Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 257 Lin Xiuyuan Goes to Collect "Protection Fees" (Please Subscribe and Vote)

roadside.

Lin Xiuyuan brought his car to a smooth stop in front of Li Shaoxi with a neat emergency brake, the sound of the tires screeching against the ground being particularly clear in the quiet afternoon.

Li Shaoxi was slightly stunned, as if she hadn't realized what was happening in front of her. The bag she was holding was hanging in mid-air, and her knuckles were slowly turning white from the force she was exerting.

Only when the car window rolled down and Lin Xiuyuan's familiar voice came from inside did she blink sharply, purse her lips as if waking from a dream, and her eyes filled with the emotions she had been holding back.

For the first time in so many years, someone stood up for her, and for the first time, someone came to pick her up.

In that instant, a mix of grievance, surprise, and a sudden surge of security welled up in Li Shaoxi's chest, making her nose sting with tears.

“Oh~oppa.”

She responded softly, her voice trembling with barely concealed surprise and a deep sense of grievance.

The girls surrounding her immediately changed their expressions upon seeing this.

Just moments ago they had an air of superiority, but now they were clearly stiff, their eyes darting back and forth, their expressions showing unease and embarrassment.

When they came home from get off work, they were clearly surprised that this brat from the countryside actually had someone pick her up.

Moreover, the person who came was a guy with a strong presence, dressed casually yet exuding a clean and neat aura.

What's worse, Tara's Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin were sitting in the back seat. They were big stars that the girls usually only dared to see on TV.

Although Tara is currently facing widespread anti-fan sentiment in Seoul, it's mainly within the fan community. Most casual viewers are still visual creatures, where looks are everything.

So they were initially surprised, but soon noticed that Lin Xiuyuan's expression was not good, and the oppressive feeling made them a little scared.

The girls nudged each other and quietly backed away, afraid that staying any longer would only make them more embarrassed.

However, Lin Xiuyuan didn't even glance at them. After shouting those words, he pushed open the car door and got out.

He walked steadily to Li Shaoxi's side, quickly scanning her body for any obvious marks before reaching out to pick up the suitcase and intending to put it in the trunk.

"Let's go." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable certainty.

"Oppa, I can do it myself." Lee So-hee subconsciously reached out to grab it, her eyes showing a hint of panic, as if she didn't dare to trouble others.

"Stop talking nonsense and get in the car." Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled up slightly, his tone light and teasing, yet reassuring.

The suitcase made a muffled sound when it was put into the trunk, as if sealing all of Li Shaoxi's grievances, fears, and helplessness inside.

Li Shaoxi stared blankly at the scene, her heart aching terribly, her eyes slightly reddening, and her throat feeling like it was blocked by something, unable to even utter a "thank you".

Lin Xiuyuan closed the trunk and then turned around and called out to her again, "What are you standing there for? Get in the car."

It was as if she was being pulled back to reality. She hurriedly wiped her eyes, carefully opened the passenger door, and got in.

The movements were exceptionally gentle.

Meanwhile, the girls not far away had retreated to a more distant place, huddled together whispering, their expressions filled with indescribable complexity.

There was resentment, embarrassment at being humiliated, and even a hint of undisguised envy.

I envy Li Shaoxi for having someone stand up for her and being picked up by someone like Lin Xiuyuan.

However, if they dared to look at their own reflection in the mirror and compare it to Li Shaoxi's current appearance—reddened yet still clean and beautiful—they might understand why Lin Xiuyuan was willing to help her.

As the saying goes, good looks are everything.

Let's get back to the car.

Li Shaoxi's first reaction after getting into the car was to sit up straight and place his hands properly on his knees.

Then she turned her head and gave a deep bow to the two people in the back seat, her voice filled with the respect one would show when meeting a big star for the first time, "Hello, my name is Li Shaoxi."

"Hello~" Park Jiyeon smiled sweetly, her voice carrying a touch of friendliness.

"Hello." Park Hyomin's smile was more casual, and she glanced at her for two seconds, seemingly to make sure that the girl who had just been surrounded was alright.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just gotten into the car, couldn't help but laugh when he heard the polite language they were using. "I really can't get used to the polite language you guys use."

As he spoke, he started the car, stepped on the gas, and drove away towards Tara's dormitory.

The carriage was quiet at first, with only the low rumble of the engine and the whistling of the wind outside the window. Sunlight streamed in through the side windows, casting a warm glow on everyone's silhouette.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Li Shaoxi sat ramrod straight, barely daring to breathe loudly. Her fingertips nervously gripped the hem of her clothes, showing that she hadn't fully recovered from the scene just now.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, breaking the silence. "Don't be so tense, we don't eat people."

Seeing her staring at him blankly, he paused before continuing, "From now on, you'll be working with Zhiyan. She sometimes needs someone to run errands, coordinate work, and arrange some trivial matters. Basically, you'll be her personal assistant."

"Life assistant...me?" Li Shaoxi was stunned for several seconds, her pupils dilating noticeably, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"But, Senior Jiyeon, am I capable of doing this?" she asked cautiously, her voice tinged with a lack of confidence.

Park Jiyeon, sitting in the back seat, was taken aback by the title "senior," but then a smile appeared on her lips and her eyes lit up, as if she had already imagined what the future would hold.

She leaned closer to the front row, a hint of smugness and pride in her eyes, "Oppa didn't make it clear. The 'personal assistant' he mentioned to you isn't just someone to help me as an idol, but someone from the company."

She blinked and smiled, "I'm not just an idol, I also run a small company with oppa. I'm usually too busy with my schedule to handle things, so I just need you to keep an eye on things for me."

"Wow... amazing!" Li Shaoxi's eyes widened, and her mouth opened as if to confirm that she hadn't misheard. "This is incredible!"

Her voice was full of genuine admiration, and even her eyes lit up, instantly lightening the atmosphere in the carriage.

Sitting on the other side, Park Hyomin raised an eyebrow and took over the conversation with a smile, "Xiuyuan, have you decided where she'll stay? She's not from our company, so we haven't arranged a dormitory for her yet."

Upon hearing this, Li Shaoxi quickly replied, "It's alright, I can sleep anywhere."

Lin Xiuyuan held the steering wheel with one hand and casually knocked on the car door with the other, his tone indifferent, "Simple, just rent a place near your dormitory, so it'll be convenient for her to go to Zhiyan's workplace every day."

As soon as she finished speaking, Park Jiyeon in the back seat sat up straight, her eyes lighting up. "No need to rent anymore. The office we rented for the company has been empty all this time. There's also a small suite in the back with a bathroom and a kitchenette. It's perfect for Sohee to move in. There's also a computer and a landline in the front, so she can work there if she encounters any problems."

"Huh? Is that okay?" Li Shaoxi's eyes lit up immediately, her tone revealing undisguised anticipation.

"Of course you can." Park Jiyeon smiled and patted her shoulder, her tone softening. "You just need to do your job well, and we'll take care of the rest."

After hearing this, Li Shaoxi felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart, and her previously anxious heart finally found its peace.

After letting out a silent sigh, I relaxed even more. My back was no longer so stiff, and even my fingertips loosened up.

Immediately afterward, Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing next to him, laughed and complained, "Zhiyan, do all bosses naturally become capitalists? You're making them on call 24 hours a day, not letting them rest."

"Ah, I didn't." Park Jiyeon's big eyes widened in surprise, then she huffed in embarrassment and annoyance, patted the back of the seat, and couldn't help but glare at Lin Xiuyuan in the rearview mirror, "Oppa, you're talking nonsense."

Park Hyomin laughed even more unrestrainedly, leaning back in her chair and adding with great interest, "Oh my, our Jiyeon is quite the boss, who would have thought our maknae would be so capable now?"

She spoke with a sly smile at the corner of her eye, clearly watching the show.

Only Li Shaoxi, the newcomer, sat obediently in the passenger seat like a small animal, even her breathing became lighter, and she dared not laugh out loud, for fear of disturbing the conversation of the others.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her sideways and saw that her eyes were sparkling, as if filled with gratitude. A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

I rolled down the car window to let the breeze in, bringing a touch of coolness from late summer to early autumn. The atmosphere in the car instantly became more relaxed, and the slightly reserved feeling from before slowly dissipated.

"Alright, it's settled then." He said it decisively, his tone as if he were setting a new beginning for her.

Li Shaoxi leaned back in the passenger seat, her heart still racing, but a slow smile finally appeared on her lips. It seemed that for the first time, she truly felt that she might be able to shake off the gloom of the past and start a completely new life.

Following Park Ji-yeon's directions, Lin Xiuyuan arrived at the company office for the first time.

Because most of the company's business is located overseas, this office in Seoul was completely empty, a mere shell, and exceptionally quiet. The white floor-to-ceiling windows let in the afternoon light, illuminating the spacious area with brightness and openness.

Everything here was so neat it was almost deserted. There were only one or two documents on the desk, and the computer monitor hadn't been touched at all. You could even smell a faint woody scent in the air.

“I usually communicate with overseas companies online late at night, so I haven’t used this much,” Park Jiyeon explained with a smile as she opened the door.

"I'll leave it to you from now on." She turned around and winked at Li Shaoxi, her eyes filled with a sense of relief that she could finally get rid of some of her responsibilities.

The small suite that Park Jiyeon mentioned was actually quite large.

Pushing open the door, you'll find a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. The layout is compact yet not cramped, covering about thirty square meters, more than enough for one person to live comfortably.

With the curtains half-drawn, you can see the reflection of the neon lights of the shopping mall downstairs; it's both quiet and safe.

It's the kind of office building that can be used for both commercial and residential purposes, so it's not too deserted even at night.

During this segment, it was clear that Li Shaoxi's eyes were getting brighter and brighter, and she seemed quite excited.

The next issue is salary.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't beat around the bush and sat down at his desk to say, "As for the personal assistant's salary, it's a fixed 500 million won per month, based on the average monthly salary in Seoul, after tax. Insurance and bonuses are separate."

As he spoke, he took a bank card out of his pocket and placed it on the table. "All other company expenses, as well as Zhiyan's daily expenses, will be paid using this card. Just keep a record of the bills. I won't check the accounts periodically, is that alright?"

As for Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin, they had no interest in this monthly salary. Even though they were currently struggling in Seoul, this amount of money was only enough for the duration of one performance.

Lee So-hee was stunned for a moment, then sat up straight and said repeatedly, "No problem, thank you oppa!"

After saying that, she immediately stood up and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, her movements clean and efficient.

Startled by the situation, Lin Xiuyuan shrank back and quickly waved his hands, "Holy crap, no, no, no, don't give me such a big bow. I only give such a big bow to the dead."

This immediately lightened the atmosphere. Park Hyomin smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, and gave Lin Xiuyuan a meaningful look, as if she were re-evaluating him as a boy.

It seems that a man who is willing to help a girl like this must be a decent person at heart.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Xiuyuan stuffed the bank card into Li Shaoxi's hand and said, "Alright, now here's your first task for starting work."

"Hmm?" Li Shaoxi blinked and subconsciously caught the card.

"Find a standard contract template and make a contract for yourself."

He leaned back in his chair with a smile, his tone light but serious, "Three years is the minimum, five years is fine, ten years would be even better. It's better to have a more formal job, so that if we ever fire you, you can sue us with the contract."

Li Shaoxi was stunned at first, then her eyes welled up slightly.

This feeling of being treated as an equal employee was both unfamiliar and reassuring to her.

Such straightforward and slightly teasing words made Park Jiyeon burst out laughing, her laughter tinged with reproach, "Ah, oppa, who says things like that as soon as they hire an assistant?"

As she spoke, she shook her head, but a hint of tenderness appeared in her eyes, as if she was already used to Lin Xiuyuan's unconventional behavior.

Li Shaoxi listened to their conversation and pursed her lips.

Perhaps it was this undisguised sincerity and ease that suddenly warmed her heart.

He then gave Lin Xiuyuan a deep look, then got up and walked to his desk.

She turned on the computer, which she hadn't turned on since she bought it, and the screen lit up with a soft hum.

Although she was just a high school graduate, who hasn't secretly skipped class to go to internet cafes during their youth?
The familiar interface made her fingers fly across the keyboard.

Soon, the contract was downloaded. She carefully checked it word by word, made a few simple formatting changes, printed out the document, and solemnly placed it in front of Lin Xiuyuan with both hands.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced down at the pen, and after confirming that there was no problem, he picked up the pen, neatly signed his name, and handed it back to Li Shaoxi.

After receiving it, the girl also signed her name, looking slightly nervous.

At that moment, there was a subtle light in her eyes, as if this was the first time in her life that she had truly grasped the key to some kind of "future".

After seeing that Li Shaoxi had also signed her name, Lin Xiuyuan casually put his own contract into the drawer, clapped his hands, and attracted the attention of Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin, who were chatting nearby.

“Alright,” he announced with a smile, “Ji-yeon, let’s go out for a big meal to celebrate the first employee joining our Seoul office.”

Before he could finish speaking, Park Jiyeon laughed first, "Oh, that's perfect, oppa. Yoona unnie and Taeyeon unnie were just saying in the group chat that they wanted to have dinner with you."

"Hmm?" Lin Xiuyuan asked curiously, "How come these two have so much free time? Don't they have jobs?"

"??"

Across from her, Li Shaoxi, who had been staring blankly at the contract, suddenly looked up, her eyes revealing a hint of curiosity.

She suddenly realized that her boss seemed more mysterious than she had imagined.

The women I know are all extraordinary: Park Jiyeon, Park Hyomin, Sulli, and now members of Girls' Generation are being brought up...

Could the other party be some low-profile second-generation chaebol?
"Who knows?" Park Jiyeon rolled her eyes, tapped her phone screen with her finger, and muttered a complaint under her breath, "Your unnie tagged you in the group chat, and you didn't even look at the group."

The next second, her face turned bright red, because Lin Xiuyuan replied, "I would like to see, but I'm worried that you guys will talk about things I shouldn't see. Last time, my chat history was cleared."

Park Jiyeon's face flushed red instantly. She quickly glared at him, snorted, and stopped talking, as if afraid of making things more embarrassing.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan simply smiled and didn't tease her any further. Instead, he said, "Alright then, let's invite them along. It'll be more fun with more people. Hyomin, you don't mind, do you?"

“I’m fine with anything.” Park Hyomin shrugged, raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Just don’t form any small teams.”

There seemed to be a deeper, more meaningful reminder hidden in his words.

And so, after Li Shaoxi settled his luggage, the group went out again, got into the car, and headed straight for the address sent by Lin Xiaolu.

Traffic congestion in Seoul remains a headache, and cars are quickly stuck in traffic.

During a red light break, Lin Xiuyuan casually leaned against the driver's seat and glanced at Li Shaoxi in the passenger seat. "By the way, Shaoxi, can you drive?"

"Ah, no." Li Shaoxi was startled by being called on suddenly and quickly shook her head, looking as nervous as a student who had done something wrong.

Park Jiyeon, who was behind her, understood Lin Xiuyuan's meaning and laughed, "Oppa probably wants you to learn to drive and become a driver in the future."

"Yes, that's what I mean." Lin Xiuyuan nodded and sighed. "Go learn, the company will reimburse you. I really don't want to drive anymore, Seoul is too congested."

Upon hearing this, Park Jiyeon immediately tilted her head and grinned mischievously, "So, after Sohee learns to drive, oppa, are you going to buy me a car?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled up slightly. "Sure, what kind of car do you like? I'll buy it for you later."

"Wow, oppa, do you have money?" Park Jiyeon blinked, asking half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Lin Xiuyuan, who started the car again, slowly said, "It will be ready after we finish eating."

The carriage fell silent for two seconds.

Lee So-hee and Park Hyo-min: ? ? ?

This sounds like something out of a gangster extorting protection money.

Only Park Jiyeon paused for half a second before realizing what was happening. She couldn't help but purse her lips and chuckle, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried her best to hold back her laughter.

Taking advantage of the red light, she quickly looked down at her phone and tagged Lin Xiaolu and Jin Ruanruan in the group chat, forwarding Lin Xiuyuan's "bold words" verbatim, along with a mischievous smiley emoji.

Clearly, she intended for the two of them to prepare themselves mentally beforehand so they could enjoy the show later.

　I've been busy with a lot of trivial matters lately and haven't had much energy. I'll try my best to write 10,000 words every other day. I'm really sorry, godfathers!
　　Please vote for me! Please subscribe! Please do anything!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)