoughts and focused on driving.

Before long, the car smoothly drove into the villa.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty living room as they entered the villa.

Without pausing, Lin Xiuyuan pushed open the time portal and stepped into 2013.

Inside the apartment in 2013.

Shirley didn't seem to be up yet. The living room was quiet, with only the leaves outside the French windows rustling in the morning breeze, as if providing a gentle accompaniment to the tranquility of the room.

Then, thinking of Lin Xiuyuan, who usually cooked for Shirley, he also went into the kitchen.

As the refrigerator door was opened, a blast of cold air hit him. He glanced at the ingredients inside and a slight smile appeared on his lips: eggs, milk, bread slices, and some leftover ham from last night.

"That's about enough."

He muttered something to himself, then rolled up his sleeves and expertly cracked eggs, fried ham, toasted bread, and heated milk in a small saucepan, completing the whole process in one go.

The oil sizzled in the pan, quickly releasing an enticing aroma.

Just as he was putting the last slice of toast on the plate, he suddenly heard a "click" from behind as the door lock turned open.

Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously thought it was Shirley, but when he turned around, he saw Lin Xiaolu coming out of Shirley's room.

She had clearly just woken up; her long hair was slightly disheveled, and she was wearing a loose, light-colored nightgown with the neckline slightly open, giving her a languid, sleepy look.

When she saw Lin Xiuyuan busy in the kitchen, she was stunned for a moment, a hint of surprise in her eyes, "Ah, Xiuyuan, when did you get back?"

Before he could finish speaking, another soft sound came from the other side.

Lin Xiuyuan's own door was also pushed open, and Zheng Xiuyan came out rubbing her eyes.

She was wearing a thin loungewear set, exuding a casual and lazy vibe.

When she saw the scene in front of the kitchen, she was also slightly taken aback, her gaze sweeping between Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu.

For a moment, the atmosphere between the three of them became somewhat awkward.

However, the slight embarrassment was quickly dispelled by the aroma of breakfast filling the apartment.

The aroma of fried ham and toast, mixed with the warm scent of milk, seemed to gently beckon to their stomachs.

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged and said casually, "You're all up? That's perfect. Go wash up and we'll eat together later. You guys have switched dorms to mine, huh?"

Lin Xiaolu twitched her nose and couldn't help but laugh. "The change was just in time. I can have breakfast as soon as I get up."

Jessica Jung didn't say anything, but just slightly curled the corners of her lips and turned to wash up.

Her expression remained calm, but when her back was to Lin Xiuyuan, a thoughtful and satisfied smile quietly appeared in her eyes.

A few minutes later, the three of them returned to the dining table one after another.

Lin Xiuyuan had already set out breakfast. Three plates were neatly arranged: golden-brown fried ham slices, crispy toast, and fried eggs with a slight sheen of oil. Steam rose from the milk cup.

As the three sat down, another brief silence ensued.

But this time, there was a warmer atmosphere in the air.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Shirley's bedroom with the door wide open and asked curiously, "Where's Zhenli?"

"I rushed back to the film set late last night. It seems that Krystal's filming progress isn't going well," Lin Xiaolu said.

Immediately afterwards, Jessica Jung looked at Lin Xiuyuan. Although she didn't say anything, the worry in her eyes was not hidden at all.

"Let's eat first."

Lin Xiuyuan said softly.

After a while, Lin Xiaolu, having finished breakfast, stood up and neatly cleared away the plates, cutlery, and utensils on the table.

Her movements were light and quick. After scanning the room, she smiled slightly and gestured for Jessica Jung to sit with Lin Xiuyuan for a while.

She could tell that her sister seemed to have some questions for Lin Xiuyuan, so she consciously gave the two of them some space.

Jessica Jung nodded slightly and quietly walked towards Lin Xiuyuan, her movements light and graceful, her eyes filled with a hint of curiosity and worry.

She had just sat down on the sofa and was about to speak when Lin Xiuyuan broke the silence first, his voice low and playful, "I've already asked Jessica, and asked the questions you wanted to know."

Jessica Jung paused slightly, raising an eyebrow and a hint of surprise in her eyes. "So fast?"

Lin Xiuyuan remained calm, simply nodding as if everything was under control.

He then casually repeated Jessica's answer, his tone neither hurried nor slow, but rather carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible meaning.

Hearing Lin Xiuyuan's tone, Zheng Xiuyan's expression gradually calmed down, and her brows furrowed slightly.

His gaze was no longer as relaxed as before; instead, he fell into deep thought.

She muttered to herself, as if processing the information, "Hmm~ I understand."

The air was filled with the faint aroma of breakfast, mixed with the warm light of the morning sun streaming in through the window, creating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere.

However, Jessica Jung's thoughts were in turmoil. She lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on Lin Xiuyuan's hand, and remained silent for a long time.

The silence was broken only when Lin Xiaolu closed the dishwasher in the kitchen with a "click," and Jessica Jung finally came to her senses, gently raising her head to speak again.

"Alright, let's put Jessica's matter aside for now."

Her gaze shifted to Lin Xiuyuan, her tone tinged with concern, "Now I'm more worried about Xiujing."

Jessica Jung slowly raised her head, forcing a smile. Though it seemed a little forced, the tenderness and concern in her eyes were still clearly visible.

Lin Xiuyuan gave her a deep look and smiled, "I'm going to visit the set later, do you want to come along?"

“Ah, me?” Jessica Jung pointed to herself.

“Otherwise,” Lin Xiuyuan’s smile deepened, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing, “I have a legitimate reason to go. If you don’t go, how can I go alone?”

Upon hearing this, Jessica Jung's lips curled slightly. "Then, in what capacity will you go there?"

"assistant?"

Not getting the answer she wanted made Jessica Jung a little unhappy, but her plan prevented her from turning on him right now, so she simply gave him a cold shoulder.

Lin Xiuyuan gave an embarrassed smile.
That was close! I almost got trapped.

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