Chapter 250: A Pair of Ks (Seeking subscriptions and monthly tickets)

On the edge of the rooftop pool, the wind carried cool water vapor, and the sky was transitioning from golden to orange-red.

Zheng Xiujing sat on the lounge chair, her whole person nailed in place, staring stiffly at the phone screen.

The radiance of the setting sun reflected on her face through the screen, making her eyes look even more hollow.

Her fingertips were clenched white, her chest blocked by something, feeling stifled.

News headlines jumped out one after another, and those familiar names hit her ears like one heavy blow after another, shaking her head until it buzzed.

So her fingertips began to tremble uncontrollably, almost slipping to the ground.

The text on the screen was also slowly covered by a layer of mist, unable to be seen clearly or truly.

She didn't understand, and couldn't comprehend.

"Ho... how could it be like this..."

Her lips moved several times before she could barely squeeze out this sentence, her voice as dry as sandpaper rubbing, almost inaudible.

Her heartbeat collided chaotically in her chest, striking her eardrums until they hurt, blood rushing to her head, making her dizzy and almost losing her balance in an instant.

"How could Sulli..."

"Hara Unnie... and Jonghyun Oppa... is this true or false?"

She murmured those names repeatedly, and every time she recited one, her chest felt like it had been pricked by a needle.

Her eye sockets began to turn red, her nose turned sour, and the tears about to burst out were something even she didn't notice, as if even her body didn't belong to her anymore.

The next second, she looked up abruptly, her eyes looking at Park Jiyeon beside her in panic, as if wanting to find an explanation from the other party's expression, even if it was just a reason that could make her continue to believe the world was still normal.

That look was almost like a child's plea for help, carrying panic and helplessness, just like someone who suddenly fell into the deep sea, grabbing the only piece of driftwood floating by.

"Unnie..." Her voice was so light it seemed it would dissipate in the next second. "Do you know what happened? How could they..."

Park Jiyeon stared at her for a few seconds, finally just shaking her head.

"Don't ask me, Xiujing, I'm also a person from 2013."

Her voice carried helplessness and depression. "Actually, I have many questions about these things too, but I didn't dare to ask those details; I couldn't go and tear open those few scars of Krystal and the others again."

"But you can ask, because you are Xiujing."

Park Jiyeon, who said this, reached out and patted Zheng Xiujing's shoulder. "So if you really want to know, you can only ask yourself; as the one who experienced everything, she can definitely give you all the answers."

Zheng Xiujing blinked blankly, and the tears finally burst out, sliding down her chin.

She didn't wipe them, just stared blankly into the distance.

Her mind suddenly thought of a question she had just raised in the apartment.

That was why the future self she learned about from Lin Xiuyuan, her own Unnie, and Sulli had such a heaven-and-earth difference in personality and style from her own?

Looking down at the news scrolling on the phone screen again, she suddenly seemed to understand a little bit.

The wind blew, the pool water rippled, and the setting sun refracted a layer of golden mist in her moist eyes, her nose so sour she almost couldn't breathe.

She took a deep breath, her fingertips continuing to slide across the screen.

One keyword after another was entered, one news item after another popped up, as if wanting to drown her whole person.

Until that line of thick black headlines appeared, she stopped her movements: 【f(x) officially announces disbandment】

She froze, blinked, although she had already known this result from Xueli, she still couldn't help but click on the details page.

In the news photo, there were four familiar figures.

No Sulli.

In that instant, her chest felt even tighter, and tears blurred her vision again.

A few short lines of statement were written coldly: "Due to the different development directions of the members, the group activities end here."

But the screen didn't stop, and the push notifications continued to pop up—

【Jessica announces retirement from the group】

【Girls' Generation finally disbands】

【SM Entertainment senior management reorganizes】

Each one was like a heavy hammer hitting Zheng Xiujing until she was stunned, her eyes widening more and more.

Then a few more glaring headlines appeared—

【Jessica listed on credit blacklist due to non-payment of liquidated damages, restricted from high consumption】

【Krystal leaves SM Entertainment, preparing for a new start in a new place】

【f(x)'s last member Zheng Xiujing also leaves, from then on SM has no f(x)】

Zheng Xiujing stared blankly at the screen, her breathing becoming more and more chaotic, her fingers wanting to slide several times, but stopping again.

Her whole person seemed trapped in a silent glass cover, able to hear her heartbeat, but unable to hear the world.

And at this time, in the living room downstairs, Lin YoonA had already driven to this side.

As soon as she entered the door, she noticed the scene in the living room.

The big dragon cub wearing a bathrobe was sitting with Zheng Xiuyan, her expression showing no emotion, the atmosphere seeming a bit quiet.

At this, she was stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow, turning her gaze to Lin Xiuyuan sitting on the other side of the sofa.

Her gaze was somewhat strange and funny, as if thinking this person wouldn't have been caught in the act.

And Lin Xiuyuan had exchanged bacteria and body fluids with her so many times, how could he not see Lin YoonA's chaotic thoughts? He quickly said, "Can you not speculate wildly, YoonA? Jiyeon just happened to be swimming upstairs, it was a coincidence."

"How would I know if you don't say it." Lin YoonA's mouth curled, carrying a teasing smile, complaining lightly.

Then she walked quickly to Zheng Xiuyan's side, took the initiative to take Jessica's phone, and while sliding the screen, patiently introduced the address book friends she still remembered to the other party.

Especially Jessica's work team, manager, assistant, makeup artist, stylist, she explained them one by one, even adding a few small details that left a deep impression.

Time passed bit by bit, and there were more soft conversations in the living room, and the air wasn't as oppressive as just now.

About ten minutes later, footsteps came from the stairs, and everyone looked up one after another.

Only to see Zheng Xiujing walking down slowly, her face already washed clean of the previous tear stains, and her expression trying to pretend nothing had happened.

But the slightly frivolous footsteps showed that her emotions were not very stable.

Especially when she saw Lin YoonA beside the sofa, she was stunned again.

After half a day, she called out softly in a somewhat uncertain tone, "YoonA Unnie?"

"Yeah, it's been a long time since I've seen you at this time." Lin YoonA smiled slightly, her eyes softening. "Little Crystal is still so cute."

The big dragon cub leaned against the sofa, glanced behind her, and asked casually, "Xiujing, where is that little brat?"

Zheng Xiujing was stunned for a moment, clearly not reacting to who this nickname referred to, until Lin YoonA explained with a smile, "Jiyeon," before she suddenly realized, a look of surprise flashing on her face, then answering, "Unnie went to take a bath and change clothes."

After speaking, her gaze fell on the phones in everyone's hands, silent for a few seconds, as if she had made up her mind before opening her mouth. "Unnie, you guys... really want to make Unnie over here retire from the industry?"

As the words fell, the living room fell silent for a few seconds.

This sentence was a bit awkward, but everyone understood it.

Several people looked at each other, then laughed out loud in unison.

That laughter seemed to break the oppressive air just now, sweeping away the tense atmosphere.

"Xiujing, are you a fool? How could you think we would be so heartless."

Zheng Xiuyan, holding back laughter, got up and came to Zheng Xiujing's side, reaching out to smooth her somewhat messy hair, before explaining warmly, "We just want to let the people over there know she's still safe, and by the way, drag out some time to let her think it through herself."

Zheng Xiujing froze, as if still digesting this sentence, her gaze subconsciously turning slowly toward Lin Xiuyuan on the other side of the sofa.

After staring at him for a few seconds, she opened her mouth hesitantly. "But, I clearly heard you two just now saying, wanting to..."

"Scaring her." Zheng Xiuyan couldn't hold back this time, her laughter overflowing completely, even waving her hands, as if wanting to sweep away the tense air just now. "Just thinking about this kind of thing is evil enough; if we really took action..."

Before finishing, she shook her head herself, carrying a hint of unwillingness and refusal.

At this time, Lin Xiuyuan on the side also spread his hands. "Take action my ass. I asked her if she had time before I let her in; do you think I would mess around? The time given to her to be locked in the dark room was something she said herself."

Lin YoonA followed up, "Don't worry, Xiujing, we aren't that kind of people."

Then she explained seriously, "Retiring from the industry is ruining someone's future and ruining Zheng Xiuyan Unnie's whole life; who would dare to really do that? If we really did it, unless we kept Zheng Xiuyan Unnie locked here forever, otherwise, once she's untied, she would sooner or later chop us all up one by one."

"That's true." The big dragon cub nodded seriously. "That's Unnie's style."

"Inevitably, anyway, I really would be like that." Zheng Xiuyan also nodded in cooperation, her tone still carrying a smile.

And Lin Xiuyuan deliberately pursed his lips at the few people, then raised an eyebrow at Zheng Xiujing, his mouth curling into a playful smile. "So she can ask this question; I guess in this person's eyes, I'm already no different from a heinous pervert? Right, Zheng Xiujing?"

Zheng Xiujing, who was named, felt like she had been poked in her thoughts, subconsciously taking half a step back, pursing her lips and staring at him, her expression both tangled and a bit panicked.

After half a day, she turned her face away and muttered softly, "Not really, just felt that doing this was a bit too much."

"You can think of things you can think of; don't you really think we haven't thought of them?" Lin Xiuyuan continued to tease deliberately, his tone carrying a bad smile.

Then Zheng Xiujing felt even more embarrassed, lowering her head directly and not answering anymore.

"Alright, alright, stop teasing her." Zheng Xiuyan pulled Zheng Xiujing to her side and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, Xiujing, no one here really wants to harm me, whether it's the 2013 one or the 2025 one, they are all thinking for my sake."

As this small episode gradually subsided, everyone returned to a serious look, sat back around the living room, and began to seriously discuss how to communicate with Jessica's team so that it would be both safe and not reveal any flaws.

"Don't be speechless when people ask a few questions later." Lin YoonA said half-jokingly and half-reminding.

And the big dragon cub took the lead in proposing, "Why not use a more vague statement, just tell the people over there that Unnie has something temporary and needs to be delayed for a while, don't explain anything else, just drag it out first."

Lin YoonA shook her head, her tone serious. "Although this can drag it out for a while, if the work schedule is messed up, it will be very troublesome for Unnie to handle when she goes back. We need a statement that can be closed."

Just as everyone was expressing their opinions and the atmosphere was gradually becoming focused, a cell phone ringtone suddenly rang.

The crisp prompt tone sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet living room, and several people stopped subconsciously.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced down at the caller ID, his brows raised, seemingly a bit surprised, then pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Xiuyuan~"

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan answered the phone, Krystal's urgent but lowered voice came to his ear, carrying a hint of obvious restraint. "What's the situation now?"

That familiar and slightly anxious voice made Zheng Xiujing, who was sitting on the sofa, look up abruptly, staring at the phone in Lin Xiuyuan's hand.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't do much foreshadowing, nor did he sell it, stating the situation clearly and concisely, although he didn't name names, Krystal could understand the meaning.

So the other end of the phone was silent for a short while before Krystal spoke, her voice calmer than just now. "Got it, I'm on my way back now. Why don't you guys wait for me for a while, I'll be there soon."

"Sure, drive slowly, don't rush." Lin Xiuyuan responded.

Just as he was about to hang up, he suddenly looked at Zheng Xiujing sitting opposite him, the corners of his mouth curling into an intriguing arc, smiling and throwing out a sentence. "By the way, your student is here too, Xiujing, you have to be mentally prepared."

As soon as the words fell, the other end of the phone exploded, Krystal's voice an octave higher than just now.

"What?! Say that again? No, Xiuyuan, what the hell are you doing."

Lin Xiuyuan just smiled, too lazy to explain much. "We'll talk when you get back, hurry up."

The other end of the phone was silent for a long time, long enough for Zheng Xiujing to frown uneasily, and even thought Krystal was going to say something.

But the next second, the phone hung up silently in the silence.

Zheng Xiujing clenched her hands, her heart beating half a beat faster for no reason.

And with this phone call, the heated discussion in the room gradually stopped.

The big dragon cub stretched, got up to take a shower, and changed back into casual clothes.

Lin YoonA sat next to Zheng Xiuyan and Zheng Xiujing, chatting with them, and even deliberately turned on the TV, finding the original version of that TV series, letting Zheng Xiujing take a good look at the production of this version.

"This way, when you act in the future, you'll have a comparison reference." Lin YoonA's tone was very gentle, as if deliberately easing Zheng Xiujing's tension.

Zheng Xiujing on the sofa pursed her lips, watching while absent-minded, occasionally stealing glances at the living room entrance, as if waiting for someone to appear.

About twenty minutes later, a familiar engine sound came from outside the villa.

Soon the villa door was opened.

At the door, Krystal was still wearing the suit from the promotion event, the microphone wire at the collar already removed, her long hair loose, a bit messy from the wind.

It was just that her expression wasn't as panicked as imagined; on the contrary, she pursed her lips very calmly and stepped into the living room.

Everyone in the living room also looked at her subconsciously.

However, Krystal's gaze skipped over Lin YoonA, the big dragon cub, and the others, finally landing on Zheng Xiujing at the other end of the sofa.

Eye to eye.

At that moment, it was as if someone had stretched the air for an instant, all sounds were pressed on mute, leaving only the light of mutual observation in their eyes.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 251 =====