Chapter 235: The Frantic

The sun was just right, people came and went on the street, and the flow of traffic and the crowd wove together into a bright summer scene.

Kim Taeyeon put on her sunglasses and walked out of the Apartment gate with a light step, her white coat reflecting a soft luster under the sun.

Then she got into the car and headed straight for the venue address Lin YoonA had sent, following the navigation.

As the car turned the corner of the residential complex, the familiar coffee shop came into view.

The aroma drifting out from the glass window seemed to hook her footsteps, so she paused slightly, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Thinking of meeting YoonA and the others in a moment, Kim Taeyeon had a change of heart and parked the car steadily at the entrance.

A few minutes later, she walked out again, carrying a bag containing several cups of coffee.

Sunlight spilled through the thin clouds, fine specks of light dancing between her hair, and a breeze stirred the hem of her white coat, making her look bright and lively.

At this moment, Kim Taeyeon had a long-lost lightness and ease between her brows, as if she had been completely renewed after that special birthday yesterday.

Before long, she arrived at the indoor sports arena that YoonA had mentioned.

The moment she pushed open the glass door, what rushed toward her was not only the faint woody scent in the air, but also a few crisp sounds of billiard balls colliding.

After entering the club, Kim Taeyeon found that there were not many people around, and then she walked along the aisle toward the inside, soon discovering the Lin YoonA she had spoken to earlier, as well as the two people currently battling it out, Dalongzai and Sunny, in an inconspicuous corner.

Just as she lifted her foot to approach, Lin YoonA was the first to spot her; her eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up, waving and shouting, "Unnie, you're finally here."

Kim Taeyeon walked over carrying the coffee, the corners of her lips curving into a gentle arc, her voice clear and smiling, "Mm~ I brought you all coffee."

After saying this, she placed the bag on the leisure table nearby, her movements light and natural, carrying an inadvertent elegance.

At the same time, the radiance she exuded also caused the gazes of the few to be involuntarily drawn toward her.

So, although Lin YoonA had greeted her initially, when she truly saw Kim Taeyeon's face clearly, her gaze retracted instantly, and the smile froze on her face.

Although she was trying hard to maintain her composure, the shock in the depths of her eyes still leaked out involuntarily.

On the other side, the cue in Dalongzai's hand also stopped in mid-air, her gaze fixed tightly on Kim Taeyeon, her Adam's apple moving involuntarily.

That face, that state—it was too obvious, too familiar.

This made her subconsciously think of her time spent with Lin Xiuyuan yesterday morning, and her heart gave a sudden jolt.

On the other side, Sunny had just finished a shot and wanted to stand up excitedly to celebrate, but she froze the moment she looked up.

Then she stared fixedly at Kim Taeyeon, the whole person stunned in place for a long time.

With over a decade of best-friendship, she knew Kim Taeyeon's ups and downs over these years better than anyone.

From the peak to the fatigue of the last two years, she had watched it all happen with her own eyes.

But the scene before her was completely outside the scope of her understanding.

That skin was so delicate it was almost breakable, the long-lost radiance was reignited in her eyes, and her cheeks were rosy and lustrous; she simply didn't look like the same person who had been eating at the same table as her the night before last.

"What's the situation, Taeyeon-ah... you, you are...?" Sunny's voice was even trembling a little, her eyes full of disbelief.

She almost couldn't wait to walk quickly to Kim Taeyeon, raising her hand to touch her cheek lightly.

Her fingertips traced from the jawline all the way to the corner of her eye, her movements careful yet urgent, as if to confirm this wasn't a makeup illusion, let alone a hallucination under a filter.

"This is too exaggerated, did you go get medical aesthetics behind our backs?!"

Sunny's voice raised a little, shock and questioning mixed together.

After saying this, she turned her head to look at Lin YoonA and Dalongzai, her eyes full of incredulity.

She remembered very clearly that when she saw these two this morning, it had already been enough to shock her.

But now, with Kim Taeyeon added to the mix...

What on earth was going on? Could it be that they all went to the same medical aesthetics clinic?

Kim Taeyeon was amused by her dead-serious suspicion, reaching out to gently push her hand away, her smile carrying a touch of helplessness, "Yah, Shun Gui, what nonsense are you spouting? If I had gone to get it done, could I have hidden it from you? We ate together the day before yesterday; where would there be such a fast recovery period?"

But at this moment, Sunny still had a face full of suspicion, her eyes fixed tightly on Kim Taeyeon, her brows almost twisted into a line; clearly, she didn't believe the other party's understated explanation in the slightest.

"Yah~ YoonA, you two come clean." She turned her head abruptly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Lin YoonA and Dalongzai, her tone carrying a bit of urgency and incredulity, "Did you go with Taeyeon? It's the same medical aesthetics clinic, right?!"

Once the voice was out, it carried a hint of sharpness.

At that moment, it was as if even the air was forced to tighten a bit by her.

After all, the scene before her was too shocking; there was no such thing as Rejuvenation like this, and it made her seem too out of step.

Standing together, she was almost becoming the mother of the group.

Lin YoonA and Dalongzai exchanged a glance, both of their eyes flickering slightly, but neither of them spoke.

The main thing was that the emotions welling up in their hearts at this moment were a bit too complex; after all, they knew that Kim Taeyeon's change had nothing to do with "medical aesthetics," but if they really had to tell the truth...

Wouldn't that mean throwing the name Lin Xiuyuan out there?

Not to mention that reason that made one's face flush and heart race.

And if they really talked about sleeping together... would Sunny believe it?

Thus, both chose silence.

Only, this silence fell into Sunny's eyes like a kind of tacit understanding, making it seem even more intriguing.

In the blink of an eye, Sunny was stunned on the spot, her expression frozen.

That feeling of being excluded immediately reminded her of the "sense of isolation" that Park Hyomin had occasionally mentioned in their chats recently.

Her chest felt blocked immediately, and she couldn't help but mutter, "What is it... what kind of tricks are you all playing?"

Her gaze swept over the three of them like a searchlight, finally settling on Kim Taeyeon.

It was scorching and aggressive, as if she wanted to see through Kim Taeyeon from head to toe.

Kim Taeyeon, who was feeling a bit flustered from being stared at, simply took a step forward, reached out to hug her, and smiled brightly.

"Stop looking, Shun Gui. These past few days I've mainly been sleeping exceptionally well; yesterday I slept until noon, and last night I lay down early again, only just waking up. Once you've rested well, your state naturally becomes different."

Sunny, however, didn't buy it at all, slapping her arm hard, her voice kept low because her reason was still there and she didn't dare jump up and shout.

But she still asked in a low, angry voice, "Don't try to fool me, Taeyeon; this complexion, this skin, this entire aura of yours—this is not a change that skincare products can bring about. Come clean, what on earth is going on?"

Sunny was not like those other idiots; she was ready to flip the table immediately.

Kim Taeyeon pursed her lips, a flash of guilt crossing her eyes, so she hurriedly changed the subject.

She smiled as she picked up the bag and pushed the cups of coffee toward the others, her tone light, "Alright, stop worrying about me for now. Come over and try the coffee I brought you. Shun Gui, isn't Caramel Macchiato your favorite? I specifically ordered it."

"Bullshit, I like Milk Tea now."

Sunny, having been led astray by Kim Taeyeon's sudden diversion, looked down at her cup and then quickly looked up, "Yah, don't try to change the subject on me. What I asked you was..."

"Unnie~" Lin YoonA suddenly interjected, wearing a meaningful smile, her voice light but hiding a mystery, "Look at Taeyeon Unnie like this, doesn't it look like... she just had a sweet romance?"

As soon as she spoke, Dalongzai couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter, then hurriedly covered her mouth with the back of her hand, pretending to cough. But her eyes couldn't help but glance toward Kim Taeyeon, carrying a hint of tacit understanding.

Kim Taeyeon, however, maintained a breezy demeanor, let out a light hum, and pretended to be angry as she reached out to pat Lin YoonA, "Hmm? YoonA, according to your logic, does that mean you and Zhiyan also had a sweet romance?"

Her pat was intended to change the subject, but Sunny had already locked onto the subtle expression on her face.

The moment she noticed something was wrong, the doubt in her heart didn't vanish; instead, it grew deeper.

"Hey..." Sunny narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her voice drawn out as she looked back and forth between the three, as if trying to capture any trace of evidence on their faces, "Why are your reactions all so strange? YoonA, Zhiyan, do you two know something? Tell me quickly!"

Lin YoonA turned her head away, a cunning light flickering in her eyes as she pretended to look seriously at the pool table.

"Oh my, Unnie, stop talking about that. We came here to play, let's play first. Zhiyan is waiting for you, and we still have to go eat after we're done."

Dalongzai also chimed in, suppressing her laughter, "Yeah, yeah, Unnie, hurry up and continue. We agreed earlier that the loser pays, you aren't going to welch on the bet, are you?"

The two of them sang in harmony; they seemed relaxed on the surface, but it only made Sunny feel more certain that there was something fishy going on.

Consequently, she was so anxious she almost lunged at them to grab them and get to the bottom of it, "Yah~ the three of you are definitely hiding something from me. Tell me, did you all meet the same man?"

Kim Taeyeon was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst into a "pfft" of laughter, her shoulders trembling along with it.

That laughter was as if someone had accidentally poked a secret, carrying a bit of guilt, yet mixed with relief and playfulness.

Lin YoonA and Dalongzai exchanged a glance, a look of surprise flashing in their eyes.

It was a mix of astonishment that Sunny had actually hit the nail on the head, and amusement at being tickled by her blunt guess.

In the end, Kim Taeyeon smiled and shook her head, reaching out to gently pat the back of Sunny's hand, her tone soothing yet tinged with teasing.

"Alright~ don't overthink these messy things. Shun Gui, are you watching Korean dramas in your head every day? Honestly, how could we have any men?"

Kim Taeyeon spoke nonchalantly, a smile on her lips, as if everything were very casual.

But that vague and ambiguous attitude failed to provide a direct answer.

Lin YoonA and Dalongzai also maintained a tacit silence, not exposing her. Their eyes just wandered, as if drifting away inadvertently.

Because they both knew in their hearts that the change in Kim Taeyeon before them was definitely not something brought about by skincare products or rest, and that "someone" was the key answer.

On this point, everyone who had experienced it already had a conclusion in their hearts.

Sunny, scratching her head, felt an unbearable itch in her heart; she felt like she was hanging in mid-air, but just looking at the "nothing to see here" attitude of the three, she couldn't extract a single word.

Yet she knew herself that the "did you meet the same man" comment was just something she blurted out in a fit of pique.

A few minutes later.

By the pool table, with a light strike of the white ball, a crisp collision sound echoed through the venue.

Lin YoonA bent over to aim, her posture elegant, her movements swift. With a crisp "snap," the red ball rolled smoothly into the pocket.

Then she slowly straightened up, her long hair sliding gently onto her shoulders. When she turned her head, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Kim Taeyeon, and the smile in her eyes could not be hidden no matter what.

Standing opposite her, Dalongzai spun the cue between her fingertips, and fine sweat even seeped into her palms.

Yet the corners of her mouth couldn't stop twitching, hanging in an arc that was half-smile, half-serious.

Every time her gaze met Lin YoonA's, they couldn't help but exchange a look of tacit understanding, then both turned their faces away while suppressing their laughter.

This scene, falling into Sunny's eyes, only made her feel more restless and impatient.

Unable to bear it any longer, she slapped her cue down and walked straight to Kim Taeyeon's side, striking a "coercive interrogation" pose.

With her hands on her hips, her gaze was bright and piercing, as if she wanted to tear them apart to see, "Taeyeon, give me an honest confession, what exactly is going on! I'm dying of curiosity; you know my personality best, I really can't live without gossip."

Her eyes were burning, her tone carried a hint of threat, but it was mostly the excitement of gossip about to explode.

Kim Taeyeon almost choked, hurriedly picking up her coffee to take a sip, pretending to be nonchalant, "Oh my, why are you so prone to wild thoughts? I just took a nap and my condition recovered a bit, that's all."

Sunny wouldn't believe it, letting out a "humph" with a sharp gaze.

She suddenly reached out to pinch Kim Taeyeon's face, pressing her two fingers back and forth on her smooth skin, leaning in extremely close to observe carefully.

"Liar, your skin is completely different from yesterday. The fine lines have faded, your complexion looks like you just had a Water Light Needle treatment. Honestly, did some god-like doctor work on you? I want to go too."

"Where would such technology exist now?" Kim Taeyeon shook her head quickly, her eyes flickering.

Sunny was relentless, her speech rapid, "Who says it doesn't? They have it in Lion City! Some Traditional Chinese Medicine clinics run by white-haired old men; they say just a few needles can make your blood and Qi flow back, making you look brand new."

This sentence made Kim Taeyeon's heart jolt, a brief flash of shock crossing her eyes.

It seemed she suddenly associated it with the similar effect brought by a certain "needle," and her heartbeat involuntarily skipped a beat.

It was just that Sunny's fingers were pinching a bit painfully, so she hurriedly swatted the other's hand away and took the opportunity to change the subject, "Yah, yah, yah, hurry up and play. You're going to delay the progress, and I'm getting a bit hungry."

Seeing this, Lin YoonA couldn't help but laugh out loud, though her eyes exchanged a meaningful look with Dalongzai again from an angle Sunny couldn't see.

In that brief eye contact, they both silently saw the figure of that man in each other's gaze.

Lin Xiuyuan...

Thinking of this, Dalongzai bit her lip, her chest rising and falling slightly, and finally, she let out a soft sigh.

In her mind, the image of that person walking out of the bedroom in a hurry yesterday morning surfaced uncontrollably.

Now, looking down at Kim Taeyeon at this moment, the hard-to-hide happiness in her eyes was intertwined with the bright radiance on her face.

The answer was almost ready to come out.

Seeing this, she muttered helplessly, so softly that only she could hear, "If I had known, I shouldn't have let Xiuyuan go back..."

And Sunny still wouldn't give up.

She simply put down her cue, crossed her arms, and walked to Lin YoonA and Dalongzai's side, leaning over and lowering her voice to press them, "YoonA, you two, tell me honestly, did you go behind my back to do some new medical beauty project together? Or the same project? Otherwise, why are your eyes so strange when you look at Taeyeon?"

Her gaze was sharp, carrying an aura that brooked no evasion.

After all, as the smooth-talking President Li, how could she not see the little secret actions these two had just exchanged? That kind of look was clearly hiding something.

However, as soon as these words were out, Lin YoonA could barely hold back, nearly choking on her own laughter.

She hurriedly raised a hand to cover her mouth, coughed twice with great effort, and pretended to be serious, "Unnie, have you been watching too many dramas? Why do you always associate things with that kind of plot?"

Dalongzai also chimed in, deliberately putting on a serious expression, "Yeah, Unnie, aren't you being too sensitive? Our situation with Taeyeon Unnie is really just that we had a good rest."

"Bullshit, I rested quite well too!" Sunny retorted unconvinced, eyes widening.

Kim Taeyeon immediately exposed her without mercy, "You rested well? Lee Sunkyu, you really dare to say that? When is it that you don't stay up late playing games every day? Your dark circles are almost enough to be used for acting as a panda."

"Yah! Kim Taeyeon." Sunny pouted and put her hands on her hips, making a move to chase after her and pinch her.

The venue was suddenly filled with the sounds of their bickering, and the originally tense atmosphere was gradually diluted by laughter.

After this little interlude, Sunny also temporarily pushed the doubts in her heart down, picked up her cue again, and continued playing billiards while bickering with Kim Taeyeon.

As it turned out, on the other side of the table, Lin YoonA and Dalongzai had huddled together, their backs to Sunny, their voices kept extremely low, as if exchanging some kind of secret.

"Unnie... how did she end up getting involved with Xiuyuan?" Lin YoonA's eyes flashed with curiosity, her tone carrying a hint of suspicion.

Dalongzai pursed her lips, nodded slightly, and her voice was equally low, "Her father's birthday, didn't we talk about it when we ate before? It was probably last night."

Before Dalongzai could finish speaking, Lin YoonA understood immediately and smiled, pursing her lips, "Ah, I see. Unnie used that as an excuse to drag Xiuyuan into the water. Tsk tsk, acting fragile and calling out a few times in the middle of the night is indeed very lethal to a young guy like Xiuyuan."

"This isn't a good thing, Unnie." Dalongzai narrowed her eyes, saying with some emotion.

Lin YoonA shrugged, spread her hands, and smiled half-jokingly, "Then what else can be done? Are we going to lock him up and not let him go out?"

Speaking of this, she was about to look up, but suddenly met a flash of light in Dalongzai's eyes.

That fleeting expression startled her, and she hurriedly added, "Yah, Zhiyan, don't you go doing anything reckless, I was just saying that!"

Dalongzai laughed immediately and waved her hands, "Don't worry, Unnie, how could I really do that kind of thing? I was just... wondering what Xiuyuan is doing now."

Lin YoonA followed the conversation and teased in a low voice, "What else could he be doing, sleeping."

……

……

At this moment, the Lin Xiuyuan they were discussing had just walked out of his room in the 2013 Apartment.

Having finished his shower, he walked out of the bathroom, still carrying the dampness of water, wearing a light-colored T-shirt and casual pants, looking completely relaxed.

But just as his footsteps landed in the Living Room, he paused.

On the sofa, Zheng Xiuyan was leaning back casually, her legs elegantly crossed, holding a water glass in her hands.

And she herself still exuded a cold and lazy temperament, with a faint sense of confidence and composure between her brows.

Today, she was rarely wearing a white off-the-shoulder lace top, the puff sleeves light and soft, the slight pleats and exquisite embroidery adding a touch of romance, paired with dark blue straight-leg jeans, and beige lace-up hollow-out high heels on her feet, her whole aura cold yet carrying a sweet charm.

The sunlight fell on her through the window, outlining her silhouette, making one involuntarily look a few more times.

The moment she raised her eyes and saw Lin Xiuyuan, her eyebrows arched slightly, her tone carrying a hint of light teasing, "Eh? Why that expression? Shouldn't it be a surprise to see me?"

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, then smiled, "Xiuyan, why are you here."

Zheng Xiuyan gently shook the water glass in her hand; in the empty glass, only ice cubes remained, making a crisp clinking sound.

And her demeanor remained cold and composed, her tone light and airy, revealing a hint of pride, "I came to talk to Xueli about the female lead's costumes in the drama. It's rare that the Screenwriter is her, and the lead is Xiujing, so I'm taking the opportunity to spread my designs through the drama."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan walked to the refrigerator, pulled open The Gate, took out a bottle of cola, and raised an eyebrow while twisting the cap, "Will the TV station allow it?"

Zheng Xiuyan curled her lips, her eyes sharp yet indifferent, "Why not? Anyway, they don't have to spend their own money, and my designs can be considered a promotional point they can piggyback on; they are more than happy to."

Speaking of this, she didn't forget to gently tuck the loose hair behind her ear, her movements elegant and confident.

Lin Xiuyuan pulled the tab open with a "click," poured the cola into her glass, and smiled, "Then will SM be willing?"

After Lin Xiuyuan poured more than half of the cola, Zheng Xiuyan, with her slender fingers, naturally handed it to the other party, then took the can from Lin Xiuyuan's hand, took a small sip, and then spoke.

"This brings us to that meeting Taeyeon had earlier; it helped me pull in a bunch of scapegoats, and now I don't have that many restrictions."

Her tone was light, but there was an irrepressible lightness between her brows; she was clearly very satisfied with the current situation.

This answer made Lin Xiuyuan laugh out loud, "Looking at it this way, the situation is actually quite good."

And Zheng Xiuyan shook her head gently, her eyes falling on him, "More comfortable than I imagined."

Then she changed the subject, a hint of subtle probing flashing in her eyes, "By the way, Xiuyuan, you went to Jeonju with Taeyeon last night, right?"

Lin Xiuyuan paused, his hand movements involuntarily slowing down by a few beats, "Yeah, it was her father's birthday, and the 25-year-old Taeyeon went along too."

Once these words were out, the small hand Zheng Xiuyan was using to play with the can also paused, and she sighed lightly, "25 years, sigh, I really can't understand why such a big change could happen in just ten years."

The Living Room was briefly quiet, the sunlight from outside the window spilling in through the sheer curtains, landing on her profile and outlining her delicate silhouette.

"Who knows." Lin Xiuyuan smiled and waved his hand, placing the water glass on the coffee table, "By the way, why are you so free today? Haven't you always been quite busy?"

Xueli, who had been sitting quietly on the single chair, finally leaned out at this moment and whispered an explanation to Lin Xiuyuan, "Oppa~ Unnie and the others just finished the tour in Taipei, they should be resting."

Zheng Xiuyan nodded, her gaze falling back on Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes suddenly softening a bit, "Yeah."

Then she looked at Lin Xiuyuan, "Let's have dinner together tonight, by the way. It's been a long time since I've chatted with you."

Xueli blinked and immediately took the opportunity to say, "Ah, dinner. Unnie~ I definitely won't have time tonight. I have to go to the Studio in a while; the crew started filming not long ago, and I have to go over and check occasionally."

She stood up as she spoke, as if deliberately leaving space for them.

After resting for a while in the Apartment, Lin Xiuyuan changed into a more decent shirt and tidied his hair simply, looking fresh and neat.

Zheng Xiuyan had already tidied up; today's outfit highlighted her unique temperament, and she radiated a cold yet sweet charm in the sunlight, her silhouette distinct in the light and shadow, like a quiet painting.

And when the two got out of the car, evening had descended, the lights were coming on, and the night breeze near August had a bit of a chill.

Zheng Xiuyan subconsciously tucked her hair, slowing her pace to wait for Lin Xiuyuan to catch up.

The streetlights elongated their shadows, reflecting strips of slightly swaying light and shadow, and the street in the night appeared quiet and intimate.

"Let's go, I booked a restaurant around here." Her tone was light, but a hint of secret amusement flashed in her eyes.

To this, Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled slightly, smiling as relaxed as ever, "So it was premeditated."

That was a Chinese restaurant that had just become somewhat famous in the Seoul circle, with the owner claiming to win a Michelin star with "authentic oriental cuisine."

At this moment, the sign lights outside the restaurant were warm and soft, and as they pushed open the glass door, a complex aroma rushed toward them.

Mixed with spices, grease, and a hint of an unknown scent, it made one unable to tell whether it was anticipation or caution.

After taking their seats, Zheng Xiuyan and Lin Xiuyuan flipped through the menu casually and finally ordered a set meal.

As the dishes were brought to the table one by one, the plating of each was extremely exquisite; in small dishes sat a few slices of beef so thin they were translucent, a small mound of greens piled up like a sculpture, and even the soup was served in a glass container that looked like a perfume bottle.

Under Zheng Xiuyan's gaze, Lin Xiuyuan first took a bite, then his expression instantly stiffened, and the motion of swallowing was three times slower than usual.

He even picked up his water glass and took a sip to help it down.

Afterwards, he looked up, met Zheng Xiuyan's expectant eyes, and couldn't help but offer a wry smile.

"Xiuyan, I have to be honest."

Putting down his chopsticks, Lin Xiuyuan carefully checked the surroundings before lowering his voice.

"Actually, it's fine to eat Michelin, but you can only choose Western food. Whether it's our Chinese food or Southeast Asian cuisine, the chefs here use Western standards and tastes to cater to the Michelin judges in order to snag that useless badge. But in terms of overall flavor, it's just... you know, flashy and pretentious, and it doesn't suit the local palate at all."

Zheng Xiuyan was stunned, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air. She tasted a bite of the so-called "innovative Mapo Tofu" in front of her and frowned; her tongue was stung by a strange mixture of cream and pepper that made it feel sour.

Helpless, she had to gently set down her chopsticks, the corners of her mouth twitching, and a look of helpless disappointment appeared in her eyes.

It was rare for the two of them to go out together tonight, which was supposed to be a little date, but she hadn't expected it to end up in such a ridiculous situation.

This made Zheng Xiuyan mutter a few words under her breath, cursing with a girlish, petty temper. Although Lin Xiuyuan across from her didn't hear the specific words, he could feel that she was likely cursing quite colorfully.

Seeing this, he chuckled inwardly, while also immediately noticing the drop in her mood.

He then reached out to push the menu on the table aside, stood up decisively, and extended a hand to her with a smile, "Let's go, don't suffer here. I know a place, a Chinese canteen from when I was still working as a photographer; the flavors there are what you call authentic."

Zheng Xiuyan was startled, looking up at him as if she hadn't expected him to be so direct.

Afterwards, she gave a light huff, but couldn't help curling the corners of her lips, placing her hand into his palm.

The two walked quickly out of the restaurant; the night breeze brushed past, and Zheng Xiuyan's high heels made a "clack-clack" sound on the stone path.

Once outside, she said in a low voice, half-complaining and half-teasing, "You didn't say so earlier, causing me to book such a hellish place."

Lin Xiuyuan laughed heartily, "Who told you to be all mysterious and not tell me? I thought you had found some great place. Don't worry, this time I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Half an hour later, Lin Xiuyuan drove Zheng Xiuyan to the Yangchuan District and then turned into an inconspicuous small alley.

It was an old canteen with a faded plaque; locals sat at a few tables outside, and the steaming heat of the wok and the smell of life rushed toward them.

In stark contrast to the cold, quiet Michelin restaurant from earlier, this place was noisy and warm.

As soon as she got out of the car, Zheng Xiuyan caught the familiar scent of stir-frying, and her eyes brightened a little.

Then, looking at Lin Xiuyuan, the small bit of frustration in her heart vanished, leaving only an indescribable sense of groundedness.

The two pushed open the wooden door of the small canteen, and a scent of wok-fire mixed with soy sauce rushed to meet them.

The shop was bustling with noise, every table was full, and the sound of spatulas tossing in iron woks was crisp and powerful.

Compared to that lifeless "Michelin restaurant" from before, this was the true atmosphere of life.

As soon as he entered, Lin Xiuyuan saw a familiar figure, his eyes lit up, and he laughed softly.

"Wow~ Gui Bo! What's going on today? You're actually serving the dishes yourself?!"

(Wow~ Gui Bo, what's going on today, you're actually serving the dishes yourself.)

"Hey, you brat! Long time no see, I thought you'd gone back to your hometown!"

(Hey, you brat, long time no see, I thought you'd gone back to your hometown.)

The old man whom Lin Xiuyuan called Gui Bo swept his gaze over Zheng Xiuyan, frowned slightly, and then smiled lightly. Seeing that her temperament and beauty were different from what he remembered, this old veteran immediately understood something.

"Alright, let the old man get a room for you to sit down and eat, how about that?"

(Alright, let the old man get a room for you to sit down and eat, how about that?)

"It's still Gui Bo who has the sharpest eye!"

(It's still Gui Bo who has the sharpest eye.)

"Save your breath! We're here, go on in and sit down yourself. If you want to eat anything, come over to the Kitchen to order later."

(Save your breath! We're here, go on in and sit down yourself. If you want to eat anything, come over to the Kitchen to order later.)

"Mm, OK."

After saying that, Lin Xiuyuan pushed open the door to the private room nearby, letting Zheng Xiuyan behind him hurry to follow.

Behind him, Zheng Xiuyan turned her head to look at some of the figures in the main hall; there were both young and old people, and the languages spoken weren't just Chinese—there was Korean, Japanese, and even languages from Southeast Asia.

It was noisy and chaotic, yet vivid and interesting.

Afterwards, she walked into the private room with Lin Xiuyuan and sat down; the latter, familiar with the place, took out the menu and placed it in front of her, asking, "See what you want to eat."

Zheng Xiuyan quickly flipped through the menu and immediately ordered a few signature dishes: spicy crayfish, sizzling beef... the aroma seemed to seep right out of the text.

Lin Xiuyuan also added a few dishes and then handed the order to the kitchen.

Before long, the dishes, steaming with white mist, were brought up; the sauce was bubbling, and the aroma was intense and pungent.

Zheng Xiuyan gently picked up a chopstick-full, paused the moment it entered her mouth, and then the corners of her lips curled up bit by bit.

Her squinting expression looked just like a satisfied little cat, and she couldn't help but scoop up a few more spoonfuls of soup to drink.

"Ah, as expected, I still need you to bring me here to eat, Xiuyuan. All the Chinese restaurants I've gone to privately don't compare to this."

The young girl, smiling with her eyes narrowed, had even the spoon in her hand shaking slightly from happiness.

Lin Xiuyuan watched her like that and couldn't help but laugh, "Should've said so earlier. Coming out to eat with me, when have you ever not eaten well?"

As he spoke, he placed a piece of beef into her bowl.

The movement was natural and casual, yet carried a hint of subconscious intimacy.

Zheng Xiuyan looked down, then looked up and rolled her eyes at him, "I would have said so earlier, but you have to be here for that."

She smiled again afterwards, but her tone was a bit depressed and somewhat sentimental, "But you seem quite tired too, running back and forth with no personal time, right?"

"It's fine, I'm just playing around."

The atmosphere gradually lightened. The two ate and chatted about their recent situations.

Zheng Xiuyan spoke first, "By the way, Xiuyuan, you and Xiaolu and Ruanruan... are things a bit subtle between you lately?"

As she spoke, she wore a half-smiling expression, her gaze scanning his face.

Lin Xiuyuan's hand paused, he gave a dry cough, and feigned composure, "Ahem, how is it 'subtle'?"

"Don't play dumb." Zheng Xiuyan pursed her lips, "When those two chat with me every day, they always have you on their lips."

"Isn't that normal? You're the same, aren't you?"

As he spoke, Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly found an excuse, "Besides, for the two of them, one has that situation with her father, and the other is about to start filming, right? I imagine they're both a bit nervous."

Zheng Xiuyan pursed her lips and smiled, staring at his guilty expression, unable to help but shake her head, "I didn't say I wanted to press you on what happened between you all; in any case, the one who ends up at a disadvantage certainly won't be you."

Lin Xiuyuan looked up, his eyes somewhat helpless yet carrying a smile, "Ah, the way you put it..."

"Isn't it true?" Zheng Xiuyan said with a hint of a smile, the corners of her eyes slightly raised, her tone light yet carrying a touch of provocation.

And Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh, "You've got a point there."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw Zheng Xiuyan lean in directly, her eyes filled with curiosity and a touch of anticipation, "So Xiuyuan, just how exaggerated is that effect of yours?"

"What effect?" Lin Xiuyuan was startled.

He had thought that only the people over in the year '25 were eyeing his 'Tang Monk Meat', so how did Zheng Xiuyan here get wind of it too?

Zheng Xiuyan rolled her eyes at him, a smile at the corners of her mouth, "Don't play the fool, you know what I'm talking about."

"Xiuyan, don't mess around, you shouldn't need it, right?" Lin Xiuyuan shook his head with some helplessness.

The Zheng Xiuyan of 2013 was at the peak of her beauty; her complexion, facial features, and temperament had all reached their ultimate state.

In Lin Xiuyuan's view, even Lin Xiaolu right now couldn't compare to Zheng Xiuyan, whereas Park Jiyeon, having gradually blossomed, had a bit of fighting power.

Zheng Xiuyan shrugged, narrowed her eyes, and said with a curious tone, "I don't need it, but I'm curious."

Facing this answer from Zheng Xiuyan, Lin Xiuyuan found it somewhat amusing, then casually picked up a piece of beef, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly, "I don't know how to describe it, it seems there is something to it; Taeyeon's blood and Qi became more ruddy this morning than they were last night."

"Taeyeon? Hey, you hooked up with Taeyeon too?"

Zheng Xiuyan's eyes widened instantly, full of shock.

Originally, she had only been curious about Lin YoonA and Krystal; she hadn't expected Lin Xiuyuan to expose such news himself.

"Wait a second, Xueli..." she couldn't help but ask.

"Don't mess around, I see Xueli as a little sister." Lin Xiuyuan reached out to stop Zheng Xiuyan from continuing, his tone helpless but smiling.

And Zheng Xiuyan looked at him deeply, as if probing his bottom line, and continued to press, "Is there any saving that face of Taeyeon's?"

"I didn't look closely, I was in a rush to head back to Jeonju this morning, but those bone-shaving parts probably can't be filled back in; at most, it just lets the cheek flesh fill out so it isn't so gaunt."

Lin Xiuyuan ate while mentioning the previous situation with Li Juli, and then used that as a reference to answer Zheng Xiuyan's question.

The result, however, was being roasted by Zheng Xiuyan, "You're so familiar with this, Xiuyuan~ Are you a goalkeeper now, or a gigolo masseur?"

"I don't want to be either." Lin Xiuyuan gave a bitter smile, his tone carrying a headache.

This had made it so he didn't even know what love was anymore... although he didn't really care much either.

"Don't act like you're suffering when you've gotten the better end of the deal."

"Sigh~"

Just as Lin Xiuyuan was smiling bitterly, Zheng Xiuyan opposite him suddenly threw out a bombshell, "By the way, let me tell you an issue; regarding Jessica, help me go find her and ask her a few questions."

Lin Xiuyuan looked up abruptly, his eyebrows slightly raised, "What questions?"

Zheng Xiuyan's gaze was earnest and slightly flickering as she spoke slowly.

"Ask her how she is doing with Quan Ningyi now, ask her what her plans are for the future, and ask her if she has any regrets."

When saying these three questions, Zheng Xiuyan's tone carried no threat, yet there was a firmness that could not be ignored, making Lin Xiuyuan's heart tighten as he listened.

No, what is this all about?

Meanwhile.

Jessica over in the year 2025 was sitting at home alone again, having ordered a Pizza and sitting on the sofa in a daze.

The last time it was like this, Lin Xiuyuan had appeared and given her quite a few hallucinations.

I wonder if this time... someone will come again.

(PS: Take a look at the author's note)

(End of chapter)