Chapter 354: One of them is you, Park Hyomin!!!

At the dining table.

As Lin Xiuyuan was questioned so bluntly by Park Hyomin, he remained unhurried, first offering a faint smile, then turning his head to give her a deep look; that gaze carried a hint of playfulness, yet also seemed to hold some unspeakable, profound meaning.

Next, his gaze swept over the two people opposite who were looking down at the menu.

Finally, it landed back on Park Hyomin, and he lightly retorted, "That depends on how you specifically define the identity of a lover, Hyomin."

Park Hyomin was taken aback by his Tai Chi-like deflection.

"No—" She blinked her beautiful fox-like eyes, a bit dazed, "Can a thing like a 'lover' be graded or have different definitions?"

In her view, a lover was simply an existence that transcended a normal friend and shared an intimate relationship.

Could it really be subdivided?

Thus, unable to understand, she continued to press him, attempting to use the most intuitive example beside her to anchor Lin Xiuyuan's definition, "Xiuyuan, in your view, is there any difference? Then what does Zhiyan count as to you?"

The moment Park Hyomin asked this question, Dalongzai nearby had just finished confirming the dishes with the waiter.

Then, having long sensed the undercurrents here, she didn't say a word; as she turned her head back, she directly reached out to pull Lin Xiuyuan back to the seat beside her, affectionately linking her arm with his.

She didn't forget to throw a remark filled with coquettish annoyance at Park Hyomin, "Unnie, why is a married woman like you so curious? Stop pestering Xiuyuan with questions."

This sentence was like a small thorn, lightly pricking Park Hyomin.

It caused the corners of her mouth to twitch involuntarily, and an urge to retort or even curse surged into her throat.

But years of self-cultivation and reason, along with the environment of being with Dalongzai, a sister of her own, forced her to swallow that urge back down.

Yes, as a married woman, she really shouldn't show too much curiosity and concern for another man that crossed the boundaries of a normal friend.

Thinking of this, an inexplicable sense of irritation and embarrassment welled up in her heart.

Park Hyomin pursed her lips, simply picked up her handbag from the chair beside her, and stood up to leave, "You guys chat first, I'm going to the restroom."

Watching Park Hyomin's retreating back, Lin Xiuyuan shook his head with a bitter smile and gently patted Dalongzai, who was tightly clutching his arm, "I'm fine, Zhiyan. Your words just now were a bit harsh. Hyomin must be a little bothered; she wouldn't be angry, would she?"

Upon hearing this, Dalongzai rolled her eyes at Lin Xiuyuan, speechless, as if looking at a blockhead who didn't understand the ways of the heart.

"Xiuyuan, do you think what I said just now was out of worry that you wouldn't be able to get out of that question, or was I worrying about Hyomin Unnie?"

Afterward, she even wore an expression of "someone is too naive" and teased Lin Xiuyuan.

"You really don't understand us women. Curiosity is something you can have a little of occasionally; that's a seasoning, a bit of fun. But if it keeps appearing toward the same person and the same matter, especially in Hyomin Unnie's current state—hmm, with such an identity and state of mind, she will eventually run into trouble. I was interrupting her, and also reminding her."

"What do you mean?" Lin Xiuyuan's brows lifted slightly after hearing the answer, feeling that Dalongzai's words had a hidden meaning, "Why do I feel like you aren't talking about Hyomin, but rather pointing at me?"

At this moment, Li Juli, who had been watching elegantly from the sidelines, also set down her coffee cup and joined the ranks of those delivering the final blow.

Although her voice was gentle, her words were quite direct, "Xiuyuan, Zhiyan is indeed pointing at you. That rather special fetish of yours is fine to play with in private. But you really shouldn't touch Hyomin; everyone's relationship is so good, it would be very troublesome if something really happened."

Speaking of this, she even thoughtfully provided a solution, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"If you really like this feeling from Hyomin, why don't you go back there and conquer the younger version of her? Treat her as a substitute for the Hyomin here; she might not be as experienced as the current one, but she wins in youthful vitality, and her figure and skin are even better than now—plus, it would be more exciting, right?"

As soon as Li Juli finished speaking, Dalongzai immediately picked up the thread, laughing out loud and exposing someone.

"Hahaha, Unnie, you're too late with that! Xiuyuan probably already has his eye on the Hyomin over there. Hmm—I can't say he has his eye on her, but at least she's been included in his observation range."

"Na na na!!! Zhiyan, don't talk nonsense. I have never actively provoked that one."

Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly waved his hands to deny it, his expression looking slightly wronged.

After all, regarding the young Park Hyomin from the 2013 timeline, he truly believed he hadn't actively tried to conquer her; most of the time, he was passively responding to her approaches or probes.

However, Dalongzai, who had long since learned some inside information from Park Jiyeon and Xian Enjing, and shared their common thoughts,

merely smiled and nodded at his rebuttal, saying in a tone used to coax a child, "Yes, yes, yes, Xiuyuan, you didn't act, it was all Unnie who threw herself at you. Who told our Xiuyuan to be so charming? Everyone loves him, and flowers bloom when they see him."

While speaking, she also gently pinched Lin Xiuyuan's arm, "So, in order to prevent Hyomin Unnie here from having any problems or distress, Xiuyuan, be a good sport and rein in that mysterious charm of yours that has nowhere to go, especially in front of her."

Sensing the thick mockery and teasing in her words, Lin Xiuyuan knew that arguing was useless, so he could only shrug helplessly and accept this guilt with great weakness.

"Fine, fine, it's all my fault, blame me for being too charming, okay?"

He then hurriedly changed to a safe topic, "By the way, besides eating and shopping in Siena these past two days, what else have you done? You haven't just been staying in the city, have you?"

"We drove to a small town nearby yesterday afternoon to look around," Li Juli replied, taking another sip of coffee, "It has its own merits compared to the scenery of Siena city; it's very quiet and beautiful."

But she quickly changed the subject, returning to the main situation of this trip.

"However, if we want to buy property here as a base, I think we should forget it. The scenery here is great for an occasional vacation or to clear one's mind, but it might not be suitable for living. Because the population of the towns here is small to begin with, and we have Asian faces; if we appear and disappear frequently, it's too easy for locals or long-term residents to notice, and they will feel something is very wrong."

Regarding Li Juli's argument, Dalongzai also nodded in deep agreement, "Right, that's what I think too."

"If we must find a property in Europe as a foothold, I think it would be better to go to Switzerland or somewhere in France near the Alps. You can ski in winter and hike in summer; the scenery is magnificent and relatively less closed off, with high mobility, which is more suitable for mysterious visitors like us."

Because places like Tuscany, famous for their fixed pastoral scenery and ancient towns, are quite strict in their screening of tourists.

Next, the two chatted back and forth about their feelings regarding Siena and the surrounding scenery.

It is beautiful, classical, quiet, and full of artistic and historical atmosphere.

But for a group of people like them who need to be in the city, it would be easy to get bored after a long time.

Compared to the ever-changing seascapes or mountain and lake scenery, it really felt like it lacked a bit of flavor and practicality, or rather, it was more suitable for people with artistic temperaments like Park Hyomin.

After listening to their analysis and feelings, Lin Xiuyuan nodded to show he understood, "Understood. Then it seems that the final choice for a base in Europe will have to depend on the search results from YoonA and Xiujing."

"Hmm," Li Juli nodded elegantly, "Let's just treat our time here as a pure vacation, relaxing our minds; it's also quite nice to feel the sunshine and slow life of Tuscany."

Just as the few were chatting about this topic, Park Hyomin returned from the restroom.

The expression on her face had returned to calm; one couldn't tell if she had really been angry or embarrassed before, and after sitting down, she asked quite naturally, "By the way, how is our specific itinerary arranged for today? Are we still following the original plan?"

Li Juli, who had already made the plans, immediately replied, "Yes, didn't we discuss it last night? We're going to see San Gimignano. As a rare, well-preserved medieval town, I've long wanted to see its forest of high towers; it's very worth visiting."

"I thought the itinerary might change now that this guy is back," Park Hyomin said, glancing at Lin Xiuyuan, her tone ordinary, as if she had already cast the small episode from just now to the back of her mind.

"Are you talking about the town of high towers? I've heard of that," Lin Xiuyuan took over the conversation, trying to make the atmosphere more relaxed, "It seems there were 72 stone towers during the peak of the Middle Ages, but there shouldn't be that many left now, right?"

This bit of knowledge Lin Xiuyuan had mostly came from travel introductions he occasionally saw while scrolling through short videos.

So when Park Hyomin heard that Lin Xiuyuan actually knew this, she couldn't help but look at him with some surprise, "You actually know? That's quite impressive. That's right, only 14 are completely preserved now. Although the number is smaller, the skyline formed by them gathered together is still very shocking; it's definitely worth the price of admission to go see it."

"I know a thing or two, just a thing or two," Lin Xiuyuan laughed.

This really wasn't modesty; he truly only knew the surface of it.

With the itinerary confirmed, the group finished their lunch and boarded the travel van driven by Lin Xiuyuan, heading in the direction of San Gimignano.

Inside the car, the stereo was still playing the music Lin Xiuyuan liked, which was those Cantonese golden oldies with strong rhythmic DJ

remixes.

The dynamic melodies enlivened the atmosphere in the car, and even Li Juli and Park Hyomin in the back seat were swaying their bodies gently to the rhythm of the music.

While swaying, Park Hyomin's gaze fell involuntarily toward the front row.

Watching Dalongzai in the passenger seat leaning over, her eyes filled with deep affection, looking at Lin Xiuyuan as he drove with an intensity that seemed almost tangible, that undisguised reliance and adoration made a certain corner of her heart stir slightly.

So, she immediately looked at Li Juli beside her, who was also admiring the scenery outside the window with a lazy and elegant posture, and thought of those frank and shocking words she had said earlier—

After looking back and forth several times, her curiosity about that previous question, far from diminishing because of Dalongzai's interruption, instead burned like a wildfire doused in oil, growing ever more intense and making her feel increasingly restless.

This curiosity lasted until the car arrived in San Gimignano and parked in the parking lot on the outskirts of the ancient town.

The group got out of the car and prepared to switch to walking to delve into this small town of towers, known as the Manhattan of the Middle Ages.

However, even while walking on the ancient stone paths, weaving through the well-preserved medieval buildings, and admiring the small shops selling local specialties and Handicrafts on both sides,

the corner of a certain pair of eyes would still drift from time to time toward Lin Xiuyuan, who was walking in front, pointing at a certain tall tower and chatting and laughing with Dalongzai.

Finally, not long after, the opportunity came.

When the group passed a public restroom, Dalongzai pulled Li Juli along, indicating they wanted to go.

So, taking advantage of the brief gap while the two were away, Park Hyomin, who had been waiting for the right moment, immediately quickened her pace and moved over to Lin Xiuyuan, who was standing at the edge of a viewing platform, gazing at the panoramic view of the town.

Without beating around the bush, she asked directly, "Xiuyuan, you still haven't given me a straight answer to the question I asked you at the restaurant earlier. Don't try to change the subject; give me an answer right now."

"What question?" Lin Xiuyuan turned his head, looking at the serious-looking Park Hyomin, and deliberately played dumb.

"Don't you try to play dumb with me." Park Hyomin stomped her foot slightly, her tone insistent, "I'm asking you exactly how many lovers you have; clarify it this time. The standard is that as long as there is an ambiguous relationship, it must be counted; not a single one can be left out."

Asked again, Lin Xiuyuan turned around to face Park Hyomin directly and carefully looked her over from head to toe.

The Park Hyomin before him was dressed quite brilliantly today.

A designer pure white short top with padded shoulders and puff sleeves; the crop-top cut cleverly highlighted her slender waist, the slightly open collar revealed her exquisite collarbones just right, along with that faint hint of a ribcage, sexy yet fresh.

On her lower body, she wore a pair of simple blue high-waisted shorts, which fully displayed the advantage of her long, straight legs.

Perhaps to cope with the temperature difference between morning and evening in the Tuscany region, she also brought a dark blue knitted cardigan, which was currently draped casually over her shoulders as a shawl accessory.

It both added a sense of layering and could be taken off at any time to keep warm.

The whole person looked like a stylish, charming urban beauty at the forefront of fashion.

As his gaze lingered on Park Hyomin, Lin Xiuyuan's mind couldn't help but conjure up the younger Park Hyomin from 2013.

The two images overlapped and separated, each with its own charm.

Thus, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepened, and those deep eyes looked straight into Park Hyomin's eyes, which were filled with persistence and curiosity, and no longer avoiding it, he gave a clear and shocking answer.

"If I have to follow the standard you just mentioned, as long as there is ambiguity, it all counts—" He paused slightly, as if confirming the number, "Then the number is quite high; roughly speaking, no less than ten."

This number made Park Hyomin's breath hitch; although she had been mentally prepared, the answer still made her heart skip a beat.

Looking at her eyes that had widened in an instant, a hint of an indescribable smile suddenly appeared at the corners of Lin Xiuyuan's mouth.

"One of them is you, Park Hyomin."