Chapter 376: 【Accusing Lin Xiuyuan's Married Woman Again~】 (Seeking subscriptions and monthly tickets)

On the other side.

Lin Xiuyuan had just returned to his seat and hadn't even settled in when a gaze immediately drifted over from beside him.

He saw Park Hyomin scanning him up and down, left and right, with a strange look in her eyes, as if she were trying to find some suspicious traces on him.

With a curve playing on the corner of her mouth, she opened her mouth to tease him.

"Yo, so you know how to come back, Xiuyuan. I thought you passionate young man and woman were going to stage another crazy scene at ten thousand meters in the air, bringing this rare mid-air romance to a grand and spectacular end."

Park Hyomin, whose choice of words was quite bold and direct, spoke with a thick layer of mockery, "What, did you finish with the little girl so quickly? Or was it that you got finished by her?"

However, Lin Xiuyuan did not take her bait as he usually did, nor did he retort with a joke.

He first looked at her quietly for a few seconds, his face wearing an indescribable and somewhat amused expression.

Then he shook his head lightly, his tone peaceful and even carrying a hint of coaxing, as he said in a low voice, "Alright, stop guessing blindly. Go get some rest; there are still several hours left. We've been traveling all day, so save your energy."

After saying this, he ignored Park Hyomin's dissatisfied little glare, reached out to adjust the back of his seat to a comfortable angle, took an eye mask out of the flight bag beside him, put it on, and lay down.

The entire process was crisp and decisive, completely ignoring the complex gaze of the married woman beside him, which was almost turning into something tangible, mixed with curiosity and a hint of inexplicable annoyance.

Likewise, Park Hyomin, who had been choked up by his refusal to communicate, looked at the man whose jawline appeared exceptionally sharp in the dim light of the cabin, a breath stuck in her chest that could neither go up nor down.

She had been holding in a belly full of words just now, ready to properly interrogate and tease him.

A few seconds later, the more she thought about it, the more annoyed Park Hyomin became, and she sat up straight, though because her seatbelt was fastened, the movement wasn't very large.

She turned her head, glared at the man's silhouette by the partition, silently waved her little fists a few times, and then added a few fierce punching motions.

If a gaze could turn into something tangible, Lin Xiuyuan would probably have several holes in him by now.

In the end, after venting her impotent rage, Park Hyomin could only use her mouth to silently roar the words she had already repeated many times in her heart at Lin Xiuyuan's back.

"Lin Xiuyuan, you jerk, I am so! Pissed! Off!!!"

As the long flight of several hours finally neared its end, a slight bump and the gradually decreasing roar of the engines came from the fuselage.

——

The plane began to descend steadily, and the flight attendant's reminder broadcast sounded in the cabin; a sense of relaxation and anticipation that the journey was about to reach its destination quietly permeated the air.

When the plane's tires touched the runway, making a steady friction sound, and it began to taxi along the runway, Lin Xiuyuan had just unbuckled his seatbelt and turned on his phone.

A few seconds later, a series of dense vibrations came from his palm.

Looking down, the lock screen clearly displayed several unread message notifications from Dalongzai.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan unlocked the screen and tapped open the chat window.

The content of the latest message jumped into view, carrying Dalongzai's characteristic teasing tone.

【Xiuyuan, you two are playing out this scene of an attempted elopement followed by fleeing to the ends of the earth, making Juli unni and me feel so flustered and restless over here in Dubai. If you two really dare to sneakily appear in front of us a day or two late, then I will really seriously suspect that you finally made a move on Xiaomin unni! (へ)】

Looking at this text, Lin Xiuyuan almost subconsciously glanced at the seat next to him, where Park Hyomin—who had also just unbuckled her seatbelt—was taking a small mirror and comb out of her small bag, beginning to tidy up her long hair and clothes, which were slightly messy from the long-haul flight.

The other party seemed to notice his gaze, her hair-tidying motion paused, and she raised her eyelids to sweep a glance at him.

That look seemed to still contain a remnant of the lingering annoyance from being ignored earlier, as well as a hint of irritation at what he was looking at.

This scene made Lin Xiuyuan smile; while withdrawing his gaze, he lowered his head and his fingers tapped rapidly on the screen to reply to her.

【Am I that desperate and impatient?】

The message from Dalongzai was replied to almost instantly, clearly indicating she had been holding her phone waiting for his message.

【Oh, that's hard to say~ (▽)~* Back then, I only hooked my finger a little, and didn't someone come over very obediently?】

Lin Xiuyuan looked at this line of text, as if he could imagine Dalongzai smirking on the other side of the screen.

So he replied: 【That was you.】

Dalongzai immediately followed up: 【But Xiaomin unni is even more charming and alluring than me in some aspects; she is famously sexy, generous, and open-minded, are you sure you can hold back? (1-1)】

Seeing the emoticon at the end, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but shake his head with a laugh.

He typed quickly, preparing to end this topic that was getting more and more off-track.

【Stop, let's end this topic here and change to another one. For example, where are you and Juli now? At the airport or the hotel? I might not be traveling with you for a while; see if you can have Xiaomin come over to meet up with you or something. I happened to run into an acquaintance here, so I have to stay in Dubai for two days before going back.】

After this message was sent, it took a few seconds for Dalongzai to reply.

Clearly, this sudden news of an acquaintance required her to digest it.

【Acquaintance? A man or a woman? (·廿·(·廿·(·V·*）Xiuyuan, it's really rare to hear that you could run into an acquaintance over there.】

At this moment, in the parking lot of Dubai airport, inside a rented black SUV.

Dalongzai, sitting in the driver's seat, immediately let out an "Eh?" as soon as she saw this message from Lin Xiuyuan, an expression of surprise appearing on her face.

She then hurriedly turned to the side, leaning the phone screen toward Li Juli in the passenger seat, "Unni, unni, look, Xiuyuan says he met an acquaintance and wants to act alone for two days before going back."

Li Juli, who turned her head upon hearing this, let her gaze fall on the phone screen and quickly browsed the conversation.

Her reaction was much calmer than Dalongzai's; she only slightly raised her delicate eyebrows, "Alright, stop guessing. It must be a woman. Otherwise, with Xiuyuan's personality, if it were a male friend, he would mostly likely say directly who he met, rather than using a vague and somewhat deliberate term like 'acquaintance' without even mentioning a name."

Upon hearing this, Dalongzai immediately slapped her thigh, "I also think it's definitely a woman, and for a relationship that can make him change his itinerary temporarily and stay for two days, I'm afraid it's not just a simple acquaintance, right?"

Li Juli did not pick up on her follow-up speculation, only saying faintly, "Since he said so, he naturally has his own arrangements; asking too much would be pointless."

After hearing this explanation, Dalongzai's fingers were already flying across the phone keyboard, replying with her thoughts.

【It's fine, Xiuyuan, you don't need to worry about us, just go play if you want. Anyway, we don't have anything to do, so we might as well stay in Dubai for two more days and wait for you. It's better for the four of us to go back together than for you to go back alone later; anyway, there's nothing particularly urgent to do back in Seoul right now.】

Inside the cabin.

At this time, the plane had already stopped steadily at the parking stand, and the prompt sound for the cabin door to open rang out.

Passengers stood up one after another, beginning to take their carry-on luggage from the overhead bins, and the aisle gradually became crowded.

Lin Xiuyuan also stood up, stretched his limbs, which were a bit stiff from sitting for a long time, and then glanced at his phone; the latest reply made him smile slightly.

His fingers moved, and he replied with a simple 【Okay.】

Then he shoved his phone back into his pocket. He turned sideways to let a passenger holding a child pass first, and followed the slowly moving crowd toward the cabin door.

Park Hyomin followed half a step behind him, holding her things.

Seeming to want to say something, she pursed her lips as she looked at Lin Xiuyuan's back in front of her, then swallowed the words back, just following silently.

Walking across the slightly narrow skybridge and entering the spacious and bright interior of the airport terminal, the noisy human voices and broadcast sounds surged in instantly.

While identifying the direction of the signs toward the baggage claim, with a casual sweep of his gaze, Lin Xiuyuan saw Liu Zhimin, who had been waiting for him, not far from the skybridge exit.

Because it was the middle of the night outside, the temperature was a bit chilly, so she had layered a khaki trench coat over her casual crop top outfit.

She had touched up her light makeup, and her hair had been restyled, draped over her shoulders, looking fresh and beautiful.

Liu Zhimin, who was peering toward the skybridge exit, immediately bloomed with a bright smile the moment she saw Lin Xiuyuan, raising her hand to wave at him.

Also seeing this scene was Park Hyomin, who was beside Lin Xiuyuan.

Her footsteps paused imperceptibly, and several emotions flashed through those beautiful eyes in an instant.

So, turning her face slightly, she whispered in a volume only Lin Xiuyuan could hear, "What's going on? Did you two make an appointment?"

After their chance encounter on the plane, Park Hyomin had assumed Liu Zhimin would have her own plans afterward, and that at most, they would just chat for a while.

She hadn't expected the other party to be waiting right here; this seemed a bit off.

Beside her, Lin Xiuyuan, who had nodded to signal Liu Zhimin, then turned his head to explain to Park Hyomin.

"Yeah, didn't we agree before? I made plans with her to look around Dubai. Zhiyan and the others' car is already waiting in the parking lot; you can just go find them after you pick up your luggage, and go back to the Jiudian to settle in and rest first."

However, hearing this, Park Hyomin couldn't help but raise a finger to point at her own nose, her eyes widening slightly, her tone filled with disbelief, "Huh? Lin Xiuyuan, you're just going to dump me alone in this unfamiliar airport where I don't even speak the language, and then go off on a date with someone else??"

"You put it like that—"

Lin Xiuyuan was left between laughter and tears by her exaggerated phrasing, muttering in a low voice, "How is that 'dumping' you? Zhiyan and Li Juli are right there in the parking lot; the three of you can look out for each other."

At this moment, Liu Zhimin had already walked over with light, brisk steps.

First, she flashed a sweet smile at Lin Xiuyuan, then turned very politely toward Park Hyomin, bowing slightly to greet her, "Senior Hyomin."

And as Liu Zhimin approached, Park Hyomin also quickly adjusted her expression, restraining the bit of emotion she had just revealed, and her face returned to the gentle and composed smile of a great senior as she nodded.

"Hello, Zhimin-i."

But her gaze swept back and forth rapidly between Liu Zhimin's carefully styled outfit and Lin Xiuyuan.

Watching this scene of undercurrents, Lin Xiuyuan sighed internally and suddenly thought of a simpler solution.

"Forget it, let's do this. Let's just all go to the parking lot together; it's hard to call a car late at night, and there's no subway anymore. Anyway, Zhiyan and the others drove a car over, and there are just five of us, so we can fit."

After finishing, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Liu Zhimin and explained, "How about we catch a ride together to leave the airport first?"

After his gaze met hers, he didn't forget to add a touch of reassurance, telling Liu Zhimin not to be so nervous.

At this moment, Liu Zhimin's mind was indeed racing.

She thought of Tara's Dalongzai and Li Juli, these two great seniors who had long been famous in the industry, possessing both beauty and strength.

Especially Dalongzai, whose exquisite, stunning, and slightly wild face had left a deep impression on countless juniors.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhimin looked at the calm-looking Lin Xiuyuan, unable to help but marvel again in her heart.

This man's social circle really could bring her new surprises, or perhaps shocks, every time.

From the rumored Jessica and Krystal sisters at the beginning, to later learning that he also knew Red Velvet's Senior Pei Zhuxuan, and now these few from Tara—

How does it feel like this guy only associates with great beauties?

And the relationships all seem to be quite deep.

This realization caused an indescribable feeling to well up in her heart; there was curiosity, and a faint sense of comparison.

There was also a tiny bit of subtle crisis she didn't want to admit to herself.

So in the end, her strong curiosity and desire to explore overcame her slight nervousness and social pressure about suddenly facing multiple great seniors.

Taking a light breath, Liu Zhimin let a proper smile bloom on her face again, nodded toward Lin Xiuyuan, and then smiled politely at Park Hyomin.

"That's fine, then I'll trouble you, thank you Senior Hyomin."

"It's nothing, it's on the way." Facing the outsider Liu Zhimin, Park Hyomin once again put on the demeanor and poise of a senior, her tone calm and polite, as if the person who had almost been blown up with anger just now wasn't her.

Even though at this moment, she had already turned Lin Xiuyuan over and over in her heart, sliced him into a thousand pieces, was itching with anger, and wanted nothing more than to hammer this guy flat.

Yet on the surface, she remained in that elegant and indifferent smiling state.

And without saying more, she set off, walking toward the baggage claim area.

At the same time, the thumb that had been holding her phone was tapping rapidly on the screen.

Clearly, Park Hyomin was currently using her phone to conduct a fierce text complaint and live broadcast to the two of them in their small group chat.

【Arrived, arrived! Picking up luggage now!】

【Guess who I saw? Liu Zhimin! That Liu Zhimin from aespa!】

【She was actually waiting for Lin Xiuyuan at the skybridge exit! Wait! Ing! For! Him!】

【Dressed up all flashy! You can tell at a glance she prepared carefully!】

【That jerk Lin Xiuyuan said he wanted to go play with her for two days, and even told me to come find you guys myself; he's looking down on me, looking down on me!!!】

【I'm so mad! I feel like a spare lightbulb right now! No, a lightbulb with very high wattage!】

【He even hypocritically said something about riding in the same car! I think he just wants to show off!】

Over at the parking lot.

Dalongzai, who had finished reading these messages one by one, had an expression that went from surprise to amusement; she turned her head to look at Li Juli in the passenger seat and turned the phone screen toward her.

"Unnie, you saw the front-line battle report sent by Hyomin Unnie, right? So much information."

Li Juli was looking at her own phone, so she had also received the same messages.

While nodding, her tone remained calm, "Mm, I saw it. A popular, trending girl group Idol is actually willing to wait so proactively for a male friend outside the industry, and is even willing to go play alone with him for two days. It seems their relationship might be even closer than we previously guessed."

"So what do we say?"

Looking at Li Juli, Dalongzai had a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Li Juli put down her phone, cast her gaze forward to think for a few seconds, then turned her head back and looked deeply at Dalongzai, "What can we say? Of course, we help out a bit; after all, he is Xiuyuan."

She then analyzed, "And looking at the information Hyomin sent, the situation described is more like the ambiguity and dating of young people who have mutual feelings; it shouldn't be to the extent we're imagining."

After finishing, Li Juli looked at the brow on Dalongzai's face that hadn't fully smoothed out, and suddenly chuckled, teasing her.

"Didn't you always say before that I was too worried about Lin Xiuyuan and that I was being too controlling? Why are you the one getting nervous now? Besides, even if we aren't willing, what can we do? We can't really tie Lin Xiuyuan to our sides, control him, and stop him from having any social life or meeting new friends, can we?"

Dalongzai was momentarily rendered speechless by her words.

She had been very carefree before, but that was only when facing her close friends; when it came to outsiders, she was still very protective.

So, she opened her mouth to retort, but found she had no words to say.

In the end, she fell into a brief silence, her fingers unconsciously rubbing against the steering wheel.

After another while.

From not far away came the sound of luggage wheels rolling and faint voices; Dalongzai and Li Juli turned their heads to look at the same time, only to see Lin Xiuyuan pushing a luggage cart piled with two large suitcases and several carry-on bags, walking toward them.

On the left was Park Hyomin, walking with an elegant gait but with little smile on her face.

On the right, lagging half a step behind, was Liu Zhimin, who appeared somewhat reserved but was trying hard to maintain a smile.

Under the slightly dim lights of the parking lot, this combination formed a somewhat peculiar scene.

Dalongzai and Li Juli exchanged a glance, quickly traded a look, and then simultaneously pushed open the car doors and got out.

Both of their gazes landed on Liu Zhimin at the same time, their eyes filled with just the right amount of curiosity and friendliness.

Under the gaze of the two seniors, Liu Zhimin was clearly even more nervous, but she still immediately bowed and greeted them, "Senior Park Jiyeon, Senior Li Juli, hello. I am Liu Zhimin of aespa. Sorry to bother you this time, thank you very much."

"Hello, Zhimin-i, no need to be so polite."

"That's right, don't call us seniors, let's get in the car first."

Soon, after some pleasantries, the luggage was also properly stowed away with Lin Xiuyuan's help.

The five of them got into the car, with Li Juli driving, Dalongzai in the passenger seat, and Lin Xiuyuan, Park Hyomin, and Liu Zhimin sitting in the back row.

The interior space of the SUV was actually quite sufficient, but the three people sitting together in the back seat was somewhat subtle.

As the engine started, the car slowly drove out of the parking lot, heading toward the hotel they had booked.

Outside the car windows was the stunning late-night urban landscape of Dubai, where the modern and the traditional were intertwined, but the five people inside the car seemed to have their own thoughts, falling into a somewhat complicated silence.

Only soft music flowed from the car's audio system.

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