Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 156 The Beginning of Park Ji-yeon's Path to Becoming a "Female CEO" (A Long Chapter of 10,000 Words, Please Subscribe and Vote)
2025 years.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the master bedroom through the blinds, the soft light like a silent touch, gently caressing everything on the bed.

At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Yun'er were sleeping in each other's arms, their breathing gradually synchronizing, like two quiet rhythms, leaning on each other in this tranquil morning light.

Lin Xiuyuan's arms were wrapped around her shoulders, his fingertips touching her bare skin, while Lin Yun'er's head rested against his chest, her long hair scattered on the sheets, a few strands of hair rising and falling gently with her breath.

Suddenly, Lin Xiuyuan slowly opened his eyes. Although the light had not yet fully illuminated the entire room, he could already feel the familiar warmth around him.

The air was filled with the scent of last night, a touch of languor mixed with the freshness of newly awakened life.

He turned his head slightly to look at the beautiful figure in his arms. Lin Yoona was sleeping peacefully, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, as if she had not fully woken up yet.

But a faint smile already lingered on her lips, as if she were still immersed in the enchanting dream of last night.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan chuckled mischievously, leaned close to her ear, and gently blew a breath.

Then I saw Yoona's body tremble slightly, and she was awakened.

Her eyes slowly opened, still somewhat dazed, before finally focusing on Lin Xiuyuan's face, which was too close to hers.

Without saying a word, she simply hugged him tightly, burying her head deeper into his chest, and lazily tossed out, "Stop fooling around."

Good morning, Yoona-ssi.

With a bright smile, Lin Xiuyuan spoke softly, his voice warm and carrying a languid quality, as if he had just woken up.

"Good morning."

Nestled in Lin Xiuyuan's arms, Lin Yoona spoke in a low, sweet voice, still dazed from just waking up from a dream, "Aren't you sleepy? It's only a few o'clock."

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled and replied, "It's probably around eight or nine o'clock. My biological clock usually wakes me up around this time, then I watch some videos before going back to sleep."

"Then go ahead and use it, I want to take a little more nap..."

With her eyes closed, Lim Yoona mumbled something softly.

She didn't know if she ate the bread too quickly or was too full last night, but right now she just felt weak all over and didn't want to move.

And after saying that, she seemed to remember something and added, "Oh right, don't forget the time you made with Jiyeon."

Last night, Yoona bet with Qri on Lin Xiuyuan's schedule for today, just to give him an excuse in advance.

The older sister's gentleness and thoughtfulness always seep into the details without being obvious, making people feel warm and at ease.

"Okay, then I'll get up and go back."

"Let's go, let's go. I'm going to take a nap. I'm really sleepy."

While urging her on, Yoona hugged him even tighter, as if she was reluctant to let go.

She couldn't bear to part with such a rare and warm human body pillow.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, "I think you're probably deliberately not wanting to get up, wanting to stay with me a little longer."

"What are you talking about? Who's blaming you?"

Having her thoughts exposed, Lim Yoona finally opened her eyes, a smile on her lips, and gave him a slight glare.

"So... I'm just blaming you?" Lin Xiuyuan raised his eyebrows, his smile bright.

What do you think?

Yoona chuckled and reached out to lift the edge of the bed sheet, revealing her slender legs.

Then she reached her hand under the covers, gently touched the area below his waistline with her fingertips, and looked at him with a smile.

"Isn't this you refusing to get up because you're being lazy? The bread from last night was so dry and hard, and it's still like this after a whole night."

"Then I need to do some research on how to 'bake' it just right."

Although Lin Xiuyuan, who had been caught red-handed, suddenly gasped, his eyes burning with pleasure and an irrepressible impulse.

However, Yoona sighed slightly, stretched lazily, and leaned against him gently, "Never mind, let's get up quickly, don't let Jiyeon wait for you over there."

Her words sounded like she was advising Lin Xiuyuan, but even more like she was advising herself.

However, once some dishes are cooked to perfection, it's not something you can stop at will.

So, the two of them dragged their feet and finished washing up. By the time they were properly dressed, the clock outside had already struck ten.

Wearing a bathrobe, Lim Yoona leaned lazily against the door frame of the master bedroom, her eyes filled with a hint of mischief and doting as she looked at Lin Xiuyuan, who was hurriedly getting dressed in the room, her tone revealing a sweet teasing.

"Slow down, Xiu Yuan, I'm not going to eat you, why are you in such a hurry?"

Her voice rose slightly as she spoke, like a breeze carrying a hint of sugar, soft and alluring.

"We're going to be late. Our appointment is at 11 o'clock."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was about to run away after putting on a T-shirt, was stopped at the door by Lin Yun'er. "What's the rush? Slow down."

Then she reached out and straightened his collar, a gentle yet intimate gesture. Her fingers lingered on his smooth skin, leaving a trace of warmth.

Lin Xiuyuan lowered his head, seemingly stunned. His gaze unconsciously locked onto the corners of her slightly upturned lips, and the urgency in his heart seemed to be instantly broken by her gentleness.

"Don't worry."

While speaking, Lim Yoona picked up a small carbon fiber perfume balm from the side, opened the cap, and gently applied it to his neck and wrists.

The perfume balm had a silky texture and was slightly warm, with a touch that felt almost like a kiss, making Lin Xiuyuan's heart race.

The fragrance was delicate yet long-lasting, as if it had completely brought them closer together, their breaths now tinged with each other's scent.

“I picked this perfume balm especially for you.” Lim Yoona whispered in his ear, her voice like a feather brushing against his earlobe. “The fragrance is long-lasting, you’ll like it.”

Lin Xiuyuan was initially moved, but upon hearing this, he couldn't help but laugh. "Yoona, what you're saying... seems a bit insulting to me."

"Ah~"

Lim Yoona paused for a moment, then chuckled, "What are you thinking? I really was talking about the perfume balm."

Then, changing his tone to a light and smug one, he said, "But considering your performance just now and last night, I'm quite satisfied with it, so I'll give you another reward."

After saying that, she stood on tiptoe and gently placed a kiss on his lips.

"Paji."

The kiss was crisp and light, as if a unique agreement had been signed.

With a smile, Lim Yoona stuffed the perfume into his pocket and then pushed him out the door. "Go on, or Jiyeon will get impatient."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled helplessly, nodded, and left.

After watching the boy leave, Lim Yoona returned to the French windows in the living room and stood there for several minutes until she caught sight of a car driving away from the parking lot exit.

He then straightened his bathrobe and returned to the dressing mirror in the room, carefully examining himself.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of excitement and scrutiny in them, as he tried to find some unusual change.

First, I gently touched my face, feeling the delicate and firm skin. As my fingertips glided over it, I could almost feel the elasticity and smoothness of every inch.

My pores seem finer than before, and even in the morning light, they look smooth as porcelain with a healthy glow.

This sensation is not just an external change; it seems as if the body's internal energy and blood have also been mobilized, making the person look more rosy and radiant.

"This is really outrageous, Xiu Yuan..."

Yoona, who was talking to herself, was stunned for a moment. It wasn't this exaggerated last night. She didn't expect the effect of a good night's sleep to be even more obvious than last night.

Moreover, Yoona soon noticed that in addition to the changes in her skin, her eyes had also become much clearer and brighter.

It carries a long-lost sense of lightness, as if it has been rejuvenated with the breath of youth.

"If I went with her to have dinner today, I wonder if she would have a breakdown."

Thinking of this, Lim Yoona couldn't help but tremble slightly, feeling an urge to show off to her younger self and compete with her past self.

Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan had already left, otherwise she might have been unable to resist following him.

"No wonder Krystal ate the feast without saying a word; who could resist that?"

After speaking, Lim Yoona chuckled softly, her lips slightly upturned, but a complex light shone in her eyes.

Last night's events seemed to transform into some indescribable energy, flowing into her body and not only giving her a completely new look, but also providing her with some comfort and release.

Then, standing in front of the mirror, Lin Yoona stretched gently, feeling an indescribable sense of ease and relaxation in her body. She murmured, "I'll talk to Xiu Yuan later. He needs to know about this situation. It's too obvious; it could easily cause problems."

After saying this to herself, Lim Yoona suddenly realized something.

That is, without realizing it, you have begun to look forward to tomorrow, and even to every day thereafter.

From the moment I met Lin Xiuyuan, my life was like being injected with fresh oxygen. The once clear future became blurry, yet captivating.

"It seems I should thank him properly."

Thinking of something, Lim Yoona murmured to herself, a sly smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan was still completely unaware of anything.

He is now driving at breakneck speed to the villa, without stopping or delaying, opening the gate and traveling back to 2013.

The time was exactly 11:00 AM.

My phone, which I had left fully charged on the coffee table last night, rang as if it had been timed perfectly.

Hearing the ringtone, Lin Xiuyuan smiled, quickly walked to the entrance to pick up his car keys, then turned around to pick up his phone, answering the call as he went out, "Hello, Zhiyan."

"Oppa, where are you? We're already at the restaurant."

"Just around the corner," Lin Xiuyuan replied calmly.

As he answered Park Jiyeon's question, he pressed the elevator button.

On the other end of the phone, Xiaolongzai's laughter followed, "Don't lie to me, oppa. You said it's just around the corner, you must have just left the house or gotten in the car."

"How could you think of me like that? I'll be there in no time," Lin Xiuyuan replied honestly.

After all, it was true that he was in the car just around the corner, and he felt he wasn't lying.

Park Jiyeon didn't waste any more time with him. "Okay, okay, we'll wait for you, oppa. Just come in and head straight to the private room on the second floor. Want something to eat? I'll order first."

"Ah, I'll just have a steak in a bit, it should be quick, no need to order in advance."

"Okay then, see you later, oppa~"

After hanging up the phone, the elevator arrived at the first floor, so Lin Xiuyuan quickly walked out of the building, got into his Land Rover, and drove towards the agreed-upon restaurant.

Meanwhile, in the private room of the restaurant, Park Jiyeon had just hung up the phone when she was surrounded by the laughter of Ham Eunjung and Park Hyomin.

"Ji-yeon, from what you two were saying on the phone just now, Mr. Lin is quite humorous. 'Just around the corner,' that's a pretty fresh way to put it."

"Unnie. This is a 'classic trick' used by oppa's side."

Park Jiyeon smiled mysteriously and began her live demonstration: "Leaving home = just woke up, on the road = just left home, just around the corner = just got in the car, here we come = just started driving, when he starts to curse you with a straight face, that's when you've really arrived."

While saying this, Park Jiyeon couldn't help but laugh, recalling the scene in 2025 when she and Sulli were watching short videos together, laughing so hard they rolled around on the sofa.

At this moment, Ham Eun-jung and Park Hyo-min burst into laughter after hearing this.

"Wow, amazing! You can even translate it like this?"

"No, this is too real. No wonder you laughed when you heard his tone."

Park Jiyeon's eyes darted around, and she said mischievously with a smile, "Unnies, do you believe it or not, oppa's first words will definitely be, 'Sorry, there was traffic on the way.'"

“Of course we believe that, it’s a golden excuse,” Park Hyo-min said with a smile.

Ham Eun-jung nodded gently, "Indeed."

Then Park Jiyeon chatted with the two unnies about some jokes she knew from 2025. The atmosphere in the private room was very pleasant, completely without the depression and fatigue from being disturbed by anti-fans the night before.

The restaurant was not far from Lin Xiuyuan's apartment, and soon after, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room.

The next second, Lin Xiuyuan pushed the door open and entered.

"Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way," he said, giving an apologetic smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, the three girls burst into laughter, especially Park Jiyeon, who laughed so hard she lay face down on the table. "Oppa, your excuse is so lame!"

Seeing their reactions and listening to Park Jiyeon's explanation, Lin Xiuyuan understood that he had been seen through, but he couldn't explain further.

You can't exactly say that you were in bed with Yoona and that's why you were late.

He could only manage a couple of dry laughs: "Then I'll use a different excuse next time... no, I'll leave earlier next time."

"Please have a seat, Xiuyuan," Xian Enjing said with a slight smile.

"Ah."

Lin Xiuyuan sat down next to them, his gaze sweeping over Ham Eunjung and Park Hyomin, and couldn't help but ask, "Don't you two have any schedules today? I thought it was just Jiyeon alone."

"What's wrong?" Park Hyomin looked at him with a smile. "Does Mr. Lim think that our appearance is disturbing your date with Jiyeon?"

Lin Xiuyuan quickly shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, "No, it's just... a little unexpected."

“Oppa, our schedules have almost all stopped, and we’ve been rehearsing almost every day lately.”

As Park Jiyeon prepared the cutlery for him, she said, "Didn't I tell you before? We're going to Japan in a while. There are some stages and a concert at the Budokan."

"Yes, I remember." Lin Xiuyuan nodded, but the memory of how they had been cheated by the company couldn't help but flash through his mind.

Judging from Park Jiyeon's current expression, she seems to have already let go of the past.

Of course, she can't tell the company the answers she already knows from 2025 right now. After all, artists have limited say, and whether they'll even believe her is another question.

Instead of wasting time or worrying, it's more practical to take a break, save up, and prepare to go it alone.

After exchanging pleasantries, they ordered food and chatted for a while longer.

The group chatted casually while ordering their food.

After the waiter brought all the dishes to the table, Park Jiyeon suddenly stopped smiling, put down her chopsticks, and a smug look appeared in her eyes.

"Oppa, I've already taken care of things with the investment company." She smiled at Lin Xiuyuan. "The Cayman Islands exempt company has been set up by someone. We can conduct all our offshore business there from now on, and our taxes can be handled in accordance with international tax avoidance policies."

Lin Xiuyuan was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Park Jiyeon to have arranged things so well.

As a globally renowned offshore financial center, the Cayman Islands already possesses various natural advantages.

He didn't know much about these things before, but after 2025, when information is fully open, even passersby can say a few words about the relevant policies.

Especially with preferential tax policies, investors can avoid some unnecessary tax burdens.

"You finished so quickly?" So Lin Xiuyuan was surprised but also praised her, "It seems you've been working really hard lately. You've worked hard, Zhiyan."

"No, I just pulled some strings," Park Jiyeon said with a smile, waving her hand.

As she spoke, Park Jiyeon moved closer to Lin Xiuyuan from her seat, took out her phone under the watchful eyes of Ham Eunjung and Park Hyomin, and whispered to him.

"By the way, oppa, the project we mentioned before has also started. They are currently pushing it out simultaneously in Japan, Singapore, and Siam, but they haven't revealed the specific operational details; they just want me to provide the funding."

I'll pay for it.

Lin Xiuyuan took a bite of his steak and said with a smile, "Don't worry, he wouldn't dare to cheat us."

The idea of ​​a chain expansion plan centered around mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot) flashed through his mind. It aimed to quickly gain brand awareness by leveraging celebrity influence and promoting the business through social media platforms, thereby maximizing profits with minimal cost.

This path will indeed be popular in the future, and it has been proven to be viable.

Although T-ara's popularity in its home country is not as high as it used to be, it still has a certain appeal in other parts of East Asia.

Especially if they go on to perform and promote in China at the end of the year, they're sure to generate a surge in popularity, and then... they'll really be making money without lifting a finger.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Park Jiyeon and teased her softly, "Jiyeon, you'll probably be a little rich woman by the end of the year."

"Oppa, you're dreaming."

Park Jiyeon glanced at him, smiling sweetly and happily, "There's no such thing as quick profit sharing. They said all the profits from the first half of the year need to be reinvested and expanded. Even if we wait until the second half, we'll only get 20-30% of the returns. To really make a big profit, we'll have to wait at least a year." After hearing Park Jiyeon's explanation, Lin Xiuyuan nodded, "A year is already considered short. Don't worry, we won't lose money on this."

"I've never worried."

As she spoke, Park Jiyeon's smile became even more mysterious, "Moreover, our company doesn't only have this one project now; a second investment project has already surfaced."

"Huh?" Lin Xiuyuan immediately became interested. "So fast? Tell me about it."

"Why don't you guess first?" Park Jiyeon looked at him with a smile.

Let me guess.

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, then at Ham Eun-jung and Park Hyo-min, who remained silent to the side.

The two people next to him had been staring at him every now and then since he and Park Jiyeon started talking about the "company," as if they wanted to see through him to figure out where he got the ability to persuade their little dragon cub to not only invest his whole family but also a lot of his emotions.

In fact, Ham Eun-jung, Park Hyo-min, and several others had privately advised Park Ji-yeon many times.

Even though Ham Eun-jung and Lim Soo-won had a good relationship after their last encounter, she remained cautious about this matter.

Park Hyo-min was even more upset. If she hadn't later seen the detailed plan, funding channels, and concrete evidence of the store's establishment, she would have almost called the police to accuse Lin Xiuyuan of fraud.

At that moment, Lin Xiuyuan was deep in thought.

Since Park Jiyeon asked him to guess, the investment must be related to him or someone close to him, otherwise how could he guess it?

However, I don't have any investment ideas, so I can rule myself out first.

So let's change it to the people and things around us...

After a moment, as if he had thought of something, he said, "It's not Sherry's script, is it?"

"Amazing!!" Park Jiyeon's eyes widened, and she almost jumped out of her chair. "Oppa, how did you guess that?"

Equally surprised was Lin Xiuyuan, who had answered correctly. He looked at the little dragon cub with a wry smile, "Never mind how I guessed it. I want to ask you, Zhiyan, do you still have money?"

Although T-ara was indeed very popular a couple of years ago and earned a lot of revenue, Park Jiyeon did make a fortune back then.

However, with this round of continuous investment, according to Sulli, Park Jiyeon was already "out of breath".

If you want to make some extra money, you either have to wait for the company's finance department to summarize and distribute the profits, or you'll have to consider selling the house to cash out.

“I don’t have any money, but the company does,” Park Jiyeon said casually.

"Company?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Jessica unnie, Yoona unnie, and Jinri all invested money, a total of 40 billion won, just enough to make a drama."

Before Lin Xiuyuan could even speak, Ham Eun-jung and Park Hyo-min, who were standing nearby, were shocked by these words.

"Ji-yeon, why didn't you tell us about this?"

"No, did Yoona and Jessica go crazy with you too?"

Faced with the questions and shock from these two unnies, Park Jiyeon could not possibly reveal the truth and could only make up an excuse.

"Unnie, you guys haven't seen the TV drama script that Jinri wrote. It's really good, and we've already talked to the TV station. They're very optimistic about the script. All we need is an investor."

"Which TV station have you negotiated with?" Lin Xiuyuan was also curious about this.

"tvN".

Park Ji-yeon stated with certainty, "Their philosophy is to respect creative autonomy, avoid political interference, and focus on universal values. They also don't particularly like traditional romance tropes, preferring workplace and coming-of-age themes. The youth drama 'Jinri,' about weightlifting and swimming, perfectly fits their style."

Upon hearing the name tvN, Lin Xiuyuan immediately understood.

Because 2013 was a turning point for the Korean entertainment television industry, the three traditional terrestrial networks (KBS, MBC, and SBS) suffered from severe content homogenization, talent loss, and were gradually losing their strength due to the impact of OTT platforms.

Thus, cable TV stations tvN and JTBC seized this opportunity and rose to prominence.

In particular, tvN, through its long-term partnership with Netflix, has embarked on the fast track to globalization and has become one of the most popular channels among the new generation of young viewers.

After understanding this relationship, Lin Xiuyuan didn't say much, but frowned slightly, "Forty billion... is that really enough?"

Four billion Korean won, which is about seventeen million RMB, sounds like a tight budget for making an entire TV series.

Park Jiyeon explained confidently, “That’s enough, oppa. This is a mini-series, only 16 episodes, and due to the 2009 salary cap, the highest salary for a lead actor per episode is 1500 million won. Unless you’re a top-tier overseas star, you have to follow the rules.”

"Is this salary cap... really effective?"

Lin Xiuyuan still had reservations after hearing the answer, because he knew all too well that such policies often had "policies from above and countermeasures from below".

"There is definitely room for maneuver, but this drama doesn't rely on big names."

Seeing Lin Xiuyuan's concerns, Park Jiyeon smiled again, "The female lead, Soojung, is enough to carry the show. We're still looking for the male lead. The TV station has already said that as long as we get investment, they'll cover the publicity budget, so our share isn't that much."

Looking at Park Jiyeon, who was talking so eloquently, Lin Xiuyuan inexplicably thought of the big dragon cub in 2025.

She's putting all her effort into making money, quietly strategizing, and relentlessly striving to become a female CEO.

One is working hard like a juicer, silently digging a hole, desperately trying to be affectionate, wanting to be a little woman.

Then, for some reason, he suddenly laughed.

Then Park Jiyeon looked at him with a puzzled expression, "Oppa, what are you laughing at? Don't you think this is a bad thing?"

"No."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled and shook his head, "I think you and Shirley are both too capable, getting things done so quietly. Let's invest then. Anyway, we'll have to wait six months for the catering business, but we can see returns as soon as the TV series airs. The script is good, and there's no risk."

In fact, the topic and script for this drama were chosen by Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal together.

After watching the entire series, they even had ChatGPT compare it with the mainstream dramas of 2013 and chose "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo," a drama with a mid-range positioning but a high starting point.

So when Park Jiyeon said she wanted to submit Sulli's script, Lin Xiuyuan had no idea what to do with it, or rather, he never had any idea what to do with it at all.

Since he doesn't have to pay any of this money, and he can just sit back and collect dividends, it would seem a bit 'cheap' for him to keep nagging.

“However…” Park Jiyeon suddenly leaned closer to Lin Xiuyuan and whispered, “I need you to sign something.”

"What do you want me to sign?" Lin Xiuyuan frowned subconsciously.

“I’ve set up a risk control mechanism whereby you, as the chairman, must sign off on any large cash flows in the company. Of course, inflows of funds don’t require your signature.”

Faced with Park Jiyeon's explanation, Lin Xiuyuan clicked his tongue in disbelief, "You..."

"Oppa, don't overthink it." Park Jiyeon blinked and leaned closer. "You've helped me so much, this company is really nothing, and besides..."

She paused, lowered her voice, and said playfully, "I still owe you church fees, so I'll let that old woman off the hook for now. Consider this investment company my church fees. I'll be the president, you'll be the chairman, and Yoona unnie, Jessica unnie, and Jinri will be shareholders. Isn't that perfect?"

However, after Lin Xiuyuan heard Park Jiyeon's words, his expression became strangely off.

He really didn't dare tell the other party that he had completely devoured the dragon cub, no, he should say he was eaten... well, it's all pretty much the same anyway.

In the end, he simply nodded slightly: "Yes, I understand."

With the conversation over, the four of them finally began to focus on enjoying their lunch.

On the dining table, dishes gradually filled the entire table, and various exquisite dishes emitted an enticing aroma.

As Lin Xiuyuan ate his steak and picked up some side dishes, he smiled and looked at Zhiyan beside him, "This restaurant is very good. Zhiyan, where did you find it?"

"It wasn't me, it was Hyomin unnie who recommended her." Park Jiyeon smiled and pointed to Park Hyomin standing next to her.

Then, after being quiet for most of the day, Park Hyomin finally spoke up, "So, Mr. Lin, is it to your liking?"

"Good~" Lin Xiuyuan smiled and gave a thumbs up, "But don't call me boss, just call me Xiuyuan."

After hearing this, Park Hyo-min smiled enigmatically, but said nothing more and continued eating with her head down.

The group then ate and chatted in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, with laughter frequently emanating from the table.

After dinner, they unanimously decided to go to a nearby karaoke bar to relax for a while.

In the car, Lin Xiuyuan leaned against the window, gazing at the passing street scenes, his mind still replaying the news he had heard at the dinner table. He didn't come back to his senses until the car stopped in front of the KTV.

The KTV private room has soft lighting and a warm atmosphere.

Park Ji-yeon was the first to choose a song and sang it out loud. Then Lin Xiu-yuan sang a Cantonese song, which immediately drew cheers from the group.

Gradually, the atmosphere became more lively.

Just then, Park Hyomin took a phone call. After going outside to answer it and returning, she said to everyone, "Sunny is off this afternoon. Would you like to come over and hang out?"

Ham Eun-jung nodded first, "Sure, it'll be more lively with more people."

Park Jiyeon and Lin Xiuyuan had no objections.

So Park Hyomin turned around and called Sunny back. When she went back into the private room, she said, "Taeyeon is coming too."

"Then let's all come together."

"Yeah."*2
About twenty minutes later, the door to the private room was gently pushed open, and Sunny and Kim Tae-yeon walked in one after the other.

The two's outfits this time were quite interesting. One wore a white sleeveless knit top, paired with high-waisted light blue jeans with the cuffs slightly rolled up to reveal their slender calves. The whole look was both cool and playful.

One of them wore a simple black sleeveless dress with a clean and neat design, and the hem swayed gently.

As soon as Sunny entered, Park Hyomin teased her, "Ah, Sunny, I told you not to wear skirts. It looks really weird on you with your height."

"Hey! Park Hyomin, are you trying to pick a fight? I just walked in and you're already firing off?" Sunny immediately retorted.

"Haha, hi, Xiuyuan, long time no see."

Watching Sunny and Park Hyomin instantly switch into "bickering mode," Kim Tae-yeon simply smiled, her gaze steadily fixed on Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with undisguised joy.

She had originally planned to rest in her dorm for the afternoon, and even when Sunny asked if she wanted to join Hyomin's party, she didn't take it seriously and casually declined.

But when she heard that "Lin Xiuyuan is also here," her attitude changed almost immediately.

She still vividly remembers that conversation she had at the tavern last time.

Those shared feelings about music, life, and creation seem to resonate with her far more than the lively atmosphere of a karaoke session.

Hi, Taeyeon, long time no see.

Seeing Kim Tae-yeon walking towards him, Lin Xiuyuan quickly made room for her to sit with Park Ji-yeon, while he sat on a separate stool next to her.

When Park Jiyeon saw this, she looked at her oppa with some surprise. How did he become so familiar with Taeyeon unnie without saying a word?

Thinking of this, she suddenly recalled the overly natural and familiar tone between the old woman and Lin Xiuyuan when she called in 2025. Her heart tightened slightly, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.

She felt that... something was not quite right.

With the arrival of Kim Tae-yeon and Sunny, the already lively private room became even noisier.

As the atmosphere grew more and more exciting, Park Jiyeon, the little dragon cub, finally couldn't hold back and jumped right next to Sunny and Park Hyomin, bouncing and jumping around with them.

Ham Eun-jung smiled and sat back down with Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Tae-yeon. The three of them ate and drank while chatting idly.

And so, the six people naturally split into two groups, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Sitting on the sofa, Kim Tae-yeon looked at Lin Xiu-yuan with amusement. "Xiu-yuan, when will your bar reopen? This is the first time I've ever seen a place that's been renovated so soon after opening."

"There's no other way. The original design wasn't very reasonable, so we have to redo it as soon as possible to avoid having to do anything more as more things accumulate."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled as he forked a piece of apple and put it in his mouth.

"Speaking of your tavern, I'm getting more and more curious about it now."

Ham Eun-jung couldn't help but join the conversation, "Starting a company, investing in projects, connecting with a bunch of people... how did you manage to get Soo-yeon, Ji-yeon, and the others all together? We weren't even this close before."

Kim Tae-yeon, standing next to her, smiled and nodded, because she was also very curious as to why Jessica Jung was so close to Lim Soo-won, even closer than to herself, her longtime friend, teammate, and leader, which made her a little jealous.

Being watched so closely by the two captains, it was impossible for Lin Xiuyuan not to feel pressured, so he cautiously asked, "Personal charisma?"

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan said that, Kim Tae-yeon laughed immediately, "I don't really want to admit it, but it seems pretty good."

After all, their late-night conversation at the bar that night had unexpectedly given her a rare sense of understanding and reassurance from Lin Xiuyuan.

Unlike male artists on stage who always wear social masks, he is more like a calm, quiet, yet thoughtful ordinary person.

She never expected that Lin Xiuyuan was simply looking at the correct answer in the version and then chatting with her.

Then Ham Eun-jung agreed, "That's true."

Because she also thought of that drunken night. Although she had borrowed Park Hyomin's persona to chat with Lin Xiuyuan, the feelings she had during the chat were her own.

After all, few girls would have a negative feeling when faced with a charming and eloquent young man; most would have a positive reaction. Not to mention the influence of external factors such as his good looks, friends of friends, bartenders, and bar owners.

Just as the three were chatting happily, a song appeared on the screen behind them.

That's the classic old song that best expresses fatherly love in Peninsula Music, "Father" by Kim Kwang-seok.

Since its release in 1994, this song has become a national representative of the "father theme" in the hearts of Koreans. So as soon as it appeared on the screen, Kim Tae-yeon stood up and shouted, "Sun-kyu, give me the microphone, I want to sing this song."

"I want to sing too, I requested it."

However, as the Trot Queen of Girls' Generation, how could Sunny give in so easily?

So Kim Tae-yeon ran over and started teasing the other person, and then the two of them sang the old song together.

Lin Xiuyuan was staring at the lyrics in a daze when he suddenly felt a slight slump on his shoulder.

When he turned around, he saw Park Jiyeon, who had somehow gotten behind him and was standing very close to him, her hand gently resting on his shoulder.

Although there was no direct physical contact, this distance still drew the attention of several people around them.

However, Park Jiyeon didn't care at all. Instead, she took advantage of the atmosphere of the song and whispered to Lin Xiuyuan about Kim Tae-yeon.

"Oppa, I remember Taeyeon unnie from 25..."

"Yes, I know what you want to say, but let's put that aside for now. Your dad's condition is the most important thing, isn't it? You said you took him for a checkup, what were the results?"

Upon hearing Park Jiyeon mention Kim Tae-yeon's father, Lin Xiuyuan also thought of her family situation and asked her with concern.

After all, in 2015, Park Jiyeon's father was in critical condition due to severe cirrhosis and complications, and her older brother, Park Hyo-joon, chose to donate 70% of his liver anonymously so that others would not know. It was quite shocking.

So when Park Jiyeon heard Lin Xiuyuan's concern, her small hands, which were originally just supporting her, immediately became her arms around his back, pressing tightly together, which shocked the eyes of Ham Eunjung and the others behind them.

She then smiled softly and said, "Oppa, do you know what? After I found out about this, I almost cried myself to death in my dorm. Later, I went to the hospital for a checkup and they found out there was a problem. The doctor said that since it was discovered early, there's nothing serious. I just need to treat it conservatively, pay attention to my diet, adjust my lifestyle, and have regular checkups."

At this point, Park Jiyeon's voice became a little hoarse, "So I'm really happy and lucky to have met oppa."

Then, she changed the subject, "But I feel so bad just thinking about my situation, I guess Taeyeon unnie in 25 must feel even worse."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan sighed slightly and glanced at Kim Tae-yeon beside him, along with Park Ji-yeon.

On March 9, 2020, her father passed away due to a sudden acute myocardial infarction, which happened to be Kim Tae-yeon's 31st birthday.

Her birthday turned into her death anniversary will likely be a painful memory she will never forget.

Kim Tae-yeon, who was singing, looked back at the two of them, puzzled.

I had only one thought in my mind: No, you guys are being all flirtatious, why are you looking at me?

……

……

at the same time.

2025 years.

After finishing most of her official tour schedule and returning to her daily life, Kim Tae-yeon stayed at home for two days, but still felt a bit bored.

Upon returning to Seoul, she immediately called Lim Yoon-a.

"Yoona, come out for a moment."

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

　　Daily progress report: 36/41.

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(End of this chapter)