Chapter 361: The Synchronized Minds of Xiaomin and Boss Lin During Their Eye Contact (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)

Just after that somewhat unsettling silence in the car had lasted for a moment, Park Hyomin also sensed the subtlety of the atmosphere.

So, she secretly glanced at Lin Xiuyuan beside her; the contours of his profile appeared somewhat elusive in the light and shadow outside the window.

An inexplicable, complex emotion prompted her to take the initiative to break this silence.

"By the way, Xiuyuan—"

Clearing her somewhat dry throat, Park Hyomin's voice was much softer than usual at this moment, "Did you originally have some important appointment tonight? I'm not disturbing you with other matters, am I?"

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering on her face for an instant, and he asked back with a tone of slight confusion, "Why would you think that? I don't have any special appointments tonight."

Who would have thought that Park Hyomin would extend a slender finger and point to his left wrist, "Really not? Then why are you wearing such an extravagant wristwatch out this late at night? Who would just wear a watch like this out and about without some special occasion or important appointment?"

Perhaps it was the alcohol going to her head, but at this moment, Park Hyomin was attempting to use a joking tone to probe into more of Lin Xiuyuan's private life.

Regarding this, Lin Xiuyuan followed her finger to look down at his own wristwatch, then, as if he understood something, he let out a low laugh.

"Oh, you mean this."

He raised his left hand and turned his wrist slightly, letting the watch face catch a glimmer of light in the dim interior, "If I said this watch was a gift someone just gave me recently, would you believe me, Hyomin?"

"What??"

Park Hyomin, whose cheeks were originally slightly flushed from the alcohol and the car's heater, had her expression instantly replaced by shock, her eyes wide as saucers, "A, a watch worth hundreds of millions? Just given away like that? Who is so generous?"

As an entertainer in the entertainment industry who was no stranger to luxury goods, she had a clear understanding of the value of such top-tier wristwatches.

In her view, this was no ordinary gift given away casually.

"Mm," Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

Because what he said was indeed the truth.

This watch was indeed a gift from someone, and the person who gave it was not only someone Park Hyomin knew, but someone she was very familiar with.

It was none other than the leader of Girls' Generation, Kim Taeyeon.

However, it was the 25-year-old Kim Taeyeon, not the 13-year-old Jin Ruanruan.

The specific reason was also very simple; it was nothing more than Kim Taeyeon wanting to thank Lin Xiuyuan for agreeing to that childish and dangerous request of hers.

So, taking advantage of the two days they stayed in Zurich previously, she had scouted out this 2012 Patek Philippe Ref. 5396 Annual Calendar watch in excellent condition at a reputable second-hand luxury market and gave it directly to Lin Xiuyuan as a special thank-you gift.

At the same time, she hadn't forgotten her past self and had also scouted out another watch suitable for a woman for Jin Ruanruan.

And since Lin Xiuyuan happened to be running back and forth these past two days, this newly received watch had been worn on his wrist the whole time, rather than being tucked away in a watch box at the Seoul Villa like his other collections.

To a certain extent, Park Hyomin's distress call had indeed come at a very timely moment.

If it had been earlier or later, he might not have actually been wearing this watch when he appeared here, and he might have had to put in some effort to deal with the situation ahead.

In the passenger seat, Park Hyomin stared intently at Lin Xiuyuan's face, which was filled with composure.

At first, she thought the other party was joking, or using a subtle way to imply that the origin of the watch was inconvenient to discuss further.

But looking at his clear eyes at this moment, she realized that this was very likely the truth.

So much so that after the shock, a more specific question escaped Park Hyomin's lips uncontrollably, "Is it a man or a woman?"

Although after asking, she felt it was a bit rude herself.

But curiosity had already overcome her reserve.

"If a man gave me this, I wouldn't dare accept it," Lin Xiuyuan smiled, his tone very light, which also indirectly provided the answer.

"A woman?"

But Park Hyomin's shock index soared once again, her beautiful fox-like eyes filled with disbelief, "A woman gave you something so valuable? That's too incredible, too exaggerated. Xiuyuan, is she your girlfriend or your mother?"

This was the most direct possibility Park Hyomin could think of.

If it wasn't a girlfriend, who would give such a valuable gift?

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and shook his head, denying both identities.

"Then she likes you, a woman who has a crush on you???" Park Hyomin continued to press, a kind of thirst for knowledge that she herself found hard to describe welling up in her heart.

This time, Lin Xiuyuan nodded without denying it.

However, Park Hyomin was now completely stunned; her brain couldn't quite process this massive amount of information.

A woman who isn't his girlfriend gives him a watch worth hundreds of millions of won, just because she likes him?

Then, then what about Zhiyan? Hadn't they confirmed their relationship, or were they not in a deep relationship?

Just as Park Hyomin thought of this, her thoughts instantly drifted to the pointed hints Xian Enjing had given her before, as well as the contact between Quan Baolan and Lin Xiuyuan—

The words she had subconsciously wanted to use to question him were swallowed back hard the moment they reached her lips.

Another bolder, even somewhat rebellious thought surged up in her heart like a spark in the dark—

【If, if it really is like this. Does that mean I might have a chance too?】

This thought made Park Hyomin's heart rate accelerate suddenly, her cheeks burning hot.

She recalled those words of Xian Enjing's that seemed like jokes but might have contained deep meaning.

She also recalled the mystery that had always surrounded Lin Xiuyuan.

Chaotic thoughts were crashing against her like a tidal wave at this very moment.

So, as Park Hyomin felt these impacts, she instinctively pursed her lips and gave Lin Xiuyuan a complex look.

She ultimately chose silence and did not continue to press further.

She knew very well that she needed some time to digest all of this.

And just at this moment, Lin Xiuyuan's phone, which was placed on the center console, rang; the screen lit up, showing the caller was "Li Shaoxi".

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the number but did not answer immediately.

He simply raised his gaze and looked through the front windshield toward the entrance of the bar.

There, a girl with a simple, fashionable style and a cold temperament was being hit on by two young men.

The girl had a look of obvious impatience and a trace of panic on her face; it was none other than Li Shaoxi.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan immediately pressed the horn.

A short "beep" sounded on the street at night.

Then, rolling down the window, he shouted in that direction, "Li Shaoxi, over here!"

Li Shaoxi, who was politely refusing a passerby's attempt to strike up a conversation, immediately turned her head upon hearing the horn and the familiar shout.

Then, at a glance, she saw Lin Xiuyuan's familiar car, and him leaning out of the window.

A brilliant smile of relief instantly bloomed on her face, and she walked over with quick steps.

"Oppa~" After arriving at the car, Li Shaoxi greeted Lin Xiuyuan happily through the window, starlight flickering in her eyes, "Long time no see!"

"Mm, it has been a while." Lin Xiuyuan smiled, pushed the car door open, and stepped out, "Let me see your driving skills later; you should be able to get us back safely, right?"

"Don't worry, oppa." Li Shaoxi nodded confidently, "I've been acting as the driver for Zhiyan unnie lately, so my skills have become very proficient."

In the gap between chatting, her gaze swept quickly over Park Hyomin, who had a slightly flushed face in the passenger seat, and she asked with concern, "Is Hyomin unnie alright?"

"She's fine, just a small issue, it's already been resolved." Lin Xiuyuan answered briefly, then patted the roof of the car, "Alright, get in, let's take her back to the Dormitory first."

After saying this, he stepped back, pulled open the back seat door, and sat inside.

However, what Lin Xiuyuan did not expect was that just as he had settled into the back seat and had not yet had time to close the door.

The front passenger door was also opened by someone.

Park Hyomin, moving somewhat hurriedly, got out from the passenger seat, and with a faint scent of alcohol and perfume on her, squeezed into the back seat.

She closed the car door with a "bang."

"Xiaomin, I'll sit in the back too." After sitting down, she explained to Li Shaoxi in the driver's seat, "My head is a bit dizzy, it's more spacious in the back, and I don't want to wear a seatbelt."

Li Shaoxi, who had nimbly sat into the driver's seat, was seeing this scene clearly through the rearview mirror.

The subtle atmosphere between the two in the back seat and the distance, which had shortened to the point of being nearly ambiguous, made her heart inevitably rise with a trace of worry for her boss and friend, Park Jiyeon.

But she didn't say anything, only responding obediently, "Nae, unnie, just sit comfortably."

Then she skillfully started the engine and drove the car steadily into the night traffic of Seoul.

The streets of Seoul at night were still brightly lit, with traffic like a weave, requiring full concentration.

In the back seat.

Ever since Park Hyomin sat in, an invisible tension began to permeate the narrow space.

This gorgeous beauty did not lean against the window or close her eyes to rest as she usually did; instead, she turned her body slightly, her gaze looking straight at Lin Xiuyuan beside her without any avoidance.

At first, Lin Xiuyuan was just watching the night scenery flying by outside the window, but soon, he felt the scorching gaze from the side.

So he immediately turned his head to meet Park Hyomin's gaze.

There was no surprise on his face, nor was there any dodging.

Instead, he slightly curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile, and just like that, looked at her calmly.

And from a physiological perspective, sustained eye contact is in itself a strong emotional stimulus.

When the gazes of two people meet for more than 4—5 seconds, the core area of the brain responsible for processing emotions, commonly known as the amygdala, is activated, beginning to release neurotransmitters closely related to pleasure and excitement, such as dopamine and phenylethylamine.

This is enough to foster a special emotional connection between strangers, creating a so-called "dialogue of the pupils."

And when these two strangers are replaced by two people who are already familiar, and who even subconsciously have curiosity and affection for each other, the power of this eye contact is amplified exponentially.

Because when both sides produce strong emotional resonance, their pupil dilation rhythms will gradually converge; this is a form of unconscious imitation and synchronization.

At the same time, the mirror neuron system in the brain responsible for social cognition and empathy becomes exceptionally active, allowing the two to accurately read those unspoken emotions and thoughts of the other from subtle changes in their eyes.

So, under these circumstances, in the back seat, amidst the slight swaying of the moving vehicle, Lin Xiuyuan and Park Hyomin stared at each other in silence for a full minute.

During this time, time seemed to be stretched, and also seemed to solidify.

Inside the cabin, there remained only the low hum of the engine, the sound of Li Shaoxi occasionally shifting gears, and the gradually synchronized and slightly rapid breathing of the two.

Especially Park Hyomin; her beautiful eyes, which were already filled with drunkenness and complex emotions, gradually became covered with a layer of blurred moisture under this long gaze.

Her gaze slowly changed from the initial staring to becoming soft and unfocused.

In the end, there was only a kind of near-instinctive longing and dependence left.

So much so that at the very moment this emotion surfaced, her delicate body, which had been leaning against the back of the seat, seemed to be pulled by some invisible force and suddenly lost its support.

Softly, yet with a clear sense of direction, she tilted toward Lin Xiuyuan.

And Lin Xiuyuan, who had been watching her, adjusted his sitting posture extremely naturally at almost the same moment her body moved slightly.

No dodging, no surprise, just slightly straightening his back.

He caught Park Hyomin's leaning head squarely with his shoulder.

The other party came over just like that, carrying a warm and fragrant scent.

At this moment, the social distance between the two, which had already been deliberately shortened, completely disappeared.

Half of Park Hyomin's body was almost nestled into Lin Xiuyuan's embrace, her cheek pressed against his sturdy arm, her long hair brushing against the side of his neck.

Although Lin Xiuyuan's arm did not wrap around her, that firm sense of support and the body heat being transmitted were already a silent acceptance and response.

However, the movements between the two stopped abruptly there.

No further intimacy, no exchange of any words.

It was as if some silent tacit understanding had been reached.

Lin Xiuyuan on the left maintained his original posture, only lowering his shoulder slightly to let her lean more comfortably.

Park Hyomin on the right closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shallow shadows under her eyelids, as if she were truly just dizzy and wanted to find something to lean on.

They remained in this intimate yet subtly restrained posture, silent all the way.

Inside the cabin, there was only an indescribable silence.

When Li Shaoxi in the front driver's seat saw this scene through the rearview mirror, she dared not make a sound even more, only driving the car ever more steadily.

Until the car slowly decelerated and finally stopped steadily in the underground parking lot below the Tara Dormitory.

Accompanied by the engine cutting off, the vehicle came to a complete standstill.

Only then did Lin Xiuyuan's voice ring out softly by Park Hyomin's ear, "We're here."

Park Hyomin, who was dazed in a state of trance and infatuation, trembled slightly at these words and slowly opened her eyes.

She looked up through the car window at the familiar parking lot outside, and a strong sense of reluctance emerged.

"So fast—"

She whispered softly, her tone carrying a sense of loss and attachment that even she herself had not noticed.

After speaking, she turned her head, her gaze once again falling upon the face of Lin Xiuyuan beside her.

Under the dim yellow interior lights of the car, the lines of this young man's profile appeared exceptionally soft, and those deep eyes were also looking at her.

They were calm and waveless, yet seemed to contain a profound meaning she could not understand.

Staring into those pupils, Park Hyomin pursed her slightly dry lips, her heart drumming within her chest.

An impulse surged up her throat, striking her and making her want to say something—

Perhaps a thank you? Or perhaps she wanted to invite him up for a visit?

Or even a more direct hint?

However, just as her red lips parted and the sound was about to escape—

"Click."

The car door beside her was pulled open from the outside.

The cool night air rushed in instantly, dispersing the ambiguous warmth that had been brewing inside the car the entire way.

A tall, slender figure appeared at the open car door with a hint of anxiety and concern.

The light outlined the other person's exquisite face and worried eyes.

This person was none other than Park Jiyeon, who had been waiting downstairs early on after being tipped off by Li Shaoxi.

"Unnie! Are you okay?"

As the voice rang out, Park Jiyeon first looked concernedly at Park Hyomin inside the car.

Then, her gaze inevitably fell upon the two figures sitting close together in a somewhat intimate posture.

The air seemed to freeze for half a second at this moment.

Park Jiyeon: No, I was worried about you, Unnie, what are you doing????