Chapter 76

Earlier, when they were in the 2013 tavern, while Sulli was seeing Lin Yun'er off to drive, Lin Xiuyuan was chatting via message with Park Jiyeon, who had just woken up.

As a result, suddenly, Little Dragon Cub over there said, "Oppa, do you know where my most sensitive spot is?"

"Huh?"

"Hee hee, I'll tell you."

Lin Xiuyuan asked in shock, "Jiyeon, you're getting more and more ruthless with yourself, that's too dark."

As a result, Little Dragon Cub's reply was even more extreme, "That's the old woman, not me."

"9!"

That's really something, this little dragon cub.

Time returns to the 2025 tavern.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at Little Dragon Cub, who had just stepped through the door, and his gaze drifted involuntarily toward Krystal again.

But this time, it really wasn't her fault.

Krystal had been eating just fine with Lin Yun'er, and although the topic had touched upon Lin Xiuyuan, it wasn't enough to make her come over to find him.

That was until midway through, when Little Dragon Cub suddenly sent her a message, the gist of which was asking Krystal if she had Lin Xiuyuan's contact information.

Did you think that last time Little Dragon Cub brought Park Hyomin and the others to knock on the door, it was because she didn't want to make a phone call?

That was because she hadn't exchanged contact information with Lin Xiuyuan.

With two Unnies present at the time, how could Little Dragon Cub have the nerve to ask?

She still had to maintain her face.

It wasn't until today, looking at the heavy rain that had been falling for two days outside, that she felt a bit bored holed up at home alone and wanted to go out for a stroll.

She had long since grown tired of other places, but that small tavern newly opened by her 'true fan' seemed quite interesting, so she found Krystal.

When Krystal saw the content of the message, she was also somewhat surprised, so she jokingly 'showed off' to Lin Yun'er, "It seems that besides you, Unnie, Lin Xiuyuan has others thinking of him."

"Hmm?"

Lin Yun'er was stunned, so she leaned over to take a look at the message.

Then Krystal laughed with Little Dragon Cub, saying why not gather at the small tavern, and she would call Lin Xiuyuan to open the shop.

And just like that, Lin Xiuyuan, who had just come over from 2013, was 'sold out' by Krystal in the blink of an eye.

But if you were to say he was "sold to" Lin Dajun, he wouldn't agree; if it were "sold to" Little Dragon Cub, then Lin Xiuyuan would really have something to say.

Not to mention that today, Little Dragon Cub was in even better form than usual.

She was wearing a black shirt with trumpet sleeves, the collar slightly open, the fabric soft yet structured.

It was tucked perfectly into high-waisted denim shorts, outlining her slender waist and long, beautiful legs.

Those long legs were exposed to the air, still blindingly white even under the dim light; as she walked, her knees bent and straightened, the fluid lines carrying an unpretentious tension.

Then, carrying a faint fragrance, she arrived beside Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Yun'er with an aura that wasn't ostentatious yet inexplicably made people tense up.

She said with a relaxed tone and a laugh, "Unnie, what are you two chatting about, laughing so happily? You don't mind if I join in, do you?"

Lin Yun'er smiled, then shifted to the side to make some room for her, "Long time no see, Jiyeon. Come on over. I came here this time just to ask him how exactly one can join as a member."

"Huh?" Lin Xiuyuan looked at her with some surprise.

This wasn't the question he had imagined; wasn't this Lin Dajun here to consult about the 'Zheng Xiuyan' matter?

No, she was trying to infiltrate the inside, planning to investigate the case herself.

Asking questions and such, that's not reliable; this woman only believes her own eyes.

After figuring out the situation, Lin Xiuyuan wasn't as panicked as before; after all, the quota for joining the sect was controlled by him, and if he didn't nod or speak, it was useless no matter who came.

And upon hearing Lin Yun'er's words, Little Dragon Cub also turned her gaze toward her 'true fan', "Xiuyuan-xi, I'm also quite curious about this question. Aren't you my fan? How come even I can't get in, but Xiujing got in instead?"

"Didn't we discuss this before? Uh, Jiyeon, do you want to drink something? I'll go get it for you."

Taking advantage of Little Dragon Cub's arrival, Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly found an excuse to distance himself from Lin Dajun; this woman was much harder to deal with than the Lin Xiaolu from 2013.

And the facts were indeed so, as Lin Xiuyuan asked this, and Little Dragon Cub smiled and ordered a drink.

Lin Yun'er chimed in from the side, "Jiyeon, do you know there's a saying on the internet over there? 'If you don't call a younger man "older brother," your intentions are a bit wild.'"

Once these words were out, not only Little Dragon Cub, but even Krystal, who had come over to sit down, looked at Lin Xiuyuan at the bar with a smile.

Three goddesses who, although older, had not lost a bit of their beauty and even added a thousand charms, were all staring directly at one boy; I reckon not many could withstand such a scene.

And sure enough, Lin Xiuyuan, who also heard this, felt a bit guilty, because he really had thought of some incredible ideas.

There was no help for it; when encountering such an opportunity and such a situation, what man wouldn't have some thoughts?

Not to mention that Lin Xiuyuan was a boy in his early 20s, at the prime of his blood and vigor.

But being stared at, it wasn't good to pretend he didn't hear it, so he helplessly had to look up at the beautiful women on the sofa who were all laughing with their own unique charms.

"It's not that I won't call it, it's just that calling you 'Noona' here doesn't roll off the tongue for me. If you really want to hear it, then I'll just call you 'Jiejie' (older sister) directly."

'Jiejie' here, 'Jiejie' there, 'Jiejie' is fragrant, 'Jiejie' let's cuddle—isn't that better sounding than that 'Noona' thing?

Fortunately, as soon as he finished speaking, Krystal teased him with a laugh, "Forget it. If you're really willing to call me that, I'd be worried you have even more ideas. You'd better just call me by my name."

This seemed like teasing, but in reality, it was helping him out of a tight spot.

"Haha, it's fine, calling me by my name is also fine, it makes me seem young." Little Dragon Cub also laughed along, easing his embarrassment.

Seeing that both of them were like this, Lin Yun'er became even more curious—what was so good about that little boy earlier?

But soon, as Lin Xiuyuan delivered the juice to her, Little Dragon Cub gradually discovered something was wrong.

Although when she was chatting with Lin Yun'er and Krystal, this 'true fan' beside her didn't say a word.

But that gaze was just so... making her body feel hot.

Especially that scorching gaze; since he sat down, it had almost never left the area below her jawline, falling all the way down along her throat to the elegant curve of her collarbone.

Like a scalding electric current, wandering along her skin.

She swallowed subconsciously, feeling her throat go dry; the glass of juice that had just been served hadn't even been there for a few minutes, and it was already bottomed out.

Her body also began to feel hot, as if tiny insects were crawling under her skin, making her feel restless.

Lin Yun'er suddenly noticed her abnormality and looked at her in surprise, "Jiyeon, are you very thirsty?"

"A little."

She responded softly, her voice slightly hoarse.

Then she swallowed again, as if that could alleviate the scorching sensation of being stared at.

Her small hand raised involuntarily to touch her own Adam's apple, attempting to use this action to block someone's gaze.

And this action made Lin Xiuyuan, who was on the side, cry out for help.

"Oppa, my sensitive spot is at the throat, that small section of the neck from the Adam's apple to the collarbone."

"Ah, then that's no use."

"No, Oppa, I'm very sensitive to that area. I'm not used to being stared at for too long, so..."

"You feel it even when being stared at? Jiyeon, what kind of constitution do you have?"

"Ah, Oppa~ I was talking about the old woman."

"I just find it hard to imagine, it's a bit outrageous. Besides, if you look for too long, the gaze will become very lecherous, making people feel disgusted, right?"

"It's not that kind of disgusting stare, it's another kind of feeling."

"Ha~"

"Anyway, just try it and you'll know. If she reaches out to touch it, then that means I'm right."

"Alright."

"Mm-hmm, Oppa~ Good luck, consider this the interest on the membership fee I owe you, I'll give the rest slowly."

Good heavens, the sensitive spot Little Jiyeon mentioned is actually real.

Lin Xiuyuan initially thought Park Jiyeon was joking with him; after all, for such a sensitive spot, it would be one thing if kissing, nuzzling, and cuddling had some effect, since there was physical contact.

But to feel it from just a gaze, that was a bit like a fantasy.

Never expected it, this was actually true.

While Lin Xiuyuan was lost in thought, Krystal suddenly shouted from over there, "Lin Xiuyuan, what are you doing? Why are you spacing out?"

Lin Xiuyuan, pulled back to reality, had a startled expression; after composing himself, he looked at the few people opposite, "Ah, what's wrong?"

"We're asking why you keep staring at Jiyeon. Don't you see she's not used to it? Even if you're a fan, you can't be like this."

While saying this, Krystal really felt a sense of 'iron not becoming steel' toward Lin Xiuyuan; he had clearly been given a harsh lesson just last night, and today he could still have his soul hooked away by someone else.

Fine, fine, fine, young people are young people; you love a new one every time you see one, right?

And just as her thought finished, Lin Xiuyuan over there apologized to Little Dragon Cub, "Sorry, I didn't rest well last night, I was distracted."

Hmm?

Krystal's eyes widened suddenly, staring at him fixedly.

Last night? You mean you "didn't sleep well" anywhere last night, right?

Lin Xiuyuan, who had been glared at, only then realized he had chosen the wrong excuse, so he gave a dry laugh and remained silent, not saying another word.

"It's okay," Little Dragon Cub smiled, "By the way, Xiuyuan-xi, let's exchange contact information or add each other as friends."

After accepting the apology, Little Dragon Cub, no longer troubled by that scorching gaze, felt relaxed as well.

Then she indicated, "Since I can't get into your tavern as a member, then taking advantage of when no one is here to come over and steal a couple of drinks and rest shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Of course, uh, shall we add Kakao?"

"Mm."

And just like that, Lin Xiuyuan and Little Dragon Cub started adding each other as friends right there as if no one else was around, leaving Lin Yun'er stunned, and she also turned her gaze toward Krystal.

In her view, this little puppy should be Krystal's exclusive property; why wasn't she reacting?

Since that was the case, she would add some fuel to the fire.

She then took out her phone, pulled up the software, and also looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a smile, "Xiuyuan-xi, can I add you too?"

"Of course, it's an honor."

Adding is adding, whether they chat or not is another matter.

Because he usually watched videos and chatted on TikTok with Krystal and Liu Zhimin, he really rarely used Kakao, unless it was for video calls or files, then he would use Kakao.

So when Krystal saw that Lin Xiuyuan and the others had added each other as friends, she asked, "Well, today's business is done, let's go, let's go out to eat."

"Where to eat? It's raining so hard."

Lin Yun'er looked at the rain still drizzling outside the window and asked.

Little Dragon Cub also chimed in from the side, "Xiujing, do you have any recommendations?"

"None."

Upon hearing this answer, the two—no, it should be three—suddenly looked at each other.

Then.

"Then..."

"Let's order takeout." *3

The three of them laughed out loud in unison, and the movement of getting up was replaced by sitting back down.

Lin Yun'er and Park Jiyeon leaned in to look for merchants, while Krystal walked toward the phonograph and played a piece of melodious light music.

In the small tavern, laughter and music intertwined, and the atmosphere warmed up quietly at this moment.

(End of chapter)