Chapter 220: Park Ji-yeon

The hot spring water remained warm and comfortable. The tranquil night sky shrouded this space, and it seemed as if a few shooting stars streaked across, as if adding a touch of brilliance to this peaceful night.

The conversation between the three gradually became relaxed, and the topic shifted from their initial travel to their respective futures and goals.

Just at this moment, Krystal stretched, leaned gently against the pool wall, and spoke while looking at the starry sky above with a somewhat dazed gaze.

Her voice carried a hint of leisure and contemplation, "Actually, I haven't thought about how my future path will go. Life as it is right now is quite good. I no longer intend to be in such a rush to pursue those things meant to define me. Before, on stage, I was just too anxious, and instead, quite a few mishaps occurred."

This passage carried a touch of laziness; it seemed that under this starry sky, all pressure could temporarily dissolve.

Lin Xiuyuan, having finished listening, smiled slightly and responded easily, "I get that. Slacking off and lying flat, right? Anyway, just treat it as work. Once you've earned enough money, you can just polish your life a bit along the way."

However, as soon as Krystal heard this, she immediately pretended to be angry and splashed a large wave of water, splattering Lin Xiuyuan with droplets.

Then she laughed, "Xiuyuan, you're the one lying flat. I am acting very seriously, okay? And in terms of acting, I think I'm much better than YoonA unnie."

"Don't let her hear you say that."

"Hmph, hmph, hmph~"

Watching the two bickering, the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, and Jessica, sitting to the side, couldn't help but laugh as well.

She then cast her gaze toward the pool water in front of her and sighed faintly, "Actually, being able to relax one's body and mind is truly rare, especially once the troubles of work and trivial matters are set aside; only then do you know how to truly enjoy these times."

Because she had walked too fast before, she had instead stepped into a quagmire, and in the end, it took her ten years to slowly extricate herself.

She had once been completely unaware of the ability to enjoy life, but only now did she deeply realize the beauty of life.

Therefore, the tone of Jessica's words carried a hint of mature reflection, as if those busy years had long been left behind her.

"Speaking of which, I do have a question, Jessica."

Lin Xiuyuan spoke suddenly, simultaneously turning his gaze toward the person opposite him, his tone carrying a bit of curiosity and inquiry.

"According to the market rates I know, the money you earn in Huaxia should be quite substantial, right? Why not let Krystal go over there to develop? After all, nationality issues shouldn't be much of an obstacle. Didn't another member of f(x) go over there as well?"

Upon hearing this, Jessica's expression paused, and there was a subtle fluctuation in her eyes.

She then frowned and looked at the boy on the opposite side, shrouded behind the clouds and mist, "Lin Xiuyuan, you wouldn't be wanting to say again that I dragged Krystal down, would you?"

The blunt words made Lin Xiuyuan laugh, and he shook his head, "I didn't say that. I'm just curious about this point. If we're talking about earning money, even if you pull out the entire entertainment industry of the Peninsula, it can't compare to a small market over in Huaxia, right?"

Krystal saw that the atmosphere was a bit tense, smiled lightly, turned her head to glance at Jessica, and explained for her.

"Don't keep staring at unnie, Xiuyuan~ Actually, I'm doing quite well right now. Although sometimes I wonder if I should go look for some other work, in fact, I'm not as anxious as I was before."

Her gaze drifted slightly, as if somewhat lost in the night sky, and she spoke slowly, "I'm still an artist now, mainly because the fans are too long-lasting in their affection for me. I feel that being able to meet them through acting is more meaningful than standing on stage."

"If I can't continue to stand on stage, then I'll bring them some small benefits through other ways." Her tone was calm and confident, as if she had completely accepted the status quo and found her own rhythm.

After listening to Krystal's answer, Lin Xiuyuan's gaze involuntarily turned toward Jessica.

His eyes held no judgment, purely curiosity and contemplation, as if waiting for her response.

Jessica, being watched by his gaze, felt a hint of annoyance appear on her face. She frowned slightly and said with a bit of displeasure, "What do you mean? I know it was my problem before; you don't need to look at me time and time again."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled slightly, not appearing embarrassed or displeased by her reaction.

"I'm not trying to talk about that aspect of things," he replied calmly, "I just feel that if Krystal really wants to try, then perhaps she could really go and develop. After all, for idols of your generation, cross-border development isn't a new thing, is it?"

Jessica was taken aback, not expecting Lin Xiuyuan to bring up such a direct question. Her expression became slightly solemn, and her gaze drifted, "This... indeed, but not every decision can be made casually."

She paused, then said in a low voice, "Krystal has her own rhythm and her own decisions. I don't want to interfere with her choices."

At the same time, she didn't want to get too involved, fearing that if she were to have another disaster on her end, it would implicate Krystal once again; she really wouldn't know what to do then.

This kind of thing, happening once is enough.

Lin Xiuyuan did not continue to press, only nodding to show he understood.

He turned his head to look at Krystal, his tone gentle, "Anyway, it's good as long as you're happy now, right?"

Krystal smiled and nodded, "Yes, I'm really quite happy now."

Her eyes sparkled with determination and confidence as she looked gently at the boy opposite her. Ever since that rainy night when she saw that large poster of Sulli, her world had reignited with light, and life had become more interesting.

The surrounding starry sky remained so brilliant, the horizon seemingly sprinkled with a layer of delicate silver powder, and today's joyful time was also like a melodious song, quietly ending at this moment.

Good night!!

The next morning, the dim morning light spilled through the gaps in the curtains into the guesthouse room. The air was fresh, carrying a hint of the unique chill of early morning.

Lin Xiuyuan, Jessica, and Krystal all got up early, and after washing up, they packed their backpacks, ready to set off.

Although they were sleep-deprived, everyone's faces were filled with excitement and anticipation, as if this day would bring new surprises.

Today's destination was the Holy Trinity Church on the summit of Kazbegi Mountain; they intended to see if they could catch that beautiful sunrise.

The three set off from the guesthouse, driving slowly along the winding mountain road, and the scenery outside the car windows gradually became magnificent as the altitude increased.

In the distance, the snow-capped mountains were towering and majestic, like white giants standing on the horizon, and every line of the mountain range was inlaid with a golden edge by the morning sun.

The atmosphere inside the car also became quiet, and everyone was silently enjoying this moment of tranquility.

When they arrived at the church, the first ray of morning sun spilled onto the peaks of the snow-capped mountains, and the warm golden light spilled down through the clouds, illuminating the entire mountain range.

The air in the valley was fresh and transparent, as if the whole world had merged with nature at this moment.

Lin Xiuyuan stood by the car and took a deep breath, feeling this moment of peace and freshness. His expression appeared particularly relaxed, and then he remarked, "Still got up late, after all."

Although his words carried a hint of regret, there was more enjoyment in them.

Krystal, beside him, looked happily at the scene before her, curved the corners of her mouth slightly, and leaned gently against his shoulder, the warm breath reaching his ear.

"It's okay, the scenery right now is also very beautiful. You don't necessarily have to chase everything you want all at once; life is long, you always have to leave some time for later."

Lin Xiuyuan heard her words, smiled, his eyes carrying a hint of playfulness, "Makes sense."

Then he turned his head slightly and asked with a smile, "So, Xiujing, when did you learn philosophy? You talk in such a set of ways, just like my philosophy teacher in college."

After being named by Jessica yesterday, Lin Xiuyuan no longer emphasized the name issue just to distinguish between Big K and Little k.

Krystal did not answer, only tilted her head, deliberately putting on an expression of disgust, and gave him a roll of her eyes.

Her movements were relaxed and natural, and a hint of playful light flickered in her eyes, as if she had returned to her younger self.

And Jessica, standing behind the two, watched this scene, the corners of her mouth lifting into a warm smile, her eyes revealing a bit of softness and relief.

Then she gradually turned her gaze toward the scenery in front of her and let out a silent, long sigh.

At that moment, she seemed to have let go of all her worries, just quietly enjoying this moment of peace.

The Holy Trinity Church is located on the summit of Kazbegi Mountain, built in the 14th century, and surrounded by ice-and-snow-covered mountain ranges, giving people a sense of sacredness isolated from the world.

This church was originally built to commemorate the religious faith of Georgia, and its unique architectural style integrated local traditional elements with the European Gothic style, making its appearance ancient and magnificent. Today, it is not only a religious holy site but has also become a place of pilgrimage for travelers.

When the three drove back to the summit and walked into the church courtyard, they realized that there were not many people here.

The surroundings were quiet, with only a scattered dozen or so tourists spread around this ancient church, adding a bit of silence and solemnity to this sacred land.

The air was fresh, the mountain breeze was blowing gently, and it seemed that the whole world was temporarily silent at this moment, leaving only the majesty of the distant snow-capped mountains and the steadiness of the church.

Lin Xiuyuan walked casually in front, occasionally looking back at the two girls, seeing that they were full of excitement and curiosity about this church and the surrounding scenery.

Jessica and Krystal were taking photos on the steps in front of the church. Krystal was holding her phone, adjusting the angle, and suddenly pointed to a snow-capped mountain behind the church, "Jessica, look quickly, that's exactly the best spot under the sunlight. You stand here, the background is absolutely super beautiful."

Jessica smiled after hearing this, then took out her phone and posed, preparing to take a selfie.

Lin Xiuyuan stood to the side, his gaze involuntarily lingering on Jessica, watching as she was focused on preparing to adjust the angle for her selfie.

Suddenly, the image of Zheng Xiuyan from 2013 appeared in his mind, and his heart stirred, his playfulness aroused.

He decided to play a small joke on someone, so he quietly walked behind Jessica, leaned in gently toward her shoulder, wearing a smile, preparing to take the opportunity to "intrude" into the frame while she was taking her selfie.

So just as Jessica turned her head slightly, preparing to see Krystal who was walking to the other side, Lin Xiuyuan had already silently leaned his face over, almost very close to her cheek.

The warm breath brushed gently past her ear, along with that familiar fragrance, making Jessica jump in shock. She paused slightly and quickly turned her head to look at her phone, wanting to confirm the image she had captured.

When she looked to the side, her gaze suddenly met the handsome face of the uninvited guest on the phone screen, and her heartbeat accelerated suddenly.

At that instant, her eyes involuntarily froze on Lin Xiuyuan's profile, watching him smile slightly, his demeanor lazy yet charming.

Her heart couldn't help but pause, and a hint of palpitation inexplicably arose.

Mainly because this boy's breath was warm and fresh, and the close-range contact caught her off guard.

The warm breath and the familiar scent intertwined, instantly causing her to fall into a state of slight confusion.

Immediately following, her breathing stalled slightly, a hint of complexity appeared on her face, and her gaze involuntarily shifted away, as if not wanting to be disrupted in her rhythm by this sudden emotion.

And Lin Xiuyuan on the screen still wore a smile, his gaze carrying a hint of harmless playfulness.

The only difference was that Jessica's movements to the side were somewhat erratic, appearing a bit uncomfortable. She did not shift her gaze away but stared at the image of the two on the screen, while a nameless palpitation surged in her heart.

Lin Xiuyuan noticed her reaction and followed by stepping back gently.

He then emptied his smile, but his gaze still remained on her face, his tone relaxed and somewhat indifferent, "Sorry, I just wanted to join in the fun."

"It's okay," Jessica replied softly, her voice low, carrying a hint of subtle, seemingly unaware reserve.

Then she watched Lin Xiuyuan withdraw his head, smile, and walk toward Krystal, pulling the other person gently into his arms.

The two who had taken the phone happily took a few photos together, their laughter echoing in the air.

This scene made Jessica involuntarily look at her phone again, a burst of slight nervousness and unease in her heart.

At this time, she suddenly discovered that what she had inadvertently pressed was the video recording button, not the photo button.

So the moment Lin Xiuyuan leaned in, as well as the interaction between them, all the details had been recorded by the lens.

Looking back at that video just now, Jessica, who took a deep breath, smiled gently, but in her heart, she didn't know why a burst of complex emotions surged up.

That feeling was indescribable, both heart-stirring and confusing, as if all emotions were intertwined into a subtle fluctuation that could not be calmed.

……

……

2013.

Inside the practice room of SM Company.

The daytime rehearsals had entered the final sprint stage, and the entire practice room was filled with a tense atmosphere.

The members of Girls' Generation had not rested for many days in a row, rehearsing from 9 AM to 10 PM every day, and sometimes even having to stay up all night until the early hours.

The air in the dance studio was filled with the scent of sweat and effort. Following the melody of the beat, the sound of shoes rubbing against the floor and the sound of footsteps intertwined, forming a sound of focus and struggle.

Dance steps, singing, stage performance—there could not be any omissions in any link.

Because everyone knew that this first world tour was quite important for them or the company, any mistake in detail could affect their performance and would also affect the imperfection of the stage effect.

For them, who wanted to present the best effect to the fans, all they could do was rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse again.

Lin Yun'er stood in a corner of the practice room with Kwon Yuri, Seohyun, and several other main dancers, earnestly practicing every movement.

Their movements were precise and smooth, having reached a high degree of fit between body and music.

And Zheng Xiuyan stood in the corner with Kim Taeyeon, organizing their dance positions while also humming harmonies in a low voice.

Although they had worked side by side for so many years, they already had a silent tacit understanding.

But in these detailed parts, they still needed to further enhance their tacit understanding through frequent practice.

After another unknown amount of time, following an instruction from the dance teacher, everyone could finally take a short break.

Everyone was either sitting or lying down, and several members who were not yet fully familiar with the dance steps took the opportunity to practice extra, trying to find the problem during the short break.

Lin Yun'er and Zheng Xiuyan agreed to leave the practice room and walk to the restroom together, seemingly returning to the tacit understanding and habits of their trainee days.

Walking in the empty corridor, their footsteps were light but carried a hint of fatigue.

At this time, Lin Yun'er suddenly looked up at Zheng Xiuyan beside her, "Unnie, recently Taeyeon unnie has become more and more curious about Xiuyuan's situation. Has she asked you about this?"

"Mm, she asked. I said I don't know, I'm not familiar with Lin Xiuyuan." Zheng Xiuyan spoke nonsense with a straight face, which made Lin Yun'er laugh.

If these two weren't familiar, what were the others supposed to do?

Thinking of this, Lin Yun'er suddenly remembered Krystal, "That guy is really having too good a time over there, resting and traveling. It's Georgia with Xiujing, right? I also really want to go over and play, to see the scenery there."

Zheng Xiuyan's brows frowned slightly, she stopped her footsteps, casually brushed the hair in front of her forehead, and her tone carried a bit of philosophy.

"YoonA, they have ten more years than us, which is why they have this life state. So YoonA, we must take advantage of these ten years to work hard and strive. Perhaps by that time, we can be better than them, right? Definitely, we can."

"Mm."

Lin Yun'er nodded silently, falling into deep thought.

Her gaze gradually drifted outside the window, and that warm sunlight spilled into the corridor, seemingly taking away a hint of confusion in her heart.

"But, unnie," she asked in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of worry, "do you think Xiuyuan will bring Jessica over? I mean, if one day he really brings her over, unnie, how are you going to get along with her?"

Zheng Xiuyan was taken aback, not expecting Lin Yun'er to suddenly ask this question, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Then she smiled slightly, her tone relaxed, "Don't know, haven't thought about it. If that day really comes, we'll talk about it then. Ever since I knew the word 'internal friction', I stopped thinking about the future. If I have that leisure, I might as well draw a few more design drafts."

After listening to her answer, Lin Yun'er was silent for a moment and did not continue to press.

Mainly because these two were different from herself and Lin Yun'er, Tian Enjing and Xian Enjing; these two pairs of contestants didn't do anything wrong, it was just that there were some problems with the group.

But Jessica's side had chosen the wrong man, not only implicating Krystal but also causing their lives to fall into so many troubles.

Although she knew that Lin Yun'er knew that this unnie of hers was unwilling to think about this situation, if that day really came, she was really curious whether the other party was prepared to talk to Jessica face-to-face about those complex issues.

After using the restroom, the two returned to the practice room, still that familiar corridor, and it was still Lin Yun'er who spoke first.

"Unnie, I have one more question."

"Ya, YoonA, when did you become possessed by Sun Gui? How come your curiosity is so heavy?" Zheng Xiuyan, walking beside her, tilted her head and looked at the other party with amusement.

Lin Yun'er was teased until she blushed, and then she said in a low voice.

"No, I just want to ask, you also know that Xiuyuan and Jessica had that conflict before. If according to what I just said, Xiuyuan still brought the other party in, unnie, what do you think is the reason?"

"What reason? Does it need a reason? That gate, he opens it if he wants to, just like when he pulled me over back then."

Speaking of this, a flash of past memories crossed Zheng Xiuyan's eyes, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily broke into a smile, as if recalling that reckless boy from back then.

"I'm just saying, what if." Lin Yun'er continued to press, her tone appearing somewhat helpless but carrying a bit of seriousness.

This time, Zheng Xiuyan was silent for a moment, seemingly thinking about this question, and then answered, "If I must answer with an answer, then I can only hope that when Xiuyuan sees Jessica, he can think of me."

She said this sentence very plainly, but inadvertently revealed a kind of sincerity and softness, as if in this simple sentence, too many complex emotions were hidden.

And this rare direct-ball statement made Lin Yun'er stand still on the spot, her gaze looking deeply at the figure walking forward, and a hint of touch inexplicably arose in her heart.

Zheng Xiuyan noticed that she had stopped her footsteps, turned her head to look at her, carrying a hint of doubt and a smile, "Walk, why are you standing there? Hurry up."

Lin Yun'er smiled, a hint of complexity appeared on her face, and she said in a low voice, "Oh, coming."

……

……

On the second day in Georgia, the sun shone on the vast grassland, reflecting warm rays of light, and the entire earth was filled with a tranquil atmosphere.

After a day of playing, Lin Xiuyuan and the others were not in a hurry to rush to the next destination, but decided to continue enjoying this tranquil world.

Although there were no significant tourist attractions around, for the three of them, this vast grassland and the distant snow-capped mountains were enough for them to spend the entire afternoon quietly.

The three sat around outside the courtyard of an overhead cafe, enjoying the warm afternoon sun and the tranquil atmosphere.

An occasional breeze blew past, ripples appeared on the grass, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of flowers and grass.

Jessica took out her camera from time to time to take a few photos of the beautiful scenery before her. Her face was filled with a satisfied smile, and her eyes sparkled with excitement behind the lens.

Krystal sat quietly to the side, holding a book in her hand, her gaze focused on the pages. She looked up from time to time, seeing the snow-capped mountains in the distance, and there was a hint of faint tenderness in her eyes.

And Lin Xiuyuan was still somewhat absent-minded, looking up at the snow-capped mountains in the distance from time to time, his gaze somewhat dazed.

"Xiuyuan, are you thinking about something?" Suddenly, Krystal asked softly, her voice like a wisp of clear breeze, breaking Lin Xiuyuan's contemplation.

She looked up, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, and looked at him with a smile.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and shook his head, "Nothing, just feel that this kind of quiet day is very rare, being able to calm down and think about some things."

Krystal nodded and echoed softly, "Mm, indeed."

She put down the book in her hand, and her gaze followed him toward the distance, "Places as quiet as this can make people temporarily forget some troubles and clear their heads."

"Then if you were to stay here permanently, Xiujing, would you be willing?" Lin Xiuyuan followed up and asked.

This question not only silenced Krystal, but even Jessica looked over.

In the end, Krystal shook her head, "That won't do. Visiting occasionally is fine, but I still prefer the prosperity of the city. It's enough to just appreciate this kind of nature."

After speaking, she gave a metaphor, "Besides, clearing your head occasionally is fine, but who clears it all the time?"

The point of this answer directly amused Lin Xiuyuan, and he laughed out loud.

"Alright, alright, alright, you've also learned to sophistry, Zheng Xiujing."

As the sunset gradually went down, the clouds on the horizon were dyed into a gentle orange-red by the evening glow, the brilliance spilled onto the distant mountains, the golden light spilled onto the peaks of the snow-capped mountains, and the outline of the mountain range appeared even more mysterious and magnificent.

Lin Xiuyuan, who hadn't returned to 2013 for a few days, left the guesthouse under Krystal's cover when night fell and returned to the apartment over there.

And when Jessica asked why Krystal didn't come out to soak in the hot spring, Krystal glanced at Jessica, who was still sexy tonight, and indicated with a playful smile on her face.

"Xiuyuan said you are too tempting like this, making him a bit unable to control himself, so he won't come out, letting us sisters have a good chat."

Listening to Krystal's teasing, Jessica couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and chuckle, "Is this something you made up yourself? That guy, besides occasionally sweeping a glance at me, basically hasn't even looked at me straight on. Where is the sexiness?"

"Unnie, you're underestimating yourself a bit too much." Krystal laughed.

"I have self-knowledge. That young man of yours has a huge temper, unlike us who can digest it ourselves." Jessica chuckled, a hint of self-mockery in the corners of her mouth.

Jessica, saying these words, took Krystal's arm and walked toward the hot spring room, her laughter light, the atmosphere warm and relaxed.

And at this time, Lin Xiuyuan had already returned to 2013 through the Time Gate.

After returning to the apartment in 2013, Lin Xiuyuan first stopped in the living room, looking at the familiar environment, thinking about the grassland and snow-capped mountains he was still looking at in the afternoon, and suddenly felt somewhat like a lifetime away.

This was a feeling he hadn't had before when returning from the 2025 city to the 2013 city; it was a bit like when he was on vacation in the Maldives.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had adjusted his thoughts, sat on the sofa and looked at the information on his phone. Most of it was replied to by Sulli, except for some people she didn't know.

And those people were classmates he knew and was preparing to graduate with before Lin Xiuyuan dropped out of school.

Should Lin Xiuyuan go back to school to take a look?

Regarding this, Lin Xiuyuan directly ignored it.

Then he looked at some information Sulli replied to earlier, such as Kim Taeyeon's, such as Park Ji-yeon's.

The reply to Kim Taeyeon was: Busy with something.

The reply to Park Ji-yeon was: Traveling.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuyuan also discovered that he seemed not to have seen Park Ji-yeon for a few days. Recalling her figure, a smile couldn't help but rise in his heart.

So he dialed her phone, but it was never answered.

After trying a few more times and still getting no response, this made Lin Xiuyuan frown, and he couldn't help but have some doubts in his heart.

Helplessly, he dialed Xian Enjing's phone again, intending to understand Park Ji-yeon's situation from her.

A few seconds later, Xian Enjing's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Hello, Xiuyuan? You're back?"

"Mm, I called Ji-yeon's phone and no one answered. Is she busy?" Lin Xiuyuan asked after responding.

"Oh, Ji-yeon is currently practicing at the Taekwondo hall." Xian Enjing answered with a smile, "She has been particularly devoted to training recently, almost soaking in the hall every day."

"What?" Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback, somewhat surprised, "Taekwondo?"

"Mm, it was after learning about your situation, after learning about the situation over there, that she started practicing crazily, even harder than dancing."

Xian Enjing's tone carried a hint of teasing, "You know, Ji-yeon's personality, once she devotes herself, she ignores everything else."

Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback, then laughed, "Alright, then I'll go see her. Where is the address?"

Two minutes later, Lin Xiuyuan, having obtained the address, dialed Sulli's phone. Learning that she was still rehearsing at the company, he directly made an appointment with her for a late-night snack later.

At the same time, he took the elevator downstairs, got in the car, and headed straight for the Taekwondo hall address given by Xian Enjing.

Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Taekwondo hall, he unexpectedly ran into Park Hyomin.

The two hadn't seen each other for a while. The last meeting at the airport, because of the occasion, they hadn't chatted much, only exchanged pleasantries.

"Xiuyuan, why did you come?" Park Hyomin was surprised when she saw him, her eyes carrying a bit of curiosity and doubt.

"Heard that Ji-yeon has been practicing Taekwondo crazily recently, so I came to see her." Lin Xiuyuan answered.

"Oh, so that's it." Park Hyomin nodded, then stepped toward the hall.

As she walked, she tilted her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her tone carrying a hint of concern, "Recently, Ji-yeon has been training particularly hard, and even her daily rest has decreased. If you, Xiuyuan, can persuade her, then persuade her. After all, she doesn't need to take exams anymore, there's no need to work so hard. Her figure is already very good."

Lin Xiuyuan heard this, his heart paused slightly, somewhat embarrassed, but he also knew that this was a problem that could not be ignored.

"Mm, I know. Thank you, Hyomin."

"No need, Ji-yeon is my younger sister, it's made to seem like she's your possession."

"……"

The two chatting walked into the Taekwondo hall together, and the atmosphere inside the hall remained tense and focused.

A scattered few students were practicing attentively, and occasionally one could hear the sound of panting and hitting the mats. The air was filled with the scent of sweat and effort.

Everyone was immersed in their own world, and an aura of struggle radiated from their bodies.

Lin Xiuyuan's gaze swept across the hall and finally froze on the target person of his trip: Park Ji-yeon.

At this time, she was standing to the side wearing sportswear, the hair in front of her forehead somewhat messy, obviously having just experienced arduous training. There was a hint of fatigue on her face, but it also carried confidence and determination.

When Park Ji-yeon saw Lin Xiuyuan walk in, she was taken aback, then revealed a surprised smile, "Oppa~ why did you come?"

"Heard you've been busy, came to see you." Lin Xiuyuan walked over with a smile, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, "Are you planning to transfer from an idol to an athlete, Ji-yeon, so dedicated."

A smile first appeared on Park Ji-yeon's face, but it quickly turned into a resolute expression, and at the same time, she looked at the other party somewhat depressed, "No, I just wanted to practice."

Lin Xiuyuan, hearing the answer, smiled, "How about we stop here for today? I have an appointment for a late-night snack with Sulli and Enjing. They should have already set off, I'll come to pick you up and we'll go eat something together."

Facing Lin Xiuyuan's invitation, Park Ji-yeon naturally agreed, but just as Lin Xiuyuan was preparing to call her to leave, his eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had suddenly thought of something.

"Oppa~ since you've come here, don't you plan to come up and try it?" She smiled, her tone carrying a hint of provocation.

"Me? I don't understand Taekwondo, forget it." Lin Xiuyuan smiled and shook his head, obviously not intending to challenge his own limitations.

"Don't need to understand, just fight normally, see who wins."

This concise summary by Park Ji-yeon directly made Park Hyomin to the side couldn't help but laugh out loud.

And Lin Xiuyuan, after hearing this, was taken aback, his brows raised slightly, then he revealed a slightly playful smile, thinking of something, "Ji-yeon, so you're planning to take this opportunity to teach me a lesson?"

"No way, oppa, don't talk nonsense." Park Ji-yeon suddenly shifted her gaze away, feeling somewhat guilty, as if she didn't dare to look him in the eye.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan waved his hands helplessly and said with a smile, "Alright, you win, I'll play with you."

Facing Park Ji-yeon's enthusiasm, Lin Xiuyuan really found it hard to refuse, especially in this atmosphere, with people to the side watching them.

Park Ji-yeon watched Lin Xiuyuan agree to her, and a hint of cunning light flashed in her eyes, "Hee hee, oppa, then I won't be polite."

She walked directly onto the soft mat of the Taekwondo hall, set a standard standing posture, and prepared to start the challenge.

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head and couldn't help but laugh, thinking in his heart that this little Ji-yeon must be wanting to teach him a good lesson after learning about the situation in 2025.

After the two stood ready, Park Ji-yeon quickly launched an offensive.

Her footsteps were swift, her movements light, and a high kick went straight for Lin Xiuyuan's shoulder.

Lin Xiuyuan really didn't understand this stuff, but his body's coordination was strong, and his senses were also very sharp.

So his eyes could very clearly see Park Ji-yeon's movements, so he moved his body nimbly to the side, cleverly avoiding the attack.

Immediately following, he made a reaction, which was to rush forward directly, intending to use absolute strength to pounce on Park Ji-yeon and end everything.

But Park Ji-yeon was no pushover. After a light smile, her body dodged even faster, instantly returning to her original position with a turn.

Then she quickly lowered her body and pounced with force, heading straight for Lin Xiuyuan's lower body.

And her sudden move made Lin Xiuyuan pause slightly, missing the opportunity he could have easily avoided, and then he was kicked in the calf.

Next, the two started a little bickering, and although the movements were not very intense, they were filled with enthusiastic competition everywhere.

The air was filled with a tense yet somewhat joking atmosphere, and every slight touch on the soft mat made the two's heartbeats accelerate.

"Ji-yeon, you're really using force to hit me, can't you be a bit more relaxed?" Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but ask, his words carrying a hint of a smile.

Park Ji-yeon raised her brows slightly and responded without showing weakness, "I'm serious, oh."

Her words carried a kind of determination, as if reminding Mr. Lin that she was not someone who would let go easily.

In the end, after some probing, Lin Xiuyuan finally relied on better body coordination to find an opportunity.

He saw him quickly seize a mistake by Park Ji-yeon, nimbly adjusted his pace, and took advantage of the situation with a clever push-and-pull movement to throw her onto the soft mat.

The two rolled a few times quickly, and in the end, Lin Xiuyuan steadily controlled her upper body.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

The two looked at each other, Lin Xiuyuan caught his breath and looked at her with a smile, "You lost, oh, Ji-yeon."

Park Ji-yeon was pressed to the ground, but there was no frustration on her face; instead, she revealed a faint smile, and there seemed to be some indescribable meaning in her eyes.

Then she spoke lightly, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity and anticipation, "It doesn't matter if I lose, oppa. However, I have a question, which is, am I more powerful, or is that old woman better?"

The question she suddenly asked made Lin Xiuyuan somewhat taken aback.

Seeing that the other party's eyes seemed to reveal some deep meaning, his heart tightened even more.

Pausing for a moment, his gaze involuntarily swept across her face, and his heart felt somewhat complex.

Mainly because Park Ji-yeon's question was too private, and he somewhat didn't know how to answer.

He couldn't say that neither of them was relevant, although both were fighting and rolling.

Thinking of this, looking at Park Ji-yeon's somewhat expectant gaze, Lin Xiuyuan finally restrained his smile and took a deep breath.

"That really was an accident, Ji-yeon. Besides, didn't you move first at the beginning? I was just forced to defend myself."

Park Ji-yeon, after hearing this sentence, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she hummed, "Look, oppa, you're siding with her."

After speaking, a hint of faint helplessness appeared on her face. She did not continue to press and only lowered her head.

Perhaps because of long-term pressure, perhaps because of the feelings she had for Lin Xiuyuan that were beginning to mutate, this was why she had this kind of question involuntarily.

Park Ji-yeon, biting her lip, said softly: "Forget it, I won't ask."

Lin Xiuyuan saw that she had suddenly become somewhat silent, felt somewhat unbearable in his heart, reached out his hand and patted her shoulder lightly, "Get up first, I'll tell you about the situation later."

After speaking, he smiled, stood up, stretched, and looked at Park Ji-yeon, "Do you want to go back and wash up?"

And Park Ji-yeon, having received the promise, immediately stood up and patted her sportswear, obviously having relaxed quite a bit, "Yes, I can't go over smelling of sweat."

"There's no sweat smell."

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just rolled on the soft mat with her, indicated, and Park Ji-yeon lowered her head and smiled.

At this time, Park Hyomin, who had been quietly observing the two, narrowed her eyes slightly, then walked over from the side, her eyes carrying a bit of playfulness, "You two really had a fun time."

Her words carried obvious teasing, and she continued to smile at Lin Xiuyuan, "Xiuyuan, for the late-night snack in a while, surely I won't be left out, right?"

After asking this question, Park Hyomin had actually already made a decision.

That was, this time, no matter what, she would thicken her skin and follow them. She wanted to see what was going on with these two—no, plus Sulli and Enjing—what exactly was going on with these people.

Lin Xiuyuan was amused by her sudden words and agreed easily and naturally, "Of course, no problem, Hyomin."

And so, after Park Ji-yeon tidied up a bit, the three walked out of the Taekwondo hall together.

At this time, the night was gradually thickening, and the air carried the chill of the evening breeze.

There was no brilliant starry sky like in Georgia here, only the city's neon lights still flickering, casting colorful light and shadows on the street, reflecting the outlines of the three figures.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 221 =====