Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 272 "If you don't want to be tied up, then you'll have to sleep with Xiu Yuan~" (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

The air in the living room felt as if it had been ignited by an invisible flame; the temperature wasn't high, but it made one's heart tighten.

The ceiling light wasn't glaring; a soft yellow glow enveloped the surroundings, yet it clearly outlined everyone's expressions.

The cleaned-up dining table still retained some warmth, and the fragrance of the cups and glasses mixed with the aroma of wine, creating a faint scent, like a layer of mist, lingering in the narrow space.

In a corner of the sofa, Krystal hugged her knees, turned to the side and looked quietly, her expression like a frozen photograph.

Lin Xiuyuan leaned back at the other end of the sofa, his eyebrows slightly raised, as if he were a silent observer.

The silence between the two of them seemed to have quietly pressed the pause button on time.

However, the subtle ease that had lingered just moments before was shattered by a straightforward remark from Jessica.

Those words were like a knife, falling gently yet cleaving the air with pinpoint accuracy.

Jessica Jung's shoulders trembled slightly, but she did not immediately retaliate.

Her lowered eyelashes cast a faint shadow under the light, and her gaze fell on the half-empty glass on the corner of the table, as if she could see the ups and downs of an entire year through it.

Last year... she knew very well that it was also the moment when Girls' Generation truly stood at their peak.

At that time, her popularity was like a crazy wave, sweeping everything away without mercy, and almost overnight she and her teammates were pushed to the center of the Korean Wave in East Asia and even the world.

Back then, every step I took felt like I was walking on thin air.

This is not a metaphor, but a genuine feeling.

It felt light and airy, as if my feet weren't touching the ground, as if I were always walking in zero gravity in space.

Jessica Jung had heard some members of TVXQ say similar things before, and at that time she laughed at them, thinking it was just an exaggeration.

It wasn't until that state truly descended upon her that she realized it wasn't a lie.

Throughout Seoul, in neon-lit Tokyo, and even further afield, media outlets, social media platforms, and forums are all discussing Girls' Generation, specifically the girl known as the "Ice Princess."

People from different circles took the initiative to ask her for photos, wanted to meet her, invited her to meals, sent her invitations, and made all sorts of other invitations.

The sheer popularity made her feel as if she were standing right in the center of all the lights, cameras, and gazes, so dazzling that she couldn't look away.

So Jessica Jung admitted that she did lose her composure at that time.

Even in the dead of night, she often fantasizes about unrealistic futures, so much so that when she later met Quan Ningyi, her heart fluttered slightly, and she felt that perhaps what he promised was something she could grasp.

Until the beginning of this year, Lin Xiuyuan's sudden appearance led her through that time portal into 2025, allowing her to see clearly all the rise and fall and the costs of the next ten years.

It was at that moment, that night, that Jessica Jung finally calmed down.

Returning to the present, she is certainly not the frivolous young girl she once was, but she cannot deny that she was once like that.

So when Jessica's bluntness struck her like a ton of bricks, shattering her fragile self-esteem, it forced her to confront her true self.

Jessica Jung pursed her lips, gently rubbed the rim of the glass with her fingers, remained silent for a long time, and finally spoke in a low voice.

"You're right, I did get carried away back then."

But as she spoke, she suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with an undisguised sharpness, a questioning gaze, and a resolute determination that she herself dared not admit as she looked at Jessica.

"But I still want to ask you one thing: you knew things were going wrong, so why didn't you back out? Why did you continue? With my personality, I would never make the same mistake again."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a needle piercing the air, each word solid and resonant.

Jessica gazed at her quietly, her eyes deep, as if piercing through Jessica's defenses, or as if seeing another version of herself.

His thin lips twitched slightly, but the expression in his eyes was hard to tell—it was neither cold nor smiling, as if he was waiting, or as if he was enduring something.

After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice soft, yet like a pebble thrown into water, creating ripples.

"I knew it, no wonder you and I are the same person."

As Jessica said this, her tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, and she raised an eyebrow slightly. "That's what I thought at first, so I planned to get out of it as soon as possible. But what happened? Under some guidance and concealment, whether intentional or unintentional, I became the scapegoat. A lot of debts and a lot of problems were all piled on my shoulders."

She turned her head slightly, her fingertips lightly tapping her knee, as if forcing herself to calm down, but she couldn't hide the helplessness in her eyes.

“After that incident, my name was put on the credit blacklist, my personal credit was completely ruined, and I was burdened with a large amount of debt.”

At this point, her tone became somewhat low, as if she were squeezing it out from her throat, "From that moment on, I had no way out and was forced to continue the entanglement."

He paused, then added, "Perhaps this is the consequence of being impatient. Once is a lesson, twice is just me being stupid. If I had been patient and gradually withdrew, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way."

As soon as she finished speaking, Krystal, who was on the sofa, suddenly opened her eyes wide. She looked as if she had been electrocuted, her fingers gripping the cushion tightly, and she almost stood up.

“Jessica!!! That’s not what you told me back then.”

When questioned, Jessica slowly turned her head, her face showing little emotion, her expression calm. "What's the point of saying anything? What's done is done, there's no use in saying anything more. Besides, saying anything would only make you worry about me, so it's better to just say nothing."

Krystal stood frozen in place, her eyes trembling violently. Her lips opened and closed, but she couldn't utter a single word, as if she were suffocating from these words.

Jessica Jung was completely stunned by what she said.

She thought she understood the past and the future well enough, but when she heard another version of herself reveal that secret, her heart still felt like it had been hit by a heavy hammer.

He then fell silent once more, his eyes flashing with complex emotions, as if he were struggling or deep in thought.

The atmosphere in the living room became heavy, as if even the air itself had been pressed down.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was sitting on the sofa, listened quietly to Jessica's words, then leaned back on the sofa and casually flipped through the channels with the remote control, but ultimately couldn't find anything decent to watch.

Then she suddenly turned her head and slowly spoke, with a lazy teasing tone, "So, Jessica, what's the situation between you and that idiot now?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jessica's gaze swept over them with a chilling intensity, sharp as an ice blade that pierced straight into their hearts.

His cold, hard tone was full of disdain and resentment: "What's it to you? Why should I tell you, you kidnapper?"

Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback by the glare and the teasing, then couldn't help but chuckle, his two low laughs carrying a hint of provocation.

Then he shrugged and said casually, "I'm not curious, but I suddenly remembered your little division sign's departure a while ago. I wonder if something else will happen later? It would be too bad if I got tricked three times in a row."

Jessica rolled her eyes abruptly, her chest heaving with anger, as if she wanted to find something to throw at him immediately.

She then pursed her lips and sneered, "The reason I was trapped before was because I couldn't bear to part with that brand, which is why I was locked on the ship. Now that the brand is gone, what else can I scam?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Jessica Jung frowned and couldn't help but interject, "Wait a minute, Jessica, wasn't your previous issue about a dispute with your entertainment company? That's what the news reports said too."

To everyone's surprise, Jessica turned her head and glanced at her with a scrutinizing look in her eyes, then swept her gaze over Krystal on the sofa, "Most of what you know, you probably learned from Krystal, right?"

Jessica Jung nodded slightly, her expression becoming more composed.

Seeing this, Jessica chuckled softly, but with a hint of self-deprecation. "That was just a contractual issue on the surface. What really caused me to breach the contract or be fined was the collaboration with another brand. The main problem was that I had already accepted other promotional work at the time, but I didn't understand the details of the contract with that entertainment company at all. The contract I signed was a bit confusing, and I didn't know what was going on. When I realized something was wrong, I panicked and wanted to back out, which made me lose my composure and end up completely flustered, inexplicably breaching the contract."

"Was it completely inexplicable, or were you set up?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone soft yet sharp... adding insult to injury.

So Jessica frowned even more and followed up with another question: "Is it Kwon Ning-il's problem?"

Jessica, surprisingly relaxed upon hearing this, shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter anymore, it's all in the past. You haven't even had any contact with him, and as for my future, ever since you met that bastard Lin Xiuyuan, there's been no point of reference for you. So don't just say I'm impatient, you'll just make a mistake yourself later, and if that happens, my laughter will definitely be the loudest."

Because she knew very well that when Jessica Jung saw her miserable state, given her personality, she didn't believe that the other party hadn't cursed her.

I bet they used pretty harsh language.

She was too lazy to ask, to avoid hearing those words again.

Thinking of this, Jessica slowly turned her gaze to Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing close to Krystal.

That look was complex, like a sneer, yet also like a sigh.

Looking at the man on the sofa, her eyes held an indescribable emotion.

There was a hint of envy, a touch of helplessness, and mostly a sigh for the arrangements of fate.

"I have to say, with this amazing man by your side, Jessica Jung, things probably won't go wrong."

Jessica smirked and looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a hint of teasing, saying, "And Lin Xiuyuan, what you're doing is too unfair! You've got a cheat code for life, and you're dragging others along with you. Aren't you afraid of getting struck by lightning someday?"

"I didn't do anything wrong, why are you attacking me?" Lin Xiuyuan chuckled.

Jessica scoffed, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. "Does kidnapping count? Does having multiple partners count?"

Her words were provocative, then she quickly turned to Jessica Jung, her eyes flickering slightly. Suddenly, she changed the subject, asking with a half-smile, "But you, Jessica Jung, did you sleep with him? Your skin doesn't look so good, not as good as Krystal's."

The moment the words were spoken, the air froze.

Jessica Jung's pupils contracted slightly at first, then she stubbornly raised her chin and coldly replied, "No, no, why are you curious about this?"

His expression carried a stubbornness and an unquestionable air, as if he was using his imposing presence to mask the panic in his heart.

Jessica was stunned by her reaction, her mouth slightly agape, seemingly not expecting such a response.

After a moment's hesitation, her eyes narrowed, and a playful smile curved her lips. "So, Jessica Jung, you've been cut in line, time and time again?? Tsk tsk, how embarrassing~"

These words carried a sharp mockery, like a hidden arrow.

The living room fell eerily quiet for a moment, with only the tension in the air spreading.

The next second, a soft laugh came from the sofa.

Krystal couldn't hold back any longer, covering her mouth and her shoulders trembling.

Lin Xiuyuan looked embarrassed and unconsciously scratched his forehead, as if trying to wipe the awkwardness off his head.

The atmosphere in the living room instantly became ambiguous and subtle, a mixture of tension and absurdity, making people both nervous and unable to help but laugh.

A moment later, Krystal's laughter still echoed in the living room, crisp and undisguised, like a pebble falling on calm water, creating ripples that could not be ignored.

Unable to bear it any longer, Jessica suddenly turned her head, her eyebrows raised, her eyes sharp as if she could pierce through someone. "Hey, Jung Soo-jung, what are you laughing at? If it weren't for your terrible idea, would Lin Xiuyuan have done something as awful as kidnapping me? Honestly, anyone who didn't know better would think I was your enemy."

His tone was accusatory and volatile, like a bullet striking the air in the living room.

If it were Krystal Jung, she would probably be cowering on the sofa, too afraid to respond.

But this was Krystal, so she simply and calmly lowered her hand, her expression composed, her tone completely unflappable, "Don't get agitated, Jessica. I'm only doing this for your own good. I don't want to be a bystander if I have to watch you keep jumping into this pit. So rather than letting you get dragged down by all that mess outside, it's better for you to fall into Xiu Yuan's pit."

Her description of the "pitfall" was clearly not unfounded.

She knew about Lin Xiuyuan; this was a trap...

It is vast and deep, and can be explored far enough to completely disorient one.

Jessica was taken aback for a moment, then sneered, "Ha, that sounds nice. You make it sound so easy, but you're just using me as some kind of innocent lamb."

Krystal raised an eyebrow and retorted without flinching, "How could that be, Jessica? You can't be a little white rabbit. You look terrible in white stockings. You're more like a leopard cat."

"Yeah, Krystal."

The two were locked in a fierce battle, the air so tense it felt like a taut string, almost making everyone hold their breath.

Just then, Jessica Jung finally couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted with a cold face and a fiery sarcastic tone, "Jessica, have you been lonely for too long? Do you have to pounce on every man you see?"

Upon hearing this, Jessica abruptly turned her head, her expression calm yet revealing a hint of coldness: "Heh, knowing that 'trait' and still being able to resist going to bed with him, you are indeed quite impressive."

Jessica Jung sneered, staring straight at her: "Then why don't you go? According to your absurd logic, shouldn't you be throwing yourself at Xiu Yuan right now?"

"Cough cough cough. You guys keep arguing, don't drag me into it."

Lin Xiuyuan picked up his phone, feeling a chill run through him, and had an urge to run away.

Krystal, who was sitting next to her, immediately clapped her hands, as if she were watching a stage play, and her eyes crinkled with laughter: "Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan froze completely, rubbing his temples with his fingers a few times, thinking to himself: If this gets upgraded again, it might really turn into a full-blown brawl...

The incident involving Park Ji-yeon not long ago is still fresh in our minds.

However, Jessica did not back down. Her eyes shifted, and her tone became firm, with an uncompromising edge: "Under other circumstances, I would lie down and that's fine, even if it's half-hearted, but you can't kidnap me."

She emphasized the last four words, her eyes sweeping fiercely over Krystal and Lin Xiuyuan.

But the two people on the sofa looked "fearless," exchanged a glance, and raised their eyebrows as if they understood each other perfectly.

Their composed demeanor and shameless reaction infuriated Jessica, yet she was powerless to do anything about it.

With nowhere to vent her frustration, she abruptly turned around, redirecting her anger back at Jessica Jung, and coldly said, "What, you think I don't know what you're thinking? Your reaction is written all over your face. Stop pretending, Jessica Jung."

Jessica Jung, unaware of the impending crisis, was initially taken aback.

She then curled her lips into a sneer, her voice laced with a defiant arrogance, "I see, Jessica, you're torn between wanting it and not wanting it, too embarrassed to admit it, huh? Typical haughty girl."

A single sentence was like salt thrown into Jessica's heart, striking right into her most vulnerable spot.

Since being untied, she had maintained a relatively calm demeanor, but now she was completely stunned, her face flushed red, and she angrily retorted.

"You talk as if you're the same person. You're still putting on a serious face only because Lin Xiuyuan hasn't contacted you yet. Don't always use your logic to interpret me. Don't forget that I'm also you, and I can see right through your little schemes."

Jessica Jung's cheeks flushed instantly, and anger flashed in the corners of her eyes, but the words caught in her throat. Her stubbornness was written all over her face, but she couldn't find any way to refute it.

Neither of them was willing to back down first, and the atmosphere suddenly became as tense as a tightly wound string.

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but turn his head to the side, suppressing a smile on his face, his eyes filled with a hint of helplessness.

Sure enough, when the same person argues... they can tear each other apart until nothing is left.

Krystal, standing to the side, looked as if she had found a treasure, inwardly regretting that she hadn't brought her camera, otherwise she could have recorded it.

She could almost foresee that if she could record this scene tonight, it would surely become a classic that could be revisited countless years later.

However, considering the internet connection on her phone, she didn't dare to take it out to record, and could only keep her frustration to herself.

The air in the living room was thick with tension, as Jessica and Jessica Jung faced off at opposite ends of the dining table, exchanging sharp words.

"You're such a proud and aloof girl. You're secretly itching to go, but you insist on keeping a straight face."

Seeing that her attack had worked, Jessica's smile became even more meaningful, and a cold glint appeared in her eyes. "If it were me, at least I would have the courage to say it, unlike you who are stubborn but soft-hearted and dare not admit your own thoughts."

Jessica Jung's face stiffened, and her chest heaved slightly, as if a sore spot had been touched.

He turned his head away, still sneering, "Ha, as if you're so righteous. Aren't you just using loneliness as an excuse? If you have the guts, go ahead and pounce on him now, instead of just bluffing here."

Jessica's eyes flashed, and she actually followed her words, glancing at Lin Xiuyuan half-jokingly and half-seriously, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I've said it before, I'd be willing under different circumstances, but now that he's naked, I don't even want him."

Lin Xiuyuan: ...

He almost choked on his water and could only awkwardly raise his hand to rub his temples again, wondering why he always seemed to be the one getting burned.

Jessica Jung's blood rushed to her cheeks from those words. She bit her lip and repeated in a tight voice, "Stop talking nonsense, Jessica. If you really have the guts, then try it now."

"Oh?" Jessica looked intrigued, her eyes filled with provocation and a hint of ambiguity. "I can tell, you're jealous?" "I'm not."

Jessica Jung glared at her, but then felt a little flustered because of the word "jealousy," and her blush spread all the way to the tips of her ears.

But it was the same person. Her denial, once seen by Jessica, became even more accurate evidence, so she laughed even harder, "A little girl is just a little girl, she blushes after a few teasing words."

"I'm a young girl, so you're an old woman?" Jessica Jung suddenly thought of a famous quote.

Sure enough, as soon as those words were uttered, Jessica clenched her fist and glared at him fiercely.

My fists hardened, even harder than when I was kidnapped; I really wanted to hit someone.

……

……

On the other side, as night fell completely, the city's neon lights flashed like spilled paint outside the car window.

The light from the billboard shone into the carriage, reflecting off the faces of the two people inside, flashing across them in alternating light and shadow.

As soon as Shirley got into the driver's seat, she turned off the dashcam. With a light tap of her finger on the mute button, the device went out with a "click".

She didn't explain at that time, but just turned her head and smiled faintly, as if she had already guessed what Krystal Jung would ask next.

"What exactly is going on with Lin Xiuyuan's tavern?"

"And... what exactly is this 'membership' thing?"

As expected, Krystal Jung spoke up as soon as the car started, her voice filled with barely concealed urgency.

Her questions came out in rapid succession.

Shirley gripped the steering wheel, her gaze fixed on the sea of ​​car lights flowing ahead through the windshield, her eyelashes casting faint shadows under the neon lights.

Instead of answering immediately, she gently asked, "Soojung, do you want to know about the past, or do you want to know about the future?"

Caught off guard by the question, Krystal Jung paused, her breath caught in her throat, her fingertips tracing patterns on the seatbelt. Finally, with some hesitation, she asked the question that had been buried deep in her heart, "I'm quite curious, Snowball... how did you get to 2025?"

Shirley pursed her lips slightly and remained silent for a few seconds. The neon lights outside the car window shone on half of her face, making her eyes appear more hazy.

Then her voice lowered, almost as if she were telling someone else's story, "I remember oppa telling me that he was going to hold a funeral ceremony for me to get me a bar membership. I was so stupid back then, I actually believed him."

At this point, she chuckled softly, but the laughter was like a thin mist that would dissipate with a gust of wind. "But back then, Unnie and Jiyeon were also helping out, so I believed it."

"What?" Krystal Jung was startled, leaning forward slightly, her eyes wide. "What funeral?"

“It means exactly what it says.” Shirley’s lips pursed slightly, her smile faint, and her voice even softer. “The first thing I saw after my blindfold was removed was my own tombstone.”

"..." Krystal Jung stood frozen in place, her fingers unconsciously gripping the seatbelt, remaining silent for a long time.

The neon lights swept across her face, revealing a pair of stunned eyes.

Shirley took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping past the night view outside the car window. The dazzling lights shattered into points of light in her pupils, like reflected fireworks, or like splashes of old dreams.

“Oppa, Jessica, and Jiyeon took me to the cemetery. It was raining so hard that day, and the wind was so cold. I thought I was dreaming because it wasn’t raining there. But it was in that cemetery that I met you for the first time, the future Krystal.”

At this moment, Krystal Jung felt a lump in her throat and her fingertips trembled. She really wanted to ask, "So what were you thinking after you saw yourself commit suicide?"

But the words stuck in his throat, and he hesitated, afraid of hurting Shirley again, so he could only clench his fists silently.

Shirley seemed to see through her hesitation, turned to look at her, and smiled gently like a lamp, "Actually, I was also very devastated at the time."

She shrugged gently, as if recalling an old story, "But after crying, I slowly came to terms with it. And the person who might harm me in the future has already been punished by oppa here. You don't need to worry anymore, and I'm not afraid anymore either."

"You saw the Kim Soo-hyun incident a while ago, right?" She lowered her voice even more. "For me, that should be considered the end of the story."

At this point, Krystal Jung could no longer hold back. She clenched her hands tightly on her knees, her knuckles turning slightly white, and tears welled up in her eyes.

But she still tried her best to turn her head to the side, forcing herself not to let the tears fall, afraid of upsetting Shirley, afraid of making the person who had always been with her worry.

Sulli, who was driving, seemed to have seen everything. She freed one hand and gently placed it on Krystal's arm, her fingertips softly caressing it. "Don't hold it in. If you really want to cry, just cry."

She smiled, a smile like a spring breeze, carrying a touch of warmth. "They say that when you cry, your brain releases endorphins, which can relieve pain. That's how I got through it too. I didn't dare tell you back then, afraid you'd worry. But now I'm not afraid anymore, and I dare to face it."

The neon lights swept across the carriage again, reflecting on the two people's clasped hands, like a faint light shimmering quietly.

Krystal Jung could no longer hold back, and tears finally streamed down her cheeks. But because of Sulli's words, the bitterness in her heart slowly softened.

Another moment passed.

In a corner of Seoul, the film set where a movie crew was located was brightly lit.

The towering light stands, like miniature cranes, surround the main set, and warm yellow spotlights shine on the set, giving the entire venue a dreamlike brightness.

As soon as Sulli drove into the scene, their assistants quickly came to greet them. Krystal took a deep breath, quickly wiped the moisture off the car window, and instantly regained her "professional" composure.

He got out of the car and walked into the film set with light steps, his expression already composed.

The harrowing and heartbreaking moments she had just experienced in the car seemed to be locked away in her heart, leaving only a deep, bright light.

I don’t know how long it took.

"Cut...perfect!"

With the director's call to "cut," his voice held a rare hint of surprise.

After filming another scene, Jung Soo-jung looked up and saw the director and assistant director exchanging surprised and delighted glances behind the monitor.

At this moment, several of the lead actors gathered around and whispered, "Krystal, you're acting differently tonight," "Yes, your acting has suddenly clicked," "..."

Praises came and went.

Jung Soo-jung stood there surrounded by people, her chest rising and falling slightly, and a few strands of hair on her forehead shimmered softly under the lights.

Looking up at her colleagues who had gathered around her, she wore a faint smile, a smile that was both a response to their praise and a habit of maintaining her professional demeanor.

But at this moment, Krystal Jung seemed a little dazed.

Because she knew very well that her composure and confidence tonight all stemmed from the "future product" she had seen in the villa in 2025 that afternoon.

With a complete picture and a direction for her acting, all she had to do was gradually transform those fragments into a performance, like sketching out a transparent draft.

That's why she seemed so at ease, as if she had rehearsed her every move countless times.

However, while enjoying the praise, a faint thought flashed through Jung Soo-jung's mind.

Like ripples left by the wind sweeping across calm water... Lin Xiuyuan's figure also intruded into her mind at an inopportune moment, standing in the corner where light and shadow intertwined, smiling slightly at her.

The smile was so familiar it made my heart clench, as if it had traveled through time and space, carrying an indescribable ambiguity and warmth.

That smile suddenly reminded Krystal Jung of something, and her heart skipped a beat.

Taking advantage of the scene change, she quickly walked back to Shirley's side and asked in a low voice, "Snowball, did I, Krystal, sleep with Lin Xiuyuan in the future?"

Shirley was looking down at her phone, her fingertips swiping across the screen. When she heard those words, she paused for a moment, her fingers moving slightly.

Then a mischievous smile slowly crept onto his lips, a playful glint in his eyes. He looked up at her and asked, "Soojung, are you sure you want me to answer?"

Krystal felt uneasy under that gaze, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her face already flushed, but she still gritted her teeth and forced herself to speak, "Yes, answer me."

Shirley smiled, her expression revealing a mischievous glint in her eyes. She glanced around mysteriously, then nodded slightly, her smile flaring up like a small flame. "Yes, that's right. I've been there many times. They say they know it inside and out."

Krystal froze, as if she'd been electrocuted, her heart pounding, and she was so embarrassed she almost gritted her teeth.

"So, the way that guy looked at me before wasn't just me misinterpreting things, but... he really saw everything about me, right?"

Shirley finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. Her laughter was a mix of teasing and sympathy. She nodded gently. "Yeah, so when you told me those things, I couldn't explain them to you directly. I was almost bursting with pent-up emotions..."

"Ahhh..." Krystal Jung covered her face with both hands, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

She was still a virgin, but in that man's eyes, she was already completely naked.

Just imagining that scene made her face turn as red as a boiled shrimp, and her heart pound like a drum.

Seeing her embarrassed expression, Shirley laughed even harder, but there was also a hint of gentle teasing in her eyes, "Don't take it too seriously, that's Krystal, not you, Soojung."

"What are you saying? It's clearly the same person." Krystal clenched her fists, her voice barely audible but filled with stubbornness.

But Shirley's next words completely deflated her: "It's great, actually I'd like to experience this situation... It's a pity, I won't be in the future."

Krystal opened her mouth, feeling an urge to slap herself... Why did she bring this up?

A sudden pang of sadness shot through my chest, and the words stuck in my throat.

What she didn't notice was that Shirley gently curled the corners of her mouth beside her, revealing a faint smile.

Using her own death to comfort others—that was her unique secret.

……

……

late at night.

In the living room, warm yellow light softly spills onto the leather sofa and coffee table, casting a warm yet tranquil glow.

The hustle and bustle of the city outside the window was shut out, as if the entire space consisted only of the three people and their soft breathing.

Jessica and Jessica Jung, who had been at loggerheads over the topic, have now quieted down and are sitting on either side of the sofa, their expressions still warm.

Jessica leaned back on the sofa with her arms crossed, her brow furrowed, as if she were deliberately suppressing her anger.

Jessica Jung gently rubbed the edge of the sofa with her fingers, her expression showing concern and unease.

On the other side, Krystal had quietly moved over and leaned against the cushion, like a little spectator watching a play, her eyes darting between the two of them, a faint smile on her lips.

"Wow..."

The bedroom door was pushed open, and Lin Xiuyuan came out, drying his wet hair with a towel as he changed into a loose-fitting home T-shirt, looking relaxed and casual.

He looked up at Jessica Jung and asked calmly, "Jessica, do you want to go back to the apartment? You have work tomorrow."

Jessica Jung paused for a moment, not answering immediately, but subconsciously looking at Jessica.

Her eyes revealed worry and hesitation; clearly, the conversation had left her feeling uneasy.

Krystal has film promotions and film festival schedules these days, and her own work is also very busy. If Jessica stays behind alone, will something happen to her?
Lin Xiuyuan noticed her hesitation, took a few steps closer while drying his hair, and smiled slightly. "Don't worry, I can take care of her."

Jessica Jung frowned, leaned back on the sofa, her eyes flashing slightly, and asked in a low voice, "What about when you go to the toilet, take a shower, or go to bed at night? Can she behave herself?"

Lin Xiuyuan draped the towel over his shoulder, looked up at Jessica, and replied half-jokingly, "Just tie it up again."

His words ignited the air like a spark, causing Jessica, who had been relatively quiet, to sit up abruptly.

As if ignited by a spark, he instantly bristled, his voice rising, "Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, if you dare to kidnap me again, you'd better kill me this time, otherwise I will definitely kill you."

Her wide-open eyes were filled with anger and grievance. Recalling the experience of being restrained, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, then shrugged with an innocent expression, "Murder is illegal."

Just then, Krystal suddenly spoke up, her tone casual, as if reminding someone, or perhaps adding fuel to the fire, "So if you don't want to be tied up again, Jessica... you'll have to sleep with Xiuyuan tonight."

The air in the living room seemed to freeze for a second.

Jessica froze, turning her head slowly to stare at Krystal with eyes as sharp as a knife, as if she could devour her at any moment.

Krystal, however, remained calm, holding a cushion in both hands, with a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth, as if to say: I am just stating the facts.

Her eyes held a hint of mockery, yet it was not exaggerated at all, as if she were observing what kind of interesting scene would unfold next.

However, Krystal was unable to watch the show properly before Lin Xiuyuan sent her back to 2025.

Then they took Jessica Jung back to her apartment, and then took Jessica, who wanted to go home, back to the apartment from 13.

The apartment was warmly lit, and the air was filled with the quiet and comfort of the night.

Lin Xiuyuan, leaning against the sofa, looked at Jessica with an amused expression, as if he was about to say something, his eyes filled with a relaxed teasing.

But Jessica spoke first, interrupting him, "I want to take a shower."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow slightly and replied lazily, "Then you can wash it."

"I don't have any clothes to change into. According to what Krystal said, you can take me straight back to the apartment, right?" Jessica added softly, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness and stubbornness.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan's eyes flashed with a playful light, and he said softly, "You should give up the idea of ​​going home. I'll take you to find Xiujing's clothes. Anyway, you two sisters wear the same things."

As he spoke, he led Jessica toward the bedroom, gently pulling open the wardrobe door with his fingers.

The wardrobe was neatly filled with all sorts of clothes, almost all of which were left by Krystal.

Silky nightgowns, soft loungewear, and a few small jackets.

Jessica's gaze, however, inadvertently fell on one of the ribbon-like nightgowns, her fingers gently tracing the soft fabric.

For a moment, her expression stiffened slightly, and a trace of memory flashed in her eyes.

That afternoon, she was wearing a gag; that slightly humiliating yet heart-stirring moment.

She turned around abruptly, glared at Lin Xiuyuan, her brows furrowed, and couldn't help but blurt out a curse, "Lin Xiuyuan, you're a real pervert."

"Hey, hey, hey, although it's said that a gentleman uses words instead of fists, it's a bit inappropriate for you to curse like this."

Seeing the thing in Jessica's hand, Lin Xiuyuan immediately understood what Jessica was thinking and said, "I didn't buy this. As I said before, it's Xiujing's creation. But we haven't had a chance to try it yet, you beat us to it."

"Get out of here!"

"I have to watch you take a shower."

"Then kill me."

"Dead people have no warmth."

"Pervert, bastard, son of a bitch, get lost, shit...#%%@￥@￥#Q&$"

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(End of this chapter)