Chapter 130: Lin Yun'er's mischievous smile (Seeking monthly tickets and subscriptions)

Inside the tavern in 2013.

As a few Cantonese songs finished playing, Kim Taeyeon, with Lin Xiuyuan's tacit approval, put on an 80s Japanese vinyl record by Tatsuro Yamashita. The melody was brisk, the rhythm soothing, and the whole space seemed to become lazy and comfortable.

Kim Taeyeon, having finished everything, smiled and sat back in her seat, handing the empty glass to the other, "Boss Lin, another one."

"Won't you be drinking a bit too much?"

Lin Xiuyuan, having taken the glass, smiled, but his hands didn't stop moving.

Kim Taeyeon wrinkled her nose and retorted casually, "It's not like I'm drinking like Xiuyan, it's fine."

As she spoke, she glanced at the vinyl wall covered in record covers, "But you don't have many records here, a lot of classics are missing, what a pity."

"This place hasn't been open long, those records were just collected randomly from a few shops. When I have time, I'll go hunt for some more interesting ones."

Lin Xiuyuan responded with a smile while mixing the drink, then pushed it over, "Of course, if you come across any good, classic ones, help me bring some back too. Just remember to let Xiuyan pay the bill."

Jessica, who was sipping her drink, was suddenly dumbfounded and wanted to retort.

But after seeing Lin Xiuyuan's smile, she snorted coldly, "Are you saying that to Taeyeon? You're clearly naming me to help you buy discs."

"If that's how you understand it, then that would be truly great, no need to trouble Taeyeon at all."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled openly.

Kim Taeyeon, sitting beside them, laughed out loud.

After a few drinks and a few records, the time quietly slipped to ten o'clock at night.

The night was deep. Jessica, having had a few cocktails, tapped the bar table, looking at the two who were becoming increasingly excited, "Alright, let's stop chatting for tonight, it's getting late, Taeyeon."

"Ah, what time is it?"

Kim Taeyeon, who was chatting happily with Lin Xiuyuan, was a bit surprised and even reluctant to go back, wanting to talk all night.

This boy was just too much to her taste; every time she talked about something, he could quickly find the train of thought she was thinking of and then draw a conclusion with one needle-prick.

Kim Taeyeon had always scoffed at the idea of a kindred spirit.

It wasn't until she met Lin Xiuyuan today that she realized such a person really existed.

"It's past ten at night, time to go back. There's a pictorial shoot tomorrow, need to get up early."

Although Jessica had had a few drinks, her mind was still clear, just her eyelids were a bit heavy.

Hearing the answer, Kim Taeyeon knew the importance of things, so she nodded slightly and looked at Lin Xiuyuan, "Then Xiuyuan, let's talk again next time. Come, let's add contact information."

Over the years, this was the first time she had taken the initiative to add a male's contact information.

Jessica raised an eyebrow and said nothing until the two had finished exchanging contact information, then she glared fiercely at Lin Xiuyuan, "Can we go now? Let's leave."

As she stood up, she didn't forget to tease Kim Taeyeon, "Taeyeon, seriously, consider that condition I mentioned earlier. It's normal for a leader to discipline members, and then you can become a member and come here to play whenever you want."

Kim Taeyeon just smiled, said nothing this time, turned around, waved goodbye to Lin Xiuyuan, and pulled Jessica out of the tavern.

Lin Xiuyuan saw them to the apartment parking lot, watched the car drive away, then returned to the tavern, tidied up some loose ends, and went back to his apartment.

Then he went to the villa in 2025, replied to a few messages from Dalongzai and Krystal, and very rarely returned to the apartment in 2013 to sleep for the night.

The reason was simple: Park Jiyeon and Sulli were looking for him in the group chat, saying they had something to talk about the next day and told him to come over early.

So he simply didn't bother and stayed nearby for the night.

Anyway, this apartment was fully equipped, he just rarely used it.

Around ten o'clock the next morning, Lin Xiuyuan was woken up by a phone ring.

"Hello~"

After groggily grabbing the phone to answer, a voice with a hint of surprise came from the other end, "Daebak, Oppa, you didn't—you didn't go over to rest last night."

After opening his eyes to check the caller ID, Lin Xiuyuan continued to close his eyes and said, "Yeah, didn't you say you were looking for me? I was too lazy to go back. Do you have to come over so early?"

"No, I'm going to pick up Zhenli now. Oppa, do you want to eat any breakfast? I'll buy some and bring it over after I pick her up."

"Soy milk and fried dough sticks, I guess." Facing Park Jiyeon's question, Lin Xiuyuan thought for a moment, "Also, don't go to the tavern, come straight up to my apartment, I'm too lazy to go downstairs."

"Nae, then Oppa, you sleep, we'll come in ourselves when we arrive."

"Hmm."

After the call hung up, he turned over and continued to sleep.

About half an hour later, the apartment's password lock beeped, and two figures quietly pushed the door and entered.

The two girls wearing hats and masks took off their gear as they walked. Sulli smiled and whispered, "Oppa really isn't awake yet."

"It's rare for Oppa to stay here today." Park Jiyeon also laughed, "Probably because we called him last night. If we hadn't, with Oppa's sleep quality, he probably would have waited until noon."

The two looked at the slightly cold apartment. Sulli suddenly squatted down and touched the entrance cabinet, "Eww, so dirty."

"Could it be that he hasn't hired a housekeeper for several days?" She turned to look at Park Jiyeon.

Park Jiyeon also checked the sofa, but it was actually quite clean, "Probably the auntie was lazy."

"Let's get some water and help wipe it." Sulli suggested.

And just like that, the two girls, having nothing to do, started cleaning the room.

When Lin Xiuyuan was finally woken up by the clattering noise in the living room, he opened the bedroom door and saw broken glass and a wooden frame on the floor, and two slightly panicked girls standing aside.

"What... are you two doing?"

He smiled bitterly while walking over quickly, pulling them to the sofa, "Alright, alright, stop moving, sit and rest for a while, I'll clean it up."

"Oppa, we originally wanted to help clean your apartment, but when we tried to take this picture frame down to wipe it, we didn't hold it steady and broke it."

Sulli and Park Jiyeon looked at each other, their faces full of embarrassment and worry.

Lin Xiuyuan just smiled, "It's fine, you didn't get hurt, did you?"

The two shook their heads; fortunately, they dodged quickly, otherwise, wearing shorts, they really might have been scratched.

Seeing they were safe and sound, Lin Xiuyuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly cleaned up the glass shards and wood chips.

Then he ran back to the villa in 2025, brought back a sweeping and mopping robot, and put it directly into the apartment.

After handling all this, he looked at the two on the sofa, "Let's go, let's go to the tavern to talk, leave this to the robot."

Upon hearing this, Sulli and Park Jiyeon got up and followed Lin Xiuyuan to the villa's living room.

2025, inside the villa.

Not long after, Lin Xiuyuan, who had finished washing up, returned and saw the two girls huddled together on the sofa scrolling through videos, and couldn't help but laugh.

"According to your situation, I think I need to buy a few more spare phones. Otherwise, when there are more people, this phone of mine won't be enough to go around."

"That's a good idea." Park Jiyeon nodded in agreement.

Sulli placed the breakfast on the coffee table for Lin Xiuyuan and called him over to eat.

After Lin Xiuyuan sat down, he bit into a fried dough stick and looked at the two, "You said you had something to talk about today, what is it?"

Park Jiyeon looked at Sulli, "Sulli, you go first?"

Sulli nodded, and without much hesitation, she got straight to the point about why she was looking for Lin Xiuyuan.

"Hmm, actually I don't have anything major, just telling you, Oppa, that we're going to Tokyo, Nihon in a week. It just so happens that Hela Unnie's work will be mostly finished by then, so she can have some time to accompany us around."

Also having time was Lin Xiaolu. After communicating with the company, they were finally willing to give Lin Xiaolu four or five days to relax and prepare for this female lead role.

But this was the final concession; once or twice was fine, but a third time wouldn't work.

Lin Xiaolu also understood this point. For the company's profit, their upcoming world tour was more important, so this Tokyo trip was probably her final desperate attempt.

Listening to Sulli's arrangements, Lin Xiuyuan nodded while biting the fried dough stick and picked up his phone to check the date, "A week later? Sure, I have no plans."

Anyway, these few days were enough for him to greet Krystal and Dalongzai and report in advance.

Especially Dalongzai, having just been intimate and clingy yesterday, and then turning around to play missing for over a week—how was this different from a scumbag?

But when Lin Xiuyuan thought of Dalongzai, his gaze subconsciously glanced at Park Jiyeon beside him. Same face, similar figure, the little thoughts in his heart suddenly ignited again.

Scared, he quickly lowered his head to continue eating breakfast and silently recited the "Golden Light Divine Incantation."

Fortunately, Jiyeon wasn't Dalongzai; her eyes weren't that sharp, and she didn't notice his abnormality at all, speaking for herself, "Oppa, my side is a bit more troublesome. Recently, I want to rent the T-ara brand name to open a shop. At first, the company wouldn't agree no matter what, but then they suddenly loosened up, saying I should go ask the Unnies' opinions. If they nod, the company will let it pass."

"Pfft," Lin Xiuyuan laughed out loud after hearing this, "This means they don't take your investment seriously at all."

"I think so too."

Park Jiyeon pouted, "Anyway, there's no movement for our sub-unit's comeback, and next is going to Tokyo to prepare for the tour. I plan to discuss it with the Unnies then. As long as they nod, the company side will be settled."

"Sounds like good news." Lin Xiuyuan swallowed the last bite of the fried dough stick and nodded with a smile.

Who would have thought Park Jiyeon would change the subject, "But the problem is here, Oppa."

"Hmm?" He looked up.

"In Seoul, our group's fame can't bear this kind of entrepreneurial risk at all. I guess before the shop even opens, we'll be roasted to a crisp."

Park Jiyeon sighed, saying somewhat helplessly.

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, "Didn't we agree before? Put it overseas."

"That's where the problem lies." Park Jiyeon pouted, looking aggrieved, "If I open a shop overseas, unless I completely withdraw from activities, someone will definitely have to help me manage it. But where would I get that kind of connection, Oppa~"

She acted a little spoiled, looking helpless and a bit pitiful, "Xiuyan Unnie did say she could help me keep an eye out, but I'm embarrassed to always trouble her. You tell me, what should I do—"

Although she spoke as if she were full of trouble, Park Jiyeon actually already had a plan in mind.

Her idea was to find a professional manager to manage it entirely, and she would be a hands-off boss, occasionally showing up.

But the problem was exactly here.

In case she met someone who would embezzle funds and run away, or fake the accounts, she would have no way to fight back.

Thinking of this, she simply threw the problem to Lin Xiuyuan.

Because in Park Jiyeon's view, if there's a problem, looking for Oppa is never wrong.

At this time, Sulli, sitting on the side, was quietly scrolling through videos without interrupting.

But seeing Lin Xiuyuan finish his soy milk, she handed him her unopened soda water, then continued to lower her head to watch her video, listening quietly to the two chatting.

And on Lin Xiuyuan's side, after listening to Jiyeon's narration, he was silent for a while, his gaze falling on the empty cup on the table, thinking seriously.

Just as he raised his head to speak, his phone rang.

Several people looked over at the same time.

When the three words "Lin Yun'er" lit up on the screen, Park Jiyeon and Sulli both smiled in unison, only Lin Xiuyuan,

his expression subtly became awkward.

But he still answered, "Hello, Yun'er~"

The voice of Lin Yun'er laughing came from the other end, "Good for you, Xiuyuan, leaving me for a day without answering the phone, right?"

Once these words were out, Sulli and Park Jiyeon immediately looked at Lin Xiuyuan, and he quickly explained, "Hey, hey, hey, Yun'er, I didn't stay at the villa last night because I had something to do, it wasn't that I specifically didn't answer your call."

"Hmm? Is someone with you?" The change in tone made Lin Yun'er immediately vigilant.

"Yeah, someone from back home came, do you want to come over?"

As soon as the words fell, the voice on the other end preempted, "Open the door for me, I'm at the door."

A few minutes later.

After entering the house, Lin Yun'er first happily hugged Sulli, then sat between her and Park Jiyeon, "What's going on with you two today, gathering together?"

Sulli explained what happened last night while laughing, as well as the "helping with a mess" cleaning situation this morning, which made Lin Yun'er laugh uncontrollably.

After laughing, Lin Yun'er didn't forget to send her belated blessings to Park Jiyeon beside her, "By the way, Jiyeon, it was your birthday the day before yesterday, I didn't have time to go over, you won't be angry with me, right?"

"How could I, Unnie." Park Jiyeon shook her head with a smile, "Xiaolu Unnie was there helping me celebrate, it's about the same whether you were there or not."

After saying this, she looked at this Lin Yun'er from 2025 for the first time, her heart full of surprise and sigh.

Although her skin inevitably had some traces of time, her overall vitality, temperament, and spirit were still stunning,

"And Unnie, your state is too good. Even if you were put back in 2013, you'd still be a proper visual-level center."

Compared to some "old woman" who was defeated by time early on, it was simply much better.

"Hahaha, I love hearing that." Lin Yun'er smiled happily, "Jiyeon, next time you come over, I'll make up a birthday gift for you."

"Then I'll be waiting, thank you Unnie~"

After chatting for a few sentences, Lin Yun'er's gaze suddenly turned to Lin Xiuyuan, glancing mischievously at Park Jiyeon beside him.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan became nervous instantly, swallowed a few times, and quickly changed the subject, "That—Yun'er, why did you come over suddenly today?"

"Why else? It's because someone didn't answer the phone all day." Lin Yun'er laughed again.

"Didn't I say, I really had something to do."

Lin Xiuyuan responded with a forced smile, but his eyes were clearly begging her for mercy, asking her not to talk nonsense.

If Park Jiyeon really knew about his situation with Dalongzai, it would be a bit awkward.

Even though the original "assist" came from Park Jiyeon, but now that the progress bar was really moving, he didn't want her to know for the time being.

After all, when I slept with the future you, and then looked back at the current you who is still ignorant, under such a gaze, you are almost completely uncovered, almost naked.

Just like Krystal and Zheng Xiujing before, every time Zheng Xiujing came to the tavern, Lin Xiuyuan looked at her and would occasionally think of Krystal, thinking of the other's initiative, and then looking at Zheng Xiujing's introversion.

Looking at Zheng Xiujing's appearance of slightly lowering her head and not wanting to communicate, the boldness and enthusiasm of Krystal that night would involuntarily appear in his mind.

To be honest, that strong sense of separation was really quite stimulating.

Fortunately, Lin Yun'er just smiled and didn't expose his "little tricks" on the spot.

"Actually, I came over this time, and I also wanted to find Lin Xiaolu." She changed the subject lightly, "I've been staying up late these two days to organize some teaching methods and lesson plans for her, I want her to take a look."

"Okay, then I'll go call her later."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Park Jiyeon, however, didn't forget her original question, still staring at Lin Xiuyuan with watery eyes, looking like "I'm still waiting for your solution, Oppa."

Lin Yun'er, who had just heard Sulli explain the ins and outs, also had a general understanding of her problem, so she cast her gaze toward Lin Xiuyuan.

Obviously, she also wanted to see how this little boy would make his move.

Lin Xiuyuan thought for a moment and said decisively, "Two ways."

"The first one, push back from the future. Find a reliable professional manager or company, hand over the project and funds for them to manage, and you be a hands-off boss, sitting and waiting to collect money."

He paused, then changed the subject, "But the problem is, out of ten pieces of information you can find on the internet, nine are fake. Even if you use future information to check back, it's the same; if the accuracy is inconsistent, the risk is still there."

Lin Yun'er had the most say in this point, so she nodded immediately.

"Right, Xiuyuan is right. But it's not without a way. If you are willing to spend some money to trace the other party's resume, background, and project records, you can actually find some real information, it's just troublesome. And, the hardest part is still the human heart."

After Park Jiyeon finished listening, she also said her thought; the human heart was always ranked first.

Then she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, "Then what's the second way, Oppa?"

P

This time, Lin Xiuyuan's tone was significantly more hesitant than before, and his expression was a bit complicated.

But seeing Park Jiyeon's shining eyes, and recalling the delicious dish from Dalongzai the night before, he finally sighed.

"The second way, I'll give you a phone number in a bit. You go back to 2013 and call it, and explain your situation to that person."

He paused and continued, "The other party should give you a condition, or a contract. No matter what is written on it, you just sign it directly, they won't treat you badly."

Having said this, he paused again, his gaze falling on Park Jiyeon's face.

"Remember to report my name."