Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 131 Design? ? "Maybe I'd like to!" (Seeking monthly votes and subscriptions)

Inside the restaurant.

"That's called caring."

"Pah, I don't care about you at all."

Jessica Jung found Lin Xiuyuan's words quite amusing and spat at him.

Then she rolled her eyes at him and pointed to another spot, "By the way, Taeyeon was just asking you about your hair. What happened to your hair? Why did you dye it blonde?"

"Isn't it good-looking?" Lin Xiuyuan raised his hand to touch his head and asked with a smile.

Jessica Jung wanted to say a few more things, but when her gaze followed the blond hair down to Lin Xiuyuan's smiling face, she suddenly heard the sound of her own heartbeat.

How could it not look good?
But she was always stubborn, so she turned her face away and gave a soft snort, "I was asking why you suddenly thought of dyeing your hair."

"I was dragged to the beauty salon by Jiyeon. I originally wanted to get a haircut, but when I woke up, I had yellow hair."

"Little blondie?" Jessica Jung was taken aback.

While she was catching up on Chinese internet slang, she almost immediately made a connection to some "special meaning," and without hesitation, she kicked him under the table, yelling, "Get lost! Have you really brought XP into your life?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked completely innocent. "Huh? What did I say?"

When he noticed that Jessica Jung's gaze was fixed on his blonde hair, he realized what was going on and couldn't help but laugh, "Hey, what are you thinking? I wasn't thinking that way."

Jessica Jung was about to say something more when Taeyeon Kim returned just then. Seeing the two of them staring at each other like that, she couldn't help but laugh and ask, "What are you two doing?"

"It's okay, let's eat." Although Jessica Jung was upset, she still tried to save face for Lin Xiuyuan.

However, Kim Tae-yeon didn't ask any more questions. She just sat down and looked at Lin Xiuyuan, "By the way, Mr. Lin, what do you think we should do about my situation?"

Lin Xiuyuan was eating with his head down when he looked up, smiled, and asked, "You're asking me?"

"Um, you don't mean to..."

"I've just become an expert through long-term illness; I've had similar symptoms before, so that's why I can tell."

He chuckled as he spoke, then his tone became more serious. "However, I suggest you go to the hospital for a thorough check-up. Take some medicine to suppress the symptoms while they're still mild. Don't wait until you have acute gastroenteritis and the pain is so bad you can't stand up straight; that would be a real problem."

Jessica Jung, who was standing next to her, nodded in agreement, "Yeah, Taeyeon, since we're free tonight, I'll take you to get checked out later."

"Ah, no need, I'll go see her in a few days." Kim Tae-yeon, who didn't expect Jessica Jung to say that, waved her hands repeatedly.

But in the end, he couldn't resist the other party's insistence and had to compromise.

Then she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan and said with a hint of regret, "I was thinking of taking advantage of the free time today to visit your tavern, Mr. Lin, and have a drink, but it seems I won't have the chance."

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't possibly refuse, so he immediately smiled and said, "It's alright, you can still come over after your appointment. Although you can't drink alcohol, I have plenty of beverages over there."

Jessica Jung made the final decision, "Then you should come to the hospital too, you can help us with some paperwork."

"No, aren't you going to a private hospital? You don't need someone to accompany you in a place like that. Are you trying to run away with the bill? Who are you kidding?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who was eating, replied.

However, in the end, he was still dragged along by Jessica Jung.

When she saw that the doctor had arranged a series of tests for Kim Tae-yeon, and the final conclusion was indeed similar to his previous judgment, Kim Tae-yeon couldn't help but turn around and look at him.

Her eyes sparkled with surprise and admiration.

Later, when Lin Xiuyuan saw the packets of "medicinal juice" that the doctor prescribed for Kim Tae-yeon, although he didn't say anything, he had already sentenced these things to "death" in his heart.

In his opinion, these so-called "Korean medicine yam juices" are not as effective as the herbal tea brewed in his hometown.

For minor ailments like spleen and stomach deficiency and excessive dampness before they become serious, drinking a few bottles of the special herbal tea will quickly bring relief.

Or you could simply eat lamb and beef for a week, and your body would immediately become much stronger.

However, he didn't tell Kim Tae-yeon, but only mentioned it to Jessica Jung when she went for a checkup.

Since the two have only just met, their words don't carry much weight. It would be better to let Jessica Jung remind the other person, and whether they listen or not will depend on the other person.

After the examination, the three walked out of the hospital at 8 p.m.

The neon lights on the street lit up, displaying a vibrant array of colors.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the two people behind him and casually asked, "It's getting late, would you like to come over and sit with me for a while?"

“Go ahead, sit for a while before you leave.” Jessica Jung nodded.

"It's alright, I was just thinking of taking a look around too," Kim Tae-yeon replied with a smile.

Since both of them had said so, Lin Xiuyuan stopped refusing, turned around, got into the car, and drove towards his little tavern.

Before long, Kim Tae-yeon followed the two men and stepped into the "Relief Bar" for the first time, a place she had only heard about from a few members.

However, unlike herself 25 years ago, she didn't stand at the door muttering anything to relieve her worries.

After all, she is currently at the peak of her career, and her popularity, looks, and physical condition are all at their best.

The only problem is probably that there isn't enough time.

When I get busy, I really wish I could split the day into four parts.

As Kim Tae-yeon walked in, the first thing she saw wasn't the cozy decor or the bar lights, but a small stage directly opposite the entrance.

Several musical instruments were set up on the stage, including drums, keyboards, and microphones, creating a quiet yet story-filled atmosphere.

"Wow, amazing..." she exclaimed softly, her eyes lighting up. "There's even a stage?"

As she finished speaking, Lin Xiuyuan's laughter followed, "A small bar without a stage and some music to create an atmosphere is no good."

These words immediately made Kim Tae-yeon reveal her signature "auntie smile," which made Lin Xiuyuan a little stunned.

After all, in 2025, he had almost never heard Kim Tae-yeon laugh so unrestrainedly, as if she had become much less guarded and less troubled.

Jessica Jung plopped down on a bar stool at the bar, glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, and then said to Kim Taeyeon, "Come on, mix me a drink. Taeyeon can't drink anyway. You'll be driving later, Taeyeon."

"Sure, I'd like to have some too, but it's a shame."

Kim Tae-yeon casually strummed a few instruments as she walked to the edge of the stage. Her fingers traced the guitar strings and keyboard, and she glanced at the microphone, as if touching a familiar sense of belonging.

Only after completing the round did she return to the bar and sit down, answering Jessica Jung's questions while carefully examining the space.

It has to be said that she was very satisfied with this "Relief Bar" in terms of size, lighting, overall atmosphere, and privacy. It was perfect for gatherings between friends like hers who couldn't be seen in public.

Lin Xiuyuan stood behind the bar, mixing drinks with a smile, and said, "Next time."

Hearing this, Kim Tae-yeon blinked and said jokingly, "Isn't this a members-only place? If Jessica doesn't come with me next time, I probably won't even be able to get in."

Lin Xiuyuan wanted to pretend he hadn't heard this, but he couldn't be that shameless, so he looked up to reply.

Unexpectedly, Jessica Jung spoke up first for him, "Taeyeon, if you want to become a member here, there is actually a way."

"Oh?" Kim Tae-yeon became genuinely interested. "What method?"

"Go back and give that woman Kim Hyoyeon a good beating, then I'll recommend you for a membership."

His tone was casual, yet it carried a hint of vengeful jest.

Moreover, she was only responsible for making recommendations; whether goalkeeper Lin Xiuyuan was willing to agree was not her concern.

Fortunately, Kim Tae-yeon wasn't stupid. Upon hearing this, she gave a wry smile and said, "You two really should talk things out. Hyoyeon realized she had a problem later on, so there's no need to make things so tense."

Jessica Jung shook her head directly, and even made a small complaint about Taeyeon, "Like you, you vent your anger by yelling and then try to reason with her to ease the tension? I can't do that, I'm not the leader."

"You can do that, but I can't."

Kim Tae-yeon looked deeply at Jessica Jung, then at Lin Xiuyuan, and finally sighed softly.

Jessica Jung also chimed in, "So when Lee Soo-man asked me if I wanted to be the leader, I immediately refused. Let whoever wants to take the blame do it."

Actually, before their debut, the company's initial choice for the leader was Jessica Jung.

After all, considering that she was only one month younger than Kim Tae-yeon at the time, and her authoritative aura that suppressed all the trainees in the company, she was more suitable for that role.

At the time, Kim Tae-yeon was debuting as a solo artist and hadn't even considered the issue of becoming a leader.

It wasn't until Jessica Jung declined that the company postponed the assignment to her based on age, placing the heavy responsibility on her shoulders.

As the two reminisced about the past, Lin Xiuyuan pushed a cocktail in front of Zheng Xiuyan and made a freshly squeezed juice with ice and honey for Kim Tae-yeon.

After he finished doing everything, he looked at them and asked softly, "Would you like to listen to some music?"

"Is it okay?" Kim Tae-yeon looked up in surprise.

"of course."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, walked around the bar, and headed towards the wall covered with old records. His gaze swept over the records, and finally he took down a Leslie Cheung vinyl record and carefully placed it into the gramophone.

As the needle fell, a deep and melodious tune flowed out slowly, and a magnetic voice, as lingering as the night breeze, spread the atmosphere of bygone days throughout the tavern.

Kim Tae-yeon and Jessica Jung's eyes lit up almost simultaneously. As a legendary figure who swept across the Korean Peninsula music scene, Leslie Cheung was an unavoidable name in their growing years and naturally their common idol.

The melody rises and falls gently; it's the song "When the Wind Rises Again".

Although they couldn't understand the Cantonese lyrics, they could hum the melodies accurately, as if these notes were already deeply rooted in their memories.

Kim Tae-yeon listened intently, as if she had been pulled back into a quiet and warm time capsule. She tilted her head slightly and hummed along softly.

Although she didn't understand Cantonese, she had memorized the melody of the line "Thinking of your support in the quiet of the night," and when she hummed it, it carried a strange emotion.

"It's been so long since I've heard this song..."

She turned to look at Jessica Jung, her voice filled with a nostalgic surprise, "When I was little, the cassette tape my dad played in his car was this version, and for a while I listened to it almost every day."

“I’ve heard it many times,” Jessica Jung said, taking a sip of her drink and softening her tone. “Actually, I had a dream when I was little that I could become a real superstar like my brother.”

"Your popularity is about the same now."

Lin Xiuyuan had just returned from the phonograph and replied with a smile.

Then he leaned against the bar, quietly watching them. After the chorus gradually rose, he looked at Kim Tae-yeon and said softly, "This song is actually very difficult, especially in terms of high notes and emotional control. Many people can sing it in pitch, but they just can't get the emotion right."

Kim Tae-yeon, standing next to her, seemed to have found a kindred spirit and immediately nodded in agreement, "Yes! You're absolutely right. Emotions are key, but you can't be too outward about them. You have to be reserved, like your brother, who seems to strike right into your heart without using any force."

"His use of breath is also quite unique, especially in the placement of vocal transitions."

Lin Xiuyuan continued along her train of thought, "Especially the chorus, it actually uses the diaphragm to push the air, not the throat, which is why it sounds so light and steady."

Kim Tae-yeon was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "How did you know? Did you study vocal music?"

Without realizing it, she had abandoned honorifics in her conversation with Lin Xiuyuan.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled without saying a word, slowly picked up a lemon garnish and put it into the juice glass, then said casually, "No, I was just saying it offhand. I was afraid you would see through my nonsense."

"No, your comments just now were very professional, exactly what I was thinking. It's like you're my mouthpiece."

Kim Tae-yeon shook her head slightly, her face still showing shock, but her eyes held a hint of approval and surprise.

Jessica Jung, sitting next to her, remained quiet for a moment, sipping her drink while glancing at Lin Xiuyuan with a subtle look in her eyes.

It wasn't until Kim Tae-yeon excitedly ran over to the record wall to see what other records were left that she looked at Lin Xiu-yuan and asked, "Where did you learn all this?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, smiled, and said in a calm but meaningful tone, "She told me this 25 years ago. Once when we met up, we happened to talk about this song."

Actually, during those two meetings at the golf practice area, the idols would occasionally chat about music.

Kim Tae-yeon particularly enjoys analyzing singing styles and stage performance styles, and has shared many similar techniques with everyone.

At that time, Lin Xiuyuan, as an observer, did not interrupt, but simply remembered those words and then copied them here, severely frightening her young self in 2013.

After explaining this, Lin Xiuyuan added with a light laugh, "See, I even know that she likes to drink juice with ice and then add two spoonfuls of honey."

Upon hearing this, Jessica Jung unconsciously turned to look at Kim Tae-yeon, who was holding a juice and looking at the record with a happy expression, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with a complex emotion. "Are you here with the answer book to win her over? After a few more meetings, you might actually be able to win her over."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, his tone calm yet resolute.

"Not necessarily. You might be able to max out the favorability rating faster, but once you reach a certain threshold, it's no longer something a prophet can control. Feelings and emotions are always so mysterious, no matter which world you're in. In the end, it's just a matter of getting a head start."

After hearing this answer, Jessica Jung remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering the words, before finally nodding gently.

Then, as if casually remarking, yet with a hint of belated relief, he said, "Luckily, I was the first person to contact you, otherwise I would have started to worry that I would have been set up by you."

……

……

at the same time,

In an apartment somewhere in 2025.

The three of them—Daeyong-zai, Lee Qri, and Ham Eun-jung—who had just parted ways last night, have reunited. Right now, they're nestled in Park Ji-yeon's apartment, eating desserts, drinking wine, and chatting about trivial matters.

As they chatted, the topic eventually circled back to Lin Xiuyuan.

Looking at the big dragon cub beside her, Ham Eun-jung tentatively asked, "Ji-yeon, did you really do 'that' with Soo-won last night?"

"Yeah, I'm asleep."

Compared to Ham Eun-jung's reserve, Dae-ryong was quite frank, nodding with a smile, "To be precise, I slept with him. In his words, I became a fan of Cao. It felt more comfortable than ever before."

Upon hearing this, Ham Eun-jung was speechless, while Lee Qri's eyes lit up and she excitedly moved closer.

"How was it? How did it taste? Xiu Yuan has such a great physique, is he strong? And his thing is... pretty strong, right?"

"Ah, unnie!!"

Ham Eun-jung, who had just rolled her eyes, couldn't help but reach out to pull Lee Qri.

On the contrary, the little dragon replied happily, "Didn't I tell you? This is an unprecedented feeling of comfort. Now I feel like I made my move too late. I should have tricked him into going home to see the photos on the day we first met. I've wasted all these days."

"That's so exaggerated?" Lee Juri couldn't help but swallow, her eyes starting to gleam.

"Unnie, didn't you give me a gift?"

Lee Juri nodded, indicating that she remembered.

The little dragon, having thought of something, came up with an analogy: "That gift is simply incomparable. Its battery life can't keep up with our exercise time at all. It's a bit of a pity, otherwise it would have been more comfortable later on."

As soon as she said that, Lee Juri clenched her fists and almost collapsed onto the sofa.

Ham Eun-jung was completely speechless, burying her face in the cushions.

As a member of the group, Ham Eun-jung thought she was quite good at flirting with Ji-yeon.

But who knew that during this time Jiyeon would first get married and then divorced, and now she's letting loose again, completely leaving her far behind.

Even Hyomin was outshone; the only one who could rival Jiyeon in this regard was Qri.

Although we rarely talk, when we do, our conversations soar to great heights.

Seeing the atmosphere drifting further and further away, Ham Eun-jung had no choice but to speak up again to bring it back a little, "Ji-yeon, I want to ask you, aren't you worried that Xiu-yuan's so-called fan status is just a lie? It feels a bit suspicious, too strange."

Faced with Ham Eun-jung's statement, Daeyong-zai smiled and said, "Unnie, I know what you're worried about. You're just worried that I'll be deceived again."

Ham Eun-jung nodded, her expression quite solemn.

“But you don’t really need to worry too much,” Da Longzai raised his glass and gently clinked it against his. “Even if he lied to me about something at first, I was genuinely happy during the time we spent together afterward.”

She paused, then looked at Ham Eun-jung with clear eyes.

"There's a saying on Xiuyuan's side: 'A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions.' No matter what he thought at the beginning, or even what he thinks now, it doesn't matter to me. If he makes me happy when he's with me, and can make me happy, then he's a very good friend to me, a close friend."

"As for whether I will be deceived or what, that's a matter for later. I'll just focus on the present, enjoy life to the fullest while I can, and that's enough for me."

"The beginning is over, and the end hasn't arrived yet, so why not cherish the present? Therefore, I only care about whether the process can make me happy."

After these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.

Ham Eun-jung's expression was a mix of emotion and shock, and her voice even changed slightly, "What if you really were fooled?"

The little dragon tilted his head and smiled, "If it's nothing serious, I'll give him a small punishment, a punishment that will make me happy."

"If one day we find out that you've been deceived or framed, should we tell you?" Ham Eun-jung asked again.

This time, the little dragon was silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "If you really have to say... then it's best not to tell me."

Ham Eun-jung was completely puzzled. "Why?"

Only the big dragon cub tilted his head and smiled somewhat calmly, "Because that's what you think of as 'being deceived,' but maybe I'm happy about it."

Ham Eun-jung wanted to say something more, but Lee Qri gently pulled her back.

She shook her head at the other person, indicating that the topic should be left at that.

Some answers don't need further explanation.

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(End of this chapter)