Chapter 234: Wine-passing

Outside the window, night had completely fallen.

The air in Jeonju carried the unique chill of early autumn, mixed with a hint of sweetness and dampness.

Streetlights lit up one by one, the amber halo stretching out shadows, illuminating the quiet street softly and peacefully.

Occasionally, a few barks of dogs came from afar, intertwined with the oily smoke fragrance drifting from the small shop nearby, outlining a mundane but incomparably real sense of life.

Inside the guest room, the atmosphere formed a sharp contrast with the tranquility outside the window.

Kim Ruanruan looked at Kim Taeyeon, who was still crying with her shoulders trembling slightly by the window, her lips moved, but ultimately she just sighed lightly.

She knew she couldn't stay here for too long, so she raised her hand and gestured to Lin Xiuyuan, indicating that she had to leave first.

Lin Xiuyuan understood, looking at her and nodding with a smile.

Afterward, he also raised his hand and made a phone contact gesture, counting as an exhortation.

Kim Ruanruan saw this and didn't say anything more, just pushed the door open lightly, her footsteps light but carrying a hint of reluctance as she left.

As the sound of the door closing lightly fell, only Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Taeyeon were left in the room.

And Lin Xiuyuan also took back his attention, reaching out and patting the back of the little person in his arms lightly.

Listening to her breathing that had gradually stabilized, his voice was low and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing her, "Feeling better?"

"Um... much better."

Kim Taeyeon slowly pulled away from his arms, her eye sockets still red, tear stains not yet dry, her voice hoarse from crying, but exceptionally real.

Then she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, the corners of her lips curling into a smile, her eyes carrying indescribable gratitude and fragility.

"Xiuyuan, thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had such an opportunity at all... to see Dad again in this space-time."

As she spoke, Kim Taeyeon took a deep breath, and the tears in her eyes surged out again.

But this time, she smiled more genuinely than before, carrying a kind of relieved bitterness.

"Even if it's just through binoculars, even if it's just hearing his voice, I'm already very satisfied."

"Satisfied? But the look at the beginning didn't look like it at all."

Lin Xiuyuan laughed, shaking his head with a hint of banter, "Who insisted on getting out of the car at the beginning? If I hadn't held you back, we would have probably blown up."

"At that time... my head wasn't very clear."

Kim Taeyeon, being teased, felt her throat tighten, her voice as thin as a mosquito's, lowering her head shyly and responding lightly.

Then she turned around, raised the binoculars again, her eyes firmly attracted by the lively scene outside the window again.

Outside the window, the entrance of the small shop was still lively.

Kim's father and old friends laughed constantly, wine glasses clinking, words dissipating with the wind. That warmth was magnified in the night, as if time was willing to stop at this moment.

Kim Taeyeon held her breath, afraid of missing any detail.

She knew very well that in the reality of 2025, such a scene no longer existed, and everything in front of her was like a sudden miracle, briefly pitied by time and fate once.

Just as she was immersed in it, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her field of vision.

That figure made Kim Taeyeon slightly stunned.

In the binoculars, Kim Ruanruan ran to Kim's father's side, pulled her father's arm, smiled brightly, and said something.

Kim's father's expression upon seeing her also softened instantly, the doting belonging exclusively to a father appearing in the depths of his eyes.

Then he raised his hand and lightly patted his daughter's hand, and the two walked side by side into the depths of the light and shadow of the complex.

That picture gradually blurred, swallowed by the night and streetlights, leaving only the residual warmth echoing in Kim Taeyeon's heart for a long time.

She stared blankly, the emotions in the depths of her eyes surging layer by layer.

There was envy, relief, and a hint of faint sadness.

Finally, she slowly put down the binoculars and let out a long breath.

That light "Dad," spilled out from her lips in a low voice, as if wanting to take away all the sourness in her chest.

After a while, she turned her head, her gaze falling on Lin Xiuyuan. At this moment, she was no longer as flustered and excited as before, her eyes having a bit more calmness and clarity.

"Xiuyuan~ please send me back. I... want to be quiet by myself for a while."

Lin Xiuyuan stared at her quietly for a moment, not asking any further.

Just nodded lightly, his tone gentle: "Alright, let's go."

As the door opened and closed again, the light in the room dimmed a bit.

The night outside the window in '25 was still deep, but in this world, there was less of a certain temperature that Kim Taeyeon was familiar with.

"Then you rest for a while, I'll go back first."

Lin Xiuyuan exhorted after sending Kim Taeyeon back to her residence, his tone carrying his usual gentleness and restraint.

After speaking, he turned around, preparing to reach out and pull the door handle.

However, before touching that cold metal, a soft call came from behind.

"Xiuyuan."

The voice was low, but like a sudden force, it kept him firmly in place.

Lin Xiuyuan looked back and saw Kim Taeyeon standing at the door.

The other party was leaning against the wall, looking exhausted, with traces of crying still on her cheeks, but those eyes carried a kind of long-restrained seriousness and a slight plea.

"Can you... accompany me for a drink?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but exceptionally real.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, his brow jumping slightly. He couldn't help but feel a hint of hesitation in his heart.

After all, the scene just now was strong enough, and now with the catalysis of alcohol, he was very worried that her emotions would completely collapse and become uncontrollable.

But when he looked at her, he clearly captured the loneliness and stubbornness in her eyes.

That kind of look was as if she was afraid of bearing it alone, and afraid of being rejected, so she could only carefully grasp the current reliance.

Lin Xiuyuan's heart softened, and he finally sighed lightly and nodded.

"Sure, but before that, I have to go back first and tidy up over there."

"Um."

Kim Taeyeon nodded very obediently, responding softly.

She didn't ask anything more, just lowered her eyes slightly, as if using this response to tell him: she would wait for him.

Lin Xiuyuan left immediately, his footsteps quickening.

Soon, having returned to the hotel guest room, he also picked up his phone and said a few words to Kim Ruanruan briefly.

Actually, there was no complex content, just asking her to wait for him a bit when she returned to Seoul tomorrow, so as not to have to rush for the light rail at the last minute.

After hanging up the phone, he returned to the 2013 apartment and explained briefly to Xueli.

When everything was arranged, Lin Xiuyuan traveled back again and stepped into Kim Taeyeon's apartment.

Inside the house, the living room light was soft.

The yellow-white halo scattered in every corner, adding a bit of temperature to this quiet night.

On the coffee table, a few small snacks had already been set: neatly cut apple slices exuding a faint fruity fragrance, and a plate of golden, crispy potato chips piled up casually next to them.

There were also a few plates of cold side dishes, the sour and spicy fragrance intertwined with the smell of alcohol in the air.

A few bottles of wine were also placed quietly on the side.

A bottle of Ballantine's 12-year blended Scotch whisky, the dark brown liquid refracting a warm luster under the light.

A few cans of Budweiser Light had been pulled open, the bubbles surging slightly, mixed with the chill of the night, lingering in the room.

And Kim Taeyeon in front of the sofa had already changed into relaxed and casual home attire.

A dark-colored camisole hung loosely on her body, her collarbone clear, her skin glowing faintly under the light.

Her long hair was scattered messily, with a few strands sliding onto her cheeks, setting off her profile even more slender.

A pair of thin-rimmed glasses were perched on the bridge of her nose, the gaze behind the lenses seemingly deliberately pretending to be calm, but that fragility was still clearly engraved between her brows.

The moment she heard the footsteps, Kim Taeyeon looked up and forced a smile.

The smile was faint, but couldn't cover the hoarse voice, "Xiuyuan, you're here... sit down."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, couldn't help but click his tongue in his heart.

At this moment, Kim Taeyeon, after shedding the halo of the stage, was just a woman facing her wounds alone in the night.

However, he didn't say much in the end, walked over lightly and sat opposite her, and picked up the wine, pouring a small half-glass of whisky.

The amber liquid swayed lightly under the light, reflecting a warm glow from the rim of the glass, and also lit up Kim Taeyeon's eyes, which had already dimmed, making them flash briefly.

The two clinked glasses lightly, a crisp sound appearing exceptionally clear in the silent living room.

At first, the atmosphere was a bit quiet.

Kim Taeyeon just sipped the wine in small sips, as if borrowing the alcohol to press down the surging emotions in her heart bit by bit.

Lin Xiuyuan accompanied her, not urging, not interrupting, just occasionally handing over some snacks.

But as the alcohol gradually permeated, her eyes began to blur, and her words gradually increased.

She blinked lightly, her eyes carrying a bit of drunken playfulness, "Xiuyuan, let's play a little game."

"What game?" Lin Xiuyuan said.

"Truth... or a small punishment."

She smiled, holding up the beer can in her hand, a flash of slyness in her eyes, as if she would grab his handle in the next second.

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, couldn't help but laugh, but still played along with her meaning.

So, the questions she asked at first carried some childishness and directness: "What was your feeling when you first saw me?"

Immediately afterward, the tone gradually became sensitive: "Will you dislike me for crying too much?"

Finally, she lowered her voice, her eyes carrying unease and fragility: "If one day I wake up and everything is gone, will you forget me? Can I still see Dad?"

Every question was as if, inside the shell of a joke, her deepest fear and unease were hidden.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was asked, didn't perfunctorily deal with the other party, every answer was very serious, his tone gentle, as if soothing her uneasy mood bit by bit.

So as the atmosphere gradually relaxed, Kim Taeyeon's smiles gradually increased.

Sometimes covering her lips and laughing lightly, sometimes deliberately poking his arm, but her eyes were becoming more and more clingy, more and more burning.

Until a certain moment, she stared at him, her eyes moist, carrying the blur of drunkenness, "Xiuyuan, do you know, you are different from others."

In that instant, Lin Xiuyuan's heart trembled slightly, but he didn't dare to meet her burning eyes.

So he pretended to be nonchalant and looked away, reaching out to add some fruit for her, trying to change the subject.

However, Kim Taeyeon didn't stop, only to see her raise the wine can again, her hand shaking, not holding it steady, and she fell forward.

Lin Xiuyuan almost instinctively reached out to support her, but didn't manage to stabilize her, and she fell directly into his arms.

At that moment, he clearly felt Kim Taeyeon's petite and warm body rushing over, carrying a faint scent of alcohol and shampoo, so soft that it made his heart tighten.

"It's okay..."

Just as Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head and was about to ask Kim Taeyeon if she was okay, the woman in his arms suddenly raised her head, her eyes blurred but firm.

The next moment, she raised her fair neck, her lips carrying the alcohol, and lightly pressed onto his lips.

Lin Xiuyuan, with his eyes widened slightly, clearly felt Kim Taeyeon's trembling hands tightly clutching his clothes.

I don't know if it was because of drunkenness, or because the movement was uncomfortable, causing the other party to kiss very clumsily, but it was precisely this clumsiness that had a kind of long-suppressed desire.

The room was quiet to the extreme, only the two people's breathing intertwined, the ambiguous atmosphere as if a fire had been ignited, gradually swallowing reason.

Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously reached out to support her back, feeling her rapid heartbeat, and his breathing was also affected and heavy.

And Kim Taeyeon, as if afraid of losing support, closed her eyes, her lips still refusing to leave, rubbing lightly, carrying the courage and desire that only dared to be released after drinking.

The dim yellow light poured down quietly, casting the shadows of the two on the wall, blurred and overlapping, like silhouettes that couldn't be separated, intertwined with each other.

The half-glass of whisky on the coffee table swayed lightly, the amber liquid rippling with the aftertaste, reflecting fine light and shadow, as if responding to the suddenly rising temperature between the two.

Kim Taeyeon's body trembled slightly, she slowly raised her eyes, her eyes filled with water.

That wasn't just the impulse brought by alcohol.

More, it was actually gratitude from the bottom of her heart.

Grateful to the boy in front of her for pulling her out of the painful reality and giving her an opportunity to cross time and space and see her father again.

That long-lost warmth and reliance made her only want to entrust all her unease and fragility to his arms at this moment, even if only for a brief moment.

But in addition to gratitude, she also had another small but stubborn selfishness in her heart.

If... what she was thinking was if.

If Lin Xiuyuan's special constitution could really make her younger, returning to the appearance of 2013... would she be able to face her father more calmly, no longer just a bystander watching from afar through binoculars.

This complex desire drove her kiss to gradually become urgent.

Her hands slowly climbed onto Lin Xiuyuan's shoulders from the corners of his clothes, her fingertips trembling lightly, but carrying an undeniable firmness, just like tightly grasping the last redemption.

Lin Xiuyuan naturally felt her initiative and clumsiness.

His eyes sank, but there was no complex emotion in his heart.

For him, this moment was more like "each taking what they need."

He didn't intend to push away the warmth that was delivered to his door.

So, he took the opportunity to support her waist, pressed her back onto the sofa, lowered his head, and deepened the kiss.

The force wasn't heavy, but enough to occupy the lead.

Beside the sofa, the floor lamp with a fabric lampshade emitted a soft light, the light and shadow moving on the two, the ambiguous atmosphere magnified several times.

The fruit plate on the coffee table was accidentally touched, a few grapes rolled to the ground, just startling the puppy curled up on the carpet.

The puppy raised its head, tilted its head to look at them, seemed to notice this different atmosphere, but just wagged its tail and lay down quietly again.

Its action was like acquiescence, and like a witness that was there or not.

Kim Taeyeon's lips carried a faint fruity fragrance and alcohol smell, her breathing became chaotic, her eyes completely drowned in Lin Xiuyuan's figure.

She knew what she was doing, and also knew that once this step was taken, perhaps the relationship would become different.

But she still chose to continue.

Because this was the only "now" she could grasp that belonged to her.

Lin Xiuyuan's movements were unhurried, carrying a bit of composure, his fingers sliding across her side neck, extending down along her collarbone.

The other party's body trembled lightly because of this touch, but her eyes became more and more burning.

Outside the window, the night was deep, and the streetlights in the distance scattered into a piece of soft halo, making this scene in the room even more ambiguous.

The beer that was only half a bottle left on the coffee table stood quietly, as if silently witnessing this intimacy ignited by alcohol.

In that instant, time in the apartment seemed to stagnate.

In the whole apartment, there was only the woman's rapid breathing, the man's low breath, and the light sound of the puppy wagging its tail occasionally.

They intertwined together, becoming the most real and moving background sound at this moment.

……

……

At the same time.

In the 2013 apartment, the living room light was soft, and the night breeze outside the window carried a chill, blowing the gauze curtains to sway lightly.

Xueli looked at Lin Xiaolu who suddenly appeared at the door, a flash of surprise in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth quickly raised, "Unnie, why did you run over?"

Her tone carried a hint of joy, as if she really didn't expect it.

"Just finished the schedule, and I was nearby, so I came to see you, and brought some late-night snacks."

Lin Xiaolu lifted the takeout bag in her hand and walked in feigning naturalness.

But after entering the door, her eyes were clearly drifting, as if looking for something, and as if hiding something.

After looking around, she sat down on the sofa slowly.

Xueli "pfft" laughed, as if catching some interesting point, her laughter crisp, "Oh my, I was wondering, how could Unnie come to see me specifically. Hahaha, Oppa isn't here, he just went to accompany Taeyeon Unnie. Taeyeon Unnie seems to have just finished crying, so..."

"No, I came to see you, Xueli~"

Lin Xiaolu, whose small thoughts were poked through, had her ears immediately flushed, hurriedly waving her hand to explain, her voice slightly raised, carrying a hint of panic, "It's just that I happened to have something to do with that guy."

Xueli leaned lazily on the back of the sofa, looking at her with a smile, her eyes full of laughter, "Yes, yes, yes, Unnie, if you say so, it is."

Lin Xiaolu, being stared at, felt guilty, looking away, "It's true."

Xueli pursed her lips, smiled deeper, moved over lightly, and like the Lin Xiuyuan of the past, reached out to brush the long hair hanging on Lin Xiaolu's shoulders, her voice light and carrying a hint of banter.

"Then Unnie, you came over, what are you looking for Oppa for?"

"Ask him something." Lin Xiaolu's expression stiffened, answering stiffly.

"Look, isn't this just coming to find Oppa~"

Xueli immediately seized the opportunity to add a knife, her smile thicker, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Alright, I admit I came to find him."

Lin Xiaolu, forced to have no way out, finally raised her head and added stiffly, "But I also came to find you, Xueli, both."

"Unnie, stop being stubborn."

Xueli stretched out her finger and tapped her shoulder, her tone somewhat emotional, "If you keep acting like this, I feel that by the time Oppa is eaten clean by the Unnie over in '25, we will only be able to lick the juice at the bottom of the plate."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Xiaolu was stunned, the cushion in her arms almost fell, her eyes widened, her face full of "don't understand."

Xueli simply hugged her knees, turned sideways, looking at Lin Xiaolu with a smile, her tone dragging slowly, as if whetting her appetite, "Taeyeon Unnie just talked to me about some things about Oppa today, no, it should be about the two of them."

Curiosity flashed in Lin Xiaolu's eyes, subconsciously leaning forward, her voice lowered, "What happened?"

"Taeyeon Unnie said, if Ruanruan Unnie here also takes a fancy to Oppa, and she sleeps with Oppa, will it seem very awkward."

As soon as this was said, Lin Xiaolu was instantly stunned.

Her fingers stiffened on the edge of the cushion, and she sat there frozen, as if she had been instantly frozen, even blinking half a beat slower.

Xueli, like nothing happened, stretched, picked up the mineral water on the coffee table and took a sip, "I was scared too at the time, but then I thought, Oppa's kind of 'special', don't you think this seems... quite reasonable?"

When she spoke, the wind from the balcony blew in, shaking the gauze curtains lightly.

The afterglow of the streetlights shone in, reflecting on Xueli's fair cheeks, dyeing a gentle warm color.

This pair of bright eyes, with a naive girl's demeanor, seemed to have a bit more mature charm beyond her age at this moment.

"Love is nothing more than finding a suitable man to live with."

Xueli put down the water bottle, reached out to support her chin, and stared at Lin Xiaolu with bright eyes, "But if this man also has that magical 'youth-preserving' function, and can connect two time-spaces... Unnie, do you think you will give up?"

Lin Xiaolu's breathing stopped.

Her lips trembled slightly, her throat felt blocked, and it took a long time before she squeezed out two words softly, "No."

"That's it then."

Xueli laughed wantonly, a hint of small pride between her brows. She reached out and poked Xiaolu's back of the hand, her tone light and ambiguous, "So, Unnie, stop acting."

"I didn't..."

Lin Xiaolu wanted to refute, but her throat felt tight, her voice so empty that even she didn't have the confidence.

"I don't care about you guys."

Xueli simply hugged the cushion, leaned back on the sofa, her voice carrying a hint of lazy banter, "Unnie, you figure it out yourself, anyway, I'm living very happily now, you just feel happy yourself."

"……"

Lin Xiaolu remained silent, but her eyes flickered lightly in the light and shadow.

As if moved by her words, but didn't dare to admit it.

……

……

In the apartment of Kim Taeyeon in '25, the night was deep, and the streetlights outside the window cast mottled light and shadow.

The two people who were still biting each other earlier, at this moment, pulled away the distance again and sat at both ends of the sofa.

Lin Xiuyuan leaned on the edge of the sofa, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise, while Kim Taeyeon on the other side held her knees in her arms, half of her face buried behind her arms, her expression indescribably complex.

Lin Xiuyuan, looking at this picture, laughed out loud, "Why this look, Taeyeon, you were clearly the one who took the initiative just now, why make it look like I bullied you."

Kim Taeyeon raised her head, her eyes slightly hazy, "No, I'm just curious why you could stop, am I not attractive enough to you."

The light fell softly on her flushed cheeks, adding a bit of displeasure and depression.

Lin Xiuyuan coughed and said seriously, "Not necessarily."

"Then why?" She continued to press, her eyes serious as if waiting for some kind of verdict.

Lin Xiuyuan held it in, and finally smiled bitterly, reaching out and pointing to the position of his waist, "Uh~ you just pressed on my soft flesh, it hurts a bit."

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere was quiet.

Kim Taeyeon was stunned first, and the next second she "pfft" laughed out loud.

Her whole body laughed until her waist bent, her laughter crisp, completely breaking the subtle stalemate just now.

Immediately after, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh, taking the opportunity to rub his waist, his movements slightly exaggerated, "I'm telling the truth, it really hurts, it was a complete conditioned reflex to push you away just now."

And then it was the look just now.

The picture was really too funny to imagine, the two looked at each other, and the laughter couldn't stop.

As the laughter dissipated, the nervous atmosphere originally supported by alcohol and ambiguity was instead diluted a lot.

The atmosphere became relaxed, even carrying a hint of teasing intimacy.

The two raised their glasses again and continued to drink.

In the living room, the warm light of the desk lamp spilled on the wall of the glass, refracting fine light spots.

The wine swayed, reflecting the brilliance in her eyes, and a hint of indescribable warmth permeated the air.

I don't know how long it took, when Kim Taeyeon drank the last sip of wine in the glass, her eyes suddenly brightened, as if thinking of some picture.

She put down the glass, a flash of thought in her eyes.

The next instant, she suddenly leaned over and turned over to sit on Lin Xiuyuan's lap.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't have time to react, and saw her lightly lift her chin, her lips carrying a smile. Then, she slowly leaned over and passed the wine she had just held in her mouth into his mouth bit by bit.

The cold wine was passed between the two, ambiguous as if electric current, instantly igniting the air.

"……"

While the wine slid into his throat, the breathing of the two also intertwined.

Kim Taeyeon squinted her eyes, staring at Lin Xiuyuan at close range, the gaze was no longer simple exploration, but naked burning and desire.

Lin Xiuyuan took the opportunity to hold her waist, feeling the temperature of her body slightly heating up due to the alcohol.

The atmosphere at this moment returned to the ambiguity at the very beginning, but more direct, more unavoidable.

She lightly licked the residual wine at the corner of her mouth, and said in a low voice with a hint of smile, "Like this... won't it hurt anymore?"

In that instant, the ambiguity was completely out of control, and the night seemed to become more intense.

Kim Taeyeon sat across Lin Xiuyuan, the sip of wine just now made her breathing completely chaotic, her cheeks flushed because of the alcohol, looking like a flower nourished by the night.

Her gaze fell straight into Lin Xiuyuan's eyes, carrying exploration, desire, and a hint of fragile reliance.

Just at this time, the puppy curled up on the carpet suddenly stood up, shook its ears, and seemed to notice the change in the air.

It barked low, but soon ran to the small nest in the corner, curled up its body and no longer disturbed, as if understanding the secrets between humans.

Kim Taeyeon reached out lightly, her fingertips sliding across Lin Xiuyuan's profile, her movements cautious, but carrying a kind of probing persistence.

Her eyes flickered, "Whether this is a dream or reality, I don't want to miss it."

After speaking, she leaned over directly, her forehead against Lin Xiuyuan's shoulder, her breathing rapid.

After a while, she raised her head, carrying a bit of stubbornness and gratitude, and kissed his lips again.

The night deepened outside the window, but the apartment gradually warmed up.

As the shadows crossed and approached again and again, only the uncontrollable heartbeat and ambiguous breathing remained in the air.

This night, they didn't stop anymore.

……

……

The next day, the morning sunlight crawled into Kim Taeyeon's apartment in '25 through the thin gauze curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Lin Xiuyuan opened his eyes in a daze, looked at the bedside electronic clock, and almost subconsciously shouted.

"Holy shit, it's 9:30!"

He sat up abruptly, almost reflexively turning over and getting out of bed.

The time agreed upon last night, Jeonju, Kim Ruanruan's exhortations... all flooded into his mind at once, making him wake up instantly.

Then he put on his clothes in two or three strokes, grabbed his phone, and was about to go out.

On the bed, Kim Taeyeon, who was leaning half-way, watched this scene quietly, the corners of her lips curling into a teasing arc.

Supporting her chin, her gaze was like looking at a clumsy child, looking at his flustered and urgent appearance, carrying a bit of helplessness and doting.

Until Lin Xiuyuan was carrying his shoes, almost staggering toward the door, did he remember the one on the bed, and then looked back at the other party.

And Kim Taeyeon waved at him with a smile, "Go, drive carefully."

"Alright, then I'll go first."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't dare to stop, didn't even look back, opened the door, and fled like escaping with a cold wind.

The moment the door closed, the room became quiet.

Afterward, Kim Taeyeon stretched slowly, her white pajamas sliding loosely off her shoulders, revealing laziness and casualness.

Only to see her walking barefoot to the full-length mirror, her hair slightly messy, her face still carrying the hazy flush illuminated by the morning light.

And the self in the mirror made her slightly stunned.

That long-lost firmness and brightness could not be faked by skincare products and makeup.

The fine lines at the corners of her eyes were much lighter, her skin tone was as transparent as jade washed by night rain, and even her eyes carried a shining luster.

That was a state of rejuvenation, and even more a sense of youth that had been awakened.

She reached out and touched her cheeks, her fingertips cold, but her heart burning.

"It's over..."

Kim Taeyeon laughed in a low voice, her eyes as soft as water that couldn't be melted.

Just one look, and she knew she couldn't leave Lin Xiuyuan anymore.

On the other side.

In the hotel guest room in Jeonju, Lin Xiuyuan rushed back with quick footsteps.

The moment he pushed open the bathroom door, Kim Ruanruan was sitting on the sofa with her back to the light, holding a small cushion, her eyes bright as if she had been waiting for a long time.

"Yo, you finally decided to come back."

She squinted her eyes, her tone carrying a bit of deliberate relaxation.

Lin Xiuyuan's heart tightened, squeezing out a smile, "I... went back to rest last night."

"Rest?"

Kim Ruanruan pursed her lips, staring at his somewhat messy hair, and then looked at the wrinkles on his collar that he didn't have time to straighten, her eyes gradually becoming sharp.

"Xiuyuan, did you sleep with Kim Taeyeon last night?"

The air suddenly solidified.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was still holding the phone that he hadn't had time to turn off the screen, paused instantly.

He subconsciously looked away, pretending to be looking for water to drink, "No, don't joke, with your situation last night, how could I take advantage of the situation."

"I'm not worried about you, I'm just worried about her," Kim Ruanruan said lightly, but carrying a bit of sharpness, "Zhiyan and Xiuyan are right, those women in '25 are too hungry, right? They strike as soon as they see one."

She raised her eyebrows, staring at Lin Xiuyuan's flickering eyes, as if wanting to tear him apart.

Lin Xiuyuan, being stared at, coughed a few times, his fingers tapping on the table, "Ahem, you guys are discussing this kind of topic."

Kim Ruanruan, who still wanted to ask something, immediately restrained her sharpness after seeing his reaction.

And she sighed secretly in her heart, sometimes she really hoped her eyes weren't so poisonous.

Ten minutes later.

In the car heading to Seoul, the car was abnormally quiet.

Lin Xiuyuan drove steadily on the highway, his eyes occasionally glancing at Kim Ruanruan in the passenger seat.

The other party leaned against the car door, her hands folded on her lap, her expression as quiet as a statue.

Such silence made Lin Xiuyuan's mind unconsciously flash back to the scene of picking up the plane a few days ago, when Krystal was also sitting in the passenger seat silently.

That kind of silent pressure made him slightly nervous in his heart, his fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel.

Um... this one wouldn't explode, right?

Lin Xiuyuan, who was muttering in his heart, felt a bit more relaxed after thinking of something.

Mainly because no matter how much this one explodes, she can't juice him.

The car moved steadily on the highway, and the wind blew in from the gap in the car window opened by Kim Ruanruan, carrying the chill of early autumn.

Lin Xiuyuan coughed lightly, trying to say something, but before he could speak, Kim Ruanruan finally spoke.

"Stop at the service area ahead, I'll drive."

"No need, I can do it."

Facing Kim Ruanruan's statement, Lin Xiuyuan wanted to refuse, but ended up losing under her serious gaze.

Ten minutes later. 【301】 Kim Ruanruan, who sat in the driver's seat, held the steering wheel and looked ahead. 【302】 Then not long after, in Lin Xiuyuan's somewhat sleepy, somewhat confused, and unclear state, she said a sentence. 【303】 "Xiuyuan, do you like the original one, or those others." 【304】 Her voice was cold, but carried a hint of banter. 【305】 At the same time, this sentence was like a lightning bolt, hitting Lin Xiuyuan's head straight. 【306】 "Ah... what original..." 【307】 He stammered instinctively, but found that the more he thought, the more confused his brain became, his thoughts spinning like a high-speed blender. 【308】 So in the next few hours, he was like being frozen, unable to concentrate, his mind in chaos. 【309】 Kim Ruanruan looked at his stunned appearance, the corners of her mouth slightly curled into a meaningful smile, a flash of slyness in her eyes. 【310】 She didn't say anything more, just leaned against the back of the chair and drove seriously, her hands firmly holding the steering wheel, her gaze looking out the window lightly, as if using silence to let Lin Xiuyuan slowly digest the weight of her sentence just now. 【311】 The afternoon sunlight spilled in through the car window, casting mottled light and shadow in the car. 【312】 Kim Ruanruan's outline was soft yet firm in the light, her shoulders straightened slightly, her fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel, carrying an unquestionable composure. 【313】 As time passed bit by bit, the car finally drove into the streets of Seoul, and then stopped steadily downstairs of Lin Xiuyuan's apartment. 【314】 Then Kim Ruanruan quickly pulled down the handbrake and watched Lin Xiuyuan get out of the car. 【315】 Coincidentally, when Lin Xiuyuan got out of the car, Lin Xiaolu, who came out of the apartment gate, met his eyes. 【316】 In that instant, he felt the surprise and flickering in her eyes, but didn't have time to think too much. 【317】 After a while. 【318】 Lin Xiuyuan, who returned to the apartment, hadn't looked up yet when he heard Xueli's voice, "Eh, Oppa~ you're back." 【319】 "Um, did Xiaolu rest here last night?" Lin Xiuyuan nodded, then asked. 【320】 "Ah, Oppa, you ran into Unnie." 【321】 "Um, did she just come down?" 【322】 Xueli smiled, then nodded, "Um, Unnie came to send me late-night snacks last night, and then rested here by the way, anyway, there happened to be clothes for her to wear." 【323】 "Did she have something to do with me." Lin Xiuyuan keenly noticed something. 【324】 After seeing Xueli nod, he scratched his head, "Alright, I'll go take a shower." 【325】 Xueli, hearing this, looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a strange expression, her gaze seeing something on his clothes, neck, and collar. 【326】 Then, after Lin Xiuyuan completely disappeared into the room, she immediately took out her phone and sent a text message to Lin Xiaolu. 【327】 A flash of mischievous and excited light in her eyes. 【328】 Xueli: 【Unnie, did you notice the situation just now, Oppa... lost his virginity last night.】 【329】 On the road not far from the apartment, Lin Xiaolu, sitting in the passenger seat of Kim Ruanruan's car, looked at the message on the phone screen, let out a long breath, her heart filled with mixed feelings. 【330】 Then she turned her head, wanting to ask Kim Ruanruan something, and whispered, "Unnie..." 【331】 As a result, Kim Ruanruan had already known it beforehand. She looked at the slightly furrowed brow of Lin Xiaolu, a flash of helplessness in her eyes, her tone flat but firm. 【332】 "It's not me, it's the future me." 【333】 …… 【334】 …… 【335】 '25. 【336】 After getting up and washing up, Kim Taeyeon changed into a relaxed and comfortable outfit, her pace carrying a bit of leisure. 【337】 Walking to the mirror, she stopped again, her gaze falling on her familiar yet strange face in the mirror. 【338】 Suddenly, she thought of something, took out her phone, and quickly dialed Lin YoonA's number. 【339】 After a few busy tones, a familiar hearty laugh came from the other end of the phone, "Hello~ Unnie." 【340】 "YoonA, what are you doing?" Kim Taeyeon smiled softly, her tone carrying a hint of warmth. 【341】 Lin YoonA, on the other end of the phone, was in an indoor sports field at this time. 【342】 She looked up at Little Dragon Cub and Sunny opposite, and answered with a smile, "I'm playing billiards with Shun Gui Unnie and Zhiyan, do you want to come over?" 【343】 Kim Taeyeon, hearing this, immediately raised the corners of her mouth, her smile even brighter, "Okay, send me the location, I'll go over now." 【344】 "Okay, then Unnie, hurry up, we're going to eat in a while." 【345】 "I know, I'm going out now." 【346】 After hanging up the phone, Kim Taeyeon looked at herself in the mirror again. 【347】 Although the outline remained the same, the firmness of the skin, the flush of the face, and the spirit exuded by the whole person made her feel unprecedented satisfaction. 【348】 That was a kind of beauty that was both real and confident, not something that could be faked by makeup, but vitality and brilliance from the inside out. 【349】 Then she turned around, picked up an outer garment to put on, put her phone and keys neatly into her bag, and walked toward the door. 【350】 At this moment, a small pride surged in her heart. 【351】 Having such a good state and not going out to show off, isn't that a waste. 【352】 Wealthy people don't return to their hometown, like walking in the night in brocade clothes~ 【353】 Kim Taeyeon is currently holding this mood, carrying a hint of playfulness and satisfaction, walking toward the new day under the sun. 【354】 (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 235 =====

Kim Ruanruan sat in the driver's seat, hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes fixed ahead.

Shortly after, while Lin Xiuyuan was in a somewhat drowsy, muddled, and unclear state, she spoke up.

"Xiuyuan, do you prefer the original version, or those others?"

Her voice was cold and clear, yet carried a hint of playfulness.

At the same time, this sentence was like a bolt of lightning, striking Lin Xiuyuan's head directly.

"Ah... what original version..."

He stammered instinctively, only to find that the more he thought, the more chaotic his mind became, his thoughts spinning like they were in a high-speed blender.

Consequently, for the next few hours, he felt as if he had been hit by a freezing spell; he couldn't concentrate, and his mind was a mess.

Watching his dazed expression, Kim Ruanruan curled the corners of her mouth into a meaningful smile, a flash of cunning in her eyes.

She didn't say anything more, just leaned back against the seat and drove seriously, her hands steady on the wheel, her gaze resting lightly on the window, as if using silence to let Lin Xiuyuan slowly digest the weight of her words.

The afternoon sun spilled in through the car windows, casting mottled light and shadows inside the cabin.

Kim Ruanruan's silhouette was soft yet firm in the light, her shoulders held slightly straight, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel with an unquestionable composure.

As time ticked by, the car finally drove into the streets of Seoul and then parked steadily downstairs at Lin Xiuyuan's apartment building.

Then Kim Ruanruan quickly pulled the handbrake and watched Lin Xiuyuan get out of the car.

As it happened, when Lin Xiuyuan got out, Lin Xiaolu, who was coming out of the apartment entrance, locked eyes with him.

In that instant, he felt the surprise and flicker in her eyes, but there was no time to think too much.

A while later.

Back in the apartment, Lin Xiuyuan hadn't even looked up yet when he heard Sulli's voice, "Oh, oppa~ you're back."

"Yeah, did Xiaolu rest here last night?" Lin Xiuyuan nodded and asked.

"Ah, oppa, you ran into unnie."

"Yeah, did she just come down?"

Sulli smiled and nodded, "Yeah, unnie came over to bring me a late-night snack last night, and then just rested here; it worked out since there were clothes for her to wear."

"Did she have something to find me for?" Lin Xiuyuan keenly sensed something.

Seeing Sulli nod, he scratched his head, "Alright then, I'm going to take a shower."

Hearing this, Sulli looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a strange expression, her gaze picking up on something from the color of his clothes, his neck, and his collar.

Then, after Lin Xiuyuan completely disappeared into the room, she immediately took out her phone and sent a text to Lin Xiaolu.

A mischievous and excited light flashed in her eyes.

Sulli: 【Unnie, did you notice the situation just now? Oppa... lost his innocence last night.】

On the road not far from the apartment, Lin Xiaolu, sitting in the passenger seat of Kim Ruanruan's car, looked at the message on her phone screen, let out a long sigh, and felt a complex mix of emotions.

Then she turned her head, wanting to ask Kim Ruanruan something, and whispered, "Unnie..."

But Kim Ruanruan had already anticipated it; she looked at Lin Xiaolu's slightly furrowed brows, a flash of helplessness in her eyes, her tone flat but certain.

"It wasn't me, it was the future me."

Year 25.

After waking up and washing up, Kim Taeyeon changed into a relaxed and comfortable outfit, her pace leisurely.

Walking to the mirror, she stopped involuntarily, her gaze landing on the familiar yet strange face in the reflection.

Suddenly, thinking of something, she took out her phone and quickly dialed Lin Yun'er's number.

After a few busy tones, a familiar, hearty laugh came from the other end, "Hello~ unnie."

"Yun'er, what are you doing?" Kim Taeyeon laughed softly, her tone carrying a touch of warmth.

Lin Yun'er, on the other end of the line, was currently in an indoor sports center.

She looked up at Little Dragon Cub and Sunny opposite her, and answered with a smile, "I'm playing billiards with Shun Gui unnie and Zhiyan, do you want to come over and join us?"

Hearing this, Kim Taeyeon's mouth curled up, her smile becoming even brighter, "Sure, send me the location, I'm coming over now."

"Okay, then hurry up, unnie, we're going to eat in a bit."

"I know, I'm leaving now."

After hanging up, Kim Taeyeon examined herself in the mirror again.

Although the contours remained the same, the firmness of her skin, the rosiness of her complexion, and the spirit radiating from her whole being made her feel unprecedentedly satisfied.

It was a beauty that was both real and confident, not something that could be faked with makeup, but vitality and radiance from the inside out.

Then she turned, picked up a coat to put on, put her phone and keys neatly into her bag, and walked toward the door.

At this moment, a small sense of pride welled up in her heart.

Having such a good state and not going out to show it off would be a waste.

Wealth without returning home is like wearing silk in the dark~

Kim Taeyeon was currently in this mood, carrying a touch of playfulness and satisfaction, walking toward a new day under the sun.

(End of chapter)