Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 321 Respecting the "Old" [25] [13] (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

Upstairs, in the study.

While Lin Xiuyuan and Li Juli were discussing Goo Hara and Sulli downstairs, in the guest room upstairs, two girls sitting side by side in front of the computer were experiencing another silent storm.

Goo Hara moved the mouse, her fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly, and typed her name into the search bar.

Then, as those shocking news headlines popped up one by one, the little bit of color that had just returned to her face slowly faded away again.

When she first saw the news of "herself" committing suicide, Goo Hara was able to maintain a calm demeanor, after all, Lin Xiuyuan had said so before.

This is the second confirmation, and I'm already mentally prepared.

Upon hearing the devastating news of Shirley's passing, she took a deep breath, suppressing the sob in her throat, and reached out to tightly grasp Shirley's cold hand beside her.

It was as if they were drawing strength from the other person, or as if they were confirming her existence.

However, when the information found began to delve into more specific and unpleasant details, her carefully maintained composure was finally shattered.

[Goo Hara's mother appears at the funeral, not to mourn but to fight for inheritance?]

She recognized every single word in the line of text before her, but when they were put together, Goo Hara's eyes widened slightly.

Her tightly pressed lips instantly lost all color, and her body swayed almost imperceptibly.

However, this is only the beginning.

[Suspected of being violently beaten by her boyfriend, resulting in uterine bleeding...]

[Threatening with indecent videos...]

[She cried and begged for mercy in front of the elevator, but was still rejected...]

Each news item was like a poisoned dagger, piercing her eyes and heart.

Even if these things are from the future and haven't happened to her yet.

But as soon as she thought about the humiliation, pain and despair that "herself" in another time and space had actually endured, the immense empathy and sense of shame overwhelmed Goo Hara like a tsunami.

Instinctively, her stomach churned, causing her to gag a few times, her face turning as pale as paper.

Finally, when news about the "Goo Hara Act" appeared on the screen, clearly stating that the act was initiated because of her, Goo Hara seemed to be frozen in place.

They stood there completely stunned, their pupils seemingly losing focus.

All of this was far too shocking for her, who had only planned to go out for a day of fun and relaxation; it almost completely destroyed her mental world.

……

Meanwhile, the conversation about her continued downstairs.

Lin Xiuyuan was mainly curious about Li Juli's earlier statement. "I still don't quite understand why you think Hara is more pitiful than Sulli?"

When confronted with the question, Lee Juri glanced upstairs again, as if she could see through the floorboards to the tormented figure she had just witnessed. She explained softly, "If we consider the extent of the cyberbullying and the complexities of her family relationships, Sulli's situation might be even more tragic, but..."

As she spoke, her tone became tinged with empathy, a quality unique to women.

"But speaking solely from a woman's perspective, what Hara experienced—from being violently beaten by a scumbag to uterine bleeding, then being threatened with indecent videos, and the experience of being indecently filmed in court—these wounds, directly inflicted on the body and dignity and fully exposed to the public eye, are often more concrete and more suffocating and painful."

After hearing this explanation, Lin Xiuyuan raised his eyebrows but did not immediately refute it.

Because he understands that different personal perspectives and experiences lead to different definitions and feelings about these things.

He then clicked his tongue lightly, forcing a faint smile to try and dispel the overly heavy atmosphere. "Forget it, there's no need to discuss these things too much, lest it make people feel bad. Shouldn't we prioritize being happy right now?"

Lee Juri nodded, accepting his explanation.

But then she looked at him reproachfully, "It was all about having fun, but why couldn't you have told me beforehand? When I saw Shirley and Hara appear as if they had come back to life in the cemetery, I was almost scared to death, my legs went weak."

She wouldn't have been so terrified in a different setting, but that location just happened to be a cemetery!
"If I had told you beforehand, there wouldn't have been this surprise, right?" Lin Xiuyuan replied in an almost shameless tone.

In response, Lee Juri merely gave him a charming glare, then suddenly seemed to remember something and asked in a low voice, "By the way, so... everyone except Hyomin knows?"

"what do you know?"

"Time portal".

"Oh, so far, this is the situation here in 25." Lin Xiuyuan gave a vague answer.

As a smart person, Li Juli immediately understood the hidden meaning in those words.

His gaze swept over the familiar faces in the living room, whether from 13 or 25, and finally landed on Lin Xiuyuan's face with a smile, "So, it's the same for those from 13?"

Lin Xiuyuan nodded again, somewhat awkwardly, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Just then, his keen hearing seemed to pick up a subtle sound coming from upstairs, and he suddenly looked up at the second floor.

This sudden action startled Li Juli, who also looked up.

But her hearing was far less sensitive than Lin Xiuyuan's, so she didn't hear anything and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Lin Xiuyuan grinned and hissed, as if he had a headache.

"Those two little ones upstairs seem to be crying again. I'll go up and check on them."

Seeing this, Li Juli didn't say much, but just watched Lin Xiuyuan walk up the stairs like the others.

After his figure disappeared from sight, he looked around the unfamiliar villa environment and finally moved to sit down next to the big dragon cub.

In this new situation, she still instinctively sought a sense of security from her own people.

……

On the other side, Lin Xiuyuan arrived at the door of the study on the second floor.

As soon as I gently pushed open the door, I saw the two girls hugging each other tightly, crying so hard they could barely breathe.

The sound of him opening the door made the two of them instinctively stop crying and look up at each other, their eyes filled with tears and panic.

It wasn't until she saw that it was Lin Xiuyuan that Goo Hara seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but also seemed even more embarrassed.

She bit her lower lip tightly and lowered her head deeply.

Sulli, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, asked in a thick nasal voice, "Oppa, why did you come up here..."

As Lin Xiuyuan walked into the room, he put on a forced, relaxed smile, his tone carrying his unique style.

He said with a mix of concern and teasing, "Of course I had to come up and check on you. What if you two got emotional and started to explode together? Wouldn't all my hard work over the past six months have been for nothing?"

This overly direct and even somewhat hurtful metaphor ironically diluted the somber sadness in the room.

So when Sulli heard this, she felt like crying and laughing at the same time, and finally she said with a tearful reproach, "No way~ oppa, we won't do that, right, unnie?"

Goo Hara nodded vigorously, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm her turbulent emotions.

Then she raised her head and looked at Lin Xiuyuan with her red and swollen eyes, her eyes filled with complex and indescribable emotions, but in the end she turned into a very serious thank you, "Yes, Xiuyuan, thank you, thank you for letting me see these things in advance."

Lin Xiuyuan simply waved his hand dismissively at Goo Hara's serious attitude, as if it were a trivial matter.

Then he leaned closer to the computer screen and glanced at the news page that was still on it.

It was when Goo Hara rushed back from Japan to attend Sulli's funeral that the media captured that image of her looking haggard and grief-stricken.

He coughed lightly, shifting his gaze somewhat uncomfortably to the two girls beside him.

He tried to reassure them in a lighthearted tone, "You've all seen yourselves die once now, so just look at these news stories and don't take them too seriously."

Having experienced all of this earlier than Goo Hara and having taken longer to process it, Sulli nodded in complete understanding.

Although his eyes still held sadness, his determination was also exceptionally clear.

Goo Hara, on the other hand, was more mature and restrained than Sulli had been. So, even though her eyes were still red, she replied, "I know, but I just found out now, so my emotions are a bit too volatile. I'm much better than before."

"I understand," Lin Xiuyuan replied briefly, his gaze sweeping across the two faces with a hint of barely perceptible gentleness. "Anyone would have trouble stabilizing up so quickly, but don't cry yourself sick."

His words remained concise, even somewhat clumsy.

However, the concern hidden beneath the playful tone was clearly conveyed to the hearts of these two girls who had been pulled back from the abyss of despair.

After comforting the two tearful women, Lin Xiuyuan noticed their still somewhat pale faces and changed the subject at the right moment, "Alright, you've cried and watched enough. Would you like something to eat? It's getting late, we haven't even had lunch yet, we can have afternoon tea now."

When asked, Goo Hara gently shook her head. Having experienced such a huge emotional rollercoaster, she clearly had little appetite at the moment.

Compared to her, Shirley, who had already experienced a similar shock, was relatively calm and said softly, "I'd like a salad or noodle soup, something light."

Lin Xiuyuan, who had noted this down, then asked, "Are you still watching the news? Why don't you come downstairs and sit for a bit? It's more lively downstairs."

Goo Hara guessed that he was worried that she would overthink things again, so she managed a rare, weak but sincere smile.

"Don't worry, I'm much better now. I've seen most of the news, so you don't need to worry about me anymore."

Although his voice was still hoarse from crying, the firmness in his tone was convincing.

At the same time, Sulli nodded vigorously and took Goo Hara's arm.

As if to give her strength, and also to say to Lin Xiuyuan, "It's okay, oppa, I'll stay here with unnie. Call us down when the takeout arrives."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan took another closer look at the two of them.

After confirming that they didn't seem to be forcing themselves, he nodded, didn't try to persuade them further, and turned to leave the guest room.

Soon.

When he returned to the living room downstairs, almost the instant he stepped down the stairs, all eyes, whether open or hidden, focused on him.

Sensing the silent inquiry, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and broke the slightly tense atmosphere with a relaxed tone.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't worry, they just hugged and cried a few times, they'll be fine after letting out their emotions. Let's order something to eat, aren't you hungry?"

"I'm a little hungry, I haven't eaten anything this morning." Park Jiyeon responded immediately, clutching her stomach and moving closer to Kim Taeyeon, their heads touching as they looked through the menu on the food delivery app.

At this moment, Ham Eun-jung seemed to remember something, looked at Lin Xiuyuan, and spoke with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Xiuyuan, is it okay if we leave our RV by the roadside like this, since we left it by the sea?"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xiuyuan said, "Don't worry, I made a special check when I parked. I parked in a marked parking space, and there aren't any tall trees nearby, so it shouldn't be damaged or get in the way."

However, since it had been brought up, he still felt it would be safer to confirm it with his own eyes.

So he walked to the corner of the living room, grasped the old brass handle, and opened the time portal.

The moment the time portal opened, the howling rain and fierce winds of Tokyo during a typhoon 13 years ago, like a beast breaking free from its cage, instantly filled the once tranquil living room of the villa.

The loud noise startled several people who hadn't experienced typhoon weather in a while.

Curiosity then triumphed over fear.

Kim Tae-yeon, Im Yoon-ah, and the others ran to the portal and cautiously peeked out to look at the scenery behind it.

The RV's windshield directly faces the terrifying sight of the turbulent sea.

The gloomy sky, the rain curtain torn apart by the gale, and the dark sea with white foam churning in the distance create a striking picture.

"What terrifying weather..."

"It is indeed a bit scary..."

"But it looks really comfortable, I'm thinking of going over and checking it out!"

The one who uttered that last "bold statement" was none other than Lin Yoona's little head.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xiuyuan gave her a light tap on the back of the head.

"Ouch! That hurts, Xiuyuan~ What are you doing?" Lin Yoona covered her head and turned around, looking aggrieved.

"Then what nonsense are you talking about?" Lin Xiuyuan laughed and complained. "What's fun about this kind of weather? Even basic safety can't be guaranteed."

Yoona pouted and glared at this clueless guy.

But soon he laughed out loud himself.

Her bright eyes darted around, and she changed the subject, "By the way, Xiuyuan, I'll be almost done with my work here soon, and there's not much work to do next, so how about we go out for a stroll sometime?"

"Going out?" Lin Xiuyuan repeated, a hint of teasing in his voice as he confirmed, "Is the 'going out' you're talking about the same thing I'm thinking about?"

"Travel! Travel! Now you understand!" Im Yoona waved her arms and explained excitedly.

As soon as Yoona finished speaking, Krystal on the sofa lit up and chimed in with interest, "I think that's a good idea, Xiuyuan~ Let's go out and have some fun sometime. After I finish the film festival, I don't have any important work, so I can at least rest for more than half a month."

“I think so too.” Kim Tae-yeon, who had been a homebody for a while, blinked her big eyes, clearly moved by the suggestion.

Upon realizing that the topic had been steered off course, Lin Xiuyuan first closed the portal connecting the stormy weather, shutting out the disturbing noise.

He then turned to the women who had suddenly become very interested, "So, do you have any recommendations or ideas? It seems like we can't go to too many places to travel at this time of year, right? Your target is too obvious."

He was about to say that there were too many people around when Li Juli, a seasoned party animal, smiled and spoke up with her characteristic bourgeois flair.

"Xiuyuan, we can go out to sea! Now is the perfect time to go out to sea and have some fun."

She then gave more specific advice: "It would be best to rent a yacht and go out, not too far, just to cruise around the near shore, sunbathe, and fish. It's private and comfortable."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xiuyuan rejected the seemingly wonderful plan without hesitation, "Juli, don't even think about it. What kind of rented yacht doesn't have surveillance cameras? If you guys are in the shot, we'll all be lying on the dissection table of some mysterious research institute within a few hours."

This vivid and evocative comment immediately drew laughter from many people, while also making Lee Juri, who made the suggestion, slightly annoyed.

As a newly joined member of the church, she has not yet fully adapted to this life that requires her to be hidden in all aspects.

However, her friend, Da Longzai, immediately helped her improve the plan.

"How about we do what we discussed before? Find a scenic and private beachfront location, buy a detached house or villa, and use it as our base. Whenever we want to go, we can just call Xiuyuan and we can go swimming or playing in the water anytime. Plus, since it's our own house, we don't have to worry about surveillance issues at all."

As the dragon cub revealed this "ultimate solution".

Lin Xiaolu, who had been squeezed by a busy schedule for years and had hardly ever had a real chance to relax and travel, immediately became interested, her eyes sparkling, "Then where should we choose a house?"

Among everyone present, the two JK sisters, who were travel buddies or had a lot of fun, almost unanimously suggested, "The Palm Islands, Dubai?"

"what?"

"Over there in Palm Beach."

As soon as the suggestion was made, Kim Tae-yeon, who had already looked up the information, immediately opened her mouth in surprise: "Huh? It must be very expensive there now, right? And I heard that it's been difficult to find a room for a long time, hasn't it?"

However, Jessica's gaze turned to Jessica Jung beside her, "If we were to buy it now, it would definitely cost an astronomical price, and there wouldn't even be any spots available. But if we were to buy it in 2013, we could probably easily get it for a few million US dollars, right?"

Hearing this, Jessica Jung, who was being looked at by Jessica, met "her own" provocative gaze again, and nodded without hesitation, answering in a crisp and clear tone.

"No problem, go ahead and buy it."

For her, several million US dollars was a bit painful, but she could manage it if she gritted her teeth.

After all, I've made quite a bit of money over the years, and I haven't had much time to spend it.

After buying this house, I estimate my savings will be almost gone.

Fortunately, Lin Xiaolu saw this and excitedly raised her hand, "Unnie, I'll contribute one, I'll contribute one."

Although Kim Yuen-yuen was a little taken aback by the amount, she still raised her hand to indicate that she would join in. Immediately afterward, Ham Eun-jung and Park Ji-yeon exchanged a glance and nodded with smiles to indicate that they would also join in.

For a moment, the living room seemed to have transformed into a multinational real estate investment decision-making scene, only the content of the discussion had a slightly fantastical element.

However, just as everyone was enthusiastically discussing their vision for Palm Beach's luxury, Lin Xiuyuan had to once again play the role of pouring cold water on their enthusiasm.

He tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention, and then spoke with an undeniable pragmatism.

"Stop for a second, everyone. Although I don't want to bother you, don't just think about those world-famous, bustling tourist destinations. The more popular those places are, the more tourists there are, and the more paparazzi and ubiquitous cameras there will be. What we need is a truly quiet, private place that won't attract outside attention. With so many people around, it's easy for problems to arise if we let our guard down even a little."

As this bucket of reality was poured on them, the excited crowd calmed down a little.

But the idea of ​​acquiring a "tourist base" has already taken root, so how could anyone give it up so easily?

Then, the scene became even more lively.

Everyone huddled together, squeezing onto the sofa or simply sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet, and began listing one by one the relatively niche locations with beautiful beaches that they could think of.

How about the Bahamas?

"No, no, there are too many yachts and wealthy people over there, it's easy to get photographed."

"Then, some of the inhabited islands in the Maldives?"

"Won't the infrastructure be inconvenient? And if we live here long-term, supplying materials will also be a problem."

"We have a time portal, so we don't need to worry about that."

"Well, we still have to make an appearance."

"In that case, what about the Caribbean region?"

"Hurricane season is a bit of a problem..."

Everyone offered suggestions, but then, based on factors such as secrecy, convenience, and security, they rejected them one by one.

During this time, Lin Xiuyuan sat quietly on a single sofa to the side, watching the group of women rack their brains for a common idea.

Turning her head to look at Jin Ruanruan, who was sitting on the armrest of the sofa, she smiled and asked in a low voice, "Aren't you going to discuss it? Give me some suggestions."

When asked, Jin Ruanruan blinked blankly and whispered, "I don't know much about these things. I've been working all these years. If you insist on giving me advice, all I know is Sanya and Jeju Island."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head at this, "Forget it, you have too many fans on my side, and with so many people, it's easy for them to get confused. Once you're recognized, these massive fans will come after you, and you won't even have time to run away."

"So I really don't know." Jin Ruanruan shrugged helplessly, indicating that she couldn't help.

Just then, Kim Tae-yeon's phone rang; the takeout had arrived.

Lin Xiuyuan picked up his phone to answer the call, and at the same time patted Jin Ruanruan's shoulder, "Go upstairs and call Hera and Shirley down, I'll go out and get the takeout."

"Yes~" Jin Ruanruan responded obediently, got up and went upstairs.

Two minutes later, Lin Xiuyuan walked in carrying three large bags of takeout food that smelled delicious.

Seeing this, the already hungry crowd got up to help take the bags, and then they all crowded together to the restaurant, where they began to hurriedly distribute the food.

A short while later, Goo Hara and Sulli also came downstairs accompanied by Kim Tae-yeon.

Her pale face was much rosier than before, and she quietly joined the line to serve the food.

Later, after learning from the chattering Lin Xiaolu that everyone was discussing finding a beach to buy a house as a future vacation spot.

After listening quietly to a few more points about things to pay attention to, Goo Hara, who had been listening attentively the whole time, slowly raised her head and cautiously offered a suggestion.

"Hey unnies, how about we go to Europe? I've heard that people there tend to be more solitary and keep their distance, unlike the outgoing and enthusiastic people in North America. It should be more suitable for our situation, right? Plus, there are some really beautiful beaches there, like in Greece..."

"Elafnisi Beach on Crete, Greece, right, Hera!!"

Lee Juri, true to her reputation as a seasoned player, immediately and accurately picked up the conversation.

Seeing Goo Hara nod with a smile, his eyes lit up even more.

"That place is really nice. It has rare pink sand beaches and crystal-clear diving areas. It's also surrounded by nature reserves, so the population density is relatively low and the privacy is good. Plus, Crete is the largest island in Greece, with many high-end sea-view villas and apartments for sale... I think Hera's suggestion is a good one."

After listening to Lee Qri's detailed explanation, Goo Hara also spoke up, "Mainly because I've been looking at some travel guides lately, and I was thinking of finding a similar place to relax when I have some free time..."

Her voice gradually lowered, but what came even more intensely than the trip was the scene before her eyes.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Lee Juri said with a smile, clearly very satisfied with the location.

Jessica and the others immediately took out their phones and started searching for the area.

When images and short videos of dreamlike pink beaches, azure waters, and white villas dotting the cliffs popped up on the screen, exclamations of admiration rose and fell.

"Wow...this place looks like we should go check it out."

"Yes, the scenery is beautiful, and it looks really peaceful. We can go and visit it first, and then decide what to do next!"

At this point, Yoona, who had found a video of a local real estate agent, excitedly added, "And look, the price doesn't seem too expensive. The video says these detached villas only cost a few hundred thousand euros. Most importantly, I checked and it seems that Greece has very strict laws protecting privacy, with many restrictions on installing surveillance cameras in private areas, which is great for us."

Looking at the group of women who were instantly captivated by the Greek atmosphere and seemed ready to set off at any moment, Lin Xiuyuan had no choice but to tap the edge of his plate with his spoon, making a crisp sound.

"Ladies, let's get something to eat first. Buying a house can't be rushed, but if we don't eat soon, I might really faint from hunger right here."

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Lee Juri was amused by his over-the-top acting. As she spoke, she pushed a steaming plate of seafood fried rice in front of him. "Then sit down and have some, my great hero."

The others laughed and sped up their work, quickly filling several large bags with food...

Various salads, noodle soups, fried rice, fried chicken, pizzas, and more were laid out on the entire table in a dazzling array.

During this time, Lin Xiuyuan recalled a beautiful figure.

So she got up and walked to the door next to her room. Two minutes later, she carefully helped Sweet Eun-jung, who still had a support frame on her leg, walk over.

Then came another round of pleasantries.

In the blink of an eye, all the members of Lin Xiuyuan's special church, except for Zheng Xiujing who was unable to leave due to her schedule, had gathered in this villa.

At the same time, due to the sudden increase in the number of people, there were clearly not enough chairs in the restaurant.

As a result, most people had to eat standing up.

The selection of the seated individuals was also quite deliberate.

As the core member and homeowner, Lin Xiuyuan was definitely sitting down.

Having just calmed down, Goo Hara and Sulli were tacitly arranged to sit down by everyone.

Despite her leg injury, "Sweet Eun-jung" naturally had a seat.

Finally, Lee Qri, Jessica, Kim Tae-yeon, and other "seniors" were also forced to sit down.

Actually, Jessica didn't really want to sit down at first and wanted to give it to someone else.

However, just as she was about to step down, Jessica Jung quietly appeared behind her with a "kind" smile on her lips.

Then, he placed both hands firmly on her shoulders, pressing her firmly into the seat, and said in a clear and resonant voice, "Respecting the elderly is a long-standing and fine tradition of ours. You should sit down, otherwise people will say we have no manners."

This statement sounds quite nice at first glance.

But it might have been better if Jessica Jung hadn't emphasized or emphasized the word "old" too much.

So when Jessica Jung took the lead, Lin Xiaolu, Park Jiyeon, and Kim Yuen-yuen suddenly seemed to have been inspired, and their eyes lit up.

They all raised their "kind" smiles and began to follow suit, "inviting" the three members of the 25-year-old group, Lin Yoona, Kim Tae-yeon, and Dae-ryong-zai, to the remaining seats as well.

Using "age" as the sole criterion for categorization was simplistic, crude, and morally offensive, infuriating the three people who sat down.

They all turned their heads, glaring with murderous intent at the "past self" behind them who was smiling innocently.

Among them, Jessica, who was pressed down by Jessica Jung, was the most upset, and her facial expressions almost went out of control.

Witnessing this bizarre and hilarious scene of "self-inflicted trouble," Li Juli felt a little relieved and subconsciously patted her chest, "Thank goodness, I hadn't joined in 13."

Otherwise, she probably would feel embarrassed to be told she was older than herself like that.

Sweet Eun-jung, who was sitting on the stool, had the same thought. She turned around and looked at Ham Eun-jung, who was standing next to her and holding a bowl. She asked with a mix of amusement and wariness, "If I hadn't 'voluntarily' sat down because of my leg injury, you wouldn't have treated me like this, would you?"

"Don't slander me." Ham Eun-jung immediately looked at the restaurant's chandelier, but couldn't help but smile. "I would never do such a thing."

However, she couldn't hide the smile in her voice when she said this.

As someone who was also in her shoes, Sweet Eun-jung could tell with absolute certainty that the other person had definitely had that thought just by looking at their expression.

So he glared at Ham Eun-jung with a frustrated expression and muttered under his breath, "I don't believe you..."

So at this lunch table, which was filled with "undercurrents" and subtle "age conflicts".

The only ones who can remain completely unaffected and calmly focus on their meal are Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal, who is watching the show with great interest.

As the only "Pope" and the man at the top of the food chain, the former has always been sitting on his laurels, not worried at all that the flames of war would reach him.

The latter, on the other hand, was enjoying some peace and quiet since Krystal Jung wasn't present.

While shoveling the fried rice into his bowl, he watched this rare annual spectacle with a smile that never faded.

Aside from Lin Xiuyuan, who remained calm and collected, and Krystal, who was happy to watch the show, there were actually two other people who were temporarily detached from the situation: Sulli and Goo Hara.

Especially Goo Hara, who was still shrouded in gloom and sadness because she knew the future fate of "herself".

Seeing this amusing scene of "self-deprecation" in front of me has strangely dampened my spirits considerably, and I even have a bizarre thought: it's a good thing I don't have a partner.

Sulli then quietly leaned close to Goo Hara's ear and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, whispered about her past exploits with a hint of excitement at sharing a secret.

For example, how Park Jiyeon directly hit the nail on the head back then, and how Goo Hara's eyes twitched when she heard the title of "old woman".

When he heard that he almost got a good scolding from Da Long Zai when they met in person, he grinned again.

For example, I heard how Lin Xiaolu went on a rampage in the comments section of Lin Yoona's live stream, which sparked a war of words between them.

There were also various interesting scenes caused by encountering oneself, which made Goo Hara's eyes light up again and again, and she felt relaxed and smiled.

I even felt a little bit of regret.

It's a pity that Lin Xiuyuan didn't pull himself into this bizarre yet alluring circle sooner.

Although the afternoon tea was full of conflicts and banter, everyone ate and drank well overall, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

So after the meal, everyone naturally gathered in the large sofa area of ​​the living room.

This also caused the sofa, which originally seemed very spacious, to feel cramped after accommodating almost everyone.

Looking at the sofa area, which was almost crammed together like sardine cans, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but scratch his head and sigh, "Looks like I need to find a new sofa. I can't let half of the people sit on the carpet from now on."

Upon hearing this, Kim Tae-yeon smiled and looked at the existing sofa, offering her professional opinion: "Then you'll probably have to have it custom-made. This one is probably the largest model available on the market right now."

Afterwards, everyone discussed the topic of "customizing a super sofa that can accommodate everyone" for a few more minutes.

However, the topic soon returned to the exciting "tourist destination" plan.

Krystal spoke first, saying, "My schedule isn't packed for the next few days, so I can go to Greece with Xiuyuan to take a look in person."

“I’m free too! I want to go too!” Im Yoona immediately raised her hand.

Kim Tae-yeon also timidly raised her hand, her face showing a hint of shy anticipation.

Lee Qri, equally caught up in the atmosphere, was about to raise her hand to join in when Daeyong next to her pressed her arm down, laughing and reminding her, "Unnie, have you forgotten we still have to prepare for the concert? We don't have time."

Li Juli suddenly realized what was happening, slapped her forehead, and looked at Lin Xiuyuan with annoyance and a hint of coquettishness in her voice.

"Oh no, Xiuyuan, I'm really scared by all the things you've done today. My brain isn't working properly, and I've even forgotten such an important work arrangement."

"Then go back and get some rest, and prepare for the concert."

Noticing that it was getting late, Lin Xiuyuan stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright, ladies, get ready. It's time to go home. It's getting late. I still need to tidy up the place in 13, and you all have work to do tomorrow."

Lin Yoona, Jessica, and the others were aware of this, so they packed up their belongings and, with Lin Xiuyuan's help, went through the time portal back to their respective apartments.

Even Krystal went back with the rest of the group, not staying at the villa to wait for Lin Xiuyuan, which was quite decisive.

After everyone else had been safely seen off, the living room suddenly felt much more spacious.

Lin Xiuyuan then looked at the remaining people and said with a smile, "Let's go, we should go back too."

After saying that, he opened the time portal again, taking the group back to the RV that was still swaying slightly in the wind and rain on the shore of Tokyo Bay 13 years ago.

As the last to enter, Goo Hara glanced back at the bright, warm sunlight shining through the 25-year-old villa behind the door.

Then I turned my head and looked at the dark, cloud-covered sky outside the windshield of the RV.

The magical and extreme contrast between the two still deeply shocked her, even though she already knew about the situation and had experienced it firsthand.

It also gave her a more concrete and thrilling understanding of the words "time and space".

As the portal closed, cutting off the sunlight, the RV was completely enveloped by the sound of Tokyo's night rain.

Lin Xiuyuan, back in the driver's seat, started the engine and smoothly drove the RV away from the beach, heading towards the hotel where the people in the back seat were staying.

The reason why Goo Hara was not sent back to her group's dormitory as originally planned was because it was Goo Hara's own idea.

After such a disruptive day, she felt she needed some time and space to process her emotions and planned to take a two-day break.

Let Shirley keep me company, or rather, let Shirley and Lin Xiuyuan keep me company together, to give this emotion a buffer period.

So when the RV came to a steady stop in front of the hotel, Park Jiyeon and the others quickly opened their umbrellas and ran into the hotel.

Lin Xiuyuan stayed behind last. After carefully checking the RV to make sure nothing was left behind, he opened the door and prepared to get out.

Just as he closed the car door and turned to walk into the hotel, his eyes met those of a petite figure holding a transparent umbrella.

It's all sapphire blue.

Just like the scene when I ran into Park Hyo-min before.

This discovery made Lin Xiuyuan pause slightly, but he didn't ask anything. His gaze unconsciously fell on the slightly heavy paper shopping bag that Quan Baolan was carrying.

Yes, it's made of paper, and it looks like it's of average quality.

Perhaps because it was soaked by the rain, just as Jeon Boram noticed Lin Xiuyuan, and hesitated slightly in her steps, the bottom of the paper shopping bag in her hand suddenly gave way.

It ripped open with a "rip" sound!
The loose items in the bag fell to the ground and rolled on the damp, cold ground, where they were immediately covered by rainwater.

Lin Xiuyuan, with his excellent eyesight, immediately spotted several things...

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(End of this chapter)