Chapter 13: Let's go, I'm treating you to dinner in the past

【Old Time】

Krystal, who had been sleeping soundly, was suddenly woken up by the ringtone of the phone on her bedside table.

She squinted in a daze to glance at the caller ID, then grabbed the phone to answer, her voice still carrying the laziness of someone who had just woken up.

"Hello, Unnie~"

"Xiujing-ah, you haven't gotten up yet?"

A highly infectious laugh came from the other end of the line, as if it could make anyone feel better just by hearing it through the receiver.

Krystal smiled as she listened, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, "Mm, not yet. What's wrong, Unnie~"

"Why don't you come down and have lunch with us? Sulli and I are right near your Apartment."

"Hm? Don't you guys have an event?"

Krystal sat up abruptly, her tone full of curiosity.

"Listen to the sound, it's raining, so to let the fans come over, the time has been pushed to the afternoon."

At Victoria's reminder, Krystal finally noticed the fine sound of rain outside the window, pitter-patter, not loud but persistent.

At this moment, another cheerful voice came through the phone, "Xiujing-ah, hurry down, we're just waiting for you."

The two people's calling made Krystal smile even more brightly.

"Nae, coming right away."

Because she knew someone was waiting for her, Krystal's preparations for leaving were exceptionally quick this time. After washing up, she hastily applied some toner, put on her glasses and a hat, and headed out.

Then, she glanced at the address of the restaurant Victoria had left her, went downstairs, passed through the back door, walked through an alley, and arrived at the entrance of that bibimbap restaurant.

This restaurant was a place where members of their group often came to gather for meals. Although it specialized in bibimbap, the grilled meat and grilled rice cakes were actually quite good too. The location was remote and it wasn't very popular, but it had many repeat customers because of its outstanding taste.

For example, Krystal, who was entering the door at this moment, and Victoria and Sulli, who were already waiting in the private room inside, were regulars here.

After entering, Krystal greeted the landlady very familiarly, then walked from the hallway to the door of the private room, turned the lock, and pushed it open.

The people inside had already cast their eyes toward the door when they heard the sound of the lock, and upon seeing it was Krystal, they smiled happily.

"You're here, come in quickly."

"Xiujing-ah, I'm so envious of you, I also really wanted to sleep until now."

The two people speaking were Victoria, who was in a light and elegant spring outfit—a beige, draped trench coat with a light blue shirt and high-waisted beige trousers underneath, the overall color tone soft and clean.

And Sulli, the lively and sweet "peach," wearing a floral chiffon dress in shades of cherry pink and pale purple, fresh and full of girlish charm.

As for Krystal, who had walked in, because she was in a hurry to leave, she had simply thrown on a loose, gray-blue hoodie, with a khaki baseball cap pulled over her head, yet she still had an unadorned sense of relaxation and ease.

Upon entering the room, she looked at Sulli with amusement, "It's as if you didn't sleep until you woke up naturally yesterday. When I went back to the Dormitory, you were still fast asleep."

Sulli leaned on Victoria's shoulder, acting spoiled, and hummed, "But I wanted to today too."

Victoria smiled and patted her hand, "Alright, I remember you'll be able to rest in a few days. You can sleep to your heart's content then."

"Hmph, hmph, hmph~"

"Haha, Xiujing, see what you want to eat and order. Sulli and I have already ordered some things in advance."

"Okay, Unnie~"

……

……

"Okay, Unnie~ I know, it'll be fine. I'm just going out for a stroll and will be right back."

【New Time】

Evening.

Although Krystal had agreed to go out with Lin Xiuyuan after finally finishing her work, her good sense of safety still made her inform Jessica about the situation before leaving.

In case something actually happened, there would at least be a direction for investigation.

Then Jessica on the other end of the phone lectured her, and even described Lin Xiuyuan as a flood or a wild beast, telling her not to be foolish.

But the Krystal of today was no longer the "Little Crystal" from back when she was on a Variety Show with her.

She was already in her early thirties, independent, mature, and had her own judgment and bottom line.

So she just smiled and gave a few perfunctory replies before hanging up, her gaze falling on Lin Xiuyuan not far away.

At this moment, he was sitting at the entrance of the RV, under the awning, his expression relaxed.

So she walked over and called out, "Let's go, we can set off."

"Don't you need to cover up a little?"

Hearing her voice, Lin Xiuyuan reached out and gestured.

Because Krystal was still wearing the clothes of her character from the drama, a sharp, all-black outfit that outlined her slender yet toned figure in a sharp and exquisite way, her posture as straight as a painting.

A silk low-cut tank top slightly revealed her collarbone, a subtle sexiness hidden behind a cold aura.

She raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and retorted, "Are we going to a crowded place?"

Lin Xiuyuan thought about it and shook his head.

"Then there's no need. Anyway, we'll go and come back quickly, get some rest early, there's work tomorrow."

Krystal, giving these words again, was actually also hinting for Lin Xiuyuan not to overthink things.

Lin Xiuyuan understood, and without saying more, he took her to that black Mercedes-Benz GLS.

And when Krystal saw the brand of this SUV, she immediately laughed out loud, "Wow, Mr. Lin, is this what you called being down-and-out? Honestly, we were really fooled by you that day."

Lin Xiuyuan unlocked the car door, stood in front of the driver's seat, raised an eyebrow, and shrugged helplessly, "I won't explain too much about the situation that day. Anyway, you'll know everything in a while."

"Is it this again? Mr. Lin, do you know which character in the DC World I dislike the most?"

As she spoke, she sat into the passenger seat, a faint fragrance lingering in the car cabin.

Lin Xiuyuan gripped the steering wheel, was lost in thought for a moment, then smiled, "I know, the Riddler, right."

Discovering that the other party could catch her reference, Krystal's eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth lifted, "Yes, exactly right."

At the same time, the vehicle started up and drove from the Studio in Yeouido toward that Villa in Gangnam District.

Along the way, the two people in the car didn't chat much.

Krystal leaned slightly against the car door, maintaining a subtle distance from Lin Xiuyuan.

Neither near nor far, neither overly intimate nor appearing distant.

It wasn't until a restaurant she liked flashed past the window that she turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan and asked, "How about we have dinner first? Aren't you hungry?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who was focused on driving, glanced at her and replied softly, "I'm fine. I've already arranged tonight's dinner; rest assured, I definitely won't let you down."

After hearing the reply, Krystal pursed her lips, instinctively assuming that this 'chaebol scion' was going to take her out for something like a candlelight dinner.

However, when she followed Lin Xiuyuan into that stylishly and luxuriously decorated Villa, only to find the house and Living Room completely empty, she realized she had guessed wrong.

So she turned her head to look at him, "Didn't you say we would have dinner first?"

At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan had already stood before that room door hanging with a brass lock, reached out, and gently pulled the door open.

He smiled at Krystal, who had just spoken, "Come on, I'm treating you to dinner in the past."

The comments and follow-up reads are still too few, everyone, please give a little more; don't let this tender, green new book wither away. Give this newbie some hope~

(End of this chapter)