Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 254 Jessica: A Trip for Three? ? ? (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

Inside the Dragon Cub Apartment in 2025.

"ah……"

Seeing the other person standing in a high position, Park Jiyeon glared angrily, her eyebrows furrowed with anger.

I was about to say something more, but then I remembered the important thing I was here for.

Helpless, he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the impulse, coughed lightly, and softened his tone, "Never mind, I have something important to ask you, old..."

"Hmm?" The little dragon raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of a smile in its eyes.

Park Jiyeon stopped talking and abandoned the form of address, "How is Dad's recovery being arranged here? I've heard the doctor's instructions, but I still don't feel confident."

When she spoke of her "father," her eyes softened noticeably.

The stubbornness in his eyes faded, replaced by a hint of worry.

Seeing her serious expression, the big dragon cub slowly lost his smile, raised his hand to gently tuck the stray hairs from his forehead behind his ear, and his expression became more composed.

"As for me, I'm mainly following the rehabilitation plan given by the doctor, focusing on controlling my diet and exercising regularly. Less oil and salt, avoid cold foods, and pay more attention to my emotions. You know, Dad has a temper, sometimes he's easily angered, so someone has to be by his side to keep an eye on him."

She paused, her gaze shifting slightly to Lin Xiuyuan, a gentle smile playing on her lips, and added.

"However, your situation is much better than mine. With Xiuyuan there, and from what I've heard, it hasn't gotten to the point of worsening, so you don't need to worry too much. Just be careful in your daily life and it should be fine. My surgery went quite smoothly, and I'm doing alright now."

"Hmph, I know." Park Jiyeon clicked her tongue lightly, but couldn't help asking again, her eyes flickering, "But... isn't there anything else to be careful about besides these?"

"What else are you worried about?"

The little dragon was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood what she was thinking.

Having weathered many storms, her eyes held a calm gaze that reflected a profound understanding of the world.

“Ah, I understand. You’re worried that it might slowly develop into the same situation as mine, right? If you’re really worried about that, take your father overseas and get him a full check-up at the best hospital. I went through that process myself back then, and the answers I got were pretty much the same. It depends on how you think about it.”

"..."

Park Jiyeon frowned, glancing awkwardly to the side, but then uttered her familiar sarcastic tone, "Heh, not much to look at, but you've got pretty high and mighty dreams. You're probably just thinking that after I leave, you can get together with oppa..."

Halfway through her sentence, the young woman suddenly realized something, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she bit her lower lip, swallowing the rest of her words.

On the contrary, the little dragon was not angry at all, and laughed even more happily.

She even leaned closer to Lin Xiuyuan, almost half-resting in his arms, and deliberately used a coquettish tone to act coquettishly.

"Oh dear, if you put it that way, it's as if I can't be close to Xiuyuan when you're around."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, both amused and exasperated, and put down his phone. He then glanced at Park Jiyeon across from him, his gaze gentle, as if soothing a grumpy little dragon.

"cut……"

Seeing this, Park Jiyeon's cheeks unconsciously puffed out, and she turned her head away.

I felt a little awkward, but there was also a strange sense of envy mixed in with it.

Then I secretly glanced at my future self.

That face, so well-maintained it seemed to defy aging, was radiant and glowing, radiating a bright smile.

At the same time, she secretly asked herself: If it were her sitting across from him, would she have that boldness and composure?

The answer is... a bit uncertain.

After calming herself down a bit, she continued to ask, "Then... what about exercise? Does Dad usually do exercises to improve his health?"

"of course."

Da Longzai nodded slowly with a serious expression, and even demonstrated the action of stretching his arms in the living room. "The doctor gave a few key points. The main thing is to stick to it in the morning and evening. The range of motion doesn't need to be too large. The key is to be regular."

As she spoke, a light smile appeared on her lips again.

"But don't worry, there's a professional sports therapy center here. I found a very reliable one and have been sticking with it ever since. When you need it, just take your dad there. The doctors and nurses there are very nice and attentive."

"Ah."

Park Jiyeon responded blankly, her eyes darting around, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Seeing this, the little dragon on the sofa stopped being polite and leaned lazily against Lin Xiuyuan again.

With her delicate chin slightly raised and her eyes half-closed, she looked like she wanted to snuggle into his arms like a kitten, her face full of affection.

Park Jiyeon frowned again, staring at the scene, and couldn't help but blurt out, "Hey, are you an invertebrate? Can't you just sit up straight? Why do you have to lean on oppa?"

"Because of Xiu Yuanxiang." The little dragon cub bluntly threw out a sentence, raising an eyebrow with a hint of deliberate provocation in his smile.

"Old woman." Park Jiyeon's eyes narrowed, and she coldly uttered those three words without any restraint.

"Tsk, a little kid is just a little kid, he can't even argue properly."

The little dragon didn't care at all, and even smiled more deeply. With a slight curl of his lips, he lazily retorted, "But that's normal. Someone like you can only feed Xiu Yuan fuzzy peaches. They're fuzzy and prickly, not as sweet and juicy as my nectarines."

This analogy made Park Jiyeon's eyes freeze, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned on the spot, and almost choked.

She quickly reached out and gently tugged at the big dragon's arm, saying in a low voice, "Alright, alright, stop provoking her."

At the same time, he sighed inwardly: These two are probably natural enemies.

However, the atmosphere gradually calmed down after this point in the conversation.

She strolled back from the French windows, sat down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and turned slightly to the side.

His gaze fell intently on the little dragon cub, his expression hesitant, but he finally asked the question.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing... In 13, we were planning to try our luck in the Chinese entertainment industry. You know how treacherous it is there. Although Eun-jung unnie mentioned it before, I'd still like to hear your opinion. Is there anything we should be particularly careful about?"

This time, the little dragon didn't joke around. She lowered her eyelashes, pondered for a moment, and finally spoke slowly.

"First, don't trust anyone too much. Even if someone seems nice to you, be wary. Even your staff members are vulnerable; there are too many wealthy people around. If they can't take advantage of you, they might target your staff and end up sending you to someone else's bed without you even realizing it."

She spoke calmly, but her eyes were unusually sharp, as if shadows still lingered in her memories.

"Secondly, don't rush to climb into the upper echelons. If you don't have a powerful backer, just focus on making money. China has channels for foreign artists to make a living, but they've never been prepared to give us a real seat. If you're too ambitious, you might get crushed before you even get to the top."

"Third, don't offend anyone who seems to have 'no background,' but don't be so afraid of offending people that you're afraid to move. Just pretend to be indifferent and nonchalant. The circles over there are too big and too complicated. Behind any seemingly insignificant person, there may be a huge background that we can't possibly mess with."

As she spoke, her expression softened and her tone became gentler.

"Someone once told us: 'You must have the mindset of 'Come and make quick money, then leave,' otherwise you will not get into serious trouble.'"

The air was still for a moment, the sky outside the French windows gradually darkened, a breeze swept by, stirring the curtains, and the atmosphere became more solemn.

The little dragon sighed softly, his gaze returning to Park Jiyeon's face with a comforting smile.

"However, compared to our situation of being unable to control our own destiny, the pool in China is much larger, large enough to accommodate many innocent little pools. So most of the time, they have clear price tags and rarely resort to underhanded methods like drugging. In addition, foreign artists have a natural protective shield, so as long as you don't cross boundaries recklessly, there won't be too many problems."

The dragon cub paused again, its tone becoming much gentler.

It was as if he was reminding the younger generation, or perhaps comforting himself: "In the very end, take good care of yourself. For our family, the most important thing is to be safe and sound."

Park Jiyeon paused for a moment after hearing those words.

Her eyes flickered slightly, as if a gentle touch had been felt deep within her heart.

But the next second, she stubbornly looked away, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance, "You talk as if you're so mature, but you've been fooled so badly."

"Oh dear, you're doing this again."

The little dragon cub, "angry," raised his hand but didn't actually bring it down. Instead, he tilted his body and naturally wrapped his arm around Lin Xiuyuan's arm.

With her face tilted slightly upwards and a beaming smile, she looked as if she had suddenly found a talisman and felt at ease. Her voice carried a hint of coquettish teasing, "Forget it, let's just consider all that in the past as a prelude to the present."

"Tsk..."

Park Jiyeon glared at her fiercely, her lips pressed tightly together, but she ultimately said nothing more.

She subconsciously hugged the cushion in her hand tighter, as if she were creating an invisible barrier for herself.

The atmosphere in the room oscillated between bickering and seriousness.

It was a fierce confrontation, yet it also revealed an inexplicable warmth and tacit understanding, tinged with humor and genuine sincerity.

Park Jiyeon hugged the cushion with a slightly defensive posture, but her eyes remained fixed on the little dragon, and she couldn't help but continue to ask, "Then be more specific? You just mentioned some general principles, which I already know, but are there any small issues?"

Upon seeing this, the little dragon curled its lips slightly and couldn't help but chuckle.

Then he spoke slowly, his voice drawn out in a lazy tone, yet with a hint of seriousness.

"Okay, then I'll explain it to you in more detail. For example, with reporters, no matter what questions you ask them, don't rush to answer. First, count 'one, two, three' in your head to give yourself some buffer time. Even if you only say a polite sentence in the end, it's better than being tricked into saying something."

At this point, she paused, as if recalling something, her gaze lingering on Park Jiyeon's face, her expression becoming even more serious than before.

"I made some irreversible mistakes back then because I had too impulsive a temper. Although I don't regret it now, I might have had a better career if I had avoided it. So if you really want to go far, temper is the part you need to overcome the most."

"Oh?" Park Jiyeon raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance, but there was a moment of silence in her eyes, as if something had been touched on her heart.

The little dragon ignored this and continued talking.

"Also, make sure you read the contract carefully. Don't be blinded by those glamorous conditions. Especially the so-called 'resource exchange,' which sounds like an opportunity but is actually a disguised contract of servitude. If you sign it carelessly, you'll regret it someday and it will be too late to cry."

As the little dragon finished speaking, its gaze fell on Lin Xiuyuan, and a slight smile appeared on its lips. "Xiuyuan should understand this best, right?"

"Sigh, how did this get dragged into me again?" Lin Xiuyuan waved his hand helplessly, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. He had no idea about these intricacies.

“How could you not understand?” Big Dragon Boy narrowed his eyes and smiled slyly. “Members and cult members, Xiu Yuan, you have us all under your thumb.”

After being called out, Lin Xiuyuan could only smile and touch the tip of his nose, which was taken as tacit agreement.

"Then... what about interpersonal relationships?" Park Jiyeon asked again, her tone lower than before, with a hint of hesitation. "The situation over there should be different from Seoul, right?"

Da Longzai leaned back on the sofa, tapping lightly on the Coke can beside him with his fingertips, the rhythm light and quick, as if providing accompaniment for the conversation.

"It's very simple. Maintain respect for superiors and keep a proper distance from subordinates. Don't be too close, and don't be too distant. If you're too enthusiastic, people will think you're trying to please them; if you're too cold, they'll say you're arrogant. So the safest way is to always maintain politeness and distance, but don't let anyone figure out what you're thinking."

"You sound like you're good at pretending."

Park Jiyeon immediately added insult to injury with a sour tone, her words carrying a hint of provocation.

"This isn't pretending, this is emotional intelligence, little sister."

The little dragon didn't care at all. Instead, he put on the posture of "an elder disciplining a child" and clung to Lin Xiuyuan again, as if he was deliberately showing off, and smiled smugly.

"Besides, I'm pretending willingly, so what's it to you?"

"ah……"

Park Jiyeon couldn't help but roll her eyes, hugging her cushion with an "I can't be bothered with you" look on her face.

But the subtle contemplation deep in her eyes couldn't be concealed: she was actually taking every word to heart.

The two then went back and forth, gradually shifting their conversation from the serious topic of their father's illness and the rules of the entertainment industry back to lighthearted everyday banter.

The atmosphere was no longer oppressive; instead, it became as lively as a family gathering.

Lin Xiuyuan was half-reclining on the sofa, scrolling through short videos on his phone, looking lazy.

But when he glanced to the side from time to time, he saw the two bickering and arguing, and he couldn't help but feel a little amused.

Especially when he saw Park Jiyeon looking like she was being completely outmatched, his smile deepened, and he almost couldn't help but spit it out.

Then, glancing at the time, he rubbed his temples and said with a smile, "Alright, we've been chatting for so long, you must be hungry, right? Let's find something to eat."

"It's alright, but it's almost time. How about we go back to 2013 to eat? It's convenient anyway."

Park Jiyeon spoke first, her tone casual, as if she wasn't picky about food, but it sounded more like she was trying to appear calm.

Big Dragon Boy shook his head, smiling as he leaned back on the sofa armrest. "There's no need to run around like this. If we go back now, we'll just be eating the same old things. It's a rare occasion to meet you today, so I'll treat you to some fresh stuff from 2025."

"Ok?"

"Afraid to eat?"

"Just eat."

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

The little dragon jumped up excitedly like a child and ran quickly to open the door to get the takeout.

After she brought it back, Park Jiyeon followed behind and glanced at it curiously. The moment the other person opened the package, her expression froze completely.

The neatly arranged vacuum-packed hot pot broth, sealed vegetables, and sliced ​​meat in front of her left her somewhat incredulous.

"This...this is the new food you were talking about?" Park Jiyeon pointed at the ingredients on the table, her tone full of doubt and disbelief.

“Pre-made hot pot, little sister.” Da Longzai smiled with her eyes crinkling, her face full of pride, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “It’s very popular now, clean, convenient, and saves time.”

"Easy?" Park Jiyeon almost laughed out loud. "You still have to heat these up yourself and then put them out."

"Of course!" Big Dragon grabbed her, giving her no chance to refuse. "Come on, come on, come into the kitchen with me. I can't be the only one doing all the work."

"I...I don't want to..."

Before she could finish speaking, Park Jiyeon was half-pushed and half-dragged into the kitchen, her cheeks slightly flushed, as if she was helpless and embarrassed to resist.

"I'll help too," Lin Xiuyuan said, just as he was about to get up.

But the little dragon glanced at her and winked, "No need, Xiuyuan, you can rest here."

Lin Xiuyuan sat on the sofa, watching the two of them, one reluctant and the other cheerful, sneak into the kitchen. He couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, thinking that today's lunch was going to be quite a lively affair.

In the kitchen, the countertop was quickly covered with various hot pot ingredients. Da Longzai worked nimbly, tearing open a pot of broth and pouring it into it. He turned on the heat, and the aroma immediately filled the air, permeating the entire space and making people unconsciously take a deep breath.

She hummed a little tune as she worked, clearly in a good mood, with a faint glow on her face.

In contrast, Park Jiyeon stood to the side, pouting, holding a bag of enoki mushrooms in her hand, but she didn't open it for a long time, as if she was forced to participate, her face full of reluctance.

"Little brat, you can't even plate vegetables properly, can you?" the big dragon cub teased, his tone light and slightly provocative.

"Who says I can't?" Park Jiyeon snorted, finally making up her mind. She tore open the packaging, neatly arranged the enoki mushrooms on the plate, and muttered to herself, "I just think this kind of hot pot... has no class at all."

"Class?"

Da Longzai glanced at her and smiled gently, "What do you know? This is the most beloved food of fast-paced city dwellers. Besides, whether it's high-end Western food or street food, the most important thing is to eat it with someone you like."

Park Jiyeon was taken aback by the answer. She subconsciously looked up at her, wanting to say something, but in the end she just lowered her head and continued unpacking.

The air seemed to soften considerably in that instant.

Seeing this, Da Longzai stopped joking and asked softly, "By the way, Zhiyan, how is Father's recovery going in 13?"

When her father was mentioned, Park Jiyeon's expression became noticeably more serious, and her voice softened. "Because of the early intervention, there aren't any major problems. He just needs to have regular check-ups and take his medication on time. Otherwise, it's the same as before."

Upon hearing this, Da Longzai's eyes softened, and her movements slowed. She put down the ingredients in her hands and slowly recalled the details of what had happened back then. She then recounted in detail her anxiety when she first learned of the situation, what her brother had concealed from her, how she cooperated with the rehabilitation training, and even small details such as opening the window at night to ventilate and adjusting the indoor temperature.

Her tone carried a touch of emotion, as well as a hint of warmth and helplessness, drawing the listener into the scene she described.

Park Jiyeon listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two, her voice soft but earnest, her eyes flashing with gratitude and concern.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, along with a faint smell of smoke, making the whole kitchen feel warm and inviting.

At this moment, the two seemed like twin sisters with no generation gap, and the distance between them was unconsciously shortened.

As the hot pot broth began to boil, the steaming heat and aroma filled every corner of the room.

A table of ingredients, neatly arranged, was ready. Bright green vegetables and neatly sliced ​​meat glistened under the lights, as if casting a warm glow over their gathering.

Just as the atmosphere eased, Park Jiyeon suddenly stared at the radiant face of the dragon cub, her gaze becoming complicated.

She recalled the shock and heartache she felt when she first met the 25-year-old "Dragon Baby" from the photos in the video materials, seeing a stranger version of herself.

Thinking of the relaxed, confident, and smiling woman in front of me, I felt a strange tightness in my chest and a somewhat subtle emotion.

After hesitating for a long time, she asked in a low voice, "Hey~ Park Jiyeon, oppa's... is it really that effective?"

The little dragon was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost welled up in his eyes, and he bent over.

"Hey! You little brat, you actually dare to ask this now? What do you want?"

……

the other side.

Jessica, who had finished her morning exercise, came out of the bathroom to wash up, but when she saw that her phone on the coffee table was still unresponsive, she couldn't help but frown and furrow her brow.

She called Krystal before she started exercising, but no one answered.

Thinking the other person was busy with work, she sent a few more messages, but still received no reply, so she put her phone aside and continued doing her morning exercises.

Now that she had finished exercising and showering, she still hadn't received a response from Krystal on her phone, which made her a little worried.

Even when Krystal was filming or on a schedule, she would have responded within two hours.

Thinking of this, Jessica pressed another number in her contacts, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed it.

Inside the apartment of the little dragon cub.

The hot pot broth was bubbling, and the aroma filled the room. Lin Xiuyuan, who had gotten up to sneak a bite, had just picked up a piece of fatty beef and was about to put it in his mouth to try it out when...

Just then, his phone screen suddenly lit up.

Caller ID: Jessica.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously glanced at Park Jiyeon beside him. She was putting shrimp paste into the pot, looking relaxed, and didn't notice his expression at all.

Whose call was that?

Instead, the big dragon cub standing opposite raised its eyes and asked a question.

“Jessica,” Lin Xiuyuan replied, then answered the phone.

Jessica's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, are you busy? Do you know what Xiujing is doing? I've been calling and texting her for two hours now, but she hasn't replied. I thought she was busy, but there's still no response."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he subconsciously pressed the mute button on the call, turned his gaze to the big dragon cub beside him, and asked in a questioning tone, "Should I go over and call Xiujing over so we can have dinner together?"

The little dragon nodded slightly, a smile flashing in his eyes, "Sure, it'll be more lively eating together."

At this moment, Park Jiyeon, who had heard the noise, returned to the kitchen and said, "Then I'll wash another set of tableware."

Her tone was light and cheerful, as if she had already sensed the atmosphere of a small gathering.

After finishing their conversation, Lin Xiuyuan unmuted and spoke to Jessica, "Xiujing is with me. Is there something you need from her?"

On the other end of the phone, Jessica paused for a moment, her voice filled with surprise and confusion, "With you? Then why didn't she reply to my messages?"

Lin Xiuyuan answered casually, "Do you wake up with your eyes open to reply to messages while you're sleeping?"

Then, he made up another excuse, "She was a little tired last night and hasn't woken up yet. I'll have her call you back after she wakes up."

On the other end of the phone, Jessica was silent for two seconds, as if processing Lin Xiuyuan's words, and seemed slightly dazed.

Seeing that she didn't respond further, Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything more, assuming that Jessica had understood the situation, and hung up the phone.

Then, he opened the time portal and returned to his apartment in 2013. He went to his room, glanced at Krystal who was currently using a voice-changing software to give a lesson to Jung Soo-jung, and came up behind her with a smile, "Teacher Jung, lunch is ready, it's time to eat."

Krystal was startled by the sudden sound behind her and exclaimed, "Oh my god, you scared me to death!"

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and patted the chair next to the table. "Let's go eat."

Then, glancing at the images of Krystal and Sulli on the computer screen, she said gently, "Alright, that's all for today's lesson. We'll continue tomorrow."

Krystal smiled and said, "I've only been here a short while."

Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes and continued with a smile, "Then let's pause for a while."

Although it was a voice changer, Shirley already knew who the suddenly appearing male voice belonged to, so she immediately cooperated and said, "Okay, thank you, Teacher Zheng. Let's make another appointment later."

Having just learned a bit, Krystal Jung was also a little reluctant to leave, but the excuse of having a meal was too strong, so she didn't dare to say anything.

He could only say softly, "Thank you, teacher."

Then, watching the call end, he looked at Shirley and said, "Shirley, why does this teacher's voice sound different today?"

"I do not know."

Sulli shrugged. Did she expect her to say that she had suggested it to Krystal when she got back? So she said, "Okay, Krystal, we should eat now. We have a shoot this afternoon."

Krystal nodded, then opened the lunchbox that had been placed beside her and ate with Sulli.

"Soojung, do you want to eat two more boxes?"

Sulli opened her lunchbox and glanced at Krystal Jung next to her, asking a question.

Krystal Jung, who had already started eating, was a little conflicted. "Let me eat first. I'll try to eat as much as possible. The director still thinks I'm a bit too thin. Although I can wear those props, it would be more natural if I gained some weight myself."

"Thank you for your hard work, Soojung."

"If I didn't know that you, Shirley, wrote this script, I would really suspect that the screenwriter was taking revenge on me."

"Hehe, hehe..."

Meanwhile, Lin Xiuyuan brought Krystal, who had retrieved her phone, to Dalongzai's apartment and they sat down at the dining table.

The aroma of hot pot wafts over, instantly whetting one's appetite.

Compared to that, fast food seems insignificant at this moment.

After arriving, Krystal first greeted Da Longzai and Park Jiyeon, then sat down with Lin Xiuyuan and picked up her phone to call Jessica back.

The call was answered quickly, and Jessica's familiar voice came through, "Hey, Krystal Jung? You finally called me back. You slept until now, that's a bit much."

However, since Lin Xiuyuan had already prepared an excuse for her, Krystal's reply was easy: "I was just too sleepy, didn't you hear me? Sorry."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, as if someone was thinking about Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal's situation, before they continued to speak slowly.

"Never mind, it's good to know you're alright. Actually, I called to let you know that my work arrangements here are all sorted out, and I'll be going to work in China for a while. I was thinking of having afternoon tea with you before I leave. Since you two are together, why don't you come along?"

"Having afternoon tea?"

Krystal subconsciously turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with inquiry, as if waiting for his opinion.

With a slight upturn between her eyebrows and a faint smile at the corners of her mouth, she seemed to be somewhat anticipating Jessica's initiative.

Lin Xiuyuan paused as he picked up some food, remembering what happened at the bowling alley a few days ago. Jessica had given him face that time.

Thinking of this, he felt a slight stirring in his heart, then nodded to Krystal, a knowing smile in his eyes.

Upon receiving a positive signal, Krystal immediately replied, "Sure, Jessica, see you later then. Send me the time and place first, and I'll go with Xiuyuan."

"Then it's settled."

After hanging up the phone, Krystal gently put away her phone, muttering to herself with a slight smile, "Jessica seems genuinely worried about me, Xiuyuan. It seems you're still quite dangerous in her eyes."

"It would be strange if the older sister wasn't worried about the younger sister." Lin Xiuyuan smiled and put a piece of shrimp paste into her bowl, then changed the subject, "Alright, let's eat first, we can talk about afternoon tea later."

Seeing this, Da Longzai also moved closer to Park Jiyeon, teasingly saying, "Did you hear that, Park Jiyeon? The older sister cares about the younger sister, so in return, the younger sister should respect the older sister."

Not to be outdone, Park Jiyeon seized the opportunity to retort sharply, "As long as you admit that you're old, I will absolutely respect your age."

As soon as she finished speaking, a sly smile appeared on her face, and the atmosphere became lively.

And so, the lively atmosphere at the table gradually heated up amidst the back-and-forth banter.

The four of them ate and chatted, occasionally bursting into light laughter.

The rising steam from the hot pot seemed to gently dissipate the previous barriers, and each bubbling of the soup seemed to remind them that warmth was slowly spreading.

However, they didn't know.

While everyone was engrossed in the lively atmosphere at the dinner table, on the other side of the road, Jessica, having just hung up the phone, was holding the steering wheel with one hand and tightly gripping her phone with the other.

Following the navigation, we arrived at the entrance of Lin Xiuyuan's villa.

He then parked the car there and looked through the windshield at the unfamiliar house. "Is this the place? Let me confirm."

My fingertips tapped the steering wheel unconsciously, my mind filled with doubts, a vague unease, and worry.

However, she ultimately did not get out of the car. Instead, she sat quietly inside, her gaze fixed on the gate, as if waiting for an answer.

As time went by, Jessica began to feel irritable.

As the pointer moved forward little by little, her initial tension gradually turned into impatience.

She kept turning on her phone screen, but in her mind she was counting down: thirty minutes... forty minutes... an hour, and it still hasn't come out?

Jessica's gaze remained fixed on the front gate of the villa, and she would unconsciously straighten up at the slightest sound.

But when they finally realized it was just leaves falling in the wind or passersby, their impatience deepened.

Finally, unable to resist, she dialed Krystal's number.

The call connected quickly, and Krystal's voice came through the receiver, crisp and relaxed, "Hey, Jessica, don't rush me, I'm just about to leave, what's up?"

Jessica paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked at the still unusually quiet villa gate, frowning as she asked, "Getting ready to leave? Where are you?"

“At Lin Xiuyuan’s house,” Krystal replied naturally. “He and I are on our way to the restaurant we agreed to meet. Where are you?”

“I’m getting ready to go out too,” Jessica replied.

However, after hanging up the phone, she looked at the villa gate again, and half an hour later, there was still no movement.

Just as Jessica was getting a little frantic, her phone rang again, and Krystal's voice came through the receiver, "Jessica, we've arrived, where are you?"

Upon hearing this, Jessica felt a surge of anger rush to her head. She stared intently at the villa, her mind racing with frustration: "You've arrived? I've been waiting here for two hours, and you've vanished into thin air?"
But she never said those words.

She bit her lower lip to suppress her anger, then exhaled softly, keeping her voice very low, "Yes, I'm on my way. The car just had a little trouble, but I'm coming now."

After hanging up the phone, Jessica took a deep look at the villa, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly, still feeling a little hesitant.

But in the end, she took a deep breath, started the car, and drove along the familiar route to the restaurant where they had agreed to meet.

As you push open the restaurant door, a fragrant aroma of food wafts out, mingled with the scents of coffee and baking, instantly putting you at ease.

Jessica's gaze quickly locked onto the window seat, where Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal were already seated. Both of them looked relaxed, and Krystal even waved to her with a smile, her eyes showing a hint of youthful playfulness.

Jessica walked over and sat down, a faint smile on her face, as if testing the waters or trying to hide her slight nervousness.

She first chatted casually about everyday things and the atmosphere of the restaurant, then casually brought up her question, "By the way, Soojung, where did you come from? How did you get here so quickly?"

Krystal frowned slightly, a hint of doubt in her eyes, but still answered again, "From Xiu Yuan's house? It's not far, it'll be quick to get here."

Jessica's smile suddenly froze. This time, she couldn't hold back any longer, and her tone became sharp. "But I've been waiting over there for a long time. Why haven't you come out yet?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Krystal's eyes widened, and she almost dropped the spoon in her hand. "Huh? You're waiting over there?! Jessica, what do you mean by that?"

Lin Xiuyuan was also slightly taken aback, his eyebrows raised, and he secretly cursed in his heart, but he remained calm and composed, looking at Jessica indifferently.

Jessica snorted coldly, flipped her phone screen up, and opened the video she had just recorded in her photo album.

In the video, the familiar villa gate stands quietly, clearly indicating where Jessica was just now.

She placed her phone on the table, her gaze sharp, her voice calm yet imposing as she looked at the two people opposite her, "Don't tell me this isn't the place you said Lin Xiuyuan lives."

Krystal paused for a moment, then her expression tightened, and she frowned, saying, "Jessica, do you know what you're doing?"

Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan quickly pressed down on her tense right hand, shook his head with a smile, and looked at Jessica with a teasing tone.

"Tsk tsk, Jessica, when did you start stalking me? Are idols not making enough money and planning to become private investigators? And even recording videos as evidence?"

Then, changing the subject, her eyes held a relaxed provocation, she asked, "So what are you trying to do, squatting at my doorstep?"

Jessica frowned slightly and said, "I'm worried that Krystal has joined a cult. There have been too many of these things this year."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. "That's quite a versatile excuse."

“Jessica, I’m not that stupid. It’s you who’s going a bit too far with your stalking.” Krystal said with a frown, her tone reproachful and displeased. “But how did you know this was Xiu Yuan’s house? I remember you’ve never been there before.”

Her gaze then fell on Lin Xiuyuan, with a clear questioning tone.

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged. "Don't look at me. Even if I lost my mind, I wouldn't bring her in."

Upon hearing this, Jessica snorted coldly, her tone impatient, "Never mind that..."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and said in a calm tone, "Ah, if you're telling us not to interfere, then you should also not interfere with what happened when Xiujing and I just left Zhiyan's house."

"Ji-yeon?..."

Jessica froze on the spot, her pupils dilated slightly, and her expression became extremely complicated in an instant.

In her mind, the image of Krystal saying she had just woken up flashed through her mind, the scene of Lin Xiuyuan and the two of them being very tired the night before, and Da Longzai's affection for Lin Xiuyuan...

Thoughts flooded her mind like a torrent, and she began to let her imagination run wild: countless outrageous yet self-consistent guesses flashed through her mind like shadows, each one crazy and contradictory, and a vague sense of bewilderment and tension welled up in her heart.

Immediately afterwards, a familiar song started playing in her mind.

Even if he's still holding your hand
Even if you're tired, I'll be here.

One person left behind, two felt guilty, and three went on a trip.
Quietly, from afar, perhaps reluctant to part.

...]

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