Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 280 [Hateful Egg] Or [Try Later] (Please Subscribe and Vote)

In Seoul after autumn, the night air carries a touch of chill.

A breeze swept through the street corner, carrying with it a mixture of the smells of the sea and the aroma of burning charcoal.

The small shops along the street are lit by strings of soft yellow lights, the dim, warm light falling on the signs and glass, giving the air a pleasant warmth.

When Lin Xiuyuan followed Li Juli through the door, he could smell the strong aroma of the sea before he even sat down.

This "late-night snack" was clearly more than just ordinary eating and drinking.

Geoduck, sea cucumber, oyster...

The entire table was filled with high-energy, highly nutritious seafood, glistening with oil and shimmering as if it were about to be buffed.

The sight of that scene sent chills down Lin Xiuyuan's spine.

He picked up his chopsticks and glanced at the pile of ingredients that looked like they were prepared for some kind of ritual. He couldn't help but shake his head with a chuckle. "Juri, the sheer amount of food you ordered... are you sure you're not preparing for a war?"

Lee Juri smiled, looking relaxed.

Without replying, he slowly and deliberately peeled an oyster, his hands moving with an elegance that was almost provocative.

Then he handed it to Lin Xiuyuan and said with a soft smile, "Eat it."

Lin Xiuyuan hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously asked as he reached out to take the food, "Wouldn't it be too much to eat this tonight...?"

“Just right.” Li Juli interrupted him, her tone calm yet carrying a meaningful gentleness. “What if you become dehydrated and weak again in a little while?”

Lin Xiuyuan was speechless at these words and almost choked. In the end, he could only laugh awkwardly and raise his glass to cover it up.

As Lee Juri watched his feigned composure, the smile on her lips gradually rose, but her eyes softened.

The bright red light bulb illuminated her profile, and her smile seemed to conceal a little secret.

Just as the atmosphere between the two was slowly building up, Lin Xiuyuan's phone suddenly rang.

The ringtone sounded particularly jarring in the noisy night.

He looked down and saw "Jessica" displayed on the screen.

As soon as the call connected, the voice on the other end carried its usual lazy, cheerful tone.

"Lin Xiuyuan, is this really necessary? I'm about to go abroad for work, and you won't even let me see me off?"

Before he could respond, Da Longzai interrupted from the other end of the phone, laughing more exaggeratedly than anyone else, "Unnie, I think Qri unnie was scared by me yesterday, and was afraid we'd tease her again, so she secretly took Xiuyuan away~"

In that instant, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but look up at the side.

Lee Juri obviously heard the teasing from the other side as well.

Her face instantly flushed red, even her ears turned a light pink.

But she didn't explain anything. She just lowered her eyelashes, silently picked up a piece of sea cucumber, and gently placed it into Lin Xiuyuan's bowl.

The movement was gentle yet somewhat guilty, as if it were an attempt to cover something up.

Lin Xiuyuan saw this and smiled slightly, his tone becoming more relaxed, "I was the one who said I wanted to go out for a meal, but I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn't wake you up. I didn't expect you to wake up so quickly."

He paused, glanced sideways at Lee Juri, and his smile deepened, "Or perhaps..."

Lee Juri raised her head, her eyes showing some displeasure, as if to say: If you dare to agree to their request, I really won't talk to you anymore.

Lin Xiuyuan coughed lightly, turned his head and continued, "...Jessica, why don't you hurry back and pack your things to catch your flight? It's getting late, so I won't take you guys out for a late-night snack."

Jessica let out a dissatisfied "humph" from the other end of the phone, followed by Da Longzai's unrestrained laughter.

"Okay, okay, you two eat slowly, but don't eat anything too nourishing~"

The laughter faded away on the other end of the phone, leaving only the sound of the night wind gently rustling through the street.

Lee Juri put down her chopsticks and couldn't help but chuckle.

She didn't say anything, only glanced at him out of the corner of her eye...

There was a hint of satisfaction and a touch of smugness in his eyes.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan just smiled and shook his head, put the oyster in his mouth, and said in a low voice, "It tastes pretty good."

Lee Juri responded softly, her smile barely concealed.

At that moment, the lights in the entire shop seemed to become warmer.

Steam rose from the table, carrying a faint fragrance that blurred the outlines under the lamp.

The soft yellow light fell on Lee Ju-ri's profile as she looked down and gently stirred the soup spoon in her bowl. Her eyelashes cast a scattering of gold in the light, like thin feathers brushing against her skin.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't say anything more, he just looked at her quietly.

That face was softer and brighter than when we first met, as if the whole person was radiating a faint light.

The silence between the two was not awkward; rather, it seemed to flow with some unspoken understanding.

By the time they returned to the apartment, it was already late at night.

As soon as the door was pushed open, the indoor lights automatically turned on, and the warm light made people feel relaxed.

Lee Juri turned around gently, glanced back at him, and said in a natural tone as if she were talking about something everyday, "Go take a shower. You smell like smoke. I'll leave your pants by the door in a bit, you can wear them when you come out."

The tone was natural, yet it contained an undeniable gentleness.

"Oh, you even prepared clothes for me?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Lee Juri, who had already walked forward, didn't respond to him, but only pursed her lips and gave him an ambiguous smile.

A few minutes later.

As the hot water fell onto the skin, steam quickly spread out.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was taking a shower, soon heard light footsteps outside, followed by the sound of clothes being put down.

When he came out of the bathroom in his bathrobe, the living room lights had already been dimmed.

The curtains of the French windows were half-drawn, and the city's neon lights shone through the gaps, breaking into a pale pink hue, like a dream scattered by the wind.

A while later, Lee Juri, who came out of the bedroom, also changed into a silk loungewear set.

The silky fabric slid down her shoulder line, revealing a section of her collarbone, which was illuminated by the flowing light.

Her long, flowing hair was blown smooth, with slight curls at the ends, instantly filling the living room with a faint floral fragrance.

"Finished washing?" she asked softly, her tone so gentle it was almost a murmur.

"Mm." Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

"That's good." She took a step closer, her gaze falling on his chest, and reached out to straighten the collar of his bathrobe.

When her fingertips brushed against his collarbone, their breaths paused for a moment almost simultaneously.

A gentle breeze swept past the window, causing the curtains to sway slightly, and shadows flickered between the two people.

The light flowed over them, making even their breath seem warm.

After loosening her collar, Lee Juri asked, "Want something to drink?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his tone relaxed and teasing, "I thought you'd be eager to go, but you've surprised me."

Lee Juri smiled at these words, her eyes as soft as the night itself.

"Really? I've been thinking about some things these past few days." Her voice was low and slow, with a hint of an ambiguous sigh. "I feel like I haven't done as well as Jiyeon before."

This sentence is like a line that gently glides across the air, landing silently, yet spreading warmth.

"Don't overthink it. You are you, and Jiyeon is Jiyeon."

"Yeah, I know, so, want a drink?"

The fragrance emanating from the woman before him, a blend of the sweetness of shampoo and the warmth of her skin, stirred a restlessness within Lin Xiuyuan, who stood before her.

Their eyes met in the air, and he said, "No..."

"Have a drink? I'll be your glass!"

Upon hearing this, their breaths immediately mingled together.

As the neon lights outside the window gradually dimmed, only the quiet little lamp remained inside.

The soft light cast two silhouettes that drew closer and closer.

The story didn't continue.

But the silence, sustained by their pounding hearts, made the air feel slightly warm.

Time itself seemed reluctant to disturb the moment when the two were perfectly in sync.

……

noon the next day.

Sunlight streamed into the living room through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled light and shadow on the soft carpet.

The air was filled with the lingering warmth of last night and a hint of tea aroma.

When Lee Juri woke up, she was leaning against the sofa with a thin blanket draped over her and a cup of warm tea beside her.

The rising steam from the tea leaves blurred her features, making her languid charm even more captivating.

Lin Xiuyuan sat at a table not far away, looking down at his phone and checking his messages. His light gray shirt made him look clean and neat.

That was the one that Li Juli handed to him that morning.

Neither of them spoke, only occasionally glancing up and their eyes meeting in the air.
With a hint of laughter and a lingering warmth from last night, they shared a tacit understanding.

The wind outside the window occasionally rustled the corner of the curtain, bringing with it faint sounds of the city.

"Are you leaving?"

At this moment, Lee Juri broke the silence.

Her tone was very soft, as if she were afraid of shattering the moment.

"Yeah, I have to go." Lin Xiuyuan looked up and smiled. "I have to pick someone up." "A woman?" She narrowed her eyes, a faint smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

"Uh..." He paused, his tone slightly guilty yet relaxed.

"I understand." Lee Juri responded softly, put down her teacup, and got up to walk to his side.

Then she reached out and gently straightened his collar.

The moment my fingertips brushed against the side of his neck, a slight electric current surged through me.

“You need to tidy yourself up,” she said softly, her tone carrying a hint of gentle reproach. “At least this way you’ll look like you just took a shower.”

Looking at Lee Juri like this, Lin Xiuyuan was slightly taken aback, then laughed out loud, "Don't make it sound like I'm never coming back. I'm just in Seoul, not somewhere else."

"Oh dear, this is such a lovely atmosphere, don't ruin it." Lee Juri pouted; she loved this kind of romantic drama.

When Lin Xiuyuan left the apartment, the sunlight overhead was just right.

After driving the car out of the garage, he followed the navigation arrows silently until he slowly stopped in front of a familiar location.

Then he took out his phone and typed: "I've arrived."

Then I glanced at the weather outside the window.

A little while later, the door of the house by the roadside was pushed open from the inside.

Krystal came out.

Her appearance almost made the air stand still for a moment.

Her outfit today was truly stunning.

A strapless mini-dress clung to her figure, black stockings extended down her long legs, and she wore a light camel-colored trench coat with the belt loosely tied at the waist.

A gentle breeze blew from the street corner, lifting the hem of the dress and revealing the barely visible skirt underneath.

She wore a pair of stiletto heels, highlighting the smooth curve of her ankles.

Her long hair was loose, and her pale skin almost glowed softly in the sunlight.

Lin Xiuyuan stared at the scene for a moment, his hands still on the steering wheel, a hint of undisguised amazement flashing in his eyes.

The visual impact caused him to lose his breath.

Meanwhile, Krystal had already reached the passenger side, opened the door, and leaned in.

Her fragrance, a blend of vanilla and slightly sweet fruity notes, wafted into the car along with her.

The moment she turned her head, Krystal looked at Lin Xiuyuan's nonchalant appearance, her lips slightly pursed, but a meaningful smile was hidden in her eyes, "Looks like my outfit wasn't a waste."

She tilted her chin slightly, the curve of her trench coat collar revealing just an inch of her fair neck.

Sunlight streamed through the car window and fell on her hair, giving it a soft golden glow.

"It looks pretty good." Lin Xiuyuan smiled and glanced at her, his tone unhurried.

Then he added, "You don't need to change it after you get home."

Krystal smiled slightly at the following sentence, a smile that was both deliberate and smug.

Her gaze swept over his shirt, and she paused slightly. "Where did you go last night? This shirt, isn't it the one you wore when we video chatted yesterday?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who had been thinking about money, immediately scratched his head and said in a slightly guilty tone, "Um, I went out for a late-night snack and got my old clothes dirty, so I just changed into something else."

"Late-night snack?" Krystal raised an eyebrow, her voice light and airy, yet tinged with a hint of teasing. "What kind of late-night snack did you have? Abalone? Steamed buns? Butterfly? Or..."

She paused deliberately, a slight smile playing on her lips, "It's still that one line you've always longed for..."

"stop--!"

The increasingly heated conversation made Lin Xiuyuan interrupt her, shaking his head with a chuckle, "Xiujing, don't be jealous. I came to pick you up as soon as I got up, you know what I mean?"

Krystal smiled, her eyes instantly dispelling any hint of emotion she might have felt. "Alright, I'll let you off this time."

She leaned back in her seat and let out a long breath, her slender fingers adjusting the hem of her trench coat.

Suddenly, it was as if she remembered something.

Then she gently lifted one leg, the black stockings gleaming faintly in the morning light, appearing and disappearing.

She subtly extended a fingertip and gently slid it down her knee; the movement was unintentional, yet carried a hint of allure.

"Then Xiuyuan, you tell me." She turned her head slightly to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "Am I dressed like this sexy?"

Lin Xiuyuan's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Krystal leaning back in her chair, her eyes smiling, yet also hiding a hint of provocation.

The person being questioned cleared their throat, feigning composure, and asked, "How do you want me to answer?"

Upon hearing this, Krystal blinked, her tone so gentle it was almost seductive, "Just tell me the truth."

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan sighed softly, a smirk playing on his lips, "Damn it~"

Krystal paused for a moment after hearing those three simple words, then burst out laughing.

Her shoulders trembled slightly as she laughed, as if something had touched the softest spot in her heart.

The car continued driving forward, and at a traffic light, the sunlight at the street corner fell directly on the windshield.

Pale golden light streamed in through the car windows, illuminating the interior with a gentle and ambiguous glow.

Lin Xiuyuan gripped the steering wheel, his profile sharply defined by the light and shadow. But just as he released the accelerator, Krystal beside him softly called out again, "Xiuyuan~"

The sound was so soft it was almost swallowed up by the engine noise, yet it precisely penetrated his ears.

So he turned his head slightly, his gaze shifted to the side, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment.

Krystal had taken off her black high heels at some point and was sitting barefoot in the passenger seat, her fair ankles peeking out from under her trench coat, her toes encased in semi-transparent stockings.

She curled up in the passenger seat, one leg bent and the other hanging down naturally, her posture languid yet provocative.

Moreover, the sunlight fell perfectly on her legs, and the fine lines of light flowed along the lines of her stockings, as if drawing a slightly shimmering boundary.

The ambiguous atmosphere was so intense that even the air felt slightly sticky, as if it had been scalded.

She turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, a slight smile playing on her lips, and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Xiuyuan~" she called again, her tone carrying a faint smile.

Her voice was low, with a slight breath at the end.

"What do you think... should we find a place..." she paused, a smile playing on her eyes, "to stop the car and do something else?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan unconsciously tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

You could almost hear the leather squeak.

However, his gaze remained fixed on the flashing red light ahead, though his Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he forced a sound out, "You...you..."

His voice was deep and slightly hoarse, as if he was trying to control the temperature of his emotions, "Soojung, I prefer a place with more space, it's more fun."

Krystal tilted her head, a more playful smile curving her lips, her eyes sparkling with a teasing light.

"Isn't it more exciting outside?" She raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone carrying a hint of deliberate seduction.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't reply immediately, but just sighed softly, his gaze briefly falling on the steering wheel.

As the green light came on, the car slowly started and skillfully merged into the traffic, the slight roar of the engine echoing inside the car.

"Let's eat first." He finally spoke, his tone gentle yet restrained. "Don't try to seduce anyone. I'm about to explode."

Lin Xiuyuan knew that Krystal had barely eaten anything since last night.

In addition to the photoshoot and promotional shoot, she also filmed some additional scenes, keeping her busy almost all night.

So he put aside his own desires and was more worried about her health and stomach. Compared to the lust that was already rising in his head, getting her to fill her stomach was his most important choice.

After hearing the previous sentence, Krystal was stunned for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Then he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

With her lips pursed, her smile was full of tenderness and sweetness, as if Lin Xiuyuan's words had melted her completely in an instant.

Sunlight slid through her hair, casting delicate, warm golden rays, and even her smile seemed soft, as if enveloped in sunlight.

So she put her high heels back on, but the lightness and subtle ambiguity did not disappear.

Krystal leaned back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously stroking the hem of her trench coat, her voice tinged with a hint of playfulness, "By the way, Xiuyuan~ how's Jessica doing?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan immediately said in a concerned tone, but also with a slight hint of evasion, "You haven't slept all night, aren't you tired? Take a nap."

"Hmph, I know even if you don't tell me. Jessica called me on video last night, and she sounded really smug."

"..."

"Just tell me one thing: was it you who initiated it, or was it her?"

"..."

Seeing that Lin Xiuyuan was ignoring her, Krystal narrowed her eyes, then pouted and said with a hint of coquettishness, "Xiuyuan~ you've changed. Is this how all men act when they have someone else on the side?"

"Okay, okay, tell me."

Seeing that he would really become a scumbag if he didn't speak up, Lin Xiuyuan smiled helplessly, "According to Jessica's side of the story, strictly speaking, I didn't have any relationship with her."

Upon hearing this, Krystal immediately pouted, her eyes flashing with suspicion. "Are you kidding me? I'm not blind, how could this be?"

"Yes, we just had a wet dream." Lin Xiuyuan blinked; he really wasn't lying.

"Xiuyuan~ the way you're saying that makes me really want to shove your stockings in your mouth."

"..." Lin Xiuyuan was silent for a moment before saying, "I'll try it later."

Krystal: "???"

　That's all for tonight. By the way, I hope those who skipped the subscription enjoyed it and can now subscribe to the full version. Also, there are only two days left for monthly tickets, so I hope you all vote a lot.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)