Chapter 271: Sweet Enjing

Shanghai in 2025.

The afternoon sun filtered through the half-drawn curtains, casting light into the hotel bathroom, where rising steam drifted gently in the golden rays.

Jessica slowly rose from the bathtub.

Water droplets slid down her shoulder lines, winding along her collarbones to her chest, while fine bubbles shimmered with a soft luster in the light.

She then picked up a towel to wrap around her body, her fair fingertips brushing lightly over the water traces on her neck, her movements calm and languid.

As she stepped out of the tub and stood before the mirror, her reflection appeared within it.

Damp hair clung to her cheeks, her eyes were bright, and the corners of her lips were slightly upturned.

At this moment, Jessica froze.

Because she suddenly recalled how she looked standing in front of this hotel bathroom a week ago.

Pale complexion, dull eyes, sunken cheeks.

Yet now, her skin glowed with a healthy luster, her vitality had returned, and even the sparkle in her eyes had changed.

"This recovery is a bit ridiculous." After muttering this to herself, a smile tugged at the corners of Jessica's mouth.

That face, once again filled with collagen, appeared exceptionally soft and tender against the backdrop of the steam.

Compared to the slightly weary version of herself from the past, she felt as if she had returned to the age of 18.

Jessica stared at herself in the mirror, lost in thought for a long while, before slowly drying off and putting on a soft bathrobe.

The fabric of the robe clung to her skin, carrying the warmth of her recent bath, and she stepped lightly across the carpet as she left the bathroom.

The light outside the guest room was gentle, and the sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains fell right onto her feet, wrapping them in warmth.

"I should go to the restaurant to eat something; I'm a bit hungry."

After saying this, Jessica walked toward the wardrobe, preparing to pick out a light-colored shirt, when the phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

That familiar ringtone sounded exceptionally abrupt in the quiet air.

Thinking of something, she walked over quickly, but when she saw the caller ID, the smile that had been slightly upturned froze in mid-air.

Because the screen displayed the name she was familiar with, loved, and yet often found a headache.

Sighing helplessly, she swiped the answer button.

"Hello?" Her tone carried a hint of faint disappointment.

On the other end of the line, Krystal's voice was light and carried a hint of a mischievous smile, "Eh, Jessica, why does your tone sound so unhappy? Don't tell me you were waiting for Xiuyuan's call and didn't get it, only to get mine instead."

Teased, Jessica immediately countered, her tone carrying a smile through gritted teeth, "Nonsense, speak if you have something to say."

"Oh my, I originally just wanted to make a call to flirt a little..."

Before she could finish, Jessica, immediately guessing something, paused slightly, her eyebrows shooting up sharply.

"Hey, Zheng Xiujing!" Her voice rose, "You aren't with Lin Xiuyuan, are you? Let me tell you, if you dare to use me for your play games again, I will definitely teach you a lesson when I get back!"

A hearty, slightly punchable laugh immediately came from the other end of the phone.

"Hahaha, I did have that intention, but unfortunately, Xiuyuan just received a call and rushed out."

Only then did Jessica's brow relax slightly, her tone softening, "Went out? What for?"

"I heard there was some situation with Enjing unnie, but since Zhiyan and the others are filming, he had to go over and take a look."

"Oh, that's fine." Jessica replied softly, "I remember Enjing was hospitalized a few days ago; she probably asked Xiuyuan to help."

"Yeah." Krystal's tone was light, as if chatting casually, or perhaps probing something, "What about you, Jessica? What are you doing?"

"Just finished a bath, preparing to go to the restaurant to eat." Jessica answered casually.

"Eh? A bath?? That's really a pity."

Hearing this, Krystal immediately sighed with feigned regret, "If Xiuyuan and I had made this call earlier, maybe the three of us could be chatting, doing things, and bathing together right now. That would definitely be more interesting, right?"

"Zheng—Xiu—Jing! Do you want to die?" Jessica shouted, almost through gritted teeth.

The laughter on the other end became even more unrestrained, "Hahaha, no, I don't want to die. Life is so good now; I've never been this happy in my life."

This caused Jessica, who had originally wanted to scold her a few more times, to suddenly fall silent upon hearing these words.

She pursed her lips, her gaze crossing the balcony to look out the window.

The silver silhouette of the Oriental Pearl Tower glowed faintly in the afternoon sun, and the city air was dizzyingly hot.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Her tone softened, her voice gentle, almost like a sigh, "I know these past few years haven't been easy for you, so enjoy life while you can. That guy Lin Xiuyuan... he really is a treasure."

Krystal on the other end also fell silent for a brief moment, with only the faint sound of breathing coming through the receiver.

A few minutes later, her voice finally softened, carrying a smile that was almost imperceptible, "Mm, I know."

Jessica did not speak again.

After hanging up, she stood blankly in place, her fingertips still resting on that shirt.

A moment later, she laughed softly, as if mocking herself, or perhaps feeling a pang of heartache.

"Really... hasn't grown up at all."

Sunlight spilled onto her profile, the light and shadow through the curtains falling on her hair tips, as soft as if separated by ten years of time.

On the other side.

After receiving that call from Little Dragon Cub, Lin Xiuyuan barely hesitated before arriving at Sweet Enjing's residence via the Time Gate.

The moment the door was pushed open, blinding sunlight fell diagonally into the room through the gap in the curtains, illuminating the floating dust in the living room.

Outside was still the bright, early autumn afternoon, but inside was strangely quiet, even the hum of the air conditioner sounding exceptionally weak.

This contrast made him pause his steps.

His gaze swept across the room, finally landing on the beige sofa in the living room, where he saw Sweet Enjing sitting.

Her body was slightly turned, and she was wearing a light white house dress.

The hem of the dress draped over her knees, her hair was casually pinned back, and a few stray strands clung to her slightly sweaty neck, making her look somewhat languid.

(PS: Couldn't find a dress, using this instead)

Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, a gentle and faint smile rising at the corners of her lips, "You're here. Sorry to trouble you, Xiuyuan."

With this gentle greeting, Lin Xiuyuan's originally tense shoulders relaxed unconsciously.

He then closed the door behind him, shook his head gently, his tone carrying a hint of concern, "Not at all. What's wrong? Why is the atmosphere so quiet?"

Sweet Enjing lifted her chin slightly, pointing toward the coffee table.

"Look at that."

Lin Xiuyuan followed her gesture and saw a light silver mechanical device resting quietly on the coffee table.

With smooth lines and a cold luster, it was the knee joint booster he had ordered online when he visited her the day before yesterday.

"Oh? It arrived so fast? Didn't I just buy it the day before yesterday?"

He raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Sweet Enjing couldn't help but chuckle, a hint of rare pleasure flashing in her eyes, "I don't know either. I was startled when I signed for it just now; the delivery speed is ridiculously fast."

"Probably because they have a warehouse nearby." Lin Xiuyuan clicked his tongue, leaned over to inspect the parts, and added casually, "Impressive, the efficiency is indeed good."

As he spoke, he looked up, his brow carrying a hint of a gentle smile, "So, Enjing, you called me over to help you assemble this?"

Sweet Enjing nodded gently, blinked her eyes, revealing a somewhat embarrassed expression, and pursed her thin lips softly, "I originally wanted to do it myself, but the manual for this thing is too complicated. I messed with it for a long time and was afraid of assembling it wrong... so I thought about asking Zhiyan and the others for help, but they are all busy filming today, so I had to..."

"Haha, no problem." Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, "I'll help you."

He then rolled up his sleeves, sat down by the coffee table, and took the device in his hands.

With a series of carbon fiber parts being carefully disassembled and assembled in his hands, his movements were very clean and efficient.

As he worked, Lin Xiuyuan sighed, "Technology in 2025 is truly a leap. Over in 2013, there was no such lightweight booster structure. Back then, similar equipment had to be wired and strapped on, making you look like a mecha."

Sweet Enjing, on the sofa, rested her chin in her hand, turned her head, and let her gaze fall quietly upon him.

"Then is this really useful?"

"Of course." Lin Xiuyuan looked up, his tone serious, his eyes focused.

As he spoke, he gently lifted her leg, the warmth of his palm coming through the thin fabric.

"This exoskeleton booster can disperse the pressure on the knee joint, reduce the load on the thigh, and prevent the recurrence of old injuries. I've looked at some people's usage experiences; it's considered a relatively mature auxiliary equipment."

He paused for a moment, then added in a low voice, "However, true recovery still depends on system treatment; this can only help you share the pain temporarily."

Sweet Enjing listened quietly and nodded gently.

Her gaze fell on Lin Xiuyuan's lowered profile.

That focused expression, his long and steady fingers, and the warmth revealed when he occasionally looked up, all gave one a sense of stability.

As the slight "click" sound occurred when the mechanism was gently installed on her leg, interwoven with his low voice, it actually added a strange tranquility to the small living room, making Sweet Enjing feel an unprecedented sense of security.

At that moment, sunlight passed through the gap in the curtains, falling on Lin Xiuyuan's shoulder and on her knee.

This feeling made Sweet Enjing suddenly sigh softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible, "What a pity."

Lin Xiuyuan looked up, "What's a pity?"

Sweet Enjing, leaning on the sofa, tilted her head slightly, a look of longing appearing in her eyes, "I thought that after putting this on, I could get back on stage."

This statement left Lin Xiuyuan completely speechless.

His movements paused, and he looked up at Sweet Enjing.

At that moment, sunlight spilled diagonally through the gap in the curtains, falling on her profile.

Her clear and soft features, a hint of heroism between her brows, and the slightly upturned corners of her lips hid that unique stubbornness and unwillingness.

After glancing at her, Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head and sighed, tapping the thing on her leg, "Are you crazy? You're like this and you still want to get on stage?"

Sweet Enjing pouted, looking away unwillingly, "Of course. You know how long it's been since we left that place... It's rare to have a chance to get on stage again; I really don't want to miss it."

"Dream?" Lin Xiuyuan asked in a low voice.

She turned her head back, her gaze falling on him, and she nodded again with a faint smile, "Something like that. But making money is also important. However, if I could perform again while making money, being under the spotlight... that would be even better."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and did not try to persuade her further.

He just shook his head and sighed, continuing to lower his head to adjust the fixing ring of the mechanical booster.

Only the slight "click" of the mechanism remained in the air, along with the faint sound of his fingertips rubbing against the parts.

The sound was very light, but for some reason, it made Sweet Enjing's heartbeat go a little haywire.

So her gaze fell on his long fingers, on his lowered eyelashes, and his focused expression.

That quiet gentleness made her suddenly feel.

Perhaps compared to the stage lights, the current sunlight was even harder to escape.

Thinking of this, Sweet Enjing called out softly, "Xiuyuan~"

"Hm?" He didn't look up, still focused on tightening the fixing buckle.

"Tell me, is that thing of yours useful?"

Lin Xiuyuan paused, his head still not raised, "What thing?"

Sweet Enjing's voice lowered, carrying a slight tremor, "The one I drank."

Lin Xiuyuan's movements stopped abruptly.

At that moment, the air seemed to be pressed on the pause button, and even the light seemed to become viscous.

He looked up, obvious shock and disbelief flashing in his eyes, "You... what did you drink?"

Sweet Enjing did not answer immediately, just curled her lips, revealing an elusive smile.

A hint of imperceptible tremor hid in her eyes, along with a gentleness that one dared not look directly at.

She just leaned against the back of the sofa, her eyes quietly watching Lin Xiuyuan in front of her.

Sunlight slid down her hair tips, hitting the space between them, refracting a thin ray of light along the metal edge of the silver booster, swaying faintly.

And as Sweet Enjing's voice fell, Lin Xiuyuan was truly frozen for a long time.

So he repeated the question, "Drank what?"

At the same time, he laughed somewhat awkwardly, trying to make his tone sound natural again.

To this, Sweet Enjing blinked, her lips carrying a hint of playfulness, "What do you think? That ridiculous idea Zhiyan mentioned the other day..."

She had expected him to joke about it or continue to tease her.

But she didn't expect Lin Xiuyuan's smile to freeze completely after hearing the name "Zhiyan".

He was stunned in place, as if struck by lightning.

Sweet Enjing, seeing this, was also stunned, and continued to call out, "Xiuyuan? What's wrong?"

Awakened, Lin Xiuyuan slowly looked up, a trace of indescribable shock and confusion flashing in his eyes.

The scene at the hospital that day flashed back in his mind.

The dim washroom, the tightly closed wooden door.

He had seen with his own eyes Little Dragon Cub's throat roll as she swallowed it.

Afterward, she had even obediently opened her little mouth, letting him see that moist oral cavity clearly; how could this still be given to Sweet Enjing in front of him?

At the time, he had heard about taking medicine while hiding in the restroom and thought it was just Little Dragon Cub following Sweet Enjing's lead to fool Li Juli, just getting something random outside.

But now.

Who knew that at this very moment, Sweet Enjing would say such things, which left Lin Xiuyuan truly dumbfounded.

Like a needle, it precisely pierced the blurry mist that had been blocking the truth in both their hearts, directly dispersing it.

Thus, the air between the two stagnated for a few seconds, with only the mechanical sound of the booster that had just been tightened ringing slightly.

Sweet Enjing, sensing something unusual, narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze becoming sharp, "Wait a minute, Xiuyuan~ what's with this expression and reaction of yours?"

Although her tone was light, every word revealed a kind of sharpness and intelligence.

Lin Xiuyuan's Adam's apple moved, he swallowed, and didn't speak for a long while.

It wasn't until Sweet Enjing raised her brow slightly that he spoke in a low, guilty voice, "That... actually, you probably misunderstood what happened at the hospital that day."

"Misunderstood?" Sweet Enjing raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lin Xiuyuan spoke while recalling the scene at the time.

He spoke very slowly, his tone very cautious, as if afraid that any word spoken too heavily would detonate something.

And as Sweet Enjing listened, she gradually stiffened.

When Lin Xiuyuan reached the last part, her pupils clearly contracted, and even her breathing paused for a moment.

Her mind began to automatically replay the scene of that day.

Juli standing outside the ward door, urging in a low voice;

Zhiyan walking in with a water cup, her face carrying that usual mischievous, lighthearted smile;

And she herself had been completely dazed at the time, taking the cup of water without thinking much about it.

Even the fact that the water was so bland it had almost no taste was something she only realized now.

You have to know that at the time, she was still comforting herself in her heart: maybe it was just too diluted.

Thinking back on it now, everything became clear.

Those fragments pieced together in her mind, finally stringing into a truth.

Sweet Enjing's complexion changed subtly several times within a few seconds.

From shock, to astonishment, to the final complete speechlessness.

"So according to what you mean." Sweet Enjing asked softly, her voice somewhat dry, almost carrying a hint of disbelief, "That cup of water... wasn't real at all? Was Zhiyan just teasing me?"

Lin Xiuyuan sighed helplessly and could only nod, "Eighty percent likely, you also know her brain circuit; she's more used to pulling pranks than eating."

It was probably like that, no surprises.

It couldn't be throat-scraping, after all.

Thus, after Lin Xiuyuan finished speaking, Sweet Enjing stared at him blankly for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed softly.

It wasn't a happy laugh, but an instinctive reaction after being speechless to the extreme.

"I knew it," she exhaled a long breath, leaned back against the sofa, her whole body reclining, her voice languid, "No wonder her expression was so strange when she looked at me that day; I thought it was because I drank it too heroically."

Lin Xiuyuan was almost made to laugh out loud by her words, but didn't dare to be too obvious, so he had to scratch his head awkwardly.

After a moment, Sweet Enjing looked up again, took a deep breath, her gaze carrying a hint of being unable to laugh or cry, "Xiuyuan... I suddenly feel that our church really needs to set up a 'Truth Committee'."

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh, "Agreed, I'll be the first to sign up."

The two looked at each other and finally couldn't help but laugh at the same time.

In that laughter, there was a bit of absurdity, a bit of relief, and even more of the speechlessness that only those who have experienced chaos and misunderstanding would understand.

Afterward, as Lin Xiuyuan gently closed the last fixing buckle of the booster bracket, lowered his head to carefully check the angle, and confirmed it wasn't crooked, he slowly straightened up.

"Done."

His voice was soft and slow, carrying a hint of relaxation, and mixed with a bit of deliberately concealed calmness.

The imperceptible awkward atmosphere between the two still lingered in the air.

Sweet Enjing sat on the edge of the sofa, lowering her head to tidy the edge of the blanket, her fingertips rubbing it unconsciously, not speaking again.

And Lin Xiuyuan raised his hand to touch the back of his neck, cleared his throat, as if looking for an excuse to let the atmosphere flow again, "That, Enjing, have you eaten today?"

Sweet Enjing, when asked, was stunned, her eyes slightly stagnant, her tone soft, "Drank some oatmeal in the morning, not very hungry."

"Oatmeal?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth unable to help but reveal a hint of helplessness.

Then, with "dad-like" concern and sincere reproach, he continued, "I say, you're treating yourself too poorly. You're sick and you're still drinking oatmeal; how can you get better? There's no such operation."

While muttering, he took out his phone and skillfully opened a food delivery app.

"Come on, what do you want to eat? I'll order for you. Food delivery in Seoul is quite fast now; it'll arrive in twenty minutes."

"Don't." Sweet Enjing reached out to stop him, her tone carrying a hint of stubbornness, "I'm really not hungry, and I haven't been able to accept the taste of takeout lately; I get sick of it just by smelling it."

"Then that won't do."

Lin Xiuyuan looked up at her, his brow slightly furrowed, his gaze lingering on her face for two seconds, seemingly deliberating.

Immediately, his gaze turned toward the kitchen, "How about this, what ingredients do you have here? I'll just make you something hot to pad your stomach."

Sweet Enjing, not expecting Lin Xiuyuan to say this, was somewhat surprised, so she quickly waved her hand, "No need, really no need to trouble you, I'm not hungry."

"It's fine." He had already stood up and walked toward the kitchen, his tone laughing lightly, "I happen to be a bit hungry too."

As the words fell, the sound of the refrigerator door being opened came from the kitchen with a "click".

A moment later, his voice came with a hint of sighing, "Enjing, your refrigerator is a bit too simple. Two packs of instant noodles, a half-eaten carrot, and a little bit of beef?"

After finishing the complaint, Lin Xiuyuan looked at the beautiful figure on the sofa, the corners of his mouth rising, "With these ingredients, I'll stir-fry some noodles for you, keep it simple."

Sweet Enjing pursed her lips and smiled, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her eyes, "Stir-fried noodles? Is it the kind from the night market stalls over there? I ate it when I went to perform before; it was especially fragrant."

"You mean that taste," Lin Xiuyuan laughed and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the lines of his arms, "I'll try my best to restore it for you."

Immediately following, the sound of pots and pans rang out, and the aroma of lunch began to diffuse.

The light in the kitchen shone on his back, cutting out a soft and bright silhouette.

Then Lin Xiuyuan boiled water to soak the noodles, letting them roll in the pot, then scooped them up and rinsed them in cold water, shaking them dry.

Then he cut the carrots into thin shreds and the beef into strips.

Following a "pop" sound, he lit the stove.

Oil smoke rose from the bottom of the pot, and the beef made a sizzling sound as it entered the pot, as if the afternoon air was stained with the temperature of that aroma.

Sweet Enjing leaned on the sofa, resting her chin in her hand, quietly watching the figure in the kitchen.

The sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains fell on his profile, reflecting a layer of faint warm light.

The rhythm of the spatula hitting the edge of the pot was unhurried, interwoven with his occasional exchanges with her into an ordinary yet moving melody.

At this moment, Sweet Enjing suddenly felt that these small moments filled with life were more reassuring than any comfort.

So she gently picked up her phone and aimed it toward the kitchen.

"Click—"

One shot.

Another shot.

In the photo, Lin Xiuyuan was looking down, stir-frying, the fire in the pot reflecting his expression, serious and quiet.

The background was a slightly messy small kitchen, and the paper napkins hanging on the wall were gently curled by the heat.

Sweet Enjing looked at these photos on her phone, the corners of her mouth curving unconsciously.

At that moment, her heart felt as if it had been gently touched by something soft.

No waves, yet gentle enough to make one reluctant to part.

Before long, bursts of aroma drifted out of the kitchen.

The oily fragrance of beef and the sweetness of carrots intertwined in the air, as if spreading a layer of gentle smoke in this not-so-large apartment.

"Done."

Lin Xiuyuan wiped his hands and walked out with the steaming plate of stir-fried noodles.

After placing the plate in front of Sweet Enjing, his tone still carried a hint of pride and relaxed joking, "Seoul limited edition, produced by Xiuyuan."

Sweet Enjing had originally been leaning on the sofa, but when she smelled that familiar aroma, her eyes lit up immediately.

She sat up straight immediately, her hair sliding gently over her shoulders, the corners of her lips unable to help but rise, "Wow, it really has that taste, but why is there only one plate?"

"You don't really think I'm hungry, do you? Eat quickly." Lin Xiuyuan laughed and waved his hand, signaling her to eat quickly.

"Ah, then why did you make it." Sweet Enjing said, surprised.

"Can't let a patient go hungry."

As he spoke, Lin Xiuyuan stood up again and went to the refrigerator in the kitchen, took a bottle of cola for himself, and brought a bottle of soda water for Sweet Enjing.

When he sat back in his seat, he said, "The taste might be a bit heavy, try it first; if it's really too much, drink some water."

Hearing this, Sweet Enjing picked up her chopsticks, couldn't wait to pick up a mouthful, blew on it a few times, and then carefully sent it into her mouth.

"Mm~!"

With just one bite, her eyes widened slightly, and her surprised expression seemed to be lit up, "This is too delicious, Xiuyuan, did you secretly learn this?"

Lin Xiuyuan was amused by her reaction and sat opposite her, "What's there to secretly learn? There are plenty of teaching videos online now, and they are all five-star chefs; just follow along. I'm not someone with clumsy hands."

"No wonder." Sweet Enjing laughed low, the corners of her mouth carrying a long-lost warmth.

In that smile, there was a bit of relaxation, and a bit of inexplicable warmth permeating.

But not long after, Sweet Enjing suddenly slowed down her movements.

Her chopsticks stirred gently in the bowl, as if hesitating about something.

That expression carried a hint of elusive thoughts, making Lin Xiuyuan unable to help but look up at her.

After a moment, she finally spoke, her tone faint, but carrying a bit of seriousness, "Xiuyuan... do you think that thing of yours is really useful for this injury?"

As soon as these words came out, the water Lin Xiuyuan had just swallowed almost made him choke.

After coughing twice, he looked at Sweet Enjing, unable to laugh or cry, "Ah? Weren't you there when Zhiyan asked me last time?"

He scratched his head, laughing somewhat helplessly, "I'm not a saint, and that thing of mine isn't an immortal pill; how could it be so exaggerated."

Sweet Enjing, who had already heard these words, didn't answer, just lowered her eyes to look at her ankle wearing the brace.

Those splints shone coldly in the sunlight, making her ankle appear even more slender.

Then she used her fingertips to gently rub the edge of the brace, her expression thoughtful.

Afterward, she used her chopsticks to stir the noodles in the bowl and picked up another mouthful to put in her mouth, but didn't really chew.

Her gaze occasionally glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, who had finished speaking, as if thinking, and also as if sizing him up.

And Lin Xiuyuan, under her gaze, actually felt a bit restless, "Why... why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing." Sweet Enjing pursed her lips and smiled, her tone light, but hiding a bit of elusive meaning.

This meal finally ended in this elusive quietness.

As Sweet Enjing slowly put down her chopsticks, her fingertips turned gently around the edge of the bowl.

When she looked up again, her voice was soft, but carried a hint of undeniable determination, "How about we give it a try?"

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, "Ah? What did you say?"

Sweet Enjing looked up at him, her expression gentle, but her tone unusually firm, "I think Zhiyan was right; if we don't try, who knows if it's really useful?"

At that moment, Lin Xiuyuan was completely frozen in place.

He stared at the woman in front of him.

That always gentle Sweet Enjing now actually had a bright determination in her eyes.

"Enjing... are you serious?" he asked in a low voice.

Sweet Enjing nodded gently, her tone still calm, "Mm, I was already a bit moved by the changes in Zhiyan and YoonA's side, and now the situation with my foot has made me make up my mind."

Lin Xiuyuan laughed awkwardly, "How about we stop messing around? If it doesn't have any effect, wouldn't it be a waste of effort?"

Sweet Enjing pursed her lips, a hint of crow's feet appearing at the corners of her eyes, "Then just take good care of my face; since I have to get on stage anyway, I have to look better."

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, her gaze carrying a hint of teasing and seriousness, and added softly, "Or... Xiuyuan, do you actually look down on me?"

As soon as this sentence came out, the tone wasn't heavy, but it made the air become subtle.

"Ah? No, no!!!"

Lin Xiuyuan was hit by her words and almost petrified on the spot.

He waved his hands subconsciously, even his tone carrying a hint of panic, "How could that be! I just... it's just too sudden."

Sweet Enjing leaned against the back of the sofa, the smile at the corners of her mouth rippling softly, like a light breeze brushing over a lake.

Her eyes, however, were not ambiguous at all, carrying a bit of seriousness and a bit of teasing, "What's so sudden about this? People meet at a bar for a one-night stand and roll in the sheets that same night; how long has it been for us?"

"Uh, that's different."

Lin Xiuyuan's mouth twitched, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence, "And with your state..."

Before he could finish, he could hear the panic in his own tone.

But Sweet Enjing just smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Then she gently pushed away the bowl on the table, her dress hem swaying slightly as she stood up, her footsteps so light there was almost no sound.

The moment she stood up, the temperature in the air seemed to change a bit.

Afterward, she turned to look at him, a light shining in her eyes, her tone gentle but carrying expectation, "Let me go brush my teeth."

After saying that, she walked toward the bathroom barefoot, limping.

The floor was slightly cool, and the footsteps were light and fragmented.

The fabric of her house dress swayed gently with her movements, drawing a gentle arc.

And Lin Xiuyuan just stood there, stunned, watching her leave.

Watching that back gradually disappear behind the door, even his breathing became a bit heavier.

Then he reached out to touch the back of his neck, his palm burning hot.

This rhythm, I'm afraid something big is about to happen.

On the other side.

The concert pictorial shooting scene was hot with lights, flashbulbs flashed frequently, and the rhythmic sound of shutters rose and fell in the air.

The background music was a strong electronic beat, and the photographer's instructions were mixed in.

Li Juli, Park Hyomin, and Little Dragon Cub stood to the side, waiting for the next set of styling.

While organizing the accessories handed over by the stylist, they chatted casually about the shots just taken.

"The lighting for this set is a bit too heavy, right?" Park Hyomin raised her hand, shielding her eyes from the strong light with her palm, frowning slightly, "Feels like the skin tone will look too cold."

"Just tell the photography director in a while; let's look at the proofs first." Li Juli replied faintly, her expression focused, her tone as steady as ever.

Instead, Little Dragon Cub was somewhat absent-minded at this time.

She held a pair of earrings in her hand, her movements paused for several seconds, her expression somewhat dazed.

"Juli unnie," she suddenly looked up, "do you think... could something be wrong with Enjing unnie?"

Li Juli raised her gaze, looking at her obviously worried expression, and smiled gently.

"Didn't you call Xiuyuan over?" Her voice was soft, carrying a touch of composure.

"Yeah." Little Dragon Cub nodded, still somewhat hesitant, "But when she showed me the video, that booster brace seemed quite complicated; I'm afraid the two of them won't be able to handle it."

"Xiuyuan sent the thing; could he not know how to use it himself?"

Li Juli smiled faintly, her tone gentle and certain, "He is very meticulous; if something were really wrong, wouldn't he call someone? It's useless for you to be anxious here."

Park Hyomin on the side also looked up upon hearing this, and although she usually kept a "respectful distance" from Lin Xiuyuan, she nodded gently at this moment, "Yeah, with him there, it's better than Enjing messing around blindly by herself."

Little Dragon Cub, hearing this, felt her mood relax slightly, and she exhaled a long breath.

"Phew~ alright then." She muttered in a low voice, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and followed the other two to throw herself back into the next set of shooting.

The lights in the studio flickered, and beams of light and shadow fell on them.

The rhythmic background music vibrated the air, and the photographer's voice almost drowned out the beat.

"Closer... right, Zhiyan, head slightly to the right, look at me, nice~"

"Hyomin, put more electricity in your eyes, good, that's it, keep it up."

The flashbulbs lit up round after round, and the three changed poses according to instructions, bodies tilting slightly, turning, and looking back.

After just a few rounds, the sweat that had just been wiped away emerged again, dampening their bangs.

When the photographer announced a short break, the three exhaled almost at the same time.

Little Dragon Cub even sat down on a stool, picked up the mineral water on the table, and took a gulp, her throat rolling.

But the worry in the bottom of her heart didn't go down with the water.

After hesitating for a moment, she subconsciously picked up her phone.

"Should I make a call and ask?" She looked up at Li Juli while speaking.

Li Juli was touching up her makeup, smiled gently upon hearing this, her tone soft, "If you're worried, just call; it's break time anyway."

"Mm, then I'll call."

Little Dragon Cub took a deep breath and pressed Sweet Enjing's number.

The screen lit up, and she stared at the series of jumping dialing sounds, her fingertips somewhat tight.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The phone rang several times on the other end, and just as it was about to hang up automatically, a blurry sound of air finally came through.

"Hello... Zhiyan?"

Sweet Enjing's voice carried a hint of languor and a slightly muffled hoarseness, as if she had just woken up not long ago, her throat still shrinking, "What's up?"

"Unnie, are you okay over there? How did Xiuyuan do helping you?" Little Dragon Cub's tone carried concern.

The other end of the phone was quiet for a few seconds, as if the other party was adjusting her breathing.

Then Sweet Enjing's soft laughter came slowly, the laughter so gentle it almost melted into the air, "Mm, it's fine, Xiuyuan came over and already helped me fix it."

Her tone was relaxed, but carried a hint of elusive ambiguity.

Little Dragon Cub exhaled, the corners of her mouth curving up, "Is Xiuyuan there?"

"Yeah." Sweet Enjing laughed meaningfully, her tone carrying a strange drag, "Wait, I'll give it to him."

A series of fragmented collision sounds came from the receiver, as if someone was moving something.

Then it changed to Lin Xiuyuan's voice, "Ah, Zhiyan, I just helped Enjing fix the booster brace."

His tone sounded a bit tight, as if he was trying hard to endure something, "What are you guys doing?"

"Shooting a pictorial." Little Dragon Cub answered with a smile, while wiping sweat, "Thank you for your hard work, Xiuyuan~"

The other end of the phone seemed to pause.

Immediately following was a slight intake of breath.

"Hiss~ the way you say that, what hard work... no, it's not a big deal."

His voice was a bit airy, his tone rising and falling, as if trying hard to make his tone sound natural.

But that subtle wrongness still seeped out from every pause.

Little Dragon Cub didn't think much of it, just assuming his legs were numb from squatting for too long, and replied with a giggle, "That's good, take care."

Afterward, the two chatted casually for a few more sentences and then hung up.

At the moment of hanging up, Little Dragon Cub subconsciously touched her chin, her expression somewhat subtle.

"Why did Xiuyuan sound a bit off when he was talking?"

"Hm?"

Li Juli on the side was organizing her makeup, looked up upon hearing this, her eyes carrying a bit of curiosity.

"Nothing." Little Dragon Cub came back to her senses and smiled as if to cover it up, "Maybe I thought too much."

Li Juli raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth curving, "Alright, go prepare for the next set; the photographer is waving over there."

"Oh, coming."

Little Dragon Cub took a deep breath, handed the phone back to the assistant, reorganized her emotions, put on that familiar professional smile, and walked quickly toward the center of the studio.

When the background lights lit up again, the music vibrated the whole venue.

But under that brightness of the spotlight, in the bottom of her heart, there was still a lingering doubt.

Always feeling that the two people on the other end of the phone...

Their breath seemed to be a bit too close.

In the apartment on the other side, the air was still filled with a faint heat.

Outside the window, the sunlight was thick, spilling into the gap in the half-drawn curtains, falling on the off-white wall of the living room, refracting into a layer of soft light.

Sweet Enjing leaned on the sofa, her short hair a bit messy, pinned behind her head, her cheeks flushed a light pink due to the heat.

Sitting in front of her was Lin Xiuyuan, who was somewhat uncomfortable.

There were still a few drops of sweat on his forehead, his sleeves rolled up, revealing the lines of his sturdy arms, sitting straight on the back of the sofa, against the wall.

Just at this moment, the ringtone on the coffee table behind him rang.

After wriggling his head a few times and finding that the ringtone was still ringing, Sweet Enjing looked back at the screen, and then the corners of her mouth curved slightly, "Zhiyan called, should I answer?"

Lin Xiuyuan didn't look up, just looked at that beautiful face and said "Mm", "Answer it. She's probably worried about you, save her the worry."

Sweet Enjing gently swiped the answer button.

The moment the phone was connected, the living room was quiet, with only the sound of breathing and water remaining.

"Hello... Zhiyan?"

She deliberately lowered her voice, her tone soft as if melted by the heat.

When asked about Xiuyuan, she laughed softly, her fingertips tapping the edge of a certain calf.

"He's here, wait, I'll give it to him."

She leaned forward slightly and reached out to hand over the phone.

Water droplets dripped from her fingertips, falling onto Lin Xiuyuan's instep.

Lin Xiuyuan, who took the phone, immediately said, "Ah, Zhiyan, I just helped Enjing fix the booster brace."

He cleared his throat subconsciously while speaking, his tone trying hard to remain steady.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Shooting a pictorial."

The other party's voice came with the vibration of the background music, faintly revealing vitality.

Xiuyuan smiled, intending to respond casually, but just at this moment...

The scene in front of him suddenly swayed, splashing tiny water droplets, undulating back and forth.

This action made him pause, subconsciously taking a breath, his voice becoming somewhat airy.

Sweet Enjing looked at his feigned calmness, couldn't help but purse her lips and smile, her little hand dragging her fingers to continue moving.

Little Dragon Cub on the other end of the phone was still saying something, and Lin Xiuyuan just nodded, said a few perfunctory words, and hung up immediately.

When the phone was put back on the coffee table, the air returned to quiet.

As the heat in the living room slowly rose, a layer of faint mist also appeared on the glass next to it.

Reflecting Sweet Enjing leaning on the sofa, her voice so light it was almost swallowed by the sound of water, "She seems... to have heard something."

Lin Xiuyuan didn't answer, just raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, a flash of headache in his eyes.

It's over.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 272 =====