Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 144 "A Natural Success" in the Swimming Pool (Please Subscribe and Vote)

Just as Lin Xiaolu and Lin Xiuyuan were freely enjoying their youthful days on the streets of Harajuku, Seoul in 2025 also welcomed the same morning.

Krystal, who had just sat down to get her makeup done, was once again greeted by the exclamations of surprise from the makeup artist and staff as she began her day of filming.

Such scenes have become almost a daily occurrence for her recently.

"Your skin is getting better and better, Krystal~"

"And your hair too, Dafa, your hairline is all healed now?"

"..."

Krystal smiled, her tone carrying a sense of composure and mystery that she had prepared for all along.

"Well, I recently met a Chinese friend who gave me a traditional Chinese medicine prescription. I didn't expect that drinking the medicine every morning and evening would be effective in just half a month. I think it's quite amazing, and I'm really lucky."

"Traditional Chinese medicine is indeed quite mysterious. We Korean medicine has been around for many years and haven't heard of any breakthroughs."

"The world has changed; we really need to open our eyes and see what's out there."

The information explosion of 2025 will force young people on the peninsula to re-examine the world.

While some people choose to stubbornly live in their own beliefs, others, like these makeup artists and staff, are willing to believe, try, and marvel.

After she finished speaking, the makeup artists and staff gathered around Krystal, asking if they could also use her prescription.

However, Krystal politely declined all of them with some excuse. It was nothing more than that the medicine had already been prepared for her or that it was a secret recipe. Anyway, as long as she had an excuse, she could just keep going.

However, his smugness was short-lived, as the makeup artist suddenly changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, T-ara's Jiyeon is in really good shape lately. My friend just went to Singapore with them for a music festival, and when she was doing Jiyeon's makeup, she said that her skin and complexion were just like yours right now, she was practically glowing."

"Hmm?" Krystal looked up at the makeup artist in the mirror who was busy drawing eyebrows, and paused slightly. "Unnie, who did you just say...?"

"T-ara's Jiyeon has incredibly good skin. My friend even took a close-up photo of her to show me. She's practically back to her peak."

As the makeup artist was drawing eyebrows, she remarked once again that idols are different; no matter what, they still rely on their looks to make a living.

Completely unaware that Krystal clenched her fist slightly and pressed her lips together for a moment when she heard what she said.

The lights in the dressing room were still bright and gentle, and her delicate features were reflected in the mirror.

But at that moment, Krystal seemed to hear a silent alarm ringing in her heart.

……

……

Just like that, a few more days passed.

These past few days have been spent in Tokyo, 2013.

Lin Xiuyuan, Lin Xiaolu, and Shirley were almost completely drawn into a "Tokyo Food, Drink, and Fun Squad" by Goo Hara.

The four of them barely stopped, their schedule packed tightly together, like they were fighting a relaxed yet enthusiastic "happy battle".

Surprisingly, no one complained of being tired; on the contrary, everyone seemed to be having more fun than anyone else.

On the morning of the first day, they first strolled around the alleys of Harajuku, during which a cosplay collision between Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu occurred, which was quite dramatic.

At noon, we found a Showa-era ramen shop nearby to rest. The steaming hot soy sauce ramen paired with golden and crispy fried dumplings made us all exclaim, "It's incredibly delicious!"

However, Lin Xiuyuan chose a beef noodle soup, but the soup was too thick, leaving him with a complicated expression as he ate it.

In the afternoon, they headed straight to Akihabara. Besides buying figurines and games, the arcade was naturally a key area to visit.

Racing cars, fighting games, claw machines...

The group tried out almost every machine.

Lin Xiuyuan's skills were decent, but the fighting ability of the girls next to him was a bit worrying.

As evening approached, Shirley suddenly suggested taking some photo booth pictures.

However, in the final product, Lin Xiuyuan was covered in stickers by the girls on both sides, and even had a pair of rabbit ears on his face, making his face completely black.

Shirley was holding the photo and laughing so hard she almost cried, while Lin Xiaolu insisted on putting it in her wallet, planning to use it as "embarrassing material" to mock someone later.

Early the next morning, Goo Hara led everyone straight to Kaminarimon Senso-ji Temple, saying they wanted to "purify their bad luck" and draw a fortune stick for good luck.

Incense smoke curled in front of the temple, and crowds thronged the area.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Lin Xiuyuan drew a lot, and upon seeing it, his face immediately darkened.

The words "extremely ominous" were particularly jarring.

The three girls beside him burst into laughter, with Lin Xiaolu laughing so hard she leaned back. "Lin Xiuyuan, did you just roll your eyes at the gatekeeper of Lei Men?"

Sulli then handed him her "lucky charm" with a serious expression, saying, "Oppa, come on, I'm your personal lucky charm, hurry up and change it!"

However, Lin Xiuyuan naturally refused, because in the hearts of Chinese people, if I believe you, you are real; if I don't believe you, you are just roadside weeds.

Unlike in Japan and South Korea, where faith runs deep in their bones.

So he told Shirley to keep the fortune slip safe and that she would do better in the future.

Before leaving, Shirley suggested taking a group photo.

In the photo, Lin Xiuyuan stands in the center with his arms outstretched, with Shirley and Hara each on one side of his palms, while Lin Xiaolu squats in front of him with a bright smile, like a smug little fox.

This group photo was eventually set as Shirley's phone lock screen.

At noon, the group had a "tasting challenge" at a food street near Senso-ji Temple.

From takoyaki to grilled rice crackers, from taiyaki to Japanese fried noodles, the group ate their way through the entire street without spending much money.

Sulli filmed a vlog while eating, then laughed heartily at the camera, saying, "You know what? Choi Jin-ri, this is truly the happiest time I've had in recent years. You have to remember this."

As she said this, a glint of tears really flashed in her eyes.

In the afternoon, the group rented bicycles and rode along the Sumida River.

A breeze blows, carrying the scent of early summer.

The wind blows, carrying the temperature and scent of early summer.

Not wanting to move, Lin Xiaolu simply plopped down in the front basket of Lin Xiuyuan's bicycle, licking an ice pop while humming a little tune.

Lin Xiuyuan muttered, "You'll break my bike basket," but he still kept riding steadily without stopping.

Lin Xiaolu turned around and glared at him. "You're humiliating Girls' Generation. Do you believe I'll post this online and cyberbully you?"

"Come on, let's see who dies first," Lin Xiuyuan retorted with a smile.

Goo Hara quietly raised her phone from behind and captured the moment.

Under the setting sun, the figures backlit resemble a gentle painting, depicting three young people laughing and joking, as if enjoying carefree youth.

The third day can be described as a "shopping spree day".

From Harajuku and Shibuya all the way to Ginza, the three girls' fighting power was off the charts.

After two days, when she finally saw a cosplay-themed store that looked good, Lin Xiaolu's eyes lit up and she went in and started shopping like crazy.

Masks, wigs, and cosplay costumes were all available, and I left with a full load of purchases.

Later, because we had too much stuff, we followed the shop owner's suggestion and packed it all up on the spot, then found an international logistics company to ship several large boxes back to Seoul.

Then I bought some recent fashion items, but I didn't send them back. Instead, I used Lin Xiuyuan as the person who carried the bags.

After a quick and easy lunch, I took Lin Xiuyuan to Shibuya Crossing for a photo op in the afternoon.

The evening was even simpler; we went back to the hotel's presidential suite and turned on karaoke mode.

During the three-hour performance, Goo Hara was the karaoke queen the whole time, while Sulli assisted with dancing. Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu leaned to the side, watching the two of them with amusement.

On the fourth day, Goo Hara had an unexpected work assignment, so the three of them were free to do as they pleased.

Early in the morning, Shirley suddenly said she wanted to see the "legendary red-light district," but Lin Xiaolu grabbed her and said, "There's nothing to see there, and what geishas can you see on a rainy day? Let's go, let's go get some dessert. I saw online that there are a few handmade cake shops nearby."

And just like that, the destination was changed to a well-known cake shop nearby.

The three of them ordered six or seven different flavors in one go, from strawberry cream to matcha mille-feuille. All sorts of sweet and blissful treats were served in turn, and they were so full that they skipped lunch.

During this time, Lin Xiuyuan transformed into an all-around photographer, taking countless photos of them.

But after Lin Xiaolu finished looking at them, she looked at him with a strange expression. "Lin Xiuyuan, are these photos? They're all memes, right? You deliberately captured me rolling my eyes, didn't you?"

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged, feigning innocence, "Your smile is so captivating, I couldn't help myself."

"Hey~ You're asking for it." Lin Xiaolu raised her fist.

In the afternoon, as the rain intensified, the three of them rented a small private room in a Japanese-style internet cafe to experience it and kill some time.

Inside the private room, Shirley put on her headphones and started playing games, while Lin Xiaolu flipped through a shoujo manga, complaining about how melodramatic the plot was.

The two girls also tried playing Counter-Strike with Lin Xiuyuan, but their skills were so poor that they were easily defeated by the computer AI after only a few rounds.

"I'm not playing anymore, this game must have bugs." Lin Xiaolu threw down the mouse, her face serious.

“Yes, I’m not playing either. This isn’t for humans!” Sherry immediately chimed in, as if they hadn’t lost to technology, but to fate.

Day 5. This morning, Sulli went out alone because she had arranged to go to the amusement park with Goo Hara.

However, Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu did not travel together on this trip.

In Lin Xiaolu's words, her brain had been too relaxed these past few days, and she needed to set aside some time to sort out the emotions that had settled down over the past few days.

After all, the reason she came here this time was for an 'immersive experience'.

Lin Xiuyuan said that he would be there as a third wheel so that Sulli and Goo Hara could have a proper private conversation. Otherwise, if he were there, they would definitely have fewer topics to talk about.

And so, the four-person team that had been playing together for a few days split into two groups today.

One group went to the amusement park, while the other group stayed in the presidential suite to rest.

However, Lin Xiuyuan, who was resting in the presidential suite, was not idle. Encouraged by Lin Xiaolu, he said that since the money had already been spent, it would be a waste not to use the pool.

So he simply changed into a pair of swimming trunks and showed off his figure in front of her, which made Lin Xiaolu laugh. Then he plunged into the pool.

At the poolside, Lin Xiaolu, who saw Lin Xiuyuan jump in, also bent down, rolled up the cuffs of her pajama pants, sat down, and gently kicked her feet in the heated pool water.

The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, shimmering on the water's surface, and the air was filled with the unique, refreshing scent of late summer.

Lin Xiuyuan stretched his body in the water and swam back and forth leisurely for a few rounds before diving to the bottom, preparing to circle around underwater before emerging.

When he looked up at the edge of the pool, he saw those dangling little feet.

Lin Xiaolu was sitting by the pool, her trousers rolled up, her feet in the water, occasionally kicking up tiny splashes of water.

Her feet were small and well-proportioned, with slightly arched insteps and nimble toes that were white and soft, resembling two floating jade petals in the water.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting dappled shadows on her skin and the water's surface, creating a gentle yet alluring effect.

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but smirk as he quietly approached.

While she was looking around, he suddenly emerged from the water and quietly hooked one hand around the sole of her left foot.

"Ah ah!!!"

Lin Xiaolu was instantly jolted as if by an electric shock, and she leaned back so hard she almost fell into the water.

Actually, she had just seen Lin Xiuyuan swimming over, but she didn't expect him to be so childish. So she immediately laughed and cursed, grabbed the water ladle next to her and splashed it at him, "Lin Xiuyuan, are you looking for death?"

Lin Xiuyuan laughed loudly, spread his hands, and swam towards the center of the pool, saying, "Come on, hit me then!"

"How dare you say that!"

Lin Xiaolu angrily cursed as she splashed water at him, but Lin Xiuyuan nimbly dodged it and even splashed a large wave of water back at her, causing her to retreat repeatedly.

After a while, the two of them started having a water fight in the pool.

Lin Xiaolu knelt by the pool and kept splashing water on him with her hands, but she was no match for Lin Xiuyuan's "underwater mobile armor" and was splashed with water droplets several times.

Just as she was about to get up and splash even more water, her foot suddenly slipped.

"what!"

Completely unprepared, he plunged into the water with a splash.

Lin Xiuyuan reacted quickly, reaching out to scoop her up from the water. Lin Xiaolu nestled in his arms, soaking wet, her long hair plastered to her face, her pajamas mostly wet, water droplets sliding down her collarbone.

At that moment, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

The two looked at each other. Lin Xiaolu wiped the water off her face and looked at Lin Xiuyuan resentfully, "See, it's all your fault."

"You were the one who splashed water on me first."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled, but his hands remained tightly wrapped around her slender waist. "How about it? Can you swim? Otherwise, I'll have to let go."

"No, I'm not very good at it."

Upon hearing that he was about to let go, Lin Xiaolu immediately hugged his neck, clinging to him like a kitten and tightly encircling his neck.

She had just choked on several mouthfuls of water and her heart was still racing, so she naturally dared not take any risks at this moment.

Lin Xiaolu's sudden action startled Lin Xiuyuan for a moment.

Because of the buoyancy of the water, she pressed herself against it.

The thin nightgown was now soaked through, clinging tightly to her body and outlining her delicate, soft curves.

Lin Xiuyuan could almost feel the frequency of her heartbeat; it was a rapid increase, a mixture of tension, panic, and a hint of unease.

His hands, which were still around her waist, froze for a few seconds.

Lin Xiaolu either didn't notice, or perhaps she did, but didn't say anything.

She simply buried her face in the crook of his neck and mumbled, "Don't let go."

Her voice was a little hoarse, and her wet hair clung to her shoulders and cheeks, gently brushing against Lin Xiuyuan's skin.

Lin Xiuyuan looked down at her, his gaze unconsciously moving from the few strands of hair that had slipped down behind her ear to her collarbone, and then down to her soft, barely visible contours beneath her wet clothes, making it almost impossible for him to look away.

"Okay, I won't let go. Let's get ashore first."

He subconsciously swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and said in a low voice, "If you keep holding me like this, I really won't be able to control myself."

Lin Xiaolu then realized that their posture was far too intimate.

Not only was she pressed against him, but when she rushed in, her knees were even wrapped around his waist. Now, lifted up by the water, their bodies were almost touching.

She slowly raised her head and met his eyes.

There was a smile in his eyes, and a warmth that couldn't be hidden.

Sometimes, things happen naturally, and she feels that's okay with that.

For example, right now.

Then she suddenly asked softly, "So...would you want to control it?"

Lin Xiuyuan didn't speak, but his breathing became a little heavier than before.

The next second, Lin Xiaolu gently moved closer.

She slightly tensed her legs, raised her head slightly, paused for a moment at Lin Xiuyuan's lips, and then kissed him.

This was not the passive response from a few days ago in the tavern, but an active, serious, and even slightly provocative kiss.

Her lips were soft and moist, carrying a sweet scent from the mixture of moisture and body heat. Her breath brushed against his face, seemingly random yet captivating.

At first, she only touched on the subject, but soon, she seemed to be caught up in the feeling and gently bit Lin Xiuyuan's lower lip, as if inviting him to take it a step further.

Lin Xiuyuan's eyes darkened slightly, and he unconsciously tightened his embrace.

Ripples spread across the water's surface, and sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating the intertwined figures of the two, frozen in that moment.

This is intimacy, and also the beginning of a certain tacit understanding.

Lin Xiaolu had never been so proactive, and Lin Xiuyuan had never been so out of control.

After a while, Lin Xiaolu nestled in Lin Xiuyuan's arms, the warmth of the kiss still lingering on her lips, her heart pounding wildly as if it had lost control.

She didn't continue kissing him, but gently rested her head back on his shoulder, feeling his burning body temperature coming from his chest, one kiss after another, just like the rhythm of her heart at that moment.

The water rippled gently around us, and everything seemed to slow down.

She closed her eyes, letting herself lean against Lin Xiuyuan, but her mind was perfectly clear.

Yes, from the moment she decided to come to Tokyo with him, she already knew what she was gambling with.

After spending these days together, she also came to understand something.

That is, Lin Xiuyuan is not the kind of person who is good at sweet talk, but he always manages to touch people's hearts in the details.

He will start to remember what she likes to eat.

Knowing she was afraid of the cold, he quietly handed her his coat.

He would hold an umbrella for her in the rain and shield her from the wind on the street.

He would squat down when her legs ached from shopping, turn around and say with a smile, "Come on, shouldn't the female lead be carried by the male lead?"

In fact, Lin Xiaolu had been telling herself this since the very first day she arrived in Tokyo.

No matter how this journey ends, at least she wants to live like the female lead in an idol drama during these few days, imprinting the emotions unique to the female lead into her very bones.

Because she didn't want to miss this opportunity again, one that she knew could lead to "soaring to great heights."

So she began to take the initiative to get closer, to develop feelings, to hug, to kiss, and to pursue the little bit of "ambiguity" that slowly grew out of everyday life.

She knew she couldn't wait for Lin Xiuyuan to speak; she was pushing this relationship towards the answer in her heart little by little in her own way.

The hand that quietly reached out these past few days, the moments when I fell into his arms while playing games together, the anticipation I felt while pretending to be lost in the mall and waiting for him to find me—none of these now seem like tests.

But now, the moment she kissed his lips was a natural progression.

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(End of this chapter)