Chapter 153: Xiuyuan, how can bread be as delicious as you!

Inside the Apartment, at the Kitchen island.

As Lin Yun'er's words, "Lin Xiaolu really is a fool, you see, isn't this just you being proactive yourself?" fell, Lin Xiuyuan looked at her blankly, as if struck by something.

The lingering warmth on his lips had not yet dissipated, but his footing had already been completely disrupted by the offensive of the woman before him.

"Wow..."

After a long while, Lin Xiuyuan finally came to his senses, couldn't help but chuckle, and raised a hand to rub his forehead, "YoonA, you're like this... I'm really a bit afraid of you."

"Afraid of what?"

Lin Yun'er curled her lips, leaning lazily against the edge of the island, looking up at him slightly.

The warm yellow light in the Kitchen hit her shoulders, making her eyes look bright and clear, as if she were about to see right through a person.

"Afraid that you'll dig a pit for me, set a trap to fish for words, and finally watch me jump in with a smile."

"I didn't use a rope to tie you up, nor did I put a knife to your throat; you jumped in yourself."

Lin Yun'er chuckled, her tone unhurried, "Besides, pit or not... I've already delivered myself to your door, don't you like it?"

As she spoke, she slowly raised her hand, her fingertips gently circling her exposed collarbone.

That movement carried an inadvertent seduction, more lethal than any words.

Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously swallowed, his gaze involuntarily drawn downward by Lin Yun'er.

But then, as if suddenly realizing something, he jerked his head up to meet her eyes.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither spoke.

Later, Lin Yun'er laughed first.

She revealed an "I won" smile that couldn't be more obvious, like a cunning Bambi teasing a big mushroom, waiting to swallow it whole once she had played enough.

"Don't look at me with that gaze."

This scene made Lin Xiuyuan unable to keep his composure, and he hurriedly shifted his gaze, "Let's do Bread Making, don't waste time, what time is it already."

"Can't even look? Then can we play a little?"

But Lin Yun'er laughed with a lazy tone, yet it was full of meaning.

Then came another seduction, "I'm dressed like this, you wouldn't think it's everyday wear, and I said those things to you... If you can still think of nothing like this, then I have to question if you're not capable, or if I really have no charm."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his gaze fixed, his brows furrowed while a faint arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"YoonA, I've discovered a similar situation. That is, all of you after 2025 are so proactive, so crazy. Xiujing is, Zhiyan is, and now you..."

"I'm not, whether one is proactive or not is your own business."

Suddenly, Lin Yun'er stood up straight and slowly approached Lin Xiuyuan, her voice also dropping extremely low.

"I'm just enjoying the way you're dazed by my flirting right now, and I'm also reminding you not to underestimate 'Lin Yun'er'. Although Lin Xiaolu is a bit stupid... that's also me."

Her breath neared his cheek, separated by almost only a thin, mist-like distance.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Lin Xiuyuan asked with somewhat rapid breathing.

"I know." Lin Yun'er responded softly, smiling brightly, "I'm enticing a young boy who has been afraid to make a move, wanting him to admit sooner... that he himself has actually been moved for a long time."

As her tone dropped, she turned and picked up a water glass from the side of the Kitchen, as if that deadly flirtatious remark was just ordinary small talk.

And Lin Xiuyuan stood where he was, blankly watching her back, as if his soul had just been snatched away, yet he didn't even struggle.

This round of ambiguous, restrained confrontation—without suspense, he had completely lost.

As for the situation afterward, as Lin Yun'er turned around, the two stood back on either side of the island.

The moment just now seemed as if nothing had happened, leaving only the soft light in the Kitchen and that row of neatly placed ingredients.

Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head, pretending to look seriously at the measured flour and yeast, his fingers pinching the edge of the measuring cup, yet his fingertips were trembling slightly.

The lingering heat of that kiss had not yet fully dissipated, and those few words from Lin Yun'er were like a fire quietly buried in the bottom of his heart, burning more intensely the more it was stifled.

"Did you forget how to knead? Didn't we just do it once last night?"

Lin Yun'er's voice came from across, her tone hiding a smile.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had raised his head, hadn't even had time to reply before he saw the other party had already circled to his side.

Her movements were as natural as if everything were just taking its course, very much like the way he used to be in Roppongi, standing behind Lin Xiaolu and teasing her.

This time, it was Lin Xiuyuan's turn to have someone pressed against his back.

"Come, I'll teach you." Lin Yun'er reached out, gently gripped his wrists from behind, and then pulled his fingers to the large bowl containing the flour, "First pour the water in slowly, then stir hard."

Her voice was not loud, but every word seemed to be spoken against Lin Xiuyuan's ear, her breath like orchids, the temperature almost able to scald his earlobes.

Lin Xiuyuan, unable to suppress his emotions, couldn't help but move his body slightly, but was pressed even tighter by Lin Yun'er.

"Don't move." Lin Yun'er, with a bit of deliberate bossiness, laughed in a low voice, "I heard from Lin Xiaolu that in the Tokyo Jiudian, you taught her the same way, didn't you? Hooking her, teasing her little by little?"

Lin Xiuyuan's movements paused, his gaze changed, "Wait... YoonA, are you... trying to get back at me for Lin Xiaolu?"

"If that's what you think, then there's no problem with that."

Lin Yun'er chuckled behind his back, her tone unhurried, "But I'm even more curious about one thing, and that is, after the situation just now, which kiss do you like better—mine or Lin Xiaolu's?"

Once that sentence fell, Lin Xiuyuan's mind began to jump uncontrollably, frantically bouncing back and forth between Lin Yun'er and the Lin Xiaolu of 2013.

He had experienced both of them.

If he had to say what was different.

The lips of the Lin Yun'er before him were scorching.

The lips of the 2013 Lin Xiaolu were reserved.

One was like post-drinking red cherries, carrying intoxicating provocation and emotional fluctuations.

One was like morning dew, obedient, gentle, yet easy to make one sink into.

Although the two were the same person, their personalities had undergone earth-shaking changes twelve years later.

So the feeling of kissing was also completely different, even if the lips were still those same lips, and even the length of the tongue was the same.

Thinking of these things, Lin Xiuyuan slowly became a bit distracted, and when he came to his senses, he realized he was staring blankly at Lin Yun'er's lips.

And the other party happened to notice something, giving him a slight smile.

……

……

At the same time.

Inside the SM practice room in 2013.

Having just finished a dance and covered in sweat, Lin Xiaolu was sitting on the floor resting. She looked down at herself in the mirror, her bangs plastered wetly against her forehead, but her eyes were lost in a dazed, absent-minded state.

At this moment, a hand suddenly patted her shoulder from behind.

Zheng Xiuyan leaned down to look at her, "What's wrong, YoonA? You've been acting strange ever since you came back from eating outside at noon."

Hearing the voice behind her, Lin Xiaolu turned to look at the other person, then glanced at the surroundings as if confirming if it was safe, before asking softly, "Unnie, what do you think of Lin Xiuyuan?"

"Hm? Lin Xiuyuan?"

Not expecting to suddenly receive this question, Zheng Xiuyan was slightly taken aback, then narrowed her eyes with a hint of inquiry, "Wait a second, did something happen between you two?"

As clever as Zheng Xiuyan was, she immediately saw the clues from Lin Xiaolu's absent-mindedness and the situation of the two of them going on a 'business trip' to Tokyo this time.

"It's alright, it's not really a problem."

All Lin Xiaolu was thinking about now was the conversation Lin Yun'er had with her at noon; regardless of what was active or passive, the actual core was just Lin Xiuyuan himself.

She had actually understood this point before, but she had rarely taken it to heart.

It was just that after feeling there were no changes later, she subconsciously thought, it's just a matter of opening The Gate, why are there so many thoughts about it?

But it wasn't until today, when she was fiercely awakened by Lin Yun'er's questions about "experience" and "identity," that she felt as if she had been struck by a rod, and a certain string in her heart was plucked clearly and loudly.

And at this moment, Zheng Xiuyan also watched her pensive appearance quietly, and after a moment, she said leisurely, "Although I don't know what you two did, if you're asking me: if I could, I would go get a marriage certificate with him right now, lock him down."

As soon as these words came out, Lin Xiaolu's eyes widened instantly, and she turned her head to look at her in disbelief, "Ah? Unnie, are you serious?"

"Why, are you surprised?"

"A little, then why don't you... do it, Unnie."

Thinking of what Lin Yun'er told her about Lin Xiuyuan's carefree life in 2025, Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but ask.

However, Zheng Xiuyan smiled calmly, "How old is he? Even a supermodel like Miranda couldn't lock down a man; I don't think I can lock him down as I am now. It's better to just let him play for now, no rush, just let things take their natural course later."

"But over there in 2025, he seems to be a bit..."

Lin Xiaolu didn't say the rest; after all, this involved Krystal, and she was a bit worried that the Unnie in front of her would fly into a rage.

"So what? Should I go make a scene with him when I have no status and no reason? Besides, the marriage I mentioned isn't about feelings; I just want to use that status to take out an insurance policy on that guy."

Zheng Xiuyan's words sounded seemingly carefree, but her tone was not light, and her expression was even a bit complicated.

It wasn't that she didn't think highly of Lin Xiuyuan; just the fact that he had the Time Gate as his ability was enough to make her heart flutter.

Not to mention that face, his age, and his personality were also OK, so Zheng Xiuyan was very willing to try and have a real relationship with him, and she knew such a man was worth her investing her emotions.

It's just a pity, she didn't have the time.

It was currently a time when Girls' Generation was busy as could be, and as a top-tier popular member of the group, besides rehearsals, GG endorsements and commercial performances occupied almost all of her time.

Occasionally there was a little rest time in the gaps, but that would require Lin Xiuyuan to wait for her, and he wasn't some little boy she was keeping.

She, on the contrary, had to offer things to him, so this was clearly not very possible.

Therefore, the relationship between them had been hovering in place. There were undercurrents, there were emotions, but it lacked a fuse to truly detonate it.

After listening to Zheng Xiuyan's such direct answer, Lin Xiaolu seemed to have grasped a thought.

While nodding gently, she smiled and said, "Unnie, if I really want to have a romance with him, what do you think?"

The voice was not loud, just enough for Zheng Xiuyan to hear.

Then the latter froze, "Hm? Have a romance?"

"Yes, I mentioned that 'Experience School' situation to you before, and recently it seems I've really been caught up in it. Originally, I was under some pressure regarding those thoughts, but now that I've heard you say it like that, the pressure is gone."

Zheng Xiuyan was stunned again, "What did I say?"

"Just treat it like taking out an insurance policy."

……

……

Lin Yun'er's Apartment in 2025.

At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan had already kneaded the dough, and the task of shaping it was left to Lin Yun'er.

He picked up his phone on the side and took a few photos to keep as a souvenir.

He also conveniently sent these pictures to Krystal, Dalongzai, and Li Juli and the others.

These people had been sending messages non-stop since just now, asking what he was doing; they seemed even more curious than him about the progress of the bread tonight.

"Are you done reporting?"

Lin Yun'er said with a smile while looking down at the shaped bread dough, "Come help me when you're done; you don't really intend to let me finish it alone, do you?"

"It was just me alone last night."

Lin Xiuyuan said as he put down his phone and stepped forward.

After speaking, he took a rolling pin and pressed down on it.

But after a few times, Lin Yun'er at his side suddenly raised her hand and snatched the rolling pin from his palm, "Not like that, you've flattened it all."

As she spoke, Lin Yun'er placed the dough in her hand directly in front of him, "Come, I'll teach you."

Her hand covered the back of his fingers, soft yet firm, correcting the other's originally restless movements bit by bit.

Lin Xiuyuan looked down at their overlapping hands; the temperature on the back of his hand was infected by her palm, rising until it was as hot as fermenting dough.

Then he smiled, "You're at it again, you really intend to win back the ground Lin Xiaolu lost from me, don't you?"

"What do you think?" Lin Yun'er raised her eyebrows and smiled, her expression faint, yet unable to hide that bit of smugness.

After hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan clicked his tongue again, "Don't you know that you... are really alluring right now?"

Lin Yun'er did not answer, merely arching her brows slightly; the smile at the corners of her lips was faint, yet her gaze did not waver. "So, you couldn't hold back?"

"Did you want me to hold back?"

Lin Xiuyuan retorted.

"I never forced you."

As she spoke, Lin Yun'er's fingers suddenly slid across his palm, stopping at the inside of his wrist to give a light scrape, as if unintentional, yet also like a probe.

Lin Xiuyuan seemed to have something ignited within him; he suddenly reached out and pulled, drawing Lin Yun'er directly toward him.

Stumbling, Lin Yun'er almost fell into Lin Xiuyuan's arms, the fragrance on her body so close it made his heart rate suddenly accelerate.

"What are you doing!" Lin Yun'er chided in a low voice.

"I'm helping you knead the dough." Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head, his gaze falling between her eyelashes and the corners of her lips, "Just in a different way."

As he spoke, he lifted her hands again, and the two stood together, their fingers intertwined as they kneaded the ball of dough.

Lin Xiuyuan held her hands, fingers locked together; the dough was soft and warm, and the two were extremely close.

His gaze remained fixed on Lin Yun'er's lips, those lips that had just been smiling and slightly upturned.

Now they were slightly parted, revealing a hint of dissatisfaction and curiosity after being teased, mixed with a touch of seductive provocation.

And so, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly stopped the motion of kneading the dough.

The hand holding Lin Yun'er's slowly pulled away, shifting instead along her wrist, past her forearm, until it reached her shoulder.

His palm pressed against her skin, the movement unhurried but with a clear sense of direction.

Lin Yun'er was slightly stunned, looking up at him.

In that instant, she met Lin Xiuyuan's gaze.

It was not playful banter, but a fervor so earnest it was almost dangerous.

Like a storm gathering strength, approaching quietly, yet carrying an undeniable sense of aggression.

The next second, he kissed her.

The moment their lips met, it was a sudden, unpredicted plunder.

Lin Xiuyuan, kissing directly, felt a fiery heat within, carrying a certain impulse he could finally no longer suppress.

It was as if he were confirming something, and also as if he were punishing Lin Yun'er for her earlier taunt: "So, you couldn't hold back?"

The breath between their lips and teeth was chaotic and rapid; Lin Xiuyuan was almost filled with endless irritation and possessiveness, as if he wanted to completely swallow the hint of a smile Lin Yun'er had just worn at the corner of her mouth.

A moment later, Lin Yun'er's hands, which had been bracing against the edge of the island counter, trembled slightly as she tried to maintain her center of gravity, but the next second, she instead took the initiative to meet him.

A pair of delicate hands quietly climbed onto the back of Lin Xiuyuan's neck, pulling the heat surrounding her petite frame even closer, to a position where there was no retreating.

Then, just as Lin Xiuyuan was still immersed in his own dominance, she suddenly bit him back.

It was not the kind of bite that caused pain, just a light provocation and flirtation.

Lin Xiuyuan let out a muffled groan, and before he could react, Lin Yun'er had already seized the opportunity to turn, one hand wrapping around his neck as she took advantage of the momentum to force him against the edge of the island counter.

Her movements were light, yet in that instant, she had seized the initiative.

It was as if the wind had suddenly shifted; the hunter who had been on the offensive was now being held by the throat by the prey.

She looked down at him, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes.

"Didn't you say you were helping me knead the dough?"

Lin Yun'er leaned in extremely close, her lips almost touching Lin Xiuyuan's, and she glanced down at someone's restless claws, "Yet you ended up kneading me first?"

Lin Xiuyuan's throat tightened, and just as he was about to reply, he was kissed again by Lin Yun'er.

This time, Lin Yun'er's kiss was bolder and more guiding than his had been.

She seemed to have long since learned how to use the other person's breath to dismantle all of his reason, bit by bit.

And as Lin Yun'er lunged forward, it directly caused Lin Xiuyuan to almost lose his footing.

His hands involuntarily supported her waist, feeling that astonishing smoothness.

Only then did Lin Xiuyuan finally realize that in this battle, he, who had been the first to take the initiative, seemed to have turned into the one being led.

The Lin Yun'er before him was too good at seduction, too good at probing.

The air became scorching, and it lasted for quite a while before finally slowing down.

Only then did Lin Yun'er pull back slightly with a hint of satisfaction, her face flushed from the kiss and still lingering in the moment; she looked at him, panting, a triumphant little curve at the corner of her lips.

"See, you're still the one who took the initiative." She said softly, like a verdict, and also like a boast.

Lin Xiuyuan stared at her blankly, his breathing slightly ragged, his chest rising and falling.

Just as he wanted to move forward to continue, his movement was stopped by a slender finger against his chest.

That finger, lightly pressed against his chest, was soft but carried an absolute sense of restraint.

It caused Lin Xiuyuan, who had already leaned in and was on the verge of losing control, to feel as if a basin of warm water had been poured over him, forcing his intentions back.

Only then came Lin Yun'er's laughter, "Finish making the bread first."

Lin Xiuyuan looked down at her finger, his Adam's apple rolling heavily as he forcibly suppressed the heat surging in his heart, his tone carrying a helpless, wry laugh: "Wow... you women, you really are too good at this..."

"Then why aren't you getting to work?" Lin Yun'er arched a brow, "If you don't start now, the fermentation time will be delayed."

Lin Xiuyuan sighed softly, finally resigning himself to take a step back and pulling the dough back in front of him, "Fine, I'll listen to you."

The light in the Kitchen remained warm, like a soft filter, masking the otherwise uncontainable emotions and desires within the quiet, trivial daily life.

Lin Yun'er divided the fermented dough into several small pieces, instructing as she went, "After kneading them round, press an opening in the middle, fill it with some red bean paste, and don't pinch it too tight; let it have a little gap so it looks good when baked."

Lin Xiuyuan followed her lead and did the same, but before two tries, his piece of dough "split open," the filling spilling out, looking both pathetic and funny.

"Just how much strength do you have?" Lin Yun'er couldn't help but laugh, "You can even knead a piece of bread into a hand grenade."

Lin Xiuyuan held up the "defective product," spreading his hands innocently, "Maybe it's because I was teased a bit too hard by you just now."

"Excuse." Lin Yun'er laughed and rolled her eyes at him, then handed over her own round, smooth bread, "Take this as a reference; if you fail again, I'll punish you by making you wash all the tools."

When Lin Xiuyuan took the bread roll, he accidentally brushed her fingertips, soft and warm, and he looked at her subconsciously.

At this moment, Lin Yun'er was lowering her head, focusing on working her portion of the dough; her long eyelashes were cast downward, and her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat of the Kitchen, her whole person so tranquil it was as if nothing had just happened.

Yet, the lingering warmth of that moment remained between her fingers, making it impossible for one to focus at all.

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"Are you here to have me do Bread Making, or to bewitch my heart and mind?" Lin Xiuyuan muttered in a low voice.

Lin Yun'er did not look up, but the corners of her lips lifted slightly, "Bewitched already? Then you really are quite easy; no wonder it hasn't been long, and Xiujing and Zhiyan have already conquered you."

"I'm no saint who can resist temptation; who could endure that?"

"Lin Xiaolu, you endured it."

"My fault, my fault, I shouldn't have admitted it, otherwise I wouldn't be so passive right now."

These words made Lin Yun'er look up at him, "Do you mean you want to know my sensitive spots?"

"Can I know?"

The two went back and forth, bantering and teasing each other while continuing their "great baking undertaking" at hand.

Unknowingly, Lin Xiuyuan had actually become serious; the dough in his hands became docile and soft, and he gradually managed to make a few shapes that were somewhat decent.

The oven over there had already begun to preheat, and a faint, sweet fragrance gradually permeated the air.

Flour, red bean paste, and warm steam intertwined, as if wrapping the entire room in a soft, viscous emotion, like warm water slowly rising to the heart.

As one piece of bread dough after another was sent into the oven, the temperature gradually rose, and the sweet fragrance slowly spread through the air.

Lin Xiuyuan's heart, however, seemed to be filled by another, more intense aura.

He looked at Lin Yun'er, who was standing in front of him brushing the flour off her hands, his gaze deepening bit by bit.

It was as if shifting from early morning to evening, then falling straight into the night.

The next second, he suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her from behind in a hug.

Lin Yun'er let out a soft, subconscious cry, but she did not struggle, only smiling as she asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, Xiuyuan?"

Lin Xiuyuan did not respond immediately, only lowering his head to kiss the side of her ear; this light kiss carried the heat he had long restrained.

"Although I don't know what's been up with you these past two days..." he whispered, his voice slightly hoarse, "but these actions of yours... are simply setting a fire."

After a pause, Lin Xiuyuan pressed his lips against Lin Yun'er's ear and continued to whisper, "The one who sets the fire burns themselves; you should understand that principle, right?"

Lin Yun'er turned slightly, bumping right into his embrace.

Before she could speak, she was gently lifted up by Lin Xiuyuan and placed on the edge of the island counter.

The cold marble surface touched her skin, making her shiver slightly.

And at this moment, the shoulder strap of Lin Yun'er's slip dress had already slipped off one side while kneading the dough, revealing half of her fair shoulder.

Her hair was messy, yet it added a touch of alluring charm.

Lin Xiuyuan stood before her, their gazes meeting; before her smiling lips could even purse, his kiss pressed down.

It was a kiss that swallowed all thoughts, carrying the sweet fragrance spreading from the Kitchen, and also the throbbing that boiled up from his head to his toes.

Lin Yun'er was kissed until she leaned back, her hands braced on the island counter, her fingertips trembling slightly; her skirt hem lifted slightly at her waist, and those long, fair legs swayed, just happening to hook around his waist.

Lin Xiuyuan's hands landed on her waist, and feeling that inch of soft rise and fall, his breathing became increasingly scorching.

He didn't want to stop, and he couldn't stop at all.

Suddenly, Lin Yun'er gently pushed him away, her breathing somewhat ragged, but she looked at Lin Xiuyuan and smiled, the cunning in her deer-like eyes heart-stirring.

"You're being proactive again."

Before Lin Xiuyuan could retort, Lin Yun'er hooked her arms around his neck herself and whispered in his ear, "Xiuyuan, you can carry me, right?"

As soon as these words fell, Lin Xiuyuan was as if ignited, directly sweeping her up horizontally.

Lin Yun'er laughed softly, letting him carry her out of the Kitchen; the two bumped and stumbled through the warm light, across the distance between the sofa and the coffee table, and finally collapsed onto that soft, beige fabric sofa in the Living Room.

Her skirt was already wrinkled and messy, one shoulder strap slipped even lower, her smooth shoulder line appearing and disappearing.

Her long hair was spread out on the sofa; one hand braced the edge, while the other pulled at Lin Xiuyuan's lapels, as if provoking him, and as if dragging him firmly to her.

And Lin Xiuyuan, braced above her, stared at her with eyes burning almost scorchingly.

"Yun'er, if you..."

"If I what?" Lin Yun'er interrupted him, blinking her eyes, her expression both wicked and pure, "You're already like this and you still want to be stubborn, Xiuyuan~"

Then she leaned in closer, a light laugh at her lips, "I really hope your 'performance' in a moment won't lose to this mouth of yours."

The teased Lin Xiuyuan rolled his throat, but didn't rush to respond, instead lowering his head to kiss her once more.

And at this very moment, the bread in the oven also began to emit a rich aroma.

Mellow and fragrant.

But no matter how fragrant, it could not compare to the temperature on the sofa.

That kind of heat that could scorch reason and ignite emotions.

……

……

And just when Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Yun'er were doing their Bread Making.

On the other side of Seoul, in a certain warm Apartment.

Dalongzai, who had just finished showering, was curled up on the sofa, wiping her hair while watching Li Juli, who was sipping sake in small mouthfuls nearby, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Unnie, why did you run over here instead of going back to rest?"

"There's a question I want to chat with you about."

"It wouldn't be about Xiuyuan, would it?"

Dalongzai reacted almost immediately.

Li Juli did not answer right away, but looked at her, her expression carrying a bit of complexity.

And Dalongzai grinned, "Unnie, you wouldn't be that silly, would you? Actually believing that nonsense about some essence serum?"

"It's hard not to think about it." Li Juli gently swirled the wine in her glass, her tone calm, "Look at your face and Xiujing's, it's too outrageous."

Hearing this, Dalongzai remembered Krystal's state tonight, and immediately flopped onto the sofa, kicking her little feet and laughing.

"It really is a bit. I didn't believe in these superstitious things either, but these two times... after being with Lin Xiuyuan, my skin condition is really a bit too outrageous. This birthday cake, could it really be a gift from God to me?"

"I, on the contrary, think this is a kind of luck."

Li Juli leaned against the sofa and said unhurriedly, "There are things in the world like HeLa cells that can proliferate infinitely, and there are constitutions that can conduct electricity naturally; it's not unacceptable for Lin Xiuyuan to be a bit special."

Hearing her say this, Dalongzai nodded.

Of course, she also knew there were people with "alien constitutions" in this world, and she had seen similar popular science videos when scrolling through short videos.

But Dalongzai still looked at Li Juli curiously, her tone half-joking and half-serious, "So, Unnie, you want to try it?"

"Mm."

Li Juli looked at her, her gaze open and honest, "So I wanted to ask you, you wouldn't mind, would you? If you are truly serious, then I won't make a move."

Once these words were out, Dalongzai was quiet for a few seconds, then shrugged.

"Serious about what? Feelings? There are definitely special feelings, but it hasn't risen to the level of 'feelings' yet... well, for now, I dare not say for the future."

After all, for a woman to develop feelings for a man, sometimes it is just a matter of time and familiarity.

And Dalongzai also knew the outrageous saying about the path to a woman's heart.

If it really happened a few more times, she couldn't say whether she would have a deeper eruption of feelings for Lin Xiuyuan, but at the moment, she didn't.

"Then I can rest easy." Li Juli smiled lightly.

"It's just..." Dalongzai propped up her body, touched the back of her neck, her tone carrying a bit of hesitation, "If we do this, will we be sorry to Lin Xiuyuan?"

"He shouldn't refuse meat delivered to his door," Li Juli said indifferently, her tone as rational as if she were analyzing market supply and demand.

She sighed again, "If your results weren't so excessive, I wouldn't have had this idea either. And Xiujing too, she's too attractive, and I always feel that YoonA also..."

"Huh? No way? Aren't YoonA Unnie and Lin Xiuyuan doing Bread Making?"

Dalongzai flipped through her phone, clicked on the photo Lin Xiuyuan had just sent, and teased, "They are so pure over there, kneading flour."

Her fingers slid across the screen, browsing through a few Kitchen photos, but she didn't find anything too unusual.

Just as she was looking and laughing in a relaxed manner, Li Juli suddenly reminded her.

"Zhiyan, zoom in on the photo. Don't look at the corner, look at the metal panel of the oven under her feet. YoonA seems to be dressed a bit lightly."

Hearing this, Dalongzai was startled and immediately began to operate the phone.

And just as she hadn't clicked open the screen yet, she suddenly turned her head to look at Li Juli, a mischievous smile on the corner of her mouth.

"Unnie, the spot you're sitting in right now is the exact spot where Lin Xiuyuan and I did it."

Li Juli was stunned and turned her head to look at the sofa seat she was currently occupying.

Inside Lin Yun'er's Apartment.

As her breathing gradually became chaotic, the intoxication from being kissed forcefully had not yet faded from Lin Yun'er's eyes, and her whole person was already pressed by Lin Xiuyuan between the soft cushions of the sofa.

Her head was tilted back slightly, her long black hair scattered on the edge of the sofa like an epiphyllum blooming in the night, quiet yet extremely seductive.

"Do you really want to continue?"

Lin Yun'er looked at Lin Xiuyuan, her voice breathy, yet she didn't forget to ask back, as if wanting to lure him once more.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't speak, just looked at her with deep eyes; his answer was the movement of his fingers.

His fingertips rested on her slipping shoulder strap, slowly stroking Lin Yun'er's collarbone, as if deliberately confirming the touch.

His hand was warm and powerful, yet carried a certain extremely restrained slowness.

It wasn't that Lin Xiuyuan didn't want to be fast, but that he wanted to too much, so he could only approach inch by inch, as if only in this way could he keep his emotions from spiraling out of control.

And Lin Yun'er did not dodge, just looked at him motionlessly, her eyes hiding a kind of almost playful acceptance.

Even when his fingers landed on the thin strap at the side of her dress, she instead raised her hand and slowly moved that shoulder strap aside herself, letting it slide down completely.

Then, she smiled softly, "Xiuyuan... hasn't Lin Xiaolu seduced you like this before?"

"No, she didn't seem quite sure, so I didn't touch her."

Back then at the Roppongi Jiudian, although Lin Xiaolu wouldn't have refused, she wasn't entirely certain; Lin Xiuyuan could feel that.

So, already full, he had just kept teasing her, treating it as a game.

"She's probably wanting to have a romance with you, interrogating her own heart."

Lin Yun'er smiled and reached out to pull his collar, making him lean closer to her, "But in my view, if you have an idea, you should do it, even do it ahead of schedule. People like us don't have that much time to have a so-called 'true romance.' Liking is enough; this is what Pei Xiuzhi told me."

"Pei Xiuzhi, that's her style." Lin Xiuyuan murmured with a smile.

Soon, the lights in the Living Room were dimmed a little.

The bright main ceiling light had already been turned off, leaving only a floor lamp in the corner.

The warm yellow lampshade was like a slowly beating heart, casting a faint halo and drawing elongated heartbeat curves on the half-covered blinds.

On the coffee table in front of the sofa, a water glass reflected that bit of light, vibrating slightly as if it had just been accidentally bumped.

The water glass on the coffee table was lightly bumped, ripples spreading in the slight trembling, reflecting a corner of the night outside the window.

A soft sound came from in front of the sofa; it was the sound of a knee hitting the coffee table.

Ripples spread across the water's surface, and in the shimmering light, a tangled silhouette was reflected.

Lin Xiuyuan propped one hand on the back of the sofa and hooked Lin Yun'er's waist with the other, pressing her between himself and the sofa.

The glass vase on the dining table tipped over during a movement, and a few white rose petals scattered onto the tablecloth, like tenderness left behind during a light tug.

And Lin Yun'er, at this moment, was already sitting on his lap, her knees naturally bent and hanging on both sides of his body, her posture ambiguous and bold.

The sound system had stopped playing without anyone noticing, and the room was so quiet that only the sound of the night wind outside the window remained.

The curtains fluttered gently, lifting a corner of her nightdress; that soft silk was like fingers in the air, sliding lightly and tracing a lingering curve that was hard to capture.

A moment later, her spine arched slightly, her skin pressing against the warmth of Lin Xiuyuan's chest, fresh from his shower.

Then, a murmur, half-hummed and half-laughed, broke the silence: "You're clamping too tight."

This was followed by a coquettish laugh: "Xiuyuan, is it possible that the problem is your tool?"

In the distance, the oven in the Kitchen let out a "beep—".

Yet this sound seemed swallowed by the room's atmosphere, as if coming from a distant world, utterly unable to pierce through the soft space woven from ambiguity and intoxication.

The minimalist painting on the wall was slightly crooked, perhaps nudged when someone's shoulder brushed against the wall.

One slipper lay lonely on the carpet, while the other had long since been abandoned by the entrance two meters away, as if kicked off in such a hurry there was no time to look back.

The silk nightgown that had been the center of conversation just moments ago now hung quietly over the back of a chair, the fabric swaying gently in the breeze, as if still echoing with the lingering warmth of the movements just past.

And the silhouette on the sofa had long since blurred into two overlapping shadows, seemingly separate yet joined, appearing and disappearing with the shifting light.

There was no sound, no dialogue, only the occasional faint, ragged breath rising from the air, only to be quickly absorbed by the soft fabric.

The entire space seemed to have been pressed with a "pause" button; all daily life stood still at this moment, allowing ambiguity and desire to spread silently, gently enveloping the entire Apartment like ripples on water.

The clock on the wall ticked slowly, the sound so light it felt as if it were separated by a layer of mist.

I do not know how much time passed before the intense scent of body heat in the air was replaced, bit by bit, by the reawakened aroma of bread, like a silent fuse leading back to reality.

Until that familiar voice sounded once more.

"Xiuyuan, the oven really did beep."

"I don't know, it shouldn't be that fast."

……

……

I do not know how much time passed before the wall clock in the Apartment suddenly gave a "click."

The minute hand jumped slightly, like a silent witness, gently reminding everyone at this moment—the hour had arrived.

The Living Room remained in a state of silence.

On the sofa, the two were still breathing in unison, their clothes somewhat disheveled, the temperature not yet fully dissipated.

Lin Yun'er moved first, her long hair cascading down, clinging to her shoulders just as it had after her shower.

She leaned into Lin Xiuyuan's embrace, her breathing still carrying the afterglow, yet she was the first to speak, her tone a mix of annoyance and lazy, coquettish charm: "We can't eat the bread now; the crust must be dried out and hard."

"Oh, really?" Lin Xiuyuan replied in a low voice, his tone still carrying a hoarseness he hadn't yet suppressed, his lips brushing against her temple.

"Don't move." Lin Yun'er pushed him away. "I'm talking about the bread, not you. Don't waste the ingredients, Chef Lin."

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, looked down at their current state, and clicked his tongue: "I don't know if the bread was wasted, but you, YoonA, certainly weren't; you're truly bold."

"You're being long-winded, go check on the bread." Lin Yun'er's eyes crinkled with a smile as she pushed him off her.

Only then did Lin Xiuyuan, like a student called upon by a teacher, rise helplessly and walk back to the Kitchen.

Lin Yun'er followed lazily, leaning against the Kitchen doorframe, watching his back.

The light spilled over his unbuttoned shirt, revealing a bit of post-coital masculine sexiness, causing the corners of her mouth to lift involuntarily.

Thinking of what had just happened, she suddenly felt that even without that miraculous healing effect, in terms of pure comfort, she hadn't lost out at all; this young man was quite something.

As Lin Xiuyuan opened the oven, heat surged out instantly.

The slightly overbaked bread crust shimmered with a faint brown luster, and the aroma grew stronger, the scent of milk and eggs weaving together as it drifted slowly from the oven, making one hungry and wanting to laugh at the same time.

Lin Xiuyuan broke off a piece to taste it, frowning and smacking his lips: "Hmm... well, it's wasted. The inside is a bit burnt."

"It's fine, we still have time tonight, we'll just do Bread Making again."

"?? YoonA, you'd better be talking about Bread Making."

"What else? Oh, I'm going to take a shower first to see how things are."

Ten-odd minutes later.

Lin Yun'er emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, her hair still damp; as she passed the sofa, she muttered casually while wringing out her hair.

"What bread to make, Xiuyuan..."

She looked up at the young man in the Kitchen, the corners of her lips curling, her eyes trembling with excitement: "Bread isn't nearly as delicious as you."

(End of chapter)