Chapter 243: Jessica: You Three Are Touring??? (Ten Thousand Words Begging)

Inside the Dalongzai Apartment in 2025.

"Yah..."

Seeing the other person standing in a position of superiority, Park Jiyeon glared with puffed-up cheeks, her brows burning with irritation.

Just as she wanted to retort a few more times, her throat rolled, but she suddenly remembered the real purpose of this trip.

Helpless, she had to take a deep breath, forcibly suppressing that impulse, gave a light cough, and her tone stiffly softened a bit, "Forget it, I have serious business to ask you, old..."

"Hmm?" Dalongzai raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of a smile still in her eyes.

Park Jiyeon stopped mid-sentence, dropping the address, "How is Dad's recuperation arranged over here? I've heard the doctor's orders once, but I still feel uneasy about it."

When mentioning her "father," her gaze clearly softened a little.

The stubbornness at the corners of her eyes faded, replaced by a faint, visible worry.

Dalongzai watched her earnest expression, the smile on her lips slowly fading, and she raised her hand to tuck the stray hair from her forehead behind her ear, her demeanor becoming more composed.

"For me, it's mainly following the rehabilitation plan provided by the doctor, focusing on controlling diet and regular exercise. Less oil, less salt, don't crave cold things, and pay even more attention to emotions. You know how Dad's temper is; sometimes he gets angry easily, so someone needs to keep an eye on him at all times."

She paused, her eyes shifting slightly to land on Lin Xiuyuan, a gentle smile curling her lips as she added.

"But your situation is much better than mine. With Xiuyuan there, and hearing you say it hasn't developed to a worsening degree, you don't need to worry too much. Just paying attention in daily life is enough. My surgery went quite smoothly, and my current state is also fine."

"Hmph, I know." Park Jiyeon clicked her tongue lightly, but couldn't help asking one more thing, her eyes flickering, "But... is there nothing else to pay attention to besides these?"

"What else are you worried about?"

Dalongzai was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood her thoughts.

Having experienced storms, her eyes carried a calmness that saw through the world.

"Ah, I understand. You're afraid it might slowly drag on into the same situation as mine, right? If you're really worried about that, just take Dad overseas and find the best hospital for a comprehensive check-up. I went through that trouble once back then, and the answers I got were all about the same. It depends on how you think about it."

"..."

Park Jiyeon frowned, her gaze awkwardly cast aside, but her mouth popped out with the familiar sarcastic tone, "Heh, you don't look like much, but you sure think highly of yourself. You're probably just thinking that once I leave, you can be with oppa..."

Halfway through the sentence, the young woman suddenly realized something, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she bit her lower lip, swallowing the rest of the words.

Instead, Dalongzai was not annoyed at all; she laughed even more happily.

She even leaned toward Lin Xiuyuan, her whole body almost half-nestled in his arms, deliberately acting spoiled in a coquettish tone.

"Aigoo, if you say it like that, it sounds like I can't snuggle with Xiuyuan when you're around."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, caught between laughter and tears, put down his phone, and looked up at Park Jiyeon opposite him, his gaze gentle, as if soothing the temper of a grumpy little dragon.

"Tch..."

Seeing this, Park Jiyeon's cheeks puffed up involuntarily, and she turned her head away.

Though she felt a little awkward inside, it was also mixed with an indescribable envy.

Then she secretly glanced at her future self.

That face, maintained to the point of appearing to age in reverse, was lustrous and full, with a brilliant smile.

At the same time, she asked herself in her heart: If it were her sitting opposite, would she have that boldness and composure?

The answer was... a bit doubtful.

Adjusting her emotions slightly, she continued to ask, "Then... what about exercise? Does Dad usually need to do exercises to improve his physical health?"

"Of course."

Dalongzai looked serious, nodded slowly, and even gestured with an arm-stretching movement in the Living Room, "The doctor gave a few key points. The main thing is to persist morning and evening. The range doesn't need to be too large; the importance lies in consistency."

As she spoke, a light, cheerful smile rose on her lips again.

"But don't worry, there are professional sports physiotherapy centers for this. I found a very reliable one and have stuck with it until now. When you need it, just take Dad there. The doctors and nurses there are all very nice and very attentive."

"Mm."

Park Jiyeon responded blankly, her eyes drifting, her mind clearly not in the present.

Seeing this, Dalongzai on the sofa simply stopped being polite and lazily leaned against Lin Xiuyuan again.

Her delicate chin line lifted slightly, her eyes half-closed, her whole posture looking like she was nesting in his arms like a kitten, looking completely clingy.

Park Jiyeon's brows locked again, staring at this scene, and she couldn't help blurting out, "Yah, are you an invertebrate? Can't you just sit up straight? Why do you have to lean on oppa?"

"Because Xiuyuan smells good." Dalongzai threw out the sentence without hesitation, raising an eyebrow, her smile filled with deliberate provocation.

"Old woman." Park Jiyeon shot a glare, coldly spitting out these three words without further restraint.

"Tsk, a little brat is just a little brat; you don't even know how to argue."

Dalongzai didn't care at all, her smile even deepening, her lips curling slightly as she lazily countered, "But that's normal. Someone like you can only feed Xiuyuan fuzzy peaches—furry and prickly to the mouth—not sweet and smooth like my nectarines."

This metaphor made Park Jiyeon's eyes freeze, her cheeks instantly flushing red.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned on the spot, almost choking.

He hurriedly reached out to pull Dalongzai's arm, laughing and crying, and whispered a reminder, "Alright, alright, don't provoke her anymore."

At the same time, he sighed secretly in his heart: these two are probably true natural enemies.

However, as they chatted to this point, the atmosphere gradually stabilized.

She walked back from the floor-to-ceiling window and sat on the sofa, legs crossed, turning slightly to the side.

Her gaze fell earnestly on Dalongzai, her expression carrying a hint of hesitation, but she finally asked.

"By the way, there's one more thing... we in 2013 are planning to break into the domestic entertainment industry. You know how deep the waters are there. Although Enjing unnie mentioned it before, I still want to hear your opinion. Is there anything special to watch out for?"

This time, Dalongzai didn't joke around. Lowering her eyelashes, she pondered for a moment before finally speaking slowly.

"First, don't trust anyone too much. Even those who seem very good to you, keep your guard up. Even the staff around you—there are too many rich people there. If they can't break you, they might target the staff, and in the end, they could send you to someone else's bed without you even realizing it."

When she said this, her tone was calm, but her eyes were exceptionally sharp, as if shadows still remained in her memories.

"Second, don't be in a hurry to climb into the upper circles. If you have no backing, just honestly earn your money. Huaxia has channels for foreign artists to eat meat and drink soup, but they never intended to give us a real seat at the table. If you are too ambitious, you might be crushed before you even manage to climb up."

"Third, don't offend anyone who seems to have 'no background' casually, but don't be so afraid of offending people that you can't move. Just act indifferent, act as if everything is light and breezy, and that's enough. The circle there is too big and too mixed; behind even a small, random person, there might be a massive background that we can't afford to provoke."

As she said this, her expression gradually softened, and her tone slowed down.

"Someone once told us a piece of advice: you must hold the mindset of 'come to make quick money, and leave once you've made it,' so that you won't run into any major trouble."

The air went still for a moment; the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows gradually darkened, and a light breeze swept by, stirring the curtains and adding a touch of gravity to the atmosphere.

Dalongzai sighed softly, her gaze falling back onto Park Jiyeon's face with a smile that carried a hint of comfort.

"However, compared to our lack of control over our own circumstances here, the pool over in Huaxia is vast—vast enough to accommodate many clean and innocent little water holes. So, most of the time, things there are clearly priced, and they rarely play any dark tricks like drugging people. Plus, foreign artists have a natural protective shield; as long as you don't cross boundaries recklessly, there won't be any major problems."

Dalongzai's tone, after another pause, became much gentler.

It was as if she were admonishing a junior, yet also comforting herself, "At the very end, protect yourself well. For the people in our family, the most important thing is to be safe."

When these words fell, Park Jiyeon was stunned.

Her gaze flickered slightly, and the depths of her heart seemed to be touched ever so lightly.

But the next second, she stubbornly looked away, her tone carrying a hint of feigned arrogance, "You say that as if you're very mature, yet you ended up being deceived so badly."

"Oh my, you're doing this again."

Dalongzai raised her hand as if "angry," but didn't actually let it fall; instead, she leaned her body to the side and naturally hugged Lin Xiuyuan's arm.

Tilting her face up slightly, she looked as relieved as if she had suddenly found an amulet, her voice carrying a hint of coquettish teasing, "Forget it, just treat all those things from before as paving the way for now."

"Tsk..."

Park Jiyeon glared at her fiercely, her lips pressed tightly together, but in the end, she didn't say anything more.

She just subconsciously hugged the cushion in her arms a little tighter, as if looking for an invisible barrier for herself.

The atmosphere in the room swayed between bickering and seriousness just like that.

It could be called tit-for-tat, yet it revealed a kind of indescribable warmth and tacit understanding, a little comical, and a little sincere.

Park Jiyeon's posture while holding the cushion was slightly defensive, but her eyes remained fixed on Dalongzai, and she couldn't help but continue to press, "But what about specifics? You just talked about big principles, which I already know; aren't there any small problems?"

Seeing this, Dalongzai curled her lips slightly and couldn't help but laugh.

Only then did she speak slowly, her voice drawn out and lazy, yet carrying a hint of seriousness.

"Fine, then I'll tell you in more detail. For example, with reporters, no matter what questions they ask when you meet them, don't rush to answer. Count 'one, two, three' in your head first to give yourself some buffer time; even if you only say something superficial in the end, it's better than being led into a trap."

Speaking of this, her gaze paused; she seemed to be recalling something, and her eyes rested deeply on Park Jiyeon's face, her expression a bit more solemn than before.

"I made some unavoidable mistakes back then because my temper was too hot. Although looking back now, I don't feel much regret, if I could have avoided them, perhaps my acting career could have gone better. So, if you really want to go the distance, your temper is the part you should overcome the most."

"Oh?" Park Jiyeon raised her eyebrows slightly, pretending to be indifferent on the surface, but there was a moment of silence in the depths of her eyes, as if she had touched upon some inner knot.

Dalongzai ignored this and continued.

"Also, you must read the contract clearly. Don't be dazzled by those bright and shiny conditions. Especially the so-called 'resource exchange'; it sounds like an opportunity, but in reality, it's a disguised indenture. If you sign it casually, you won't even have time to cry when you regret it one day."

When Dalongzai said this, her gaze fell on Lin Xiuyuan, and she curled her lips slightly, "Xiuyuan should understand this best, right?"

"Hey, how did this get dragged onto me again?" Lin Xiuyuan waved his hands helplessly, his eyebrows carrying a hint of awkwardness. How would he understand these tricks?

"How would you not understand?" Dalongzai narrowed her eyes, smiling slyly, "Between the memberships and the initiations, Xiuyuan, you really have us all wrapped around your finger."

After being called out, Lin Xiuyuan could only smile and raise his hand to touch the tip of his nose, which counted as an admission.

"Then... what about interpersonal relationships?" Park Jiyeon spoke again, her tone a few degrees lower than before, carrying a hint of hesitation, "The situation over there should be different from Seoul, right?"

Dalongzai leaned against the back of the sofa, her fingertips tapping lightly on the soda can beside her, the rhythm light and fast, as if providing accompaniment to the topic.

"That's very simple. Maintain respect for those above you, and maintain boundaries with those below you; don't be too close, but don't be too distant either. If you're too enthusiastic, others will think you're fawning; if you're too cold, they'll say you're stuck-up. So the safest way is to always maintain politeness and distance, but don't let people grasp your true thoughts."

"Sounds like you're very good at putting on an act."

Park Jiyeon immediately added a sour jab, her tone carrying a bit of small provocation.

"This isn't called acting, this is called emotional intelligence, little sister."

Dalongzai didn't care at all; instead, she put on the posture of an "elder lecturing a child," and even stuck to Lin Xiuyuan again triumphantly, as if deliberately showing off, smiling with great satisfaction.

"Besides, I act willingly, does that concern you?"

"Ya..."

Park Jiyeon couldn't help but roll her eyes, holding the cushion with a "too lazy to deal with you" expression.

Yet, the flicker of contemplation deep in her eyes could not be hidden: she was actually taking these words to heart, one by one.

Afterward, the two went back and forth, and the topic gradually shifted from the heavy subject of the father's illness and the rules of the entertainment industry back to lighthearted daily bickering.

The atmosphere was no longer oppressive, but rather lively, like a family conversation.

Lin Xiuyuan half-nested on the sofa, his phone sliding in his hand as he scrolled through short videos, his expression lazy.

Yet, his peripheral vision glanced over from time to time, watching the two bicker and trade barbs, and the amusement in his heart could not be suppressed.

Especially when seeing Park Jiyeon looking like she was being pushed back step by step in the argument, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepened, and he almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

Then he checked the time, rubbed his brow, and said with a smile, "Alright, we've been chatting for so long, you must be hungry, right? Let's find something to eat."

"It's fine, but the time is about right; why don't we go back to 2013 to eat? It's convenient anyway."

Park Jiyeon spoke first, her tone carrying a hint of casualness about not being picky, but it was more like she was feigning composure.

Dalongzai shook her head, smiling as she leaned on the sofa armrest, "No need to run back and forth. If we go back now, we'll just eat the same old things. It's rare for us to meet today, so I'll treat you to some fresh stuff from 2025."

"Hmm?"

"Too scared to eat it?"

"I'll eat it."

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Dalongzai jumped up excitedly like a child and ran quickly to open the door to get the takeout.

After she brought it back, Park Jiyeon followed behind and glanced curiously; the moment the other party opened the packaging, her expression froze completely.

The neatly arranged vacuum-packed hot pot soup base, sealed vegetables, and meat slices in front of her made her find it hard to believe.

"This... this is the new delicacy you were talking about?" Park Jiyeon pointed at the ingredients on the table, her tone full of doubt and disbelief.

"Pre-made Hot Pot, little sister." Dalongzai smiled with her eyes curved, full of pride, as if this were the most natural thing in the world, "It's very popular now; it's clean, convenient, and saves effort."

"Saves effort?" Park Jiyeon almost laughed out loud, "These still need to be heated up by yourself and then laid out, right?"

"Of course." Dalongzai grabbed her, giving her absolutely no chance to refuse, "Come on, come on, come into the kitchen with me; you can't expect me to do all the work alone."

"I... I don't want to..."

Before she could finish, Park Jiyeon had already been half-pushed, half-dragged into the kitchen, her cheeks slightly flushed, looking as if she were helpless and too embarrassed to resist.

"I'll help too." Lin Xiuyuan just started to stand up.

But Dalongzai looked at her and gave a wink, "No need, Xiuyuan, you just rest here."

Lin Xiuyuan sat on the sofa, watching the two of them—one reluctant, one cheerful—duck into the kitchen, and couldn't help but smile and shake his head, thinking that lunch today would surely be lively.

In the kitchen, the countertop was soon covered with various hot pot ingredients. Dalongzai moved efficiently, tearing open the soup base and pouring it into the pot, then turning on the heat; immediately, an aroma permeated the entire space, making one involuntarily take a deep breath.

She hummed a little tune while she worked, her mood clearly good, a faint glow on her face.

In contrast, Park Jiyeon stood to the side, pouting, holding a pack of enoki mushrooms but delaying opening it, looking as if she were participating under duress, her face written with reluctance.

"Little kid, you can't even plate a vegetable?" Dalongzai teased, her tone light and carrying a hint of provocation.

"Who says I can't." Park Jiyeon huffed, finally making up her mind, tearing open the package, and neatly arranging the enoki mushrooms on the plate, while muttering under her breath, "I just think this kind of hot pot... has no class at all."

"Class?"

Dalongzai glanced at her, smiling gently, "What do you know? This is the favorite food of fast-paced city dwellers. Besides, whether it's high-end Western cuisine or roadside snacks, eating with the person you like is what matters most."

Hearing this answer, Park Jiyeon was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking up at her, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just lowered her head and continued to unpack.

The air seemed to soften in that instant.

Seeing this, Dalongzai stopped teasing and asked softly, "By the way, Zhiyan, how is Dad from '13 recovering now?"

Mentioning her father, Park Jiyeon's expression became noticeably more serious, and her voice softened, "Because of the early intervention, there aren't any major problems. It's just that he needs regular check-ups and to take his medicine on time; otherwise, it's no different from before."

Hearing this, Dalongzai's eyes suddenly softened, and her movements slowed down; she put down the ingredients in her hand and slowly recalled the details of those years.

She then recounted in detail her anxiety when she first learned of the situation, what her older brother had hidden at the time, and how she subsequently cooperated with the rehabilitation training, even down to the small details like opening the window for fresh air at night and adjusting the indoor temperature.

Her tone carried a touch of emotion, as well as a faint warmth and helplessness, making one involuntarily immerse themselves in the scenes she described.

Park Jiyeon listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two, her voice soft but earnest, gratitude and concern flashing in her eyes.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, along with a slight scent of hearth and home, making the whole kitchen feel cozy.

At this moment, the two of them seemed truly like twin sisters without a generation gap, the distance between them closing without them realizing it.

By the time the hot pot broth began to boil, the steaming vapor, laden with aroma, filled every corner of the room.

The table was neatly set with the prepared ingredients; the bright vegetables and orderly meat slices gleamed under the light, as if casting a warm glow over their gathering.

Just as the atmosphere eased, Park Jiyeon suddenly stared at Dalongzai's radiant face, her expression becoming complex.

She remembered the shock and heartache she felt when she first saw the 25-year-old Dalongzai from the photos in the video materials, seeing a stranger who was herself.

Thinking again of the relaxed, confident, and brightly smiling her before her eyes, her heart tightened inexplicably, her emotions somewhat subtle.

After hesitating for a long time, she asked in a low voice, "Ya~ Park Jiyeon, is oppa's thing... really that effective?"

Dalongzai was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost came out, her whole body bending over.

"Yo! You little brat, you actually dare to ask about this now? What are you trying to do!"

On the other side.

Jessica, having finished her morning workout, came out of the bathroom after washing up, but seeing that there was still no response on the phone on the coffee table, she couldn't help but frown, her brow furrowed.

Before she started exercising, she had called Krystal, but no one answered.

Thinking the other party was busy with work, she sent a few more messages, but there was still no reply, so she put the phone aside and continued her morning exercise.

But now that the exercise was done and she had showered, there was still no response from Krystal on the phone, which made her feel a bit worried.

Even if Krystal was filming or on a schedule before, there would have been a response within 2 hours.

Thinking of this, Jessica pressed another number in her contacts and, after hesitating for a moment, dialed it.

Inside Dalongzai's Apartment.

The hot pot broth was boiling, and the aroma filled the room; Lin Xiuyuan, who had come over to sneak a bite, had just picked up a piece of beef and was about to put it into his mouth to try it first.

Just then, his phone screen suddenly lit up.

Caller ID: Jessica.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment and subconsciously glanced at Park Jiyeon beside him; she was putting shrimp paste into the pot, looking relaxed, not noticing his expression at all.

"Whose call is it?"

Instead, Dalongzai, standing opposite, looked up and asked.

"Jessica," Lin Xiuyuan replied, then answered the phone.

On the other end of the line, Jessica's voice came through, "Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, are you busy? Do you know what Xiujing is doing? I've been calling her for two hours, and she hasn't replied to my messages either. I thought she was busy, but there's still no response."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer immediately, but subconsciously pressed the mute button and turned his gaze toward Dalongzai beside him, asking with an inquiring tone, "How about I go over and call Xiujing to come over and eat together?"

Dalongzai nodded slightly, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes, "Sure, it'll be livelier if we eat together."

At this time, Park Jiyeon, having heard the voice, also returned to the kitchen side, "Then I'll wash another set of tableware."

Her tone was light, as if she had sensed the atmosphere of a small gathering in advance.

After settling this, Lin Xiuyuan unmuted and said to Jessica, "Xiujing is here with me; is there something you need her for?"

On the other end, Jessica was stunned for a moment, her voice filled with surprise and confusion, "With you? Then why didn't she reply to my messages?"

Lin Xiuyuan replied nonchalantly, "Do you open your eyes to reply to messages when you're sleeping?"

Then he took the opportunity to find an excuse, "She was a bit tired last night and hasn't woken up yet. After she wakes up, I'll have her call you back."

On the other end, Jessica was silent for two seconds, as if digesting Lin Xiuyuan's words, looking a bit dazed.

Seeing that she didn't respond further, Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything more, assuming Jessica had understood the situation, and hung up the phone.

Then he opened the Time Gate and returned to the 2013 Apartment, went into his guest room, looked at Krystal, who was currently taking a class with Zheng Xiujing using the Voice-changing Software, and came up behind her, smiling, "Teacher Zheng, lunch is ready; it's time to eat."

Krystal was startled by the voice that suddenly appeared behind her and exclaimed, "Oh my, you scared me to death!"

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and patted the chair beside the table, "Let's go, time to eat."

He then looked at the screen on the computer showing Zheng Xiujing and Xueli, and said gently to that side, "Alright, today's lesson ends here for now, let's continue tomorrow."

Krystal had a smile on her lips, "I only just started a little while ago."

Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes and continued to smile, "Then let's pause here for a bit."

Although it was a voice-changer, Xueli already knew who the suddenly appearing male voice really was, so she immediately cooperated, "Okay, thank you Teacher Zheng, let's meet up later then."

Zheng Xiujing, who had just learned a little something, was also a bit reluctant, but the excuse of eating was too big, so she didn't dare to say anything.

She had no choice but to say softly, "Thank you, Teacher."

Then she watched the call end just like that, and looked toward Xueli, "Xueli, why do I feel like this teacher's voice today sounds different?"

"I don't know."

Xueli spread her hands—could she tell her that she was the one who went back and suggested it to Krystal? So she said, "Alright, Xiujing, we should eat too. We still have a shoot this afternoon."

Zheng Xiujing nodded, then opened the lunch box that had been placed to the side for a while, and started eating with Xueli.

"Xiujing, are you going to eat two boxes again?"

Xueli, who had opened her own lunch box, looked at Zheng Xiujing beside her and asked.

Zheng Xiujing, who had already started eating, was a bit conflicted, "Let's eat first. I'll try to eat as much as I can. The director still thinks I'm a bit too thin. Although I can wear those props, it's best to gain weight naturally so it looks more natural."

"You've worked hard, Xiujing."

"If I didn't know this script was written by you, Xueli, I would really suspect the Screenwriter was using public office to settle a private grudge against me."

"Hehe, hehe..."

Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Xiuyuan also brought Krystal, who had taken back her phone, to Dalongzai's Apartment and arrived at the dining table.

The aroma of the hot pot wafted over, instantly whetting everyone's appetite.

Compared to it, the fast food seemed insignificant at this moment.

After arriving here, Krystal first greeted Dalongzai and Park Jiyeon, then sat down with Lin Xiuyuan while picking up her phone to call Jessica back.

The call was answered quickly, and Jessica's familiar voice came through, "Hello, Zheng Xiujing? You finally called me back. Sleeping until now, isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

However, because Lin Xiuyuan had already laid out the excuse for her, Krystal found it easy to answer, "I was just too sleepy, I didn't hear it, I'm sorry."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, as if she were thinking about the situation between Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal, and then she continued to speak slowly.

"Forget it, as long as you're okay. Actually, I called just to tell you that my work arrangements here are settled, and I'm going to work in Huaxia for a while. I wanted to have afternoon tea with you before I leave. Since you two are together, just come together."

"Have afternoon tea?"

Krystal subconsciously turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes carrying a hint of inquiry, as if waiting for his opinion.

With her eyebrows slightly raised, she had a faint smile on her lips, seemingly a bit expectant of Jessica's initiative.

Lin Xiuyuan paused in the middle of picking up food, remembering the incident at the bowling alley a few days ago. That time, Jessica had also given him face.

Thinking of this, his heart stirred slightly, and he immediately nodded at Krystal, his eyes revealing a hint of tacit understanding.

Receiving the affirmative signal, Krystal immediately responded, "Sure, Jessica, see you later then. Just send me the time and location, and I'll go over with Xiuyuan then."

"Then it's a deal."

After hanging up, Krystal gently put away her phone and muttered in a low voice with a smile on her lips, "Jessica seems really worried about me. Xiuyuan, it seems you're still at that dangerous level in her heart."

"It would be strange if an older sister didn't worry about her younger sister." Lin Xiuyuan smiled and picked up a piece of shrimp paste for her, putting it into her bowl, and took the opportunity to change the subject, "Alright, let's eat first. We'll talk about the afternoon tea later."

Seeing this, Dalongzai also leaned toward Park Jiyeon's side with a teasing look, "Did you hear that, Park Jiyeon? Older sisters care about their younger sisters, so conversely, younger sisters should respect their older sisters, right?"

Park Jiyeon did not show weakness and seized the opportunity to strike back sharply, "As long as you admit you're the old one, I'll definitely be very respectful to the elderly."

As soon as she finished speaking, a cunning smile appeared on her face, and the atmosphere became lively.

Just like that, the liveliness at the table gradually heated up amidst the back-and-forth teasing.

The four of them chatted while eating, bursting into lighthearted laughter from time to time.

The steam rising from the hot pot seemed to gently dissipate the previous barriers, and every rolling surface of the soup seemed to remind them that the warmth of this moment was slowly spreading.

However, they did not know.

Just as everyone was immersed in the liveliness at the dining table, on the other side, after hanging up the phone, Jessica was holding the steering wheel with one hand and gripping her phone tightly with the other.

Following the navigation all the way, she drove to the front of the gate of Lin Xiuyuan's Villa.

Then she parked the car there, her gaze looking through the windshield at that unfamiliar house, "Is this the place? Let me confirm first."

Her fingertips tapped the steering wheel unconsciously, her heart filled with both doubts and a hint of inexplicable unease and worry.

But in the end, she still didn't get out of the car, but sat quietly in the car, her eyes fixed on that Gate, as if waiting for an answer.

As time ticked away, Jessica began to feel restless.

As the hands of the clock moved forward, she also gradually went from the initial nervousness to impatience.

She lit up her phone screen from time to time, while secretly counting in her heart: thirty minutes... forty minutes... an hour, and they still aren't coming out?

Jessica, whose eyes were always fixed on the entrance of that Villa, would straighten her body unconsciously whenever there was the slightest movement.

But in the end, finding it was just the wind blowing leaves or a passerby, the impatience in her heart deepened a layer.

Finally, unable to hold back, she dialed Krystal's number.

The call was answered quickly, and Krystal's voice came through the receiver, carrying a bit of crispness and relaxation, "Hello, Jessica, stop urging me, I'm just getting ready to leave. What's wrong?"

Jessica was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking at the Villa gate that was still excessively quiet, and asked with a frown, "Getting ready to leave? Where are you?"

"At Lin Xiuyuan's house," Krystal's answer was very natural, "He and I are on our way to the restaurant we agreed on now. Where have you arrived?"

"I'm also getting ready to leave," Jessica replied.

However, after the call ended, she looked at that Villa gate again, and another half hour passed, but there was still no movement at all.

Just as Jessica was becoming somewhat frantic, her phone rang again, and Krystal's voice came through the receiver, "Jessica, we've arrived, where are you?"

Hearing this, Jessica only felt a surge of anger rush to her head, staring fixedly at the Villa, feeling frantic inside: You've arrived? I've been waiting here for two hours, did you disappear into thin air?

But in the end, she still didn't say these words out loud.

She merely bit her lower lip to suppress the anger in her heart, then let out a soft breath, lowering her voice to a whisper, "Mm, I'm on the road; the car just had a little problem, I'm coming over now."

After hanging up the phone, Jessica took a deep look at that Villa, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly, a trace of hesitation still in her heart.

But in the end, she took a deep breath, started the car, and drove along the familiar route toward the restaurant they had agreed upon.

When she pushed open the door of the restaurant, a fragrance of food rushed to her nose, mixed with the scents of coffee and baking, making one instantly relax.

Jessica's gaze quickly locked onto the window-side seat; Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal were already sitting there, both of them looking very relaxed, and Krystal even waved at her with a smile, her eyes carrying a bit of the playfulness from her younger years.

Jessica walked over and sat down, a faint smile on her face, as if testing the waters, yet also as if masking the slight nervousness in her heart.

She first chatted casually about daily life and the restaurant's atmosphere, only mentioning the doubt in her heart as if by accident, "By the way, Xiujing, where did you come from just now? How did you arrive so quickly?"

Krystal frowned slightly, a trace of confusion in her eyes, but she still answered, "From Xiuyuan's house; it's not far, so it was quick to get here."

Jessica's smile suddenly stalled; this time she didn't hold back, and her tone carried an edge, "But I was waiting over there for a long time, how come I didn't see you two come out?"

As soon as the words fell, Krystal widened her eyes on the spot, and the spoon in her hand almost dropped, "Ah? You were waiting over there?! Jessica, what do you mean by that?"

Lin Xiuyuan was also slightly stunned, his eyebrows raised, secretly thinking things were bad, but he maintained his composure on the surface, looking at Jessica indifferently.

Jessica just let out a cold snort, flipped her phone screen-up, and tapped on the video she had just recorded in her album.

In the footage, the familiar Villa The Gate stood quietly, clearly indicating the place where Jessica had just been.

She placed the phone on the table, her gaze sharp, her voice faint but carrying a sense of oppression as she looked at the two people opposite her, "Don't tell me this isn't the place you said, the place where Lin Xiuyuan lives."

Krystal froze for a moment, then her expression tightened, and she frowned, saying, "Jessica, do you know what you're doing?"

Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan pressed down on her tensed right hand in time, shook his head with a smile, and looked at Jessica with a teasing tone.

"Tsk tsk, Jessica, when did you start stalking me? Can't make money as an idol artist, so you're planning to switch careers to a private investigator? Even recording videos for evidence?"

Then his tone shifted, his gaze carrying a relaxed provocation, "So what were you trying to do squatting at my door?"

Jessica frowned slightly and said, "I was worried that Xiujing had joined a cult; there have been too many of these things this year."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, a smile on his lips, "That excuse is truly universal."

"Jessica, I'm not that stupid, but your stalking is a bit excessive." Krystal frowned, her tone carrying reproach and displeasure, "But how did you know this was Xiuyuan's house? I remember you've never been there, it seems."

Her gaze fell back toward Lin Xiuyuan, carrying a clear demand for an answer.

Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands, "Don't look at me; even if I lost my mind, I wouldn't bring her inside."

Hearing this, Jessica also let out a cold snort, her tone impatient, "You two don't worry about..."

At this, Lin Xiuyuan laughed, picked up his water glass and took a sip, his tone unhurried, "Ah, if you tell us not to worry, then you'd better not worry about the fact that Xiujing and I just came from Zhiyan's house earlier."

"Zhiyan?..."

Jessica froze in place, her pupils slightly dilated, her complexion becoming extremely complex in an instant.

In her mind, scenes flashed by: Krystal saying she had just woken up, the situation where Lin Xiuyuan and she were both very tired the night before, and Dalongzai's fondness for Lin Xiuyuan...

Thoughts flooded into her mind like a torrent; she began to let her imagination run wild: countless outrageous yet self-consistent guesses flashed by like shadows, each one crazy and contradictory, and a sense of indescribable shock and nervousness welled up in her heart.

Immediately after, a familiar song began to play in her mind.

【Even if he is still holding your hand

Even if you are tired, I will be here

One stays, two feel guilty, three wander

Quietly, from afar, perhaps unable to let go

...】

(End of this chapter)