Chapter 247

As Lin Xiuyuan sped along, the car quickly drove toward the Han River, and that familiar barbecue restaurant soon came into view.

That was the very place Krystal had once brought him to; the evening sunset fell just right upon the small sign, its golden afterglow making it look exceptionally warm, as if welcoming their arrival.

The car slowly pulled into the open space in front of the shop, and from afar, one could see a familiar black Mercedes parked at the entrance, reflecting the light of the early sunset. Clearly, Kim Taeyeon, who had been chatting with Park Jiyeon earlier, had arrived a step ahead of them.

"We're here, get out."

He turned off the engine and pushed open the car door. The evening breeze immediately rushed in, carrying the unique dampness and coolness of the riverside, making one involuntarily stretch their shoulders.

The three people following behind also got out one after another. Several of them walked side by side toward the shop entrance with light steps, as if their moods had softened along with the wind.

Walking into the shop, the aroma of charcoal fire mixed with the scent of grilled meat rushed to meet them, making one's mouth water uncontrollably.

Lin Xiuyuan walked to the front desk and gave Lin Yun'er's name.

Hearing this, the clerk immediately showed a familiar smile and personally led the group through the bustling main hall to a quiet private room at the back.

The moment the door was pushed open, a burst of light laughter came from inside, and the fragrance carrying the heat became even stronger.

Lin Yun'er and Kim Taeyeon, who were sitting inside, looked up at the same time and were stunned for a moment.

"Eh??"

Lin Yun'er blinked subconsciously, her gaze falling directly on Li Shaoxi, who had entered last.

There was a flash of surprise in her expression, as if she hadn't expected her to appear as well.

In the previous group chat, she had only heard Park Jiyeon say she would come to eat and that Park Hyomin would be there too, but there was no mention of anyone else.

Moreover, this familiar figure quickly brought to mind the memories she had obtained from the 2025 side. She opened her mouth, just about to call out the name.

But realizing this was 2013, she obediently closed her mouth again. "This is...?"

Kim Taeyeon was also slightly surprised, then reacted immediately. She stood up, looking at Li Shaoxi with a polite yet curious smile.

Park Jiyeon looked as if she had been ready to introduce her for a long time, smiling as she spoke, "This is the life assistant oppa chose for me, Li Shaoxi. Unnie, let me formally introduce you."

Then Li Shaoxi, who had been following behind the whole time, immediately bowed cautiously and greeted them in a low voice.

Her tone carried a bit of nervousness, just like a freshman meeting a senior, her hands subconsciously clasped together.

"So pretty." Lin Yun'er sighed softly, her eyes filled with a bit more appraisal.

Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but echo, "Yeah, Xiuyuan, you really hit the jackpot with this one."

"Average, average." Lin Xiuyuan laughed with great satisfaction.

Only then did the atmosphere ease up, and everyone sat down one after another.

The clerk brought the menu, and Lin Xiuyuan simply pushed it in front of Park Hyomin and Li Shaoxi, smiling as he indicated, "You two look at what you want to eat first, order whatever you like. Anyway, all expenses tonight are paid for by Kim Gongzi."

"Kim Gongzi?"

Lin Yun'er was taken aback, then turned her head to look at Kim Taeyeon and laughed out loud, "Alright, Unnie, if you're paying, then I'll have to eat to my heart's content later."

Kim Taeyeon sighed softly, glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, and couldn't help but laugh, "Order, order, if I'm paying, then I'm paying."

Before long, a "sizzling" sound rang out on the grill, grease jumping in the flames, and the aroma quickly filled the entire private room.

Lin Yun'er picked up a piece of freshly grilled meat, dipped it in sauce, and squinted her eyes in a look of happiness.

The atmosphere gradually became lively along with the flipping meat slices.

Soon, everyone's topic turned to the "newcomer" Li Shaoxi.

Kim Taeyeon asked casually while picking up meat for her plate, "So Shaoxi, why did you suddenly quit? Were you poached by Xiuyuan?"

Li Shaoxi looked at Lin Xiuyuan with some hesitation before slowly speaking, telling the whole story of how she met Lin Xiuyuan at the cafe and was "forced to give out her contact information" by her seniors.

"So they targeted you because of Xiuyuan's business?" After hearing this, Kim Taeyeon's chopsticks stopped in mid-air, and she looked at Lin Xiuyuan in disbelief, "Wow, Xiuyuan~ you really are a 'menace to society'."

Lin Yun'er couldn't help but laugh out loud, tapping the edge of her bowl with her chopsticks, her voice crisp, "Impressive, Xiuyuan, you can even get someone implicated to the point of losing their job."

The corners of her eyes lifted slightly, half-teasing and half-joking, as if she were deliberately stirring up trouble.

"Can you blame me for this?"

Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands, his face full of helplessness, making a gesture of surrender, "Shouldn't the culprits be your senior-junior system? It's too exaggerated that someone gets 'educated and bullied' just for saying a word to a passerby."

He sighed, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch, "Besides, I never thought it would turn out like this."

"But the fact is, it's because of oppa that Shaoxi was targeted."

Park Jiyeon flipped the meat slices, the firelight making her cheeks red, while she pursed her lips and giggled, "So oppa, you have to take responsibility in the future."

The word "responsibility" once spoken made Li Shaoxi, who had been sitting quietly on the side, stiffen slightly as if someone had poked at her secret thoughts, and she subconsciously looked up and stole a glance at Lin Xiuyuan.

Countless famous scenes she had seen in manga flashed through her small head: the male lead says "I will take responsibility," and then their fates intertwine, starting a romantic story from then on.

Then her earlobes and cheeks were dyed with a faint red, and even her breathing became a bit lighter.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't notice her little inner drama and took over the conversation, chewing the beef and saying vaguely, "Haven't I already taken responsibility? Not only did I help her find a new job, but it's also the kind with a limitless future."

After finishing, he turned his gaze to Li Shaoxi, his eyes carrying a bit of seriousness and reassurance, "Shaoxi, just work with peace of mind. As long as you don't offer to resign, barring any accidents, this job should allow you to earn enough for an apartment in Seoul. By then, if you save some more money, you can live a retired life early."

Li Shaoxi was stunned by what he said, and then her whole face burned even redder, and she thanked him in a flustered, low voice.

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, which instead made everyone around her laugh, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

"Come, come, come, let's have a toast to Shaoxi's new job!"

Lin Yun'er raised her glass brightly, her eyes curved into crescents, "It can also be considered the opening of your lone-commander Seoul office; finally, there's an employee."

"Want some alcohol?" Lin Xiuyuan suggested with a smile.

"No." Kim Taeyeon immediately waved her hand, her expression serious, "I still have to drive, and I have a vocal lesson tonight, just some drinks will do."

The atmosphere of the meal gradually relaxed, and Li Shaoxi finally let go of her initial caution, quietly listening to the banter between the few, though her eyes couldn't help but always fall on Lin Xiuyuan.

She felt a bit incredible in her heart.

This boss of hers didn't look flashy, and even ate quite casually, but whether it was Lin Yun'er, Kim Taeyeon, or Park Jiyeon, they all carried a certain tacit familiarity when talking to him, and could even make very bold jokes.

They could even make those kinds of slightly intimate jokes.

The only one with a bit of a gap was Park Hyomin sitting next to her; the other party didn't seem able to join in on many topics.

Who exactly is this new boss?

Li Shaoxi muttered in her heart, and as a result, the lettuce she was holding almost fell back onto the plate, scaring her into catching it quickly.

After the barbecue was mostly eaten, Park Jiyeon wiped her hands and suddenly turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, a mischievous smile on her lips, "Oppa, when do you plan to implement the car purchase we talked about?"

Lin Xiuyuan was looking down drinking water, raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, but didn't take her bait, only giving her a faint glance, the meaning of which couldn't be more obvious.

There are outsiders here, some things are not convenient to say.

Kim Taeyeon, however, had already seen the gossip in the group and instantly understood, raising her eyebrows at him and deliberately drawing out her tone, "Yo ho, Xiuyuan, what kind of luxury car do you plan to buy for Jiyeon? Tell us about it."

Lin Yun'er also laughed along, "That's right, how can you hide something like buying a car from us?"

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Kim Taeyeon, but remained calm and composed, put down his water glass, and stated with a straight face.

"Of course it's a Mercedes, and it has to be a Mercedes SLK. Think about it, when the time comes, park the car under a street lamp, I sit in the passenger seat, and a great beauty sits next to me. Even if captured by the lens, the imagery wouldn't be too beautiful, it could totally make the newspapers."

As soon as the words fell, Kim Taeyeon was stunned for a moment, then reacted, her face turning red as a brush, thinking of that "famous scene" next year that made her want to kill Kim Taeyeon to this day.

Thinking of this, she was immediately ashamed and annoyed, grabbing a piece of lettuce and throwing it directly at Lin Xiuyuan, "Shut your mouth."

Lin Xiuyuan leaned slightly to the side, dodging skillfully, but with a punchable and provocative smile on his face, as if he had expected to be attacked.

"Hahahahaha..."

Lin Yun'er laughed until she was leaning back and forth, the whole person patting the table, her laughter crisp and bright.

Park Jiyeon covered her mouth and giggled, the corners of her eyes shining.

Having already seen the news on the 2025 side, they were clearly visualizing the same scene in their minds at this moment.

Only Li Shaoxi and Park Hyomin were confused, completely unable to keep up with the rhythm of this group.

Li Shaoxi blinked, not daring to make a sound.

And Park Hyomin muttered in a low voice, "What kind of nonsense are they talking about again?"

Although she was already used to this "only they understand" internal joke of Lin Xiuyuan and the others, she didn't forget to lean into Li Shaoxi's ear and whisper, "Shaoxi, your work environment will be like this in the future, having to listen to them say all kinds of secret things all day long. Some you can understand, some you can't understand at all, but you still have to pretend to be calm."

Li Shaoxi was stunned for two seconds, her eyes flickering slightly, and then she revealed a faint smile, a strange sense of stability growing in her heart instead.

At least at this dining table, she felt as if she had really been accepted.

Compared to herself who would go back to the dormitory to stare blankly after work, or be busy looking for a second part-time job, this atmosphere was simply so comfortable that one wouldn't want to leave.

And Park Hyomin, after talking to Li Shaoxi, sat in the corner, slowly chewing the meat in her mouth, but couldn't help but glance at the lively group next to her.

Park Jiyeon and Lin Xiuyuan were bickering back and forth, Kim Taeyeon was laughing until she was leaning back and forth next to them, and Lin Yun'er even started "attacking" Lin Xiuyuan directly.

All these scenes were relaxed and natural, looking exactly like the tacit understanding and closeness that only long-time friends would have.

And she suddenly realized that the time she and Lin Yun'er had known Lin Xiuyuan was actually about the same.

But now, Lin Yun'er could already bicker with him directly and even joke around with him without any avoidance, while she seemed to always be a beat slow.

This feeling of being left behind created a sense of frustration in her heart for no reason.

The dignity of a beauty is always so sensitive.

And at this time, Xian Enjing's words suddenly rang in her ears: "Hyomin, if you really want to know something, go and conquer Xiuyuan. Once you take him down, everything else will be solved easily."

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but raise her eyes, her gaze secretly sweeping toward Lin Xiuyuan with a bit of oddity.

She saw him resting his chin on one hand, the other hand casually fiddling with the barbecue in the bowl, occasionally looking up at the person speaking, the corners of his lips always carrying a lazy smile.

The cuffs of his white casual shirt were rolled up to the middle of his arms, revealing sturdy forearm muscles, his shoulders were broad, but his sitting posture carried a casual and lazy air, the whole person sunny and relaxed.

His side profile was sharp and clean, carrying the aura of a young man in his early twenties, yet he had a presence that was hard to ignore.

Moreover, Lin Xiuyuan's senses were very sharp, and he soon noticed someone looking at him, raised his eyes to meet Park Hyomin's gaze gently, and then smiled warmly.

Park Hyomin, who was already lost in thought, was caught red-handed instantly, a faint blush appearing on her face, she pouted, wanting to say something.

As a result, she saw Lin Xiuyuan lightly raise the drink in his hand, clink glasses with her in the air, and then casually turn to Lin Yun'er, continuing to chat about the drama she was about to start filming.

Left with Park Hyomin, who was a bit slow to react, taking a light sip of water, and after being ignored again, she couldn't help but recall the scene of the first time she saw Lin Xiuyuan in her mind.

It was a very ordinary day, the first time she followed Park Jiyeon into that small tavern.

As soon as the door was pushed open, the faint aroma of wood mixed with alcohol rushed to meet her, carrying a slightly warm, worldly atmosphere.

Lin Xiuyuan was sitting behind the bar, leaning casually on a high stool, his expression idle, as if the whole world had nothing to do with him.

Originally, she only came for Park Jiyeon's sake, but she didn't expect that she would be chatted with so easily and comfortably by him, and logically sat down in front of him.

Later, she introduced Sulli to him, and the two quickly became familiar with each other amidst laughter.

What truly shocked Park Hyomin was yet to come, which was when she learned that Sulli, Jiyeon, YoonA, and even Xian Enjing, whom she once thought would have no intersection with Lin Xiuyuan, had actually joined the "members" of that small tavern.

During that time, she was extremely depressed, even carrying a sense of loss from being isolated.

It was as if everyone was sharing a secret that only they understood, and she was always the last one to know, and even some things were still being hidden to this day.

Thinking of this, Park Hyomin couldn't help but sigh softly in her heart.

Conquer...

This word flashed through her mind again, she couldn't help but lower her head, pouting, unwilling to compromise.

But the thought that popped up in her heart was: perhaps Enjing was right, if she wanted to truly integrate into this circle, the most direct way was to deal with this man first.

But before that, she had to go to the restroom.

While solving the problem, Park Hyomin thought of those half-joking, half-serious words of Xian Enjing again.

At the time, she just smiled and didn't take it seriously, but now thinking about it...

A few minutes later, Park Hyomin, still lost in thought, walked to the sink, checked herself in the mirror, lightly touched up her lip makeup, took a deep breath, and then slowly walked out.

Just at this moment, slight footsteps came from the restroom entrance.

Lin Xiuyuan in the hallway was looking down at his arm, where the barbecue sauce he had gotten in the private room was clearly still remaining.

Then the two of them bumped into each other right at the entrance.

"Hey..."

Before she could react, the sauce on Lin Xiuyuan's arm rubbed onto her sleeve, and his own white shirt was also completely ruined.

"Ah, it's over."

Park Hyomin was stunned at first, thinking she had bumped into someone else.

As a result, upon looking up and seeing it was Lin Xiuyuan, she couldn't help but laugh, and the stuffiness in her heart was relieved quite a bit.

Seeing the large stain on his cuff and stomach, she suddenly felt relaxed, smiling as she said, "It's a mess, Xiuyuan, this piece of clothing of yours is completely ruined."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at his sleeve, but didn't take it to heart, saying casually, "Then you'll have to compensate me for one."

"Sure." Park Hyomin didn't think much of it, the corners of her mouth lifting, "I'll buy you one in a while."

"Can you pay in cash?" Lin Xiuyuan looked up at her, his tone serious, "I still have to save money to buy a car for Jiyeon."

Park Hyomin was amused by him, raised her hand and patted his arm, "Do you want me to just buy that car for you?"

"That's not impossible."

Park Hyomin, who was originally just joking, didn't see the faint arc at the corner of Lin Xiuyuan's mouth, and a bit of interest seemed to flash in his eyes.

But even so, after hearing Lin Xiuyuan's answer, Park Hyomin was still stunned and didn't say anything more.

And Lin Xiuyuan took the tissue she handed over, lowered his head to wipe his arm and clothes, and the two continued to walk back side by side.

Returning to the private room, everyone was still grilling meat lively, but after seeing Lin Xiuyuan's embarrassment just now, several people asked with concern.

After confirming there was no major problem, laughter quickly filled the entire space again, everyone continued to eat and drink, and the atmosphere was relaxed and natural.

And Park Hyomin sat back in her seat, her mood also inexplicably becoming lighter, and when she refocused her attention on the meat platter on the table, she recited a sentence in her heart.

Forget about conquering or whatever, but start by buying him a new piece of clothing first.

But where she couldn't see, Lin Yun'er, who noticed the situation between the two, narrowed her eyes slightly, a trace of hidden annoyance between her brows.

Kim Taeyeon next to her also glanced at her, pursed her lips and smiled lightly, then continued to flip the meat as if nothing had happened, picking up a piece of meat and putting it into her mouth.

By the time everyone finished this barbecue meal, the sunset outside had long since completely disappeared, and the night slowly shrouded the Han River.

The street lamps on both sides of the street lit up one by one, the air carried the fragrance drifting out from the barbecue restaurant and the unique dampness of a summer night, and the bustling shop entrance was illuminated brightly.

Kim Taeyeon clapped her hands, paid the bill readily, and everyone walked out of the shop one after another.

In the small open space at the entrance, the cars were already parked full.

When the night wind blew, carrying a trace of coolness, everyone who had just eaten their fill couldn't help but take a deep breath and let out a sigh.

"Let's go, let's go." Park Jiyeon greeted everyone to walk toward the parking lot.

Li Shaoxi was preparing to follow in Lin Xiuyuan's direction, but saw Lin Yun'er suddenly stop, her eyes flickering slightly, looking at Lin Xiuyuan with a bit of profound meaning, "Xiuyuan, I have something to talk to you about."

This tone didn't sound like a spur-of-the-moment idea, but more like she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Lin Xiuyuan raised his eyebrows and nodded in agreement, "Sure, let's go."

Park Jiyeon immediately understood, lightly pulled Li Shaoxi, and then pulled Park Hyomin, "Then oppa, we'll go first, you take YoonA Unnie, we'll take Taeyeon Unnie's car back."

Kim Taeyeon's mouth curled, "Get in the car."

The three of them quickly got into her Mercedes, the taillights moving further and further away in the night, taking away a burst of lively aftertaste.

Lin Xiuyuan watched their car drive away, then turned and walked toward his own car, asking casually, "What's wrong, in such a hurry to talk to me?"

Lin Yun'er followed by his side, her voice low, carrying a trace of quiet seriousness, "Teacher Kim Eun-sook said that my eye acting is still a bit lacking... so, I plan to spar with you again."

This answer made Lin Xiuyuan's originally relaxed expression stiffen, and the car keys in his hand paused.

Spar?

The "sparring" between them...

If he wasn't mistaken, it should be...

"Sparring in what aspect?" He still couldn't help but confirm.

Lin Yun'er just smiled and didn't answer, but there was a bit of a smile in her eyes, and she seemed to carry a bit of playfulness.

Soon, the car stopped downstairs at Lin Xiuyuan's apartment.

The two entered the door one after another, and before they even had time to change their shoes, Lin Yun'er suddenly stood on tiptoe, hooked her fingers into his collar, and kissed his lips directly.

In the entryway, there was only a dim wall lamp, the light was ambiguous, and the atmosphere heated up instantly.

And Lin Xiuyuan also subconsciously wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her whole person into his embrace.

"Is this the sparring you were talking about?" He asked with a low laugh between her lips.

"Mm." Lin Yun'er's eyes deepened, her breathing carrying a smile, "This way I'll remember it better."

It seemed like a long time had passed since their last passionate kiss.

The two stumbled in the entryway for a while, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly got energized and lifted Lin Yun'er's perky buttocks, the familiar posture and figure making him naturally hold her and prepare to walk toward the living room.

As a result, just after taking two steps, he discovered the two quiet figures on the sofa.

Sulli was sitting cross-legged, holding a can of soda, a clear mischievous smile on her face, her gaze revealing the fun of watching a show.

Zheng Xiujing next to her had her hands naturally placed at her sides, raising her eyebrows slightly, her eyes wide open, full of incredible expressions, staring fixedly at the two.

"Unnie, you guys continue, we'll pretend we didn't see anything."

Sulli spoke first, her tone carrying a trace of playfulness, as if silently indulging their "little actions."

Zheng Xiujing remained silent, just staring at Lin Yun'er without blinking, as if wanting to see clearly whether she was serious or joking.

Then she turned to Sulli, completely unable to understand why Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Yun'er in the apartment would suddenly come here; all of this seemed so incredible to her, like a fantasy.

Fortunately, Lin Yun'er's initial surprise was quickly replaced by calmness.

She gently got down from Lin Xiuyuan's arms, tidied her hair, and stood there calmly looking at the two as if nothing had happened.

"Sulli, Xiujing, why are you here?"

"I told oppa." Sulli said cautiously.

Indeed, Sulli, who learned that Lin Xiuyuan had returned, was already on her way back to the apartment, so she called Lin Xiuyuan to tell him that she wanted to bring Zheng Xiujing over to have a meal with her.

At the same time, it was also a subtle way of telling Lin Xiuyuan not to open that Anywhere Door.

At the time, Lin Xiuyuan agreed to Sulli, but forgot about it while eating, so it ended up like this.

So when Lin Yun'er finished listening to Sulli's answer, she looked at Lin Xiuyuan behind her for the first time, and the other party rubbed his eyebrows helplessly at this time, "Alright, I admit I forgot."

At this time, Zheng Xiujing finally spoke, "What is this, Snowball, are you living with YoonA Unnie?"

Clearly, this was already the most outrageous situation she could think of.

However, the fact was...

"No, I'm living with Xiuyuan oppa." Sulli answered righteously.

Hearing this sentence, Zheng Xiujing was thunderstruck again, looking up and staring fixedly at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes full of incredulity and suspicion.

And Lin Xiuyuan was a bit confused; his memory had almost ruined things, but fortunately, he could still make up for it now, so he subconsciously looked at Lin Yun'er and said, "How about we go out and get a room."

This sudden suggestion left Sulli and Zheng Xiujing stunned on the spot.

Lin Yun'er immediately grabbed the pillow at hand and threw it over, "Hey, what are you talking about."

However, two minutes later, she tidied up her mood and said goodbye to Sulli and Zheng Xiujing seriously, "Well, you guys chat, I'll have Xiuyuan take me back."

Just like that, the two disappeared from the apartment as if they had dropped a bomb.

Leaving the two girls on the sofa dumbfounded.

Then Zheng Xiujing looked at Sulli with a confused face, "What is this, Snowball, are YoonA Unnie and this person really together?"

"I don't know, probably not." Sulli was also full of confusion.

Then thinking of something, she added in a low voice, "But if it's just passionate kissing or something, it shouldn't count, right?"

However, for Zheng Xiujing, Sulli's answer not only didn't soothe her, but made her even more stunned and bristled.

So she shouted loudly, "What is this, you're already hugging and gnawing like that, and you're not together? Then what are you doing? There's another question, how come you're living with Lin Xiuyuan?"

"This is a long story, I'll tell you later, Xiujing." Sulli answered with a bit of amusement.

"No, I have time now, why later."

"Mainly because of your status, it's hard for me to explain to you."

As soon as Zheng Xiujing heard this, she immediately thought of the so-called membership system of Lin Xiuyuan and the others, and her eyes widened instantly, "You guys aren't really doing some cult, orgy, or impart stuff, right?"

"What are you thinking about, Xiujing, there's no such thing." Sulli quickly waved her hand to deny it.

"Then why are you living with him?" Zheng Xiujing was relentless, her voice filled with anxiety and incomprehension.

"It's over, I don't know how to explain it." Sulli lowered her head, slightly helpless.

"So, is it a cult?"

Zheng Xiujing pursued, her eyes looking as if she were searching for the last trace of logic.

On the other side.

After walking out of the apartment, Lin Yun'er immediately beat Lin Xiuyuan's arm wildly, "Ah, Lin Xiuyuan, you idiot, I'm going crazy, how could we be seen by Xiujing and Sulli, how could you forget about this?"

Lin Xiuyuan could only dodge while apologizing with a smile, "Damn, take it easy, take it easy, I've been overusing my brain lately, my memory is bad."

"Where did you overuse your brain." Lin Yun'er was so angry her face turned red, her voice lowered.

"Slept too much."

Lin Xiuyuan answered seriously, carrying a trace of a mischievous smile.

"You~"

Lin Yun'er was both angry and shy, raised her hand and patted him again, but couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The two went downstairs while bickering like this, the atmosphere changing from the embarrassment just now to something ambiguous.

Soon, they pushed open the secret door of the small tavern, crossed that familiar Time Gate, and instantly arrived at the villa in 2025 from Seoul in 2013.

And then, at Lin Yun'er's request, they returned to her apartment in 2013.

The benefits of the Time Anywhere Door were obvious: even if good things were interrupted the second before, they could immediately change places and continue, without affecting the atmosphere and interest at all.

As soon as the two walked into Lin Yun'er's apartment and closed the door, Lin Xiuyuan wanted to apologize, but Lin Yun'er had already pounced on him, her lips blocking all his sounds directly.

The two stumbled and fell onto the sofa in the living room.

The floor lamp emitted a warm, dim yellow light, the air was filled with the temperature of the night and an ambiguous atmosphere, and the pillows on the sofa were kicked to the floor, making a slight sound.

It wasn't until a good while later that Lin Xiuyuan barely caught his breath between kisses and couldn't help but laugh, "What's going on with you tonight? Are you really practicing 'eye acting' and looking for me to spar?"

Lin Yun'er stared at him, her breathing still carrying a bit of urgency, but her eyes carried a bit more hesitation.

"... No."

After she lowered her eyes and was silent for a moment, she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan and whispered the 【Sacrificing Oneself to Feed the Tiger】 plan that Kim Taeyeon had mentioned earlier.

After Lin Xiuyuan finished listening, he laughed out loud immediately, "My god, hahaha, that shorty must be crazy, to be able to say something like that."

However, after the laughter dissipated, he asked with doubt, "That's not right either, if it was just this, didn't Xiuyan say similar things before, and I didn't see you being so proactive at the time."

This answer made Lin Yun'er look up at Lin Xiuyuan abruptly, "How do you know."

"I have eyes and ears." Lin Xiuyuan laughed.

"Sulli?" Lin Yun'er said.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer, but silence was already the answer, and then Lin Yun'er followed up, "I said so, you guys are already living together, how could Sulli hide it from you."

Then she suddenly thought of something, her eyes flickered, and she stared at Lin Xiuyuan, "Wait, you two?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I treat Zhenli as a younger sister." Lin Xiuyuan repeated what he had said before, and then asked back, "You haven't answered my previous question, why are you in such a hurry this time."

Lin Yun'er pouted, a trace of hesitation flashed in her eyes, and she poured out everything she heard last night, as well as the doubts and thoughts in her heart.

The air was filled with their breathing and the lingering ambiguity, the light and shadow on the sofa danced on the two of them, as if time had slowed down.

Last night.

After Lin Yun'er, Zheng Xiuyan, Kim Taeyeon, and Sunny returned to the dormitory, the three of them first gave Sunny a good brainwashing to let her relax comfortably.

Then the few of them sat down on the sofa in the living room, enjoying this rare leisure time.

But just at this moment, Lin Yun'er noticed Kim Taeyeon holding a mobile phone and smiling happily there, so she leaned over to see what was going on.

As a result, Kim Taeyeon told her the situation directly, which was roughly Xian Enjing's idea of dragging Park Hyomin into the water.

But it was just an idea, not implemented, so it was just chatting with Kim Taeyeon as a joke.

But this situation was taken to heart by Lin Yun'er.

She raised her eyebrows lightly, but her heart wasn't that relaxed.

But because of a bit of traffic, she was still on the road.

Lin YoonA, who was holding the steering wheel, also changed her expression to a serious one after laughing. "Alright, Xiuyuan, tell Unnie to wait for me. After I arrive, then make the call; I'll be a supporting role, so I can make the staff over there believe it."

"Sure, how much longer?" Lin Xiuyuan agreed.

"2 kilometers, ten minutes." Lin YoonA looked at the navigation.

Hearing this answer, Lin Xiuyuan complained, "Traffic is really bad, drive carefully, see you in a bit."

At the same time.

The wind on the roof was much cooler than in the living room, blowing gently, carrying a hint of a salty taste, rolling up ripples on the surface of the pool.

Zheng Xiujing stood blankly by the pool, the sunlight jumping on the water, reflecting little broken lights, but it didn't bring a hint of warmth.

She shrank her shoulders subconsciously, her fingers gripping tightly, as if wanting to borrow such an action to grab some sense of security.

The Seoul in front of her was both familiar and strange; the Namsan Tower in the distance still stood quietly, but she had the illusion of being separated by several layers of glass, keeping a distance from reality.

Her heartbeat rhythmically messed up, countless questions and unease flashed in her mind, like a thin mist covering her vision, making it hard for her to see the road ahead.

"Come over and sit for a while, don't just stand there."

Park Jiyeon behind her smiled, patted the lounge chair, her voice soft and carrying a hint of teasing, like a warm beam of light, pulling Zheng Xiujing back from her trance.

Zheng Xiujing walked over slowly and sat down, her palms still slightly sweaty, her breathing slightly rapid.

Until the next second, a phone was handed to her, the screen reflecting slightly in the sunlight.

"Xiujing, I won't explain much; as someone who has been through it, I know very well how pale and powerless explanations are."

Park Jiyeon, who spoke softly, had a very calm tone, but it carried a hint of deep meaning. "So whatever you want to know, just search it yourself. The news here can give you all the basic information you want to know, and the rest... I'm afraid you'll have to ask yourself."

Zheng Xiujing froze, reached out to take the phone, the home page of the search engine shining on the screen, the cursor flashing, as if urging her.

But she couldn't type anything for a while, her brain filled with countless fragments, messy and heavy.

Park Jiyeon on the side didn't urge her either, just sat quietly beside her, hugging her knees with both hands, looking up at the blue sky.

Sunlight fell on her eyelashes, reflecting a circle of shallow light, gentle and quiet.

After a long while, Zheng Xiujing seemed to have made some kind of determination, slowly typing four words in the search bar: Sulli death.

The moment she pressed Enter, her breathing lightened by a beat.

The page jumped almost instantly, and news headlines surged out from the screen...

【Tragedy reappears in Seoul entertainment circle, Sulli passes away at home】

【Kim Jonghyun, Sulli, Goo Hara pass away one after another, public opinion shaken】

【Fans mourn the three artists, calling for attention to mental health】

【...】

Those cold headlines were like blunt knives, cutting into Zheng Xiujing's heart one after another.

These words made Zheng Xiujing's fingers hover on the screen, her gaze gradually losing focus, and even her breathing became much shallower.

Park Jiyeon looked at her reaction, her lips pursed tighter, and she sighed lightly, but didn't say anything, just reached out to brush away the long hair blown messy by the wind.

The sunlight was still dazzling, the pool water still shining, but Zheng Xiujing felt the whole world had been pressed on mute, leaving only the heartbeat roaring in her eardrums.

At this moment, Krystal finally finished her work at the movie promotion site.

The suit jacket on her body was slightly stuck to her sweaty back, and she took a deep breath, as if she had finally been released from the high-intensity tension.

Her gaze swept across the cameras, media, and staff, watching everyone packing up the equipment, and her heart felt much lighter.

However, there was originally a dinner party, an exchange with the movie's creative team, and now all of this had been completely disrupted by Jessica's sudden matter.

Krystal pursed her lips, tidied up her hair and makeup, trying her best to look calm and composed.

Then she walked to the director and several producers, bowed slightly, her tone carrying politeness and apology, explaining her personal situation, saying she might need to leave early due to an emergency.

The director nodded gently, a smile of understanding on his lips. "No problem, Krystal, emergencies are important, go handle it, everyone understands."

The producer also added, "Yeah, it's just a dinner, it doesn't matter if we don't eat one meal."

Krystal smiled gratefully and nodded slightly in greeting.

Then she turned to explain the situation to her assistant, took the car keys from the other party, and quickly got into the car, stepping on the gas and leaving, heading straight for the villa.

Outside the car window, the afternoon light gradually dyed with the warm colors of dusk, the setting sun slanting on her side face, reflecting a faint golden halo.

And her gaze was locked forward, her thoughts churning endlessly.

It was just the smile vaguely visible at the corners of her mouth that seemed to explain her excitement.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 250 =====

But the force was so light it was almost useless, just pushing Lin Xiuyuan away a little bit.

But Lin Xiuyuan didn't retreat, instead leaning his body slightly along with her movements, his palm landing gently on her waist, steadily supporting her body, and then taking the opportunity to pull her closer.

"Why, you're even jealous of yourself."

Lin Yun'er felt his warm body pressing against her, her breathing suddenly became a bit urgent, and the blush on her face became even thicker.

A small panic in her heart, but also carrying a bit of depression, she gently patted his chest with her hand and muttered in a low voice, "Precisely because it's the same person, I care a bit. If it were someone else, I wouldn't even bother thinking about it."

Lin Xiuyuan heard this, laughed in a low voice, the corners of his lips raised, and his fingers slid gently along her waist.

"How about, let's try it?"

Lin Yun'er raised her eyebrows, blinking her slightly wet eyes, "Try what?"

"Try and see, which one of you two is more powerful."

This sentence was like dropping a bomb, Lin Yun'er's pupils contracted slightly, she looked at him with half-squinted eyes, her eyes flashing with a bit of expectation and provocation.

Then, she decisively turned over, supported her body on Lin Xiuyuan's chest, leaned down, and whispered back.

"Mm, then let's try it."

Under the dim yellow light, the breathing of the two gradually intertwined, the distance on the sofa was infinitely pulled closer, and every contact of their limbs carried an ambiguous electric current.

As if the entire living room had stopped, leaving only the sound of each other's slightly trembling heartbeats.

(End of chapter)