Chapter 233: Kim Taeyeon

The next morning.

The air in the apartment still lingered with the ambiguous scent of last night's intimacy, as if it were still whispering unknown secrets.

Little Dragon Cub was curled up softly in Lin Xiuyuan's arms, her snow-white arms resting weakly on his chest, a faint red mark still visible at the corner of her eyes, revealing laziness and charm.

Pouting her vermilion lips, she had a hint of a sly smile as she raised her hand to trace the line of his chin.

"Xiuyuan~ if you dare to get up and leave now, I'll bite you to death."

Little Dragon Cub, squinting her eyes as she spoke, seemed to be threatening him, but her voice was as soft as if it had been soaked in honey, charming and trembling.

Lin Xiuyuan looked down at her, a smile curling his lips, a bit of bad-boy banter, "Oh~ Zhiyan, didn't you already bite me last night? Do you want to leave a souvenir?"

"Bastard, I'll hit you."

A flush flew onto Little Dragon Cub's cheeks, but she couldn't help but laugh, raising her small fist to hit him lightly.

But that hit had no strength at all; it was more like acting spoiled. Instead, she squeezed herself even tighter into his arms.

The two rolled around in the blankets, the playful atmosphere filled with lingering sweetness.

Suddenly, the phone on the nightstand vibrated with a "buzz," the glowing screen breaking the warmth of the room.

Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously reached out to take it, glancing at the name of the caller: Kim Taeyeon.

This situation made Little Dragon Cub immediately squint her eyes, lying motionless on his chest, lazily spitting out a sentence, her voice filled with probing, but more so with stubbornness, "Xiuyuan~ if I don't let you go, what are you going to do?"

Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his brow, pinching her small, perky butt with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Little Dragon Cub let out a muffled groan, rolling her eyes in a charming and coquettish way.

Then he answered the phone, "Hello? Taeyeon~"

"Xiuyuan~ you wouldn't still be lingering at Xiujing's place, would you?"

On the other end of the phone, Kim Taeyeon's voice carried a smile, but beneath the laughter, there was a hint of banter that couldn't be ignored.

That tone sounded as if she had seen through everything, making Lin Xiuyuan's heart tighten instantly, actually creating the illusion of being "caught in the act."

"I'll be back right away."

He answered simply and cleanly, then hung up.

As a result, Little Dragon Cub's small hand immediately pinched his waist.

"Not even an explanation, huh."

Pouting, her eyes were bright, like a spoiled complaint, "I'm not Xiujing, Xiuyuan~ or are you trying to play some kind of substitute literature? Hmph, I've read quite a bit of that stuff lately."

Her words were a complaint, but her eyes were as soft as water, carrying an indescribable satisfaction and attachment.

A pair of eyes, moist and bright, charming like the strongest cup of wine in the night, making one's heart burn.

"Stop messing around, Taeyeon has serious business."

Lin Xiuyuan pinched the tip of her nose, his tone gentle but helpless, "Didn't I tell you last night? You should get a good rest today."

"I'm not tired~"

Little Dragon Cub remained unconvinced.

"Heh, if you're going to say that, show me you can jump around right now."

"……Hmph……"

She pouted, ultimately not refuting him, her coquettishness tinged with a small defeat.

Half an hour later.

When Lin Xiuyuan rushed back to the villa and pushed open the door, his gaze immediately saw the figure in the living room through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Kim Taeyeon was sitting elegantly on the sofa, holding a water glass in one hand and boredly pressing the remote control with the other, her posture lazy yet composed.

The light reflected on her profile, bringing out a refinement and aura that couldn't be ignored.

Noticing Lin Xiuyuan walk in, she let out a laughing hum, a meaningful arc curling her lips, "Yo, our Young Master Xiuyuan has finally decided to return."

And when he walked into the living room, she put down her cup, her tone filled with banter, "Tsk tsk tsk, Xiuyuan~ the scent on you can be smelled from two meters away."

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, then stretched out his arms nonchalantly, walking over with a grin, "Is it that fragrant? Do you want a hug to verify it? While you're at it, you can take a good sniff."

"Get lost."

Kim Taeyeon, being teased, rolled her eyes and pushed Lin Xiuyuan's chest with disgust, though the movement didn't have much strength.

Then she couldn't help but lean in and sniff lightly, her brows immediately arching.

"Eh~ is it rose-scented? But I remember Xiujing she—"

She stopped halfway, her eyes suddenly becoming sharp.

"Wait, weren't you at Xiujing's place last night?"

Originally a teasing tone, but as her words shifted, a sharpness flashed in her eyes, her gaze locking onto him, as if forcing an answer, "Who is it."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, a wicked smile hanging on the corner of his mouth, "Guess."

"I can't be bothered to guess."

Kim Taeyeon pouted, but her eyes carried a dangerous meaning, her tone revealing a cold hum, "But this scent is a bit wild."

"Why don't you say it's the 'Wilderness' from your company."

"Get out~"

Lin Xiuyuan, however, had the look of a dead pig not fearing boiling water, shrugging his shoulders, his expression completely innocent, "Can't help it, this scent doesn't come off once it's on you, I'm wronged."

"Wronged your head."

Kim Taeyeon pursed her lips and smiled, the smile shallow, but clearly carrying a hint of depression and unhappiness.

That smile looked casual, but it was as if she were trying hard to suppress some uncomfortable emotion.

However, she ultimately didn't intend to keep staring at this topic, just reached out and pushed Lin Xiuyuan's back, her tone moderate, "Alright, I can't be bothered to argue with you about this, hurry upstairs, take a shower, and change your clothes. The villa's air has been sweetened by you; we still have to go talk to the 2013 version of me later."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't argue, smiling as he was pushed upstairs.

Looking at his "I accept it anyway" look, Kim Taeyeon felt a sense of frustration that she couldn't vent, yet she was helpless against him.

Soon, the sound of "splashing" water came from upstairs.

The villa suddenly became quiet, leaving only the abrupt sound of water to remind Kim Taeyeon that she seemed to have been a bit too sensitive just now.

She turned and walked to the door of the living room's public bathroom, her fingers pausing slightly before she pushed the door open.

The reflection in the mirror came into view.

That face, the brows and eyes still calm and elegant, but compared to 2013, it was a different temperament.

Mature, sharp, but also lacking some simplicity.

As for whether her looks were good or not, she didn't want to dwell on that question, but the complexity hidden in her eyes made her heart tighten slightly.

She raised her hand, touching her profile lightly, her movements slow, as if confirming something, or questioning the person in the mirror.

The bathroom was exceptionally quiet, even her breathing was amplified.

She stared for who knows how long, until the sound of water from upstairs woke Kim Taeyeon once more; only then did she blink slowly and tuck those thoughts away.

The next second, her face returned to its usual calm and crisp demeanor.

Not long after, Lin Xiuyuan came down from upstairs.

He had changed into clean clothes, water droplets still hanging from his hair, sliding down his neck.

He looked much fresher, yet still carried a lazy, roguish air.

In the living room, the TV had been turned off, and Kim Taeyeon was sitting quietly on the sofa, her posture upright, as if waiting for something.

The light fell on her, making her expression even calmer and more composed.

When their eyes met, she just curled her lips faintly and spoke briefly, "Let's go."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, stepping forward with a smile, "What's wrong, are you not feeling well?"

"A bit nervous."

Kim Taeyeon didn't deny it, nodding, her tone steady but laced with a hint of uncontrollable emotional fluctuation, "It's been a long time since I heard his voice."

When she said this, her eyes drifted away, the arc of her lips very light, but carrying a complex nostalgia.

Looking at Kim Taeyeon's little expression as she said this, Lin Xiuyuan clicked his tongue. Knowing who she was talking about, he didn't say anything more and took her through the Time Gate to the 2013 apartment.

To avoid running into anyone, Lin Xiuyuan first called Kim Ruanruan to confirm no one was around before bringing Kim Taeyeon through the Time Gate.

Kim Ruanruan's 2013 apartment still carried a hint of girlishness.

Soft, light-colored cushions were placed casually, practice notes were scattered on the desk, and a faint, clear, sweet scent lingered in the air.

And that youthful face with a hint of baby fat was currently staring blankly at the two people appearing at the bedroom door.

In her eyes appeared a shock mixed with incredulity and complexity.

"Daebak..."

Kim Ruanruan couldn't help but mutter, "Although it's not the first time I've seen this situation, I still feel so shocked every time I see it."

She immediately stood up, cleared the sofa, let Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Taeyeon sit down, and handed them two bottles of ice water.

"If you were any later, I would have really had to go back first. Driving takes a few hours."

"Don't look at me, it was Xiuyuan who went out to fool around last night. If I hadn't called him, he'd probably still be sleeping."

Kim Taeyeon turned her head and rolled her eyes at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with intentional squeezing, her mouth smiling, "Isn't that right, wuli Xiuyuan~ xi~"

Lin Xiuyuan, being named, immediately twisted open the bottled water and took a big gulp to cover up the embarrassment on his face, not wanting to explain at all.

However, just as he put the bottle down, Kim Taeyeon reached out with a smile and naturally and smoothly snatched the bottle of water from his hand.

The movement was unhurried, but carried a sense of taken-for-granted intimacy.

Then she lightly unscrewed the cap, tilted her head, and took a sip, water droplets sliding past the corner of her lips.

Afterward, she casually shoved the other unopened bottle of water into Lin Xiuyuan's arms, her posture carrying a hint of small provocation.

The atmosphere in that instant was somewhat ambiguous.

Her eyes carried a smile, but she was clearly making some kind of declaration silently.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, then smiled helplessly, took the water, and didn't refute.

And Kim Ruanruan, sitting on the side, had been watching the interaction between the two from beginning to end, her fingers subconsciously rubbing the edge of the cushion.

She didn't speak, just kept her big eyes rotating between the two, flashing with an unclear light.

Until Lin Xiuyuan cast a glance to signal her, she seemed to be prompted and spoke with a smile, lightly breaking the subtle silence.

"Um, let me explain the situation today first. You listen and see if there's anything wrong."

She took a deep breath, deliberately slowing down her speech, "First, after I go back to Jeonju later, I will book that hotel room first.

That way, Xiuyuan, you can bring Taeyeon directly through the door.

Then, in the evening, I'll find an excuse to pull Dad out to buy some things, then take him past the hotel entrance and let him wait for me on the side of the road.

After that, I'll come into the guest room, hand the phone to Taeyeon, and let her watch Dad from the window and say 'Happy Birthday' to him in person over the phone.

That's it, right?"

After finishing, Kim Ruanruan's voice was a bit softer, her lips bit lightly, her eyes flickering, as if she had already outlined the scene in her mind.

Kim Taeyeon sat quietly on the side, her expression seemingly light.

Only her fingers were lightly tapping on the sofa armrest, showing her inner tension.

She knew better than anyone that this would be an opportunity she hadn't had in many years; once missed, it might never happen again.

"That's right, that's roughly it."

Lin Xiuyuan took over the conversation, nodded, but added worriedly, "However, after the room is booked, you have to help me confirm the situation."

He picked up a few small detection devices from his side and handed them to Kim Ruanruan.

"This thing is used to check for cameras and bugs; the operation is very simple. When the time comes, you can video call me directly, and I will help you check remotely."

"I don't really understand this."

Kim Ruanruan blinked after taking the equipment, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness, "Then let's do as you said, video call you. But you have to promise me, don't run around, don't let me be unable to reach you on the phone."

"I know, I'll be here all day today, I won't run." Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile.

"That's good."

Kim Ruanruan let out a breath lightly, trying hard to calm herself down.

She turned and stood up, walked to the corner of the room, and dragged out a small suitcase.

The sound of the zipper closing was exceptionally clear in the quiet apartment, as if it had put the final nail in the coffin of her decision.

"I have to leave early, otherwise if I drive for a few hours, it will be bad if everyone has finished eating when I get home."

"Not necessarily, it's only 10 in the morning." Kim Taeyeon smiled, "The family has always eaten at seven or eight in the evening."

"I'm just joking."

Kim Ruanruan shook her head with a smile, pulled the suitcase to her side, and when she turned around, her gaze first fell on Kim Taeyeon, then moved to Lin Xiuyuan.

She paused, as if struggling in her heart, before suddenly speaking, "Or... Xiuyuan, why don't you go back with me? You can drive for me, I was a bit tired last night."

This sentence sounded casual, the tone flat, but it carried an indescribable sense of probing.

Kim Taeyeon was stunned.

She didn't expect her 2013 self to suddenly say such a thing, her eyes subconsciously drifting toward Lin Xiuyuan, a complex and strange emotion rising in the depths of her eyes.

Lin Xiuyuan was stared at by both of them, but he smiled extremely naturally, as if he didn't care at all, instead nodding very casually, "Sure, I'm fine with anything."

His attitude was too relaxed, too indifferent.

This indifference, however, made Kim Ruanruan's heart jump violently, as if touched by something.

She stared at him blankly, an absurd thought flashing through her mind: how could she have said such a thing just now?

Kim Taeyeon had been staring at her quietly all along.

Her gaze didn't carry blame, but was exceptionally sharp, as if wanting to distinguish clearly.

Was this youthful self just mentioning it casually, or was she probing some possibility that even she didn't want to admit?

The air suddenly became quiet, and even the sound of breathing seemed exceptionally clear.

……

Around 10:30 in the morning.

A black Mercedes slowly drove out from downstairs of Kim Ruanruan's apartment, passed through the traffic along the city streets, and drove toward the highway entrance.

A light blues-rock song was playing in the car, the low melody echoing in the quiet space, carrying a hint of indescribable subtle emotion.

The car drove smoothly onto the highway, the road ahead empty and straight, as if leaving enough time and space for this journey to breathe.

Kim Ruanruan, holding the steering wheel, had her fingers lightly touching the cold, hard steering wheel, her gaze falling on the road surface gradually extending ahead.

After being silent for a while, she suddenly spoke, her voice clear but carrying a hint of inquiry, "Xiuyuan~ let me ask you a question."

Lin Xiuyuan was originally leaning on the back of the chair, his elbows propped on the window, yawning, "Hm? Ask away."

"According to what Taeyeon said just now... you seem to play quite wildly over in '25, how many women do you actually have?"

Kim Ruanruan's voice was very calm, almost like asking a casual question, but the tone hid uncontrollable curiosity and subtle emotional fluctuations.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, waking up from his semi-lethargic state, slowly turning his head to stare at her for a few seconds, as if confirming whether he had heard correctly, "Ha? Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"Just thought of it."

Kim Ruanruan pursed her lips and smiled, but the corner of her eyes couldn't help but secretly observe his reaction, "Also, didn't you use the topics and answers from chatting with Taeyeon... to fool me before? What were you thinking at the time?"

The car was quiet for a few seconds.

Lin Xiuyuan clearly didn't expect her to suddenly press him, a flash of panic in his eyes.

He cleared his throat and laughed dryly, "Oh my, this... it was just a conversation starter, you know, when chatting with you at the time, I needed to find some resonance, so... why don't we change the subject?"

"Tch~"

Kim Ruanruan pouted, turned the steering wheel, and the car slowly drove into the service area ahead, "Your answer is too perfunctory, forget it, you drive."

The two got out of the car and switched positions.

Lin Xiuyuan sat in the driver's seat, Kim Ruanruan sat in the passenger seat, and after fastening her seatbelt, she leaned her head on the seat, closed her eyes, her face carrying a hint of fatigue.

Her breathing gradually slowed down, as if enjoying a brief moment of tranquility.

But whenever Lin Xiuyuan's hand boredly tapped the gear lever, she couldn't help but open one eye and secretly look at him from the side.

The dazzling sunlight shone through the car window onto his profile, reflecting well-defined lines.

That subtle steadiness and calmness made her heart inexplicably flutter.

Kim Ruanruan's impression of Lin Xiuyuan was complex.

At first, he was the "confidant" who could make her willingly be fooled;

Later, when she misunderstood him, "disgust + pervert" was added to her heart;

After learning the truth, what followed was a small "regret";

That night of the blowout, his thoughtfulness made her feel "moved";

After traveling through time, all the cognition and shock gathered into indescribable emotions.

In this series of cognitions, the feelings Kim Ruanruan had for this boy, Lin Xiuyuan, were enough to reach the "roller coaster effect" in psychology.

While a plain and stable life is important, what is truly unforgettable will only be the ups and downs of emotions, the reversal from cold to hot.

What people are most easily addicted to is not continuous and stable happiness, but intermittent heartbeats.

And this guy Lin Xiuyuan had made her experience psychological stimulation from cold to hot, from alienation to mystery, more than once.

So Kim Ruanruan couldn't help but sigh secretly in her heart:

This guy often alienated himself, but often appeared at critical moments, carrying an imperceptible sense of mystery, making her rack her brain to interpret him.

You have to know, women's gossip and curiosity are innate, and they always like things that are confusing.

And the process of wanting to solve the mystery just happens to make people sink deeper and deeper.

So when she just heard Kim Taeyeon say that Lin Xiuyuan actually stayed at a woman's house last night, her heart couldn't help but churn slightly.

Along the way, she thought about this and that, questions and imaginations constantly popping up in her mind, which was why she couldn't help but blurt out that slightly presumptuous question.

In the air, the blues melody still flowed low,

Sunlight fell mottled on the two through the car window,

Tranquility and tension, curiosity and heartbeat, were quietly intertwined on this high-speed journey.

At the same time.

In Lin Xiuyuan's apartment in Seoul, the light was soft, sunlight spilling into the room through the gaps in the curtains, reflecting on the light-colored sofa.

Kim Taeyeon sat cross-legged in the center of the sofa, holding a cushion, leaning lightly against her chest, as if using it to support her inner thoughts.

A variety show was playing on the TV screen, the lively scene forming a contrast with her silent aura.

Sitting next to her was Xueli, who was enthusiastically complaining about the funny clips of the guests, "Unnie, look at this, it's so funny!"

As she laughed, she pulled Kim Taeyeon's sleeve, as if she couldn't wait to share this joy.

Kim Taeyeon smiled slightly, a shallow arc on her lips, but soon, her smile was quietly withdrawn.

Her eyes drifted outside the TV, as if falling into some unreachable void, her mind already far away from the scene in front of her.

Xueli, noticing the change in her expression, tilted her head, her tone carrying concern and curiosity, "Unnie, what are you thinking about?"

"Ah? Nothing."

Kim Taeyeon shook her head, smiling feignedly, but her eyes still flickered with elusive light, like ripples in the deep sea.

Thinking Kim Taeyeon was worried about the situation tonight, Xueli smiled and held her arm, carrying a hint of acting spoiled, but her tone was overflowing with trust in Lin Xiuyuan.

"Don't worry, Unnie~ Oppa has already gone over, he will definitely arrange it for you, just believe in him."

Her smile was warm and sunny, as if trying to use her bright aura to dispel the haze in the other person's heart.

However, Kim Taeyeon was not moved by this comfort, but lowered her eyes, her voice a bit softer, "That's not what I'm worried about."

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the cushion, a hint of confusion appearing between her brows, her gaze lingering on Xueli's face for a moment, then slowly spitting out a sentence, "I'm thinking of a very strange question, Xueli, you say... if the me here is with Xiuyuan, and then I also sleep with Xiuyuan, what kind of thing is that?"

As soon as the words fell, Xueli was stunned, her pupils slightly enlarged, and her breathing paused for a beat.

"Ah?"

Her face carried a hint of shock, and even a bit of loss, subconsciously blinking, as if doubting whether she had heard correctly.

Kim Taeyeon was amused by her reaction, her lips slightly curved, but the smile quickly dissipated.

And Xueli's expression after coming back to her senses was a bit strange, her lips pursed, looking at her Unnie seriously, saying half-jokingly and half-sincerely, "Unnie, I... I guess I can't experience your trouble."

Now it was Kim Taeyeon's turn to be stunned, her eyes flickering slightly, her heart feeling as if it had been pinched by something. She suddenly remembered the reality of 2025, where Xueli's figure was long gone.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, just reached out and hugged the girl in her arms tightly, her throat feeling a bit tight, "Ah, I'm sorry, Xueli, I didn't mean to mention this."

Xueli leaned in her arms, feeling the apology and gentleness in her Unnie's embrace. She patted Kim Taeyeon's back lightly, the corners of her eyes curving, revealing a warm and comforting smile.

"It's okay, Unnie. I just wanted to say, I guess I can't imagine your trouble. But in my personal opinion, I don't feel anything special."

She tilted her head slightly, looking at the ceiling, her gaze a bit drifting, but her tone was very frank, "I've seen too many things in the circle where people have sex for desensitization or lust. If it's just sleeping together, I don't think there's anything to it, as long as you don't really put your heart into it, it should be fine."

Kim Taeyeon let out a breath lightly, responding in a low voice, "Your idea is about the same as my initial idea."

Her eyes deepened, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the cushion, as if organizing her thoughts, "But after thinking about it carefully, how can you not care after doing it too much."

Xueli tilted her head and thought about it, suddenly "pfft" laughed out loud, her eyes flashing with mischievous light, "Ah, this seems to be true. Occasionally once or twice can be eaten as takeout, after eating too much, it must become home-cooked food."

Kim Taeyeon was stunned, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, raising her hand to lightly tap her forehead, "Hahahaha, your metaphor is too vivid, Xueli, where did you learn it?"

"Oppa taught me."

Xueli said seriously, and even blinked.

Kim Taeyeon was between laughter and tears, shaking her head, "That guy, sigh, really gives people a headache."

"It's okay, Unnie, take it one step at a time."

Xueli leaned on her shoulder, her voice slowing down a lot, carrying a maturity beyond her age, "Future troubles can be discussed in the future, enjoy the life in front of you first. Thinking too much is tiring, and instead, you're worried from now to later, and life isn't lived well, isn't that a loss?"

"Tch~ hiss~ Xueli, your current state is really getting better and better. If you in 2019 could have had such an idea, how good would that be."

Kim Taeyeon was slightly stunned, looking at the girl in her arms with a light smile but exceptionally clear eyes, a warmth rising in her heart.

Xueli squinted her eyes, smiling very lightly, "I can't say what I in the future experienced, but if there wasn't that tombstone, I guess I wouldn't have emptied myself so quickly."

Speaking of this, her smile carried a hint of emotion, but her eyes were incomparably firm, "Every drink and every peck is predestined. Unnie, in my opinion, Oppa's appearance, letting me meet him... everything is arranged by fate, just let it be."

The room was quiet for a moment, the lively sound of the variety show on the TV screen still echoing, but it seemed to be softened, becoming the warmest and most delicate background sound in this conversation.

……

A few hours later.

Afternoon, Jeonju.

Lin Xiuyuan drove the car slowly into the parking lot downstairs of Kim Ruanruan's apartment, the low hum of the engine echoing on the quiet street.

Before he even got out of the car, he said, "When I passed the entrance of your complex just now, I saw a hotel there. Why don't I book a room there? It happens to face the entrance of the complex. When you come out at night, the view will be wider, and it will be convenient for Taeyeon to observe."

Kim Ruanruan nodded, responding softly, "Anything is fine, if it's at the entrance, it's just right for Dad to sit down and chat with those uncles."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled, carrying a hint of casualness, "Then it's settled, you go back, I'll go back after booking the room. When you're ready over there tonight, I'll bring her over."

Hearing this, Kim Ruanruan suddenly spoke again, her tone carrying a hint of probing, "Or should I take you around Jeonju?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who was just about to get out of the car, stopped his movement, looked back at her, and smiled slightly, "Forget it, your popularity now is different from '25. If I get caught, my background will be stripped bare by your fans. And it's rare for you to go home, and it's your father's birthday, accompany him well."

After speaking, Lin Xiuyuan waved at her directly after getting out of the car and turned to leave.

Kim Ruanruan was left sitting in the passenger seat, somewhat silent and somewhat depressed, cursing in a low voice, "Dog men are indeed all fickle."

However, after saying this, she took a deep breath and continued to mutter somewhat depressedly, "That guy wouldn't have rolled with Taeyeon, right? But if it's about looks and skin, I should be much better than her, right."

She remembered that Lin Xiuyuan once said he liked her baby fat, which made her, who originally didn't like this, not so disgusted anymore.

At this time, Kim Ruanruan inexplicably thought of Park Jiyeon's "old woman" quote.

She smiled, but didn't say such words directly.

On the other side.

After walking out of the complex, Lin Xiuyuan soon arrived at the hotel front desk, booked a room according to his idea, and then went in to see that the view was quite good, which made him feel relieved.

Then he checked it, locked the house, and propped it up.

Finally, he pulled open the bathroom door, returned to the villa in '25 in one step, and then returned to the apartment in '13 from the villa.

Looking at the two people watching TV on the sofa, he joined them with a smile, and when he sat down, he adjusted the TV volume, making the laughter blend into the atmosphere of the room.

Night fell, and the air in Jeonju carried a hint of early autumn chill.

Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Taeyeon had packed everything early in the hotel room.

Having already eaten dinner with Xueli in Seoul, she seemed a bit nervous at this time, pacing by the window from 7:30, occasionally pulling the curtains to look at the lights opposite.

Xueli stayed at the apartment and didn't come.

After 8 o'clock, Lin Xiuyuan's phone vibrated.

Kim Ruanruan sent a video, the screen showing a warm living room, the candlelight swaying on the cake illuminating familiar smiling faces.

Kim Taeyeon's familiar family sat together, the singing started, and the birthday atmosphere was simple but happy.

"Dad, Happy Birthday..."

"Blow out the candles!"

In the video, Kim's father smiled and bent over, blowing out the candle flames on the cake.

In that instant, Kim Taeyeon, who was leaning over to watch the video, had her eyes instantly moist, tears filling her eyes, but she couldn't stop laughing, the corners of her mouth raised to the extreme.

She stared at the screen, her whole body frozen there, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Dad."

She called out in a low voice.

After a few more minutes, Kim Ruanruan sent another text message: "I'm downstairs."

Then Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Taeyeon waited for a long while in the hotel room before seeing Kim Ruanruan bring Kim's father out of the complex entrance, then walk with Kim's father to the small shop and stay for a while, then turn and cross the road, and walk into the hotel.

According to Lin Xiuyuan's information, they knocked on the guest room door.

As Lin Xiuyuan opened the door to welcome Kim Ruanruan in, the first thing the other person said was, "Taeyeon, Dad really likes the watch you sent."

Kim Taeyeon, standing behind Lin Xiuyuan, sniffed and revealed a little girl-like smile, "Really? That's great..."

Then, her whole emotion surged up, almost impatiently taking the phone from Kim Ruanruan's hand.

That urgency was as if she was afraid of missing some precious time.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything when he saw this, just picked up a pair of binoculars from the nightstand and handed them to her, blinking, "Do you want to try the dual experience of live + remote?"

This action made Kim Ruanruan couldn't help but "pfft" laugh out loud, standing behind him and poking his waist, "Xiuyuan~ you really know how to arrange things."

Kim Taeyeon immediately took the binoculars, holding them like a treasure.

Then she walked to the sofa by the window and sat down, so nervous that her breathing was uneven, thin sweat seeping from her palms.

Then she aimed the binoculars at the direction of the complex entrance.

There, Kim's father was standing by the small shop chatting enthusiastically with a few old friends, laughing from time to time, his expression relaxed.

Under the light, his demeanor was no different from Kim Taeyeon's memory.

"Hoo..."

Kim Taeyeon took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then clicked the call button.

"Hello? Taeyeon? What's up."

The familiar and long-lost voice came from the other end of the phone.

This voice made Kim Taeyeon's eyes turn red instantly, her heartbeat accelerating rapidly, her throat feeling like it was blocked by cotton.

But the next moment, she still tried hard to squeeze out a laugh, pretending to be natural, "Dad, I just... called, today is your birthday."

"Oh, you child." Kim's father laughed on the other end, his tone full of doting, "Aren't you busy with something, making it seem like you went somewhere, hurry back after you're busy, I'm waiting for you at the entrance."

"Nae~ Dad!!!"

Kim Taeyeon, holding the phone, finally had tears sliding down the corners of her eyes.

The small hand holding the phone was trembling, but the corners of her mouth were smiling extremely brightly, "By the way, Dad, Happy Birthday, you must be healthy and safe."

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the phone, "Good, good, Dad received it."

Kim Taeyeon closed her eyes choked up, looked over again through the binoculars, the figure over there was incomparably clear, the smile so real that her heart trembled.

Behind her, Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Ruanruan stood side by side. The room was quiet, only the laughter and blessings on the other end of the phone echoing.

For a long time, Kim Ruanruan said in a low voice, her tone carrying indescribable luck and emotion, "Fortunately, I am in 2013."

Thinking of the things she learned about the '25 space-time these days, Kim Ruanruan didn't dare to imagine what she would become if she had experienced it.

Even with Kim Taeyeon as an example in front of her, she didn't dare to imagine, and didn't even want to imagine.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't respond, just watched the scene in front of him quietly.

Because they had agreed on the situation before, this call should not be too long, so even though Kim Taeyeon was extremely reluctant, she still endured her emotions and ended the call she had waited for several years.

The moment the phone hung up, the room was quiet, leaving only the sound of heartbeats.

Kim Taeyeon still maintained the posture of holding the binoculars in front of her eyes, as if wanting to freeze that scene on her retina forever.

But the clearer it was, the more surging the sourness in her heart became.

"Dad..."

She murmured in a low voice, her shoulders shaking, and finally couldn't help but put down the binoculars.

Tears burst out instantly, she bit her lip desperately, wanting to hold back, but an uncontrollable sob came from her throat.

The next second, she staggered and turned around, throwing herself into the arms of Lin Xiuyuan, who had walked behind her at some point.

"Woo..."

That sound almost tore the silence of the room.

Lin Xiuyuan was pushed back half a step, instinctively reaching out to hold her tightly.

His chest was instantly soaked with tears, but he didn't say anything, just quietly stroked her back, his palm moving one by one, like comforting a wounded little beast.

Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head, lightly touching the top of her hair, his voice extremely low and gentle, "Alright, after this call, let Ruanruan go back and ask how your father feels later. As long as there is no problem, you can chat with him through her phone at any time in the future. This is a good thing, why are you crying."

At the foot of the bed, Kim Ruanruan, who was standing there, originally had some thoughts when she saw Kim Taeyeon throw herself into Lin Xiuyuan's arms.

As a result, when Lin Xiuyuan said that "Ruanruan" address, her cheeks were inexplicably hot.

Then she hurriedly indicated, "Right, I'll ask Dad when I go back later, then Taeyeon, you can ask me for the phone to call anytime."

"It's different..."

Kim Taeyeon raised her head crying, her eyes blurred with tears, her eyelashes covered with water droplets, "Xiuyuan, do you know? In these recent days, I'm really afraid... afraid that everything after knowing you is just a dream, and when I wake up, there's nothing left."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her for a few seconds, his heart also tightening slightly.

But he still revealed a faint smile, reaching out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, "Don't be afraid, this is not a dream. Even if it is a dream, it is a dream we have together."

This sentence made Kim Taeyeon completely collapse, she buried her face in his chest again, crying louder, but crying extremely relieved.

Kim Ruanruan on the side stood quietly, her expression complex.

She didn't interrupt, just looked away lightly, looking at the night outside the window, not knowing whether it was envy or emotion in her heart.

In the whole room, there was only the sound of a woman crying heartily and the sound of a man's steady and powerful heartbeat.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 234 =====