Chapter 362: The Paused

As the car door opened, Lin Xiuyuan saw Park Jiyeon appear in his line of sight, and a flash of surprise first crossed his eyes.

Then, steadying himself, a natural smile quickly appeared on his face, and he took the initiative to speak, "Oh, Jiyeon, why did you come down? Have you been waiting long?"

97

Park Jiyeon, being asked, first let her gaze sweep quickly over the two people in the car, a flicker of light passing through her eyes.

She then turned to Lin Xiuyuan, a smile rising on her face, and shook a document bag she was holding in her other hand.

"No, actually I just came down too. I forgot to take a contract upstairs earlier, so I just came down to the car to get it, and then I saw your car pull in."

This explanation sounded reasonable, but those beautiful eyes still drifted inadvertently between Lin Xiuyuan and Park Hyomin, who was now sitting upright.

Lin Xiuyuan was long accustomed to this kind of probing and knowing gaze from Park Jiyeon.

Thinking back to when he had just finished sparring with Dalongzai and turned to find Park Jiyeon, the meaningful look she gave him then was much sharper than this.

So, facing this bit of child's play, Lin Xiuyuan felt almost no ripples in his heart, and even found it a little cute.

But Park Hyomin, who was on the side, was completely different.

At this moment, her mood could be described as anxious and unsettled; she was both panicked and guilty.

On one side was the youngest member she was closest to and cherished the most.

On the other side was the man who had just made her involuntarily want to get close to him amidst alcohol and chaos, even giving rise to certain bold thoughts.

Yet this very man was the object Park Jiyeon had once clearly expressed a liking for in private.

And her own loss of composure and snuggling in the car just now was simply a blatant act of crossing the line.

Thinking of this, a strong sense of shame, combined with a guilty conscience, made Park Hyomin almost instinctively look away when facing Park Jiyeon's clear gaze, not daring to meet her eyes.

She then lowered her head even further, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes, as helpless as a child caught red-handed doing something wrong.

Fortunately, Park Jiyeon's gaze did not linger on her for too long.

After just confirming the situation, she looked back at Lin Xiuyuan and issued an invitation in a light tone, "Oppa, since you're already here, do you want to come up and sit for a while? Have a cup of tea or a drink before you go?"

Li Shaoxi in the driver's seat also turned her head back, echoing with a sincere smile on her face, "Yes, Oppa, it's been a long time, come up and sit for a bit before you go."

Li Shaoxi was filled with respect and gratitude for this boss and benefactor who had helped her so much and even indirectly given her a brand-new chance at life.

Later, when she learned that the big boss behind the company she worked for was Lin Xiuyuan, this admiration grew with each passing day.

Facing the two's invitation, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the time, then looked at Park Hyomin, who was still somewhat uneasy beside him, and hesitated a little.

"Isn't it a bit late? And since this is your dormitory, wouldn't it be inconvenient for me to go up?"

Actually, Lin Xiuyuan didn't really mind the time; he was mainly thinking about Jessica and Krystal waiting for him in the RV, wanting to hurry back and reunite with them.

However, his words of polite refusal made Park Hyomin, who had just been looking down in guilt, lift her head.

Turning her face, she gave him a look with somewhat complex eyes, "It's fine, there are actually only three of us living in the dormitory regularly now."

After organizing her words, she explained again, "Ya Lin has already left the group, and the new members don't live with us, so the only people upstairs right now are us."

"Hm? That's allowed?" Lin Xiuyuan was a bit curious.

Although he knew that Tara had been having personnel changes recently, he didn't expect the dormitory arrangements to be so loose.

"Just some internal company arrangements, nothing important." Park Hyomin brushed it off simply, unwilling to talk more about those disturbances.

She then looked at Lin Xiuyuan again, "But since I've said that, you shouldn't have to worry anymore, right? Anyway, you're already so familiar with Jiyeon and Enjing, aren't you."

Looking at those pairs of eyes gazing at him, what else could Lin Xiuyuan say?

To refuse any further would seem a bit excessive.

So he smiled helplessly and nodded, "Alright, then I'll intrude for a while."

After speaking, he pushed the car door open and stepped out; a chill inherent to the parking garage made him feel slightly refreshed.

Afterwards, Li Shaoxi skillfully parked the car in the designated spot under the dormitory building.

The four of them walked together to the elevator lobby, took the elevator, and went straight to the floor where the Tara dormitory was located.

A dozen minutes later.

In the living room of the Tara dormitory, the light was bright and warm.

Lin Xiuyuan sat on that fabric sofa which looked like it had seen better days, curiously looking around this space that was not very large.

The furnishings in the living room were simple and tidy, carrying a distinct atmosphere of daily life, but one could also see the traces of multiple people living together.

Some group photos and decorative paintings hung on the wall, and some dance practice equipment and miscellaneous items were piled in the corner.

The overall area seemed somewhat compact compared to the spacious dormitory of Girls' Generation in his memory; although the number of people was different, it was still a bit small.

"No way—"

So, thinking it, he asked it; after looking around, Lin Xiuyuan spoke directly.

His tone carried a bit of surprise, "The dormitory you live in is a bit small, isn't it? Have you never changed dorms since you debuted?"

Park Jiyeon, who was preparing fruit and drinks at the small kitchen bar, heard this and walked over carrying a fruit platter, with Li Shaoxi following behind holding a few cans of drinks.

After placing the fruit platter on the coffee table, Park Jiyeon sat down beside Lin Xiuyuan and answered very naturally.

"Oppa, actually under normal circumstances, we often go home to live. This dormitory is more of a temporary gathering point for us, or used when our schedules are too late and we need to rest nearby, or when we have intensive schedules within Seoul for several days in a row."

"Ah? Is that so." Lin Xiuyuan looked at Park Jiyeon, "But didn't you tell me before that you've been living in the dormitory recently?"

"Yeah." Park Jiyeon nodded and put a slice of apple into her mouth, "That's because after those things happened before, I went home less often because I was afraid my family would worry, and I didn't want to bring them unnecessary attention. So I've been living in the dormitory with Unnie; everyone actually has similar thoughts, so the dormitory has been quite popular during this period."

Park Hyomin, sitting beside Lin Xiuyuan, also nodded gently, acknowledging this situation.

Because of that storm that almost destroyed the team, they all needed each other's support both psychologically and in actual life, so this relatively closed shelter was very useful.

"Understood." A look of sudden realization appeared on Lin Xiuyuan's face, and he then sighed with emotion, "No wonder, I was saying that compared to YoonA and the others' place, your dormitory feels like it's been squeezed."

Making a small joke, he tried to make the atmosphere more relaxed.

"It's different." Park Hyomin interjected, "YoonA and the others have a real team dormitory, required by the company. But we actually prefer to go home, so the nature and needs are different."

"I understand now." Lin Xiuyuan nodded and stopped asking.

At this moment, Park Jiyeon finally asked the question she had been holding back all night, "Unnie, what exactly is going on with you tonight?"

"It makes one feel a bit scared."

Hearing this, Park Hyomin sighed and roughly recounted the situation she had previously explained to Lin Xiuyuan at the bar.

She emphasized that it was a semi-forced social gathering "between friends," and she felt too embarrassed to directly turn hostile.

After listening to Park Hyomin's explanation, Park Jiyeon's brows furrowed slightly, and her expression turned somewhat serious.

"Unnie, I think if you can avoid the gatherings some people organize, you should try your best to avoid them. It feels too chaotic, with all sorts of people there. Tonight, it was fortunate that oppa happened to be free and could arrive in time to find you. If he hadn't answered his phone or had been busy and couldn't come, what would you have done? What if something had happened—"

Hearing the undisguised worry in Park Jiyeon's words, Park Hyomin couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.

She nodded and promised, "It wouldn't have reached the point of something happening; at most, I would have been annoyed by being pestered and had trouble getting away. But don't worry, Zhiyan, I've taken note of it, and I'll try my best not to go to such occasions in the future."

After speaking, her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Lin Xiuyuan, who was curiously looking around, and the corners of her mouth curved up as she said, "Still touring our Dormitory? Looking so intently, do you want me to take you around for a closer look?"

Lin Xiuyuan withdrew his gaze and looked at her with a wry smile, "Forget it, no need. I was just a bit curious; it hasn't reached the point of needing a field inspection."

"Then—" Park Hyomin's eyes shimmered as she offered another suggestion. "Do you want to have a few more drinks?"

As she said this, her charming cheeks were still flushed with an alluring red under the Living Room lights, and her eyes appeared somewhat hazy due to the alcohol and relaxation.

"Huh? Haven't had enough yet?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow.

Park Hyomin's reasoning was quite sufficient, even carrying a bit of the devil-may-care attitude of someone who had given up on restraint, "Since we've already drunk tonight, now that we've started, we might as well drink our fill. Anyway, drinking in the Dormitory is safer and more comfortable than being outside."

Just as her voice fell, Park Jiyeon beside her immediately raised her little hand, looking at Lin Xiuyuan with bright, sparkling eyes, her voice carrying a hint of coquetry.

"Yes, yes, it's been a long time since I've had a little drink with you, oppa. It just so happens there's still stock in the Dormitory, oppa—"

Looking at Park Jiyeon's expectant eyes and meeting Park Hyomin's pair of watery, glistening eyes that held complex meanings under the light, Lin Xiuyuan sighed helplessly in his heart once again.

Fine, it seemed this drinking session tonight was unavoidable.

"Then let's drink."

Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands with an expression of resignation, "I'm already here, can I still refuse?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Li Shaoxi, "Shaoxi, you have a drink too, but don't drink too much; you'll have to help me keep an eye on these two drunks later."

"Then how will you get back, oppa?" Li Shaoxi asked with concern.

"Just call a designated driver, don't worry." Lin Xiuyuan looked at the eager Park Jiyeon and the increasingly charming Park Hyomin, smiling confidently, "You don't think you three can get me drunk, do you?"

This arrogant attitude of talking big instantly ignited the fighting spirit of Park Hyomin and Park Jiyeon.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph, don't underestimate people, oppa." Park Jiyeon immediately stood up and ran toward the refrigerator and storage cabinet, "I'm going to get the alcohol right now."

"Exactly, Xiuyuan, don't speak too soon." Park Hyomin also laughed and stood up to get glasses and a bottle opener.

Thus, a small drinking session inside the Dormitory began.

With the fruit platter Park Jiyeon had washed and a few bags of snacks they had dug out, the four of them started clinking away at beer and a few bottles of sake brought back from Nihon.

They didn't drink Peninsula soju because Lin Xiuyuan truly didn't like the taste.

As the atmosphere gradually warmed up, the alcohol brought them closer and lowered their defenses.

Everyone chatted about some lighthearted topics, funny work stories, and future plans, occasionally interspersed with Park Jiyeon's complaints about Lin Xiuyuan, repeating the content about him always being nowhere to be found over and over again.

Park Hyomin, tipsy, teased their closeness with pointed remarks.

They drank like this until the early hours of the morning.

Outside the window, Seoul gradually fell silent, with only scattered lights.

Inside the Tara Dormitory, however, it remained warm and cozy, filled with the haze of alcohol.

During this time, the first to fall was Li Shaoxi, who had originally sworn to be the designated driver and guardian.

This young girl hadn't touched alcohol many times and had a very average tolerance; plus, with her mood relaxed, she leaned against the sofa armrest and fell into a deep sleep without realizing it.

Next was Park Jiyeon, this little dinosaur.

Although the 25-year-old Dalongzai had a considerable tolerance after years of training, the 13-year-old Park Jiyeon was clearly far from it.

After a few rounds of mixed beer and sake, her eyes began to glaze over, and her speech carried a cute nasal tone.

Finally, her head tilted, and she rested directly on Lin Xiuyuan's lap, mumbling a slurred "oppa—"

Completely blacked out.

Now, only Park Hyomin, a veteran of the drinking scene who often sparred with the "drinking queens" of Girls' Generation, remained, barely maintaining a shred of sobriety.

However, she had long since left the sofa and slumped onto the soft carpet, her back resting against the base of the sofa.

The jacket she had originally draped over herself was long gone, leaving only a small sports bra that outlined her alluring curves.

The alcohol made her skin glow with a moving pink hue, spreading from her neck all the way to her delicate collarbones, and even to the edges of the slight fullness exposed.

Looking at Park Hyomin, who was tilting her head slightly, her eyes seemingly brimming with spring water, hazy and moist, staring at him without blinking, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but ask with amusement, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Come again." Hearing this, Park Hyomin waved her wrist limply, calling out to him with a heavy drunken tone and an unconscious, coquettish charm.

"Still drinking?" Lin Xiuyuan licked his lips, which were somewhat dry from the alcohol, his gaze falling upon Park Hyomin from a high vantage point.

From this overlooking angle, he could clearly admire that moving scenery.

The full curves wrapped under the sports bra were rising and falling slightly with her posture and breathing; under the warm yellow light of the Living Room, the large patches of crimson blooming on her fair skin were like ripe peaches, radiating an alluring luster and heat.

The alcohol, the dim lighting, the silent late night, plus this defenseless, charming posture before him—

Various factors intertwined, causing Lin Xiuyuan's heartbeat to accelerate involuntarily, his throat feeling dry, and a certain hot impulse flowing faintly in his blood.

Thus, his gaze began to grow deep, carrying undisguised appreciation and a trace of dangerous aggression, wandering back and forth between Park Hyomin's drunken, hazy face and that patch of snow-white skin that one couldn't tear their eyes away from.

Just as Lin Xiuyuan's mind was wandering, a certain thought was stirring, and the atmosphere was so ambiguous it was almost sparking—

"Click."

A slight but clear sound of a key turning suddenly came from the direction of the Dormitory's The Gate.

Immediately following was the sound of the door being pushed open.

This situation caused Lin Xiuyuan, who had just been about to do something bad, to wake up from that amorous atmosphere almost subconsciously, and he turned his head toward the sound.

Immediately after, he unexpectedly locked eyes with two figures standing at the doorway, carrying luggage, travel-worn yet full of shock, across the distance of the Living Room.

Time seemed to have been pressed on the pause button at this moment.

More than half an hour later.

The year '25 in France, by a street somewhere near Bordeaux.

The night was deep, and all was silent.

That white Class C motorhome was parked quietly in a space, with warm light shining inside.

Inside the motorhome, the partition door to the bedroom area was gently pushed open.

Lin Xiuyuan, carrying the scent of alcohol, walked out from inside with slightly unsteady footsteps.

After standing still on the teak floor inside the vehicle, he rubbed his throbbing temples, his face still retaining a trace of lingering intoxication and an indescribable, subtle expression.

After a while, he pulled back the curtain of the Living Room and looked out the window.

Outside was the pitch-black night sky of South France, dotted with stars, which happened to coincide with the scene in Seoul in the early hours of the morning.

Lin Xiuyuan took a deep breath of the fresh air inside the vehicle, trying to dispel the discomfort, then pulled open The Gate of the motorhome and stepped down.

The cool night air rushed toward him, carrying the faint scent of grass and distant grapes, which made him feel much more alert.

And just as he stood steady, his gaze subconsciously turned to the side.

In a restaurant by the street, a slender figure wearing a comfortable hoodie and casual pants was holding a hot drink, sipping it in small mouthfuls.

The other person, who had been keeping an eye on the motorhome, seemed to hear the footsteps and looked up.

Then she saw Lin Xiuyuan standing by the motorhome with a strange look on his face, so a bright smile immediately appeared on her face, and she waved at him.

Lin Xiuyuan also smiled and stepped toward the street.

However, perhaps because the alcohol had not completely worn off, his footing was unstable, and he stumbled slightly.

Seeing this, Krystal inside the building immediately put down the cup in her hand, stood up, walked quickly around the tables and chairs, and hurried out from the side door.

After reaching Lin Xiuyuan's side, she reached out to support his arm, and while smelling the pungent scent of alcohol, she asked with concern in her voice.

"What's wrong? Didn't you go to help? How did you end up drinking like this?"

As she spoke, Krystal leaned in closer, then smelled the faint scent of alcohol and a very light perfume on Lin Xiuyuan.

After being supported by Krystal's soft yet strong arms, Lin Xiuyuan took the opportunity to lean some of his weight onto her, lowered his head to rest his chin gently on Krystal's shoulder, and naturally wrapped his arms around her slender yet supple waist.

Inhaling that refreshing and pleasant scent belonging to Krystal, he closed his eyes and rubbed affectionately against the crook of her neck, then whispered a sentence into her ear in a dependent tone.

"I didn't drink much, I just missed you a little."

This sudden confession made the corners of Krystal's mouth rise slightly, so she patted his broad back soothingly with her palm, "Mm, I missed you too. Let's go, let's go inside to eat something and take a rest."

"Mm."

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