Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 141 Lin Xiaolu: Take the initiative, I'll give it to you (Please subscribe and vote)
Rooftop restaurant.

"Why are you spacing out? What did Jiyeon talk to you about?"

"Ok?"

As soon as the call ended, Lin Xiuyuan was still lost in his thoughts when he suddenly heard Lin Xiaolu's voice. He turned his head and saw that she had come to his side.

He blinked, snapped out of his reverie, chuckled softly, shook his head, and said, "Nothing, I was just thinking... whether to prioritize money or face."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Xiaolu frowned in confusion, but didn't press him further. She simply tugged at his hand gently. "Let's go eat first. You can think about things after you've eaten, right?"

"Well, let's go."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded and followed Lin Xiaolu back to the dining table.

After he returned to the table, Lin Xiuyuan noticed that the conversation was increasingly centered on his side.

Games, cosplay, Akihabara, etc.

When the topic turned to cosplay costumes, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but glance at Lin Xiaolu.

The instinctive gaze that landed on her momentarily stunned Goo Hara, who was standing next to her. Her mind was already rapidly piecing together an "unbelievable" ambiguous scenario.

Lin Xiaolu rolled her eyes at the other person, amused, and said, "No, why are you looking at me when we're talking about this?"

“I was thinking, should we go and buy some wholesale so you can change into them later?”

Of course, Lin Xiuyuan didn't dare to say this out loud, so he could only whisper it in Lin Xiaolu's ear.

"For example, we can buy some anime masks or something. When Yoona and the others come over, they can wear them when they go out. That should be more acceptable than masks, glasses, and hats. You can also use them next time you go over and want to go out."

Anime and related items, while eye-catching when they appear on the street.

But when they dress up and wear a mask, it's really hard to recognize them.

So after Lin Xiuyuan finished speaking, Lin Xiaolu seriously considered it, and then she was actually a little tempted.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt it had potential, so she turned her attention to Goo Hara and asked, "Hara, do you know where the place with the most anime cosplay costumes is around here?"

"what?"

Goo Hara, who was chatting with Sulli about where they planned to relax in the next few days, looked at Lin Xiaolu in disbelief after hearing her words.

To be precise, it was Lin Xiuyuan.

It's this blond, clean-cut, youthful-looking boy.

She realized that it was after the boy spoke a few words to Yoona that Yoona became somewhat interested and started asking her questions.

What do you mean?
A little play in bed?

Although Goo Hara was internally turbulent, she still answered aloud.

"Hiss~ Unnie, you've really stumped me. As far as I know, there are definitely some in Akihabara, and quite a few in Harajuku as well, and there's also Otome-dori, which is known as the 'Cosplay Paradise.' I guess those are the places."

After saying that, she thought for a moment and said, "Your place is the closest to Harajuku, right? It's only a few kilometers away, and it only takes about ten minutes to walk there."

"That's really close. Shall we go check it out tomorrow?" After hearing this, Lin Xiaolu immediately looked at Lin Xiuyuan.

The latter nodded, "I'm fine with anything, you decide."

The phrase "It's up to you" is like "Whatever"—a response that subtly captivates countless girls.

Even the usually mild-mannered Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, you were the one who brought this up first."

"That's for you to use too, right?" Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile.

"That's true, but you should take it seriously. It's not like I can make the decision all by myself. It's not like I'm going alone."

"That makes sense, then I formally apologize." Lin Xiuyuan's lips curled up. "Let's go there when I wake up tomorrow, and find a place to have lunch there, okay?"

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan's sincere apology, Lin Xiaolu nodded with great satisfaction, "Okay, let's arrange it like this."

On the other side, Goo Hara, who had been imagining the script, was now truly stunned.

After staring intently at the two for a moment, she immediately pulled over the smiling Sulli and whispered in her ear, "Jinri, is this Yoona unnie's boyfriend? Something's not right, their conversation seems so private."

"No, Unnie, you're overthinking it. We're just friends."

I don't know how the phrases 'men and women, friends and acquaintances' got out, but now it's not just Lin Xiuyuan who likes to use them; Shirley, Jessica Jung, and others have also started using them.

"It's true, don't lie to me, they don't act like friends at all."

In response to Goo Hara's question, Sulli turned her head and glanced at Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu over there.

The two were sitting side by side, so close that the "half-meter safety line" no longer existed.

The gap between her cheeks, at this moment, is probably only the size of a fist.

Their breaths mingled, their emotions intertwined; they could easily bump into each other if they weren't careful.

On the dining table, candlelight flickered gently, and ambient lighting cast a soft, warm glow. Beyond the glass railings, the quiet Tokyo night unfolded, neon lights in the distance creating a hazy, dreamlike speckle of light.

As Sulli and Goo Hara's voices faded away, the lively atmosphere at the dinner table seemed to be slowed down in an instant, with only the interplay of light and shadow and heartbeats remaining.

There was almost no space between the two people, with cups and plates filling the gap.

Lin Xiaolu looked down at her phone, a few strands of hair falling beside her ears, making her look soft and lazy.

Lin Xiuyuan's gaze lingered on that strand of hair, and he didn't look away for a long time.

He wasn't staring; he was just lost in thought.

Then a gentle breeze blew by, carrying a hint of night coolness, and also gently lifted a tuft of Lin Xiaolu's hair.

While lost in thought, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly reached out and, almost instinctively, brushed away a stray strand of hair that had drifted to the corner of her lips.

The movement was very light; the fingertips barely touched her cheek, like a breeze skimming across a lake.

Lin Xiaolu subconsciously looked up, and their eyes met.

For a second, time seemed to stand still.

"Subconsciously."

The moment their eyes met, Lin Xiuyuan immediately withdrew his hand and then explained.

Lin Xiaolu simply smiled and said, "I do believe you, but do you think the people on the other side believe me?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan looked across and saw Goo Hara and Sulli watching him with amusement. He smiled helplessly and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Ah, I'm not full," Shirley replied.

Goo Hara, standing next to her, laughed so hard her eyes crinkled, "Xiu Yuan asked if we'd had enough of the gossip, haha, we've had our fill."

Both sides burst into laughter.

The candlelight flickered in their eyes, seemingly reflecting some indescribable emotions.

The following time was less dramatic, and Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu refocused on their conversation, chatting and laughing as they ate until the end of dinner.

Afterwards, Sulli called the hotel's housekeeper to arrange a car to take Goo Hara back to her apartment.

It was late at night, and I didn't feel comfortable letting her walk alone.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaolu gently turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan beside her, "Go back to the room or what? Shall we go down for a walk?"

Faced with Lin Xiaolu's initiative, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Now I understand why you came to Tokyo."

"what?"

The other person lowered their eyes, a hint of barely concealed smile and a touch of embarrassment on their lips.

"nothing."

However, Lin Xiuyuan didn't expose him. He stood up and stretched his shoulders. "Let's go. I heard there's a sports field or something nearby. Let's see if there's any scenery like that you only see in Japanese dramas or anime."

"Should I change my clothes?"

When asked about this, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Xiaolu, who was dressed in a simple dress and looked elegant, gentle and quiet.

"No need, are you cold?"

Lin Xiaolu shook her head, "It's alright."

After she replied, Lin Xiuyuan's laughter came over, "Then let's take a walk like this. The weather and our outfits are just right, it has the atmosphere of a Japanese or Korean drama. It's like the scene where the male lead takes the female lead home, so remember to fully immerse yourself in it!"

Lin Xiaolu burst out laughing at these words, "What kind of plot is this?"

"That's the truth."

After saying that, Lin Xiuyuan seemed to remember something and looked down at himself. "Speaking of which, as the male lead, shouldn't I take off my coat and put it on you right now?"

Lin Xiaolu glanced at Lin Xiuyuan's outfit and couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, hey, don't make me laugh. Everyone else wears a suit jacket, but you've turned it into a short-sleeved shirt, right? What are you going to wear if you take it off?"

"I also have a vest underneath," Lin Xiuyuan replied very seriously.

"Go away, no."

Lin Xiaolu shook her head while laughing, and pushed Lin Xiuyuan, who was about to say something more, into the elevator.

……

……

Roppongi streets late at night.

In the alley next to the Maori Garden, strings of faded red lanterns hang from the Showa-era row houses. Office workers crowd around a grilled chicken cartilage stall, clinking glasses and drinking. The fumes from the cooking oil mix with the bubbly smell of beer, blurring the damp texture of the stone pavement.

Not far away, the upscale restaurant on the fifth floor was still lit by a low-key, warm light.

The silhouette of a sushi chef shaping sushi pieces can be seen through the bar counter of the kaiseki restaurant, while the rich aroma of spicy sushi wafts from the small courtyard-style pub next door, mixed with the laughter of a few drunkards, entwining itself in the folds of the city night.

On the streets late at night, Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu were embarking on their rare "late-night stroll".

Lin Xiaolu stepped quickly onto the curb, as if playing a game, trying her best to walk in a straight line on each of the stone bricks.

Looking at her unsteady gait, Lin Xiuyuan behind her couldn't help but remind her, "You just drank quite a bit, are you sure you're not drunk?"

"It's sparkling wine, it's not very strong, I won't get drunk." Lin Xiaolu turned around and chuckled, "But I have a lot of gas in my stomach, I keep burping."

As she spoke, she carefully stepped on the edge of the stone bricks, trying to maintain her balance time and time again.

But she would always fall down after only a few steps, then laugh and walk back to continue. Lin Xiuyuan, watching from behind, knew perfectly well that Bambi was getting a little carried away, so he quickly quickened his pace and came to her side.

He watched with a smile while keeping an eye on her, ready to catch her if she fell.

Fortunately, although Lin Xiaolu was a little dizzy, she didn't fall down.

So when she saw Lin Xiuyuan come to her side, she chuckled and said, "Afraid that I might really be drunk?"

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, without denying it.

"Being drunk gives you a perfect opportunity?" Slightly tipsy, she spoke with a bit more courage, like a thin string with a spark hidden in it, gently teasing him.

Lin Xiuyuan remained smiling, offering no reply.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaolu got angry. She stopped and tilted her head to look at the other person. "Lin Xiuyuan, since you know that I came here this time to find some experience from you, shouldn't you take the initiative?"

"Why? I don't need the experience," Lin Xiuyuan retorted.

"Because according to the script of 'The Heirs,' it seems that the male lead actively pursues the female lead, so..."

Before Lin Xiaolu could finish speaking, Lin Xiuyuan interrupted her.

“Reality is nothing like a script, and you need to find the feeling of the female lead suddenly realizing she likes the male lead from my perspective. Yoona said that what you need is an active and delicate expression of emotions, not the kind of being pursued, because you can completely play that naturally.”

"Yoona, Yoona, Yoona, all you know is Yoona. I'm Yoona too, you bastard."

Lin Xiaolu snorted in dissatisfaction, then turned around and walked into a roadside tavern. Standing at the door, she turned to look at him and said, "Come in. I didn't have enough to drink. Have some more, otherwise I won't be able to act out the kind of 'delicate emotions' you mentioned."

Lin Xiuyuan sighed and had no choice but to follow him inside.

That said, this was the first time he had ever stepped into someone else's tavern.

The pub is cramped, resembling a squeezed corridor.

There is a narrow passageway in the middle, a bar on one side, and only a small table on the other side.

Under the dim yellow light, faces were almost invisible.

The bar was empty, with only a few scattered customers.

So Lin Xiuyuan and the others didn't rush to sit down after entering, but instead went to the innermost corner and took their seats.

"What to drink?"

"Long Island Iced Tea!" Lin Xiaolu said without hesitation.

"Stop messing around, I don't want to carry you back later. How about a mojito?"

"No, I want a Margarita."

Lin Xiaolu looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a stubborn expression. Unable to persuade him, she could only nod helplessly and ask the bartender, who was in his fifties, for two drinks.

After ordering drinks, he looked at Lin Xiaolu and said, "Go back after you finish drinking. Shirley should have taken Hera back by now and won't be back for long."

"Ah."

Lin Xiaolu nodded, surprisingly obedient this time.

A few minutes later, two glasses of margarita were brought to them.
After taking a small sip, Lin Xiaolu immediately frowned. "Ugh, it's so sour and salty. Why is it different from what you made for me?"

“Margarita, it’s simple yet not so simple. Tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and a pinch of salt on the rim of the glass. If the proportions aren’t right, it can easily be too sour or too salty. You’ll get used to it after a few sips.”

As Lin Xiuyuan explained, he also helped Lin Xiaolu to understand the structure and logic of the wine.

As Lin Xiaolu listened to the other person's explanation, she suddenly burst out laughing. "So you're showing off your great skills and techniques, right? Are you flirting with me, or are you really talking about bartending?"

"???"

Lin Xiuyuan was taken aback by her sudden words and stared at her blankly for a moment.

The girl next to him rolled her eyes at him with a smile, then continued to sip her drink.

As Lin Xiuyuan said, she felt much better after drinking a few more sips, but Lin Xiaolu still felt that it didn't taste as good as the one Lin Xiuyuan had mixed.

The alcohol was slightly warm, and the atmosphere was pleasantly tipsy.

And so, the two of them drank and bickered, mostly about acting.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't understand it at first, but after attending two classes and watching short videos of "Wireless Beyond Class" regularly, he gradually began to understand a little and could say a few words when talking about it.

Shortly after.

"So you and Yoona both think my eyes look lifeless?"

"It's not that their eyes are lifeless, but that they can't focus and can't give the camera feedback. I think this is actually your idol's weakness."

"You only shine when you're too used to looking at the camera; you have to be aware of its presence to show that 'starry-eyed' look. But a true actor can ignore the camera and still convey that unconscious focus."

Faced with Lin Xiuyuan's explanation, Lin Xiaolu was speechless for a moment, her mind blank.

Immediately afterward, the alcohol took effect, and without saying a word, she simply extended her middle finger and handed it over.

Under the dim yellow light, she leaned slightly on the bar counter, supporting herself with her hands, tilting her head to look at him, a smile in her eyes, slightly tipsy.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan laughed along and instinctively gave him the middle finger in return.

Two fingertips lightly touched in the air, a gesture meant as a joke, but it took a turn for the worse in the next second.

Suddenly, Lin Xiuyuan, with a stroke of genius, hooked her middle finger and gently flipped it. Her slender hand turned around with his movement, and then his thumb naturally extended.

Lin Xiaolu paused for a moment, seemingly without thinking much, and then casually raised her thumb, as if it were muscle memory.

In an instant, a heart shape made of middle fingers appeared abruptly yet naturally in their intertwined hands.

Their hands froze for a few seconds in the sudden appearance of the heart, as if time had slowed down.

The bar lights gently bathed them, and the surrounding noise and clamor seemed to fall silent instantly, leaving only them and the budding ambiguity between them.

Lin Xiaolu was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Lin Xiuyuan.

It was a look of intoxication, hazy yet stubborn, but it was precisely because of that dazedness that it appeared all the more pure and real.

Lin Xiuyuan did not look away, but quietly gazed at her.

Eyes facing each other.

At that moment, the playful banter and bickering between the two seemed to fade away silently.

Instead, a slowly escalating, subtle ambiguity has taken its place.

Like a soft silk thread, it gently wraps and ferments in the air.

Lin Xiaolu's head, which had been resting against the bar, remained still, but her eyes began to flicker slightly.

She felt her heart pounding a little erratically, as if she had drunk a bit too much, or perhaps she wasn't drunk on the alcohol, but rather on the sudden seriousness and closeness of the person in front of her.

Just as the stagnant air was about to overflow with emotion, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly released the hand that was hooking her fingers, the movement gentle, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Then, he slowly and quietly moved a little closer to her.

It wasn't a sudden impulse, nor was it urgent; rather, it was as gentle and restrained as the night slowly seeping into a lake, yet impossible to ignore.

Lin Xiaolu did not back down.

She felt Lin Xiuyuan's breath getting closer, carrying a faint smell of alcohol, yet unexpectedly warm.

She didn't even realize when she had stopped breathing, as if afraid of missing some important moment.

Before she could even react, Lin Xiuyuan reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

The moment her fingertips touched her skin, there was a slight tremor, a nervousness that Lin Xiaolu hadn't had time to hide.

The next second, he lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on her lips.

It's very light, yet incredibly hot.

Lin Xiaolu opened her eyes slightly, as if the kiss had brought her back to her senses.

But she didn't back away; she just stared blankly at him, who was so close to her, her eyes filled with surprise, a subtle confusion, and a response she hadn't yet uttered.

Then, the small hands that had been resting on the bar slowly lowered and tentatively landed on his upper arm.

Lin Xiuyuan was about to step back when he sensed her sudden movement.

The next instant, that small hand gently wrapped around his arm and embraced his neck, the force not strong, but firm enough.

It was a quiet yet clear response.

If you want to take the initiative, I'll give it to you.

No words are needed; they speak louder than a thousand words.

The dim bar lights shone on the two of them, as if they were bathed in a soft glow.

A soft jazz melody drifted from the background, creating a hazy atmosphere as if specially set the stage for this moment.

The air was filled with the aroma of alcohol and an ambiguous tension, and the subtle distance between the two was quietly erased.

All that remained was the warmth of their skin touching, and their hearts beating slightly out of control.

Sober, yet unrestrained.

……

……

Downstairs of the hotel.

Sulli, who had sent Goo Hara back and then returned, was getting out of the car. She glanced at the hotel building and smiled slightly.

"Finally back! I wonder what oppa and unnie are doing."

　The voting for the 10,000 votes has ended. Thank you to all the godfathers for your support and votes.

　　Monthly pass count exceeded 6, daily pass count increased by 1.

　　Daily progress report: 27/39.

　　Please vote with monthly tickets! Please subscribe! Please subscribe!!!

　　
　　
　
(End of this chapter)