Chapter 365: After Trying to [Make Eye Contact], Lin-mou-mou Was Rejected by the Married Woman (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tic

Siena.

After Lin Xiuyuan and the three members of Dalongzai met up, they followed Li Juli's lead and soon found a lively bar nearby to walk into.

Under Li Juli's introduction, the group learned that this bar was a gathering spot for local fans; the interior was spacious, decorated in a typical sports bar style.

The walls were hung with flags of the local team and posters of star players, while several large-screen televisions were broadcasting an intense football match in sync.

Within the medium-sized space, the air was thick with the scent of beer, fried food, and the unique, warm atmosphere of a crowd gathered together.

The ears were filled with the excited commentary in Italian, cheers, and the crisp clinking of glasses.

It was quite lively.

After entering, Lin Xiuyuan, accompanied by the three beauties, quickly found a high round table near a corner where they could still see the screens clearly and sat down.

But just as they sat, Park Hyomin felt a bit uneasy due to the overly noisy atmosphere.

So, she frowned slightly and leaned toward Li Juli, "Unnie, should we change bars? Wouldn't it be better to find a quiet lounge or a wine bar? It's just too noisy here—"

For a literary and quiet person like her, this place full of fanatical fans didn't seem to match her yearning for the local culture; she preferred those quiet bars hung with art and antiques, peaceful, and preferably with some soft music playing.

However, Li Juli, who was looking around with great interest and observing the local customs and traditions, shook her head very happily.

Her eyes were sparkling, "Don't say that, Xiaomin. Since we're already here, I chose this place specifically because I wanted to experience this most authentic and passionate local bar atmosphere. Look at how engaged those people are, how full of vitality they are—you can't feel this in those bluesy lounges."

Unlike Park Hyomin's artistic nature, Li Juli preferred novel experiences, so her tone was full of anticipation for this bar.

At this moment, the waiter brought the drinks they had ordered while passing the bar earlier.

Several bottles of chilled local brand beer, as well as a few glasses of fresh wheat beer topped with delicate foam and a rich aroma.

At first, Dalongzai had wanted to order a cocktail with a pretty color, but after scanning the surroundings and seeing that almost everyone had beer or simple mixed drinks in hand, she followed the local custom and ordered a fresh wheat beer.

After a while, the snacks to accompany the drinks were served one after another.

Golden crispy fries, a fragrant platter of grilled sausages, marinated olives and a cheese platter, and a small basket of fresh seasonal fruit.

Drinking the cold, smooth beer and eating the crispy, delicious snacks, the ears were filled with waves of infectious cheers and sighs.

This atmosphere, so full of exotic character and vitality, allowed Park Hyomin, who had been somewhat uncomfortable, to adapt quickly; she sipped her wheat beer and curiously sized up the emotionally expressive men and women around her.

After watching for a few minutes, a question surfaced in her mind, and she couldn't help but speak up—and she had to shout it out.

"Zhiyan, Unnie, why do you think people here in the West seem to love gathering in bars to watch matches? Wouldn't it be more comfortable and relaxed to watch these matches at home?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who was savoring the unique malty aroma of his wheat beer, couldn't help but smile upon hearing the question Park Hyomin asked.

He then set down his glass and leaned his body slightly forward against the edge of the table, "That's a great question. I've actually looked into this a bit, and the reason is quite realistic."

"Hm?" Park Hyomin looked at Lin Xiuyuan.

He pointed his finger at the large screen on the wall, "One of the main reasons is money. Because many top-tier sports events here, especially key matches like the Champions League or the 'Big Five' leagues, have very expensive broadcasting rights. Subscribing to these sports channels or purchasing access to single matches is a significant expense for many ordinary families."

As he said this, Lin Xiuyuan's gaze swept over the guests around them who were holding their glasses and staring intently at the screens.

"So, many households might not subscribe to these expensive sports packages at all. They feel that instead of spending that money, it's better to invite three or five friends to a bar like this that has official broadcasting rights and is equipped with more professional large screens and sound systems. This way, they can watch the match and socialize with friends, and the atmosphere is much livelier than at home."

This was the first time Park Hyomin had heard such an outrageous explanation; a look of surprise appeared on her face, and she subconsciously retorted, "But it costs money to go out and drink too; the drinks at this bar aren't cheap either."

Hearing this, the smile at the corners of Lin Xiuyuan's mouth deepened.

He scanned the surroundings again and then signaled for Park Hyomin to take a look, "Are you sure they are drinking a lot of alcohol here? Take a closer look."

Faced with this statement, Park Hyomin followed Lin Xiuyuan's gaze and carefully observed the tables of the guests around them.

Then she discovered that many people indeed only had one bottle of beer or one small glass of wheat beer in front of them.

There were rarely piles of empty bottles at their feet.

More people were holding that glass in their hands, sipping slowly with the rhythm of the match, or simply leaving it on the table, their minds entirely on the game.

After scanning the room, the confusion in Park Hyomin's eyes deepened, and she looked back at Lin Xiuyuan, "What's going on?

Do they really only drink this little?"

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged and summarized it with a very blunt statement, "They're poor. You didn't think people here were all rich, did you? Or rather, saving money is one of the main goals. For many, the core of coming here is to watch the match; socializing is secondary, and drinking is actually the least important. So they drink slowly; one glass might last from the start of the match to the end, and even—"

Fearing he might get hit, Lin Xiuyuan paused, beckoned to Park Hyomin and Dalongzai, had them lean their ears in, and then answered with the air of someone sharing a mysterious piece of trivia.

"As far as I know, some people, in order to get a slight buzz to better enjoy the atmosphere, will have a few drinks at home before coming to the bar, or drink some of their own alcohol while walking on the way. By the time they get to the bar, they feel just right, so they only need to order the cheapest beer to make a show of it and last until the match ends."

After hearing this detailed and somewhat grounded explanation, Park Hyomin didn't speak for a long while.

Her gaze turned back to the faces immersed in the match, carefully ruminating on Lin Xiuyuan's words.

Although she didn't know if this claim was entirely accurate, the scene before her eyes seemed to indeed subtly confirm his explanation.

This gave Park Hyomin a strange feeling, as if she were peering through the noisy and lively facade to glimpse a different, more realistic logic of life.

After a while, she shook her head gently and looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a complex expression, "Although I don't know if what you said is one hundred percent true, I have to say, Xiuyuan, your explanation really overturned my imagination of this scene; it's too exaggerated."

"That just means your experience is still a bit limited, or that you've been too well-protected by an information cocoon." Lin Xiuyuan smiled; his tone was relaxed and carried no condescension, sounding more like an objective statement.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dalongzai, who had been listening quietly on the side, leaned over and affectionately wrapped her arms around his.

While pressing her soft body against him, she stood on her tiptoes, spraying the warm breath from her lips onto his ear, and whispered into Lin Xiuyuan's ear with a playful, smiling tone.

"Yo~~ my Xiuyuan, how long have you been here, and you've already learned so much trivia that even I didn't know. You even dare to lecture Xiaomin Unnie like this; you really are too amazing~"

This time, Dalongzai made her voice soft and sweet, teasing him with obvious playfulness and praising her man with a hint of pride.

Listening to this near-coquettish little voice, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Park Hyomin, who had a subtle expression on the opposite side, and then turned his face to lean close to Dalongzai's ear to respond.

"Who told you that the news you usually browse and the pushes you read are all about beauty, fashion, entertainment gossip, or schedule announcements? You're information-deprived, my young lady. Actually, on YouTube or some social media, there are many short videos or blog posts analyzing local life and cultural differences in the West; they're quite interesting, but you probably haven't come across a single one."

"Really?" Dalongzai blinked, somewhat surprised.

"Otherwise, how do you think I learned about it? It's not like the knowledge just appeared out of thin air." Lin Xiuyuan laughed and gently pinched the tip of her nose.

Li Juli, who had heard part of their whispering, also had her curiosity piqued; she moved her high stool closer and joined the discussion.

In the blink of an eye, Park Hyomin was left alone, sitting forlornly directly across from Lin Xiuyuan.

Wanting to join the conversation, she was hindered by the distance of the round table and the small discussion circle already formed by the three people opposite her, leaving her not knowing how to interject.

So she could only pick up her glass in a huff, take a big gulp of the cold wheat beer, swallow that inexplicable depression and the feeling of being left out along with the liquid, and finally, out of sheer boredom, continue to look around at the noisy crowd and the intense match.

It wasn't until a while later, when the small topic about local culture came to an end, that Lin Xiuyuan slowly raised his eyes, and his gaze naturally fell upon Park Hyomin sitting opposite him.

Their gazes met unexpectedly in the air.

At this very moment, Park Hyomin noticed with some surprise that the way the man opposite her was looking at her seemed to have undergone a subtle change compared to the past two days.

If the gaze Lin Xiuyuan had directed at her two days ago carried a sense of curiosity and disdain;

Then at this moment, under the dim and flickering lights of the bar, the other party's gaze seemed to have become more complex, possessing a flavor she could not quite understand.

It seemed to carry a certain penetrating power, no longer simple observation and curiosity, but more like he was using an angle of vision that made Park Hyomin sensitive, conducting a silent dissection and interpretation of her.

This abnormal physical sensation of being thoroughly seen through, with nowhere to hide, made Park Hyomin feel a slight, involuntary chill all over, and her heart tightened inexplicably.

So, after making eye contact for less than two seconds, she almost instinctively shifted her gaze away, pretending to be attracted by a sudden burst of loud cheering nearby, and looked elsewhere.

She did not, like the Park Hyomin of 2013, find the courage from somewhere to stare silently at Lin Xiuyuan for over a minute, until she had completely delivered herself into those deep eyes of his that seemed capable of swallowing all emotions.

And after this brief interlude, no other special situations occurred during their small drinking session.

Either they were clinking glasses casually, taking small sips, and chatting about unimportant trifles with the people next to them;

Or they were attracted by the exciting moments on the green field on the television screen, cheering or sighing along with the surrounding crowd, then lowering their heads to drink and eat.

The atmosphere was harmonious and relaxed, carrying the laziness and comfort unique to the end of a journey.

As the night grew deeper and the wine bottles and snack plates on the table gradually emptied, Lin Xiuyuan reached out and tapped lightly on the tabletop, attracting the attention of the three ladies.

"Alright, everyone, it's getting late." He glanced at his wristwatch, "If you've had enough to drink, how about we stop here for today and head back to rest, what do you think?"

"Sure, I don't really want to drink anymore either." Dalongzai nodded, leaning on his shoulder, her tone carrying a bit of spoiled laziness.

Even Li Juli, who had suggested coming to the bar to experience the atmosphere, expressed her agreement, "Mm, let's go back. We walked around the neighborhood for half the day, and drove for quite a while this afternoon, so I really do feel a bit tired."

Consequently, the group finished the last drops of wine in their glasses, stood up one after another, and tidied their clothing and small personal bags.

Following some of the departing crowd, they walked out of the noisy bar.

As soon as they stepped out of the bar's entrance, the cool night air of Tuscany immediately enveloped them, forming a sharp contrast with the stuffy atmosphere inside.

The night breeze carried a refreshing quality, gently lifting the long, loose hair of the three women and bringing with it a trace of distinct chill.

"Are you cold?"

Lin Xiuyuan immediately felt Dalongzai shiver slightly due to the temperature difference, so he reached out to pull her closer and asked with concern, bowing his head.

"It's okay, just a little bit." Dalongzai buried her face in his warm chest, drawing heat from him, her voice muffled, "The temperature difference between morning and night here is indeed quite large, and it was too hot inside just now."

Beside them, Li Juli watched this intimate scene; although her personality was free and easy, seeing this now, she couldn't help but feel a trace of envy in her heart.

Honestly, if Park Hyomin weren't right beside her, she might have naturally leaned over to share some warmth with Dalongzai.

But now—

It was clearly not appropriate to make any more awkward moves and further provoke Park Hyomin.

So, she turned around very tactfully, reached out to take the arm of Park Hyomin, who was also feeling a hint of chill, and said while hunching her shoulders, "Alright, stop looking. They have a man to keep them warm, we only have each other. Let's lean in close and walk, let's hurry back to the Jiudian."

Park Hyomin pursed her lips and said nothing, just nodding obediently, and with her arm linked with Li Juli's, she followed the pace of Lin Xiuyuan and Dalongzai in front.

The group walked slowly along the stone-paved street, illuminated by ancient buildings and dim streetlights, in the direction of the Jiudian.

The night in the old city of Siena was quiet and beautiful, as if it were a different world from the noise of the bar just moments ago.

However, just as the group saw the outline of the Jiudian, which had been converted from an ancient manor, clearly visible, and they were only a few minutes away from arriving.

"Huh?"

Park Hyomin suddenly felt a few cool, wet touches on her cheeks and exposed arms.

"You felt it too?" Li Juli beside her also stopped in her tracks, raising her hand to touch her face with some confusion, "It seems like water is pouring down?"

"I felt it too." Dalongzai in front also lifted her head from Lin Xiuyuan's embrace and looked at the sky, "Is someone in the house next door watering flowers?"

Lin Xiuyuan, listening to their words, was the first to react. His expression changed slightly, and he pulled Dalongzai's hand and quickened his pace, "You fools, where would there be dripping water from watering flowers in the middle of the night? It's about to rain. Walk a bit faster, or we'll really get soaked!"

His words had barely fallen when, as if to verify his statement, those few scattered, wet touches from the sky suddenly became dense and forceful!

"Whoosh—"

Almost within a few breaths, an unpredicted downpour fell in torrents.

Bean-sized raindrops pelted against the stone road and the eaves.

They also mercilessly struck the four people who hadn't managed to start running fully yet.

"Ah! It's really raining!"

"Run!"

"My hair!"

Amidst the exclamations, the four of them no longer cared about their image, using their hands to shield their heads as they sprinted toward the Jiudian entrance that was within reach.

However, the rainstorm came too fast and too violently.

By the time they rushed into the warm and bright lobby of the Jiudian in a disheveled state, everyone was already more than half soaked. Their hair clung wetly to their foreheads and cheeks, and their clothes stuck tightly to their skin, outlining the curves of their bodies.

Although they looked a bit disheveled, there was also a unique, vivid sense of vitality about them.

"Let's go, let's go back to the room to wash up."

"Mm~"