Chapter 424: The First Time

At the hour of dawn, the sound of a door lock turning in a high-rise apartment in Seoul's Gangnam District was exceptionally clear in the quiet hallway.

With a "click," the door opened, and the motion-sensor light in the apartment's entryway turned on, illuminating a small space.

Then Park Hyomin walked in with unsteady steps, one hand supporting herself against the wall, the other carrying her bag, her heels clicking messily against the floor.

She muttered something, her voice not loud, but clearly audible in the quiet apartment at this hour of the morning, "I don't feel well, I'm so dizzy..."

Lin Xiuyuan, following behind her, stepped over the threshold and pulled the door shut behind him, emitting a dull thud.

With his hands in the pockets of his down jacket, he leaned against the doorframe and looked at her with a playful gaze, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, "Well, who told you to go out drinking every day like a lush? There's no such thing as feeling comfortable after drinking; isn't this just asking for trouble?"

Park Hyomin, who was wobbling while taking off her shoes, immediately turned her head back upon hearing this, pouting her small mouth and wrinkling her face as she looked at the man who was watching her with a playful gaze.

Her tone carried a sense of defiance and a hint of coquetry, "I don't drink every day! This was a gathering with people I haven't seen in a long time; everyone asked me so many times, I couldn't just keep not going, could I?"

Afterward, she placed her bag on the entryway cabinet and continued to defend herself, "Besides, I didn't even drink that much, just a little bit, really just a little bit."

Lin Xiuyuan watched her struggle clumsily with her shoes and nodded, "You really didn't drink much; at least you could still walk on your own this time. You've made progress."

When he said the words "made progress," the tail end of his voice rose slightly, carrying a tone similar to praise.

"Don't you dare mock me!"

But Park Hyomin caught the sarcasm in Lin Xiuyuan's words; the alcohol made her emotional reactions more direct than usual.

At the same time, she finally kicked off both shoes, then stepped onto the wooden floor of the entryway and lunged at Lin Xiuyuan, hitting his chest twice, though the force was as light as a tickle.

She shouted, "You're like this every time; whenever I get drunk, you have to lecture me."

At this moment, her entire body was soft and limp, and when she lunged over, almost her entire weight rested on Lin Xiuyuan, carrying a faint scent of alcohol mixed with the perfume on her body.

Tonight, this little Miss Xiaomin was wearing a beige and light brown spliced bell-sleeve knit sweater, paired with a dark brown slit corduroy skirt, and black long socks on her legs, wrapping around her slender calves.

Those fuzzy shoes had already been kicked to one side, one right-side up, one upside down, lying crookedly on the entryway floor mat.

So, when Lin Xiuyuan reached out to hug the lunging Park Hyomin, wrapping his arms around her waist and letting his palms rest on her sides to appreciate the feeling, he lowered his head and teased her.

"Xiaomin, is the quality of these shoes of yours not very good? They aren't very breathable..."

Then he deliberately sniffed, his expression carrying a look of feigned seriousness, "There's a bit of a smell."

For a woman, the lethality of this sentence was no less than a precision-guided missile.

It made Park Hyomin freeze for a moment, and then she immediately broke free from Lin Xiuyuan's embrace, moving as fast as a startled kitten.

She first looked down at her socks; the black long socks had clearly been taken out of the package and worn for the first time only this evening.

Then she looked at the fuzzy shoes kicked to the side, and her nose twitched, sniffing a few times.

She sniffed very earnestly, her nostrils slightly fluttering, like a small animal confirming a scent.

Unfortunately, she smelled nothing; the only thing lingering at the tip of her nose was the faint scent of perfume on her own body, and the scent of body wash on Lin Xiuyuan after his recent shower—clean, with a slightly soapy, woody note.

Seeing that she couldn't smell anything, Park Hyomin looked at Lin Xiuyuan again; this time, her gaze had changed.

It shifted from confusion to scrutiny, scanning his expression frame by frame, and she happened to catch the trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth that he hadn't managed to hide in time.

It was the kind of smile that came after succeeding, carrying a little bit of craftiness, very much like the joy of a successful prank.

Then she realized she had been played.

Immediately, that delicate little nose wrinkled up, and she looked at Lin Xiuyuan with full resentment, her lips pursed, saying nothing, just staring at him quietly.

That look in her eyes carried grievance, accusation, and a little bit of coquetry.

A few seconds later, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't take it anymore.

So he hurriedly reached out to hug this somewhat displeased little Miss Xiaomin, pulling her back into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and laughing, "Alright, alright, I was wrong, there's no smell, how could there possibly be a smell?"

Having said that, he lowered his head and kissed the top of her hair, "It smells so good, our Xiaomin smells fragrant from head to toe."

"Hmph, I'm angry." After being hugged, Park Hyomin's anger had actually dissipated, but she still pouted her small mouth.

Her whole face was buried in Lin Xiuyuan's chest, her voice muffled, but her body had already softened, leaning in his arms like a cat that had been stroked.

"Then what will it take for you to forgive me..."

Lin Xiuyuan, who also understood the situation, deliberately dragged out the end of his sentence as if seriously considering the question, then suddenly added with a mischievous smile, "How about I help you take a shower?"

Immediately, his palm gently rubbed against her waist, carrying a suggestive implication.

And when Park Hyomin heard this, she seemed to think of some shy memory.

Perhaps something impressive had happened the last time the two of them showered together.

So her little expression lifted, her earlobes visibly reddened, and at the same time, she reached out to push away the person who was about to do something bad, turned around, and walked into the Living Room.

Before taking a step, she didn't forget to throw back a coquettish remark, "In your dreams! I'd rather let me step on you!"

"Step on me?" Lin Xiuyuan followed into the room, his pace unhurried, only the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening, continuing to reply with a mischievous grin, "That works too, step on my face; I'll use my saliva to disinfect it for you properly."

Park Hyomin, ahead of him, heard Lin Xiuyuan's tiger-wolf-like remark, and in her mind, she had already involuntarily imagined the scene: herself wearing high heels stepping on his face, him looking up with that signature mischievous smile on his lips.

Then, as if she had been electrocuted, she hurriedly shouted, "Hey!"

The sound exploded in the Living Room, and she turned back in shock, glaring at him with feigned anger, "You are such a pervert."

Lin Xiuyuan laughed and didn't continue to tease her on this topic.

Instead, he stood in the middle of the Living Room and looked around, his tone becoming more serious, carrying a natural concern, "Alright, enough fooling around. You go take a shower first; I'll make you a hangover drink, and you can drink it when you come out."

Facing the man who had just been teasing her and yet was so gentle and considerate in the blink of an eye, Park Hyomin couldn't help herself and stepped forward to hug his neck again.

Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and she tilted her head slightly, looking into Lin Xiuyuan's eyes.

In her gaze, there was the blurriness catalyzed by alcohol, the softness of being alone in the dead of night, and a kind of earnest, defenseless sincerity.

"Xiuyuan, don't be so good. If this keeps up, I really want to date you."

Lin Xiuyuan looked down at her, silent for a second, then the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, "So what does that mean? Should I turn around and leave right now?"

Having said that, he made a gesture as if to walk toward the door, but his feet didn't move at all.

"Don't you dare." Park Hyomin pouted, her arms tightening, clamping him even closer as if afraid he would really leave.

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan laughed and gave her buttocks a firm slap.

The "smack" was exceptionally crisp in the quiet Living Room, his palm landing on the buttocks wrapped in her short skirt, and he could feel the elasticity of the muscles underneath.

He then lowered his head to lean in close, his lips brushing against her ear, and said with warm breath against her skin, "Then stop dawdling. Go wash up and get nice and clean, then change into something sexy and come out. Drinking some sweet water in a bit will make kissing much more pleasant."

"Pervert."

Hearing this, Park Hyomin scolded him with a laugh again, then quickly darted out of Lin Xiuyuan's reach, running toward the bedroom like a startled little rabbit, taking two steps at a time.

Lin Xiuyuan stood in the Living Room, watched that retreating figure for a moment, then turned and walked toward the Kitchen.

The Kitchen was not large, but it was kept very clean; after scanning the area, he rummaged through a cabinet to find a Glass Cup, then poured about two spoonfuls of honey into it.

He then filled it halfway with warm water from the water dispenser, stirring slowly with a spoon until the honey had completely dissolved and the water turned a pale amber color, exuding a light, sweet fragrance.

Finally, he carried the honey water to the Living Room and placed it on the coffee table.

He walked over to the sofa and sat down, pulled his phone from his pocket, opened the chat window with Xueli, and typed a line.

【Zhenli, I'm not going back tonight, you guys get some rest early.】

The content was simple, and the tone was very flat, as if he were talking about a very mundane matter.

As it turned out, the moment Xueli saw the message, she replied almost instantly, with a speed that suggested she had been holding her phone waiting for his news.

Several messages popped up in the chat box, the lines filled with shock, exclamation marks and question marks mixed together, as if her hands were shaking while typing.

【Daebak, oppa, you really took down Xiaomin unnie??? What's the situation???】

【Wait a second, oppa, you aren't taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state, are you? Oppa~ that's not right.】

【Oppa??? Are you still there??? How about you come back, and I'll send Taeyeon unnie over to you.】

Looking at these messages, Lin Xiuyuan really didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he leaned back against the sofa, his thumb hovering over the screen for a moment before he slowly typed a reply, his tone helpless yet amused.

【Don't guess wildly, go to sleep, goodnight.】

After sending it, he thought the topic was over and was about to put his phone aside when it buzzed again.

He looked down and saw that Xueli had sent another message, this time only one line.

【Alright then, oppa, be safe.】

Lin Xiuyuan looked at the message, was silent for two seconds, then rubbed his chin with a subtle expression.

Ten-plus minutes later.

The sound of water in the bedroom bathroom finally stopped, and Park Hyomin walked out after her shower, wrapped only in a white bath towel that covered her from her chest to her thighs, revealing her rounded shoulders and slender calves.

Her hair was half-dried, the ends still damp, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks and neck, making her skin look even fairer.

She walked to the small wardrobe in the room and pulled open the door, looking at the neatly hung pajamas inside; on the left were casual styles, cotton, loose-fitting, and plain in color.

In the middle were loungewear styles, silk, soft, and simple in design.

On the right were the sexy ones—lace, cutout, spaghetti-strap—and a few sets of lingerie still in their unopened packaging, placed at the very back.

Looking at these clothes, Park Hyomin's gaze swept from left to right, then back from right to left, hesitating for quite a while.

Her fingers paused on a silk camisole nightgown, then moved away; she rummaged through the rack on the right a few times before finally pulling out a black spaghetti-strap nightgown.

The nightgown was made of pure white silk, smooth to the touch, and shimmered with a faint luster under the lights.

The straps were very thin, only about the width of a little finger, and the neckline was cut very low in a V-shape that extended all the way to her chest.

The most eye-catching part was the design on the back.

The entire back was almost completely cutout, with only a few thin straps crossing from her shoulder blades down to her waistline, forming an exquisite geometric pattern, with large patches of fair skin showing through the cutouts, appearing and disappearing from view.

After holding the nightgown up against her body to measure it, she rummaged through a drawer for a pair of panties—the string type, consisting of only two thin pieces of fabric with strings on the sides tied at her hip bones.

She then closed the wardrobe door, quickly changed into this outfit, and stood in front of the full-length mirror to take a look at herself.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open The Gate of the bedroom and returned to the Living Room.

As soon as she stepped out, Park Hyomin saw Lin Xiuyuan sitting on the sofa playing with his phone, his posture very relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, his back against the sofa cushion.

When Lin Xiuyuan saw her come out, he lifted his eyelids to glance at her, and then his gaze became fixed.

However, he didn't forget to lift his chin and gesture toward the coffee table, "Since you're out, drink the water first; it shouldn't be hot anymore."

After speaking, his gaze landed on her again, sliding from her shoulders to her waistline, then from her waistline to her calves, finally returning to her face.

His eyes held an undisguised appreciation, and he gave a heartfelt "Wow," saying, "Although I knew you had a lot of stock in your wardrobe, Xiaomin, I didn't expect there to be something this sexy."

"Is it pretty?"

Facing Lin Xiuyuan's burning and undisguised gaze, Park Hyomin did not dodge, nor did she shyly lower her head.

Instead, she stood in place and spun around once, the hem of the nightgown lifting lightly with her movement, revealing the tops of her thighs before falling back down to cover them again.

"My reaction has already said everything." Lin Xiuyuan leaned back on the sofa, hands spread out, the smile at the corners of his mouth impossible to suppress.

His gaze seemed as if it wanted to swallow her whole, yet it carried a sense of restraint and appreciation, as if he were looking at a work of art.

Park Hyomin looked at the man on the sofa; his eyes, his expression, and the curve of his mouth were all written with the word "satisfied."

So she chuckled and spat, coquettishly calling him a "bad person."

Then she bent over to pick up the cup of honey water on the coffee table and took a large gulp.

The honey water slid down her throat, sweet and warm, warming her from her throat all the way to her stomach, making her feel much more comfortable.

After finishing it, Park Hyomin's only thought was that it really was a cup of sweet water, just like this man—very heartwarming.

She then placed the cup back on the coffee table and let herself fall into Lin Xiuyuan's arms, as if the angle and force had been calculated long ago; her body landed perfectly into his open embrace, fitting against him perfectly.

A moment later, she began to feel Lin Xiuyuan's palms touch her waist and back, his warm hands gently stroking her waistline with a casual caress.

His other hand landed on her perky buttocks, his palm cupping one side, his fingers tightening slightly to feel the elasticity and warmth of the muscles beneath.

Her entire body, having just fallen into his arms, was lifted up by him, and she slowly sat on his lap, her legs spread apart as she straddled him, the hem of her nightgown pushed up to reveal the skin on the insides of her thighs.

Once she was completely settled, Park Hyomin looked down at the man from above, her fingers lightly tapping his chest, feeling the contours of his pectoral muscles and the rhythm of his heartbeat through the thin fabric of his T-shirt.

Her gaze wandered over his face, from his brows and eyes to the bridge of his nose, from the bridge of his nose to his lips, and finally back to his eyes.

"Xiuyuan, you specifically took a shower before coming out to meet me—did you already anticipate this situation?"

"Just a coincidence." Lin Xiuyuan leaned back on the sofa, looking up at her with a very innocent expression, "According to your logic, could it be that I can tell fortunes?"

He then pinched her waist with a moderate amount of force.

"Hmph, and you didn't even change your clothes," Park Hyomin continued to poke Lin Xiuyuan's chest with her finger, "that means you definitely had ideas, you impatient man."

Lin Xiuyuan found this remark a bit amusing, thinking to himself that this situation was just a habit from back home; after a shower, he would just wear a T-shirt and pajama pants. Who would change clothes just to go out at night? He would definitely just throw on a jacket and head out; wasn't that a perfectly normal thing?

However, he didn't explain anything, instead continuing to gently pinch the soft flesh of the perky buttocks in his hand, his fingers sinking into that mass of soft muscle, then releasing, and pinching again.

Then, looking at Park Hyomin, his gaze carried a smile and a certain undisguised desire, "Since you already know I'm so impatient, Xiaomin, why don't you hurry up and show me."

Facing Lin Xiuyuan's words, Park Hyomin's display was indeed very direct.

She raised both hands, reached back, and ran her slender fingers through her long hair, gathering it from the roots.

Then, under Lin Xiuyuan's gaze, her fingers nimbly performed a fancy flourish, like a magic trick, fingers interlacing, flipping, and tightening.

In the blink of an eye, that head of long hair was gathered together and coiled into a loose bun at the back of her head.

Without using any hair tie or hair clip, it was fixed firmly in place just like that.

A few stray strands escaped from the bun, hanging by her ears and neck, making her face shape look even sexier.

The entire process took less than three seconds, the movements flowing like water, as if she were performing an acrobatic feat practiced countless times, leaving Lin Xiuyuan stunned.

His gaze lingered on her hair for a moment, then was pulled back to the main point by her movements.

Because by now, her little bottom had slid off his thighs, her body moving along his chest like a snake, soft and fluid.

Until her knees landed on the carpet in front of the sofa, her body in a duck-sit position, kneeling in the aisle between the coffee table and the sofa.

Her gaze also shifted from looking down to looking up, her hands resting on his knees as she looked up at him.

Her eyes were bright, her lips slightly parted, as if waiting for some command, or perhaps making some silent invitation.

The light in the Living Room spilled down softly, falling on her shoulders, her collarbones, and her hollowed-out back, making her skin look as if it had been glazed.

At this moment, Park Hyomin's breathing was also heavier than before, her chest rising and falling slightly with her breath, the neckline of her nightgown opening and closing with the movement, revealing more fair skin.

Likewise, Lin Xiuyuan, looking down at her, found his own breathing becoming heavier as well.

Two seconds later, he reached out, ran his fingers through the stray hair on her forehead, and tucked them behind her ears, revealing that complete, charming face.

A slightly flushed appearance, carrying a hint of anticipation and nervousness.

Looking at this face so beautiful it made it impossible to look away, Lin Xiuyuan gently rubbed his thumb against her cheekbone, feeling the delicacy and warmth of the skin beneath.

And Park Hyomin, very obediently and sensibly, closed her eyes, tilted her head slightly, and pressed her face into his palm, like a cat being petted, letting out a satisfied breathy sound.

Finally, as Lin Xiuyuan applied pressure with his palm, she also began the maintenance project for the night.

……

It is unknown how much time passed; after several rounds of shaft maintenance and lubrication, the atmosphere in the Living Room had become warm and sticky.

Park Hyomin, whose breathing had not yet fully calmed, had her chest rising and falling slightly, one strap of her nightgown having slipped off her shoulder and hanging on her arm, revealing a rounded shoulder and collarbone.

Just as she was about to get up to proceed to the next maintenance project, her gaze was suddenly caught by something.

Lin Xiuyuan pulled a small box out of his pocket.

It was a square, aluminum-foil-packaged small box, silver-gray, reflecting a faint light under the lamp.

At this sight, the look in Park Hyomin's eyes changed; she stared at the small box, her brows slightly furrowed, and she pursed her lips.

Then she raised her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her gaze carrying a complex emotion, "Xiuyuan, you still want to say you didn't have ideas? Who carries this around with them?"

Originally, she had rummaged through things inside earlier and, upon finding that there really wasn't any in the house, had happily gone to take a shower.

As it turned out, this guy had pulled it out like a magic trick, which really made her feel a bit depressed.

On the sofa, the questioned Lin Xiuyuan stated that he had bought it at the 24-hour convenience store downstairs while she was showering.

Hearing this, Park Hyomin felt even more uncomfortable, and looking at Lin Xiuyuan, she said, "Am I that dirty?"

Just this one sentence, five words, like a nail, ruthlessly pierced Lin Xiuyuan's chest.

His expression changed in a flash, his eyes widened, and then a national curse sprayed out of his mouth, his voice filled with shock and panic, "Holy shit, it's not like that!"

His voice rose, his speaking speed increased, as if he were desperately explaining a life-or-death matter.

"I just did it for safety, just for the sake of your body and your career; look, regarding safety, there's your share of responsibility, but there's also mine."

"But I don't want to use it," Park Hyomin continued, her tone calm, her gaze fixed on his face, never moving away.

She wanted to see what reaction Lin Xiuyuan would have, so she observed his every micro-expression, as if confirming something.

"Although external oil leakage is fine, it would still be a bit dangerous if it accidentally touched any sparks."

Facing this explanation from Lin Xiuyuan, Park Hyomin had originally wanted to say something else, but her mind turned, and she simply decided not to.

Because she suddenly realized that in matters like this, saying too much was not as satisfying as just doing it herself.

So she reached out, took the box, and automatically opened the umbrella.

Then, holding the umbrella handle with her fingers, she looked at Lin Xiuyuan; use it if you must, but now is now, and later is later.

Thus, in the near future.

When the atmosphere in the Living Room had heated up to a degree that was impossible to look at directly, when both their breathing had become rapid and chaotic, and when Lin Xiuyuan was immersed in a certain rhythmic VR reality game.

In the game, he was originally still repairing the car, when suddenly he was pushed back by the car, knocking him onto the sofa.

Then the headlights moved very quickly, so fast that before Lin Xiuyuan could react, the positions of the two figures had already been swapped.

From being on top to being on the bottom, from being active to being passive.

It became Lin Xiuyuan lying passively on the sofa, his back against the soft cushion, looking up at Park Hyomin sitting on the hood of the car.

Her long hair, which had been coiled up, was now scattered on her shoulders, hanging down and brushing against his chest, tickling him.

Lin Xiuyuan thought he could enjoy it for a bit, so he didn't take it to heart, just lying there, his hands supporting her waist, his fingers sinking into the soft flesh at her sides, feeling the temperature and rhythm of her body.

Then, at that moment of near-shuddering.

That was the critical point, the moment when the arrow was on the string and had to be released.

Park Hyomin suddenly lifted her hips, raising them off his thighs, leaving a distance, her body leaning forward slightly.

One hand supported his chest, while the other hand quickly reached down.

Her little hand reached in, then gave a tug, the movement fast, accurate, and ruthless, as if it had been rehearsed countless times.

Then, following the momentum, she sat down hard, her hips returning to their original position, her body pressing against him once more, all in one fluid motion.

Just like that, from lifting her hips to retrieving it to sitting back down, it took less than two seconds in total.

Even if an immortal had come, they wouldn't have been able to react in time.

Lin Xiuyuan only felt that a certain critical part, which had been protected all along, had suddenly lost that layer of protection.

Consequently, just as he opened his mouth to say something, all language was drowned out in that instant by his body's instinctive reaction; after all, the stimulation brought about by that unhindered, truly intimate contact was the sum of all previous experiences multiplied by a coefficient.

So much so that his brain went blank at that moment, with only the most primal reactions governing his body.

Finally, under her shocked gaze, Lin Xiuyuan surrendered the engine oil he had been hiding for so long.

It wasn't a trickling stream, but rather, as if the floodgates had been opened, it was poured fiercely into the engine compartment.

It was a completely unreserved eruption, carrying a sense of "to hell with it" and an indescribable feeling of relief.

After that, the Living Room fell silent.

The night outside the window remained heavy, the lights of City Pop flickered in the distance, and in this small Apartment, time seemed to have stood still.

Park Hyomin sat there looking down at him, the corners of her mouth curling up to reveal a satisfied smile of success.

It was the posture of a victor.

And Lin Xiuyuan looked up at her, his expression extremely complex.

There was shock, helplessness, incomprehension, and a sense of resignation as he lay flat.

Halftime break.

The lights in the Living Room were still soft, but the atmosphere was already completely different from before.

Lin Xiuyuan sat on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands covering his face, a pair of eyes still in shock peeking out from between his fingers.

Through the gaps in his fingers, he watched that back as she got up and walked toward the bathroom; her nightgown hung loosely on her, her steps light, one might even say a bit jaunty, like a cat that had just stolen a fish.

At this moment, what kept running through Lin Xiuyuan's mind was the "stay safe" message Xueli had sent him earlier.

At the time, he had thought it would be fine, but looking back now, he hadn't expected it to truly become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but mutter to himself, his voice very low.

"It's over, it's really over now. How is Xiaomin so crazy? Where are there women—no, wait, where are there girl group idols this unhinged?"

As he spoke, he simply lifted his face from his palms, leaned against the back of the sofa, looked up at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

Forget it, let it be.

In the bathroom on the other side, Park Hyomin was already standing under the showerhead.

The hot water poured down from above; with her eyes closed, she tilted her head to meet the flow, letting the hot water wash over her body, taking a comfortable shower.

The corners of her mouth had been curled up since the moment she entered the bathroom, and they hadn't dropped since; she couldn't suppress them no matter what.

Her mind, just like Lin Xiuyuan's outside, was thinking about things.

However, she was thinking about how to go and show off to Xian Enjing tomorrow, to make her pay for mocking her last time for failing to handle Lin Xiuyuan, and for covering her mouth and laughing at her.

And now? Who had handled whom now?

As she thought about it, Park Hyomin couldn't help but laugh out loud, the sound of her laughter appearing exceptionally crisp amidst the sound of the water.

As for dangers or whatever.

Did he really think modern medicine was just for show?

After all, she had always been taking short-term pills.

However, she didn't take that medicine for contraception, but to regulate her body.

After all, that medicine was originally used to regulate hormone levels, relieve menstrual pain, and improve skin condition; contraception was just one of its many functions.

Now, using one medicine for two purposes, she had hit the jackpot.

Of course, she wouldn't tell Lin Xiuyuan about this situation; it was enough that she knew some things, and it was time to scare that stinky guy a little.

A few minutes later.

Having taken a quick shower, Park Hyomin stood in front of the vanity, wrapped her hair in a towel, and then dried her body with another towel.

The mist on the mirror in front of her hadn't dissipated yet, and she could only see a blurry outline, so she reached out and wiped the mirror, clearing a distinct area, and then subconsciously looked at herself in the mirror.

As it turned out, it didn't matter if she didn't look, but once she did, she couldn't take her eyes off.

The person in the mirror was still her, but not entirely her.

Her forehead and chin, which had grown a few pimples recently due to lack of rest, were now as smooth as if nothing had ever grown there; her skin was even and delicate, and even her pores had shrunk significantly.

That complexion, which had been somewhat dull from long-term staying up late and stress, was now much more rosy, as if she had just come out of a top-tier treatment at a beauty salon.

Even the dark circles and bags under her eyes, which had been obvious from lack of sleep, had faded by more than half; the skin around her eyes was firm and bright, making her eyes look a few sizes larger than usual.

Her entire face was glowing with health, as if she had just recovered from a vigorous workout.

No, even better than that, much better.

She looked as spirited as if she had just eaten a bowl of all-encompassing tonic soup, radiant and full of vitality.

Staring at herself in the mirror, Park Hyomin was truly stunned, staring without blinking, as if confirming this wasn't an illusion.

And her first reaction in her heart was bewilderment, was surprise.

However, it didn't go so far as to make her think of any surreal abilities; she purely thought this was just the normal process after experiencing a thorough vehicle maintenance.

After all, in the past few days, her spirit had also been much fuller after being satisfied.

Her skin would get a little better, her complexion would get a little rosier, just not as drastically, as quickly, or as obviously as it was today.

Thinking of this, Park Hyomin, who had carefully examined this beauty a few more times, finally withdrew her gaze with reluctance, turned and left the bathroom, pushed open The Gate, stepped barefoot on the bedroom's wooden floor, walked to the Living Room, and called up the man who was still dazed on the sofa.

"Xiuyuan, go take a shower."

This time her voice was much gentler than usual, carrying a kind of languor and satisfaction unique to the aftermath.

Lin Xiuyuan raised his head and glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a second, then he looked away.

Saying nothing, he stood up and walked toward the bathroom.

Another moment passed.

After finishing his shower, Lin Xiuyuan came out of the bathroom, but before he could even reach the bedside, Park Hyomin turned over and got up again, pinning him down right there.

Then she straddled him, supporting herself with her hands on either side of his head, her long hair hanging down like a black waterfall, enclosing their faces in a small, private space.

"How about one more time?"

"Since we've already tried it once, we can just go for it this time, right? No need to worry about this or that anymore."

As a man being provoked, Lin Xiuyuan said no more; instead, he reached out his arms to wrap them around her willow waist, digging his fingers into the soft flesh at her sides.

Then, with a roll, their positions were swapped once again.

From down to UP, from passive to active.

At the same time, those sounds that made one feel like snow falling in a storm echoed in the bedroom once more, continuing along with the distant City Pop lights outside the window until the deepest part of the night.

The moon outside the window slowly moved westward, shifting from one window to another.

The cold moonlight spilled onto the curtains, passing through the thin fabric to cast a faint, silvery white patch on the bedroom floor.

Only in this small bedroom did a dim bedside lamp remain lit, illuminating the two figures entangled together.

……

The next day.

Because she needed to head to the company for stage rehearsals today, Park Hyomin climbed out of bed early in the morning.

Her movements were very light, as if afraid of disturbing something, while she glanced sideways at the man still fast asleep beside her; his lips were slightly parted, revealing a bit of his teeth, and while his sleeping face wasn't particularly elegant, it made one feel very much at ease just looking at it.

After watching for a while, she got up on tiptoe and walked into the bathroom to wash up.

Park Hyomin walked to the sink and pressed the switch for the mirror light; as the white light spilled down, illuminating the entire vanity, she habitually raised her head and instinctively swept a glance at herself in the mirror.

As a result of this look, it was truly a matter of life and death.

Was the person in the mirror still her?

Although she had already been surprised once last night, this time it was even more exaggerated, simply because she could no longer describe herself in the mirror as merely "radiant."

That word was too thin, too superficial, and completely insufficient to describe her current state.

While her complexion was rosy, even the bloodshot lines in her eyes—which had been there for years due to long-term contact lens wear and staying up late—had faded significantly, and the whites of her eyes had become clean and bright, like a piece of washed white jade.

The pigmentation and pores that had accumulated from cosmetics, which had only been slightly dimmer last night, had now completely dissipated, and her skin could simply be described as "delicate enough to be broken by a touch."

This was not an exaggerated figure of speech, but a solid, visible state.

She reached out to touch her cheek; the texture of her skin was like a freshly peeled egg, smooth and tender, and it carried a warmth that radiated from within.

Then Park Hyomin leaned closer to the mirror, looking at her forehead which had no blemishes, her chin which had no clogged pores, and her eyes—were they bigger than usual?

No, the size of her eyes hadn't changed, but the skin around them had tightened, the eye bags had vanished, and the dark circles were gone, so her eyes looked brighter and more spirited.

Quietly watching the person in the mirror, Park Hyomin had forgotten how long it had been since she had seen herself looking like this.

Was it back in high school? At that time, she hadn't started wearing makeup, hadn't started staying up late, and hadn't started bearing the pressures of being a trainee and an artist.

Her skin had the natural luster unique to a young girl.

Or was it when she had just entered the company as a trainee?

Although she trained for over ten hours every day back then and would fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, her skin condition was actually better than it was now; perhaps it was because she was young, perhaps because her metabolism was fast, and she hadn't piled so many messy cosmetics onto her face.

Of course, this refers to her skin and mental state, not that increasingly charming little face.

Her facial contours hadn't changed, but her entire aura had; it wasn't the kind of change that comes from plastic surgery, but a state of being nourished from the inside out by something.

This situation in the mirror made Park Hyomin stand there for a long, long time.

She was shocked first, then confused, and then felt a vague, almost unbelievable suspicion.

It wasn't until the alarm set on the phone in the bedroom rang, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet morning, that Park Hyomin finally came back to her senses, turned to walk out of the bathroom, and turned off the alarm.

The phone screen displayed the time: 7:30 AM.

After silencing the alarm, she didn't go back into the bathroom to wash up; instead, she stood there holding her phone, her gaze fixed straight at the man still in his dreams on the bed, not moving an inch.

Just now, while she was dazed inside, she had been thinking about one question: what exactly was going on? What made her change so much?

If it were just simple skincare, she felt it was completely impossible.

Because if one could become like this just by pouring engine oil directly into the engine, society would have been in chaos long ago.

Besides, even if one hasn't eaten pork, hasn't one seen a pig run? How could such a thing possibly be real?

If such a situation really existed, those top celebrities, those wealthy wives, and those women who would stop at nothing for beauty would have gone crazy already.

Would beauty salons still be able to stay open? Wouldn't plastic surgery hospitals have gone bankrupt?

This logic was too simple, so simple that any middle school student could figure it out.

But when this matter—this solid, visible fact—happened to her own self, Park Hyomin really couldn't understand it.

Her perception had been challenged, her experience had been overturned, and a crack had appeared in her understanding of this world that could not be explained by common sense.

She had been dazed in the bathroom for a long time, thinking about many things, as if hundreds of thoughts were spinning and colliding in her mind, negating each other.

During that time, she thought of the various abnormal behaviors of Lin Xiuyuan, thought of the words Xian Enjing had used to deny her own claims before, and thought of those women who stayed close to Lin Xiuyuan...

Park Hyomin was not stupid.

As a university student who could get into Sungkyunkwan, and as someone who could balance her studies during her trainee days and eventually graduate successfully, how could her IQ be that of a fool?

She just usually didn't want to think, was too lazy to think, and just planned to take photos, read books, sit in the sunlight and daydream, and be a simple, literary girl.

She liked that kind of beautiful life that didn't require using her brain, liked curling up on the sofa in the afternoon sun to read a book, and closing her eyes to sleep for a while when she got sleepy.

It wasn't until such an abnormal situation happened right under her nose that she finally started using her brain and thought of so many things.

And as her brain was activated, those details she usually ignored and considered unimportant were all dug up, connected together, and formed a clear thread pointing toward a certain truth.

In such a situation, even though it was already late and the wall clock had already pointed past eight o'clock, Park Hyomin still hadn't washed up to go to work.

She just sat by the bed in her pajamas, holding her phone, her gaze fixed on the face of the man on the bed.

Her brows furrowed and relaxed by turns, her lips pursed and slightly parted; she was entirely immersed in her own thoughts, having lost all perception of everything in the outside world.

It lasted until Xian Enjing's call came through.

The mobile phone vibrated in her palm, the buzzing sound sounding exceptionally harsh in the quiet bedroom.

Only then did Park Hyomin answer; just as she pressed the phone to her ear, before she could even speak, Xian Enjing's voice came from the other end, "Xiaomin, when are you arriving at the company? Everyone is waiting for you, and the rehearsal is about to start."

Faced with Xian Enjing's urging, Park Hyomin was silent for a second, then spoke, "Enjing, I have something to take care of today, so I won't be coming over for the rehearsal. Please help me say sorry to everyone."

Her voice seemed to have no ripples, as if she were speaking of a very ordinary matter, but that very calmness itself carried an unusual quality.

Thus, Xian Enjing immediately detected the strangeness in her tone and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Xiaomin? Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want me to come check on you?"

"I'm fine," Park Hyomin said softly, her gaze landing on Lin Xiuyuan's face, "I just followed your explanation and ate Xiuyuan completely this time. Then something strange happened. If you know about it, you should understand what I'm talking about."

This time, Xian Enjing on the other end of the line was quiet for a long while.

The silence spread through the receiver like a stone thrown into deep water; there was no echo, only ripple after ripple of silence.

Park Hyomin could hear Xian Enjing's breathing, which was heavier than usual, likely processing the words she had just spoken.

That silence lasted for about five seconds, but to Park Hyomin, it felt as long as a century.

Then, Park Hyomin could consider herself to have guessed something correctly.

Because that silence itself was the answer.

Thinking of this, she let out a long breath, which surged from her chest, and she said with a sense of relief, "Alright, you go about your business, I'll go about mine, let's talk later."

"Mm, talk later."

Xian Enjing on the other end of the line finally spoke, her voice somewhat complex, as if it contained too many emotions, but in the end, it was condensed into these few simple words.

After Park Hyomin hung up the phone, she placed it back on the nightstand, then her gaze landed once again on the man on the bed.

"Xiuyuan, if you're awake, stop pretending to sleep; you need to explain the situation to me."

On the bed, Lin Xiuyuan's eyelids moved slightly.

……

Inside the Tara practice room, there were mirrors on all four sides, reflecting several figures warming up.

Soft piano music played from the speakers, the usual background music for warm-ups; the volume was low, just enough to fill the entire space.

At this moment, Park Jiyeon was sitting on the floor stretching her legs, one leg extended straight, the other bent, her body slowly leaning forward, her forehead almost touching her knee.

When she looked up again toward Xian Enjing, she discovered that the other had already hung up the phone, so she asked, "What's wrong, Unnie? What's going on with Xiaomin Unnie? Why hasn't she arrived yet? Is there a traffic jam?"

Xian Enjing put the phone aside, then turned to look at Park Jiyeon, her expression somewhat strange.

She then explained, "She said she's feeling a bit unwell, so she won't be coming over; she asked us to practice first and also said to say sorry."

"Ah? Is she okay?" Park Jiyeon sat up straight from the floor, tilting her head to look at Xian Enjing, her eyes filled with genuine concern.

Xian Enjing shook her head, her lips moving slightly as if weighing her words, then she whispered a soft, breathy sentence.

"It's fine, it's not a bad thing anyway."

……

Over at the Apartment bedroom.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had woken up from the sound of that earlier phone call from Xian Enjing, had actually woken up the moment the phone rang, but he hadn't opened his eyes immediately.

He just kept his eyes closed, listening to Park Hyomin speak while half-asleep, until the bedroom went quiet, and then, after hearing that sentence from Park Hyomin, all his sleepiness vanished completely.

It was like a basin of cold water poured from head to toe; he was as awake as one could possibly be.

So he opened his eyes, turned his head, and looked at the little classmate beside him.

With just one glance, after seeing the other's state, Lin Xiuyuan knew why she had spoken like that just now.

There was no helping it; the change was indeed a bit significant.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed like that, and the morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, landing right on her face.

Compared to last night, that face seemed to have been cast with a spell, becoming brighter, clearer, and more lustrous.

Just like Lin Xiaolu and Zheng Xiuyan before, it was a surreal filter effect, but while this state might be enough to fool those who hadn't experienced it, for someone who had, it was really hard not to overthink it.

However, thinking these things, Lin Xiuyuan still held onto a fluke attitude; he sat up, then bid Park Hyomin a good morning, "Morning, Xiaomin."

"It is quite early." Park Hyomin's tone was very calm, and her gaze remained fixed on Lin Xiuyuan's face, never moving away.

And after saying this, she asked again, quite bluntly, "But, Xiuyuan, don't you intend to explain my current situation to me?"

"What situation?"

Lin Xiuyuan sat up, leaning against the headboard, his expression very innocent, "Is there a problem? It's impossible to know you've been 'hit' after just one night."

As he spoke, he didn't forget to reach up and scratch his hair, letting out a yawn, looking like he had just woken up and wasn't fully conscious yet, attempting to use this nonchalant attitude to divert the topic.

The next second, Park Hyomin leaned right in.

She bent over, her hands pressing against the pillows on either side of his head, her face very, very close—close enough that he could see the curve of her eyelashes and his own reflection in her pupils.

Then, he saw her extend a finger and point to her own face, her gaze locked straight onto Lin Xiuyuan's eyes, giving him no room to dodge.

"You couldn't possibly not see my situation, and you couldn't possibly be unaware of this state. If you refuse to tell me, I'm going to call Enjing right now; she said she would tell me the secret."

At this very moment, Park Hyomin was no longer hiding anything, directly stating the situation regarding the agreement between her and Xian Enjing.

And Lin Xiuyuan happened to know about this situation too.

Because Xian Enjing had told him about it before, saying it was just a story used to stabilize Park Hyomin, a stalling tactic, but he hadn't expected to be checkmated by her at this moment.

So, faced with this scene, all he could say was, "It's not really a secret..."

"Then explain it." Park Hyomin did not back down, her tone remaining calm.

Lin Xiuyuan was silent for a few seconds, his brain rapidly weighing the pros and cons of various options.

Ultimately, he chose to sacrifice the knight to save the king, throwing out a small secret that wasn't too big but could barely explain the current situation, "It's quite simple; my constitution is a bit more special, and the nutritional content is a bit higher."

As for Park Hyomin after hearing this, she immediately retorted, her speaking speed very fast, as if she had already thought of this question long ago.

"So, was YoonA's situation at that time also a residue from having worked with you?"

Regarding this, Lin Xiuyuan had no choice but to nod again; he certainly couldn't deny it now.

However, it was a pity that this was not enough to coax Park Hyomin down; at this moment, her brain was spinning rapidly, and she was no longer the easily fooled person she had been before.

She was seen frowning again, her brows furrowing even tighter, as she looked at the man before her with a scrutinizing gaze and continued to press him.

"Then, according to your explanation, does every woman who becomes a member of your Small Tavern end up having relations with you? Are they all coming for this constitution of yours?"

Her tone carried a complex emotion.

There was questioning, curiosity, and a little bit of unspeakable heartache.

"Do you think the credibility of this reason is high?" Lin Xiuyuan let out a dry laugh and shook his head, his expression extremely helpless.

He really hadn't expected Park Hyomin to think in this direction; that was a bit too exaggerated—who would believe that?

"Not very high; mainly because who would believe it without having experienced it? It's too exaggerated. Besides, I haven't seen Enjing and Zhiyan like this, so you still haven't told me the truth; you are still lying to me."

Shaking her head, Park Hyomin's brows still did not relax; instead, they furrowed even tighter as she directly reversed the situation back onto him.

Her logic was clear, and her train of thought was precise.

Beside her, Lin Xiuyuan's eyes opened wide, his pupils dilating slightly, as if he hadn't expected her to be so clear-headed and clever.

And after being pulled around by Lin Xiuyuan twice, Park Hyomin finally had a shift in her emotions.

Her eye sockets began to turn red, her lips pressed into a line, and her chin trembled slightly.

The emotion in the gaze she directed at him changed from questioning into something deeper and softer, "Xiuyuan, am I not worth your trust? Or in your heart, am I simply nothing at all?"

Her voice was trembling, but every word was spoken with great force, as if squeezed out from her chest.

"We have clearly already experienced life-and-death trials together, and now it's like this again; are you still unwilling to tell me about the problem?"

"It's not that, but rather..."

Lin Xiuyuan was truly overwhelmed now; he reached out to rub his temples, then cursed inwardly, damn it, this is all that bastard's fault.

He had actually known before that Park Hyomin held some resentment.

After all, having one's bed partner play around with one's best friend, and then keeping secrets from oneself, was something no one could accept.

The reason she had been able to accept it before was because Lin Xiuyuan and the others were already playing together, and she was the latecomer, so she had no choice but to accept it even if she couldn't.

To the point that she had been enduring it, suppressing it all along.

Until this morning's situation, which acted as a fuse, completely causing Park Hyomin's resentment to erupt.

Besides the secret that had been itching at her for over half a year, the changes happening to her own body also caught her off guard, and even made her a little afraid.

It wasn't that she was afraid of the change itself, but rather afraid of the things that this change represented—things she was completely unable to understand.

Because the human fear of the unknown is innate, especially when this unknown happens to oneself.

"But what?"

Park Hyomin stared at Lin Xiuyuan and asked, tears finally sliding from her eye sockets, flowing down her cheeks, passing over her flawless face, and dripping onto the bedsheets, "Xiuyuan, do you know what I'm thinking right now?"

"What?" Lin Xiuyuan's voice dropped, as if he had a premonition of something bad.

"I'm thinking..."

Park Hyomin's voice suddenly became very light, so light it seemed to come from very far away, carrying a heartbreaking calmness.

"If I had known it would be like this, you might as well not have saved me that day on the snowy mountain in Niseko. If you had just let me fall into the snow cave, I might not have died. That way, I wouldn't have such a heavy emotional dependence on you, and I wouldn't be feeling this miserable now."

By the time she said this, Park Hyomin's bright eyes were already full of tears.

Those tears were like a breached river, unstoppable, flowing down her cheeks and chin, dripping one by one onto the bedsheets, staining them with small patches of dark marks.

If at first she had only wanted to squeeze out some tears to deceive Lin Xiuyuan and make him feel sorry for her.

Later, as she spoke, she truly got carried away; her emotions erupted, as if a floodgate had been opened, and all her grievances, resentment, unease, and fear surged out, never to be held back again.

The 25-year-old Park Hyomin might not have been so emotional; that version of her had already experienced too much, had already learned to hide her emotions in her heart, and had grown accustomed to smiling in front of the camera and being silent behind the scenes.

But the 13-year-old Park Hyomin would be.

She was only in her early twenties this year, exactly the age when emotions are most abundant, most sensitive, and most easily touched.

Especially when facing this man who had truly experienced life and death with her and had been in intimate, barrier-free contact with her.

She still remembered the scene on that snowy mountain that day clearly to this day.

The icy edge of the snow cave, the moment her feet slipped, the feeling of weightlessness, and that hand he reached out.

In that instant, she thought she was going to die, and then she saw his face—that face flushed red from exertion, those eyes widened in fear.

At that moment, she felt that there was someone in this world who would never give up on her, no matter what.

Yet it was this very man who always held an unfathomable chasm of distrust toward her.

And she could clearly feel that barrier, that attitude of holding back, always gently brushing the topic aside whenever she was about to touch the truth.

For a girl in her twenties, that feeling was simply more painful than being killed.

So when Lin Xiuyuan encountered that heartbroken gaze, the lines he had prepared in his heart instantly dissipated.

Those thoughts of "dragging it out a bit more," "hiding it a bit more," and "finding another excuse" all collapsed in that instant.

Because Park Hyomin had said one sentence that left him completely at a loss as to how to reply.

"You might as well not have saved me."

This sentence left Lin Xiuyuan somewhat silent.

Thus, he sat on the bed, looking down at the dark marks stained by tears on the bedding, unable to say a single word.

Then he slowly stood up, reached out to grab the corner of his brow, and rubbed his fingers between his eyebrows, as if trying to rub something away.

Then he let out a long sigh and spoke with a sense of giving up the struggle.

"Forget it, I knew I couldn't handle this kind of problem; let's just count this as a lesson learned."

After speaking, Lin Xiuyuan stood up, walked around the foot of the bed to Park Hyomin, and extended his right hand, "Let's go, I'll take you to see something."

Park Hyomin looked up, not understanding, her eyes blurred with tears, her voice still carrying a sobbing tone, "What?"

"Just come with me."

Hearing this, Park Hyomin also instinctively gripped it.

Her fingers slipped between his, palm pressed against palm, and at the same time, she stepped off the bed, her bare feet touching the carpet, letting Lin Xiuyuan lead her toward the bedroom doorway.

At first, she thought Lin Xiuyuan wanted to take her out, so she glanced back at the wardrobe, wondering if she should mention changing her clothes.

She couldn't very well go out wearing this nightgown.

But as Lin Xiuyuan opened the bedroom door and pulled her across the threshold in one step.

Just one step, just that one step.

Park Hyomin immediately discovered that the wardrobe, the living room, and the apartment had all vanished in the blink of an eye.

Replacing them was a villa she had never seen before.

A spacious living room, high ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling window covering an entire wall; outside the window was a yard with a lawn, flower beds, and a small path paved with stone slabs.

Sunlight shone in through the floor-to-ceiling window, spreading a large patch of bright, golden light across the floor.

The furniture in the living room was in a modern, minimalist style, and the entire space was several times larger than the apartment she lived in—bright, airy, clean, and possessing an indescribable sense of style.

The change in the entire scene left Park Hyomin completely stunned.

She stood there with her mouth slightly agape, unable to speak, her eyes wide, her pupils dilated to their limit in that instant.

Her body made the most primal reaction at the very first moment: fear.

That fear was not of a specific person or event, but fear of the unknown itself, fear of her perception of reality being completely shattered.

So, her small hand subconsciously tightened around Lin Xiuyuan, her fingers clutching his hand like pincers, her nails digging into his skin—a very, very tight grip.

Tighter than any of the high-altitude leaps from last night.

She was even trembling slightly all over; it wasn't from the cold, but an uncontrollable, instinctive shivering that seemed to emerge from the gaps in her bones.

Then her scalp began to tingle, as if something were crawling on it, spreading down the back of her head, passing through her cervical vertebrae, shoulders, and spine, extending all the way to the tips of her limbs.

Her body's reaction to extreme fear or being in an unknown state caused her legs to go weak, her knees feeling as if the bones had been removed, and she collapsed directly into Lin Xiuyuan's arms.

In the end, only her forehead had enough strength left to press against Lin Xiuyuan's chest, her hands clutching his clothes, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Her mouth began to murmur unconsciously, fragmented and chaotic, like someone sleepwalking talking in their sleep.

"Where is this... what is going on... Xiuyuan... what is happening..."

Lin Xiuyuan held her, his arms tightening, bracing her entire body in his embrace.

Then he rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice steady as he coaxed a frightened child.

"Don't be afraid, take a deep breath, and listen to me calmly. This is the year 2025, which is the secret you've always wanted to know. I can bring people to the future twelve years later. How about it? Impressive, right?"

There was a hint of playfulness in his tone, but it was mostly serious.

Because he knew what this information meant for Park Hyomin, and he knew that her world had been completely overturned at this moment; at the same time, from this moment on, her lifeline would also become different.

After finishing, Lin Xiuyuan felt that his explanation might not be enough.

Just talking about time and environment, Park Hyomin probably couldn't fully grasp it, because this concept was too crazy; it wasn't something one could truly feel just by hearing it.

So he reached out and picked up a mobile phone from the shelf nearby, and under Park Hyomin's gaze, found a number in the contacts and dialed it.

The other side answered almost instantly.

The speed was so fast, it was as if the other person had been waiting for this call.

A voice came through, very familiar, a slightly lazy female voice, "Hello, Xiuyuan."

"Where are you? I'm coming over to see you," Lin Xiuyuan asked.

"At the apartment, come over. I'm alone," the voice on the other side replied, her tone very casual.

"Okay."

A few simple lines of dialogue, taking less than ten seconds in total.

But when Park Hyomin heard that voice, her whole body stiffened violently, as if struck by lightning.

Because she was too familiar with that voice, so familiar that she knew who it was without having to think.

So she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, her mouth opening and closing, closing and opening, wanting to say something, but unable to utter a single word.

Her eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and a little bit of fear.

This time it wasn't fear of danger, but an inexplicable fear of what she was about to see.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't explain, just held her, holding her a little tighter.

Then he turned to show her the Time Gate behind them, and on the other side of the door was the bedroom she was familiar with; the wardrobe, the large bed, and the curtains were all very familiar.

But the side of the door frame she was standing on was a villa.

Two completely different spaces were connected together by this one door.

This phenomenon, which was explosively magical, left Park Hyomin completely numb.

Her brain stopped functioning entirely at this moment, like a computer encountering an unprocessable command, the screen turning blue, with only the fan still buzzing.

The amount of information was too great, the contradictions too many; her CPU had been fried.

Lin Xiuyuan held her and reached out to close the door; once the door was shut, the image of the bedroom on the other side vanished, leaving only an ordinary closed door.

Then, under Park Hyomin's gaze, he reached out and opened the door again, and another scene appeared on the other side.

Then he took her over, and without giving her time to react, he closed and opened the door again, stepping into another space.

It was a completely unfamiliar apartment, with a style entirely different from her own.

The living room here was larger, the furniture more exquisite, and a faint scent of aromatherapy drifted in the air—that kind of high-end, understated woody tone.

The floor-to-ceiling window of the living room was open, the morning breeze blowing in, and the white sheer curtains fluttered gently in the wind.

The scenery outside the window was a Seoul she wasn't very familiar with; although most of the view was familiar, there were still a few buildings she had never seen before.

And the person standing in the middle of the living room at this moment, she recognized, and yet did not recognize.

That face, she was too familiar with it.

That was the face of Li Juli, the unnie she had lived with for several years.

But there was something unfamiliar about that face.

First, the eyes were different, steadier and deeper than in her memories.

Then, the temperament was different too; if the Li Juli she knew was a flower in full bloom, then the one before her was a flower that had been blooming for a long time, slowly revealing its deepest essence.

This was the Li Juli of 2025.

The two looked at each other, and time seemed to stand still at this moment.

One was the Park Hyomin of 2013, wearing a nightgown, with dried tear stains still on her face, her hair messy, standing barefoot on the wooden floor.

She was still in a state of shock, her world having been turned upside down.

The other was the Li Juli of 2025, wearing loose beige loungewear, exuding an aura of composure and worldly experience.

She looked at the Park Hyomin before her, looked at this sister who was twelve years younger, first stunned for a moment, then her gaze slowly softened, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly to reveal a meaningful smile.

The morning light shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the three of them, stretching their shadows long and thin, casting them onto the light-colored wooden floor where they intertwined, making it impossible to tell whose was whose.

……

And earlier, when Lin Xiuyuan brought Park Hyomin through the transit station.

Kim Taeyeon, who had walked out of the bedroom into the Living Room because she was thirsty and intended to pour some water, hadn't even steadied her feet in front of the water dispenser when she heard some movement coming from the direction of the Time Gate.

So she cast a glance to the side, and immediately after, two figures flashed past, almost brushing against the edge of The Gate.

Although the time it took to open and close the door was very short, she still saw the figures of those two clearly.

So much so that Kim Taeyeon was stunned on the spot.

Her eyes widened bit by bit, and the sleepy expression she originally had instantly cleared.

She was still holding a water cup in her hand, but she didn't even care about pouring water anymore; she seemed as if she had been ignited, turning around abruptly and rushing back to the bedroom in a few steps.

"Bang!" she pushed open the door...

"Daebak!!!"

"Xueqiu! Stop sleeping, Xueqiu! Something huge has happened!"

She shouted while walking toward the bed, her speaking speed so fast it was almost garbled, "It seems like Xiuyuan just brought Hyomin over! I knew that with that guy's fetish, he would absolutely not let go of that perfect married woman Hyomin; he really is a bit of a pervert."

On the bed, Xueli, who had been wrapped in the quilt, was pulled directly out of her sleepiness by this series of information.

Then she frowned, and before her eyes were even fully open, she processed that long string of Kim Taeyeon's words in her mind.

In just two seconds, she had sorted out the main point.

Then she couldn't help but laugh.

She turned on her side, pulled the quilt up, her tone carrying obvious helplessness and a bit of amusement, "Unnie, is it possible that the one you're talking about should be our side's Hyomin Unnie, not yours?"

She said it very naturally, as if correcting a basic conceptual error.

"What 'our side', 'your side'..." Kim Taeyeon didn't process it for a moment, her brows furrowing, "Isn't it all Hyomin?"

Xueli looked at her like this, the smile in her eyes deepening a bit more.

She wanted to explain something, but after thinking about it, she was too lazy to go into detail.

She just shook her head lightly, leaned against the pillow, and looked at her silly Unnie with a smile.

Forget it, you can digest it slowly on your own.

……