Chapter 217: Kim Taeyeon

Late at night, the moonlight spilled coldly by the window. In a quiet apartment in Seoul, soft lights outlined a corner of the living room.

Kim Taeyeon sat on the sofa with her knees hugged, wearing a set of loose home clothes, a cup of unfinished hot milk by her feet, the temperature having cooled by more than half.

Today she had been tossed around by vocal lessons for a whole day. According to her usual habits, she should have been lying in bed fast asleep by now.

But now she sat quietly, her brows lowered, as if thinking, or as if just dazed unconsciously.

The TV was on but muted, the picture flashing and reflecting on the side of her face, casting faint light and shadows.

It was like some emotion rippling on the water surface, but never splashing out a sound.

Suddenly, a light creak came from the door.

Lin Xiuyuan, wearing pajamas and slippers, pushed the door and walked in, carrying his usual casualness and familiar air.

"Taeyeon-ah, what urgent matter do you have looking for me so late?"

While closing the door, he teased softly, "Listening to your tone on the phone earlier, it made me think something big happened, and I just got to Georgia and came back again."

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan come over, Kim Taeyeon also stood up and asked, her originally dull eyes having a few more rays of light, and the corners of her mouth even lifted a smile.

"Aren't you and Xiujing going to London to participate in Wimbledon? Why did you run to other places?"

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged, his tone relaxed, "There are still a few days left, anyway. Since we're out, we might as well go to other places to play."

He looked around the familiar living room, then walked to a single sofa and sat down, his gaze falling back on Kim Taeyeon, "Alright, sit. What exactly happened? You couldn't explain clearly on the phone and had to meet to talk."

Kim Taeyeon didn't answer immediately when asked.

She just lowered her gaze, sat back on the sofa, hugged her knees, and looked silently at the muted TV in front.

The flashing light and shadow of the TV reflected on the side of her face, outlining a blurred and complex emotion.

It was a kind of longing, sorrow, and a request that couldn't be spoken.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, seemingly realizing something, and didn't ask further.

Just quietly propped up his elbows, leaned on the sofa armrest sideways, and just looked at her.

The whole apartment suddenly became excessively quiet in the air, even the slight hum of some appliances running was exceptionally clear.

After a long while, Kim Taeyeon spoke lightly, her voice low, but clear like a pebble thrown into a lake.

"Xiuyuan-ah..."

She didn't look at Lin Xiuyuan, but continued to look forward, "Do you remember last time in Jeonju... the words we said?"

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, then shook his head, "We said a lot of words, but I don't know which one you're referring to."

Kim Taeyeon gave a light "mm," then, as if organizing her language, the action of hugging her knees tightened a bit.

"I recently... started dreaming of my dad again."

Her voice was light as if afraid of disturbing something, "But it's different from before... This time I didn't dream of him in the hospital, nor of the three of us going out to eat... but..."

Kim Taeyeon, who paused her tone, took a deep breath and finally turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, as if only under his gaze did she have the courage to spit out the following words.

"But I dreamed that he was still alive, sitting in the living room of our old house, watching TV waiting for me to come home."

Lin Xiuyuan's gaze suddenly became a bit softer, leaning forward slightly, but still didn't interrupt her.

Kim Taeyeon lowered her head, as if afraid of losing control of her emotions, her voice becoming lighter, "I know this sounds very willful... I also understand that this kind of thing might not be appropriate... but I still want to ask you..."

She paused, her breathing a bit rapid, then looked up at Lin Xiuyuan seriously, as if suppressing it for a long time and finally revealing her heart.

"Find a time, find a way, go and talk to the 'me' of 2013, okay?"

Kim Taeyeon, who said this, looked up, her eyes filled with an unusually serious and stubborn look.

"I don't want to tell her about the future, nor do I want to change fate... I just hope to have a reason, a suitable opportunity, to see my dad."

She paused, her voice extremely low, but like a needle lightly piercing the heart.

"Even if I can't meet him, then even if... even if it's just a phone call, just saying 'Happy Birthday' is fine."

She bit her lower lip lightly, as if enduring emotions, her voice almost swallowed by the night.

"In a few days... it will be his birthday. I just really want to say 'Happy Birthday' to him again, want to wish him 'good health'."

Lin Xiuyuan frowned slightly; he understood, but couldn't truly empathize.

Kim Taeyeon's obsession and complex emotions made him somewhat at a loss for a moment, not knowing whether to comfort her, persuade her to let go, or... promise her.

After a moment, Lin Xiuyuan said, "What's going on? Aren't you better recently?"

He tried to soften his tone, as if probing gently, "Didn't you say after we met at the shop last time that you could slowly accept everything?"

Kim Taeyeon pursed her lips and didn't respond immediately, just leaned her head lightly on her knees, as if organizing those chaotic thoughts.

After a long while, she spoke slowly, "Yeah, after that meeting, I was indeed much more relaxed, especially when I went to 2013 with you, I was even happier, always feeling that the air was full of him."

Only when she said this, Kim Taeyeon pursed her cherry lips tightly again, "But the closer the time gets to his birthday, the less I can stand it."

She smiled, carrying a bit of self-mockery, "I used to buy him a cake every year at this time, and even if he said 'don't spend money randomly,' he would eat it all in the end."

Then she looked at the glass of milk, "But now even that bit of ritual is gone; I can only sit here alone with a glass of hot milk, and there's no cake."

She turned her face to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her gaze carrying a hint of pleading, and also as if carefully guarding a fragile thought.

"I want to see him once, not to let him return to this world, not to change fate... I just want to say 'Happy Birthday' to him even if I use the identity of 2013, even if I use 'me' over there, and then hear him respond to me, that's fine."

When she said the latter part, Kim Taeyeon's voice was finally inaudible, as if afraid that if she said it out loud, even this wish would be crushed by time.

And Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his heart full of mixed feelings.

At the same time, he was also a bit conflicted.

After a long while, Lin Xiuyuan, who had thought of a lot of things, let out a light breath, then stood up slowly and sat down beside Kim Taeyeon, "You've been thinking about this for a long time, right."

Kim Taeyeon didn't move, just said in a low voice, "I didn't dare to tell you... I was afraid you would think my state was unstable, and then never let me go over there again, then I would be even more uncomfortable."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't reply, just lowered his eyes to look at her profile, that stubborn and fragile face, reflecting the lights in the night, making people's hearts soften.

After a moment of silence, he nodded.

"Fine, I'll find an opportunity and think of a way."

Kim Taeyeon was slightly stunned, looked up, and looked at him in disbelief, "Really?"

"Mm."

Lin Xiuyuan, who nodded, had a tone as gentle and firm as ever, "Let's think about how to operate these few days. How long until the birthday?"

"10 days," Kim Taeyeon answered almost subconsciously, her voice seeming to carry a ray of light that had been lit.

"Then there should be enough time," Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

Then he tapped Kim Taeyeon's forehead lightly, "But this time you have to promise me, you can't be as crazy as last time, understand?"

"Mm-mm."

She nodded her head vigorously, her eyes full of joy and relaxation that couldn't be hidden.

Then, just as Lin Xiuyuan turned his gaze away, thinking thoughtfully about how to take the next step, Kim Taeyeon suddenly flipped over and pounced into his arms.

"Xiuyuan, seriously, if it really doesn't work, I'll give myself to you, I should be pretty good."

Lin Xiuyuan was amused by her sudden action, looking at the "goddess of thousands of male fans" who was close at hand but had a very serious expression, and couldn't help but tease.

"What are you thinking? This isn't giving yourself to me at all; you're clearly taking advantage of the fire to rob me."

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan finished speaking, Kim Taeyeon, who had been emo all night in his arms, finally laughed out loud.

And that smile seemed to finally break through the emotional haze of the whole night, carrying relief, and also carrying a bit of sweetness after suppression.

Then she leaned closer to Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes still shining, but no longer sad, but a kind of soft joy and sorrow that couldn't be melted.

"Taking advantage of the fire to rob?" She laughed low, her voice a bit hoarse, but carrying a bit of seductive playfulness.

Saying this, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice falling lightly in his ear, "Xiuyuan, you don't know at all... how long I've thought about this. You're willing to help me... I really... I'm really so happy."

The words were already said, and the emotions suddenly surged up.

The next second, Kim Taeyeon pounced into Lin Xiuyuan's arms, her cheeks pressed against his neck, her breathing rapid, her body trembling slightly.

That kind of heartfelt movement and anxiety were all transmitted the moment she leaned on him.

Lin Xiuyuan was also stunned for a moment, originally wanting to say some comforting words, but hadn't had time to speak...

She suddenly looked up and kissed him without warning.

Without pause, without hesitation, she directly held his face and pressed her lips up.

This kiss was tender and hot, determined and fragile.

Lin Xiuyuan was slightly surprised for a moment, but soon, he also closed his eyes and responded to her approach following her emotions.

His hands slowly wrapped around her willow waist, his palms sticking to the temperature behind her back, as if responding, and as if carefully placing her.

The moonlight outside the window cast on them through the half-open curtains, leaving a layer of faint silver glow; the whole living room seemed to have only each other's breathing and heartbeat left at this moment.

This kiss lasted for a long time, until Kim Taeyeon's breathing was slightly chaotic, and then she slowly withdrew the distance, lightly pressing her forehead against Lin Xiuyuan's forehead.

Her eyes were filled with unscattered water mist, but at this moment, she was incomparably quiet.

"Thank you, Xiuyuan..." she whispered, like a prayer sinking into the night, "Really thank you, fortunately I have you, and fortunately I met you."

Lin Xiuyuan touched her and smiled helplessly, "You don't look like you're thanking me, but rather like you're taking and eating, a bit of repaying kindness with enmity."

Kim Taeyeon smiled somewhat shyly, but didn't leave his arms, just leaned closer.

And at the same time, in Seoul in 2013, the night was equally cold. After finally finishing the rehearsal, Kim Taeyeon sat in the car returning to the dormitory late at night.

Earphones plugged in, listening to a soft English folk song, looking at the slightly blurred street view outside the window in a daze.

Her gaze occasionally fell on the calendar page on the phone screen.

That familiar note column clearly wrote: Appa birthday countdown 10 days.

This reminder was something she had set a long time ago.

"Have to prepare a gift in advance."

Kim Taeyeon, who was thinking in her heart, also followed with a bit of worry.

Because every year at this time, she would always prepare a unique and practical small gift for her father in advance.

It wasn't because the other party especially liked receiving gifts, but because her father always said "don't spend money randomly," but every time he received a gift, he would quietly smile from ear to ear.

"Last year was a shaver, the one before that was a badminton racket..."

What should I give this time?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 218 =====