Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 327 "Jingjing, I'm a little tempted by Hyomin's supplementary gold card~" (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

The next morning.

The Seoul sun lived up to its name, bright and radiant, generously streaming through the clean glass windows and into the master bedroom of the 25-year-old Da Longzai's apartment.

The light traced the trails of dust particles in the air, illuminating the entire room in a bright and warm light, a stark contrast to the continuous rain in Tokyo 13 years ago.

On the soft bed, the little dragon slowly raised its head from the messy blankets, its long hair cascading down, carrying a hint of laziness and contentment.

She had just blinked her eyes, which had been splashed with milk, when a hand with distinct knuckles handed her a glass of clear, warm water from above her head.

There's also a tissue.

After taking the water cup, the little dragon took two big gulps. The cool liquid slid down his throat, relieving the vague feeling of something foreign deep inside. Then he mixed it with a mouthful of sticky rice cake and swallowed it.

Then she wiped her face.

After doing all this, the little dragon let out a long sigh of relief, then raised his head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, who was leaning against the headboard and looking down at him.

There was no anger in his eyes, but rather a mocking smile.

"So, Xiuyuan, you were so angry last night because that brat Park Jiyeon ruined your good time with Boram unnie, and then you took it out on me?"

When Da Longzai said this, there was no anger in her tone. Instead, she sounded like an older sister who had seen through her younger siblings' pranks, with a hint of indulgence and teasing.

When asked the question, Lin Xiuyuan touched his nose and was about to speak when the little dragon cub moved even closer to him.

Her smile carried a mature woman's openness and boldness that young people couldn't match. "You should have said so earlier~ If you had said so earlier, I would have called Baolan unnie for you last night, so you could hear her confused yet familiar voice on the other end of the phone and see if that would have made things more exciting?"

This audacious suggestion left Lin Xiuyuan completely stunned.

She then withdrew her hands from behind her head with a slight headache, gently patted the two soft pendants on the dragon cub's head, and explained in a somewhat annoyed tone, "It's not that bad, really not that bad. The main thing is that I miss you, everything else is secondary."

Hearing his love confession, which hardly counted as an explanation, Da Longzai chuckled again, tapping his chest with his fingertip. "Xiuyuan, Xiuyuan, you're really getting better and better at it. Hmm, how do you say it in your Chinese way? You've become quite the smooth talker."

"Really? No way," Lin Xiuyuan denied outright, his expression innocent.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Da Longzai flipped over and, with a fragrant breeze and a smile, once again pounced on him on the sun-drenched bed, proving with her actions her "excuses" against him.

I don’t know how long it took.

By the time the two of them finally came out of the bedroom, it was already past 9 a.m.

Lin Xiuyuan retrieved the breakfast takeout that had just been delivered from outside the apartment and sat down at the dining table with Dalongzai.

Breakfast was very simple: porridge, vegetables, and a box of steaming hot buns, emitting an enticing aroma.

The little dragon cub, sipping his porridge, asked, "By the way, when are you planning to go to Greece to look at houses this time?"

Although she couldn't go because of rehearsals, she had to make the most of her time to mine.

After all, maintaining peak condition is crucial if one wants to return to the stage.

When asked, Lin Xiuyuan swallowed the food in his mouth and replied, "We'll have to wait until Krystal and Yoona confirm their schedules. I have time, but we need to coordinate their schedules."

Afterwards, Da Longzai inquired about the situation in 13, "What about Hera? How is she? She was so shocked yesterday."

Lin Xiuyuan thought about what happened last night. "Last night, her mental state seemed much better. With Zhenli and Enjing by her side, comforting and encouraging her, she's probably recovered quite a bit. I don't think she's a fragile person, so she should get better soon."

Da Longzai nodded in agreement, a hint of shared admiration in his eyes.

"Actually, who among us is an ordinary person? We all started from the trainee days and struggled hard. After debuting, we experienced countless setbacks and criticisms. If our mental core wasn't strong enough, we wouldn't be standing in that position and possessing what we once had."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan looked at her and suddenly brought up the past, "Speaking of which, what your team experienced 13 years ago was quite tragic, wasn't it?"

However, the little dragon shook its head, its expression calm, without much resentment.

"There's no such thing as that. Every group has its own hardships. Girls' Generation went through the Black Ocean, and Kara's early formation and rise to prominence were also quite difficult. It's just that they were luckier or had better timing and got through it, while we just happened to encounter the worst situation and weren't so lucky."

After hearing Da Longzai's insightful answer, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and said, "So you take it all in stride?"

“It’s been more than ten years.” Da Longzai scooped up a spoonful of porridge and said calmly, “If I had kept it all bottled up inside, I would have driven myself crazy by now. You have to move on with life.”

After saying that, she put down her spoon and looked at Lin Xiuyuan, "By the way, you're going back to the place from 13 later, right?"

After finishing the last bite of his steamed bun, Lin Xiuyuan nodded. "Yeah, let's go back and check on Hera and Zhenli. We can't just leave them at the hotel like that."

Da Longzai agreed, "That's definitely not right. Okay, you can leave after you finish eating. I need to go to the rehearsal room too."

So the two quickly finished their breakfast and said goodbye at the apartment entrance.

One of them changed into sneakers and headed out to the rehearsal room, looking energetic.

The other one skillfully opened a time portal, disappearing into it and returning to the hotel room in Tokyo 13 years ago, still shrouded in rain.

Stepping back into the hotel room 13 years ago, I was enveloped by the humid air and the sound of pattering rain outside the window.

At the same time, the cheerful, even slightly quirky singing of two girls could be clearly heard coming from outside the bedroom door.

The vibrant singing brought a smile to Lin Xiuyuan's face; it seemed the recovery was indeed going well.

Having thought of this, he didn't hesitate and pushed open the bedroom door to go out.

The scene that then appeared before him made him raise an eyebrow slightly.

Goo Hara and Sulli were seen wearing only loose white hotel bathrobes, and were jumping around barefoot on the sofa and carpet in the living room.

As they performed their self-choreographed and wild dance moves, the hems of their bathrobes fluttered, revealing glimpses of their fair thighs, rounded shoulders, and delicate collarbones.

When Goo Hara and Sulli saw Lin Xiuyuan suddenly open the door and appear, it was as if a mute button had been pressed, and their singing stopped abruptly.

In contrast, Goo Hara subconsciously tightened the collar of her bathrobe, her face flushing red.

Shirley didn't seem to care, and instead smiled at Lin Xiuyuan, asking, "Oh, oppa! Why are you back so early today? I thought you wouldn't be back until noon."

Last night, when she returned to her room and didn't find Lin Xiuyuan, she guessed that her oppa must have gone to play in 25 years, which is why she dared to play so recklessly with Goo Hara this morning.

I just didn't expect to be caught so quickly.

In response to the question, Lin Xiuyuan first smiled and pointed to their almost undone bathrobes, then walked to the single sofa chair next to him and sat down. "After getting up, I had breakfast with Zhiyan and came back. I didn't waste any time."

Then, listening again to the still-continuous sound of rain outside the window, he sighed, "This rain is still quite heavy, it hasn't let up at all. Looks like it's going to be another day spent cooped up at home."

On the sofa next to them, after Lin Xiuyuan pointed to their clothes, Goo Hara, whose cheeks were already flushed, immediately hurriedly and carefully retied the belt of her bathrobe, covering up her exposed skin completely.

Her impression of Lin Xiuyuan today was completely different from that of yesterday.

Before yesterday, Lin Xiuyuan was probably just a handsome guy with an interesting personality in her eyes, someone Lin Xiaolu liked, and someone she could watch the drama unfold.

But after experiencing yesterday's mind-blowing parallel universe and Anywhere Door, and directly confronting the impact of "death" and "redemption".

Lin Xiuyuan's image in her mind had been elevated to an almost godlike status.

He was a savior who pulled her back from a predetermined tragic fate.

This extreme emotional fluctuation and enormous psychological impact inadvertently planted a strong emotional dependence in her heart, a mixture of "Stockholm syndrome" and "suspension bridge effect".

This caused her to unconsciously develop a subtle longing and yearning when she faced Lin Xiuyuan again, a longing that she herself might not have been clearly aware of.

It is an instinctive longing for a source of light that gives life a second chance.

I want to get closer.

I want to draw more warmth.

However, Lin Xiuyuan was clearly unaware of Goo Hara's complex emotional changes at this moment. He looked at the two of them and asked casually, "When did you get up? Have you had breakfast?"

The two girls who were asked the question looked at each other and then shook their heads in unison.

"I haven't eaten yet," Shirley answered honestly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and reminded him, "When I booked the room last night, I remember it included in-room breakfast service. You can just call them to bring it up when you wake up, so you don't have to go hungry."

Sulli stuck out her tongue. "Oppa, actually we just woke up not long ago. We played around for a while and we don't feel hungry yet."

“If we don’t eat now, we’ll have to wait until lunch.” Lin Xiuyuan shook his head disapprovingly. “Breakfast is very important and can’t be skipped.”

Without giving the two a chance to object, she got up, walked to the side, picked up the room phone, and skillfully dialed the front desk to order two breakfast sets and asked them to be delivered to her room.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiuyuan turned to look at the two people still sitting on the sofa, staring at him expectantly. "Why are you still looking at me? Hurry up and go wash up. Look at your messy hair and the sleep in your eyes, you probably haven't washed your faces or brushed your teeth yet, right?"

Upon hearing this, Goo Hara subconsciously touched her cheek and the corner of her eye, and immediately exclaimed in surprise.

Immediately, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she jumped off the sofa, not even bothering to put on her slippers, and rushed back to the bedroom with her bare, white feet, heading straight for the bathroom.

Shirley followed behind her, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

But at the same time, she didn't forget to turn around and make a funny face at Lin Xiuyuan before skipping and hopping inside.

A little while later, the waiter politely delivered two exquisite breakfasts to the room.

By this time, Goo Hara and Sulli had finished washing up, changed into clean home clothes, combed their hair neatly, and sat quietly side by side on the sofa with clean faces.

I ate the breakfast that was delivered to me in small bites, sitting on the coffee table in the living room.

While eating, Shirley's bright eyes would occasionally glance at Lin Xiuyuan, who was sitting on the single sofa looking at his phone, and she couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked.

"Oppa, you just said you went to Jiyeon unnie's place last night? I thought you would go to Qri unnie, after all, what happened yesterday was too much of a shock for her, shouldn't you comfort her?"

Hearing the voice, Lin Xiuyuan finally looked up from his phone screen. "Eunjung stayed with Juri last night. With her there to keep an eye on things and explain, there shouldn't be any problems. I'm too lazy to go and join in the fun. It's probably better to let the two of them communicate on their own, just like you two."

Goo Hara, who was quietly eating her meal, listened to the conversation between the two. Suddenly, she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan with a hint of worry in her eyes and said softly.

"Xiuyuan, aren't you afraid of something going wrong by doing this?"

"What mishap? Are you afraid someone will discover this secret?" Lin Xiuyuan asked with a smile.

Goo Hara did not answer directly, but her silence was taken as an admission.

Having experienced everything yesterday, she was well aware of the terrible consequences that could result if this secret were exposed.

Sensing this implicit concern, Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled up slightly, and his tone softened a bit, "That's why I've always been very careful. The people I choose to tell the truth to are basically those I've observed and considered, those I feel have some connection to between the two timelines, and those I can trust. I don't just bring in just anyone."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Shirley looked at him and smiled.

"Let's be more careful," Goo Hara said, lowering her head. Her voice was soft, but filled with genuine concern.

After just one night, she had already begun to unconsciously put herself in Lin Xiuyuan's shoes and worry about his situation and safety.

This shift in mindset is very important.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and nodded, sensing the genuine concern in the voice. "I understand, and I guess this is about it. I'm too lazy to bring in any more people. It's good enough for us to play together and look out for each other for now."

Upon hearing this, Sulli immediately spotted the flaw in his statement and slyly retorted, "What about Boram unnie? Doesn't she count either, oppa~"

Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback by the question, then chuckled, "What does this have to do with Baolan? She doesn't know about it yet, so it has nothing to do with her."

Goo Hara, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but laugh. She put down her chopsticks and said in a tone that seemed to see through the truth, "The way you looked at Boram unnie, Suho, wasn't the kind of look that could be easily let go. It was very intense, just like the way I look at the latest handbag."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was being teased, did not deny it coyly, but simply shrugged and answered in a calm tone.

"Yes, I admit I quite like the Baolan type. She's petite and cute, has a great figure, and a fun personality. But liking someone doesn't necessarily mean I have to pull her into the other side of the time portal. If we have the chance to spend time together here, or if we can have some friendly interactions, I'd certainly be willing and eager for that, but that's a different matter from sharing the core secret."

Upon hearing this, Shirley immediately nodded as if she had just realized something.

And then he used a strange analogy, "I understand, oppa, when you say you're only developing feelings here, you mean being a mistress, right? Not involved in any other business, right?"

"What kind of ridiculous analogy is this? It's the truth!" Lin Xiuyuan laughed and cursed at the absurd metaphor.

Sulli herself found it very funny after she finished speaking, so she leaned on Goo Hara with a giggle.

Afterwards, the three of them ate breakfast while chatting about a lot of lighthearted and interesting gossip and anecdotes, filling the living room with laughter.

Goo Hara finally put down her chopsticks with satisfaction, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and then looked at Lin Xiuyuan with bright eyes, asking, "Xiuyuan, shall we go out for a walk later?"

"It's up to you guys." Lin Xiuyuan put down his phone and relaxed. "The main business in Tokyo is done. You can spend the rest of your time shopping or doing whatever you want. I'll keep you company."

His attitude and the implication that his words were related to her caused Goo Hara's heart to tighten slightly, and her eyelashes trembled a few times.

He also recalled some things he had overheard during his conversation with Ham Eun-jung and others at dinner last night, so he made the suggestion.

"I remember Eun-jung unnie mentioned something last night, that she's got her eye on a few nice houses here, and plans to use them as a base when she comes to Tokyo?"

After Lin Xiuyuan nodded, he continued to add.

"Since we can't go anywhere else on a rainy day, why don't we drive out and look at houses? This kind of weather is perfect for checking if a house has any leaks or dampness. Plus, going out on a rainy day makes it less likely for fans or paparazzi to notice us."

Shirley thought the idea was great and immediately raised her hand in agreement.

“Yeah, we can go out and look at apartments, oppa~ Then we’ll have a fixed place to stay in Tokyo, and we won’t have to stay in hotels every time we come back. Besides, it’s only 13 now, and there aren’t nearly as many surveillance cameras on the streets of Tokyo as there will be in the future. As long as we wear masks, we can basically go out without worrying about being recognized.”

Seeing the expectant expressions on their faces, their eyes sparkling as they looked at him, what else could Lin Xiuyuan say?

He smiled and nodded, "Okay, let's go take a look at the houses then."

After making the decision, the action-oriented Shirley immediately picked up her phone and dialed Ham Eun-jung.

Due to the typhoon, the T-ara members did not have any group activities scheduled today, so it was considered a day off.

When Ham Eun-jung learned that Lin Xiuyuan and Goo Hara wanted to see the house they had mentioned before, she readily agreed and immediately called Park Ji-yeon to help them wash up and get ready before heading out.

However, this somewhat hasty and secretive move naturally did not escape the attention of Park Hyo-min, who had been closely monitoring their movements.

So when she saw Ham Eun-jung and Park Ji-yeon start packing their things to leave after receiving the call, Park Hyo-min immediately turned around, ran to the living room, and sought help from outsiders.

A while later, in the dormitory living room.

Park Hyomin, who had run out of the room, stood behind Lee Qri and Jeon Boram, who were sitting on the sofa watching TV, looking like a wronged person. She pointed her slender finger at Ham Eunjung and Park Jiyeon, who were wearing coats, and complained in a wronged tone.

“Unnie, look at those two, they’re going to isolate me again. They’ve gone out to play by themselves. It’s always like this, every single time.”

Ham Eun-jung, who was singled out, explained with a headache, "Hyomin, we didn't mean to isolate you. We just had an appointment with Soo-won and need to go out for a bit."

As she said this, a thought even flashed through her mind: I really wanted to stuff this troublesome girl directly into Lin Xiuyuan's time portal and let her quiet down for a while.

"It's Xiu Yuan again~ It's Xiu Yuan again." Mentioning that name made Park Hyo-min explode like a firecracker, complaining bitterly, "How come we can't seem to leave him even after coming to Tokyo? Seriously, I'm so curious, what kind of magic does Lin Xiu Yuan have? What kind of bewitching potion has he given you all?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jeon Boram, who was sitting on the sofa, subconsciously spoke up, her voice soft and gentle yet carrying a hint of protectiveness, "Hyomin, I think Xiuyuan is a really good person. He's not like what you said, some kind of cult leader, is he..."

Before Park Hyomin could even speak, Park Jiyeon on the other side couldn't help but laugh.

Then she walked over and put her arm around Park Hyomin's shoulder, "That's right, that's right, what cult is this? We have no intention of offering ourselves to oppa, unnie, don't talk nonsense."

However, as soon as she said this, Ham Eun-jung glanced at her subconsciously, her eyes filled with a subtle and complex emotion.

Jiyeon, are you sure... you really don't have those kinds of thoughts?
However, instead of exposing her hypocritical maknae on the spot, she looked at the sulking Park Hyomin, gave her a gentle smile, and extended an invitation.

"Well then, Hyomin, if you really want to come with us, then come along. I just thought you wanted to rest at home, that's why I didn't invite you. Since you care so much, let's go out together, it's nothing serious anyway."

She said the last sentence while looking at Park Jiyeon, with a look that suggested a team effort. Park Jiyeon, who had recently become much smarter in her "entrepreneurial" endeavors, immediately understood what her Eunjung unnie meant, and quickly nodded, affectionately hugging Park Hyomin's other arm.

“Yeah, yeah, Hyomin unnie, let’s do it together. We happen to need someone who knows Tokyo’s roads well and can drive skillfully. Your Japanese is good too, you can help us communicate with the agency.”

Now it was Park Hyomin's turn to be dumbfounded.

Are you really inviting me to come along?

She glanced uncertainly at Ham Eun-jung, then at Park Ji-yeon, noticing that both of them looked serious and genuine.

Then he turned his questioning gaze to Jeon Boram and Lee Qri on the sofa.

Jeon Boram seemed somewhat tempted, but after opening her mouth, she ultimately hesitated to say that she wanted to go together, and simply whispered, "I'm not going out."

Lee Juri, standing next to her, yawned lazily and waved her hand, "You guys go ahead, I didn't sleep well last night, I need to catch up on my sleep today."

So, Park Hyomin, feeling dizzy, followed Ham Eunjung and Park Jiyeon to the hotel entrance while holding an umbrella.

When she saw Lin Xiuyuan, who was already waiting there, and Goo Hara and Sulli beside him, who were smiling sweetly, she was still a little stunned.

Did I really just come out with them like that?

Or is it the kind where I want to be with Lin Xiuyuan?

No longer isolating myself?

Thinking of this, Park Hyomin came back to her senses, and somewhat blankly tugged at Ham Eunjung's sleeve, asking softly, "Eunjung, where are we going?"

Upon hearing Park Hyomin's voice, Ham Eunjung turned around, a bright smile on her face, and answered matter-of-factly.

"Let's go look at houses."

"Looking at apartments??" Park Hyo-min's eyes widened instantly, her voice filled with disbelief.

This answer was completely beyond her expectations.

……

Ten minutes later.

Park Hyo-min sat in the driver's seat of the spacious MPV rented from the hotel, gripping the steering wheel with focused concentration as the vehicle drove smoothly along Tokyo's still-wet streets.

Meanwhile, in the passenger seat next to her, Ham Eun-jung was on her phone, communicating with a real estate agent.

As he spoke, he set the coordinates of the first destination on the car's navigation system.

Based on the brief discussion we had just had at the hotel entrance, we decided to start our house-hunting trip in Shibuya Ward, then Shinjuku Ward, Chiyoda Ward, and finally consider whether to check out properties in Minato Ward.

The main reason is that there are many embassies in the area, so the security and surveillance around the area are more stringent.

This situation is a safe zone for ordinary people, but for Lin Xiuyuan and his group who are carrying secrets, it seems to be a bit of a blind spot, a small crisis.

It's not as convenient to hide one's whereabouts as in bustling commercial areas like Shibuya or Shinjuku.

Therefore, their first stop was Hiroo, located in Shibuya Ward.

The agent recommended a detached house with a land area of ​​152 square meters and a building area of ​​238 square meters.

The steel frame structure is located in a quiet, upscale residential area.

The building has a classic modern Japanese style exterior with gray and white walls.

The house has a two-story, square layout with an entrance courtyard surrounded by low shrubs.

Overall, it looks well-maintained, but the design is conventional and lacks highlights. Like many similar residences on the streets of Tokyo, it exudes a sense of standardized production refinement.

So even with the agent's enthusiastic and professional guidance, Lin Xiuyuan and his group only looked around once before politely saying goodbye and leaving without spending too much time.

"How are you feeling?" Ham Eun-jung asked as she got into the car.

In the back seat, Lin Xiuyuan leaned back and shook his head. "It's not too bad, but it's not surprising either. It's too ordinary, like a slightly more upscale matchbox."

Goo Hara and Sulli nodded in agreement; the house hadn't really piqued their interest much.

So, the group soon arrived at their second stop, Yoyogi 5-chome, Shibuya Ward.

It was a wooden structure house with a land area of ​​170 square meters and a building area of ​​268 square meters. The real estate agent emphasized the advantages of the location, namely the convenience of commuting.

Compared to the one in Hiroo, this house has more of the appearance of a traditional Japanese machiya (townhouse).

Dark wood-look exterior walls and a gently sloping roof.

But what truly caught Lin Xiuyuan's eye was the exceptionally spacious sunken parking garage that led underground from the entrance.

It looks like there's more than enough room to park two or three cars, and the privacy is excellent.

However, apart from the huge garage, the interior structure and decoration of the house seem rather old-fashioned and mediocre, and the sound insulation of the wooden structure is terrifying to even think about.

"This garage is really nice."

So Lin Xiuyuan stroked his chin, muttered something simple, and then added, "Unfortunately, that's about all the highlights."

Later in this area, the group looked at several more houses.

The real estate agent was so tired from explaining everything from 5-chome to 2-chome that he was hoarse.

However, Lin Xiuyuan and others either complained that the apartment layout was unreasonable, the decoration was outdated, or the surrounding environment was too noisy, and they could not find an option that would catch their eye.

Before we knew it, it was already afternoon.

Although they had eaten breakfast in the morning, after a busy morning, some people's stomachs started to rumble by lunchtime.

So, guided by Goo Hara, everyone quickly arrived at a ramen shop in Shibuya that she had frequented before and that had a good reputation.

I'm going to rest here for a bit, have some hot noodle soup to replenish my energy before continuing my house-hunting trip this afternoon.

Inside the ramen restaurant.

After ordering his meal, Lin Xiuyuan turned to look out the window at the bustling streets of Shibuya, which were now exceptionally clear after being washed by the rain, as the waiter left. He couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

"The housing prices in Tokyo are a bit outrageous. Am I just too poor? It feels like even a small house here is incredibly expensive."

Sitting across from him, Park Jiyeon laughed and said, "Oppa, you're not poor, it's just that your assets haven't been fully liquidated yet. Besides, around 100 million yen is a very normal price for a detached house in the heart of Tokyo, and it's freehold land."

Goo Hara, who was elegantly sipping her barley tea, nodded in agreement, "Yes, Xiuyuan~ I think the prices of the apartments we looked at today are all within an acceptable range, not too expensive. The main problem is that the apartments themselves are a bit small, and the layout is not ideal."

Sherry stirred the ice in her glass with a straw and chimed in, "Yeah, it's a bit small. And, aren't there any with a pretty little garden? Like, where you can have tea in the afternoon."

Park Hyomin, who had been silently listening to their conversation in the corner, was a little stunned when she heard this.

Want a detached house with a garden in Tokyo?

She frantically calculated in her mind that the price was far more than 100 million yen; it would be at least several times higher.

The way these people talk about housing prices is almost like they're buying cabbage at the supermarket.
Although she has earned a lot of money as an idol, she still doesn't dare to buy a house, just like buying groceries.

Thinking of this, Park Hyomin subconsciously muttered her inner complaints aloud.

This made Goo Hara, who heard the voice, turn her head and look at her. Then she smiled and looked at Lin Xiuyuan in a very confident tone, saying, "Actually, it's not bad, Xiuyuan. If you really see one you like later, just buy it. I can afford it."

As the absolute mainstay of KARA over the years, Goo Hara's income is quite considerable.

In addition, she has a good business sense and has made many successful investments with her teammate Han Seung-yeon, so her personal savings are far greater than those of Sulli, who had just come of age and had limited savings.

She's even someone who can rival the "rich women" Lin Xiaolu and Jessica Jung.

Upon hearing Goo Hara's words, Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his nose and muttered, "Let's see, there's no rush."

Park Hyo-min, who witnessed the entire conversation, stared even wider, her mind filled with questions.

What's the meaning? ?

Judging from Hera's tone, does she mean that if Xiuyuan likes the house, she'll pay for it?
She was already bewildered, but now she was even more bewildered.

The look in their eyes as they looked at Lin Xiuyuan and Goo Hara was filled with disbelief and despair.

After a while, the steaming hot ramen was served, temporarily interrupting the discussion about housing prices.

While slurping up the delicious soup noodles, the group continued to discuss their afternoon's itinerary.

Sherry was the first to suggest, "Should we expand the scope a bit more? There's no need to focus solely on the core area. We could also check out Nakano Ward or Bunkyo Ward. We have a car, so it won't be too much trouble to get there. We can even buy a car and park it there later."

But Park Jiyeon directly expressed her opposition, insisting on her own idea, "Let's stick with the core area."

After a moment of silence, she continued with a statement that nearly made Park Hyomin, who was drinking water next to her, choke, and made her mind even more confused: "Right now, Tokyo's housing prices are just beginning to rise. If you don't buy now, the prices will only get higher later, and you'll regret it even more then."

Having done some research on finance and real estate in the past two years, Goo Hara nodded in agreement, "Jiyeon is right, that's exactly how the market is."

At this moment, Ham Eun-jung, who had been quietly eating her noodles, put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.

“In that case, let’s go see the last one this afternoon. It’s in Chiyoda Ward. I’ve looked at the information. It’s a two-story detached house with three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The location is great, right next to Meiji Shrine and a park, and it also has a small but lovely backyard. Most importantly, the neighborhood is very quiet, with low population density and good privacy.”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and conveyed their opinions.

It's right next to a park, quiet, private, and has a backyard...

These keywords seem to hit their needs.

"Let's go take a look then," Lin Xiuyuan finally decided.

After finishing lunch, the group set off again, heading straight for the address in Chiyoda Ward that Ham Eun-jung had mentioned.

As the vehicle slowly drove into the quiet street and finally stopped in front of a mansion, almost everyone in the car's eyes lit up.

The first thing that catches the eye is a lattice of carefully tended asparagus ferns, which replaces the traditional cold and hard wall and creates a hazy and Zen-like atmosphere.

The area around the grille is a solid wall nearly two people high, cleverly constructed from large, naturally shaped stones.

The interior space is completely enclosed, ensuring excellent privacy.

Through the gaps in the grille, one can vaguely see the outline of a modern building with a strong sense of design. Its lines are smooth and bold, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding traditional Japanese houses.

As the car stopped and everyone got out, the real estate agent who had been waiting at the door greeted them.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he led the group to the heavy solid wood door, gently pushed it open, and the scene inside delighted everyone.

The interior design here is not the traditional Japanese style that Lin Xiuyuan and his group had seen before.

Instead, it adopted the minimalist modern style that Lin Xiuyuan really likes.

The spacious, high-ceilinged living room features huge floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the lush greenery of the backyard indoors, filling the room with natural light.

The overall color scheme is dominated by light gray, natural wood color, and white.

The furniture features clean lines and a strong sense of space.

Although the two-story house has only three bedrooms, each bedroom has its own bathroom and is spacious.

What's even more satisfying is that the living room, dining room, and a semi-open multi-functional activity area occupy a considerable amount of space.

It is a perfect place for Lin Xiuyuan and his friends to gather and relax in the future.

Although the small backyard is not large, it is carefully arranged with stone paths and low-maintenance greenery, and furnished with an outdoor table and chairs, making it a perfect private relaxation space.

"This looks really good, unnie." After touring around, Sulli immediately took Goo Hara's arm and whispered, her eyes shining with excitement.

Goo Hara nodded slightly, her gaze shifting between the spacious, bright living room and the small backyard.

Although Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing beside the two, did not speak, the way he looked around and the slight upturn of his lips revealed his satisfaction.

Even Park Hyomin, who had always considered herself an outsider, couldn't help but exclaim as she looked at the uniquely designed and tranquil house, "This place is really nice."

After hearing Park Hyo-min's subconscious praise, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly seemed to have discovered something interesting.

He turned around, a playful smile on his face, and asked her.

"Hyomin, from what you're saying, you also think this house is nice, right? So, are you interested in buying it?"

"Huh?? Me...me?" Park Hyomin was completely taken aback when Lin Xiuyuan suddenly brought up the topic of her.

He immediately waved his hand and shook his head, his face full of refusal, "I can't afford a house like this. This location and this design must be very expensive."

As if to confirm her guess, Ham Eun-jung, who was having a detailed conversation with the agent, turned around at the right moment and whispered the price quoted by the agent to everyone in Korean.

A figure that, even when converted to US dollars, would leave the average person speechless, firmly falls into the range of "several million" US dollars.

When the price was announced, everyone looked somewhat surprised.

Goo Hara raised an eyebrow slightly, quickly calculating the available cash in her mind.

Shirley let out a soft "wow".

Park Hyo-min's reaction was the most direct; she gasped sharply, her eyes widening, her face clearly showing disbelief.

Lin Xiuyuan seemed oblivious to the reactions of others, his attention remaining focused on Park Hyomin.

She took two steps closer. "Hyomin, don't be modest. With all your earnings over the years, you should have enough to buy this place, right?"

Park Hyo-min was somewhat embarrassed by his overly direct, even offensive, question.

Strangely, she didn't seem to feel that it was excessive or anything. She pursed her lips, and her voice unconsciously lowered, carrying a hint of self-mockery and helplessness.

"Even if it's barely enough, it would still require going bankrupt and selling everything I own. If I buy it, I'll probably have to go back to the days of eating instant noodles when I was a trainee."

Upon hearing this answer, Lin Xiuyuan was not disappointed at all. Instead, he seemed to have heard an extremely satisfactory answer and chuckled softly.

Just then, Ham Eun-jung finished her initial communication with the agent and came over, about to start discussing the price and details with Lin Xiuyuan.

However, he keenly noticed the unusual look in his eyes as he lingered on Park Hyo-min.

"What's wrong, Xiuyuan? Do you think there's a problem with the price?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan slowly shifted his gaze from the somewhat bewildered Park Hyomin's face and turned to Ham Eunjung beside him.

Instead of directly answering the question about the price, he spoke in a strange tone.

"Jingjing~" Lin Xiuyuan rarely used such an affectionate term, which made Ham Eunjung's heart skip a beat. "I suddenly realized that I'm a little envious of the 'supplementary gold card' that Hyomin has."

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(End of this chapter)