Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 326: From the Dragon Cub's "Substitute Literature" (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

After exchanging a few words with Park Jiyeon, Goo Hara, under Lin Xiuyuan's unquestionable gaze, reluctantly shared a small bowl of beef steak rice with Sulli.

After they finished their last bite of food, Lin Xiuyuan finally let them go and allowed them to leave.

However, when the group got up to say goodbye, although they said they wouldn't disturb Lin Xiuyuan and Quan Baolan's date, they actually planned to go shopping at a nearby large shopping mall.

I'll buy some women's products and also help with digestion.

As their chattering faded away at the entrance of the yakitori restaurant, the slightly crowded counter instantly returned to its previous quiet state.

Lin Xiuyuan turned around and looked at Jeon Boram, who was still a little flustered, and smiled, "What's wrong? Were you scared by Jiyeon?"

Quan Baolan shook her head without saying a word, but stared intently at Lin Xiuyuan with her clear, large eyes, her gaze full of scrutiny.

Several seconds passed before she spoke again, her tone more certain than before.

"Xiuyuan, if before I just felt like I was being deceived by you, but after seeing the tone and atmosphere of your conversation with Zhiyan and Eunjung just now, I really think there's a 70-80% chance that you fooled me before."

"What did you feel? What was your tone?" Lin Xiuyuan pretended to be puzzled, picked up a skewer of grilled mushrooms, and asked casually, "Isn't it normal for Zhiyan and I to chat? We're just joking around with each other as friends."

“No, that’s not normal.” Jeon Boram shook her head and said with great certainty, “Jiyeon might act cute with us, but she would almost never use words like jealousy towards a boy, or show that kind of instinctive intimacy and possessiveness.”

As she spoke, Jeon Boram continued to recall what had happened since she met Park Jiyeon: Although this youngest member was lively and cheerful, she always maintained the distance and sense of propriety that an idol should have in front of the opposite sex.

Then, with a complex emotion she herself didn't realize, Jeon Boram continued softly, "But with you, Jiyeon seems to be closer to you than to us unnies who are with you every day. Soo Won, how long have you known her?"

This last question was another new and intense curiosity that arose in Jeon Boram's heart.

"How long have we known each other?" Lin Xiuyuan murmured repeatedly, as if he were also calculating.

Looking down at the food in front of him, which was mostly gone, he finally gave a precise, but brief, answer that surprised Jeon Boram: "About half a year, but if you think about it carefully, it hasn't even been half a year yet."

Upon hearing this, Jeon Boram looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a deep and undisguised gaze.

His gaze seemed to pierce through his appearance and reach his heart.

She stared at him for a long, long time, until Lin Xiuyuan felt a little uneasy under her gaze and chuckled. Only then did Quan Baolan slowly withdraw her gaze, lower her head, let out a barely audible sigh, and utter a philosophical and melancholic remark.

"Xiuyuan, why do you think there is a difference between men and women in this world? Perhaps it's to prove a certain idea."

"What is it?" Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback by her abrupt change of thought.

"That is……"

Jeon Boram looked up with a somewhat unfocused gaze, as if she were speaking to Lin Xiuyuan, or perhaps talking to herself.

"No matter how close or long-lasting the friendship and relationship between girls is, as long as they meet the right person of the opposite sex, even if they have only known each other for a short time or even just met once, the attraction and connection between them can directly overshadow and shake all the fortresses that have been built up before."

"It's so unfair, it's so disheartening."

This statement, imbued with obvious personal emotions and observations, coupled with a touch of idealism, caused Lin Xiuyuan to raise an eyebrow.

She quickly waved her hand, indicating that she couldn't handle it. "Stop, stop, Baolan-xi, you've taken this topic too far, too idealistic, too philosophical. I can't keep up. How about we change to a more down-to-earth topic?"

Startled by his banter, Jeon Boram snapped out of her inexplicable sadness and couldn't help but laugh, teasing him back.

"So, Xiuyuan, does what you're saying mean you're indirectly admitting that there is indeed a special relationship between you and Zhiyan?"

Just as Lin Xiuyuan was about to open his mouth, intending to use his usual linguistic skills to deal with the situation,

The phone screen on the bar counter suddenly lit up, and a notification sound rang out crisply.

This interruption made Lin Xiuyuan swallow the words that were already on the tip of his tongue, and he looked down at the screen.

The familiar nickname and profile picture brought a look of helplessness mixed with amusement to his face.

So I picked up my phone, unlocked it with my fingerprint, and opened the message.

The next second, Jeon Boram, who was standing next to her, subconsciously glanced sideways out of curiosity, wanting to steal a look.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly stretched out his arm and practically shoved the phone screen right in front of her eyes, making it impossible for her not to look.

On the screen, under the avatar and nickname that she recognized so well—Park Jiyeon's—a question that had just been sent was clearly displayed.

The content is simple, crude, and full of Park Ji-yeon's signature bold and inappropriate language.

Park Jiyeon: [Oppa, you want to sleep with Sapphire Unnie??]

These words, like lightning still swirling in the sky outside, struck Jeon Boram, who was sitting inside the room.

Such a direct, explicit, and shameless statement made her little head buzz, and her cheeks turned bright red, like a thermometer thrown into boiling water.

So ashamed he wanted to disappear, he almost instinctively muttered a curse, his voice trembling with shame and indignation.

"Ah!!! Park Jiyeon!!! I...I really have to hit her!!!"

Seeing Jeon Boram's reaction, as if she wanted to disappear into the ground, Lin Xiuyuan laughed unkindly.

He then put his phone away and quickly tapped the screen to reply.

Lin Xiuyuan: [Stop nagging, go shopping. To make up for the emotional damage your nonsense caused me, you'll be paying for Baolan and my dinner later.]

Not long after the message was sent, Park Jiyeon replied with a string of speechless ellipses.

Park Jiyeon: [...]

In response, Lin Xiuyuan continued typing, trying to provoke his opponent's spirit.

Lin Xiuyuan: [Don't forget, your supplementary card is still with me. (Smiling bear.jpg)]

This time, Park Jiyeon's reply carried a strong sense of 'unjustified NTR'.

Park Jiyeon: [Oppa, are you saying I paid for dinner and then treated my love rival to a meal???]

Seeing Park Jiyeon's increasingly nonsensical replies, a mix of jealousy and jokes, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and ignored the mischievous little dragon.

I simply flipped the phone screen over and placed it face down on the table, out of sight, out of mind.

Then he quickly turned around and comforted Jeon Boram, who was so embarrassed by Park Jiyeon's earth-shattering question that she was completely falling into self-doubt and almost curling up in a ball.

He was genuinely afraid that this legally married young girl with such a rich inner world might suddenly get stuck in some strange obsession, making it even more difficult to get closer to her then.

After all, does he have feelings for Jeon Boram?

Of course... there are!

So petite and adorable, yet with such a contrastingly sexy figure, and a personality that carries the innocence and earnestness typical of a homebody, she's practically a "legal loli" perfectly embodying a certain aesthetic standard—who could resist her?
In Lin Xiuyuan's mind, the only one who could rival him in the "petite and sexy" category was Sunny from Girls' Generation, who also had an amazing figure and was nicknamed "Little Sun".

As for Kim Tae-yeon...

Having already devoured everything, Lin Xiuyuan silently compared the figures in his mind. Hmm, even the figure of someone who was completely naked... well, let's not talk about it for now.

A few minutes later, after Jeon Boram mechanically stuffed a few mouthfuls of food into her mouth, her spirits seemed to return a little bit.

But the atmosphere where he could chat freely with Lin Xiuyuan, even with a touch of sharpness, had completely disappeared.

At this moment, she seemed to have turned into a frightened kitten, curled up tightly in the corner, not daring to move easily, only daring to secretly peek at Lin Xiuyuan out of the corner of her eye.

They would immediately look away in a panic the moment their eyes met.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan felt a headache coming on.

He truly hadn't expected Park Jiyeon's overly bold message to have such a profound impact on Jeon Boram's personality, seemingly freezing their relationship in time. Afterwards, the two chatted idly in this slightly awkward and stagnant atmosphere until the eventfully concluding dinner.

After finishing the meal, Lin Xiuyuan quickly got up to pay the bill and unceremoniously used the supplementary card that Park Jiyeon had given him to swipe the card.

This action was simultaneously transmitted to Park Ji-yeon, who was in the mall, across the distance.

According to Sulli's "on-site report" after returning to the hotel, Park Jiyeon, who had just finished shopping and was about to head home, became so angry upon receiving the bank's transaction notification that she jumped around in front of the mall without any regard for her image.

They were just short of shouting and yelling.

The scene amused Ham Eun-jung, Goo Hara, and Sulli, who all knew the truth.

After a while, the rain subsided slightly.

Lin Xiuyuan held the umbrella as always, escorting Quan Baolan back to her dormitory.

However, this time someone learned their lesson and deliberately held the umbrella very low, even bending down slightly to accommodate Jeon Boram's height.

So, when Lin Xiuyuan safely delivered Quan Baolan to the door of the dormitory where her team was staying.

Aside from her shoes and trouser legs inevitably getting a little wet from the rain splashing on the ground, Jeon Boram didn't show the same embarrassing sight of being soaked in rain as she had when she arrived.

Standing under the warm corridor lights at the dormitory entrance, Jeon Boram politely, but also with a hint of eagerness to escape, quickly thanked and said goodbye to Lin Xiuyuan.

Then, almost immediately, she turned around, unlocked the door, and jumped in like a startled rabbit…

He darted inside with a "whoosh" and quickly closed the door.

Looking at the tightly closed door, Lin Xiuyuan, standing at the doorway, smiled helplessly and shook his head.

My gaze involuntarily lifted and moved to a window on the second floor of the small building, where a warm yellow light was shining.

He saw a tall, slender figure standing behind the window, looking down at him.

It's Lee Juri from 13.

Their eyes met across the rainy night.

Lin Xiuyuan's face didn't show any particular expression; he simply nodded slightly to Li Juli upstairs as a greeting.

Lee Juri, behind the window, seemed to pause for a moment, then politely returned a slight nod.

After receiving a response, Lin Xiuyuan did not linger.

Turning around, holding the umbrella, I stepped into the rain and headed towards the hotel next door.

Only Li Juli, on the second floor, remained, looking bewildered through the misty rain-drenched window at Lin Xiuyuan's receding figure, her mind filled with huge question marks.

No, isn't this the 'big dish' that Jiyeon has her eye on and is keeping a close watch on?

How did he get involved with Baolan in just one night?
He even personally drove me home?!

What on earth is going on here?

On the other side, Lin Xiuyuan, back in his hotel room, still had a smile on his face, amused by Jeon Boram's embarrassed appearance, as well as an indescribable restlessness stirred up by Park Jiyeon's messages.

So she immediately opened the portal and, in a few steps, stepped into the stylish apartment of the little dragon cub, which was decorated with her personal style.

Only one ambient floor lamp was lit in the living room. Da Longzai, who had taken a nap after returning home in the afternoon, was now sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a tablet computer, seemingly browsing something.

Hearing the noise, she looked up in surprise and saw Lin Xiuyuan walking out. A look of confusion mixed with surprise appeared on her face, and then she opened her mouth...

But Lin Xiuyuan didn't give her a chance to ask a question at all.

He strode over to the sofa, and before Da Longzai could react, he bent down, slipped one hand under her legs, and put the other arm around her back.

He easily lifted her plump and mature body in a very standard princess carry.

"Ah~ Xiuyuan, what are you doing..."

The little dragon, who had been picked up, let out a short gasp, and the tablet computer slipped from its hands.

Then, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Xiuyuan's neck, her eyes filled with genuine surprise and a hint of panic from being suddenly attacked.

However, Lin Xiuyuan looked down at the delicate body in his arms, which had the same face as the young and lively Park Jiyeon from 13, but with a completely different temperament.

Without explaining much, he simply carried her straight to the master bedroom.

"Xiuyuan, what's going on? Did Zhiyan anger you? Did that little brat cause trouble again?" Dalongzai was flustered by his silent yet assertive behavior and couldn't help but ask repeatedly, many possibilities flashing through his mind.

However, Lin Xiuyuan still did not answer.

After entering the bedroom, he gently closed the door with his heel, and then carefully placed the little dragon cub on the soft bed.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the loosely drawn curtains, outlining the silhouette of the person on the bed, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, yet also a hint of secret anticipation.

Before the little dragon could ask another question, Lin Xiuyuan leaned down and sealed all her unspoken words with his mouth.

"Ugh..."

Even though the dragon cub was somewhat prepared, its eyes still widened slightly when it experienced the event.

But the initial surprise and doubt quickly dissipated under Lin Xiuyuan's somewhat impatient, even accusatory, onslaught...

It gradually dissipates and melts.

Instead, it evoked a feeling of surprise and joy.

And they began to respond to everything with familiarity and enthusiasm.

She wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Xiuyuan's neck, as if trying to meld him into her own body.

In the dimly lit bedroom, only the sound of breathing gradually becoming heavier and deeper could be heard.

And there was the rustling sound of the fabric rubbing together.

And the little dragon's occasional, uncontrollable, trembling cries, which sounded like it was enduring pain, yet also like a cat enjoying a caress.

In fact, she had already vaguely guessed that Lin Xiuyuan's sudden impulse was very likely related to Park Jiyeon from 13.

But the little dragon didn't mind.

On the contrary, she adopted a mature and tolerant attitude, with a subtle feeling of being a "substitute," willingly...

It could even be said that they were passionate and fiery, silently accepting and defusing the flames of war and storms that spread from another time and space.

However, Park Ji-yeon, who was in Tokyo 13 years ago and walking in her dormitory with Ham Eun-jung and others, was completely unaware of all this plot and intense battle.

At this moment, she was holding Ham Eun-jung's arm, gesturing exaggeratedly with her other hand, and pouting her little mouth very high.

In her unique, slightly childlike voice, she complained incessantly to Ham Eun-jung, Goo Hara, and Sulli beside her.

He would occasionally mutter "love rival," but most of his resentment was directed at that "old woman" he had known for 25 years.

Raindrops pattered against the umbrella, making a pattering sound, as if providing accompaniment to her jealous complaints.

Meanwhile, 25 years later, the "old woman" she was cursing was experiencing a fierce and exhilarating war that had been started because of her.

He took on everything for her and enjoyed everything she didn't know.

(End of this chapter)