Chapter 261: A Group Photo and

In the afternoon, at a Western restaurant in Gangnam.

The warm yellow light fell softly onto the wooden table in the private room, reflecting gentle textures and light and shadow, creating a quiet and warm atmosphere.

The air was filled with the aroma of steak and a faint scent of toasted wood, making one unconsciously slow their breathing; the entire space seemed to have been gently slowed down by time.

At this moment, Liu Zhimin had tied up her hair, with a few strands clinging to her forehead, and a smile danced in her eyes.

Carefully cutting her steak, she stared at the light reflecting off the tip of her knife, her movements steady and elegant.

Occasionally, her gaze would also steal a glance at Lin Xiuyuan across from her.

The collar of his shirt was slightly open, and his posture was somewhat lazy, yet he still carried a sense of detachment and unrestraint.

Just as Lin Xiuyuan, who was lowering his head to savor the fried rice in his bowl, suddenly heard a ringtone, it broke the brief silence of the room.

Glancing at the caller ID, the name on the screen made Lin Xiuyuan pause slightly: Li Juli.

This momentary change in expression did not escape Liu Zhimin's eyes.

Seeing her put down her chopsticks, her eyes curved into crescents, smiling in a relaxed and slightly mischievous way, "What's wrong? Don't tell me some girl is checking your schedule?"

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but chuckle at her look and shook his head.

His expression seemed helpless, yet it also carried a hint of irrepressible amusement.

Seeing this, Liu Zhimin laughed out loud, her tone hiding a bit of teasing, "Just looking at your expression, I know it is."

"You're overthinking it." Lin Xiuyuan answered with a light laugh, while still picking up the call.

"Xiuyuan, what are you doing right now?" On the other end of the line, Li Juli's voice carried a hint of suppression, though she deliberately feigned relaxation.

"Eating," Lin Xiuyuan replied casually, his tone flat.

"Where?" Li Juli pressed, her tone carrying a bit more urgency.

Only then did Lin Xiuyuan notice her unusual mood, and his brows furrowed slightly, "What's wrong with you?"

There was a second of silence on the other end, followed by a response that sounded almost frantic, filled with grievance and helplessness.

"You don't know??? Jessica and Jiyeon are acting like they've gone crazy today, showing off to me! Can you imagine? They spent the whole meal taking digs at me, and every single sentence was dripping with jealousy!"

Lin Xiuyuan paused, recalling the two situations from yesterday, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift, letting out a soft laugh that carried a hint of irrepressible joy.

Liu Zhimin, who was cutting her steak, was attracted by his laughter and turned her head to look, her eyes filled with both confusion and curiosity, as if trying to see through the content of his call.

"I'm having a meal with a friend," Lin Xiuyuan said to the other end of the phone with a smile, his tone relaxed and soothing, "Why don't you ignore them for now? I'll come find you later after I finish eating."

There was a pause on the other end.

Li Juli's tone had originally carried a hint of anticipation, but after hearing the words "having a meal with a friend," her entire mood clearly stalled.

After a few short seconds of silence, not being a young girl, she immediately and sensibly switched to a soft voice, answering, "I'm not in a rush here. Just give me a call when you're done."

Lin Xiuyuan gave an "mm" and agreed with a smile, ending the call.

When he put his phone down, he saw Liu Zhimin resting her chin on both hands, looking at him with bright eyes.

"Who is it?" she asked softly, but it couldn't hide the full sense of gossip.

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "Your curiosity is a bit too much."

Liu Zhimin retorted righteously, "Isn't it only natural for a woman's curiosity to be big?"

However, seeing that Lin Xiuyuan didn't intend to answer this question, she tilted her head and smiled, changing the subject, her tone light, "By the way, how is that tavern of yours doing? I really want to go again."

This sentence made Lin Xiuyuan pause slightly, a flash of embarrassment appearing in his eyes, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but carry a hint of amusement.

In reality, he hadn't been to that small tavern for quite some time.

That small tavern used to be his forward base when shuttling between the two space-times, and it also served as a kind of cover.

But now that he had the "Anywhere Door," travel was no longer restricted, and maintaining that tavern seemed redundant.

Moreover, with the increase in membership, coming and going would only attract more attention, so it was simply easier to gather at the villa or the apartment.

Of course, these thoughts couldn't be spoken aloud.

So he just waved his hand lightly, a smile on his lips, cleverly masking the embarrassment in his heart.

At the same time, he replied softly, "It's alright, it's been quite stable lately."

Hearing this, Liu Zhimin pursed her lips and smiled, leaning forward slightly, her tone mischievous, "Then can I go sit for a while tonight?"

Lin Xiuyuan paused, raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of mockery, "You're quite popular right now, aren't you? Shouldn't your schedule be packed? Have you encountered the legendary 'murderous schedule'? How do you have time for both eating and drinking?"

Liu Zhimin put down her chopsticks and leaned back in her chair, the curve of her mouth faint, carrying a hint of frivolous amusement.

"That's why I said tonight. I still have dance practice and rehearsal videos to record tonight, but I should be off work by the time I'm done. How about I call the members over then? And introduce you to them?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her bright eyes and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Your temptation is a bit too strong."

He paused, a hint of teasing flashing in his eyes, and said softly, "Forget it. You know my preferences. Besides you, only that... 'Great Luck' beauty's figure can make me feel a bit..."

"Hey..." Liu Zhimin interrupted him directly with a laugh, rolling her eyes at him, half-pouting and half-smiling, "I said introduce you, not for you to date them, what are you thinking?"

Lin Xiuyuan was amused by her half-pouting, half-smiling look and clinked his glass lightly, "Alright then, we'll talk about it if there's a chance. You heard the situation on my phone just now, I have an appointment this afternoon, I don't know what the situation will be."

"Fine, we'll talk about it next time." Liu Zhimin, who was just joking, really didn't have any intention of letting the members meet Lin Xiuyuan.

Are you kidding? She had to hide her own dating life.

She wouldn't dare expose this guy who was clearly fishing for multiple people.

The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere soon relaxed.

Only, in Liu Zhimin's eyes, a hint of curiosity still hadn't dissipated.

So she saw her use her fork to lightly poke the beef on her plate, and asked nonchalantly, "By the way, Xiuyuan, how did you get so close to Senior Bae Zhuxuan?"

Her tone was casual, but it couldn't hide the probing intent.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, smiling lightly, but said nothing.

But that smile fell into Liu Zhimin's eyes, making her heart itch slightly, as if she had been lightly teased.

The atmosphere between the two became soft and ambiguous with that round of relaxed conversation.

Lin Xiuyuan rested his chin on one hand, his gaze falling on the face across from him that was almost dazzlingly exquisite.

And Liu Zhimin, while forking a small piece of steak, looked up at him nonchalantly, her eyes hiding a hint of smiling provocation, as if waiting for his next response, or as if testing the secrets in his heart.

The light and shadow of the entire private room flowed between them, the warm yellow light hitting their faces, reflecting slight halos and soft contours, as if even the air had been adjusted to a warm tone, allowing the ambiguity of this moment to grow quietly.

"Why are you asking this?" Lin Xiuyuan asked casually, his lips carrying a hint of a smile, his tone carrying a bit of imperceptible playfulness.

"Just curious." Liu Zhimin responded as a matter of course, her tone light, but carrying a few small thoughts.

Leaning forward slightly, she rested her elbows on the table, her cheeks resting on her palms, but the casually tied hair slid down her shoulders, a wisp of stray hair blocking her eyes, adding a bit of laziness and playfulness.

Sunlight spilled through the private room's glass, dappling her profile and reflecting a soft halo, "After all, Senior Bae Zhuxuan has quite a few pursuers, as far as I know, and it's rare to see her take the initiative to greet a man."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her and said flatly, "How should I put it, I just met her once at a restaurant before, familiarity is out of the question, I can only say we know each other."

Liu Zhimin listened, blinked first, then the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, carrying a bit of a smile, "Do you think I believe your ghost stories? When we met yesterday, Senior Bae Zhuxuan's look at you wasn't quite right, and she even glanced at me, scaring me into running away."

"Is it that exaggerated? Don't try to scare me." Lin Xiuyuan shook his head with a smile, the corners of his eyes slightly smiling, as if amused by her teasing.

"There's a special intuition between women, don't disbelieve me." Liu Zhimin narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice soft, but carrying a hint of small pride, as if showing off her keen observation skills.

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan replied lightly, "Hahaha, then I really don't know. Yesterday's meeting should be my second... third time meeting her, but they were all at places where we were eating. Seoul is really too small, we keep bumping into each other."

Liu Zhimin took the opportunity to tease him, "Then when are you taking me out to play? Didn't you promise me when we played Truth or Dare before?"

While speaking, she put down her fork again, rested her chin on one hand, and stared at him with smiling eyes, as if waiting for a promise that had been dragged on for too long.

"Are you serious?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, his tone half-joking and half-probing, a flash of testing in his eyes.

"Hmph, you dog of a man, you really are just stalling." Liu Zhimin pouted, pretending to be dissatisfied, but smiling brightly.

"If you're really free, then I'll definitely keep you company." Lin Xiuyuan responded casually.

This time it was Liu Zhimin's turn to sigh lightly, lowering her head to cut the vegetables on her plate, her tone suddenly slowing down, "Forget it, I'm very busy lately, after resting for these few days, there are all kinds of stages. It's the end of the year, and I have to prepare for the year-end performances."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her lowered eyelashes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, his smile carrying a hint of silence, and also mixed with a faint sense of emotion.

Although the girl in front of him was still young, the fatigue from dancing from morning until late at night was clearly visible from her slightly red eyes and the faint bruises on her arms; that was a kind of seriousness and persistence.

Just as he was immersed in this subtle observation, Liu Zhimin suddenly looked up, her eyes brightening a bit, carrying a relaxed curiosity, "What do you plan to do after eating?"

"Why are you asking this?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a bit of a smile.

"Just asking, to see if you still have time." Liu Zhimin shrugged lightly, a hint of playfulness flashing in the bottom of her eyes.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his eyes moving slightly, carrying a hint of a smile, "Then do you want to find a place to sit for a while?"

Asking this question meant she had time.

Liu Zhimin shook her head, carrying a hint of helplessness and a smile, "Going to other places is too conspicuous, don't you know? Now, anything can make the trending search if someone snaps a photo."

She smiled bitterly and used her fork to gesture at herself, "Especially someone like me."

"Then let's go watch the sunset." Lin Xiuyuan lifted the corners of his mouth, his tone carrying a suggestion and a probe, "However, you shouldn't have time, right?"

As soon as the words fell, Liu Zhimin immediately looked up, her eyes smiling, a flash of surprise in her pupils, "Are you crazy? Talking about watching the sunset in the middle of the day. And don't frame people, isn't it you who doesn't have time? Didn't you just make an appointment with someone else?"

When she said this, her tone was soft, and there was a smile on her lips, but behind that smile, there was a hint of small thoughts, as if testing, or as if expecting some kind of response.

Lin Xiuyuan was helpless at her look and lowered his head to glance at his watch.

It was only noon, and it would indeed be a while before sunset, the whole afternoon seemed very long.

"And it would be a pity to waste a whole afternoon, forget it." Liu Zhimin murmured softly, her tone carrying a bit of tired dullness, but also hiding a slight longing.

Lin Xiuyuan listened, and at the same time captured that trace of inadvertent fatigue, as well as the soft longing deep in her tone.

So he patted the table lightly, smiled, his tone carrying certainty and a bit of seriousness, "Then let's go, stop talking nonsense, let's go wait for the sunset directly."

Liu Zhimin paused, thinking he was joking, but seeing that he had already stood up to prepare to leave, she couldn't help but look up suddenly, a flash of surprise in her eyes, "Are you serious? What about your friend?"

"I said I'd call later, so later it is." Lin Xiuyuan shook his head with a smile, his expression certain and natural, his eyes carrying a hint of a probe, looking lightly at the person across from him, "But seriously, do you really have time?"

Jessica and the Little Dragon Cub had already called Li Juli out, so they would probably have a second activity, he wasn't in a rush to go over.

Liu Zhimin looked at his expression and suddenly laughed out loud, the corners of her lips curving, "I'm busy at night, I'm free during the day. It's not too late to go over after watching the sunset."

Sunlight spilled through the window onto the desktop, illuminating the light in her eyes when she smiled.

At that moment, the atmosphere suddenly became soft.

It was as if a gentle flower had slowly bloomed from some inadvertent corner of the afternoon.

After setting this plan, the atmosphere suddenly became lively.

The two leaned toward the middle of the table almost at the same time, their shoulders leaning against each other unknowingly.

Lin Xiuyuan held his phone, while Liu Zhimin leaned over, her hair brushing lightly against the back of his hand, carrying a faint fragrance.

The two were very close, almost able to hear the light laughter mixed in each other's breathing, that subtle distance making their heartbeats slow down by a few beats unconsciously.

The air was filled with relaxation and ambiguity, like the afternoon sun shining through the glass window, warm yet clear, quietly pulling the distance between them closer.

"Watching the sunset on the slope by the river?" Lin Xiuyuan asked tentatively.

"Too lively." Liu Zhimin shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of helpless amusement.

"Then the observation deck on the mountain?" He offered another option.

"Even more people."

"Then what should we do? If you appear outside in this outfit, you'll probably be in the top five of the trending search." Lin Xiuyuan teased with a smile, his tone relaxed and carrying a bit of banter.

Liu Zhimin was amused, her fingers sliding on the screen, while pointing at the map, murmuring softly, "We have to find that kind of place with no one, but it can't be too far... otherwise we'll have to rush back."

"Look at this..." Lin Xiuyuan pointed at the screen.

"Which one?"

"What the netizens wrote in the comments section."

The two leaned toward the screen almost at the same time. It was a post uploaded by a netizen about a small slope by the river, located a bit outside of Seoul, not far from the estuary.

The comments said that there were no people there, and only occasionally would couples or photographers go there to take pictures of the sunset, quiet and open. As long as you drive back for a few minutes, you can get back onto the main road.

"This is not bad." Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

Liu Zhimin's eyes instantly brightened, smiling like a child, "Then this one!"

After confirming the location, the two quickly checked out. Lin Xiuyuan took the lead and handed over his credit card, not giving Liu Zhimin a chance to speak, "My treat."

"I didn't say I was going to fight you for it." Liu Zhimin snorted lightly, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift.

Leaving the restaurant, the two got into Lin Xiuyuan's car.

Sunlight spilled in through the windshield, hitting Liu Zhimin's profile, slightly carrying a golden halo.

She rested her chin and looked out the window, her long hair fluttering in the wind, a long-lost relaxed expression on her face.

The car drove all the way to the suburbs, the hustle and bustle of the city gradually receding, replaced by the openness and wind of the river.

Half an hour later, the road ahead gradually narrowed, and the terrain rose slightly.

That small slope was indeed as the comments said—

The slope was not high, but it could look out over the entire horizon.

Ahead was an open body of water, the river surface shimmering in the wind, occasionally water birds skimming past from afar.

Clusters of wildflowers grew on the top of the slope, and when the wind blew, the grass waves rose and fell, the air filled with a clear, sweet smell mixed with grass and water vapor.

Lin Xiuyuan parked the car at the bottom of the slope, and as the engine sound stopped, the world became quiet.

"Wow~" Liu Zhimin pushed open the car door for the first time, walking up against the wind.

Her long hair was brushed up by the wind, fluttering lightly, her entire demeanor softening a bit, as if merging with this piece of quiet scenery.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her back, and a rare sense of relaxation flooded his heart, his footsteps following.

"It's so quiet here." Liu Zhimin turned to smile at Lin Xiuyuan, light shining in the bottom of her eyes, like a small joy of discovering some kind of secret.

"It's indeed not bad." Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes and looked at the distant sky, the clouds in the sky being slowly pushed and rolled by the breeze, golden light seeping out from the gaps, spilling onto the river surface, causing ripples.

However, this tranquility didn't last long before it was broken by a ringtone.

"Ding-a-ling..."

Liu Zhimin lowered her head to look at the caller ID, her expression instantly stiffening.

She hesitated for a few seconds, her fingertips tightening slightly, but finally slid to answer.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't make a sound, just leaned against the car, hands in his pockets, watching her quietly.

The voice coming from the other end of the phone made Liu Zhimin's expression change gradually.

From the initial calmness, to brows furrowed, to lips biting lightly, her entire face was like clouds scattered by the wind, gradually sinking.

She listened without saying a word, gave a light "mm," and then hung up slowly.

The air was silent for a few seconds, as if even the ripples on the river surface had slowed down by a few beats.

Liu Zhimin tried hard to squeeze out a smile, turning to Lin Xiuyuan, her tone light to the point of being deliberate, "It's over, I have an event to attend temporarily, it seems..."

Before Liu Zhimin could finish her sentence, Lin Xiuyuan interrupted her gently, his tone carrying a hint of warmth, "It's okay, we can just come watch it next time. Life, after all, always has to leave some regrets, otherwise where would the next time come from?"

His words were like an afternoon breeze, lightly brushing past her just-tense expression, taking away some dullness, and also letting her heart relax a bit.

Liu Zhimin blinked, the corners of her mouth finally lifting lightly, revealing a sincere smile, "You're quite good at comforting people."

Her gaze couldn't help but return to the horizon, the orange-gold cloud light reflecting in the bottom of her eyes, flickering with soft light spots, like light waves lightly rising and falling on the water surface.

Afterwards, she took out her phone, took a photo of the skyline, bit her lip lightly, and then suddenly turned her head, "Why don't we take a group photo together."

"Alright." Lin Xiuyuan agreed with a smile.

The two stood side by side, with the scorching sun in the sky behind them.

In the photo.

Liu Zhimin tilted her head slightly, leaning lightly toward Lin Xiuyuan, the corners of her lips lifting a soft smile, her hair fluttering lightly in the wind occasionally brushing against his shoulder.

Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head slightly, his gaze slightly biased toward her, his eyes warm and light, but hiding a few imperceptible smiles, as if sharing this moment of tranquility with her.

The brilliant sunlight of noon still spilled on their faces, like a picture frozen in overexposure, bright and brilliant, carrying a few unspeakable warmth.

After taking the photo, the two walked back to the car silently, the car was very quiet, leaving only the wind lightly slapping the car window and the low-flowing music, as if it were the background music for this moment.

When the car drove into a quiet street outside the city, Lin Xiuyuan stopped the car, his hands on the steering wheel, and said softly, "It's more convenient to hail a taxi here."

Liu Zhimin nodded, smiled and pushed open the car door, reaching out to grab the hair that had been blown messy by the wind, "I'm leaving then."

Lin Xiuyuan raised his hand and waved lightly, watching her get into the taxi.

The moment the car drove away slowly, he lowered his head to look at his phone.

The screen lit up, and the group photo just sent by Liu Zhimin came into view, in the photo the two stood shoulder to shoulder in the bright sun, she tilted her head slightly, lips smiling, hair fluttering lightly in the wind.

Below was a line of text: 【Next time there's a chance, I'll let you look at me properly.】

Lin Xiuyuan's mouth curved slightly, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud, his fingertips flying on the screen to reply: 【A dreamer, I am the clean and self-disciplined little Chu Nan.】

In the back seat of the taxi that had just driven away, Liu Zhimin's originally lowered brows and eyes instantly brightened.

She stared at that message for a few seconds, the corners of her mouth lifting lightly.

Laughter spilled out like sunlight, and her entire person seemed to have been dispelled of haze, suddenly becoming bright.

The driver looked at her through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Is your boyfriend messaging you?"

Liu Zhimin pursed her lips, put away her phone lightly, and her gaze fell toward the sky dyed red by the bright sun outside the window.

She didn't answer, just looked toward that piece of orange-red sky with a smile, her heart seeming to have been lightly brushed by someone's voice, warm and soft.

And as Liu Zhimin left, Lin Xiuyuan leaned against the driver's seat, looking quietly at the call log on the phone screen, the corners of his mouth moving slightly.

With a light slide of his fingertips, he dialed Li Juli's number.

However, after ringing twice, the one who answered wasn't her voice, but...

"Hey~"

A lazy, teasing laugh came from the other end of the phone, "What are you doing, Xiuyuan~ Do you miss me?"

"Jiyeon?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion.

"Mm-hmm, it's me." The Little Dragon Cub's voice was lazy and smiling, and the crisp sound of a tennis racket hitting a ball could be heard faintly in the background, "Why are you calling Juli unnie? She's busy right now."

"She was complaining to me just now." Lin Xiuyuan said while raising his hand to loosen his collar, his smile hidden in his low tone, "What do you think I'm doing?"

There was a clear pause of two seconds on the other end, followed by a burst of hearty laughter.

"Haha! Isn't this because of you? Xiuyan unnie looked for me and even asked me to look for Juli unnie, I was confused when I heard this call. Only after we met did I realize that you caused trouble again. You don't know that you ate to your heart's content, but we are the ones suffering!"

"Me?" Lin Xiuyuan snorted lightly, his tone carrying a hint of provocation, "Are you sure you're included in this, Jiyeon?"

The Little Dragon Cub "tsk-ed" on the other end, laughing even more wantonly, "Forget it, it's hard to explain on the phone. Why don't you come over? We're at the clubhouse, let's sit together."

"Alright." Lin Xiuyuan answered crisply, "Send me a location."

A few seconds later, a location message popped up on the screen.

—A high-end comprehensive clubhouse newly opened in Gangnam District.

Lin Xiuyuan knew this clubhouse, it was not far from the villa, and it was newly opened.

It had a gym, a swimming pool, a spa, and a restaurant.

Membership-based, with an excellent environment.

After getting the address, Lin Xiuyuan immediately drove over, sunlight spilling onto his face through the windshield, reflecting light and shadow on the mottled streets.

After a while, the car parked steadily in the parking lot of the clubhouse.

While turning off the engine, he also took out his phone and called the people inside, because this clubhouse required membership, but fortunately, members could bring people.

So when he walked to the entrance, a familiar figure also walked out from inside.

It was Jessica, not the Little Dragon Cub he had been told about on the phone.

She was wearing sportswear, her hair tied high, a few stray hairs on her forehead sticking to her cheeks, carrying the heat from just exercising.

Fine beads of sweat slid down her neck and fell into her collar.

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan, Jessica then revealed a slightly teasing smile.

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, "Why is it you?"

"Why, aren't you happy that I came to pick you up?" Jessica smiled easily, a hint of playfulness in the bottom of her eyes.

"That's not it." Lin Xiuyuan responded flatly, the corners of his mouth lifting.

"Hmph~ Are you here to work out too?" Jessica teased, her tone carrying the unique vitality after exercise.

"No, you are."

"Exercising." Jessica raised the towel in her hand, "Just finished a set, it's hot as hell."

"Tennis?" Lin Xiuyuan asked.

She nodded, reaching out to wipe the sweat from her forehead, her hair sticking slightly to her cheeks due to the exercise.

Her gaze, however, swept over Lin Xiuyuan intentionally or unintentionally, carrying a light smile, "Don't just ask me, why did you suddenly run over here?"

Lin Xiuyuan didn't beat around the bush, simply retelling the process of the Little Dragon Cub's teasing on the phone, his tone flat but carrying a hint of a smile.

Jessica couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this.

"Oh~ So Juli is complaining? No wonder she was almost pissed off just now." She turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes shining, her tone carrying a hint of pride, "But they often teased me like that before, now I'm showing off, no problem, right?"

"No problem." Lin Xiuyuan shook his head with a smile.

The two walked side by side toward the interior of the clubhouse, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, the echoes seeming to be stretched by light and shadow, carrying a slight sense of rhythm.

Sunlight spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling glass, casting light spots on their shadows, reflecting a bright and quiet atmosphere.

As they approached, the scene inside gradually became clear.

Two courts stood side by side, one empty, and the other had two figures running back and forth.

The tennis ball drew a beautiful arc in the air, landing lightly, making a crisp "pop" sound.

Among them, Li Juli was wearing light-colored sportswear, her ponytail swinging out a clean and neat arc, her movements clean and neat, full of power.

Opposite her, the Little Dragon Cub was in a black short-sleeved shirt, sweat sliding down her skin, her lines distinct, her movements agile and neat.

The moment the ball landed, Li Juli turned around, seeing Lin Xiuyuan standing at the door for the first time.

This situation made her clearly pause, her footsteps stalling, the racket in her hand drooping slightly.

A few complex emotions flashed in her originally focused eyes.

Surprise, resentment, and a long-lost sense of familiarity were intertwined, subtle and unspeakable.

The Little Dragon Cub was the complete opposite, she laughed as soon as she saw Lin Xiuyuan, her hand still waving the racket in mid-air, her voice crisp, "Oh my, Xiuyuan~ You're finally here, waited for you for a long time."

"I was called here by you guys." Lin Xiuyuan responded with a smile.

Jessica smiled slightly on the side, teasing Li Juli, "See, Juli, your savior is here."

Li Juli didn't answer, just lowered her head to unscrew the water bottle, took a sip, and then looked at him lightly.

That look seemed to say, it's been a while.

The Little Dragon Cub saw this and laughed happily, "Unnie, your expression is too obvious!"

"Hmph." Li Juli turned her head away, "I didn't say anything."

Jessica laughed until her shoulders were shaking, turning to whisper to Lin Xiuyuan, "Look, she's actually waiting for you, you have to be careful."

Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, "Really? Careful of what?"

"Forget it, you know what to be careful of, be careful of being sucked dry." Jessica pushed him with a smile, then stepped aside, "Go in, we just finished warming up, you're just in time to receive a 'punishment'."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled helplessly, shook his head, and stepped into the court.

The light spilled down from high above, cutting the court floor into several bright light bands, reflecting the movement of the figures. That shadow lengthened and shortened with the swing of the racket and the movement of the footsteps, like some kind of silent declaration of war.

And as Lin Xiuyuan stepped into the court, he was immediately wrapped by that heat.

The sound of the racket swinging, the "squeak" of the soles rubbing against the ground, plus the laughter of the Little Dragon Cub and Li Juli, mixed into a relaxed and tense sense of rhythm.

Then Jessica spoke first, "Since you're here, don't think about being lazy. Juli just said she wanted to play doubles, I think it's just right, you two are a team."

Li Juli pursed her lips, her eyes swept over him, not refusing, nor responding, just tightening her hair tie again, as if to cover up her emotions.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan laughed secretly in his heart, this game, probably won't be too easy.

Then he walked over and stood on Li Juli's side, saying softly, "I'll block the front court, you just play freely in the back."

"Are you sure?" Li Juli looked up, carrying a hint of doubt.

"Mm," he smiled, "You play more steadily than I do."

As soon as the words fell, Jessica's side had already impatiently served the ball.

The white ball broke through the air with the sound of wind, landing and rebounding.

Li Juli almost instinctively greeted it, her movements clean and neat, beautifully returning a backhand.

"Good shot!" Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but shout.

Li Juli ignored him, but the corners of her mouth lifted lightly, a flash of seriousness in the bottom of her eyes.

For the next few minutes, the rhythm on the court was fast.

Jessica occasionally hit a few tricky angled balls, Lin Xiuyuan resolved them one by one, his movements clean and neat, as if dealing with them casually, yet carrying a kind of imperceptible composure.

The Little Dragon Cub was happy the whole time, running and laughing, "Oh my! You two, this cooperation, it's not like a temporary team at all—the tacit understanding is terrifying!"

Jessica rolled her eyes at her, deliberately provoking Li Juli, "Juli, don't just let him block the ball, let's see what he's really made of!"

"Then don't go soft on me." Li Juli replied lightly, her voice not loud, but carrying a clear competitive meaning.

After that, the tennis ball flew up again, hitting the racket surface, making a crisp "pop—pop—" sound, light and shadow flickering on the court.

The laughter and panting of the few were intertwined, gradually playing out a wonderful rhythm, as if every swing was silently competing for tacit understanding and reaction.

Until the last ball landed.

"Pop."

Li Juli turned sideways to catch the ball, her center of gravity shifted, almost tripping.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan reached out to support her instinctively, the two almost sticking together.

Jessica saw it clearly on the opposite side, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, her expression meaningful.

"Not bad, unnie, almost fell into his arms." The Little Dragon Cub laughed exaggeratedly, "I'll give you a 'courage point' for this ball."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, smiling and carrying the racket back to his shoulder, the sweat on his forehead sliding down his chin, "Playing ball, Jiyeon, is this playing ball or a talk show? Are you done yet? I'm almost dehydrated."

"Then go replenish your water." Jessica put away the racket, her movements casual but carrying a hint of teasing.

Li Juli asked softly, "Xiuyuan, do you want to drink something? I'll get you some."

"Coke or mineral water is fine."

Li Juli gave a light "mm," turning to walk toward the lounge area.

The moment her back disappeared outside the court, Jessica looked at Lin Xiuyuan again, her eyes smiling but not smiling.

"Xiuyuan, I actually think, her state today... is not just exercise."

"Don't guess randomly, by the way, isn't your work time quite busy, how do you have time to come over to play ball."

Facing Lin Xiuyuan's question, Jessica answered nonchalantly, "The flight tonight, still have some time, let's play a bit more."

The Little Dragon Cub laughed out loud on the side, thinking this is playing? It's clearly showing off.

Even if she's going to work, she still has to come out and show off, it seems she was really pissed off before.

Then Jessica's eyes suddenly brightened, remembering something, "By the way, Xiuyuan, do you think we should buy a house in Magic City, so you can go over, it's convenient to come and go."

"Magic City?"

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan heard this name, he was shocked, "Jessica, are you sure you have enough money."

This answer made Jessica narrow her eyes directly, snorting, and rolling her eyes at him, "None of your business, do you want it or not?"

"Don't underestimate Xiuyan unnie." The Little Dragon Cub interjected on the side, her tone light, "And the housing price in Magic City shouldn't be that exaggerated, right? It should be about the same as Seoul, although big flats and big villas can't be bought, buying a small apartment is a piece of cake."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head with a smile, looking at Jessica, "Really? Then buy it."

"I'm asking if you want it." Jessica glanced at him, half-carrying a hint of provocation.

Lin Xiuyuan hesitated for a while, thought about it seriously, and then replied slowly, "Forget about buying it. Anyway, there's no chance to run around, the surveillance there is too exaggerated, just rent one long-term, it's convenient for people to come in and out."

Jessica pondered for two seconds and felt that what he said made sense, so she nodded lightly, "That's good, it does make some sense."

When Li Juli returned, this topic had been naturally passed over.

The few chatted for a few more sentences, drank some water, laughed and made a fuss, and then went to wash up and change, preparing to head to the spa area downstairs.

Don't know how long it had been.

The warm scent of aromatherapy slowly permeated the air, and the low light music was like a hypnotic melody, making people sleepy.

Lin Xiuyuan, lying on the massage bed, was almost made heavy-eyed by that gentle massage, even his breathing became slow.

Suddenly, a light touch woke him up.

Someone was shaking him.

Opening his eyes slightly, he saw Li Juli leaning over to the side, her eyes cautious and a bit mysterious.

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan open his eyes, she immediately made a "shh" gesture toward the other party lightly.

On the two seats next to them, Jessica and the Little Dragon Cub had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Lin Xiuyuan asked in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

"Come out." Li Juli said softly, a bit of magical light in her eyes.

After hesitating for a while, Lin Xiuyuan stood up, put on his coat, and followed her out of the private room.

The corridor was very quiet, the light soft.

Li Juli walked in front, her steps not fast, as if thinking about something.

Until turning a corner, she stopped and looked deeply at Lin Xiuyuan behind her.

"Where to?"

Li Juli, who was looking at him, didn't answer, just suddenly took his arm, the corners of her lips carrying a hint of mysterious smile, "Go eat something delicious for me."

And the moment Lin Xiuyuan was taken forward by her, he also smelled the fragrance on her body.

Carrying a bit of fresh scent after sweat, a bit of the lingering taste of massage essential oil, and the imperceptible strength of her fingertips.

The corridor light was soft, and the footsteps were pressed very low on the empty carpet.

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but say in a low voice, "Are you sure we're going to eat something"

Li Juli didn't look back, just smiled lightly, "Mm, I'm hungry."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan found it a bit funny, seeming to understand something, his fingers touched Li Juli's waist lightly, making her tremble.

Then he asked with a smile, "Then why bring me?"

"Because I can't eat it alone."

(End of chapter)