Chapter 262: 【Hating the Egg】Or【Try Later】(Seeking Subscriptions)

In Seoul after the start of autumn, the night air carried a hint of chill.

The wind brushed past the street corner, stirring up a mixture of sea salt and charcoal fire scents.

The small shops along the street lit up strings of soft yellow lights; the warm, dim glow fell upon the signs and glass, casting a layer of cozy warmth over the air.

When Lin Xiuyuan followed Li Juli through The Gate, he smelled that rich scent of the sea before he had even sat down.

And this "late-night snack" was clearly not just about ordinary eating and drinking.

Geoduck, sea cucumber, oysters...

The entire table was filled with high-energy, stamina-boosting seafood, glistening with oil as if shining with a "dangerous" light under the lamps, looking as though they were preparing to apply a buff.

The spectacle made Lin Xiuyuan's scalp tingle.

Picking up his chopsticks, he glanced at the pile of ingredients that looked prepared for some kind of ritual, and couldn't help but shake his head with a laugh, "Juli, the spread you've ordered... are you sure you aren't preparing for a war?"

Li Juli pursed her lips and smiled, her expression relaxed.

She didn't answer, but instead peeled an oyster in a slow, leisurely manner, her hands moving with an elegance that was almost provocative.

Then she handed it to Lin Xiuyuan and said with a soft laugh, "Eat."

Lin Xiuyuan hesitated for a moment, and as he reached out to take it, he spoke subconsciously, "Eating this at night, won't it be too..."

"Just right." Li Juli interrupted him, her tone calm but carrying a certain meaningful softness, "What if you end up dehydrated and exhausted again later?"

Lin Xiuyuan was choked by these words and nearly coughed; in the end, he could only force a laugh and raise his glass to cover it up.

As Li Juli watched him pretend to be composed, the smile at the corners of her lips curled upward bit by bit, though her eyes softened a fraction.

The fiery red lightbulb reflected on her profile, and that smile seemed to hide a little secret thought.

Just as the atmosphere between the two was slowly brewing, Lin Xiuyuan's phone suddenly rang.

The ringtone was exceptionally abrupt in the noisy night.

He looked down and saw "Jessica" displayed on the screen.

As soon as the call connected, the voice on the other end carried its usual lazy smile.

"I say, Lin Xiuyuan, is it really necessary? I'm about to go abroad for work, and you won't even let me send you off?"

Before he could respond, the voice of Dalongzai cut in from the other end of the line, laughing more exaggeratedly than anyone, "Unnie, I think Juli Unnie was scared by me yesterday, afraid we'd tease her again, so she snuck Xiuyuan away~"

In that instant, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but look up at the person beside him.

Li Juli had clearly heard the teasing from the other side as well.

Her small face was instantly stained with a blush, and even the tips of her ears turned a faint pink.

Yet she didn't explain anything, simply lowering her eyelashes and silently picking up a piece of sea cucumber, placing it gently into Lin Xiuyuan's bowl.

The movement was gentle yet slightly guilty, as if she were using her actions to cover up something.

Lin Xiuyuan saw it all, the corners of his lips curving slightly as his tone became relaxed, "I was the one who said we should come out to eat; I just saw you were all sleeping soundly and didn't want to wake you, so I didn't expect you to wake up so quickly."

He paused, glanced sideways at Li Juli, and his smile deepened, "How about..."

Li Juli looked up, her eyes a bit displeased, as if saying: If you dare to agree to them, I really won't talk to you.

Lin Xiuyuan coughed lightly, turned his head, and continued, "... How about you just hurry back and pack your things, Jessica, and get ready to catch your flight. It's getting late, so we won't be taking you out for late-night snacks."

A dissatisfied "Hmph" came from Jessica on the other end, followed immediately by Dalongzai's uninhibited laughter.

"Fine, fine, then you two eat slowly, don't eat too much of that stamina-booster~"

The laughter gradually faded on the other end of the line, leaving only the sound of the night wind brushing past the street.

Li Juli put down her chopsticks and couldn't help but chuckle.

She didn't say anything, only glancing at him from the corner of her eye...

That look held a bit of satisfaction and a bit of smugness.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan just shook his head with a smile, put the oyster into his mouth, and said in a low voice, "The taste is not bad."

Li Juli gave a soft response, the smile at the corners of her lips impossible to hide.

At that moment, the lights in the entire small shop seemed to become warmer.

Steam rose from the table, and a faint fragrance dispersed in the air, blurring the outlines under the lights.

The soft yellow light fell on Li Juli's profile; she was looking down, gently stirring the soup spoon in her bowl, her eyelashes casting a fine, golden shimmer in the light, like thin feathers brushing past.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything more, just watching her quietly.

That face was softer and brighter than when he first saw her, as if her whole person were emitting a faint glow.

The silence between the two was not awkward; instead, it felt like a tacit understanding flowing between them.

By the time they returned to the Apartment, the night was already deep.

As soon as The Gate was pushed open, the indoor lights turned on automatically, the warm glow making one feel relaxed.

Li Juli turned slightly, looked back at him, her tone as natural as if she were talking about a daily chore, "Go take a shower; you're covered in the smell of smoke and fire. I'll put your pants by the door in a moment, just put them on when you come out."

The tone was very natural, yet it hid a softness that could not be ignored.

"Oh? You even prepared clothes for me?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Li Juli, who had already walked forward, didn't respond, only pursing her lips in an ambiguous smile.

A few minutes later.

As the hot water fell onto his skin, mist quickly filled the air.

While showering, Lin Xiuyuan soon heard light footsteps outside, followed by the sound of clothing being set down.

And when he walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a bathrobe, the lights in the Living Room had been dimmed.

The curtains of the floor-to-ceiling window were half-drawn, and the city's Nihon spilled in through the gap, shattering into a patch of pale pink light, like a dream blown apart by the wind.

After a while, Li Juli walked out of the bedroom, having changed into a silk loungewear set.

The silky fabric slid down her shoulder line, revealing a stretch of collarbone, with the light flowing over it.

Her shoulder-length hair had been blown soft, the tips still carrying a slight curl, causing the air in the Living Room to instantly fill with a faint floral scent.

"Finished washing?" she asked softly, her tone so gentle it was almost a whisper.

"Mm," Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

"That's good." She took a step closer, her gaze falling on his chest, and reached out to straighten the collar of his bathrobe.

As her fingertips brushed past his collarbone, both of their breaths paused for a fleeting instant.

The wind outside the window swept by, stirring the curtains to sway gently, casting shadows that flickered between the two.

The lamplight flowed over them, and even their breathing seemed to possess a warmth.

After letting go of his collar, Li Juli asked, "Want something to drink?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his tone carrying a touch of ease and a hint of teasing amusement, "I thought you would be impatient; this is a bit unexpected."

Facing this remark, Li Juli smiled, her eyes as soft as the night itself.

"Is that so? It's just that I've been thinking about some things these past two days." Her voice was low and slow, carrying a trace of an ambiguous sigh, "Compared to Zhiyan, I feel like I haven't done as well before."

This sentence was like a line gently drawn through the air; it landed silently, yet rippled with a layer of warmth.

"Don't overthink it; you are you, and Zhiyan is Zhiyan."

"Mm, I know, so, want a drink?"

Smelling the fragrance on the woman before him—the sweetness of shampoo mixed with the warmth of her skin—made Lin Xiuyuan, standing right in front of her, feel a bit restless.

Then, his gaze intertwined with hers in the air, and he spoke, "No..."

"Have a drink, I'll be your wine glass~"

Once these words were spoken, their breaths immediately overlapped.

As the neon lights outside the window dimmed bit by bit, only the silent little lamp remained in the room.

The light was soft, casting two silhouettes that leaned closer and closer together.

The story did not continue.

But the silence, propped up by their heartbeats, made the very air brim with a faint heat.

It was as if time itself was reluctant to disturb their fusion in this moment.

The following noon.

Sunlight spilled into the Living Room through the gaps in the curtains, landing on the soft carpet in fragmented light and shadow.

The air was permeated with the lingering warmth of last night and a hint of tea fragrance.

Having woken up, Li Juli was currently leaning against the sofa, draped in a thin blanket, with a cup of warm tea at her side.

The tea mist rose gently, blurring her brows and eyes, making that languor appear even more moving.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiuyuan sat at the dining table not far away, head lowered as he sorted through messages on his phone; his light gray shirt made him look clean and sharp.

It was the very one Li Juli had handed him that morning.

Neither of them spoke, only occasionally lifting their eyes, their gazes touching in the air,

carrying a bit of a smile and the tacit understanding of last night's lingering warmth.

The wind outside the window occasionally blew the corner of the curtain, bringing in the faint sounds of the city.

"Are you leaving?"

At this moment, Li Juli was the first to break the silence.

Her tone was very light, as if afraid of shattering this moment.

"Mm, I have to go." Lin Xiuyuan looked up and smiled, "I have to pick someone up."

"A woman?" She narrowed her eyes, the smile at the corners of her eyes present yet elusive.

"Uh..." He paused, his tone carrying a touch of guilty ease.

"Got it." Li Juli responded softly, set down her teacup, and stood up to walk to his side.

Then she reached out and gently straightened his collar for him.

The moment her fingertips brushed against the side of his neck, it sparked a tiny electric current.

"You have to tidy up properly," she said in a low voice, her tone mixed with a trace of gentle reproach, "At least look like someone who just finished a shower."

Looking at Li Juli like this, Lin Xiuyuan was slightly stunned, then laughed out loud, "Don't make it sound like I'm never coming back; I'm just in Seoul, it's not like I'm going anywhere."

"Oh my, such a rare atmosphere, don't ruin it." Li Juli pouted; she really loved these kinds of romantic dramas.

And when Lin Xiuyuan later left the Apartment, the sunlight overhead was just right.

After driving the car out of the garage, he followed the navigation arrows in silence, until he slowed to a stop in front of a familiar location.

Only then did he take out his phone and type a line: 【I'm here.】

Then he glanced at the weather outside the window.

After another while, the door of the house by the roadside was pushed open from the inside.

Krystal walked out.

Her appearance made the very air pause for an instant.

Simply because her outfit today was truly stunning at first glance.

A tube-top miniskirt clung to her lines, black silk stockings extended down her slender legs, and over it was a light camel trench coat with the belt tied loosely.

A breeze blew from the street corner, causing the hem of her coat to lift gently, revealing the skirt hem hidden beneath.

On her feet were a pair of thin-heeled high heels, her ankle curves smooth and fluid.

Her long hair was draped down, and her cold, fair skin seemed to glow softly in the daylight.

Watching this scene, Lin Xiuyuan froze, his hand still resting on the steering wheel, a flash of unmistakable awe in his eyes.

The visual impact caused his breathing to falter slightly.

And Krystal, within his gaze, had already arrived at the passenger side, pulled open the door, and leaned in to sit down.

The fragrance on her body slipped into the car along with her, a blend of vanilla and subtle sweet fruit notes.

The moment she turned her head, Krystal looked at Lin Xiuyuan's nonchalant expression, her lips pursing slightly, though a hint of meaningful laughter was hidden in the depths of her eyes, "It seems my outfit today didn't go to waste."

She tilted her chin slightly, the curve of her trench coat collar revealing exactly an inch of fair skin along the side of her neck.

Sunlight filtered through the car window and landed on her hair, shimmering with a faint golden glow.

"It looks quite good." Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her with a smile, his tone unhurried.

Then he added, "No need to change when we get home, either."

This last sentence made Krystal smile lightly, carrying a bit of mischief and a bit of smugness.

Her gaze swept over the shirt he was wearing, and her eyes paused slightly, "Where did you go to have fun last night? This shirt isn't the one you were wearing when you video-called me yesterday, is it?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just been preoccupied, immediately scratched his head, his tone a bit guilty, "Uh, went to grab a late-night snack, got the original one dirty, so I just changed into whatever."

"A late-night snack, huh?" Krystal raised an eyebrow, her voice airy but laced with a hint of teasing, "What kind of late-night snack did you eat? Abalone? Steamed buns? Butterflies? Or..."

She paused deliberately, the corners of her lips curling slightly, "Or that 'first-line' you've been thinking about constantly..."

"Stop—!"

The increasingly heated remarks in his ears made Lin Xiuyuan unable to help but interrupt, shaking his head with a laugh, "Xiujing, stop being jealous for no reason. I ran over to pick you up the moment I woke up; you know what I mean, right?"

Krystal smiled with pursed lips, the little bit of emotion in her eyes instantly dissipating as he teased her, "Fine, I'll let you off the hook."

Leaning back into the seat, she let out a long breath, her slender fingers smoothing the hem of her trench coat.

Suddenly, as if she had remembered something.

She then gently lifted one leg; the black silk stockings shimmered with a subtle luster in the morning light, appearing and disappearing from view.

She quietly extended a fingertip, sliding it down from her knee; the movement was casual, yet carried a hint of allure.

"Then you tell me, Xiuyuan." She turned her head slightly to look at him, her brows arched, "Is the way I'm dressed sexy?"

Lin Xiuyuan's hand gripping the steering wheel tightened slightly.

Glancing over, he saw Krystal half-leaning against the seat, her eyes smiling but also hiding a touch of provocation.

The person being asked cleared his throat, feigning composure, "How do you want me to answer?"

Hearing this, Krystal blinked, her tone as soft as if she were seducing him, "Just be honest."

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan sighed softly, the corner of his mouth curling up, "It's a pity~"

The short three-character phrase made Krystal freeze for a moment, then she burst into laughter.

She laughed until her shoulders were trembling slightly, as if something had struck the softest part of her heart.

Afterward, the car continued to move forward, and at a traffic light, the sunlight from the street corner fell right onto the windshield.

The pale golden light spilled in through the car windows, making the air inside the car feel gentle and ambiguous.

Lin Xiuyuan gripped the steering wheel, his profile cut into clear contours by the light and shadow, but just as he released the accelerator, Krystal beside him called out softly again, "Xiuyuan~"

The sound was so soft it was almost swallowed by the engine noise, yet it drilled precisely into his ears.

So he turned his head slightly, his gaze shifting, and his breathing stopped at that very moment.

Krystal had somehow taken off those black high heels and was curled up barefoot in the passenger seat, her fair ankles peeking out from the hem of her trench coat, her toes wrapped in semi-sheer stockings.

She was curled up in the passenger seat, one leg bent and the other hanging naturally, her posture lazy yet carrying a hint of provocation.

Moreover, the sunlight fell right on her legs, and the fine light patterns flowed along the lines of the stockings, as if tracing a faintly shimmering boundary.

The ambiguous atmosphere was such that even the air seemed to be scorched into a slightly sticky state.

She looked at Lin Xiuyuan with her face turned, the corners of her lips curving slightly, her eyes flashing with a bit of mischievous amusement.

"Xiuyuan~" she called out again, her tone carrying a hint of elusive laughter.

Her voice was low, with a trailing breath.

"Do you think~ should we find a place..." She paused, her eyes flashing with amusement, "To park and do something else?"

Hearing this, the hand Lin Xiuyuan had on the steering wheel tightened involuntarily.

One could almost hear the "creak" of the leather.

However, his gaze remained fixed on the flashing red light ahead, though his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he forced himself to say, "You, oh you..."

His voice was low and hoarse, as if he were struggling to control the temperature of his emotions, "Xiujing, I prefer a place with more space; it's more fun."

Krystal tilted her head, the corners of her mouth curling into a more playful smile, her eyes flashing with a provocative light.

"Isn't it more exciting outside?" She raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone carrying a hint of deliberate temptation.

Lin Xiuyuan did not answer immediately, only sighed softly, his gaze resting briefly on the steering wheel.

As the green light turned on, the car slowly started and skillfully merged into the traffic, the slight roar of the engine echoing inside the car.

"Let's eat first." He finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of restrained tenderness, "Stop seducing people; I'm really about to explode."

Lin Xiuyuan knew that from last night until now, Krystal had eaten almost nothing.

Besides the pictorial and promotional shoots, she had also reshot some scenes, staying busy almost all night.

So, casting aside his own desires, his heart was more concerned with her body and stomach; compared to the desire that had already surged to his head, taking her to fill her stomach was his most important choice.

And after that sentence fell, Krystal, hearing this, was also stunned for a moment, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes.

Then she couldn't help but let out a soft "pfft" of laughter.

Pursing her lips, her smile was filled with tenderness and sweetness, as if Lin Xiuyuan's words had melted her entire being in an instant.

Light slid through her hair, illuminating fine, warm gold, and even that smile seemed wrapped in the softness of the sunlight.

Thus, she put her high heels back on, but that lightness and subtle ambiguity did not dissipate along with it.

After leaning back into the seat, Krystal's fingers unconsciously stroked the hem of her trench coat, her voice carrying a bit more playfulness, "By the way, Xiuyuan~ how is things with Jessica?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan immediately said with a tone of concern, and also a little evasion, "You haven't slept all night, aren't you tired? Close your eyes for a bit."

"Hmph hmph hmph, I know even if you don't tell me; Jessica video-called me last night, and her tone was incredibly boastful."

"..."

"Just give me one answer: was it you who initiated it, or her?"

"..."

Seeing that Lin Xiuyuan kept ignoring her, Krystal narrowed her eyes, and the next second, she feigned a pout, saying with a touch of coquettishness, "Xiuyuan~ you've changed. Is this how all men act after they have someone else on the outside?"

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll talk, I'll talk."

Seeing that if he didn't speak up, he would really become a scumbag, Lin Xiuyuan smiled helplessly, "According to Jessica's perspective, strictly speaking, nothing happened between her and me."

Hearing this, Krystal immediately pouted, her eyes flashing with suspicion, "You're bluffing me. My eyes aren't blind; how is that possible?"

"Mm, we just had a wet dream." Lin Xiuyuan blinked; he really wasn't lying.

"Xiuyuan~ the way you said that, I really want to stuff my silk stockings into your mouth."

"..." After a moment of silence, Lin Xiuyuan said, "Try it later."

Krystal: "???"

(End of this chapter)