Chapter 232: The

……

2013, the night Kim Ruanruan had a tire blowout at the highway exit.

"Um, Bae Juhyun..."

"Hm?"

"If a stranger suddenly approached you to talk, based on your personality and situation, what do you think the first sentence should be to attract your interest?"

"Are you hitting on me?" Bae Juhyun raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone carrying a hint of probing.

"You can think of it as hitting on you, or just chatting."

"The first sentence?"

"Yeah, first impressions."

"……"

Bae Juhyun was silent for a few seconds, her eyes flickering.

"What's wrong, hard to say?" Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but press.

"It's a bit awkward..." She pursed her lips and added softly, "Because I actually prefer it when people compliment me."

In the underground parking garage, the light was somewhat dim.

As Bae Juhyun said this, Kim Ruanruan and Xueli looked at each other and laughed out loud almost simultaneously.

But that laughter wasn't mockery; it carried a certain resonance of understanding.

"That's very normal; I also like being complimented," Kim Ruanruan said with a smile.

"That's right, me too," Xueli raised her hand in agreement.

Seeing this, a slight blush appeared on Bae Juhyun's face. After hesitating for a moment, she still answered Lin Xiuyuan's question softly.

"If I had to say what first sentence would attract me, it would be to compliment me directly—compliment me on being good-looking."

"You like direct people?"

"Yeah."

"Then what compliment is the most effective?"

Bae Juhyun bit her lip, seemingly gathering great courage before whispering two words.

"Cute."

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, his face full of question marks.

"???"

In the underground parking garage, there was an instant, unexpected sense of contrast.

A girl of contrasts?

……

2025, in front of the restaurant counter.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced sideways at Bae Juhyun beside him, suddenly remembering the question he had asked so casually back then, never expecting it to come in handy at this moment.

So, after the pleasantries, he took the lead with a smile, "I noticed you the moment you walked in. I didn't expect your image in videos to be so far from reality."

Bae Juhyun had intended to initiate the conversation, but she didn't expect Lin Xiuyuan to be a step ahead, which left her slightly startled.

Yet, after hearing his words, a faint smile flashed in her eyes.

After all, the other person's female companion was Krystal.

To be able to notice her in such a setting—the implication was self-evident.

And just as Bae Juhyun was thinking this, Lin Xiuyuan finished the sentence he hadn't completed earlier, "You look quite cold and proud on stage; who would have thought you'd be on the cuter side in private."

"Ah? Me?" Bae Juhyun's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks warming.

"Yeah."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, then extended a fair, slender, and well-defined right hand, introducing himself with a smile, "Let's get to know each other. My name is Lin Xiuyuan, a friend of Krystal's."

Bae Juhyun, looking down at that hand, felt a subtle flutter in her heart.

As an absolute "hand-fetishist," she hesitated for a second before reaching out to shake it lightly, "My name is Bae Juhyun."

Just as she wanted to say something more, Lin Xiuyuan took the lead again, "Are you here out of curiosity about my identity, or did you come over specifically to thank me for what happened earlier?"

Realizing she was being led by the nose by a young man, Bae Juhyun felt slightly flustered and hurriedly explained, "Ah, no, I just happened to come over to pay the bill."

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her, or rather, glanced over her head at the friend sitting opposite her who was still eating, and laughed again.

Who pays the bill before they've finished eating?

Her current nervous appearance actually had a hint of "social anxiety."

It even reminded him of that night in 2013.

But over ten years had passed, and she was still like this?

However, Lin Xiuyuan didn't expose her, nodding slightly, "Ah, I see. My apologies, I was being presumptuous."

With that, he turned to settle the bill.

In his peripheral vision, he keenly noticed that Bae Juhyun's gaze remained fixed on him—a gaze filled with curiosity and even a bit of distraction, completely unmasked.

Lin Xiuyuan understood that this state of "zoning out" was a common minor ailment for many idols.

It was nothing more than a side effect of overwork and excessive pressure.

Therefore, after completing the payment, he didn't continue the conversation, just nodded politely and turned back to his seat.

By the time Bae Juhyun came back to her senses, that figure had already sat back down opposite Krystal.

After glancing at Lin Xiuyuan one more time, Bae Juhyun turned back and asked the counter staff to settle her bill.

But the next second, she was told: the bill had already been settled for her by that young man.

This result left Bae Juhyun slightly stunned.

She couldn't help but turn her head, gazing deeply at the boy who, upon their first meeting, had said the word "cute" right to her face.

You have to know, others always described her as "pretty," "good-looking," or "beautiful."

Never: "cute."

After all, at first glance, her face really didn't have much to do with the word "cute."

Only those who had truly interacted with her and understood her personality would occasionally tease her with such a comment.

So, after sweeping a glance at Lin Xiuyuan's back, Bae Juhyun returned to her seat. Just as she looked at the boy's profile from the side, a thought couldn't help but pop into her mind: he looks so young.

On the other side, Lin Xiuyuan returned to the dining table.

Krystal was looking down at her phone, replying to a message. Seeing him sit down, she closed the screen and raised her eyes to look at him.

A smirk curled the corner of her lips, her eyes carrying a hint of teasing.

"Xiuyuan~" She rested her chin on her interlocked hands, her tone light and brisk, "You chatted for quite a while. How was it? Was the talk with Bae Juhyun pleasant? Don't tell me you've already exchanged contact information?"

She deliberately dragged out the three words "contact information," her eyes filled with banter mixed with subtle probing.

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh as she stared at him, raising an eyebrow, "No contact info exchanged."

Then he added, "However... I used your supplementary gold card to settle her bill and treated her to dinner."

"……"

Krystal blinked, stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes violently, both angry and annoyed, "You really are... I'm taking it back."

"In that case, I'll use YoonA's next time," Lin Xiuyuan continued to smile.

Krystal glanced at him, wanting to say something more, but ultimately just pursed her lips and hummed lightly.

Then she picked up the small bag from the back of her chair and stood up, "Let's go, it's getting late."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and stood up as well, straightening his clothes.

The two walked out side by side. As they passed the other table, Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously turned his head and glanced in Bae Juhyun's direction.

In that instant, his gaze carried no extra emotion; he just nodded quietly and politely.

Bae Juhyun froze, pursing her lips as she looked back, her heart trembling slightly.

Then Lin Xiuyuan turned and followed Krystal toward the table where Kim Taeyeon and Sunny were sitting, greeted them with a smile, exchanged a few brief words, and left the restaurant side-by-side with Krystal.

Under the warm yellow light, their backs gradually disappeared into the night as they pushed the door open.

Inside the restaurant.

Bae Juhyun's friend looked at her, eyes filled with curiosity, "That boy just now, Juhyun, do you know him? You seemed quite familiar."

Bae Juhyun's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously wanted to shake her head and say "I don't know him."

But in her mind, the boy's voice suddenly echoed.

"You look quite cold and proud on stage; who would have thought you'd be on the cuter side in private."

And the faint smile when he reached out his hand.

"Let's get to know each other, my name is Lin Xiuyuan."

These two sentences made Bae Juhyun bite her lip lightly. After frowning for a moment, she finally nodded and replied in a low voice, "Um... a friend."

She said it very softly, yet clearly.

And at the moment she said those words, the emotions rising in her heart were something even she couldn't distinguish.

Whether it was surprise, curiosity, or some indescribable ripple.

She really, really, really liked it when others complimented her on being cute.

And the person who said it upon their first meeting.

He was the first.

……

On the other side.

The night breeze wasn't cold, and the light under the streetlamps swayed slightly in the wind.

Lin Xiuyuan, having sent Krystal back to her apartment complex, parked the car in the lot and accompanied her upstairs.

The elevator door opened, and they walked to the corridor entrance.

Then the lock clicked, and as they pushed the door open, a warm breath rushed out to meet them.

However, just as he stepped into the foyer, Lin Xiuyuan was stunned.

Krystal, who had intended to turn and give him a hug, was equally frozen.

Because all the lights in the apartment were on.

What was even more surprising was the sound of splashing water coming from the bathroom.

Both of them froze simultaneously, a look of bewilderment appearing on their faces.

Ten seconds later, Jessica walked out wrapped in a bath towel, her hair wet and still dripping water.

But as soon as she looked up, she met Lin Xiuyuan's figure, and Krystal standing beside him.

"……"

She stood frozen in place, her eyes clearly showing shock and a hint of panic, subconsciously hugging the towel tighter, as if some secret had been suddenly exposed.

"You... why did you come over?" Jessica's tone was filled with disbelief.

Lin Xiuyuan was equally stunned. He hurriedly raised his hands with a smile, his tone calm and teasing, "Me? I'm just dropping Krystal off. On the contrary, Jessica, why are you here again? Don't tell me you forgot to pay the water bill again. That's not right either; no matter how much water you use, it should last for a month or so."

Jessica was stunned at first, then her face darkened, and she glared fiercely at Krystal, seemingly blaming her for not mentioning someone was coming.

Krystal felt helpless under that glare and could only shrug, pretending nothing was wrong, "How would I know you were coming up, Jessica?"

Jessica turned and went back into the master bedroom in annoyance, her footsteps heavy.

Not long after, she found a simple set of pajamas in Krystal's closet, changed, and walked out again, her expression finally returning to calm.

"Ahem."

Jessica, having reached the living room, cleared her throat lightly, trying to hide her previous embarrassment, and said casually, "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not that I forgot to pay the water bill this time; the water pipe really broke, and it's leaking everywhere."

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh, his tone light, "I thought it was a hot water issue again. Thank goodness, thank goodness."

Jessica pursed her lips and didn't respond, just picked up a towel to dry her hair and turned to find a hairdryer.

As for Krystal, her brows were slightly furrowed, feeling a bit of a headache.

She had originally thought that since it was a rare trip back to the apartment, she would have some good scenes with Lin Xiuyuan, but she didn't expect a sudden "variable."

However, amidst her frustration, Krystal suddenly had a flash of inspiration and came up with a small idea.

So she simply turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, speaking in a moderate tone, feigning calmness but with a hint of impatience, "Xiuyuan~ when you go back to the villa later, remember to change the mattress in the master bedroom; it's filthy."

Krystal specifically emphasized the tone on those last three words.

At the same time, Lin Xiuyuan blinked, feigning ignorance, "Ah? The mattress?"

"Don't play dumb." Krystal rolled her eyes at him, her tone carrying a hint of command, "It's the mattress, it needs to be changed."

Knowing he couldn't escape, Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, and agreed casually, "Alright, I got it."

Afterward, the two chatted for a bit about the situation over the next two days. Lin Xiuyuan definitely wouldn't be free tomorrow, but he could the day after.

So Krystal directly invited him to eat 'Peach' the day after tomorrow.

Lin Xiuyuan, understanding the meaning, made an 'OK' gesture and turned to leave.

In this scene, Jessica poked her head out from the side while drying her hair. Seeing Lin Xiuyuan's departing back, a flash of obvious curiosity crossed her eyes.

So...

"Zheng Xiujing."

She called out to Krystal, her tone filled with confusion, "What's going on with you two? Why did you suddenly ask him to change the mattress? Is there some problem with it?"

Krystal, who had been waiting for this moment, felt her heart tighten slightly, but her expression remained natural as she said slowly, "This is a matter between Tavern members, Jessica, don't ask."

"Tavern members?" Jessica was stunned, frowning suspiciously, "No, what does your so-called small circle, the Tavern, and a mattress have to do with each other? It's not some cult, is it?"

Her eyes grew more suspicious, and she felt as if she had been scratched, making her even more concerned.

Krystal, who wanted exactly this itch, wouldn't explain it to her, so she couldn't be bothered to clarify and threw out a cold sentence.

"You're meddling too much, Jessica, I'm going to take a shower."

As soon as she finished speaking, she stood up and walked back to the master bedroom to remove her makeup and wash up.

Jessica was left standing there, the buzzing sound of the hairdryer mixed with her inner confusion, leaving her completely bewildered.

——What Tavern members?

——How did it get involved with the master bedroom mattress?

——Bed partners??

……

At the same time.

Lin Xiuyuan, having returned to the car, glanced at the navigation map.

He clicked his tongue, started the car, and continued to the next destination: Little Dragon Cub's home.

His schedule these past few days was so dense it resembled the "death schedules" of second-generation idols, with almost no room to breathe.

Seoul wasn't that big, and the traffic wasn't too bad tonight, so Lin Xiuyuan soon arrived downstairs at Little Dragon Cub's apartment.

After parking the car, he went up and unlocked the door with his fingerprint.

Just as Lin Xiuyuan entered the foyer, finished changing his shoes, and was about to look up to greet her, his waist suddenly tightened.

Little Dragon Cub, who had run out from the living room, reached out and grabbed his clothes, pinning him against the wall next to the foyer.

"Hey, Zhiyan~"

Before Lin Xiuyuan could finish his sentence, he saw her lift her chin, her breathing rapid and hot, her eyes filled with excitement and long-suppressed emotions.

The next second, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him fiercely.

Everything Krystal wanted to do but didn't, Little Dragon Cub was going to do for her.

The light in the foyer reflected on her slightly flushed cheeks, and she was filled with an explosive impulse.

Lin Xiuyuan gently supported her back, smiled, and ultimately responded to her actions.

The atmosphere instantly became heated, and even the air seemed to become a bit thicker.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 233 =====