Chapter 121: Happy birthday, Zhiyan

2013/06/06

Evening, 【Jieyou】 Tavern.

As soon as she entered the door, Sulli was attracted by the buffet warmer in the corner, and couldn't help but exclaim, "oppa, so much food, can you really finish it? It seems a bit wasteful, these two rows seem to be too much."

"You open it and see, there's not much, just many varieties."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was sitting on the stage tuning the guitar, raised his head, first smiling and greeting Zheng Xiujing beside Sulli, and then turned to answer Sulli's question.

Sulli really opened it and looked at the food tonight, and after a while, looked at Lin Xiuyuan excitedly. "oppa, did you do all this? So fragrant, I want to eat it at a glance."

"You're thinking of farting, I can't do these, found a master of Chinese restaurant to do it."

Zheng Xiujing, who finished listening to Lin Xiuyuan's answer, pointed to the balloons and banners on the top of her head, and said with some amusement. "What about these? When I first entered the door, I almost thought I went to the wrong place."

"This is simple, chatted with a group owner of a fan group last night, saying I planned to hold a birthday party for Zhiyan, but didn't know how to do it. As a result, people recommended some small shops that contracted these things, spent some money and got it done."

After saying all this, Lin Xiuyuan sat up and suddenly laughed. "Originally the shop owner said, if I could get Zhiyan's autograph, I could be exempted from the bill, I thought about it carefully, it's over, it seems I've known Zhiyan for so long, and I've never asked for her signed photo, lost big."

Following Lin Xiuyuan's little story, Sulli and Zheng Xiujing laughed wildly, and Sulli raised her hand. "oppa, I will definitely bring you a few signed photos next time."

"What about Xiujing's..."

"Give it to you, give it to you."

Zheng Xiujing, who was also laughing, waved her hand directly, this guy was too funny.

Then the two started to take their seats, and then wondered why the protagonist hadn't arrived yet. To this, Lin Xiuyuan's explanation was, "Zhiyan came over at noon, but went back later, saying wait until Enjing is busy over there, and then come over together."

"What about you oppa?"

"It's fine, I'll just guard the shop, since the tavern opened, it seems I haven't guarded the shop for a whole day."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled.

Just like that, they chatted for a while, Sulli suddenly left

"What do you mean 'early'? This is called sending my blessings at the first possible moment; once it passes 12 o'clock, it's your birthday."

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan finished speaking, Sulli just stared at him, neither taking the bait nor saying a word.

After a while, she finally said, "I stayed with Zheng Xiujing last night, oppa, did you forget?"

At this moment, the 'Zheng Xiujing' Sulli was referring to was not the one behind her; how could Lin Xiuyuan, who had personally opened the door for her to go to the villa last night, not know that?

So his expression suddenly became a bit awkward, "So what are you talking about? I'm not quite sure."

Sulli smiled triumphantly, "Hehe, I heard from Zheng Xiujing that Zhiyan... no, Big Zhiyan is planning to hold a birthday party tomorrow, isn't that right, oppa~"

Lin Xiuyuan, who had thought Sulli was just bluffing, didn't expect her to actually know, so he extended his index finger and made a 'shh' sound, "Don't make a scene, Sulli. That's a matter for tomorrow; it has nothing to do with today."

"So you're really cunning, oppa, actually coaxing Zhiyan into holding her birthday today so you can take tomorrow off to go..."

As Sulli's tone carried a heavy dose of teasing, Lin Xiuyuan finally understood what she meant and hurriedly raised his hand to press down in the air, "Alright, alright, I get it. What do you want, Sulli? Tell me, I won't object."

"Heehee, I'm not threatening you, oppa~" Sulli said with a pursed-lip smile.

Hearing that extremely familiar tone in his ears, Lin Xiuyuan was left speechless, "Ah, Sulli, don't learn these bad habits from that Zheng Xiujing; it's not good."

"Oh, I'll tell her next time."

Lin Xiuyuan raised his hands in surrender, "Fine, you win. Tell me, what do you want to do?"

"Actually, I don't really want to do anything. It's just that I said I wanted to go find Hela, and I was thinking it's not safe to go alone, so how about..."

"I'll go with you. I get it, I'll go with you."

Since things had reached this point, Lin Xiuyuan naturally understood Sulli's meaning and agreed without hesitation.

As Lin Xiuyuan said those words, Sulli immediately smiled; after all, this could be considered completing the task Xiuyan unnie had entrusted to her.

However, on the surface, Sulli still feigned innocence, though her mouth carried a slightly mischievous tone as she spoke in a 'green tea' manner, "Is that really okay? Oppa, if you do that, you won't have that big sister over there to keep you company, nor will you have Zheng Xiujing's warm jade in your arms."

"You've gone bad, Sulli."

"Hmph hmph hmph, being bad is better than being dead."

One sentence, game over.

After a while, Zheng Xiuyan, Lin Yun'er, and Sunny arrived.

Adding Sulli and Zheng Xiujing, the U-shaped sofa was instantly filled.

So when Park Jiyeon arrived wearing a see-through outfit, followed by Park Hyomin and Xian Enjing, the bistro was instantly packed with beauties, the room filled with an intoxicating fragrance.

"Xiuyuan, when did you turn your bistro into this?"

Xian Enjing, already familiar with the place, sat at the bar as soon as she entered and asked with a curious smile.

Then Lin Xiuyuan told Xian Enjing the same story he had told Sulli and the others, making the short-haired goddess exclaim "Daebak!"

And Park Jiyeon, the protagonist who had already heard the story, walked over from the sofa and, with a *slap*, placed a stack of autographed photos in front of Lin Xiuyuan, "Here you go, oppa. Next time you need to settle a tab, use a few more of these."

"That will probably have to wait until next year's birthday," Lin Xiuyuan replied with a straight face while tidying up the photos.

"I wonder if our autographed photos can settle a tab?"

At this moment, Park Hyomin walked over and asked Lin Xiuyuan with a hint of curiosity.

"Ah, I don't know. I'll ask for you next time."

Park Hyomin continued, "It's a pity. If I had known you could hold birthday parties here, Boss Lin, I would have held mine here a few days ago. It would have saved me from being all alone in the hotel with no one to celebrate."

"Uh, next time, next time."

As the protagonist of tonight's party arrived, the atmosphere gradually grew lively.

Lin Xiuyuan moved the phonograph aside, cleared the small stage, connected a USB drive to play the pre-prepared dance music, and turned on the flashing lights.

The originally literary-style bistro instantly transformed into a small, high-energy party spot.

With food and drinks, it was no less impressive than a private room in a large bar outside.

Although the space was a bit small, for these girls who couldn't show their faces in public, this was enough for them to have a blast.

During this time, Lin Xiuyuan acted as a very important bartender, enjoying the close-up hot dances of the beautiful girls while taking care of the beauties who came to drink and talk with him.

And so, when Xian Enjing, feeling familiar from the night before, started lingering and refusing to leave, Park Hyomin suddenly leaned in, her eyes darting between her and Lin Xiuyuan.

"Something's not right, Enjing, Boss Lin. You two have only had a drink alone once, how did you become so familiar?"

"Our topics and hobbies are quite compatible, I suppose. I didn't expect Enjing to have such a literary personality."

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, but as soon as he did, Park Hyomin's eyes widened, "Boss Lin, did you get muddled from drinking? Enjing, her? Literary?"

"Yah, Park Hyomin~"

Xian Enjing hurriedly covered Park Hyomin's mouth, but it was too late; the next sentence had already slipped out.

"Enjing, what did you steal from me to deceive Boss Lin? You can't do that."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was busy with the wine shaker, was stunned. He looked up at the two of them, only to find that Park Hyomin had already been dragged to the sofa by Xian Enjing to be taught a lesson.

But even with two gone, there were still many beautiful girls in the bistro, and the next second, another one filled the spot.

It was none other than tonight's protagonist, Park Jiyeon.

She sat on the high stool, panting, as if she were tired from dancing.

So Lin Xiuyuan smiled and handed her a glass of ice water, "Drink some water and rest. There's plenty of time tonight, no need to rush."

"Aren't you going to come out and play, oppa?"

Park Jiyeon took a big gulp of water, not noticing that a few drops had slid down the corner of her mouth to her neck.

So, just after saying that, she suddenly felt uncomfortable all over, her neck feeling hot and itchy.

When she looked up, she saw Lin Xiuyuan staring right at her.

He then pulled out a tissue, handed it to her, and pointed to her throat, "Don't be like a little kid, you can even spill water while drinking, right?"

Only then did Park Jiyeon hurriedly wipe her throat and collarbone, turning her eyes away, feeling a bit hot, "Oh, it's nothing, I'm used to it."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, "That habit of yours, Big Zhiyan seems to have it too."

This remark immediately provoked Park Jiyeon's dissatisfaction, and she pouted unhappily, "Ah, oppa, we're having a good time, you're not allowed to mention her."

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan apologized quickly. After coaxing the Little Dragon Cub back, he curiously pointed toward Xian Enjing and Park Hyomin, "By the way, Jiyeon, why did Hyomin just say that Enjing stole her things?"

"What things?" Park Jiyeon didn't quite understand.

Later, when Lin Xiuyuan explained the situation with Xian Enjing from the night before, she burst into wild laughter, her little hands even slapping the table.

"Hahaha~ I can't take it, oppa, you're going to kill me with laughter."

"What?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked bewildered, "What's wrong?"

Then Park Jiyeon turned her body and seriously explained to him while pointing at the two over there, "Enjing unnie has a gentle personality, that's true. But the books she likes to read and her painting are actually things she gradually picked up after being with Hyomin unnie for a long time."

"So you're saying, Hyomin is the literary girl?" Lin Xiuyuan's eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't expected that at all.

He didn't follow idols, nor was he a reincarnator, so he wasn't very clear about these things.

What he had looked up in 2025 were only major events; he hadn't specifically gone to look up gossip.

But even so, Lin Xiuyuan was very clear that Park Hyomin was synonymous with being generous and open-handed.

And now you're telling him that this wealthy, generous, open, and free existence is actually a literary type?

This contrast left him stunned.

"It's like that, oppa, Hyomin unnie's 'stealing', ahahaha, and Enjing unnie too."

Park Jiyeon, getting more and more excited, laughed until tears were almost coming out, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Lin Xiuyuan, who hadn't expected this twist, couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. Just as he was about to retort, his gaze subconsciously fell upon her.

Because it was her birthday today, Park Jiyeon had put some thought into her outfit.

A black sheer blouse with a light-colored camisole underneath; faintly, the outline of her collarbone and shoulders traced an ambiguous play of light and shadow under the lamps.

The hem of the sheer garment hung slightly, clinging to her slender waist, and as she laughed, rocking back and forth, the layer of light gauze on her chest trembled gently, as if every detail was teasing his nerves.

It wasn't deliberate sexiness, but it was harder to look away from than something deliberate.

Park Jiyeon hadn't put much thought into her outfits before, so Lin Xiuyuan hadn't noticed much.

Only today did he suddenly realize why Park Jiyeon was able to break through the blockade of the peak Lin Yun'er and come out on top; this figure and beauty were explosively good.

Compared to the Little Zhiyan of this moment, Big Zhiyan seemed to have only that mature, married-woman richness and that open, fascinating personality.

It would have been better not to compare, but once compared, the latter seemed even better.

After all, she's a married woman!

The XP of a young man made Lin Xiuyuan swallow hard. He immediately looked away, pretending to be nonchalant as he picked up his water glass to take a sip, trying to cover up his suddenly accelerating heartbeat.

But Park Jiyeon didn't seem to notice his embarrassment, still laughing until she was shaking, and even reached out to push him lightly, "Oppa, I really didn't think you'd be fooled. Don't you know Enjing unnie has a nickname called 'Sweet Enjing'? She's the sweet type."

"I haven't paid much attention to these side news."

Lin Xiuyuan laughed dryly, not daring to let his eyes wander as much as before.

"Then you should look more next time, so you don't get fooled by others again. It's so funny, I can't, I have to go tell Xueqiu about this, hahaha."

With that, Park Jiyeon stepped off the high stool and walked toward Sulli, who was fiddling with an electronic keyboard with Sunny.

Lin Xiuyuan was left standing behind the bar, looking a bit strangely toward Xian Enjing and Park Hyomin. The former seemed to sense Lin Xiuyuan's gaze and, feeling a bit ashamed, raised her hand and gave Park Hyomin a few more slaps, causing the latter to run away in pain.

After this small interlude, the bar continued its previous rotation system.

Park Jiyeon left, Lin Yun'er came over, chatted happily, ate and drank a bit, and then was replaced by Zheng Xiuyan.

Then Sunny and Zheng Xiujing also came to patronize a few times.

Meanwhile, the time was gradually approaching late at night.

When Park Jiyeon returned to the bar again, Lin Xiuyuan chatted with her for a while, and seeing that the preparations in the back were almost done.

He bent down to pick up the gift he had hidden earlier and, under her shocked gaze, placed it on the bar, "Here, Zhiyan, happy birthday!"

As Lin Xiuyuan said these words, the lights in the entire bistro instantly went out, and the music stopped abruptly.

In this quiet atmosphere, Sulli walked slowly from the back, holding a small cake with lit candles. The candlelight flickered in the darkness, making the smile on her face look gentle and bright.

The friends around them clapped in unison and softly hummed the birthday song.

Park Jiyeon was stunned at first, then a look of realization and disbelief appeared in her eyes, which shimmered with emotion.

When Xian Enjing gently stepped forward to hug her, Park Jiyeon whispered her wish and blew out the candles on the cake.

A cheer erupted in the room, the lights came back on, and the entire bistro was once again filled with warm light.

Sulli placed the cake gently on the bar, right next to the special gift Lin Xiuyuan had given her.

At this moment, everyone saw the surprise of that gift.

"Wow, are these building blocks? Are they building blocks made from Zhiyan's photos?"

As Park Hyomin exclaimed from the side, everyone noticed that the figure on the building block stage really seemed to be Park Jiyeon.

Lin Xiuyuan explained in time, "I had someone design a small building block set based on a photo of you on stage. I hope you like it."

Only then did Park Jiyeon have time to properly appreciate the gift in front of her.

It was a stage model made of custom building blocks, a classic look she once had on stage.

A neat short skirt, holding a microphone, lights falling, a confident smile.

The entire scene was divided into nail-sized blocks, each printed with detailed images; when put together, it presented a complete scene of her standing under the spotlight.

It was a silhouette belonging to her peak moment, and also the stage where she was most proud and most recognized.

Although it was a Q-version model, it was very much to her liking.

So Park Jiyeon stared at the model for a long time, her fingertips gently brushing over the blocks, as if she could touch the high-spirited self from the past.

Her eyes turned red involuntarily, but the corners of her mouth lifted quietly, her voice choked with emotion yet carrying a smile, "Oppa, how did you think of making this?"

"I just thought it looked good, so I had someone design it. As long as you like it."

Lin Xiuyuan replied while clicking his tongue slightly, feeling a bit awkward.

He really hadn't expected such a simple gesture to receive such a sincere reaction from Little Zhiyan, and he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty in his heart.

After all, this gift wasn't worth much money, and getting such a reaction really left him at a loss.

Perhaps this was what that Teacher Sunny from the future meant by 'the thought is what counts'.

Park Jiyeon didn't respond immediately, just staring at him intently, her eyes surging with many indescribable emotions.

Suddenly, she reached over the bar and hugged him tightly.

Startled, Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly protected the gift and the cake, "Hey, hey, hey, Zhiyan, be careful, be careful."

Park Hyomin and Xian Enjing on the side also hurriedly moved the two items away, fearing they would break the gift and the cake, ruining the mood.

Afterward, Park Jiyeon let go of him gently after hearing his shout, but before returning to her normal posture, she suddenly planted a big, sweet kiss on his face.

The sound of the kiss was crisp and loud, stunning everyone present, their gazes focusing on the two of them.

Then, Park Jiyeon's voice carried an unhidden emotion, her eyes shining with sincere light, "Thank you, oppa, I like it, I like it very, very much."

Lin Xiuyuan responded softly, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly, "As long as you like it, happy birthday, Zhiyan."

The next day.

2025/06/07

Villa master bedroom.

After finishing the party with Park Jiyeon last night, as the only one who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, he had to accompany them one by one to send those girls back to their respective dorms. By the time he finally returned to the 2025 villa, it was already past 3:00 AM.

By the time he finished everything and went to sleep, it was already 4:30 AM.

So when the Little Dragon Cub's call came, he was still fast asleep.

Woken up, he answered, "Hello~"

The Little Dragon Cub's bright voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying a cheerful atmosphere, "Xiuyuan, why aren't you up yet? Hurry up, get up! I'm taking you to the beauty salon to get cleaned up. Today, we have to make those people so amazed their eyes go blind!"

But Lin Xiuyuan was a bit confused, "Beauty salon? What am I going there for?"

As he spoke, he glanced at the time on his phone.

8:00 AM!!!

(End of chapter)