Chapter 382: 【The Three Generations Gather Together】 (Seeking subscriptions and monthly tickets)

Inside the Jiudian.

Although Liu Zhimin had said with her own lips that she wanted to rest properly in the Jiudian for a day, after eating lunch, she was tossed about by Lin Xiuyuan several more times.

Even though she was in the prime of her youth and full of vitality, she truly could not withstand the pummeling of a man like Lin Xiuyuan, who was essentially cheating.

So, for the sake of her own waist and legs, she simply decided to go out, find a place to sit, eat some dessert, drink a cup of coffee, and let her whole body recover.

If she really were to lie down on that big bed in the Jiudian again, she didn't know if she would still be able to stand on stage and dance after returning to Seoul.

Because her knees were already beginning to ache faintly, her lower back was showing signs of exhaustion, and she had even started calculating how many more appointments with a physical therapist she would need upon returning.

At the same time, having no concept of a "hacker" or "cheat," she was instead even more convinced that there was no special relationship between Lin Xiuyuan and those big seniors from Tara.

After all, with his physical stamina, if there really were some unspeakable past, it would never have been her turn to suffer this kind of torment.

Thinking this way, Liu Zhimin's heart felt a bit more settled, the guilt of being the "other woman" lessened, and she even felt a bit of relief.

Relief for what? Naturally, relief that she was the one suffering.

Even if it was a bit tiring, compared to the kind of exhaustion that comes from being the "other woman," this fatigue carried a sense of willingness.

Before leaving, Lin Xiuyuan confirmed once more, "Zhimin, are you really not going skiing? The indoor ski resort at the Dubai ski area here looks really fun. I saw in the introduction that there are even penguins inside, the kind you can interact with."

Liu Zhimin, who had already changed her clothes, gave him a charmingly coquettish roll of her eyes and shook her head, "No, my legs really can't take it anymore. I need to find a place to sit and rest properly, eat something to recover."

As she spoke, she rubbed the inner side of her thighs, her tone carrying a hint of grievance.

This guy had no pity for the fairer sex at all, treating her like a dance student, bending and folding her until she was almost like a human doll.

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but reply, "Then wouldn't resting in the Jiudian be the same? Going out means having to walk, which is even more tiring, right?"

"What do you think?" Liu Zhimin gave him another annoyed look.

Her eyes held a hint of reproach and helplessness, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

At this, Lin Xiuyuan remembered his recklessness in the morning, so he gave a light cough, "Ahem, this isn't my fault; I can only blame you for being excessively beautiful."

After all, men always hold great enthusiasm for new things, and when they start playing, it truly becomes endless.

By the same logic, the same applies to people.

When the sense of novelty hits, one always wants to toss about a few more times.

Beside him, although Liu Zhimin complained with her mouth, she knew in her heart that this couldn't be blamed on Lin Xiuyuan, and besides, the more proactive the other party was, the more it proved her own charm.

So, being a "love-brain" by nature, she immediately smiled happily upon hearing this sweet talk, her eyes curving into two crescent moons.

Then she walked to Lin Xiuyuan's side, hooked her arm through his, and pressed her whole body against him, "Hee hee, then let's go, go out for a stroll and buy some things to take back."

"Are you going out dressed like that?"

"Why, doesn't it look good?" Liu Zhimin looked down at herself, then looked up at him, her eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

Lin Xiuyuan looked down to appraise Liu Zhimin's outfit.

A fully hollow-knit cardigan, the beige woven pattern shimmering with fine luster under the lights, with a casual little camisole underneath; it was both eye-catching and a little sexy.

Her fair, tender skin was faintly visible, and her shoulder line was outlined perfectly.

The long, straight black hair from yesterday had also been curled into waves by her with a curling iron, hanging loosely over her shoulders and swaying gently with her movements, making her look like a mature "big sister" type, a completely different person from the pure young girl of yesterday.

The only thing he felt was a bit uncoordinated was the pants.

The light blue jeans seemed a bit too loose, diluting much of the exquisite feeling created by the upper body.

According to his aesthetic, with an upper body like that, the lower body should be paired with skinny jeans or tight flared pants to look good, outlining the leg shape, which would make the overall look much sharper.

However, seeing that Liu Zhimin herself didn't feel there was any problem and seemed quite satisfied looking in the mirror, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't be bothered to say anything.

Girls, after all, happiness is the most important thing.

Although he meant well, if he ruined her mood, then good intentions would turn into a bad thing, which wasn't worth it.

Besides, what she wore in front of the camera was usually arranged by the company; it was rare for her to follow her own preferences in private, so why should he be a killjoy?

So Lin Xiuyuan quickly changed his tune, "It's not that it doesn't look good, it's that it looks too good, so dazzling it's unbearable. Walking on the road, you're easily recognized, and then you might attract a bunch of camera lenses."

"Annoying." Liu Zhimin had originally been a bit worried, thinking he was going to pick at her outfit.

So nervous was she that she immediately laughed upon hearing this, gently patting Lin Xiuyuan's arm, the force as light as a feather brushing by.

Then she looked down at her outfit again, pouting slightly with helplessness, "But I didn't bring many clothes, just these few sets. The suitcase is only so big, it can't fit too much."

After a slightly depressed hum, she continued, "Forget it, I'll just make do. I'll wear a mask and a hat when I go out in a while, there shouldn't be any problems. There shouldn't be that many people from the Peninsula here, it won't be such a coincidence that I get photographed."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her confident appearance and didn't say much, just nodded with an "mm-hmm-hmm," a half-smile on his face.

It was just that his smiling expression made Liu Zhimin feel even more depressed, and she reached out and patted him twice more, this time with a bit more force, "What's with that expression? It's like you're looking at a fool."

"Isn't that exactly what it is?" Lin Xiuyuan laughed and dodged, reaching out to rub the spot where he had been patted, "Anyone who really knows you, wearing a mask or hat is useless. The way you walk, anyone familiar with you could recognize you at a glance."

"So?"

"So, maybe we should just rest in the Jiudian." Lin Xiuyuan winked, deliberately drawing out his tone.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhimin didn't say a word, grabbed the mask and baseball cap already prepared on the sofa, and was the first to open the door and bolt out, moving as fast as a startled rabbit.

Stay any longer? If she stayed any longer, she would really end up kidney-deficient and dehydrated.

As the little interlude in the hotel room came to an end, the two soon arrived at a shopping mall in a commercial district of Dubai.

Previously, Liu Zhimin had said in the room that she was coming out for dessert and afternoon tea, but a woman's desire for shopping is sometimes even stronger than her desire for a man.

So, as soon as she entered the mall, it was as if she had become a different person; her eyes lit up, her pace became much lighter, and she couldn't wait to drag Lin Xiuyuan around to look at this and that.

The interior of the mall was luxuriously decorated, the air conditioning was on full blast, and the marble floors were so polished they could reflect a person.

The brand-name specialty stores were brightly lit, with the latest season's items displayed in the windows; some styles Liu Zhimin had seen in stores in the Gangnam District of Seoul, but the sizes here were more complete.

So, when she encountered something she liked, she bought it without a second thought.

Seeing something suitable for Lin Xiuyuan, she also took it without hesitation.

A scarf, a jacket, a baseball cap, and even a pair of sunglasses.

Throughout the whole process, she didn't let Lin Xiuyuan spend a single cent; every time he took out his card, Liu Zhimin pushed it back.

She gave it a high-sounding name: it was rare for her to spend money, so she was letting herself enjoy the thrill of swiping a card.

After all, back in the Peninsula, the company was always in control, income had to be split, and she had to deliberate for ages before buying anything big; it was nothing like the ease of the present moment.

Hearing her say this, Lin Xiuyuan stopped insisting and let her swipe.

He only calculated in his heart that he would have to find a gift to give back to her; it was fine to be a kept man for a member, but if she weren't a member, he would just let it be—he would treat it as a casual romance.

They had been strolling for about half an hour, and Liu Zhimin was already carrying three or four shopping bags, yet she didn't look tired at all; on the contrary, her interest was growing higher and higher.

So, she pulled Lin Xiuyuan into another shoe store, squatted down to carefully compare the soles of two pairs of sneakers, and muttered to herself, saying this one had good rebound and that one looked great.

After agonizing for quite a while, she simply decided to take both, and even grabbed a few more pairs in different sizes, saying she would bring them back as New Year's gifts for her teammates.

Just as the two were shopping with great enthusiasm, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly heard a call from behind, carrying a hint of surprise and uncertainty: "Oh, Zhimin!"

Liu Zhimin, who was in front, heard it too and looked back.

It wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't looked, but the moment she saw who it was, her expression carried a trace of slight embarrassment and a bit of surprise.

Clearly, she hadn't expected to run into them here.

Lin Xiuyuan, standing beside her, also turned around, and immediately, two figures he had only ever seen in videos fell into his eyes.

One was the girl who had performed "Ten Minutes," with a tall and slender figure, wearing a simple white cropped T-shirt paired with light-colored flared jeans, her waistline cinched neatly, revealing a section of firm, smooth midriff.

Her long hair had a few strands of light gold highlights that danced lightly on her shoulders as she walked.

The most eye-catching part was that face: a full forehead, a high bridge of the nose, and when she smiled, the corners of her mouth stretched wide, revealing a row of neat, white teeth, her eyes curving into two bright crescents.

Shin Yuna.

ITZY's Shin Yuna.

Lin Xiuyuan had seen her fancam from a certain year-end stage, which had an astonishing number of views.

And half a step in front of her was another girl with a completely different temperament.

Also tall in stature, she possessed a more quiet and introverted aura.

She wore a dark gray oversized hoodie, black cargo pants, and a pair of thick-soled sneakers.

Her face was on the thinner side, her features exquisite yet sharp, and most distinctive were those eyes with long, slightly upturned corners.

It didn't feel quite like a fox-like gaze, but rather something closer to a feline, a natural, aloof charm.

This was Hwang Yeji, the leader of ITZY.

Standing together, the two were like the meeting of summer and early autumn.

One was brilliant and fiery, the other cool and quiet.

And as Lin Xiuyuan looked at them, the gazes of the two girls opposite were also falling on him.

More accurately, they were shifting back and forth between him and Liu Zhimin, their eyes scanning them from top to bottom like a scanner.

Shin Yuna's mouth opened slightly into an 'O' shape before quickly pressing shut, while Hwang Yeji raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint, elusive smile at the corners of her mouth.

The scent of gossip was so thick it was practically overflowing.

After all, the three of them had originally agreed to shop here for two days before heading back; who knew that the night before last, Liu Zhimin had messaged them saying she had met a friend unexpectedly, so the trio had turned into a duo.

The two of them hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence to run into Liu Zhimin here, along with the friend she had mentioned.

And it was a man, a handsome guy at that.

This bit of gossip was something no one would be willing to give up.

So, Shin Yuna spoke up first, her excitement impossible to hide: "Zhimin unnie, what a coincidence."

Although Hwang Yeji didn't speak, her gaze lingered on the shopping bags in Lin Xiuyuan's hands for two seconds before shifting to Liu Zhimin's masked face.

It seemed as if she hadn't said anything, yet it felt as if she had said everything.

Liu Zhimin stood there, a flash of embarrassment crossing the eyes visible above her mask.

But it was only for an instant; soon, her eyes curved up as well.

"Oh, Yeji, Yuna, I didn't expect such a coincidence." Her voice came from behind the mask, sounding softer and sweeter than usual, "Why did you come here to play? I thought you had gone to the tourist spots."

"It's too sunny outside, the indoors are more comfortable." Shin Yuna answered quickly, her tone still carrying a smile she hadn't fully suppressed, "Anyway, we've been here for a few days and have played enough. What about you, unnie? Didn't you just arrive—"

She paused, her gaze drifting toward Lin Xiuyuan again.

"Why aren't you out playing?"

That pause was very subtle, so subtle it was like a kitten's paw, lightly scratching at the air.

Liu Zhimin glanced at Lin Xiuyuan.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her too.

Their eyes met, exchanging a look that only they could understand.

Then Liu Zhimin turned her head back and continued in a very natural tone, "We already played for a day yesterday, so we're resting today.

By the way, this is my friend, Lin Xiuyuan."

When transitioning from small talk to introductions, the vocabulary Liu Zhimin used for Lin Xiuyuan was very brief, and her tone was very ordinary.

But Shin Yuna and Hwang Yeji were not some newly debuted rookies.

They had seen more scenes, met more people, and encountered more types of friends than most girls their age.

So, the moment they heard Liu Zhimin say the word "friend," they were laughing in their hearts.

Mm, a friend.

Friends go shopping at the Dubai Mall together.

Friends help each other carry shopping bags.

Friends buy each other clothes, coats, and scarves.

Friends look at each other with that kind of gaze.

Thinking of this, Hwang Yeji smiled and nodded very politely at Lin Xiuyuan, "Hello, I am ITZY's Hwang Yeji."

Shin Yuna also bowed slightly, "Hello, I am ITZY's Shin Yuna."

Both of their attitudes were very appropriate, their voices crisp, and their facial expression management could be called textbook-level.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan also responded politely, "Hello, I am Lin Xiuyuan."

Facing these two familiar strangers, he had nothing to be nervous about.

The one who was truly nervous was Liu Zhimin, who was standing by his side and currently trying hard to make her expression look natural.

So after the self-introductions, the air was quiet for about two seconds.

Fortunately, Shin Yuna once again took the lead in breaking the silence, "Unnie, are you finished shopping? Would you like to grab a coffee together?"

She said this very naturally, as if it were just an ordinary invitation for a chance encounter.

However, Liu Zhimin shook her head, her tone carrying an apology, "We still have some things to take care of in a while, what about you?"

"We are planning to shop a bit more and buy some things to take back," Hwang Yeji smiled and said.

"Then you go ahead and shop," Liu Zhimin said, "Let's meet up again in Seoul another day."

"Alright, have fun, Unnie."

"You too."

A brief exchange of pleasantries, a proper farewell.

Just as the few of them were preparing to part ways, at the escalator entrance a few meters away, three familiar figures were appearing there.

It was none other than the three members of Tara who had gone out earlier.

At this moment, the whole group is assembled!!!

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