Chapter 433: Drawing a Line???

457 "Drawing a Line???" (Seeking subscriptions and monthly votes)

As that episode, which could hardly be called a confrontation, passed, the atmosphere in the Living Room finally switched from debate mode to dinner party mode, and the plates in front of them were finally no longer clean.

Although the food in those thermal containers had already cooled somewhat, it still emitted an enticing aroma.

The sound of knives and forks clinking against porcelain plates, the sound of glasses clinking, and the sound of low-voiced conversation mixed together, forming a warm white noise.

Everything was fine, very mundane, like any ordinary family dinner.

It was just that at this moment, it was the turn of the newly arrived member to be subjected to the gaze of everyone.

So, as soon as Park Hyomin, who had just lowered her head to eat two mouthfuls of pasta, looked up, her whole demeanor felt off.

She felt countless gazes shooting over from all directions, like invisible scalpels, scanning her repeatedly.

Looking back at so many gazes directed at her, Park Hyomin felt a bit scared, and at the same time, a bit embarrassed.

So she spoke up, "Why are you all looking at me? Is there something dirty on my face?"

As she spoke, she reached out to touch her cheeks, her fingertips sliding from her cheekbones to her chin, and then back from her chin to her cheekbones, but she felt nothing, only skin as delicate as silk.

"Not dirty, you're very pretty." Dalongzai pursed her lips and smiled, her gaze slowly shifting to Park Jiyeon beside her.

Then she used her elbow to gently nudge Park Jiyeon's arm, the force neither light nor heavy, just enough for her to feel it, and then spoke, "Park Jiyeon, don't you think so?"

Park Jiyeon, who was already a bit depressed about being cut in line again, saw Dalongzai teasing her once more, and glared at her angrily, her entire face filled with extreme displeasure.

When exactly did this old woman start having these twisted hobbies? It's truly infuriating.

But thinking back to Dalongzai's previous explanation, thinking that these changes in personality might be a way of self-protection, a way to transform pain into humor, Park Jiyeon turned her head and snorted coldly.

Forget it, I won't lower myself to her level.

How could the newly initiated Park Hyomin understand these convoluted chains of relationships? She watched the eye contact between Dalongzai and Park Jiyeon, and watched the ambiguous smiles at the corners of their mouths.

She was completely confused, the person involved was just dumbfounded.

Until Tian Enjing smiled and patted her little hand, leaned into Park Hyomin's ear, and whispered to clear up her confusion.

"Don't worry, everyone doesn't think anything of it; actually, they are just very curious that you managed to discover Lin Xiuyuan's secret through some method."

She lowered her voice even more as she said this, "And as for Xiaozhiyan, she is mainly just a bit depressed that Lin Xiuyuan is ignoring her."

Park Hyomin blushed a little at the first sentence, as it carried some self-evident ambiguity.

But she was a bit surprised by the second sentence.

She glanced sideways at this future long-haired Tian Enjing, her expression somewhat uncomprehending.

Then her gaze moved back and forth between Park Jiyeon and Tian Enjing, as if trying to piece together an incomplete puzzle.

"Why? How could that be?"

Smart as she was, she had already guessed what kind of "ignoring" Tian Enjing was talking about.

Or rather, this morning, after discovering her own situation, she had guessed that Lin Xiuyuan and Park Jiyeon had not yet reached that stage.

However, she had assumed at the time that the relationship hadn't reached that point, thinking that Lin Xiuyuan hadn't developed those feelings for Park Jiyeon yet, and thinking it was just a matter of time.

But she didn't expect to learn now that it was Lin Xiuyuan who was keeping his distance, which shocked her a little.

This man, who faced her at that time and acted as soon as he said he would, loved as soon as he said he would, actually rejected their family's incredibly beautiful youngest member?

She had always thought that Lin Xiuyuan was basically "never turning anyone away" when it came to women, at least as far as she was concerned, so her current surprise was truly a shock from the bottom of her heart.

Regarding this, Tian Enjing pointed at Park Hyomin herself, then pointed toward Dalongzai, and said with a meaningful smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Because I heard that Lin Xiuyuan's type is married women, so he doesn't look at little girls like Jiyeon."

"Ah~ Unnie!!!"

This time, because Tian Enjing didn't deliberately lower her voice, Park Jiyeon heard this sentence, and immediately let out a howl of grievance and depression.

At the same time, the people nearby also heard it, and another burst of laughter broke out, one after another.

So much so that when this statement reached Lin Xiuyuan's ears, his hand holding the soup trembled, and a few drops spilled onto the table.

He immediately turned his head to look at Krystal, who was sitting to the side, his gaze carrying a kind of helpless and wronged misunderstanding.

"Xiujing, look, this is a case of rumors being distorted, right? I clearly never said that."

Krystal laughed, "I didn't say this was your type either. I remember I only said that you, Lin Xiuyuan, like mature, elegant women with wavy hair. As for the 'married woman' part, that has nothing to do with me."

"Then who spread this?" Lin Xiuyuan's eyes scanned the room like a radar, trying to find the culprit among those smiling faces.

At this moment, a small hand was slowly raised, and then a head tilted out.

Dalongzai tilted her head, her face carrying a kind of righteous calmness, her gaze landing on Lin Xiuyuan's face, "Isn't it because you said you were my fan at the time that this kind of talk spread? After all, I am a divorced married woman. And also, haven't you been getting quite close to Hyomin here lately? It's very suspicious."

Once these words were spoken, everyone's eyes focused on Lin Xiuyuan once again.

Especially Park Hyomin, whose eyes went straight.

Regarding this, Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly denied it loudly, his expression as exaggerated as a law-abiding citizen accused of stealing something.

"Wow, Jiyeon, don't talk nonsense! I don't have such thoughts at all. This is purely a false accusation; this is splashing dirty water on me."

Seeing this appearance, everyone laughed into a group again.

Dalongzai looked at Lin Xiuyuan's desperate attempt to deny it, and instead of restraining herself, she laughed even more happily.

Leaning against the back of the chair, arms crossed over her chest, chin slightly raised, her posture carried a kind of smugness, "Then why don't you call Unnie now and confront her? Your testimony alone is useless for this kind of thing; both sides have to admit it."

"That could work, Lin Xiuyuan, let's have one." Li Juli, who already felt that this dinner party was lacking something, suddenly became interested and joined in the clamor.

Seeing this, everyone also expressed their agreement one after another.

Although everyone could see that it was definitely just for fun, life needs these little interesting stories to add flavor, otherwise how boring would it be.

……

Just as everyone was frolicking at the Villa, on the other side, that 25-year-old married woman who had just been mentioned, which was the other Park Hyomin, finally received Sunny who had flown in from the Lion City.

At Incheon Airport in Seoul, inside the international arrivals hall.

The lights were cold white, shining on the bustling crowd; everywhere there were travelers dragging suitcases, drivers holding pick-up signs, couples hugging, and other scenes.

At this time, Park Hyomin was standing by a pillar next to the arrival gate, wearing a khaki trench coat, with a black turtleneck sweater inside, and wearing a mask while waiting there, looking capable and elegant.

Her gaze remained fixed on the direction of the arrival gate, watching those who walked out dragging their suitcases, identifying them one by one.

She held a freshly bought coffee in her hand; the cup was hot, and the warmth spread from her palm to her arm.

Until she saw Sunny, who was pushing a small suitcase as she walked out of the arrival gate, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and like herself, wearing a black mask.

Compared to Park Hyomin's screening, Sunny locked onto her location very quickly, then a big smile bloomed on her face as she pushed her suitcase and walked over with quick steps.

"Long time no see, Xiaomin!"

As soon as Sunny arrived, she opened her arms and gave Park Hyomin a hug, "I missed you to death!"

"Stop talking nonsense, it's only been a few days since we last met." Park Hyomin smiled and hugged her back, the corners of her mouth curling up, her eyes curving into two crescent moons; she was also feeling very happy and relaxed.

After the two of them were affectionate for a moment, they let go, then walked shoulder to shoulder from the hall toward the parking lot, found Park Hyomin's car, and sat inside.

Just after sitting in the passenger seat, Sunny remembered the gift she had brought for her.

So she turned around and took out a small bag from the bag she had just placed in the back seat.

The bag was made of kraft paper and looked very exquisite.

Handing the bag to Park Hyomin, Sunny said with a smile, "Here, Xiaomin, this is a little gift I brought for you."

"Thank you, what is it?"

"A car aromatherapy diffuser." Sunny gestured for Park Hyomin to open it and see, "The scent is very nice; I use this in my car. I saw it while shopping before and thought it smelled good, so I bought a few extra."

Park Hyomin took the bag and opened it, discovering that the aromatherapy inside was not in the shape of the usual bottles and jars, but rather looked like a fluffy doll.

It was a little brown bear with a lanyard sewn onto its belly, so it could be hung on the rearview mirror in the car or placed directly somewhere else as an ornament.

Furthermore, the faint fragrance it emitted was not that kind of strong chemical scent, but a fresh and natural woody aroma, which was very suitable for her style.

Seeing this, Park Hyomin liked it immediately; she held the little bear in her palm, turned it over and over to look at it several times, and then leaned in to smell it. That faint woody scent made her whole body relax.

"Wow, so cute! I love these kinds of little trinkets, thank you, Shun Gui, I'm so touched. What should I do, I didn't bring you a gift."

"Don't be silly, this isn't anything expensive." Sunny waved her hand, her palm sweeping through the air twice, the corners of her mouth curling up with a satisfied happiness.

Then she turned to fasten her seatbelt, "Let's go, let's go eat, and then go for a massage and sauna tonight. It's been a long time since I came back to Seoul to hang out; it's rare that there's no work involved this time, so I can have a good rest for a few days."

Facing Sunny's suggestion, Park Hyomin didn't say anything and agreed readily.

It was only when she drove the car out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic on the road that she suddenly asked a question, her tone as casual as if she were talking about a very daily matter.

"By the way, Shun Gui, did you tell Taeyeon and the others that you were coming back this time? You should get together. Why don't we call them out to join us? It's more lively with more people."

"I haven't had the chance to tell them yet, since it was a last-minute decision to come back." Sunny sat in the passenger seat, holding the coffee Park Hyomin had bought earlier, and took a light sip, "But if we call them out, is that okay?"

Actually, it wasn't that Sunny hadn't had the chance to tell them, but that her main mission this time was just to keep Park Hyomin company.

She flew over from Lion City, crossing thousands of kilometers, not to see Kim Taeyeon, not to see those old friends, but to accompany this Park Hyomin who sounded not quite right over the phone.

So the first stop was definitely Park Hyomin; the others could wait until later.

She intended to stay alone with Park Hyomin for a day or two first, and once she confirmed she was fine, then she would contact the others.

However, she didn't expect Park Hyomin to bring it up herself now, which caught her off guard and made her hesitate.

Park Hyomin, who also understood Sunny's thoughts, was also thinking on her behalf.

If Sunny only saw her because of herself, she would also feel bad about it.

So she said with a certain smile, "It's fine, let's do it together. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good if you came back and didn't call Taeyeon and the others. Like I said, it's more lively with more people."

She didn't know what was going on, but Park Hyomin, who used to be a loner, had inexplicably started to like the liveliness of crowds recently.

In the past, she preferred to stay alone, liked to curl up on the sofa reading, liked to zone out in the afternoon sun, and liked that kind of quiet time without being disturbed.

But now, she started to feel that when she was alone, many thoughts that shouldn't appear would pop into her head.

The impact that Lin Xiuyuan and the others had on her during that trip a few days ago had not yet dissipated.

To the point that now, even when watching videos, she had started to like watching ensemble-cast content.

Although Sunny didn't know what Park Hyomin was thinking, nor did she know what Park Hyomin had experienced recently, since that was the case, she might as well call them; it would be quite nice to get together anyway.

So she nodded, took her phone out of her pocket, and prepared to call Kim Taeyeon to ask.

At this time, she wasn't quite sure if Kim Taeyeon had eaten yet.

But just as she was about to dial Kim Taeyeon's number, Park Hyomin's phone, which was placed to the side, rang first, so Sunny subconsciously looked down at the armrest console.

Then she saw the caller ID on Park Hyomin's phone screen.

"Huh, is it Xiuyuan?"

Upon hearing this name, Park Hyomin, who was driving, also looked down, and somewhat surprised, reached out to pick it up.

"It's so late, do you two have plans?"

Facing Sunny's casual question, Park Hyomin shook her head, "No, this guy told me a few days ago that he wanted to draw a line between us, which made me so angry."

Having said that, because of the person beside her, Park Hyomin hung up the call directly.

However, a fraction of a second after hanging up, she felt a little regretful.

"Draw a line?" Sunny, who caught the key point, had her eyes light up, "What kind of line did you cross that you actually need to draw one? Something's not right, Xiaomin. This mood of yours, it wouldn't be caused by Xiuyuan, would it? I thought it was about your husband and marriage problems."

Before Park Hyomin could even open her mouth, the phone rang again. This time, without waiting for her to hang up again, Sunny smiled and grabbed the phone to answer it.

"Hello, Xiuyuan~"