Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 333 The Gambler "Little Ming" (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

As Lin Xiuyuan jumped into the spacious Japanese-style bathtub, the warm water enveloped his entire body once again.

When he looked back, he saw Park Hyomin's cheeks flushed slightly, her almond eyes wide open, and she looked helpless and frustrated at his childish act of revenge.

So he couldn't help but laugh even harder, and even laughed out loud.

But it was Lin Xiuyuan's victorious smile that completely ignited Park Hyomin's competitive spirit and temper.

"Hey! Lin Xiuyuan!"

So he let out a soft cry, braced his hands on the edge of the pool, and was about to get up and chase after him, seemingly intending to argue with that annoying guy or punish him with his actions.

Fortunately, Ham Eun-jung, who was sitting next to her, reacted quickly and grabbed her arm, pulling her back into the pool.

He whispered, "Hyomin, calm down..."

Otherwise, judging from Park Hyo-min's posture, the two might actually have a real-life, indiscriminate fight between men and women in the hot spring pool and bathtub.

However, judging by gender and physique, no matter how you look at it, Lin Xiuyuan is unlikely to be the one who suffers a loss...

Not to mention it's a swimsuit.

Meanwhile, Sulli and Goo Hara, hand in hand, carefully sank into the hot spring pool.

As the warm, slightly scalding pool water instantly submerged their skin, from their toes to their shoulders, every pore seemed to open up.

The two of them simultaneously let out a few satisfied and relaxed breaths.

"Phew...soaking in a hot spring on a day like this is so relaxing."

Lying in the water, Sulli felt the wonderful sensation brought about by the temperature difference between her body and the outside. She then looked at the small waterfall and maple forest in the drizzle not far away, and turned to Goo Hara, saying with emotion, "Unnie, you spend a lot of time in Tokyo, do you often enjoy yourself like this?"

When asked, Goo Hara shook her head, leaned against the pool, and spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"Truth, do you really think we idols who are active outside have a lot of free time? If it weren't for the typhoon disrupting all our schedules, it would be difficult for you to even see me, let alone have time to go out for a hot spring."

After saying that, she turned her gaze to Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing on the other side of the bathtub.

"Oh right, Xiuyuan, if you're going to surprise me like this again, could you at least let me know beforehand? What if I happen to be busy with work or a schedule and can't see you, or simply don't have time to deal with you?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan, who was already sprawled on the edge of the bathtub enjoying his private space, immediately gave a rather calm-sounding reply.

"Hmm, it's alright. If I'm not available this time or the timing isn't right, then it just means we're not meant to be. We can just wait and see; there will always be a suitable time."

"Huh? So... hasty?" Goo Hara was somewhat surprised by the answer and couldn't help but exclaim.

Lin Xiuyuan said, "This is not a hasty decision; it's fate, and it's a two-way journey."

Then, looking at Shirley, he nodded and said, "Just like when I asked True if she wanted to attend a special party, she nodded in agreement, and that's why I took her there. If she had refused or hesitated back then, there probably wouldn't have been the story that followed."

"So, when it comes to the crucial step, someone has to take the first step, and the other person has to be willing to follow."

When Lin Xiuyuan brought up the topic of herself, Shirley glared at him with amusement before turning to Goo Hara to explain.

"Unnie, don't listen to how nice he sounds. Oppa back then was a hundred times worse than he is now. He asked me if I wanted to attend my own funeral, and I was so scared that I almost screamed and ran away."

Park Jiyeon, one of those present, was smiling sweetly beside her.

Watching Lin Xiuyuan and Shirley's back-and-forth banter, Goo Hara gradually understood what they meant by fate and mutual attraction.

It's simply that he took the initiative to step forward and offer a choice, an opportunity.

They also needed to muster their courage, overcome their emotions, and take that crucial step forward to grasp his hand.

That's how the later changes came about.

If you had backed down, been afraid, or refused back then, it might have truly been a case of being destined to be apart and missing each other completely.

However, if Jessica, far away in Seoul, knew what Goo Hara was thinking at that moment, she would probably sneer and say: "Heh, what a load of rubbish about mutual attraction! This girl clearly knows how to play kidnapping and information fraud!"
Meanwhile, there was another person on the scene who was completely bewildered, feeling as if they were not part of the painting in front of them.

That's Park Hyomin, who's always surrounded by encrypted conversations.

As she listened to these people start talking about topics she couldn't understand at all, topics that seemed to be surrounded by a barrier, she finally chose not to remain silent and endure it.

With a "whoosh," she raised her arm and forcefully splashed water in the pool, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, showering the hot spring water onto everyone in the pool.

He successfully drew everyone's attention to himself.

Then, looking directly at everyone, he asked in a tone that was a mixture of annoyance, grievance, and a relentless pursuit of answers.

"Wait a minute, what nonsense are you spouting again? No, even though you dragged me out to look at houses and soak in hot springs today, I still don't seem to understand a word of what you're saying. What is it that I can't know?"

Facing Park Hyomin, who had finally gone completely mad and uttered a soul-searching question, Ham Eunjung, sitting in the corner, quietly smiled.

Because she seemed to see the dawn of a plan to "recruit people" that was about to be completed.

Park Jiyeon quickly came to Park Hyomin's side, affectionately took her arm, and explained in a reassuring tone.

"No, unnie, don't overthink it. The funeral oppa mentioned was just a small themed party that a few of us had privately. We're used to using weird and special names to refer to things, it really didn't mean anything by it, it was just for fun."

As Park Hyomin listened to Park Jiyeon's explanation, her gaze instead turned to Lin Xiuyuan in the bathtub with a scrutinizing look.

Upon sensing that gaze, Lin Xiuyuan simply shrugged, not denying Park Jiyeon's statement.

Because in a sense, after that meeting, everyone did get together for a meal and a chat.

Some people laughed heartily, while others cried to release their emotions...

It really felt like a special "party".

His actions prompted Park Hyomin to gently grasp Park Jiyeon's small hand, then firmly pull away the hand that was holding hers.

Then, under the curious and ominous gazes of the crowd, he made a surprising move...

Just like Lin Xiuyuan, Park Hyomin stood up from the hot spring pool with a splash, revealing her sexy figure, which was even more impactful when wet, in the steamy water.

Then he stepped straight out of the rock pool, his bare feet touching the cool stone slabs, and walked a few steps to the large bathtub.

To everyone's astonishment, he lifted his leg and stepped directly into the bathtub.

"Wow..."

The water in the bathtub, which had calmed down, rose and began to slosh around instantly after she joined in.

At the same time, Lin Xiuyuan, who was leaning against the other side and looking at the courtyard scenery, was startled and turned around abruptly to look at the newcomer, "Holy crap, Park Hyomin, what are you doing? Are you being a pervert???"

Park Hyomin, who sat down opposite him, felt the warm pool water rise to her chest. She stared intently at Lin Xiuyuan and said through gritted teeth, "I came to play games with you!"

"What game are you playing? Stop fooling around and get down here. Men and women shouldn't touch each other." Lin Xiuyuan was a little taken aback by her aggressive demeanor.

Although he has evolved quite a bit recently, he's still not ready to handle a celestial feast yet.
"What nonsense are you thinking? It's just a simple game of rock-paper-scissors." Park Hyomin announced the rules, her eyes burning with a competitive spirit. "Whoever loses has to obediently let the other person splash water on their hand, no dodging allowed, are you in or not?!"

Looking at the woman in front of him, who was clearly so angry that she was about to lose her temper and wanted to get revenge in this primitive way, Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously glanced at Xian Enjing and the others in the hot spring pool behind her.

As a result, the people on the other side, including Park Jiyeon who was just explaining, all seemed to be watching the show with an attitude of indifference, as if it were none of their business.

With a gloating smile on his face, he clearly had no intention of getting involved in this personal feud.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan readily agreed, his confident smile returning to his face. "Let's play! Who's afraid of who?"

At the same time, his gaze was openly admiring the curvaceous youthful body directly opposite him, silently commenting in his mind: So youthful, so well-endowed, so big and fair-skinned.

As he looked at the other person, Park Hyomin's voice came through, "Come on, let's begin. Scissors, rock, paper..."

In the first round, Lin Xiuyuan played a solid lead. Park Hyomin played a weak scissors.

So she lost.

Then, before Park Hyomin could even admit defeat or react,

Lin Xiuyuan, who acted swiftly and without any mercy, had already scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on her face with a "smack".

Water splashed everywhere. Park Hyomin hadn't even fully entered the game mode yet. She was completely dazed, her face wet, and a few strands of hair stuck to her cheeks.

Seeing her confused and slightly aggrieved look, Lin Xiuyuan suppressed a laugh, but asked insincerely, "Are you alright, Hyomin? Or maybe..."

Upon hearing Lin Xiuyuan's intention to quit, Park Hyomin immediately wiped the water droplets from her face with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and her eyes became even sharper. "It's okay, continue!"

Second round.

"Scissors, rock, paper!"

Lin Xiuyuan spread his five fingers, forming the character "布" (cloth).

Park Hyo-min seemed to have made up her mind about something, and stubbornly clenched her fist, throwing out the "stone".

She lost again.

So another handful of water was poured unceremoniously onto her face, which she had just wiped dry.

The third round.

"Scissors, rock, paper!"

Lin Xiuyuan continued to steadily play "cloth".

Park Hyo-min seemed to be determined to fight the "stone," her fists clenched tightly, her eyes fixed on Lin Xiu-yuan's hand.

It's still "stone".

The water droplets that had just slid down her face hadn't even dried completely when, in the blink of an eye, they became damp again.

The fourth game.

Fifth game.

The situation remains unchanged.

The two seemed to be stuck in some strange stalemate, stubbornly refusing to change their gestures.

Lin Xiuyuan has always been producing "cloth".

Park Hyo-min has always been known for her "stone" (referring to her work).

The water sprayed continuously from Lin Xiuyuan's hands, and some of the splashing water droplets even landed on Ham Eun-jung, Goo Hara, and others who were watching the battle in the hot spring pool behind them.

After losing five games in a row, seeing his unnie Park Jiyeon repeatedly banging her head against the wall like a stubborn idiot, he couldn't help but call out to her with some concern.

"Hey~ Unnie, can you stop being so stubborn? Nobody keeps losing, and you keep making the same gesture. Try something else."

However, Park Hyo-min had already lost five games in a row, her hair was soaked, and her face and neck were covered in water, making her look quite disheveled.

He was already like a gambler who had lost everything at the gambling table, so when he heard Park Jiyeon's words, he didn't even turn his head, only squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Come again!"

Looking at her like this, Lin Xiuyuan's mischievous joy was gradually replaced by a sense of helplessness and amusement.

He chuckled sheepishly and suggested, "Why don't you splash me back a few times? Let's call it quits."

"No!" Park Hyomin immediately refused, her tone resolute. "A bet's a bet! Continue! Begin!"

After she finished speaking, she glared at Lin Xiuyuan fiercely, her eyes seeming to say, "Stop talking nonsense and continue to die."

Left with no other choice, Lin Xiuyuan had to continue.

However, this time he had a moment of sympathy, or rather, he wanted to end this one-sided torture as soon as possible, so he planned to deliberately lose a round.

Give Park Hyomin a way out, let her win once, and calm her down.

So, the moment the sixth round's "rock, paper, scissors" was called out, Lin Xiuyuan quickly switched to "scissors".

In my mind, I was thinking: If I choose scissors, she should be able to choose rock to beat me, right? That way, she can splash me once.

However, fate always likes to play tricks.

Or perhaps Park Hyo-min's thought process is a bit strange.

The person opposite seemed to be engaged in a fierce internal struggle as well.

He might be thinking: "This guy has played paper five times in a row. Is he worried that I'll play scissors to counter him this time, so he'll switch to fists? If so, I can beat his fists by playing paper!"

In a flash, Park Hyo-min spread her five fingers and made the character "cloth".

Lin Xiuyuan's "scissors" landed firmly on Park Hyomin's "cloth".

"..."

"..."

The two looked at each other's gestures and froze simultaneously.

The scene before him stunned Lin Xiuyuan. Instinctively, filled with confusion and disbelief, he blurted out a question.

"Hyomin, why aren't you throwing a punch?!!"

Park Hyomin on the other side was also stunned by the loss, her mind went blank, and she subconsciously answered with the same heavy sense of grievance and confusion.

"I thought you'd be worried I'd play scissors to counter you, so you switched to fist... So I played paper, hoping to beat you..."

"..."

After a brief silence.

"puff……"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!"

"Oh my god, I can't take it anymore! Hyomin unnie, you're so cute!!"

"Hahahaha, what an amazing duel!!"

Behind them, in the hot spring pool, Ham Eun-jung, Goo Hara, Sulli, and Park Ji-yeon, who had been holding back for a long time, listened to the two's conversation, which was full of illogical and precisely misplaced ideas.

Finally, unable to contain themselves any longer, they all burst into a deafening burst of laughter.

Even Lin Xiuyuan was stunned when he saw Park Hyomin, whose face was covered in water droplets, whose expression was blank and aggrieved, and who was still struggling with the situation.

He couldn't help but rub his forehead, his shoulders shaking violently, laughing so hard he almost choked on the hot spring water.

The courtyard was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

　Godfathers, please vote for me at the beginning of the month!!!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)