Chapter 167

Beside the silent dining room, the sound of the spatula flying in the kitchen became increasingly crisp and sharp, as if it were also dispelling the trace of silence at the table.

Within a few minutes, Sulli had deftly stir-fried the first dish, chili stir-fried meat, and the fragrance came rushing toward them.

"Coming, Lin Xiaolu, don't just stand there like a fool, move the things on the table to the side."

When Lin Xiuyuan walked out of the kitchen carrying the plate of chili stir-fried meat with its alluring color and oily, fresh aroma, and broke the silence, Lin Xiaolu finally came back to her senses.

She hurriedly moved to tidy up the tissues and cups on the table, and then laid out the heat-resistant mat she had just bought that afternoon.

And that nose-tingling fragrance also attracted the gazes of Kim Taeyeon and Zheng Xiuyan, and then Zheng Xiuyan said in shock: "Wow, Daebak, Zhenli, no wonder Yun'er said your cooking is great just now, this fragrance, it's too amazing."

Subsequently, a few plates of cold dishes were also served on the table one after another; they were prepared in advance and sent out one by one by Lin Xiaolu, who had gotten up to help.

And Lin Xiuyuan walked out of the kitchen after washing his hands, scanned the few people in front of the dining table, and asked casually: "Want to drink something?"

Just as he asked, Lin Xiaolu poked her head out from the kitchen and laughed excitedly: "I want a Long Island Iced Tea, I can drink it this time, right."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, then looked at Zheng Xiuyan beside her.

Then Zheng Xiuyan also laughed along: "I want a Peach Oolong."

"Eh? Unnie, you like this too?" Sulli's voice came from the kitchen: "I want a Peach Oolong too, Oppa~"

Then Lin Yun'er laughed and named her choice: "I want a 'Pink Lady'."

When it was Kim Taeyeon's turn, she was a bit confused, looking left and right at this dining room: "No... why are you all ordering cocktails? There's no bar counter here, and no liquor cabinet either."

So under her confusion, Lin Yun'er and Zheng Xiuyan took her, one on each side, and followed Lin Xiuyuan's footsteps to the hidden small water bar next door.

The space was not large, but it was fully equipped.

Bartending tools were neatly arranged on the operation table, the lighting was gentle, and the bottle bodies were glowing with a beautiful luster.

"OMG!" Kim Taeyeon's eyes widened immediately: "Xiuyuan, you installed a bar at home? This is a bit too dashing, too excessive."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Xiuyan's laughter came from the side: "Taeyeon, how did you become so Westernized in these few years? When you were surprised here, it was either 'Omo' or 'Daebak', how did it become 'OMG' by 2025?"

"Hahaha, Unnie, don't say that, Taeyeon Unnie's English has improved by leaps and bounds over the years, but it's all just some cursing words."

Lin Yun'er, who was standing on the side, also laughed along, and then exposed Kim Taeyeon's old bottom, making Kim Taeyeon, who was originally a bit low, hurriedly want to reach out and cover her mouth: "Yah, Yun'er, don't talk nonsense, I didn't."

The few of them made a scene, and the atmosphere gradually heated up.

And Lin Xiuyuan had already skillfully taken out the bartending tools from behind the bar, opened the shaker, and poured the base liquor and ingredients in turn, his movements smooth and calm.

At this time, Zheng Xiuyan pulled Kim Taeyeon to the side to visit this newly renovated apartment, whispering about something while looking.

Lin Yun'er didn't follow, but stayed by the bar, quietly watching Lin Xiuyuan mix drinks.

As his wrists turned gently, the crisp sound of ice cubes hitting metal was clear and pleasant.

That serious and focused look made the corners of her mouth rise slightly.

Soon, the 'Pink Lady' she wanted was finished.

The liquor in the high-footed glass was pink and tender, the bubbles were delicate, fitting perfectly with the light pink knit sweater Lin Yun'er was wearing tonight, making her smile even brighter.

Suddenly, Lin Yun'er moved a step closer.

Taking advantage of the gap while Lin Xiuyuan was focused on mixing the next drink, she stood on tiptoe and left a short, quick kiss on his lips.

The soft lips pressed gently, only for a short second, but it was as soft as cotton candy, with a sweetness that seemed to carry a hint of alcohol.

After touching and separating, when Lin Xiuyuan reacted and turned to look at her, her words filled with laughter sounded in his ears.

"This is to thank you on behalf of Taeyeon Unnie."

Her breath brushed against Lin Xiuyuan's slightly cool cheek, but the smile had already rippled in her eyes.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't move; although the kiss just now was light, it clearly carried that mischievous provocation typical of Lin Yun'er.

At this moment, Lin Yun'er was standing extremely close to him, one hand resting on the bar, looking up at him.

The light and shadow reflected on her face, and that bright and ambiguous expression was like a cocktail that hadn't been stirred well.

This made Lin Xiuyuan, who heard this sentence, couldn't help but laugh along: "What the hell, this kiss can even represent that?"

"What, don't tell me you want to..."

Lin Yun'er, with wide eyes, pointed with her little finger, her expression shy and annoyed.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer, just smiled, his hand movements didn't stop at all, and soon he made the 'Long Island Iced Tea' that Lin Xiaolu wanted and handed it to Lin Yun'er.

"Alright, I won't nag you, take the drinks over."

"You haven't said what you meant just now."

Facing Lin Yun'er's questioning, Lin Xiuyuan just glanced at her slightly and smiled: "I mean, as for the thanks... is that all?"

"Mm?" Now Lin Yun'er raised her eyebrows, smiling slyly: "Then what do you want?"

Then Lin Xiuyuan leaned forward slightly and whispered a secret in Lin Yun'er's ear.

After hearing this, Lin Yun'er was startled for a moment, but didn't back down; although her face was stained with a hint of shyness, she nodded frankly: "Fine, consider it your reward, but you are not allowed to use your hands."

Lin Xiuyuan obviously didn't expect her to agree so quickly, and was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly, like a boy who had succeeded.

This little action made Lin Yun'er laugh, leaving behind a "You're incorrigible," and then she picked up the drinks and left.

When she returned to the small water bar again, she didn't forget to laugh beside Zheng Xiuyan and Kim Taeyeon: "Unnie, hurry up with your visit, Xiuyuan mixes drinks very fast, and the dishes will be ready very soon too."

"Got it."

Soon, as Lin Xiuyuan raised his hand and finished mixing the "Cranberry Martini" that Kim Taeyeon wanted, he looked at the drink-carrying little sister Lin Yun'er while wiping his hands: "Alright, take it over, I'll tidy up and go over."

"Don't tidy up, we'll probably drink more later." Lin Yun'er, carrying the tray, indicated.

"Ah, a little drink is fine. If we drink more, are you not planning to go back tonight?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked up, looking at Lin Yun'er with some surprise.

"Who knows." Lin Yun'er shrugged: "Looking at Taeyeon Unnie's state, she will probably stay with Sulli tonight. This is also good, saving her from going back alone and letting her imagination run wild."

Speaking of this, her tone paused, and she sighed softly: "You don't know how many thoughts are in Unnie's little head, if she has a brain cramp and does something stupid, it's not like that hasn't happened before."

Just as she finished complaining to Lin Xiuyuan, Kim Taeyeon's depressed voice came from behind: "Yun'er, when you talk bad about me behind my back, can you pay attention to your volume? I heard it clearly."

"Oh my, Unnie~ I'm worried about you."

Lin Yun'er turned her head, saw Kim Taeyeon standing behind her, and immediately softened her tone to act spoiled, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.

It also made Zheng Xiuyan on the side laugh.

And Kim Taeyeon just raised her... eyes slightly, didn't pursue it further, just slid her fingers casually along the back of the sofa, scanned between Lin Yun'er and Lin Xiuyuan, her expression complex and elusive.

Not long after, everyone returned to the dining room one after another.

At this time, the dining table was already full of dishes, the plate of chili stir-fried meat was still emitting an alluring fragrance, a few cold dishes were fresh in color, and the freshly served pan-fried tofu was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Plus a steaming egg roll, the atmosphere of dinner officially kicked off.

Zheng Xiuyan couldn't help but sigh while sitting down: "This dining table is too sumptuous, Lin Xiuyuan, I'm a bit envious of you living with Sulli like this."

As soon as this was said, Kim Taeyeon was shocked again: "Ah, Xiuyuan and Sulli are living together?"

Sulli, who was carrying rice out of the kitchen, heard this and hurriedly waved her hand to explain: "It's not the kind you think, Unnie, we just want to live together, and then I can go to 2025 with Oppa to accompany Xiujing, or when Xiujing comes over, she doesn't have to run out to find me."

Kim Taeyeon heard this, and the previous scene also appeared in her mind; her eyes softened, and she sighed softly: "Indeed, Xiujing misses you too much."

After a pause, she finally sorted out a bit of the confusion in her heart: "I was wondering why Xiujing and Yun'er would be so intimate with Xiuyuan, even though they had only known each other for a short time, so that's what it was."

"Even if it wasn't, Xiuyuan is also very good." Lin Yun'er added on the side.

"Oh my, no need to comfort me, I can still withstand this little blow."

Lin Xiuyuan made a "I'm already used to it" look and waved his hand, and everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

The atmosphere gradually became relaxed, and even the corners of Kim Taeyeon's mouth finally raised a smile.

"Come, let's toast."

Zheng Xiuyan, who had been paying attention to her, also raised her glass upon seeing this: "For this long-overdue gathering, and for... being able to sit down and eat together again, cheers."

A sentence, carrying the emotion and tenderness of a long-awaited reunion, made Kim Taeyeon bite her lip subconsciously.

Her gaze drifted between Zheng Xiuyan and Sulli, she held back her emotions, raised a smile, and raised her glass: "Alright, cheers."

Then Lin Yun'er and the others raised their glasses one after another, laughing and talking.

And Lin Xiuyuan protested in a low voice on the side: "Don't toast, I don't want to have to go mix drinks after one bite of food, drink slowly, drink slowly, okay?"

"Hahaha~"

Amidst the crisp clinking of a few glasses, laughter and light intertwined, and there was a bit more warmth in the air.

After a round of drinks, the atmosphere at the dining table became increasingly soft.

Sulli smiled and picked up a piece of tofu for Lin Xiuyuan, while Lin Yun'er, like a cat that had stolen candy, would steal glances at Lin Xiuyuan's movements under Lin Xiaolu's gaze, making Lin Xiaolu look very unhappy.

Zheng Xiuyan talked to Kim Taeyeon in a low voice about things from the past.

The previous "cheers" seemed to still be echoing in the air; the fragrance of wine, the fragrance of rice, and that complex emotion of "goodbye and reunion" that couldn't be spoken, made Kim Taeyeon's emotions, which had just settled down, begin to churn again.

While reminiscing about the past with Zheng Xiuyan, she lowered her head and ate the rice in her bowl bite by bite.

The chopsticks were held in her fingers, but they were a bit unsteady; when the chili stir-fried meat first entered her mouth, Kim Taeyeon didn't forget to smile and praise Sulli, saying the taste was excessively good.

But halfway through eating, the smile at the corner of her mouth slowly stiffened.

A familiar taste emerged.

This so-called taste didn't refer to a specific dish, but the taste of "someone having seriously cooked a meal for you."

The heat accompanying the chili sauce rushed up through her nasal cavity, and her eye sockets suddenly felt a bit hot.

This reaction, familiar to the point of stinging, made Kim Taeyeon lower her head abruptly, covering her face with her bangs.

Kim Taeyeon tried hard to take a breath and stuffed the rice and dishes in her bowl into her mouth, but the more she chewed, the more she couldn't swallow, as if something was blocked in her throat.

The illusion of "I seem to have been missing something all along, but suddenly I'm back," carrying exhaustion and the loneliness of a long-awaited reunion, caught her off guard all at once.

So Kim Taeyeon continued to try hard to sniff.

Even though her eye sockets were already red, she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.

"I say..."

Kim Taeyeon, who suddenly raised her head, had a voice that was still steady, but the tail end trembled slightly; she pursed a smile and asked: "Xiuyuan, so the tavern member you mentioned basically means people who know the secret of the Time Gate, right?"

As soon as this sentence came out, the few people who were chatting and eating were slightly startled.

They looked at Kim Taeyeon one after another, sensed something wrong, and hurriedly withdrew their gazes.

Then, Zheng Xiuyan was the first to laugh: "That's probably how it is, so Taeyeon, do you want to join this church?"

This time, without waiting for Lin Xiuyuan to speak, she said this sentence.

And Kim Taeyeon looked at Zheng Xiuyan a bit puzzled, not understanding what "church" was, until Zheng Xiuyan explained the source and development of this, as well as some jokes, and then she grinned and looked at Lin Xiuyuan.

"So Xiuyuan, are you the Pope of this so-called church?"

"Everyone is just joking, don't take it seriously." Lin Xiuyuan, who was shoveling rice, replied.

"No, I think it's quite good, 【Jieyou Sect】, it can really relieve worries."

After murmuring a few words softly, Kim Taeyeon raised her head and smiled: "Decided, I want to join this church."

At this time, Lin Yun'er began to laugh: "Unnie, from the moment you stepped into this door, you already implicitly joined."

"Seems like that's indeed the case." Kim Taeyeon replied.

Then she became curious again: "Then how many people are in the church now?"

"Basically all here, plus Krystal and Zhiyan." Zheng Xiuyan said from the side.

Krystal... Kim Taeyeon had guessed this, after all, she was so close to Lin Xiuyuan, but she was a bit confused about "Zhiyan": "The Zhiyan here, does it refer to the 2025 one, or the 2013 one?"

"The 2013 one." Lin Xiuyuan said.

After getting the answer, Kim Taeyeon went "Ah": "I thought it was the 2025 one, Xiuyuan, you play so well with Zhiyan on that side, it's actually not her."

As soon as the words were out, Zheng Xiuyan couldn't help but raise her eyes to look at Lin Xiuyuan, but only scanned him, and then continued to lower her head to eat.

Lin Yun'er, who was observing the situation, also hurriedly followed up upon seeing this: "If the 2025 Zhiyan knew about this situation, she would probably have a hard time accepting it, after all, she just got divorced, and some trivial matters and miscellaneous things are too exhausting."

"Probably." Kim Taeyeon echoed in a low voice, then laughed at herself: "Actually, I have a hard time accepting it too."

In that gaze, it was as if a series of unspoken questions and emotions were hidden.

"Why wasn't the door opened a few years earlier?"

"If I had known earlier, would I not have..."

But she didn't say it after all.

Because Kim Taeyeon also understood that even if the door had been opened at that time, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't have known what the future would be like.

After all, at that time, he was just a person who was also groping forward in the fog.

Lin Xiuyuan, who felt that burning gaze, looked up at her, raised his eyebrows slightly, and teased with a smile: "Why are you looking at me like that, let me explain first, you have to pay membership fees to join the church, which is the door-opening fee, I don't open the door for free."

As Lin Xiuyuan mentioned the membership fee, the atmosphere at the dining table became active again.

Lin Yun'er, Sulli, and Lin Xiaolu also took the opportunity to speak one after another, cleverly protesting to Kim Taeyeon about Lin Xiuyuan "exploiting" them.

And listening to everyone's answers, Kim Taeyeon became more and more cheerful; although her eyes were still a bit red, she could already show a few smiles: "Then what do you want, Xiuyuan, I'll buy it for you when I go over, I've saved quite a lot of money over the years."

"Tsk tsk tsk, this sentence, so arrogant."

Hearing this answer, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Zheng Xiuyan: "Xiuyan, did you hear that, Taeyeon has earned so much, then Jessica probably earned even more. Why don't we listen to Krystal's idea and kidnap her back."

"Stop messing around, are you short of money?" Zheng Xiuyan rolled her eyes at this guy speechlessly.

Lin Xiuyuan laughed even more happily: "It's not about being short of money, it's about wanting to vent your anger."

"What's wrong." Kim Taeyeon asked curiously.

Then Zheng Xiuyan explained Krystal's crazy idea to Kim Taeyeon with some depression and helplessness; the steps one by one made Kim Taeyeon dumbfounded.

Kidnapping, imprisonment, QJ, pregnancy.

So ruthless, really so ruthless.

Thinking of this, Kim Taeyeon was a bit glad that she hadn't done anything wrong, and was the first Kim Taeyeon to join the church.

If it were the Kim Taeyeon here who joined first, who knows what crazy ideas her own crazy little head would come up with.

After this little episode, Kim Taeyeon's emotions were obviously much more stable.

And the atmosphere at the dining table became increasingly warm and enthusiastic.

It wasn't until the food was finished and the drinks were almost gone that everyone realized time had passed quietly.

Lin Xiaolu suddenly looked at the time and said with some reluctance: "Xiuyan Unnie, it seems we have to go back, we have to get up at 4 o'clock tomorrow morning to leave for Gimpo, if it's too late, it's hard to rest."

"Is it very late?" Zheng Xiuyan lowered her head and looked at her phone screen; the numbers on the screen had slipped from 7 PM to past 10 PM without her knowing.

It was already approaching late night.

And Lin Yun'er, seeing this, also got up and said: "Then I have to go back too, I still have promotions to run tomorrow, Taeyeon Unnie, do you want to..."

Following Lin Yun'er's gaze, Kim Taeyeon immediately hugged Sulli's arm and shook her head: "I'll sleep with Little Snowball tonight, I won't go back, tomorrow I just need to go to the company for rehearsals, no schedule."

This answer made Lin Yun'er nod gently, then she curled her lips and smiled, looking at Lin Xiuyuan.

This gentle smile fell into Lin Xiaolu's eyes, but made her frown slightly.

And immediately after, the problem also appeared.

"How do you plan to go back?"

Lin Xiuyuan on the sofa looked up at the few people, his tone calm.

"I'll take a taxi back with Xiaolu." Zheng Xiuyan said.

Lin Xiaolu nodded: "Mm-hmm, it's safer for two people to be together."

After saying this, she suddenly turned her head to look at Lin Yun'er, her tone carrying a bit of teasing: "But Lin Yun'er, what about you? You alone?"

Facing this questioning that carried a teasing meaning, Lin Yun'er glanced at her lightly, her lips curling into a smile: "Xiuyuan is taking me."

While saying this, she looked at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes revealing natural intimacy: "Right, Xiuyuan? You wouldn't let me take a taxi back alone, would you?"

"But Xiuyuan also drank." Lin Xiaolu frowned and reminded.

"I drank pineapple beer, just a beverage." Lin Xiuyuan smiled, and a sentence of explanation broke her concerns.

"It's fine, even if he drank, he can take a taxi back with me, and then come back after dropping me off."

Lin Yun'er still smiled sweetly, her tone carrying a bit of unquestionable lightness.

It's just that the smile made Lin Xiaolu's teeth itch, and she had the urge to go up and fight her.

At the same time, she suddenly felt that her Xiuyan Unnie was a bit redundant; why wasn't it just her alone, and then Lin Xiuyuan took her?

However, in the end, Lin Xiaolu just glared fiercely at Lin Yun'er, forcibly suppressed that little emotion, and silently followed Zheng Xiuyan's footsteps, leaving the villa amidst a chorus of farewells.

And Lin Yun'er took Lin Xiuyuan's arm and walked into the villa with him.

Kim Taeyeon and Sulli also followed, because Kim Taeyeon needed to check her phone messages and explain the situation to her assistant, so it wouldn't be troublesome if they couldn't find her and she went crazy.

After returning to the 2025 villa, Lin Yun'er let go of Lin Xiuyuan's arm and waved her hand gently: "Alright, Xiuyuan, you rest, I'm going first."

"Don't need me to take you?" Lin Xiuyuan asked.

"I'm not a child, what's there to take."

Lin Yun'er smiled, her tone mischievous: "Just now I was teasing Lin Xiaolu, my assistant came over long ago, and is waiting for me at the street corner outside now."

While saying this, Lin Yun'er shook her phone; it clearly showed several missed calls and a location screenshot sent by the assistant.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything more, just sent her to the villa door and watched her wave goodbye.

And he, who turned back into the house, looked at Kim Taeyeon and Sulli: "Where are you staying tonight?"

This time, before Sulli could speak, Kim Taeyeon had already snatched the answer: "Go to the apartment side. I just told the company, no rehearsals arranged for tomorrow, rest for a day."

Don't look at how lightly she said it, but there was a hint of vague expectation in her tone.

Because Kim Taeyeon knew very well that she actually just wanted to get closer to the past.

Closer to that time that was not yet regrettable, closer to those relatives and friends who had not yet been missed.

So although Kim Taeyeon's tone was light, it drew the gaze of Lin Xiuyuan and Sulli.

Especially Lin Xiuyuan, who looked at her quietly for a few seconds, then sighed in a low voice: "Forget it, take a shower first, I'll send you to Jeonju later."

This calm sentence was like a thunderclap exploding in Kim Taeyeon's mind.

"... What did you say?"

Kim Taeyeon was stunned on the spot, raised her head abruptly to look at him, her eyes instantly showing unbelievable shock and a hint of excitement.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer immediately, but walked toward the Time Gate and opened it, then repeated it casually: "I said take a shower first, I'll send you back to Jeonju later, just take a look from afar, the kind where you can't get out of the car, can you promise me?"

Kim Taeyeon was stunned.

Her gaze almost froze in trembling, as if the string that had been taut for a long time had finally been plucked gently, yet she was afraid that this was just a casual joke.

Her voice carried a cautious tremor: "You... are you serious?"

"You're not lying to me?"

Then she repeated it again, her voice almost too low to hear clearly.

"Mm."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded gently.

This response was like a stone falling in the air.

Not earth-shattering, but enough to stir up a thousand ripples.

(End of chapter)