Chapter 312: The big sister is still too skilled

In the blink of an eye, evening had arrived.

The sky was dyed a deep gray-blue by rain clouds, and the rain became sparse, no longer the torrential downpour it had been, becoming a true oblique wind and fine rain.

Fine threads of rain drifted obliquely in the darkening sky.

With this kind of rain, even if you didn't hold an umbrella, you wouldn't get soaked immediately if you walked outdoors for a short while.

And the group, having finished their hot spring soak and feeling relaxed and comfortable all over, had now returned to the parking area at the hotel entrance.

"Oppa, are we still eating together later?" After getting out of the car, Park Jiyeon looked at Lin Xiuyuan, consulting him on dinner arrangements.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just locked the car, looked at everyone and shook his head, "Forget it, we've been tossing and turning all day today, it's rare that we just finished a bath and are so relaxed, let's all go back and rest. If we run out to eat again, and happen to get blown by the wind or rained on, losing this bit of warmth, that would be a loss that outweighs the gain."

Hearing this, Ham Eunjung also nodded in agreement, "Hmm, I think so too. Actually, everyone should be a bit tired today, let's all rest early, recharge our energy, and those who need to work tomorrow should continue working."

Everyone looked at each other and saw the laziness and comfort after the hot spring soak on each other's faces, so they didn't insist anymore and waved goodbye one after another.

Lin Xiuyuan took Sulli and Goo Hara, and the three of them went straight back to the hotel suite where they were staying.

While Ham Eunjung, Park Jiyeon, and Park Hyomin walked together toward the dormitory rented by the T-ara team next door.

As a few of them opened the dormitory door with a key, a warm and dry air mixed with the aroma of food rushed toward them.

Looking around, they saw Jeon Boram sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet in the living room, with a portion of oden takeout bought from a convenience store placed in front of her, eating it in small bites.

Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she also turned her head to look at the few people who had entered.

"Oh, you're back?" Jeon Boram, with her soft and glutinous voice, looked at them with a bit of surprise, "I thought you would play until very late before coming back."

"Coming back early to rest." Ham Eunjung smiled and responded while changing her shoes.

"Unnie, what are you eating? It smells so good, I want to eat it too!"

Park Jiyeon, who had changed her shoes, was like a puppy that had smelled a meat bone; her eyes lit up, and she immediately trotted over.

Afterward, she sat down beside Jeon Boram, sniffing hard with her nose, and looking eagerly into the paper cup that was still steaming.

Jeon Boram saw this, and a gentle smile appeared on her face as well. She very naturally picked up a small plastic spoon that hadn't been used yet and handed it to her, saying softly, "Here, eat whatever you like. What's wrong? After soaking in the hot spring, didn't you eat anything outside?"

Park Jiyeon, who had already started to carefully pick out fish balls and radishes with a spoon, was preoccupied with the food and didn't react to the information implied in this sentence, only vaguely saying "Hmm."

But Ham Eunjung, standing at the door, instantly captured the key point.

Thus, she raised her head sharply and looked at Jeon Boram, her eyes carrying a trace of doubt and exploration.

"Unnie, how did you know we went to soak in a hot spring? We haven't had time to say anything since we got back, and no one has sent any messages or photos with their phones yet?"

After speaking, she subconsciously glanced at Park Hyomin, who was taking off her coat next to her.

Park Hyomin, receiving the other party's gaze, also hurriedly shook her head to clear her relationship, "Eunjung, why are you looking at me? I didn't say anything."

And at this moment, Jeon Boram, who had realized she had let something slip, instantly closed her mouth, a trace of imperceptible panic flashing across her face.

Then she lowered her head, pretending to be focused on dealing with the konjac noodles in her spoon, as if that sentence just now wasn't asked by her at all, attempting to muddle through.

But what kind of person was Ham Eunjung? Her ability to observe and reason was top-notch.

So even if Jeon Boram was playing dumb now, she quickly completed the information connection in her mind, her gaze swept over the other party, and finally locked onto the most likely leaker in her mind.

At the same time, a smile of "I understand" appeared on her face as she looked at this Unnie of hers who was trying to hide.

"Oh~ hoo~" When speaking, she deliberately elongated her tone, "I know who told Unnie, Unnie, it seems you and Xiuyuan have been chatting quite a lot and quite frequently these past two days~"

Park Jiyeon, who was struggling to blow a piping hot meatball cool, captured the keyword "Xiuyuan" in her ears and immediately raised her head from the food.

Even though her cheeks were still bulging, she asked vaguely, "Hmm? What are you chatting about? How did you get to talking about Oppa?"

The single-threaded Little Dragon Cub had all her attention on the oden just now.

Jeon Boram saw this and hurriedly reached out, somewhat flustered, to gently press Park Jiyeon's ears, attempting to physically isolate the noise, her tone carrying a bit of "there's no silver buried here" meaning, "No, nothing, Jiyeon, you continue eating yours, we didn't say anything."

At the same time, she cast a slightly weak look at Ham Eunjung, silently signaling with her mouth: No, it's really not as much as you think!

"Oh~ okay~" Ham Eunjung smiled even more happily, the smile clearly writing the two words "don't believe it."

However, she also knew when to stop and didn't continue to press.

Only Park Hyomin, standing on the side, watching the silent communication and spoken dialogue between these three, felt even more confused.

She couldn't help but mutter in her heart: No... what is this situation again? How come even Boram Unnie seems to be very familiar with that guy Lin Xiuyuan? Haven't they only met a few times? Did I miss some important plot? Or is my comprehension ability problematic?

While a small drama was being staged in the T-ara dormitory, in the hotel suite next door, that space-time gate had also slowly opened.

The rest that Lin Xiuyuan mentioned earlier didn't just mean spacing out in the 2013 hotel.

Only to see him come to the door, pull it casually, and that space-time gate connecting two space-times and different places opened quietly again.

"Let's go, let's go over and surf the internet; there's nothing to do here anyway." Lin Xiuyuan signaled to Goo Hara and Sulli.

He then took the lead, and Sulli also pulled Goo Hara, who was still feeling quite novel, and the three of them stepped in.

Just this one step of distance, and the surrounding scenery switched instantly.

The damp Tokyo rainy night atmosphere was replaced by the dry and warm central air conditioning wind, the simple and modern decor replaced the business style of the hotel suite, and in the blink of an eye, the three of them were already in Lin Xiuyuan's spacious villa located in Seoul in 2025.

And this was the rest Lin Xiuyuan spoke of, coming over to enjoy the high-speed, unobstructed internet surfing in 2025, as well as the more free and relaxed environment.

Then, familiar with the road, he took out an unopened latest model mobile phone from the storage cabinet, unpacked it, turned it on, and after some skillful operations, handed it to Goo Hara.

"Here, Hara, this is your new equipment. I've already helped you register a new social media account inside, and the phone number is also new, completely anonymous, so you can safely chat online and check information without worrying about being tracked."

As for Sulli, she walked naturally to the double-door refrigerator in the open kitchen as if returning to her own home, took out washed fresh fruits and a few cans of low-sugar drinks, and brought them to the spacious coffee table in the living room on an exquisite tray.

Then she sat down beside Goo Hara, took the new phone, and patiently began to teach her, "Unnie, look, this is the video software commonly used here. This is an anonymous forum; you can use this search engine if you want to check any information, it's actually similar to 2013. And this video APP, many that haven't been released or can't find resources on our side, you can watch them here..."

She carefully explained to Goo Hara the usage of several key APPs, as well as how to safely use these new accounts to browse information.

As for Lin Xiuyuan, after giving the phone to Goo Hara, he seemed to have entered another state of work.

He sat on the single sofa next to him, head down, picked up his own mobile phone that was kept online 24 hours a day, and began to reply to various backlogged messages with a clatter.

His expression was sometimes serious, sometimes helpless, and sometimes revealed a bit of a smile.

Watching his busy appearance, Goo Hara, while learning to operate the new phone, curiously asked Sulli in a low voice, "Zhenli, what is Xiuyuan busy with? Replying to messages as soon as he comes over."

"Replying to Unnie and the others' messages."

Sulli, being asked, explained as if it were customary, her voice also kept very low, afraid of disturbing Lin Xiuyuan.

"If everyone has something to do or wants to chat about something, they usually leave a message for Oppa first. Then after he comes over here from our side, he replies in a concentrated manner. The reverse is also true; if Oppa mainly stays here, and we have something to do over there, we will also leave a message for him first."

After speaking, she added another sentence, "But if it's a particularly urgent matter, we will call directly. Oppa sees the missed call and will call back immediately, or open the door and go over to find us."

"So that's how it is, I understand." Goo Hara nodded, feeling she had learned another operating rule of this cross-space-time small group.

Although she had personally experienced the situation of the space-time gate yesterday, this lifestyle of using time differences for asynchronous communication still made her feel incomparably novel, "Going back and forth between two space-times like this, it's really too magical."

"Unnie, you'll get used to it." Sulli smiled, her tone relaxed.

"Actually, at first I was also various kinds of unaccustomed, feeling like I was dreaming. But after experiencing more, I slowly felt that this doesn't seem to have any essential difference from living in the same world, just with more time differences and resources."

Just as Sulli finished this sentence, Lin Xiuyuan, who had been replying to messages over there, suddenly stood up.

After taking another look at the phone screen, he looked up at Sulli and Goo Hara and said, "Well, you two play here first, I have something to do, I need to go to Jessica's side."

"Okay, Oppa, go ahead, be safe." Sulli nodded sensibly without asking more.

"Hmm, we'll wait for you to come back." Goo Hara also looked up and responded softly.

Thus, Lin Xiuyuan made a reassuring gesture to the two of them and turned to walk toward the corner.

As that magical door opened and closed, his figure disappeared from the villa's living room.

Watching this scene, which was like magic, being staged before her eyes again, Goo Hara suddenly thought of a practical question and turned to look at Sulli, "Zhenli, then if we suddenly have an urgent matter here and need to go back to 2013 immediately, but Xiuyuan isn't here, what should we do?"

"Call him."

This time Sulli answered as a matter of course, picking up her own phone and shaking it, "Oppa just went to other places here, he didn't go back to 2013. As long as he's still in the same space-time, the phone can get through, just hint simply, and he can rush back in the blink of an eye."

"Oh, right."

Goo Hara, who had already learned about the Anywhere Door function from Sulli's mouth last night, immediately patted her forehead, feeling she had asked a silly question just now.

Actually, it was mainly this cognitive shock brought about by crossing space-time that sometimes made her subconsciously think about problems with the "two worlds" mindset, and her worldview hadn't turned around for a moment.

"It's okay, Unnie, just slowly adapt." Sulli smiled understandingly and handed her a piece of cut apple.

Goo Hara, who took the apple, said thank you, then lowered her head again, putting her attention back on the new phone in her hand.

Her slender, fair fingertips slid on the smooth screen, and those shocking news headlines and images from yesterday seemed to faintly emerge in her mind again.

Finally, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if to temporarily drive away those heavy memories.

Then she leaned into the soft and comfortable sofa and began to seriously browse the internet information of this future world with the purpose of exploration and rebuilding her mood.

This was the beginning of understanding another self, and also understanding this new world.

On the other side.

Lin Xiuyuan, who came directly to that apartment in Shanghai through the Anywhere Door, had his figure appear in the bedroom, and his gaze locked onto the bed next to him at the first moment.

Only to see Jessica lying on that large bed in an extremely lazy and relaxed posture, her two slender and fair calves swinging casually in the air, and she seemed to be holding a phone in her hand, not knowing what she was tinkering with.

"What's wrong? Calling me over in such a rush, what happened?" Lin Xiuyuan looked at this alluring scene, his tone carrying his usual casualness and a trace of imperceptible concern.

And Jessica, hearing Lin Xiuyuan's voice, had a reaction that was truly swift.

Only to see her turn her head sharply, her face instantly blooming with a smile mixed with surprise, urgency, and that bright radiance.

Almost without any hesitation, she immediately climbed off the bed using both hands and feet, not even bothering to put on slippers, and just ran toward him in small steps on the soft carpet with a pair of fair, tender feet.

"Xiuyuan!" She, who ran to Lin Xiuyuan's proximity, was slightly out of breath because she ran in a hurry, and she raised that exquisite face which also carried a bit of an aggrieved expression, "You have to help me! You must help me!"

"What do you mean? Help you with what?" Lin Xiuyuan was a bit dazed by her formation, but he still instinctively reached out his hand and steadily supported the delicate body that almost bumped into his arms due to inertia.

And took the opportunity to circle her in his arms, looking down at her and asking, "Speak slowly, don't rush."

Immediately afterward, Jessica was like a small river that had found an outlet to pour out, and she told him everything about the shocking conspiracy that Krystal had told her in the video earlier, about Zheng Xiuyan attempting to unite with the other party to get her drunk and send her to bed.

And it was embellished, vivid, and carried the tone of a full-fledged victim and innocent person.

She retold it to Lin Xiuyuan one by one.

At this time, it really had to be said that the big sisters of 2025 were truly skilled.

If this were changed to those little sisters of 2013, their minds would basically tend to solve the problem themselves and then wait for an opportunity to retaliate.

They would 99% swallow this news silently, plan a counterattack in secret, and would never easily show weakness and seek help.

But changing to Jessica, who had been tempered in the entertainment industry and the business sea, and who understood better how to use her own advantages and also understood the truth that "spoiled women have the best fate," the strategy was completely different.

This person directly sacrificed the spoiled and acting young method, found Lin Xiuyuan, this referee and protective umbrella, and packaged herself as a pitiful little white rabbit about to be bullied by an evil other self.

Complaining first, occupying the moral and emotional high ground.

And as a man who was incomparably healthy both physically and mentally, facing a big beauty like Jessica who had excellent looks, figure, and temperament, taking the initiative to throw herself into his arms, telling her grievances with a soft and glutinous voice, and seeking protection with trusting eyes...

Not to mention who was right or wrong about the matter itself, just this sense of satisfaction and vanity of being needed and relied upon was enough to make people dizzy and have their reason go offline temporarily.

So Lin Xiuyuan at this moment was the perfect portrayal of this state.

While feeling the touch of the warm and fragrant jade in his arms, the tip of his nose lingered with the pleasant scent on Jessica's body.

While listening to the other party's accusation with a bit of a tremor, the balance of fairness and justice in his heart had long since tilted to the grandmother's house.

A smile of being pleased appeared on his face unconsciously, and almost without using his brain, he responded to every request Jessica made with incomparable readiness.

Jessica: "You have to help me!"

Lin Xiuyuan nodded like a pounding garlic: "Help! Definitely help!"

Jessica: "Then you have to stand on my side!"

Lin Xiuyuan continued to nod righteously: "Stand! Must stand on your side!"

Jessica: "If she really takes action against me, you have to stop her and protect me!"

Lin Xiuyuan patted his chest and guaranteed: "Stop! Whoever dares to touch you, I'll get anxious with whoever!"

Lin Xiuyuan patted his chest and guaranteed: "Block them! Whoever dares to touch you, I'll fight them!"

Her voice even softened a few points, carrying a bit of instigation and expectation.

"Also, if, I'm saying if Zheng Xiuyan is still not dead-hearted and still wants you to help tie me up and send me to her, you have to tie her back, let her also taste the feeling of being calculated, okay?"

Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously agreed: "Okay, tie back... hmm???"

But halfway through the sentence, he finally realized how outrageous the content of this request was.

The reason that had been scattered by beauty and spoiling finally returned a part, his eyes widened sharply, and he issued a single syllable full of doubt and absurdity.

Then he looked down at Jessica in his arms who was looking up at him expectantly with those big, beautiful eyes, and was speechless for a moment.

Tie back Zheng Xiuyan???

No, this... is this plot a bit too exciting???

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 313 =====

(End of chapter)