Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 258 "Lin Xiaolu" Takes the Initiative (10,000-word intensive chapter, please give everything)
As Lin Xiuyuan sped along, the car quickly drove towards the Han River, and the familiar barbecue restaurant soon came into view.

That was the place Krystal had brought him to before. The evening sun was shining on the small sign, and the golden afterglow made it look especially warm, as if welcoming their arrival.

The car slowly drove into the open space in front of the store. From a distance, a familiar black Mercedes could be seen parked at the entrance, reflecting the light of the setting sun. It was clear that Kim Yeon-yeon, who had been chatting with Park Ji-yeon, had arrived earlier than them.

"Here, get out of the car."

He turned off the engine and opened the car door. The evening breeze immediately rushed in, carrying the unique dampness and coolness of the riverside, making him unconsciously stretch his shoulders.

The three people following behind also got off the car one after another. The group walked side by side toward the store entrance, their steps light and quick, as if their mood had softened with the wind.

Stepping into the store, the aroma of charcoal fire mixed with the smell of grilled meat is irresistible, making your mouth water.

Lin Xiuyuan then went to the front desk and gave Lin Xiaolu's name.

Upon hearing this, the shop assistant immediately showed a familiar smile and personally led the group through the bustling hall to a quiet private room on the inside.

The moment the door was opened, a light laugh came from inside, and the warm aroma became even stronger.

Lin Xiaolu and Jin Ruanruan, who were sitting inside, looked up at the same time and were stunned for a moment.

"Huh??"

Lin Xiaolu blinked subconsciously, her gaze falling directly on Li Shaoxi, who was the last to enter.

There was a moment of surprise in his expression, as if he hadn't expected her to appear.

In the group chat before, I only heard Park Jiyeon say that she would come to eat, and that Park Hyomin would be there too, but I didn't mention that there would be anyone else.

Moreover, this familiar figure quickly brought to mind the memories she had gained 25 years ago. She opened her mouth, about to call out the name.

But after realizing it was 2013, she obediently shut her mouth. "This is...?"

Jin Ruanruan was also slightly surprised, but she quickly realized what was happening and stood up, looking at Li Shaoxi with a polite yet curious smile.

Park Jiyeon, looking like she had prepared the introductions all along, smiled and said, "This is the personal assistant that oppa chose for me, Lee So-hee. Unnie, let me formally introduce you."

Then Li Shaoxi, who had been following behind, immediately bowed respectfully and greeted him in a low voice.

His tone was a little nervous, like a freshman meeting a senior student, his hands unconsciously clenching together.

"So beautiful," Lin Xiaolu exclaimed softly, her eyes taking in the beauty.

Jin Ruanruan couldn't help but chime in, "Yeah, Xiuyuan, this guy you recruited has really hit the jackpot."

"So-so." Lin Xiuyuan smiled with satisfaction.

The atmosphere then eased, and everyone took their seats.

The waiter brought over the menu, and Lin Xiuyuan simply pushed it in front of Park Hyomin and Lee So-hee, saying with a smile, "Take a look and see what you want to eat. Order whatever you like. Anyway, everything tonight will be on Mr. Kim's plate."

"Young Master Jin?"

Lin Xiaolu was taken aback, then turned to Jin Ruanruan and laughed, "Okay, if you're paying, then I'll have to eat as much as I want later."

Jin Ruanruan sighed softly, glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, and couldn't help but laugh, "Order, order, just pay the bill."

Before long, the grill began to sizzle, the oil danced in the flames, and the aroma quickly filled the entire private room.

Lin Xiaolu picked up a slice of freshly grilled meat, dipped it in the sauce, and squinted her eyes with a blissful expression.

The atmosphere gradually warmed up as the meat slices were turned over.

Soon, the conversation turned to the "newcomer" Li Shaoxi.

As Jin Ruanruan put meat on her plate, she casually asked, "So, Shaoxi, why did you suddenly resign? Were you poached by Xiuyuan?"

Li Shaoxi hesitated for a moment before glancing at Lin Xiuyuan before slowly opening her mouth and recounting in detail how she had been "forced to reveal her contact information" by her seniors after meeting Lin Xiuyuan at the coffee shop.

"So they're targeting you because of Xiu Yuan?" Jin Ruanruan's chopsticks froze in mid-air as she looked at Lin Xiu Yuan in disbelief. "Wow, Xiu Yuan~ you really are a 'menace to humanity'!"

Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but laugh out loud, tapping her chopsticks on the rim of her bowl with a crisp sound. "Wow, Xiuyuan, you've managed to drag someone down to the point where they can't even do their job."

Her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, half teasing and half joking, as if she was deliberately stirring up trouble.

"Can you blame me?"

Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands, his face full of helplessness, and made a gesture of surrender. "Shouldn't the culprit be your senior-junior system? People are being 'educationally bullied' just for casually talking to strangers. That's too much."

He sighed, a slight smirk creeping across his face. "Besides, I never imagined it would turn out like this."

"But the truth is that Sohee was targeted because of oppa."

As Park Jiyeon flipped the meat slices, the firelight making her cheeks glow red, she smirked and said, "So oppa, you'll have to take responsibility from now on."

The moment the word "responsible" was uttered, Li Shaoxi, who had been sitting quietly to the side, stiffened slightly as if someone had touched a nerve, and subconsciously glanced at Lin Xiuyuan.

In an instant, countless famous scenes from comics flashed through her little mind: the male protagonist said, "I will take responsibility," and then their fates intertwined, beginning a romantic story.

Then her ear tips and cheeks flushed slightly, and even her breathing became lighter.

Lin Xiuyuan, oblivious to her little drama, picked up the conversation smoothly, chewing on beef as he mumbled, "Haven't we already taken responsibility? Not only did we help her get a new job, but it's a promising one at that."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Lee So-hee, his eyes filled with a mixture of seriousness and reassurance, "Soo-hee, just focus on your work. As long as you don't resign voluntarily, this job should be enough for you to earn enough to buy an apartment in Seoul. Then, save some money and you can retire early."

Li Shaoxi was stunned by what he said, and then her face turned even redder. She hurriedly thanked him in a low voice.

Her voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz, but it made everyone around her laugh, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

"Come on, let's drink to Shaoxi's new job!"

Lin Xiaolu raised her glass cheerfully, her eyes crinkling with laughter, "This can be considered as opening a branch for your Seoul office, which is now all-powerful. At least you have some employees now."

"Would you like some wine?" Lin Xiuyuan suggested with a smile.

“No.” Jin Ruanruan immediately waved her hand, her expression serious. “I have to drive, and I have a vocal lesson tonight. Just a drink will do.”

As the atmosphere at the dinner party gradually relaxed, Li Shaoxi finally let go of her initial restraint and quietly listened to the banter between the group, but her eyes couldn't help but keep falling on Lin Xiuyuan.

She felt a vague sense of disbelief.

His boss didn't seem flamboyant, and even when eating, he was quite casual. But when Lin Xiaolu, Jin Ruanruan, or Park Jiyeon spoke to him, they all had a certain unspoken familiarity about them, and they could even make very bold jokes.

They can even make jokes that are somewhat private.

The only person who seemed a little distant was Park Hyomin, who was sitting next to him; she didn't seem to be able to join in the conversation much.

Who exactly is this new boss?

Li Shaoxi muttered to herself, and the lettuce she was holding almost fell back into the plate, which startled her so much that she quickly caught it.

After they had almost finished eating the barbecue, Park Jiyeon wiped her hands, then suddenly turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan with a mischievous smile, "Oppa, when are you planning to finalize the deal about buying a car?"

Lin Xiuyuan was drinking water with his head down when he heard this. He raised his eyebrows but did not respond to her words. He only glanced at her indifferently, and his meaning was obvious.

There are still outsiders here, so there are some things that are inconvenient to say.

Jin Ruanruan had already seen the gossip in the group chat and instantly understood. She raised an eyebrow at him and deliberately dragged out her words, "Oh ho, Xiuyuan, what kind of luxury car are you planning to buy for Zhiyan? Tell me about it."

Lin Xiaolu laughed along, "That's right, how could you keep something like buying a car a secret from us?"

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Jin Ruanruan, but remained calm and composed. He put down his water glass and said in a serious tone.

"Of course it's a Mercedes, and it has to be a Mercedes SLK. Just imagine, we'll park it under a streetlight, I'll sit in the passenger seat, and a beautiful woman will sit next to me. Even if we get caught on camera, the scene will be stunning, definitely worthy of being in the newspaper."

As soon as she finished speaking, Kim Ruanruan was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant and her face turned red. She thought of the "famous scene" from next year that she still wanted to kill Kim Tae-yeon.

Thinking of this, she immediately felt embarrassed and annoyed, grabbed a piece of lettuce and threw it at Lin Xiuyuan, saying, "Shut up!"

Lin Xiuyuan subtly shifted his body, skillfully dodging the attack, but a smug and provocative smile lingered on his face, as if he had anticipated being attacked.

"Hahahahaha..."

Lin Xiaolu laughed so hard she almost fell over, slapping the table with her fists, her laughter clear and cheerful.

Park Jiyeon covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling.

Having seen the news 25 years ago, they were clearly seeing the same scene in their minds.

Only Lee So-hee and Park Hyo-min looked completely bewildered, unable to keep up with the group's pace.

Li Shaoxi blinked, not daring to make a sound.

Park Hyomin muttered under her breath, "What nonsense are they talking about now?"

Although she was already used to the inside joke that Lin Xiuyuan and his friends "only they understand," she still whispered in Li Shaoxi's ear, "Shaoxi, this is the kind of environment you'll be working in from now on. You'll have to listen to all sorts of secrets from them all day long. Some of them you'll understand, and some you won't understand at all, but you'll still have to pretend to be calm."

Li Shaoxi paused for two seconds, her eyes flickered slightly, and then a faint smile appeared on her face. Instead, a strange sense of peace arose in her heart.

At least at this kind of dinner table, she felt like she was truly accepted.

Compared to my previous self, who would go back to the dormitory to daydream after get off work or busy looking for a second part-time job, this atmosphere is so comfortable that I don't want to leave.

After speaking with Lee So-hee, Park Hyo-min sat in a corner, slowly chewing the meat in her mouth, but couldn't help glancing at the lively group next to her.

Park Jiyeon and Lin Xiuyuan were bickering back and forth, while Kim Ruanruan laughed so hard she almost fell over. Lin Xiaolu even physically "attacked" Lin Xiuyuan.

All of this is relaxed and natural, much like the tacit understanding and closeness that only old friends can have.

She suddenly realized that she and Lin Xiaolu had known Lin Xiuyuan around the same time.

But now, Lin Xiaolu can directly insult him and even joke around without any hesitation, while he always seems to be a step behind.

This feeling of falling behind inexplicably gave her a sense of frustration.

A beautiful woman's dignity is always so sensitive.

Just then, Ham Eun-jung's words suddenly rang in her ears: "Hyomin, if you really want to know something, go and win over Soo-won. Once you've got him, everything else will fall into place."

Thinking of this, she involuntarily raised her eyes, her gaze secretly sweeping towards Lin Xiuyuan with a strange look.

He rested his chin on one hand, casually fiddling with the roasted meat in the bowl with the other, occasionally glancing at the person speaking, a lazy smile always playing on his lips.

The sleeves of the white casual shirt were rolled up to halfway up the arms, revealing strong forearm muscles. The shoulders were broad, and the sitting posture was casual and relaxed, making the whole person look sunny and relaxed.

His profile is sharp and clean, exuding the air of a young man in his early twenties, yet possessing an undeniable presence.

Moreover, Lin Xiuyuan's senses were very sharp, and he quickly noticed that someone was watching him. He looked up and met Park Hyomin's gaze, then smiled gently.

Park Hyomin, who was already lost in thought, was caught red-handed. A faint blush rose to her face, and she pouted, as if she wanted to say something.

Then Lin Xiuyuan casually raised his drink, touched glasses with her lightly, and then turned to Lin Xiaolu to continue talking about her upcoming TV series.

The somewhat slow-witted Park Hyomin took a sip of water, and after being ignored again, she involuntarily recalled the scene of her first meeting with Lin Xiuyuan.

It was an ordinary day when she first followed Park Jiyeon into that little bar.

As soon as the door was pushed open, a faint aroma of wood mixed with alcohol wafted out, carrying a slightly warm, smoky scent.

Lin Xiuyuan sat behind the bar, casually leaning back in a high stool, looking relaxed, as if the whole world had nothing to do with him.

She had only come because of Park Jiyeon, but she didn't expect to feel so relaxed and comfortable chatting with him, so she naturally sat down in front of him.

Later, she introduced him to Shirley, and the two quickly became acquainted amidst laughter.

What truly shocked Park Hyomin was what came next: when she learned that Sulli, Jiyeon, Yoona, and even Ham Eunjung, whom she had never thought would have any connection with Lin Xiuyuan, had all become "members" of that little bar.

She was extremely depressed during that time, and even felt a sense of isolation and loss.

It's as if everyone is sharing a secret that only they understand, and I'm always the last to know, with some things still being kept from me to this day.

Thinking of this, Park Hyomin couldn't help but sigh softly in her heart.

Strategy Guide...

The word flashed through her mind again, and she couldn't help but lower her head, pouting, unwilling to compromise.

But the thought that popped into my head was: maybe Eun-jung is right. If I want to truly integrate into this circle, the most direct way is to win over this man first.

But before that, she had to go to the restroom.

When solving the problem, Park Hyo-min thought of Ham Eun-jung's half-joking, half-serious words.

At the time, I just laughed it off and didn't take it seriously, but now that I think about it...

A few minutes later, still lost in thought, Park Hyomin walked to the sink, glanced in the mirror, touched up her lipstick, took a deep breath, and then slowly walked out.

Just then, there were light footsteps at the bathroom door.

Lin Xiuyuan, standing in the corridor, was looking down at his arm, which still had traces of the barbecue sauce he had gotten in the private room.

And so the two bumped right into each other at the door.

"Hey……"

Before she could react, the smear of sauce on Lin Xiuyuan's arm smeared onto her sleeve, completely ruining his own white shirt.

"Ah, it's over."

Park Hyo-min was taken aback for a moment, thinking she had run into someone else.

When he looked up and saw that it was Lin Xiuyuan, he couldn't help but laugh, and the anger in his heart was relieved.

Upon seeing the large stains on his cuffs and stomach, she suddenly relaxed and said with a smile, "Oh no, Xiuyuan, your clothes are completely ruined."

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the sleeve, but didn't seem to care much, and casually said, "Then you have to compensate me with a new one."

"Sure." Park Hyomin didn't think much of it and raised the corner of her mouth. "I'll buy it for you in a bit."

"Can I get cash instead?" Lin Xiuyuan looked up at her, his tone serious. "I still need to save money to buy Zhiyan a car."

Park Hyomin chuckled at his antics and lightly patted his arm. "Should I just buy that car?"

"It's not impossible."

Park Hyomin, who was only joking, didn't see the faint smile that appeared on Lin Xiuyuan's lips, and a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Even so, Park Hyo-min paused for a moment after hearing Lin Xiuyuan's answer and didn't say anything more.

Lin Xiuyuan took the tissue from her hand, lowered his head to wipe his arms and clothes, and the two continued to walk back side by side.

Back in the private room, everyone was still happily grilling meat, but after seeing Lin Xiuyuan's earlier embarrassment, they all asked him a few questions with concern.

After confirming that there were no major problems, laughter quickly filled the space again, and everyone continued to eat and drink in a relaxed and natural atmosphere.

As Park Hyo-min sat back down, her mood inexplicably lightened. When she turned her attention back to the meat platter on the table, she silently murmured a sentence to herself.

Forget about any strategy guides, let's start by buying him a new outfit.

But where she couldn't see, Lin Xiaolu, who had noticed the situation between the two, narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of distress in her expression.

Jin Ruanruan, who was next to her, glanced at her, smiled slightly, and then continued to flip the meat as if nothing had happened, picking up a piece of meat and putting it into her mouth.

By the time everyone finished their barbecue, the setting sun had completely disappeared, and night was slowly enveloping the banks of the Han River.

The streetlights on both sides of the street lit up one by one, and the air was filled with the aroma of barbecue restaurants and the unique humidity of a summer night, making the bustling storefronts brightly lit.

Jin Ruanruan clapped her hands, readily paid the bill, and the group walked out of the store one after another.

The small open space in front of the gate was already packed with cars.

As the night breeze blew by, carrying a hint of coolness, those who had just finished eating couldn't help but take a deep breath and exhale.

"Let's go, let's go," Park Jiyeon said, gesturing for everyone to head towards the parking lot.

Li Shaoxi was about to follow Lin Xiuyuan when she saw Lin Xiaolu suddenly stop, her eyes flashing slightly as she looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a meaningful expression. "Xiuyuan, I have something to talk to you about."

The tone didn't sound like a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was more like someone who had been waiting for this moment.

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement, "Okay, let's go."

Park Jiyeon immediately understood, gently pulling Lee Sohee and then tugging at Park Hyomin, "Then oppa, we'll go first. You take Yoona unnie home, and we'll ride back in Taeyeon unnie's car."

Jin Ruanruan curled her lips into a smile, "Get in the car."

The three of them quickly got into her Mercedes, and the taillights disappeared into the night, taking away the lingering echo of their lively conversation.

Lin Xiuyuan watched their car drive away before turning to walk towards his own car and casually asked, "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry to talk to me?"

Lin Xiaolu followed beside him, her voice low and slightly serious, "Teacher Kim Eun-sook said that my eye acting is still lacking... so I plan to have another exchange with you."

This answer made Lin Xiuyuan's previously relaxed expression freeze, and he paused, holding his car keys.

Discuss?

Their "sparring"...

If he wasn't mistaken, it should be... "What kind of sparring?" he couldn't help but ask to confirm.

Lin Xiaolu just smiled without answering, but her eyes held a hint of amusement, and perhaps a touch of mischief.

Soon, the car stopped in front of Lin Xiuyuan's apartment building.

The two entered one after the other, and before they could even change their shoes, Lin Xiaolu suddenly stood on tiptoe, hooked her fingers around his collar, and kissed him directly.

The entryway was dimly lit by a wall lamp, the light creating an ambiguous atmosphere that instantly warmed up the space.

Lin Xiuyuan instinctively put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

"Is this what you call a friendly spar?" he whispered with a laugh as he touched her lips.

"Hmm." Lin Xiaolu's eyes deepened slightly, her breath tinged with amusement. "You'll remember it better this way."

It feels like ages since our last passionate kiss.

The two stumbled around in the entryway for a while, and then Lin Xiuyuan suddenly lifted Lin Xiaolu's pert buttocks. The familiar posture and figure made him naturally carry her into the living room.

But after taking only a few steps, they spotted the two quiet figures on the sofa.

Shirley sat cross-legged, holding a can of soda, a mischievous grin on her face, her eyes filled with amusement at the spectacle.

Jung Soo-jung, standing beside them, had her hands naturally at her sides, slightly raised her eyebrows, and stared at the two of them with wide, incredulous eyes.

"Unnie, you guys continue, we'll pretend we didn't see anything."

Shirley spoke first, her tone slightly mischievous, as if she were silently indulging their "little tricks".

Krystal Jung remained silent, staring intently at Lin Xiaolu, as if trying to discern whether she was serious or joking.

Then she turned to Shirley, completely bewildered as to why Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu from the apartment had suddenly come here. To her, it all seemed so unbelievable, like a dream.

Fortunately, Lin Xiaolu's initial surprise was quickly replaced by composure.

She gently stepped down from Lin Xiuyuan's embrace, tidied her hair, and stood there calmly, looking at the two of them as if nothing had happened.

"Sulli, Krystal, what are you doing here?"

"I told oppa," Sulli said cautiously.

Indeed, after learning that Lin Xiuyuan had returned, Shirley was already on her way back to her apartment, so she called Lin Xiuyuan to tell him that she wanted to bring Zheng Xiujing over for a meal.

At the same time, it was also a subtle way of telling Lin Xiuyuan not to open that Anywhere Door.

Lin Xiuyuan had agreed to Shirley's request, but he forgot about it during dinner, and that's how it ended up like this.

So when Lin Xiaolu heard Shirley's answer, she immediately looked at Lin Xiuyuan behind her. He rubbed his temples helplessly and said, "Okay, I admit I forgot."

At this moment, Krystal finally spoke up, "What? Snowball, do you live with Yoona unnie?"

Clearly, this was the most outrageous scenario she could imagine.

However, the truth is...

"No, I live with Xiuyuan oppa," Shirley answered confidently.

Upon hearing this, Jung Soo-jung was stunned once again. She looked up and stared intently at Lin Xiu-yuan, her eyes filled with disbelief and doubt.

Lin Xiuyuan was a little confused. His memory had almost ruined things, but luckily he could still make up for it. So he subconsciously looked at Lin Xiaolu and said, "How about we go out and get a room?"

This sudden suggestion left Sulli and Krystal stunned.

Lin Xiaolu immediately grabbed a cushion from the side and threw it at him, "Hey, what nonsense are you talking about?"

However, two minutes later, she composed herself and said goodbye to Sulli and Jung Soo-jung in a serious tone, "Well, you two talk, I'll have Xiu-yuan take me home."

And just like that, the two of them disappeared from the apartment, as if they had dropped a bomb.

The two girls on the sofa were left dumbfounded.

Then Krystal looked at Sulli with a blank expression, "What? Sulli? Yoona unnie and this guy are really together?"

"I don't know, I guess not." Shirley also looked confused.

Then, as if remembering something, she added in a low voice, "But if it's just a passionate kiss or something, it shouldn't count, right?"

However, for Krystal Jung, Sulli's response did not soothe her; instead, it made her even more stunned and agitated.

So she shouted, "What? You're all hugging and kissing like this, and you're still together? What are you two doing? And another question, how did you and Lin Xiuyuan end up living together?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you later, Soojung," Sulli replied with a bit of a laugh.

"No, I have time now, why do I need to wait until later?"

"It's mainly because of your identity that I can't explain it to you."

Upon hearing this, Jung Soo-jung immediately thought of Lin Xiu-yuan and his group's so-called membership system, and her eyes widened. "You guys aren't really running some kind of cult, a nudist party, or something like that, are you?"

"What nonsense are you thinking, Soojung? Nothing like that," Sulli quickly waved her hand in denial.

"Then why are you living with him?" Krystal Jung persisted, her voice filled with anxiety and confusion.

"Oh no, I don't know how to explain this anymore." Shirley lowered her head, looking slightly helpless.

"So, is it a cult?"

Krystal Jung pressed on, her eyes seeming to be searching for the last shred of logic.

the other side.

As soon as Lin Xiaolu stepped out of the apartment, she started hitting Lin Xiuyuan's arm wildly. "Ah, Lin Xiuyuan, you idiot! I'm going crazy! How could Xiujing and Shirley have seen this? How could you forget about this?"

Lin Xiuyuan could only dodge while forcing a smile, "Damn, be gentle, be gentle. I've been using my brain too much lately, my memory's gotten bad."

"Where did you overuse your brain?" Lin Xiaolu said, her face flushed with anger, her voice lowered.

"Slept too much."

Lin Xiuyuan answered seriously, with a hint of mischief in his voice.

"You~"

Lin Xiaolu was both angry and embarrassed. She raised her hand and slapped him again, but couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The two of them continued to playfully bicker as they went downstairs, and the atmosphere shifted from awkwardness to ambiguity.

Soon, they pushed open the hidden door of the tavern, crossed the familiar time portal, and instantly traveled from Seoul in 2013 to the villa in 2025.

Then, at Lin Xiaolu's request, they returned to her apartment from 2013.

The advantage of a time portal is obvious: even if something good is interrupted a second ago, you can immediately go to another place to continue without affecting the atmosphere or fun.

As soon as the two entered Lin Xiaolu's apartment and closed the door, Lin Xiuyuan was about to say a few words of apology when Lin Xiaolu pounced on him and silenced him with her lips.

The two stumbled and fell onto the living room sofa.

The floor lamp emitted a warm, dim light, and the air was filled with the temperature of the night and an ambiguous atmosphere. A cushion on the sofa was kicked to the ground, making a soft sound.

After a long while, Lin Xiuyuan finally managed to catch his breath during the kiss and couldn't help but laugh, "What's wrong with you tonight? Did you really come to me for 'eye acting' practice?"

Lin Xiaolu stared at him, her breathing still a little rapid, but her eyes showed a hint of hesitation.

"……no."

She lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment before raising her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, and softly told him about the "feeding the tiger with one's own body" plan that Jin Ruanruan had mentioned earlier.

After hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan immediately burst into laughter, "My God, hahaha, that little girl must be crazy, how could she say something like that?"

However, after the laughter subsided, he spoke with a hint of doubt, "That's not right either. If it's just this, didn't Xiuyan say something similar before? I didn't see you being this proactive back then."

This answer made Lin Xiaolu suddenly look up at Lin Xiuyuan, "How did you know?"

“I have informants,” Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile.

“Shirley?” Lin Xiaolu asked.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer, but his silence was the answer. Then Lin Xiaolu added, "I knew it! You two are living together, how could Shirley keep it from you?"

Then something suddenly occurred to her, her eyes flashed, and she stared at Lin Xiuyuan, "Wait, you two?"

"Don't talk nonsense. I treat truth like a younger sister." Lin Xiuyuan repeated what he had said before, and then asked in return, "You haven't answered my previous question yet. Why are you in such a hurry this time?"

Lin Xiaolu pouted, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes, and then poured out everything she had heard last night, along with her doubts and thoughts.

The air was filled with their breathing and lingering ambiguity, and the light and shadow on the sofa danced on the two of them, as if time had slowed down.

……

last night.

After Lin Xiaolu, Zheng Xiuyan, Jin Ruanruan, and Sunny returned to their dorm, the three of them first gave Sunny a good mental cleansing to help her relax comfortably.

Then the group settled down on the sofas in the living room to enjoy this rare moment of leisure.

Just then, Lin Xiaolu noticed Jin Ruanruan holding a phone and smiling sweetly, so she went over to see what was going on.

As a result, Kim Yeon-yeon directly told her the situation, which was basically Ham Eun-jung's idea of ​​dragging Park Hyo-min into the mess.

But it was just an idea, not something I actually did, so I was just joking around with Jin Ruanruan.

But Lin Xiaolu took this situation to heart.

She raised her eyebrows slightly, but her heart wasn't so at ease.

The main reason is that Lin Xiaolu obtained much more information from Lin Yoona than from Kim Yuen-yuen and Ham Eun-jung.

For example, Lin Xiuyuan's XP, and his hobbies.

If they follow Ham Eun-jung's suggestion, and Park Hyo-min really does something, she doesn't believe Lin Xiuyuan will be able to resist the charms of a future "wife".

Especially during the meal, Park Hyo-min and Lin Xiu-yuan's subtle glances and actions seemed to be quietly igniting a signal, making Lin Xiao-lu feel a strange sense of crisis.

It's the same old story.

A beautiful woman's dignity is always the most sensitive.

If it were someone in the membership group, everyone would be at a similar starting point, and they would all know the situation. If they lost, they would just accept it. At most, Lin Xiaolu would just secretly complain to herself.

But if it's Park Hyomin...

The other person's quiet yet sharp demeanor made Lin Xiaolu realize that she absolutely could not easily show weakness.

She could accept losing to those crazy women from 25 years ago, but to someone from the same time and space, and an outsider at that, made Lin Xiaolu truly furious.

……

"So you're planning to strike first?"

Sitting on the sofa, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Lin Xiaolu, who was straddling him in a duck-like position, with a hint of teasing and curiosity in his eyes and a smile in his voice.

Lin Xiaolu pursed her lips, straightened her back slightly, and glanced away. "No, I was just carrying out an occasional 'feeding the tiger' plan. Don't overthink it."

Normally as gentle as Bambi, she appeared proud and stubborn today.

Lin Xiuyuan paused for a moment upon hearing this, then chuckled softly, "Ah~ I get it, so Yoona, you're jealous."

This sudden address felt like a small hammer blow to Lin Xiaolu's heart. Her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head to touch his forehead, their noses lightly touching, and softly questioned him.

"Am I Yoon-ah, Lin Xiuyuan? Look carefully."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan naturally put his arm around her waist, gently placing his hand on her back, his voice low and gentle.

"What are you doing? Do you think I'd mess this up? It's true that Yoona was born in 25, but how could Yoona not be born in 13? Lin Xiaolu is just a nickname, but as the name of Lin Yoona, how could I possibly get it wrong?"

Lin Xiaolu looked into his eyes, her breath hitched, and after a long while she whispered, "Then I want an answer."

"What's the answer?"

"Is Lin Xiaolu better, or is Lin Yoona better?"

Lin Xiuyuan stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, raised his hand and pinched her cheek, "Then I'll give you the answer tonight."

After saying that, he rolled over again, pinning her to the sofa, their breaths gradually mingling.

The only sounds in the living room were soft breathing and the occasional thud of a cushion being kicked to the floor.

……

at the same time.

After dropping Park Jiyeon and the others off, Kim Yeon-yeon was driving and talking to someone on the phone with a smile.

"Haha, our plan worked! Yoona took the bait right away."

"It's time to give her a push. Shirley said she's already in that state, what's she still dawdling about?" The voice on the other end of the phone chuckled.

Kim Yuen-yuen asked with some curiosity, "But Eun-jung, how are you sure Yoon-ah will take the bait?"

"Who knows?" Ham Eun-jung said jokingly on the other end of the phone. "Whether it's a good opportunity or not, let's just cast a line first. Consider it baiting the area. Catching fish is the ideal outcome, but if we don't, it's not a big loss."

“Sure, Eun-jung, you’re even more ruthless than me when you use Hyo-min as bait.”

"Taeyeon, you're not bad either, using Yoona as a foil."

"Each each other."

"Admit it, admit it."

The night outside the car window was gentle, and the city lights reflected on Jin Ruanruan's profile. Her smile was light yet scheming, as if this "game" had only just begun.

……

Over at the apartment.

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan turned over and gently pressed Lin Xiaolu onto the sofa, a subtle tension instantly filled the air.

The floor lamp cast a dim, yellowish light, which fell on the two of them, lengthening the curve of their lips and drawing their breaths closer together.

Lying on the sofa, Lin Xiaolu slightly raised her head, her eyes showing a hint of shyness and anticipation. Her fingers unconsciously reached out towards Lin Xiuyuan's shoulder, as if trying to grasp some support.

Lin Xiuyuan looked down at her, his fingers gently tracing her arm, feeling her delicate skin and slight trembling. His tone was tinged with amusement, "What's wrong? Are you a little nervous?"

Lin Xiaolu bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushed slightly, but her fingers gripped his shoulders even tighter, exerting a slight force, as if "protesting" or testing him.

Suddenly, she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan and asked, "Who took the initiative, you or Yun'er?"

Lin Xiuyuan was a little stunned when he was suddenly asked this question.

But the lack of an immediate response allowed Lin Xiaolu to guess the answer, so she subconsciously pushed him with her hand in a bit of a huff.

But the force was so light it was almost useless, only managing to push Lin Xiuyuan away slightly.

But Lin Xiuyuan did not back down. Instead, he leaned his body slightly in line with her movements, gently placed his palm on her waist, supported her body steadily, and pulled her even closer.

"Why are you jealous of your own feelings?"

Lin Xiaolu felt his warm body press against her, and her breathing quickened, her face flushing even more.

A slight panic ran through her, mixed with a touch of frustration. She gently patted his chest and muttered, "It's precisely because it's the same person that I care a little. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even bother thinking about it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan chuckled softly, a smile playing on his lips, and his fingers gently slid down her waist.

"How about giving it a try?"

Lin Xiaolu raised an eyebrow and blinked her slightly moist eyes. "Try what?"

"Let's see who's better between the two of you."

These words were like a bombshell. Lin Xiaolu's pupils contracted slightly, and she looked at him with half-closed eyes, her eyes flashing with a mixture of expectation and provocation.

Then, she decisively rolled over, propped herself up on Lin Xiuyuan's chest, and leaned down to reply softly.

"Okay, let's give it a try."

Under the dim light, their breaths gradually mingled, the distance between them on the sofa was infinitely shortened, and every touch of their bodies carried an ambiguous electric current.

It was as if the entire living room had come to a standstill, with only the faint, trembling sound of each other's heartbeats remaining.

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