Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 256 "Get in the car, Li Shaoxi~" (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

In the living room, the air seemed to tremble slightly, stirred by Ham Eun-jung's words.

Park Hyomin stared at the woman in front of her, the one who had said those words that had left her momentarily stunned, and a strange sense of disorientation welled up inside her.

That was the figure before me, a completely different person from the familiar unnie I remembered.

She stood there, mouth agape, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

He's different.

These four words were like a small hook, stuck tightly in her heart. The more she thought about them, the stranger they seemed, and they even made her feel a little itchy.

After a long pause, she spoke in a low voice, her tone a mix of self-consolation and sarcasm, "Ha... Eun-jung, what you're saying sounds like something out of a TV drama. It gives me goosebumps."

Park Hyomin, who was trying her best to put on a disgusted look, even exaggeratedly shrugged her shoulders, trying to hide the subtle emotions that suddenly welled up in her heart.

The more stubborn he was, the more complicated and curious he felt inside.

Different?
What's different?
Then she began to quickly search her mind: she had seen plenty of handsome men, a group of humorous men, and even a few gentle and considerate ones whose personalities were so perfectly crafted they were like characters in a novel, whose sweet words made people's hearts flutter.

But the members around her had all experienced all of this.

But what exactly is it about Lin Xiuyuan that makes Jiyeon, Eunjung, even Jessica Jung who calls herself the "Ice Queen," and Yoona, the center of Girls' Generation, all willingly run to his side?
Thinking of this, Park Hyo-min felt an inexplicable sense of isolation.

It's like when sisters who usually dance and sing together and talk about everything suddenly have a little secret they share, but you're left out.

A transparent glass barrier separated her from them, and she could only watch helplessly, filled with longing and despair.

"Hey, Hyomin, what are you laughing at?"

Ham Eun-jung noticed the inappropriate curve of the corners of her mouth and asked in confusion.

"I laughed?" Park Hyomin was bewildered; why had she laughed?

But he waved his hand dismissively, "I wasn't laughing. I just think you've all gone completely mad. If you ask me, you really shouldn't go too far, or the media will expose you sooner or later and that will be troublesome."

"Don't worry, it won't happen." Ham Eun-jung waved her hand, her expression very calm.

Park Hyo-min was taken aback upon seeing this.

It's rare to find a man that Eun-jung trusts so much.

Lin Xiuyuan, huh?

……

At the same time, far away at the van television station, the members of Girls' Generation finally finished their group schedules.

As the stage lights slowly dimmed, the stacks of schedules on the calendar were crossed off one by one, as if the whole world was telling them: finally, they could breathe a sigh of relief.

The members each embarked on different life paths.

Some people went to attend personal events, some went back to their dormitories to rest and recuperate, and some chose to go home to reunite with their families.

The air still carried the weariness of the stage, yet also a hint of relaxed freedom.

Jessica Jung, without hesitation, grabbed Sunny, and called Kim Yuen-yuen and Lin Xiao-lu, and they got into a van and headed straight for their dorm.

In the car.

Sunny looked at the three figures surrounding her, her brows furrowed slightly, a mixture of frustration and curiosity in her eyes. "Are you planning to use me as a cover? Something feels off."

"No, it's just that everyone else has work, but you, Sun-kyu, don't, so we're going back to the dorm together." Kim Yeon-yeon spoke first, her tone light and relaxed, yet unable to hide her seriousness.

Then Lin Xiaolu quickly nodded in agreement, "That's right, that's right, it's so heartbreaking for us to think like that, Unnie."

But Sunny just pursed her lips, a hint of mockery and a smile on her face.

"Hmph, don't be sad. Your little team of three is already well-known in the group. If it weren't for one or two people not daring to say anything, and since you haven't done anything particularly outstanding, you probably would have blown up long ago."

She hummed a few times, but didn't continue complaining; the atmosphere carried a hint of relaxed tension.

However, after humming those words, she pulled Jin Ruanruan next to her, and then glanced at Zheng Xiuyan and Lin Xiaolu, her expression revealing a hint of probing, "You called me along, you don't mean to try to recruit me into the group, do you? Are you members of the bar over there in Xiuyuan?"

No wonder she said that; it's mainly because Sunny has become increasingly curious about Lin Xiuyuan during her recent conversations with Park Hyomin.

The members of the two girl groups, as well as Sulli and the others, have been leaning towards that guy since the beginning of the year.

If they hadn't both believed that their respective members weren't the type to be easily fooled, they might have actually called the police.

Jin Ruanruan, Zheng Xiuyan, and Lin Xiaolu exchanged glances, as if silently exchanging information.

After a moment of silence, Jin Ruanruan spoke softly, her tone serious and composed, "Sun-kyu, there are actually two reasons why we brought you along today."

Sunny was taken aback; her intuition told her that this was not a simple matter.

So he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, saying, "Speak up, don't beat around the bush."

"First of all, the first point."

After glancing at Jessica Jung in the partition in front of her, Sunny beckoned over and lowered her voice, she said, "That's Goo Hara's problem."

"Hara?" Sunny was clearly startled.

As a member of G7, her relationship with Goo Hara wasn't exactly intimate, but they were definitely good friends.

At this moment, Jin Ruanruan nodded, her tone less cheerful and more serious than usual.

"Mainly because we know some inside information and have discovered that some rotten people seem to be not clean, and have even crossed the line into crime."

Hearing this, Sunny frowned. "Hara's friend?"

“Hmm~” Jin Ruanruan replied again, “There are a few other people you know too. We’ll tell you about them and see if we can subtly inquire about Hera, or at least let you know about the scumbags around her. Also, be careful so that nothing goes wrong.”

What the group was doing at that moment was simply helping Sherry speed up the progress bar.

Sulli has been too busy lately, and Goo Hara has been in Japan and hasn't come back yet, leaving Sulli completely clueless.

So everyone discussed it and decided that they could ask Sunny to say a few words, which would be more effective than Shirley doing it all by herself.

Although there is still time, it would be best to get out of there as soon as possible.

Who knows if we'll get caught up in this if we drag it out too long?

After listening, Sunny froze, her eyes scanning back and forth across the three faces, as if processing the information and assessing its credibility.

She opened her mouth, her voice low and tinged with surprise, "What? Where did you find out all this?"

However, my first thought was: Lin Xiuyuan.

Aside from that mysterious guy who always manages to solve a lot of problems, Sunny couldn't think of anyone else who could suddenly make these three people so "worried".

Lin Xiaolu glanced at Sunny, a faint smile on her lips, but didn't rush to answer. "Unnie, you don't need to know where we got this information from. Just know that we're not joking."

The air in the carriage fell silent for a moment, with only the gentle sound of the engine and the night wind outside the window, as if drawing back an undeniable veil to her questions.

Sunny stared blankly at them, her heart churning with turmoil.

In her memory, these three people were not the type to meddle in other people's business; most of the time, they were busy with their own affairs.

But now they are sitting in front of me, their eyes serious and determined, as if they are determined to do something to the best of their ability.

Jessica Jung and Kim Yeon-yeon exchanged a glance, a hint of tenderness flashing in their eyes, before letting out a soft sigh.

They are not usually busybodies, but what if this involves a living person?

That's completely different.

After a moment of silence, Sunny suddenly remembered something and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Right, you said there were two reasons. What's the second one?"

Lin Xiaolu immediately smiled, her eyes curving slightly, as if deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, "The second one... is related to yourself, unnie."

“With me? Me? What could I possibly need?” Sunny froze on the spot, her pupils dilating slightly.

Then Kim Yeon-yeon stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the question, “Sun-kyu, has the company recently told you to get your nose done and have your jawline shaved to adjust your face shape?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Sunny felt as if she had been pricked by a needle. Her eyes widened in shock as to why Jin Ruanruan knew this.

But I quickly realized that this matter wasn't kept secret; I could find out by asking around.

So he nodded, "Yes...we are indeed in talks."

She was immediately shut down by the three of them almost simultaneously.

"Don't do it." Kim Ruanruan was the first to speak, her tone resolute. "Sun-kyu, your face is already small enough, and your nose is fine. If you really go for surgery, that's self-destruction."

Jessica Jung then frowned, her tone turning cold as she added, "Yes, I can understand if it's just minor adjustments, but bone shaving? Surgery? That's no small matter. The side effects will be severe, and the risks are very high."

"Yes, yes,"

Sitting in the back, Lin Xiaolu looked sullen and spoke faster, "Unnie, if you have the surgery, you might look better in the short term, but who can guarantee the long-term effects? Chewing difficulties, nerve damage, facial stiffness, swelling, sagging... these are all real. What will you do then?"

The three of them bombarded Sunny with a barrage of words, leaving her head buzzing.

She was slightly dazed, sitting there blankly, a sense of absurdity rising in her mind.

Weren't these three people quite accepting of each other a while ago?
Why did you suddenly become so resistant?

And the vehement persuasion suggested that the worst possible outcome was already foreseen.

Sunny blinked, subconsciously touched her face, and muttered under her breath, "You guys are reacting...why are you reacting even more strongly than me..."

The car moved steadily forward in the night, and the occasional sunlight filtering through the sunshade reflected on everyone's faces, soft yet carrying a sense of tension.

The girls' conversation flowed smoothly, jumping from topic to topic yet remaining closely connected, as if a subtle emotion was burning in the air.

Among them, the smallest one seems to have become the center of the attack.

Sunny shrugged slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and frustration, yet also a touch of curiosity and wariness.

Lin Xiuyuan?

It's Lin Xiuyuan again.

……

……

Soon, night quietly fell.

In the villa in 2025, a door was suddenly pushed open gently, and Lin Xiuyuan walked out.

Turning to look at Krystal and Sherry behind him, he asked with a hint of concern, "Aren't you two going to get something to eat together?"

Krystal shook her head, her eyes gentle and slightly indulgent. "I'll keep Snowball company tonight, but I won't go. Just keep an eye on my phone for me."

Sulli smiled and shook her head, "The crew must have something to ask me, so I can't disappear for too long. Oppa, you go eat by yourself."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, scratched his hair, and looked somewhat helpless.

"Alright, what would you like to eat? I'll bring you some over later."

"No need, I'm on a diet." Krystal immediately waved her hand in refusal, her tone light and disciplined.

Sulli shook her head again, her tone a mix of helplessness and teasing, "Oppa, I can eat any more. I've gained several pounds already. Even though I don't have to work, I still have to face the camera occasionally."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything more, nodded, and turned to close the door.

Then, grabbing his keys and phone, he got into the car and headed towards the location given by Yoona.

go for what?
Of course, we went out for a late-night snack. This was a late-night snack gathering that Yoona personally arranged in the evening.

As night fell, neon lights flickered along the street, and the flames from the barbecue grills reflected on the pavement like dancing points of light.

The air was filled with the aroma of grilled meat and various seasonings, occasionally mixed with a faint smell of beer, which whetted one's appetite.

Lin Xiuyuan parked his car following the navigation and immediately spotted the small barbecue restaurant.

A slightly worn sign hangs at the entrance, displaying photos of seafood and beef, giving it the appearance of a chic yet understated place.

Stepping inside, the space is small, but it exudes a warm Japanese bar style.

The bar is arranged in a circle, with two or three quiet booths scattered among them, and a few scattered customers chatting quietly around the teppanyaki grill.

The sizzling sound of grilled meat mingled with the aroma of beer, creating a lively yet not noisy atmosphere that made people feel relaxed and at ease.

Yoona was already seated in a corner booth.

Dressed casually, she was looking down at her phone, the light shining on her face, casting a cool glow.

Her occasional glances towards the doorway quickly led her to spot Lin Xiuyuan, and she greeted him, "Hey, Xiuyuan~ over here."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, walked over and sat down next to her, casually put down his keys and phone, and looked at her with a slightly puzzled look, "Yoona, haven't you been busy with promotions lately? Why did you take the time to ask me out for a late-night snack?"

With a slight smile, Lim Yoona didn't rush to answer, but instead winked meaningfully: "I... wanted to introduce you to a friend."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan frowned slightly, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

This person knows their own identity and situation, and wouldn't easily introduce friends to them. The previous introduction of Kim Tae-yeon was done without knowing her identity.

But now the other party has deliberately uttered such a statement in this situation, there must be more to it than meets the eye.

Just as he was about to ask further questions, a soft tinkling of wind chimes suddenly came from the shop entrance.

A figure pushed open the door and entered.

In that instant, Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously looked up, but another figure flashed through his mind first: Song Hye-kyo.

Upon closer inspection, however, it turned out to be another familiar woman who hadn't graced the screen in a long time: Son Ye-jin.

She wore a simple beige trench coat, her long hair was slightly wavy, and she had no deliberate makeup on her face.

Her face has lost some of its fullness and refinement compared to her younger days, and time has left faint traces around her eyes and jawline, but the natural charm she exudes still remains.

Rather than the glamorousness of female celebrities, it's more accurate to describe the gentle elegance of graceful women.

Mature, dignified, yet with a touch of aloofness honed by time.

Lin Xiuyuan's gaze involuntarily sharpened for a few seconds, and he sighed inwardly: He's aged a bit, but he's still handsome.

After looking around the store, Son Ye-jin was taken aback when she saw Lin Xiuyuan next to Im Yoon-a.

She originally thought that the people Yoona would introduce to her would mostly be senior directors, screenwriters, or at least some kind of industry professionals.

But the sunny and young man in front of her surprised her.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Son Ye-jin's good manners led her to greet Im Yoon-a first, and then, with Im Yoon-a's introduction, get to know Im Soo-won.

"Yes, unnie, this is Xiu Yuan, a man from China who owns a small bar in Seoul," Lim Yoona introduced with a smile.

Then, turning to Lin Xiuyuan, she added, "Xiuyuan, I don't need to introduce Yejin unnie, right?"

"Of course not, you're the nation's goddess." Lin Xiuyuan nodded, then smiled and extended his right hand, "Hello, nice to meet you."

Son Ye-jin raised an eyebrow slightly, her smile carrying a hint of meaning, and extended her hand to shake his, saying, "Hello, I'm Son Ye-jin."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at the outstretched hand in front of him, the corners of his mouth curved slightly, and he reached out to shake it.

After the three of them sat down, the waiter brought them beer and menus, and the grill behind the bar lit up with oil, filling the air with its aroma.

Son Ye-jin casually put her trench coat aside, her gaze shifting between Yoona and Lin Xiuyuan, still carrying a hint of confusion.

After all, she originally thought that Yoona would introduce her to a middleman in the business world, but she didn't expect it to be an excessively young man.

"Yoona, is the friend you mentioned him?"

Son Ye-jin raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone inquisitive, as if testing whether the young man was as Im Yoon-ah had described.

Yoona smiled and handed her the menu, telling her to order whatever she wanted. Then she slowly steered the conversation toward the main topic of the evening.

"Unnie, didn't you tell me the other day that you were looking for some crystals and gemstones? And then you said the prices were too high and you were a little hesitant?"

Son Ye-jin was stunned for a moment, not expecting Yoona to say such a thing in front of strangers. She subconsciously took a sip of tea, hesitating to speak.

Her expression still carried a hint of wariness and distrust, but she concealed it very cleverly.

Lin Yoona quickly continued, "Xiu Yuan happens to know some channels in this area and can get more favorable prices than the market price. The reason I asked you to meet today is to have you talk and see if there is any possibility of cooperation."

Lin Xiuyuan sat there, listening to Lin Yun'er say what she had to say, but his eyes were fixed on her.

But I laughed inside.

Actually, earlier that afternoon, she messaged herself saying that a "friend" wanted to buy something, but didn't specify who it was. She even gave clear details: the friend wanted some gemstones or crystals, but was hesitant because of the price.

Then the two communicated again to see if they could use the second-hand dealer method to carry the luxury goods from 2013 to 2025 and then sell them, making a sure profit.

At the same time, in this deal, Yoona can also earn a favor from Son Ye-jin, making a double profit.

However, at the time, Lin Yoona did not tell Lin Xiuyuan who that person was; she only said it was a surprise for him.

Lin Xiuyuan only just realized that it was Son Ye-jin, which was indeed a big surprise.

After hearing what Lim Yoona said, Son Ye-jin smiled gently, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes outlined in a tender arc under the dim light, "Yoona, what you're saying, you're not just trying to fool me, are you?"

Yoona quickly shook her head, smiling as she raised her water glass. "Unnie, when have you ever seen me trick you? I was just thinking that this was such a good opportunity to save you some money, and you should thank me."

The atmosphere gradually became lively under her cheerful tone, with a touch of ease and playfulness.

At the same time, Lin Xiuyuan took advantage of the situation, took out his phone, and handed Son Ye-jin samples taken at various counters in Seoul that afternoon.

Son Ye-jin took the phone from Lin Xiuyuan and looked down at the scrolling pictures on the screen.

Diamonds, crystals, and gemstones with various cuts shone brightly under the dim light.

She didn't show much emotion, just lightly swiped her fingertips across the screen a few times, pausing occasionally, her eyes displaying a calm and restrained scrutiny.

I didn't say "I like it," nor did I show any rejection; I just watched it quietly.

Lin Xiuyuan held his wine glass, his expression indifferent, like an ordinary introducer.

He knew very well that any extra eye contact or hints he made with Yoona in this situation would alert the senior colleague next to him to something amiss.

Therefore, he deliberately remained restrained, neither looking at Lim Yoona nor making any attempt to explain.

The silence was broken by the crackling of charcoal fire emanating from the shop.

Yoona naturally changed the subject, ordering several grilled shellfish and beef, and serving food to the two of them. The conversation then turned to the recent promotion of her drama and movie.

The three of them ate and chatted, the atmosphere wasn't particularly lively, but it wasn't awkward either.

After a late-night snack, we only had a small amount of alcohol and ordered a token amount of food.

Before leaving, Son Ye-jin politely said goodbye to the two men, got into her car, and drove away.

The car taillights gradually disappeared into the night, and the alleyway returned to silence, leaving only the sound of the night wind gently rustling through the street.

Lin Xiuyuan stood by the roadside, watching them go for a moment before slowly turning his head to look at Lin Yun'er.

With one hand in his pocket and the other casually dangling his car keys, a slight smile played on his lips. "Yoona, you really planned this move very well."

Yoona didn't shy away from it, letting out a soft breath and shrugging her shoulders.

"There's nothing I can do. My sister has some ideas lately, but there aren't many people in the industry who can help her. If I can do her a favor now, things will go much smoother later. Besides, there are very few things that can help us with past information, and I don't really want to give up."

At this point, she glanced at him, her tone slightly coquettish, "So Xiuyuan, you won't blame me for pushing you out, will you?"

Lin Xiuyuan didn't respond to her emotions, but just smiled and turned to walk towards the car. "We'll talk about whether it's strange or not later, but tonight, you have to make it up to me properly."

Im Yoona was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, quickly catching up with him, "Really? Are you sure this is compensation? Not a reward?"

"???"

The night was deep.

Yoona, who got off the bus midway to buy some things, was leaning back in the passenger seat, shaking the iced water she had just bought and the popping candy in her pocket.

She didn't say much along the way, only occasionally turning her head to smile at Lin Xiuyuan's hands holding the steering wheel.

The car interior was dimly lit, and those hands appeared long and strong in the shadows, stirring up an indescribable emotion within her.

When they got back to the apartment, only the two of them were left in the elevator.

The space was cramped and so quiet that you could hear your own breathing.

At this moment, Lin Yoona suddenly leaned closer, as if joking or teasing someone, "Xiuyuan, have you ever tried being in an outdoor environment? I heard it's more exciting that way."

Her tone was somewhat provocative, but her eyes darted around unconsciously, giving her a somewhat weak and unyielding appearance.

But Lin Xiuyuan was even more bewildered than her.

After hearing what Lim Yoona said, he was stunned and quickly grabbed her tentative little hand, saying, "Don't be silly, there are surveillance cameras."

Upon entering the apartment, Yoona immediately tossed her bag onto the sofa, then rolled over and pulled Lin Xiuyuan down onto the sofa with her.

The two of them stood very close to each other.

Lin Xiuyuan held his breath until Lin Yoona's breath gently brushed against his nose, her intentional or unintentional provocation making him hold his breath.

Then the other person reached out and hooked his clothes, stuffing the popping candy from his pocket into their own hand, saying in a low voice, "Then I'll make it up to you properly tonight. Xiu Yuan should recognize this, right?"

When the words were spoken, there was no further explanation needed.

The living room lights were turned off, leaving only the city lights outside the window, casting blurry outlines of the two figures pressed together.

The night passed slowly in desire and unspoken understanding.

The next morning.

When Lin Xiuyuan opened his eyes again, his gaze fell on the ceiling above him.

The room was quiet except for the faint sound of cars outside the window.

Turning my head to the side, what catches my eye is Yoona's slightly disheveled long hair.

Her sleeping face was serene, her brows and eyes relaxed, exuding a gentleness completely different from that she showed in front of the camera.

……

……

In a coffee shop in 2013, the morning sunlight streamed in through the glass windows, casting soft shadows on the neatly arranged coffee table.

The air was filled with the aroma of coffee beans.

But for Li Shaoxi, the fragrance felt like a barrier, unable to penetrate the heaviness in her chest.

She sat at the bar, her fingers trembling slightly as she held her work badge in her hand.

Because she was fired today.

The store manager walked up to her with a professional smile, but it was so cold that it created a sense of distance. "Li Shaoxi, you don't quite fit in with the team atmosphere in the store, and there have been some frictions at work. We've decided to let you leave."

Li Shaoxi's fingers trembled slightly, almost crushing the work badge in her hand.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep a calm expression. "But manager, I feel like I've been trying my best to adapt, and there haven't been any problems recently."

The store manager shrugged, his tone still indifferent, "Your attitude is fine, but we value teamwork more. But you need to understand that a coffee shop is not just about selling coffee, it's also about the atmosphere, and right now you're not quite fitting in."

The two of them then looked around at the same time, their eyes landing on their colleague who was wiping the table.

Those who usually treated her coldly were now watching her like she was watching a good show, secretly glancing at her. Some had a hint of mockery on their lips, while others simply turned their backs and pretended to be busy.

"This isn't my fault either," Li Shaoxi muttered to herself, her voice filled with helplessness and grievance.

The store manager sighed, "There's nothing we can do. That's just how society is. If you can't handle interpersonal relationships, you'll have to leave."

After saying that, the other party didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Just then, a female colleague who always liked to nitpick walked over, her eyes slightly raised, with a hint of schadenfreude, "Oh, finally I don't have to see your sour face anymore, things are much easier at the store now."

Hearing these words, Li Shaoxi felt even more depressed.

She knew these people wouldn't say it outright, but the rejection and mockery conveyed in their eyes, actions, and words were enough to suffocate her.

She tried to convince herself not to care too much, but the tightness in her chest made it almost impossible for her to breathe.

Actually, her previous jobs were all pretty good. Li Shaoxi, who had just entered the workforce, adapted to the work rhythm relatively smoothly and maintained a superficially harmonious relationship with her colleagues.

But ever since those seniors met Shirley and Lin Xiuyuan and gave her their contact information, things and relationships have begun to subtly change.

Her colleagues, who used to greet her with smiles, started giving her frequent winks, their actions carrying a hint of provocation and warning.

"Li Shaoxi, shouldn't you give us your contact information? Even if it's not for our own sake, it's for the sake of team spirit."

"That's right, that's right. What about Shirley's phone number? I wonder if we can get in touch with Victoria. I really like her."

"I like Krystal, she's so beautiful."

As a colleague uttered the first words, his tone carrying a veiled threat.

Others joined in, each indulging in their own wishful thinking.

Li Shaoxi frowned and firmly refused, saying, "I'm sorry, this isn't convenient."

"Whether it's convenient or not, it's up to you." The other person shrugged, but kept glancing at her out of the corner of their eye, with a hint of condescension.

In the days that followed, the others began to openly and secretly ostracize her, engaging in workplace bullying.

There were always some odds and ends deliberately left on the table, making her scramble to clean up, as if they were watching her embarrass herself.

While preparing the ingredients, someone would always sigh or mutter softly: "It's her again. I'm exhausted."

Occasionally, the cutlery or coffee cup handed to her would be deliberately rearranged or misplaced to make her appear clumsy and helpless.

The more Li Shaoxi resisted, the more these people felt they had the upper hand.

No one would say hurtful things outright, but the cold gaze, the deliberate actions, and even the silence felt like an invisible pressure, making it hard for her to breathe.

Until today, when she was fired, those people finally breathed a sigh of relief, their smiles piercing her heart like sharp blades.

Looking at these people's faces, Li Shaoxi did not speak up or compromise. Instead, she suppressed her grievances and endured their scorn.

Then he turned and left the coffee shop, walking silently back to his dormitory along the familiar street.

The store manager was kind enough to give her three days to move out of the dormitory.

Back in her room, she tossed her backpack onto the bed, still clutching the dismissal notice in her hand.

The room was deathly silent, save for the clear, jarring ticking of the bedside clock, as if mocking her helplessness in silence.

She sat on the edge of the bed, head down, her fingers unconsciously stroking the phone screen.

My mind was filled with all sorts of little actions in the shop: those sudden glances, deliberate distancing, and overt and covert harassment. Every detail felt like a needle pricking my heart.

Is this what society is like?

She murmured to herself, her voice so low it was almost swallowed by her own words.

After a long silence, Lin Xiuyuan's image suddenly appeared in Li Shaoxi's mind.

And there was that sentence the other party once said: There's a job waiting for her.

Then, a glimmer of light seemed to ignite in my heart, and I took out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I dialed that familiar number.

"dududu~"

The phone rang repeatedly, but no one answered.

Holding her phone tightly, Li Shaoxi's hope plummeted. She felt as if her heart had been crushed, and a chill ran from her chest to her fingertips.

She sat on the bed, staring at the screen for a long time, speechless, her eyes even a little wet.

The room was filled with bright sunlight, but that light seemed unable to penetrate the gloom in her heart.

A few seconds later, she leaned weakly against the headboard and sighed softly.

"Never mind...maybe they were just joking."

But a simple action ruined her job.

However, just as she looked down at her phone again, preparing to check for any work information, a familiar number suddenly flashed on the screen. It was the number she had just dialed, which startled her.

Li Shaoxi was jolted, her heart raced, her palms began to sweat, and her breathing became rapid.

"No way……"

Then, instinctively, she clicked to answer, her voice trembling uncontrollably, "Hello~"

The voice that came from the other end of the phone was Lin Xiuyuan's familiar voice, with a slight smile, "Hey, Li Shaoxi, I was busy just now and didn't hear the phone. You called me because you've thought it through, and you're planning to come work for me."

Upon hearing this, Li Shaoxi almost couldn't hold back her tears. She bit her lip and tried to keep her voice steady, "Yes."

……

In the afternoon, the bright sunshine bathed the city streets, making the whole road feel warm and inviting.

Park Jiyeon, who was supposed to be practicing dance today, was dragged out by Lin Xiuyuan, who said, "Get some sun, don't just stay cooped up in the company or dorm all day."

Lin Xiuyuan originally thought that only Park Jiyeon would come down, but unexpectedly, Park Hyomin followed behind her.

This little accident made him glance at Park Jiyeon, his eyes filled with surprise.

Unexpectedly, Park Jiyeon quickly walked to the car window, smiled gently, and whispered, "Oppa, unnie said she was worried you would sell me, so she had to come out with me for a walk."

Immediately afterwards, Park Hyomin also walked to the car, looking at Lin Xiuyuan with a mixture of curiosity and amusement in her eyes, "What's wrong? Can't you let me bask in the sun a little longer, Xiuyuan?"

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and reached out to open the car door. "I didn't say it was no good. Besides, what I said about sunbathing was just a joke. I have some serious business to attend to later. Since you're here, Hyomin, consider this a conscript I've recruited."

Upon hearing this, Park Hyomin's eyes lit up. She lightly jumped onto the seat and found a comfortable spot to sit down.

She rested her fair elbows on the car window, sunlight streaming onto her face, and smiled, her eyes slightly narrowed. "Sure, what kind of work are you doing?"

"We'll talk about that later." Lin Xiuyuan then started the car and slowly drove out of the parking lot onto the street.

The sunlight outside the car window shone on the two of them, and the warmth made the atmosphere in the car exceptionally relaxed.

On the way to Lee So-hee's dormitory, Lin Xiuyuan told Park Ji-yeon about Lee So-hee's situation and mentioned that she was an assistant he had hired for her.

Before Park Jiyeon could even speak, Park Hyomin was a little dumbfounded and asked, "What's this person's educational background?"

As she recalled, the person seemed to be just a waiter at a coffee shop.

"High school?" Lin Xiuyuan smiled.

This answer left Park Hyomin even more astonished: "Seriously, Xiuyuan, your company isn't small, how come it's like playing house? Hiring a recent high school graduate as an assistant, are you serious? You're not kidding, are you?"

"I know, but it's just a personal assistant, not a manager or supervisor. I think it should be fine," Lin Xiuyuan said, driving the car.

Park Hyomin frowned slightly, about to continue questioning, when she noticed that Park Jiyeon next to her spoke first.

Nodding, her tone firm yet joyful, she said, "Unnie, you don't need to say anything. I know the other person. Oppa is right. A personal assistant doesn't need any special qualifications."

Park Hyomin paused, her eyes widening slightly, clearly not expecting Jiyeon to agree so quickly. "You just agreed like that?"

“Yes, she’s very smart, unnie~” Park Jiyeon replied, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “If nothing unexpected happens, she should be able to do very well.”

As the three chatted back and forth, the car quickly arrived at Li Shaoxi's dormitory building.

Through the car window, Lin Xiuyuan was the first to see that familiar figure.

At this moment, Li Shaoxi was surrounded by two or three girls by the roadside. She leaned back slightly, seemingly a little uneasy.

The girls' expressions were cold and provocative, giving off an unfriendly vibe at first glance.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan frowned slightly, gently pressed the accelerator, and brought the car to a steady stop in front of Li Shaoxi.

The deep rumble of the engine and the sudden appearance of the headlights stunned the girls.

Their gazes swept over Lin Xiuyuan in a flustered manner, but they didn't recognize him and could only awkwardly take a half step back.

But when I looked at Park Hyomin and Park Jiyeon in the back seat, they looked familiar.

The next second after a look of joy appeared on his face, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and looked at the girl in the middle of them.

He said gently, "Get in the car, Li Shaoxi."

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