Chapter 223: Welcome to the world of 2025, Taeyeon

Mid-July, 2013, SM Entertainment.

Sunlight spilled onto the studio windowsill, refracting through the glass to illuminate Kim Taeyeon's focused face.

She was sitting in one of the company's rehearsal rooms, the air filled with the faint echoes of music, making final preparations for the upcoming tour.

Her vocal coach sat opposite her, a piano before him; as his fingertips tapped lightly, a string of beautiful notes rang out.

Kim Taeyeon's eyes were slightly narrowed, her brows knitted, as she practiced the song's transitions, high notes, and overtones over and over again.

Every challenge to her vocal range made her feel her limits being pushed higher; the demands of breath control kept her constantly alert and focused.

"Taeyeon, your range needs to be more open, especially in this section." The vocal coach's voice was soft and gentle, carrying a hint of demand.

He stopped playing and watched her expression. "Relax, don't be so tense. When you get tense, your throat tightens up, and the breath can't get through."

"Mm-hmm."

Kim Taeyeon replied in a low voice, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and relaxed her shoulders, trying to let that invisible tension dissipate with her breath.

Having been accustomed to this high-intensity training for so many years, although she felt significant pressure, navigating through the notes always allowed her to find a unique sense of release.

Seeing her state improve, the vocal coach smiled slightly, clearly satisfied with her progress.

"Very good, Taeyeon. Keep this state; we'll refine it further in the next rehearsal."

Kim Taeyeon nodded, a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth, her eyes still filled with persistence and focus.

She could feel some fatigue now, but with every bit of progress, the drive for the future and the longing for the stage kept pushing her forward.

Only after the vocal lesson ended was Kim Taeyeon finally able to rest a little. She sat in the company's lounge, leaned against the sofa, and took a small sip from the water bottle on the table.

As the cool water flowed down her throat, it carried away some of her exhaustion.

Looking up toward the window, she watched the street outside through the glass—traffic flowing, pedestrians hurrying by.

The glass of the office building opposite reflected the busy scene, as if her own heart had quietly paused for a moment between this hustle and stillness.

Suddenly, the phone beside her vibrated. Kim Taeyeon looked at the screen instinctively; it displayed a familiar name: Lin Xiuyuan.

Seeing this name, a smile rose to her lips involuntarily. She pressed the answer button, and the other party's voice quickly came through: "Hey~"

"Hey, Xiuyuan~ You finally showed your face. Seriously, just like YoonA said before, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were some kind of spy."

Kim Taeyeon laughed playfully, her tone light.

On the other end came Lin Xiuyuan's relaxed laughter. He then said, "I was just busy before. By the way, are you free now, Taeyeon?"

"What's up?" Kim Taeyeon smiled.

"I happen to be nearby. Want to come out for a drink?" Lin Xiuyuan's voice carried an undisguised invitation.

Kim Taeyeon paused for a moment, then checked her outfit, which was still quite neat, and couldn't help but laugh. "Sure, I just finished training. Where are you? I'll come down now."

"Right downstairs from your company," Lin Xiuyuan answered simply.

Hearing this, Kim Taeyeon thought for a moment and gave Lin Xiuyuan a slightly more secluded address; meeting at the front door would surely get them caught by fans.

She packed her things and headed toward the main entrance.

Ten minutes later, following the address she had sent him, Kim Taeyeon arrived at the entrance of an alley two streets behind the SM building.

A cool summer breeze brushed past her hair, and the air was filled with a fresh scent.

Before long, a familiar figure appeared in her line of sight.

Kim Taeyeon's gaze followed the figure instinctively. Lin Xiuyuan was wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt paired with brown shorts, walking slowly toward her.

He looked simple and refreshing, exuding a natural youthful vitality, like a soda under the summer sun—bright and dashing.

The only thing that made Kim Taeyeon chuckle was his pair of casual flip-flops; they didn't seem to match, yet they fit his easygoing and unpretentious personality perfectly.

However, despite Lin Xiuyuan's seemingly casual attire, in this world where appearance is paramount, the sunny, youthful aura he radiated was still palpable, as if the surrounding air became extra fresh because of him.

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan, Kim Taeyeon walked up quickly and teased him with a smile, "You came to see me wearing these flip-flops?"

"Why, looking down on them? These are LV—Louis Vuitton. They weren't cheap."

Lin Xiuyuan looked triumphant, his eyes filled with amusement.

Thinking of these flip-flops he'd bought while shopping on the streets of London with Krystal yesterday, he hadn't felt anything at the time, but afterward, he suddenly wondered if his brain had been caught in a door.

Spending over 700 Euros—six or seven thousand—on something that cost ten or twenty, maybe a few dozen at most, on the side of the road; did he really not understand the value of money anymore?

Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but laugh out loud and glared at him. "Don't lie to me, I read the news. LV has never made flip-flops."

After saying that, assuming Lin Xiuyuan was joking, she continued, "You said let's go for a drink. Where are we going?"

"Oh, that? I already bought coffee. It's in the car." Lin Xiuyuan's voice was relaxed.

"Oh, that's quite thoughtful," Kim Taeyeon replied with a smile.

"By the way," Lin Xiuyuan suddenly turned to her, a smile on his lips. "You should be free for a while, right? Want to go somewhere with me?"

This sudden invitation stirred Kim Taeyeon's heart; she instinctively felt this might be a date.

But when she thought about her rehearsal that evening, she felt a moment of hesitation.

Just as she was about to refuse, seeing the faint smile on Lin Xiuyuan's lips, her heart softened. She lowered her head slightly and smiled. "Sure."

The complex shift of emotions within that single second was a flutter Kim Taeyeon had never experienced before.

Thus, led by Lin Xiuyuan, Kim Taeyeon soon sat in his car.

Sure enough, a cup of coffee was already prepared in the cup holder. Kim Taeyeon looked at the coffee and burst into laughter. "Yah, Xiuyuan, is this what you meant by treating me to a drink?"

Lin Xiuyuan laughed easily. "Just tell me, is there a drink or not?"

Kim Taeyeon took a sip of the coffee and nodded. "There is, and it actually tastes pretty good. What kind of drink is this? I quite like it."

"This is a KFC-style float coffee recipe," Lin Xiuyuan smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "For this cup of coffee, I went to a coffee shop to order the coffee, then took it to an ice cream shop to add some ice cream. I really put in the effort."

Hearing this, Kim Taeyeon laughed out loud again. "Daebak! Yah, Xiuyuan, how did your brain come up with this idea?"

She laughed until her eyes curved into crescents, her face showing undisguised joy.

After laughing, she took another sip of the coffee. "But the taste is actually quite good."

Afterward, as the two chatted, the car slowly drove out of the city, heading toward the seaside.

The scenery outside the car gradually became more open; the city's hustle and bustle were left behind, replaced by the tranquility and freshness of nature.

Looking through the window at the receding city skyline, Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but feel a bit of doubt and couldn't resist asking, "Xiuyuan, where exactly are you taking me?"

Lin Xiuyuan answered with a smile while focusing on driving, "Taking you to see someone."

Although a bit confused, Kim Taeyeon didn't press for more; her trust in Lin Xiuyuan made her decide to follow him.

Or rather, the foundation of her trust wasn't just Lin Xiuyuan himself, but Zheng Xiuyan and Lin Xiaolu.

Before long, the car slowed to a stop. Kim Taeyeon looked up at the scene before her.

She was surprised to find it was a relatively secluded villa complex; the surroundings were quiet, and the atmosphere of the suburbs permeated the area.

The only thing that caught her eye was the vast sea behind the villas, sparkling as if it had merged with the horizon.

However, Kim Taeyeon looked at Lin Xiuyuan with some curiosity and asked, "We're going in here??"

"Yes," Lin Xiuyuan nodded with a smile. "Let's go in and see."

With that, he turned off the engine, got out, and looked back at Kim Taeyeon with a smile.

Looking at Lin Xiuyuan's familiar face, Kim Taeyeon felt a slight stir in her heart. She didn't hesitate anymore, opened the door, got out, and followed his footsteps toward the villa's gate.

Walking into the villa and through the spacious courtyard, Kim Taeyeon's heartbeat gradually accelerated.

The air was filled with a cool breeze, and everything around was quiet, save for the occasional sound of wind brushing the leaves.

And when she fully stepped into the villa's living room, suddenly, a familiar yet strange figure slowly walked out from inside, as if waiting for a long time.

The moment she saw the person, Kim Taeyeon's eyes froze, her footsteps stopped involuntarily, her heart rate spiked, and a look of astonishment quickly climbed onto her cheeks.

That person was so similar to her, like a reflection in a mirror, yet there were some subtle, obvious differences.

The suddenly accelerated heartbeat made Kim Taeyeon almost forget why she was even there.

She looked down at her own hands, wanting to confirm she wasn't dreaming.

The woman before her was already becoming clearer, even extending her right hand toward her, saying gently and calmly, "Hello, my name is Kim Taeyeon."

The voice was soft and calm, as if carrying some kind of warm power, breaking the heavy doubt in Kim Taeyeon's heart.

At this, Kim Taeyeon felt as if she were being crushed by an indescribable shock; her ears felt muffled, the whole world suddenly went quiet, leaving only her buzzing brain in standby mode.

Instinctively, Kim Taeyeon's gaze turned toward Lin Xiuyuan, wanting some explanation from him, wanting to understand what on earth was going on.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan didn't beat around the bush and said with a smile, "It's just as you see. You are called Kim Taeyeon, and she is also called Kim Taeyeon. You are from 2013, and she is from 2025."

After saying this, Lin Xiuyuan added, "Oh, right, congratulations, Taeyeon."

Once these words were out, Kim Taeyeon's head buzzed again; the shock left her frozen in place, her heart full of confusion.

She didn't understand why Lin Xiuyuan was suddenly congratulating her, so she asked, "Congratulations for what?"

Lin Xiuyuan smiled, his tone serious. "Congratulations on joining the Tavern as a member. Welcome."

Hearing this, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's emotions immediately became a tangle of confusion and shock.

Her lips parted slightly, wanting to ask something, but she didn't know where to start.

She straightened her head and looked at the face of this so-called "future self from 2025," feeling dazed, excited, and even more bewildered.

In fact, upon learning from Lin Xiuyuan that the woman before her was actually her future self, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon immediately noticed the other's face shape.

Although the features were similar, the face shape had clearly been through many hardships.

And those eyes, which had been quietly watching her since just a moment ago, seemed to hold quite a few stories.

Thinking of this, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon stepped back involuntarily, looking down at the ground, still unable to break free from the shock in her heart.

Only after the other self opposite her revealed a smile did the 2013 Kim Taeyeon speak softly, "So, according to what Xiuyuan said, you... are you really me?"

"Genuine and authentic. I am you from 12 years later."

Opposite her, the 2025 Kim Taeyeon still wore a smile, though her eyes held a hint of understanding and tolerance.

After all, when she had learned the situation that night, she seemed even more excited than this one; at least this one hadn't cried yet.

Thinking of this, she looked at the 2013 Kim Taeyeon, her eyes filled with indescribable emotions—not just nostalgia for the past, but also reflection on the future.

"I still don't quite get it."

The 2013 Kim Taeyeon took a few more deep breaths, trying hard to calm herself down. After a moment, she spoke again, "I still feel a bit confused; I might need some time."

Seeing that her emotions seemed to have stabilized slightly, Lin Xiuyuan suggested with a smile, "How about we sit down and talk? I specifically found a place with a sea view just to welcome this kind of situation."

At his suggestion, the two Kim Taeyeons followed him to the villa's backyard.

This place allowed one to fully enjoy the caress of the sea breeze; before them was the endless ocean, sparkling, and the salty sea air brushed gently against their faces.

Only, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon was still in a state of complete shock and confusion, her face filled with inner conflict.

It wasn't that she didn't want to believe it, but it was just too hard to accept this seemingly absurd reality.

So her eyes swept over the 2025 Kim Taeyeon from time to time, as if looking for some evidence to prove that all of this was just a hallucination.

After a while, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon finally spoke, her tone still filled with deep confusion and astonishment. "This isn't right. So, where did you find me from 12 years later, Xiuyuan? And according to what you're saying, does that mean Xiuyan and YoonA and the others are the same?"

Lin Xiuyuan didn't even need to explain; the 2025 Kim Taeyeon nodded and smiled lightly. "Yes. Xiuyuan has a door—a time gate. You can understand it as a bridge connecting the two timelines of 2013 and 2025, allowing us to travel back and forth between different places in the two space-times."

After hearing this, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon was even more stunned, her eyes wide, as if unable to comprehend the meaning between the lines.

Her tone also began to become somewhat overwhelmed. "Are you guys really not joking with me? No, how could I possibly believe this?"

She lowered her head, bit her lip, and nervously grabbed the edge of her clothes, as if hoping to calm herself down with such a simple action.

But the violent pounding of her heart made it impossible for her to think.

The next second, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon thought of something and quickly scanned the surrounding environment, her eyes filled with alertness and suspicion.

"Wait a minute, you guys aren't playing some hidden camera prank on me, are you? Finding a girl who looks like me to come and play my future self?"

The 2025 Kim Taeyeon didn't rush to interrupt her emotional fluctuation; there was no surprise in her eyes, but rather a profound understanding.

"I know you feel it's unreal right now, or even that we're joking."

Her voice remained gentle, but the composure washed over by time was clearly revealed in her words. "But you will gradually understand that all of this is real."

With that, the 2025 Kim Taeyeon directly spread out her right palm and placed a shallow scar under the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's eyes. "You can look at the palm prints between us, or compare this scar from 2006 during practice, when I accidentally cut myself with a paper cutter."

Looking at these two pieces of evidence before her, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon finally quieted down. She also spread out her own right hand and compared them carefully and in detail.

The final result... was that they were exactly the same.

Even the skin on the other's hand was softer and more delicate than her own.

"Then, what have I become?"

After seeing the "evidence," the 2013 Kim Taeyeon spoke abruptly, her gaze fixed dead on the 2025 Kim Taeyeon's face, her eyes filled with confusion and longing.

She really wanted to know what her future self had been through and what kind of person she had become.

Just then, Lin Xiuyuan, who was sitting nearby, suddenly stood up and walked quietly to the edge of the courtyard railing, looking out at the ocean while leaving the two some private space.

The sea breeze whistled in his ears, bringing bursts of cool air, and the sound of waves hitting the rocks echoed in the open space, as if even the air was synchronized with this moment, appearing exceptionally silent.

However, in his peripheral vision, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon was experiencing a storm within her heart.

He saw her gripping the armrests of the chair tightly, her knuckles already turning slightly white, and her slight trembling made her look like she might collapse at any moment.

Her face was filled with disbelief, fear, and struggle.

Every subtle movement, every gasp, told Lin Xiuyuan, who was watching from afar, that her heart was experiencing an unbearable upheaval.

Finally, the almost irrepressible emotion broke through her mouth, the sound like a thunderclap, striking Lin Xiuyuan's heart...

"Impossible! It can't be! You're lying to me!!!"

This triple denial was like a thunderclap, drawing all of Lin Xiuyuan's gaze, which had been pretending to look at the sea, toward her.

Within Lin Xiuyuan's sight, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's emotions erupted almost uncontrollably, tears sliding down involuntarily, crossing her cheeks which had already begun to flush red.

Her body trembled slightly, her hands gripping the chair tightly, as if trying to use that strength to pull herself back from this incomprehensible reality.

It seemed she had heard some terrible news, and Lin Xiuyuan, who knew everything, guessed it was either about her father, or Sulli, or perhaps Kim Jonghyun.

In any case, it was definitely something about life and death.

Lin Xiuyuan stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching it all quietly.

Although his gaze didn't waver, complex emotions surged in his heart, mixed with some indescribable sighs.

In fact, on the way to call her over, he had already foreseen that the 2013 Kim Taeyeon would have this reaction; after all, facing those things, such emotional fluctuation was unavoidable.

The sea breeze continued to whistle, as if telling of the flow and impermanence of time.

Lin Xiuyuan took a deep breath, as if trying to clear the messy emotions from his heart, then turned slowly, his gaze once again cast toward the sea.

As for the story over there, let them discuss it themselves; he was just a gatekeeper.

Nothing more.

Behind him, at that table.

The 2013 Kim Taeyeon had almost been unable to hold back from standing up, but after taking a few deep breaths and slowly calming her emotions, she spoke tremblingly, "Is what you said true? Dad is dead, Jonghyun is dead, and Xueqiu and Hela are all dead?"

The 2025 Kim Taeyeon's eyes held a hint of deep pain; she shook her head gently, her tone calm and low.

"I have no need to lie to you about such things, and I don't wish for such experiences, but the facts are just so. That's why I said just now that I envy you, because in this space-time where Xiuyuan is, compared to my side, your lives will surely be more complete."

Her tone carried a hint of helplessness, yet also revealed the composure and resilience washed over by time.

Having already been through too many storms, the 2025 Kim Taeyeon didn't seem surprised at all when facing the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's shock.

It was as if she had experienced countless similar situations and had long since learned how to treat them calmly.

After hearing this, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's gaze turned instinctively toward Lin Xiuyuan's back. After a moment, she continued to ask, "Besides that, is there anything else?"

The 2025 Kim Taeyeon sighed gently, as if thinking about how to answer this question.

Then she turned slightly and asked gently, "Do you want to hear the good news, or the bad news?"

And the 2013 Kim Taeyeon, whose heart was surrounded by layers of fog, ultimately chose, "Let's hear the bad news first..."

Then she sighed deeply, as if condensing all her burdens into that one long sigh. "I want to know how much worse it can get."

The 2025 Kim Taeyeon smiled gently, a hint of heaviness flashing in her eyes. "There isn't any; the worst has already been said."

She muttered in a low voice and continued, "Then I'll start from the near future. For example, if there were no butterfly effect, Xiuyan would leave the group, and Girls' Generation would be missing a piece of her. The Tokyo Dome concert we originally agreed upon would also have one less person due to her absence."

Hearing this, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon was shocked, her eyes wide, staring at the other in disbelief, as if unable to believe her words.

However, the 2025 Kim Taeyeon didn't pause and continued to speak slowly.

"Following that is the 2014 revelation of everyone's relationships, then the 2015 final dance. After that, Girls' Generation began to go their separate ways, everyone started developing individually, and the subsequent comebacks became increasingly sloppy."

"The last comeback was actually serious for once, but the time was too short; it passed in a flash."

Every sentence was like a heavy hammer, striking hard at the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's heart.

Her hands couldn't stop trembling, her fingertips slightly white, her eyes filled with a complex confusion she couldn't understand.

"Next is..."

The voice in her ear continued to narrate, every word carrying a helpless calmness, yet filled with deep emotion.

These pieces of news seemed to constantly impact the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's soul; her worldview began to crack, and the collision between past ideals and future truth stirred up monstrous waves in her heart.

Until she didn't want to listen anymore and reached out to stop her. "Wait a minute, let's change the subject; tell me about the good aspects."

She was almost unable to bear it; even if her heart were as strong as iron, she couldn't avoid an emotional collapse at this moment.

Her eyes were filled with fear and confusion, as if trying to find a space to breathe from this sudden impact.

"The good aspects, huh." The 2025 Kim Taeyeon smiled. "Actually, there's a lot, and there isn't much; it's easy to summarize."

Under the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's confused gaze, she once again revealed that composure and confidence belonging to her, smiling slightly. "Actually, it's just that the career is very successful—solo success, tour success, variety show success. In terms of work, everything is so smooth."

When the 2013 Kim Taeyeon heard words like "solo," "tour," and "variety show," some familiar images flashed through her mind instinctively.

However, as the excitement brought by these words gradually dissipated, her brain was still occupied by the few shocking truths from before.

Her thinking was somewhat stagnant, making it hard to shift her focus.

Her unsettled heart made the 2013 Kim Taeyeon want to prove the authenticity of all this, so she looked up and proposed this idea to the other self opposite her.

Learning of her idea, the 2025 Kim Taeyeon didn't mince words and shouted toward Lin Xiuyuan's back, "Xiuyuan~ stop hiding, come over quickly; it's your turn to appear."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing at the edge of the courtyard looking at the sea, turned around at the sound and walked toward them with a slight smile. "What?"

"Taeyeon says she wants to see it to believe it," the 2025 Kim Taeyeon laughed.

"Tsk, the way you say that name."

Lin Xiuyuan laughed helplessly, his expression carrying a hint of intimacy.

Looking at the 2025 Kim Taeyeon, he teased, "Every time the two of you meet, the names always become a difficult issue. How does it feel? Isn't it a bit uncomfortable to call your own name like that?"

"It is indeed a bit strange. I see why YoonA wanted to fight Xiaolu for the name," the 2025 Kim Taeyeon laughed.

And at this time, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon spoke up, "What do you mean, what do you mean by fighting for the name?"

Then, on the way to a room door, Lin Xiuyuan explained the little episode of Lin Xiaolu and Lin YoonA's "battle" to the 2013 Kim Taeyeon, leaving her completely bewildered.

There was also Jessica and Zheng Xiuyan, Krystal and Zheng Xiujing, Xian Enjing and Tian Enjing, and so on.

As these explanations gradually became clear, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon finally understood that the "Tavern Member" she knew hid so many complex stories behind it.

At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan happened to arrive in front of a door. He gently gripped the doorknob with his right hand, turned his head to look at the two Kim Taeyeons behind him, or rather, looked at the 2013 Kim Taeyeon and smiled slightly. "Are you ready?"

The other party took a deep breath, her gaze slightly firm, and nodded gently.

Then she saw Lin Xiuyuan slowly open the door. The world that appeared behind the door was not the bedroom she had imagined, nor was it some special effect scene from a sci-fi movie; it was just a very luxurious and bright villa living room.

The spacious space, the view of the courtyard visible outside the glass window, the sunlight spilling into the room through the window, the air filled with a warm atmosphere—the entire environment was quiet and harmonious.

Then Lin Xiuyuan bowed slightly, making a gentlemanly gesture of invitation. "Welcome to the world of 2025. Please come in, Taeyeon, go on over."

The 2013 Kim Taeyeon looked at the living room behind the door, gritted her teeth, and stepped across.

Then the 2025 Kim Taeyeon also walked in with a smile, and Lin Xiuyuan followed.

As the door slowly closed, with the closing of the door, the hustle and wind outside gradually faded away.

Only the sound of the endless sea continued to echo in the air, as if witnessing this quiet change at this moment.

In the 2025 villa, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon quickly looked back as soon as she entered. Seeing Lin Xiuyuan and her other self follow, her tension relaxed slightly, and she let out a long breath.

But immediately after, she heard the 2025 Kim Taeyeon say to Lin Xiuyuan: "Don't come to your place, let's go back to mine, Xiuyuan. I have something to show her there."

Hearing this, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon frowned in confusion, thinking they were going out to drive.

However, to her surprise, after closing the door, Lin Xiuyuan opened it again and pulled them toward a cozy apartment.

Then, the moment the door closed and opened again, space and time seemed to jump together, taking her from one world into another completely different space.

And this was the 2025 Kim Taeyeon's home.

This strange feeling of traveling through time and space made the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's brain collapse instantly.

Frozen in place, her eyes were hollow, her heartbeat seemed to have stopped for a moment, and everything she had just seen became fragmented in her brain, completely unable to understand this phenomenon that defied common sense.

After a long silence, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon finally came to her senses, turned to Lin Xiuyuan, who had been watching her with a smile, and asked softly, "What is this, Xiuyuan? What on earth is going on with you?"

Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled into a helpless smile, and he answered nonchalantly, "This is too troublesome to explain. Just assume I have a beggar-version of an Anywhere Door; the situation is about the same anyway."

Once these words were out, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but think of the conversation she had had with Lin Xiaolu before.

She opened her mouth, froze in place again, clearly unable to break free from this chaotic emotion.

Until the 2025 Kim Taeyeon, who had gone into the room earlier, shouted to her from the master bedroom, "Taeyeon-ah, come over here."

The 2013 Kim Taeyeon looked at Lin Xiuyuan hesitantly. Lin Xiuyuan smiled and nodded slightly. "Go on. The evidence I can give you is just some news reports, which might not be very real, but she should be able to give you the most real evidence."

Hearing this, a flash of hesitation crossed the 2013 Kim Taeyeon's heart, but ultimately, she took a step and walked toward the master bedroom.

Only, she could feel her footsteps becoming heavier, as if with every step, she had to face those realities she didn't want to believe.

And after both Kim Taeyeons disappeared into the living room, Lin Xiuyuan went to the refrigerator to get himself another bottle of cola and started drinking it straight.

While drinking, he muttered, "Kill a hair-spirit? In my situation, I feel like I haven't had that stuff for a long time; it's all nutrient solution."

Otherwise, how could Krystal, Little Dragon Cub, and the others have drunk Oolong Peach Juice for over a month without any effect?

Although the Xiaotoudan Gepiwan could block 98%, as far as Lin Xiuyuan knew, Krystal seemed to have forgotten to take it for a while, yet she was still fine.

You have to know, short-acting Gepiwan needs to be taken on time.

A few minutes later, Lin Xiuyuan, who was scrolling through short videos on the sofa, keenly caught the sound of sobbing coming from the bedroom.

His thumb, which was scrolling the screen, paused slightly, then he turned the volume to the maximum and continued scrolling through videos.

During this, he didn't forget to reply to Krystal's message in London, saying he had gone out to play and would be back later.

Krystal was smart and immediately knew Lin Xiuyuan wasn't in London, so she explained her situation again—she had a cocktail party later, so she might need to get off work late.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had long known this, expressed understanding and asked Krystal in a "joking" way what she wanted to eat that night; he could bring it back for her.

But Krystal brought up the bet from last night, saying it was agreed that Jessica would pay for the meals for the next few days, and she wouldn't save the other party any money.

They had already booked a few expensive and delicious restaurants, and after the event ended today, they would spend the next two days eating and shopping to their hearts' content.

And just as Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal were chatting enthusiastically, Lin YoonA suddenly inserted a dialogue box asking: 【Xiuyuan~ what are you doing? Smiling cat. jpg】

Seeing that cute expression, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but raise a smile at the corner of his mouth and quickly replied: 【Where are you?】

A few seconds later, Lin YoonA sent a photo. In the photo was a puzzle she had finished, and the pattern actually had a picture of Lin Xiuyuan on it.

Then she wrote triumphantly: 【Just finished it, does it look good?】

And when Lin Xiuyuan saw the puzzle pattern printed with his own photo, he couldn't help but raise his lips, arched his sword-like brows, and asked again: 【Apartment? By yourself?】

Lin YoonA: 【Mm.】

A few seconds later, the door to the guest bedroom of the apartment was opened, and Lin Xiuyuan walked out. He looked at Lin YoonA in the living room and smiled, "What's the mood today, playing with puzzles?"

"Oh, Xiuyuan, aren't you busy in London?"

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan's arrival, Lin YoonA also stood up with a smile and showed off the things on the table to him, "You come over and see if this puzzle looks good."

"The photography skills aren't bad; you made me look quite handsome. When was this taken?"

Looking at the photo of himself mixing drinks behind the bar, Lin Xiuyuan nodded with great satisfaction.

Lin YoonA laughed, "Last time during the gathering."

After answering, she continued to ask, "By the way, isn't Xiujing participating in Wimbledon right now? If you leave, is it okay?"

"It's fine, she's the one participating, I'm not." Lin Xiuyuan shook his head and then said, "I had a meal with Taeyeon at noon, and I just came from her side."

"Taeyeon Unnie?"

Upon hearing this, Lin YoonA immediately got up and came to Lin Xiuyuan's side, sniffing him with her little nose to check him.

Lin Xiuyuan pressed her head down, "What are you doing, like a little dog."

Normally, at her age, Lin YoonA wouldn't be used to others treating her like this, even Kim Heechul would make her very annoyed.

But right now, Lin Xiuyuan's actions made her respond to him with a bit of coquetry, "It's mainly because Taeyeon Unnie's mental state hasn't been right lately, so I'm worried you'll be eaten clean by her."

Looking at Lin YoonA's funny little expression, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and indicated, "I know what you're talking about, so I found her a good doctor—the kind that cures all diseases."

"Mm?"

"Let's go, want me to take you over to see?"

"Mm."

So 2 minutes later, Lin YoonA looked at the two Taeyeon Unnies appearing before her and immediately turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan with a smile, "Xiuyuan, is this the good doctor you said cures all diseases?"

"That's exactly who it is," Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

And the 2013 Kim Taeyeon, seeing this suddenly appearing Lin YoonA, narrowed her eyes, which were red from crying. "You... are you the 2025 YoonA?"

"Mm, I'm the 2025 YoonA. Unnie, finally met you; I thought there wouldn't be much of a chance." Lin YoonA walked in front of her with a playful smile, her tone relaxed, as if everything seemed so natural.

"Indeed, this kind of thing is too unbelievable." The 2013 Kim Taeyeon gripped the things in her hand and squeezed out a difficult smile. "So sudden, I really don't know how to react."

Seeing her expression, Lin YoonA suddenly smiled, her eyes flickering. "So, Unnie, do you guys want to fight for the name and title too? Otherwise, it's hard for us to call people."

Her tone carried a hint of provocation and joking; clearly, she was very interested in the "fighting for names" proposal.

Having experienced the name-fighting war, Lin YoonA was also happy to see others arguing over it; anyway, it wouldn't ruin any harmony, and she could watch a big show—how great.

However, in the next second, the 2013 Kim Taeyeon indicated, "We already talked about it in the room just now."

"Mm?"

"When both of us are present, I'll be called Kim Ruanruan," the 2013 Kim Taeyeon replied.

"So Kim Taeyeon is still me, YoonA, Xiuyuan~" the 2025 Kim Taeyeon smiled slightly from the side.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 224 =====