Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 292 Ham Eun-jung's "Stop" for Sweet Eun-jung (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

After Lin Xiuyuan and Xian Enjing bickered for a while, the atmosphere in the apartment became somewhat strange and funny.

Lin Xiuyuan tried his best to play the ostrich, wishing he could shrink his whole body into the phone screen.

Ham Eun-jung stared intently at him with a look that was a mixture of frustration, scrutiny, and a hint of resentment.

Meanwhile, Sweet Eun-jung, the "culprit," was watching the two of them with a leisurely air, a playful smile on her lips, as if she were enjoying a drama closely related to herself.

After a moment, Ham Eun-jung seemed to realize that glaring at Lin Xiuyuan wouldn't get her anywhere, so she glared at him angrily and turned her gaze back to Sweet Eun-jung.

Or rather, his gaze focused on her injured leg, and he tried to make his tone sound like genuine concern, "So, in your case, did the doctor say approximately how long it will take to fully recover?"

When asked, Sweet Eun-jung casually replied, "I don't know. Normally, it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, but now..."

Changing the subject abruptly, her gaze became ambiguous again. She lightly glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, who was trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, and said meaningfully, drawing out her words, "It seems like we don't have to wait that long now~"

"Cough cough..."

Lin Xiuyuan, whose throat tightened from the other person's gaze and tone, almost choked on the juice he had just drunk. He quickly grabbed the beverage can and took another big gulp.

The cool, sweet and sour liquid slid down his throat, but inexplicably brought back memories of yesterday afternoon, some even more "sweet and sour" and enchanting scenes.

The taste of those lips back then... seems to be similar to what they taste like now.

Sitting right between the two, Ham Eun-jung watched the silent, almost tangible tension in their eyes and bit her lower lip in anger, unable to resist making a sarcastic remark.

"Hey~ that's enough, aren't you? Should I give you some space right now? You're practically staring at each other like glue, is it really that bad? Do you think I'm invisible?!"

"Cough cough cough!" Lin Xiuyuan was really choked this time and coughed violently, waving his hands quickly.

At the same time, he quickly suppressed all his outward emotions and put on a serious face again.

On the contrary, Tian Enjing smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream, and waved her hand in the same way, her tone carrying a sense of "having the whole situation under control," "There's no rush, anyway, Xiuyuan should be quite free recently, right?"

"Hmm? Why do you say that?" Ham Eun-min asked subconsciously, her attention slightly diverted.

Then, all I heard was Sweet Eunjung analyzing as if she knew it all by heart, "Look, Krystal and Yoona have been either busy on set or at film festivals and promotions lately. Taeyeon seems to be busy collecting songs too, I wonder if she's preparing for a comeback. I heard she also has a new show to record, her schedule is packed. So they don't have much time to 'bother' Xiuyuan."

Although Ham Eun-jung didn't know much about the schedules of these people over the past 25 years, after listening to the story, she thought for a moment and continued to ask, "What about Ji-yeon and the others? They should be free, right?"

Jiyeon's situation here is already common knowledge among the members because of the fight between Xiuyuan and their maknae from 13.

"They're even busier. With the concert approaching and the rehearsals so intense, they're probably too exhausted to do anything else when they get back to their dorms."

Hearing this, Ham Eun-jung felt a mix of emotions.

I almost blurted out my complaint: So your leg injury really was "just in time"~ You deliberately timed it during this downtime to "hog" me, didn't you?!
However, Ham Eun-jung swallowed her words in the end, and just looked at Sweet Eun-jung up and down with an extremely complicated and somewhat incredulous look of disdain.

She truly never imagined that her future self would have such a... "green tea" side.

The depressing thought flashed through her mind, and Ham Eun-jung decided to stop dwelling on this topic that was making her feel a little upset.

Turning back to Lin Xiuyuan, who had finally caught his breath, she asked about another matter that piqued her curiosity, "By the way, Xiuyuan, what's the situation with Jessica right now? You haven't told us anything in detail."

Like Lin Xiaolu before her, the people there in 2013 only knew about the Jessica incident through Lin Xiuyuan's vague words "it's all settled" in the group chat, and knew nothing about the specific details.

When faced with Ham Eun-jung's question, Lin Xiuyuan's answer was similar to what he had told Lin Xiaolu before, and he said it in a very calm tone.

"It's settled for now. We can deal with the problems later. We can't really lock her up or anything, that's not realistic. If we ruin her job, we'll all be dragged down with her."

At this moment, Tian Enjing also joined the conversation. She seemed to be very concerned about this as well, and asked directly, "Xiuyuan, what exactly do you think of Jessica? There has to be some kind of plan."

Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his temples, a genuine look of exhaustion and bewilderment on his face. "I don't know. Let's just take it one step at a time. I really didn't think too much about it at the time. In my opinion, plans can never keep up with changes in these kinds of things."

This answer, which could be described as "giving up," caused Ham Eun-jung and Sun Eun-jung to exchange a glance.

They both saw a hint of amusement, and... a barely perceptible hint of envy, in each other's eyes.

Step by step.

For idols like them, who need to carefully consider and weigh the pros and cons before taking any step, this is a luxurious and daring way of life.

Especially after experiencing that almost devastating online anti-fan campaign, the two deeply realized that they must carefully consider their every word and action.

The slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin, leaving no chance for regret.

Afterwards, Ham Eun-jung steered the conversation to the upcoming concert in Mongolia.

With obvious concern in her voice, she asked, "I've heard that the online environment there isn't very good right now. Are you sure you'll be okay going there this time?"

Upon hearing this, Sweet Eun-jung's expression remained calm, even carrying a hint of detached understanding.

"To be honest, this performance is just a commercial 'job.' The businesses there are offering a lot of money, and they also want to take this opportunity to attract our fans to travel and spend money there. So don't worry too much. Jiyeon, Hyomin, Qri unnie, and I have all discussed it. During the few days we're there, apart from necessary performances and rehearsals, we basically won't leave the hotel and will try to minimize unnecessary travel. As soon as the performance is over, we'll come straight back and won't stay any longer."

When she said this, Sweet Eunjung's tone was calm and pragmatic, clearly indicating that she had already made thorough plans and mental preparations, which reassured Ham Eunjung a little.

But seeing Tian Enjing sitting calmly, even managing to "steal a moment" to flirt with Lin Xiuyuan, Xian Enjing's awkwardness resurfaced.

Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan's phone rang at just the right moment, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere in the living room.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was Jessica.

So, as if grasping at a straw, he immediately stood up and said to the two Eunjungs on the sofa, "It's Jessica on the phone. You two talk first, I'll go in and say a few words to her."

After saying that, without waiting for their response, he took his phone and quickly walked into the bedroom next door, closing the door behind him.

Suddenly, only Ham Eun-jung and Sweet Eun-jung remained in the living room.

The two of them looked at each other, and the air became tense once again.

Before Ham Eun-jung could speak first, Sweet Eun-jung broke the silence with a tone of wisdom and reassurance from someone who had been through it all.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I don’t think you need to overthink it. You don’t need to feel guilty about my situation. I was already quite curious about Xiuyuan’s situation, and I was also quite envious of Zhiyan and the others’ state. So this leg injury is just an opportunity, or rather, a trigger. Even without this injury, it would probably have happened sooner or later.”

As she spoke, she looked earnestly at her younger self, "But you're different. You're only in your early twenties, at the peak of your career and looks, full of energy. You don't have to be as 'impatient' as us. You can take it slow, or maybe you can start a relationship."

"Bullshit!" As soon as Sweet Eun-jung finished speaking, Ham Eun-jung couldn't help but spit out a light spit, and then directly retorted, "Everyone isn't stupid. Everyone understands that from the moment we learned about the existence of this door, we and Xiu Yuan were basically bound by fate. How can we have a normal relationship?"

Then his gaze fell on the door that Lin Xiuyuan had just closed, and he frowned slightly.

"After all, who can guarantee that they won't get carried away during the conversation and reveal the secret of the time portal? When I first learned about the situation, I was worried about this issue. But after I learned about Xiu Yuan's special 'physique,' I was relieved. At least his almost irresistible 'rejuvenation' effect on women felt even more crazy and irresistible than the time portal itself."

Sweet Eun-jung smiled upon hearing this, even lowering her voice in a seemingly fatalistic tone as she replied.

"Every cause has its effect. Without the influence and modification of spacetime factors brought by the spacetime portal, Xiu Yuan's body might not have been able to produce such a miraculous effect. The two complement each other."

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and asked in a slightly gossipy tone, "By the way, you just said that Yoona from 13 has already 'made her move'?"

After calming down, Ham Eun-jung nodded, her tone somewhat complicated, "Yeah, and it felt like Yoona's gaze towards Xiu Yuan was a bit off from the very beginning. I guess it's probably the 25-year-old Yoona here giving her advice from behind."

Sweet Eun-jung immediately laughed upon hearing this, her eyes curving into crescents. "Then how about I give you some advice? Share some 'experience' with you..."

"No need~" Ham Eun-jung immediately interrupted the person who was about to say something suggestive, a hint of unease flashing across her face, "I don't have time to think about these things right now. I'm going to fly to Japan next week to meet up with the unnies, and then head straight to China to start my tour. I'll probably be busy until the end of the year, I won't even have time to put my feet on the ground."

Sweet Eunjung understood Ham Eunjung's itinerary, but also gave a very practical suggestion, "Then you can find a suitable city in China, rent or buy a house, the kind where you can stay permanently. That way, Xiuyuan can set up an 'anchor point' there, and it will be much more convenient for you and Jiyeon to travel back and forth, without always relying on Seoul."

Ham Eun-jung pondered for a moment, "I've thought about that too, but let's see how things go when we get there."

As the two women were discussing the future and anchor point in the living room, they were unaware that Lin Xiuyuan, who had just entered the bedroom, was on the phone with Jessica, discussing almost the same topic.

In the bedroom, Lin Xiuyuan, who had just entered, casually closed the door and paced around the room aimlessly. At the same time, he answered the phone and said in a relaxed tone, "Hey~ Jessica."

"Hmm~ Lin Xiuyuan." Jessica's cool and unique voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of barely perceptible expectation. "I sent you photos and information about several houses in Shanghai last night. Didn't you look at them? Which one do you think is better?"

Knowing the situation, Lin Xiuyuan explained, "I'm looking at it now. I had something to do last night and didn't have time to look at it. I went back to my hometown this morning and just got back to the apartment. I'm looking at it now."

As he spoke, he held his phone between his shoulder and his hand, then picked up the photos and albums of Eunjung on the wall and started looking at them. He added, "But I think these sets are pretty good. Actually, you don't need to pursue luxury. The key is that privacy and security must be good. Everything else is irrelevant."

Faced with Lin Xiuyuan's somewhat perfunctory but clear-cut explanation, Jessica seemed to purse her lips on the other end of the phone, but still said, "Then I'll decide for myself. I've chosen one that I think is pretty good and settled on it. But when are you coming over?"

Lin Xiuyuan thought about the time and said, "Sure, I'll come over after you've finished everything on your end."

However, Jessica was clearly very efficient, and her tone was a bit urgent: "The rental process is very fast now. I can sign the contract and get the keys in a bit. I can just call a cleaning lady to come and clean this afternoon and that will be it."

Hearing the somewhat impatient tone on the other end of the phone, Lin Xiuyuan keenly sensed something and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, teasingly saying something with a hint of sarcasm.

"Seriously, Ms. Jessica? We've only been apart for a few days! You already miss me that much?"

Normally, Jessica would probably have stubbornly retorted.

But at that moment, she was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone. Then, in a frank and almost straightforward tone, she gently but clearly admitted, "Yes, I have indeed become a little addicted. I finally understand why both men and women like young people."

This sudden, direct attack caught Lin Xiuyuan off guard. He stood there, holding his phone, stunned for a long time before finally coming to his senses, somewhat amused and exasperated.

Then he touched his nose, as if he could feel the faint warmth Jessica was trying to convey through the phone, despite her feigned composure.

"Alright..." He finally sighed in resignation, calculating the time in his mind, "I still have some things to do here, so I can't get over until tomorrow at the earliest."

“Then tomorrow.” Jessica made the decision immediately, her tone decisive and leaving no room for doubt. “I’ll book your plane ticket.”

After the call ended, Lin Xiuyuan put down his phone, looked at the bright sky outside the window, and smiled helplessly.

While his "newly repaired" leg injury is still waiting for him, his "old flame" is already urging him to start working again, and there's also his "wife of 13 years."

Indeed, living a life that involves traveling between different times and timelines means there's never a moment of peace.

After ending the call with Jessica, Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his throbbing temples, pushed open the bedroom door, and walked out.

The previous subtle atmosphere in the living room had dissipated, replaced by a peaceful, homey feeling.

Ham Eun-jung and Sweet Eun-jung sat side by side on the sofa, holding remote controls, browsing the TV program list together, seemingly choosing a movie to watch.

"Eun-jung, are you planning to go back later?" Lin Xiuyuan asked Ham Eun-jung to confirm.

Ham Eun-jung didn't turn her head, her gaze still fixed on the screen, and naturally hummed in agreement, "No rush, anyway, I'm off today, and I can slack off and relax for the next few days."

At this moment, Tian Enjing also turned around, with a gentle smile on her face, and extended an invitation to Lin Xiuyuan, "Xiuyuan, why don't you stay here tonight and have dinner with us?"

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged indifferently, "No problem, I'll just order takeout by myself when I get back anyway."

It's nice to have company here, especially with these two beautiful Eunjungs.

Ultimately, Ham Eun-jung chose a movie called "The Witch".

The film's tense and exciting pace and the female lead's cool and stylish fight scenes quickly captivated her, keeping her completely engrossed. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This movie is quite interesting; the action choreography is very impactful!"

Sweet Eunjung turned to her and smiled, “You like it? I do know who produced and produced this movie. Do you want me to ask about the casting process and criteria? Maybe you and Yoona can give it a try over there. If you get selected, you’ll really be very lucky.”

This suggestion made Ham Eun-jung's eyes light up, and she was clearly interested.

Although she is currently busy with her idol career, she still harbors ambitions and expectations for her acting career.

"Really? Then you can ask around for me." When she said this, her tone carried a rare reliance and expectation towards Tian Enjing.

This made Sweet Eun-jung smile happily.

As a movie quietly ended in a dimly lit living room and with focused eyes, the end credits rolled.

Lin Xiuyuan stretched and stood up from the sofa. "Alright, the movie's over. Now it's time to address our basic needs. What are we having for dinner? I noticed the fridge is almost empty."

"It's not convenient to go out lately, so I haven't been able to replenish much." This was Sweet Eun-jung's answer.

"It's okay, I'll just go down to the supermarket to buy some groceries and come back. It's not a big problem," Lin Xiuyuan said, preparing to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Suddenly, Ham Eun-jung called out to him, stood up, and said with a serious expression, "I'll cook tonight. One of you is a patient, and the other isn't very good at cooking. You can just wait to eat what's ready."

She deliberately emphasized the word "craftsmanship" and gave Lin Xiuyuan a teasing glance.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was called out, didn't think much of it and immediately raised his hand to show his surrender and support. "I don't care. Someone took the initiative to take over the kitchen. How could I object? Sitting and waiting to eat is one of the greatest pleasures in life."

Then, with a grin, he stuffed his phone back into his pocket. "Chef, just tell me what ingredients you need!"

Ham Eun-jung didn't stand on ceremony and quickly named several dishes she wanted to make and the ingredients she needed.

After Lin Xiuyuan made a note of it, he went out and headed straight for the supermarket downstairs.

Not long after, he returned carrying two large bags full of fresh ingredients. After placing the items on the kitchen island, his task was complete.

The rest was entirely left to the two Eun-jungs inside the house.

Although Sweet Eun-jung's foot injury limited her mobility, she insisted on sitting on a high stool next to the island counter, helping to pick vegetables and pass plates, while chatting casually with Ham Eun-jung, who was busy at the stove.

Laughter occasionally rang out in the kitchen, from recent funny incidents to past memories.

The once somewhat cold and quiet apartment was instantly filled with a warm and inviting atmosphere thanks to the hum of the range hood, the clatter of spatulas, and the collaboration and laughter of two similar figures.

Lin Xiuyuan was happy to have some free time, so he slumped back onto the sofa in the living room and started playing on his phone.

I chatted casually with Yoo Jimin and Bae Joo-hyun a few times, but I focused most of my attention on the detailed photos and information about the apartment that Jessica sent me.

After ending the previous phone call, Jessica finally chose a two-bedroom apartment in Platinum Bay.

It may sound like there aren't many rooms, but the total area is over 150 square meters, with a wide view and a grand layout, which is more than enough for our needs.

The six-figure monthly rent comes with the top-tier privacy and security that Lin Xiuyuan emphasized on the phone, though he also muttered that it was a bit expensive.

Jessica responded in the message, "Problems that can be solved with money aren't really problems. Just take on more ads."

While Lin Xiuyuan and Jessica were continuing their discussion about how to meticulously check the new apartment for security details such as hidden cameras...

Suddenly, Sweet Eun-jung's voice came from the kitchen, "Xiuyuan~ Stop playing on your phone, dinner's ready!" "Okay, coming," Lin Xiuyuan quickly replied, then typed on his phone and sent another message to Jessica.

Okay, Jessica, it's getting late. Go eat first, don't go hungry. There's nothing else wrong.

Far away in Shanghai, Jessica, having just finished a long day of travel, is standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of her new apartment, admiring the dazzling night view.

Upon seeing this simple yet caring message, the corners of my mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

In the past, she probably wouldn't have thought anything of it.

But in this moment, after experiencing certain things, on a day when certain emotions and hormones are ignited, such a simple word of advice feels more heartwarming than any sweet words.

Although she has grown older and experienced many realities and hardships, Jessica's deep longing for romance and tenderness has not been completely extinguished.

"Okay, I'll be there in a bit." After replying, she put down her phone, bent down to pick up her coat from the sofa, and quickly put it on.

Then, looking out the window at the shimmering Huangpu River and the dazzling Oriental Pearl Tower, he muttered to himself, "Let's go out for dinner and pick out a 'gift' for that guy while we're at it."

A hint of anticipation flashed in her beautiful eyes, as if she could already see the expression on someone's face when they received the "gift".

In the Seoul apartment, under warm lighting, a meal of three dishes and a soup has been laid out on the table, filling the air with delicious aromas.

Lin Xiuyuan put down his phone and walked towards the warm glow of the light, and also towards the two people waiting for him to have dinner together.

In this charming apartment, the three of them sat around the dining table and enjoyed a heartfelt dinner prepared by Ham Eun-jung.

After dinner, the group moved to the living room sofa and chatted for a while until the Seoul night sky completely enveloped the horizon, with neon lights flashing.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Xiuyuan discussed it with Xian Enjing and then got up to take her back to the place from 13. He took her directly to her home so that she wouldn't have to drive or take a taxi back herself.

Soon, the scene changed.

"Alright, delivered safely." Lin Xiuyuan smiled at Xian Enjing from the living room of her apartment and prepared to turn and leave.

Just then, Ham Eun-jung's voice came from behind him, calling out, "Xiuyuan."

"Hmm?" Lin Xiuyuan, who had already grasped the doorknob, turned around and looked at the other person with a slightly puzzled expression.

At this moment, Ham Eun-jung said with a mischievous smile that also carried a hint of revenge, "You're rushing back so urgently, are you planning to go back and do something 'bad' to the other party again?"

She was obviously referring to Sweet Eun-jung.

Lin Xiuyuan keenly sensed the underlying meaning in her words, so instead of answering directly, he asked in return, "So, Eun-jung, do you want me to go, or not?"

Faced with this question, Ham Eun-jung simply looked at him quietly, her tone slightly teasing, "As compensation for making me feel so uneasy and a little 'awkward' today, I'll let you leave her hanging for a few days, let her 'go hungry' for a bit, is that alright? Xiu Yuan, you're not that 'hungry' too, are you?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan immediately smiled broadly and nodded in agreement.

"I'm fine on my end; I can easily become abstinent. It's just that I'm worried your partner might overthink things. If you upset them, I won't be able to comfort them."

"You can rest assured about that." Ham Eun-jung wagged her finger triumphantly. "I've already left her a 'notification'."

"Hmm?" Lin Xiuyuan was genuinely surprised.

……

Meanwhile, in Sweet Eun-jung's apartment, 25 years later...

Sweet Eun-jung, who was originally curled up on the sofa and looked somewhat boyish due to her leg injury, secretly looked forward to the "story" that might happen tonight.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the coffee table, and he suddenly noticed a folded piece of paper that had appeared on it sometime during the day.

So she got up, curiously picked it up, and unfolded it. There, she saw incredibly familiar handwriting, yet it was her own, along with a sentence that made her instantly both laugh and cry:
Forget about it. Tonight I won't let Xiuyuan go back, and I won't tomorrow either. You should rest for a couple of days; consider it 'interest' on my mental anguish today. After a few days, you can do whatever you want, I won't care.

After reading those two short lines, Sweet Eun-jung was stunned at first, then angrily opened her mouth and uttered a few "Ah" sounds.

She wanted to complain but didn't know where to begin. In the end, all her emotions turned into a long, helpless, and amused sigh. She muttered under her breath, "Ugh, Ham Eun-jung, you're such a stingy person, I really am..."

……

Back in 2013, at Ham Eun-jung's apartment.

After listening to Ham Eun-jung's slightly smug retelling of what she had left on the note, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

Then he nodded and readily agreed, "Alright, since it's 'interest,' I'll definitely cooperate. I can go back and get a good night's sleep tonight, since I have to rush to Shanghai early tomorrow morning."

"Going to Shanghai? What for?" Ham Eun-jung asked casually, unaware of Jessica's situation.

Lin Xiuyuan then briefly explained that Jessica had rented an apartment in Shanghai and hoped he could go there to help her "settle down" and check out the new environment.

After hearing this explanation, Ham Eun-jung was delighted at first, and then she also brought up the idea that she and Sweet Eun-jung had previously discussed, which was that they hoped Lin Xiuyuan could go there to set up a temporary "anchor point" when their team had activities in China in the future.

Since there's one, there's bound to be another, so Lin Xiuyuan naturally had no objection. "No problem, let's set an anchor year for 13 and 25. Just let me know once you've finalized things over there. I can easily come over from here anytime, it's very convenient."

“Okay, it’s settled then.” Ham Eun-jung nodded.

Then, as if she had suddenly made up her mind, her eyes flickered, and she gently waved to Lin Xiuyuan.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xiuyuan was puzzled, but he still took a few steps forward as instructed and stopped about half a meter away from her.

However, the moment he stopped, Ham Eun-jung suddenly took a step forward, quickly cupped his cheeks with both hands, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to his.

A very brief kiss.

Like a butterfly flitting across a petal, or a dragonfly skimming the surface of water.

With a hint of probing, a hint of curiosity, and a vague urge to verify something.

The warm and soft touch on his lips was so quick that Lin Xiuyuan almost thought it was an illusion.

Before he could react, Ham Eun-jung had already quickly retreated to her original position, as if her bold move had exhausted a lot of her courage.

But her body instinctively pursed her lips, which still held the other's scent, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she forced a calm look at the somewhat bewildered Lin Xiuyuan, explaining in a deliberately relaxed tone.

"Xiuyuan, don't overthink it. It's nothing. I just suddenly wanted to find out what that person likes about you."

After she finished speaking, she saw Lin Xiuyuan's eyes begin to move slightly, as if he wanted to step forward.

He immediately stretched out his palm and firmly stood between the two.

"Wait a minute!" Her voice trembled slightly, yet remained remarkably clear. "You're not allowed to take the initiative, Xiuyuan~ Tonight is over."

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Xian Enjing, who was clearly shy but still trying to maintain control, and obediently stopped what he was doing.

Nodding, she replied gently, "Okay, I'll do as you say. So, I'm really leaving this time?"

"Mmm," Ham Eun-jung responded softly.

Lin Xiuyuan then said no more, turned around, turned the doorknob, and left the apartment.

As the door clicked shut, shutting out the outside world, Ham Eun-jung's tense nerves finally relaxed.

She sat back in the dining chair as if all her strength had been drained, fanning her burning cheeks with her palms, and letting out a long, deep sigh of relief.

Her heart was still pounding, as if the thrill from that brief kiss was far stronger than she had anticipated.

Back in the villa in 2025, Lin Xiuyuan still made sure to call Tian Enjing.

As soon as the call connected, I heard Sweet Eun-jung's resentful, drawn-out voice on the other end, "Ugh~ Xiu-yuan!! That stingy guy! How could she do that!!"

Lin Xiuyuan, suppressing a laugh, comforted her with kind words, and then took the opportunity to mention that he was going to Shanghai to see Jessica the next day.

Upon hearing this, Sweet Eun-jung's resentment intensified, almost bursting through the roof.

Although she was very annoyed, she knew that business was more important, so she stopped arguing with Lin Xiuyuan and simply gave him a concerned reminder, "Okay, be careful on your way. Also, remember to let me know as soon as you get back."

As for why it was done immediately, adults understand.

So Lin Xiuyuan agreed, "I understand, don't worry."

After hanging up the phone, he went straight to the computer room and, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, began his long-awaited e-sports journey. He fought in the virtual battlefield until late at night before reluctantly turning off the computer and returning to the master bedroom to wash up and go to sleep.

I was woken up by a rapid cell phone ring the next morning.

He groggily reached for his phone without even opening his eyes to look at the screen, so naturally he didn't see the name "Jessica" flashing on the screen.

"Hey……"

"Lin Xiuyuan, are you up yet? I sent you the flight information, don't be late."

Jessica's clear, slightly urging voice came through the receiver, instantly dispelling Lin Xiuyuan's sleepiness.

He instinctively replied, "I'm up, I'll be leaving soon."

After saying that, Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his eyes and sat up. Looking at the bright sunshine outside the window, he resignedly sat up, stretched, and yawned.

After a quick wash, I went downstairs, grabbed my car keys, and drove straight to Incheon Airport.

He had a smooth journey and easily boarded a flight to Shanghai.

After several hours of flight, the plane landed smoothly at Pudong International Airport.

As soon as the passengers were allowed to disembark, Lin Xiuyuan's phone was turned on and he hadn't even stepped off the jet bridge when Jessica called again.

"Have you gotten off the plane?" Her voice came through the receiver; the background was quiet.

"Yeah, I just landed, and you came to pick me up?" Lin Xiuyuan guessed as he walked out with the crowd.

"I'm in section D of parking lot P2, parking space D-117. Just come over here."

Jessica, who is always efficient, didn't waste any words. Even the information she provided was so clear and concise that Lin Xiuyuan burst into laughter.

"Okay, got it."

Because of the Anywhere Door, Lin Xiuyuan didn't need to check any luggage when he appeared. He only carried a backpack with a simple change of clothes and some necessities as a cover.

This saved him the trouble of waiting at the baggage carousel. Following the signs for "parking lot" in the airport, he briskly took the elevator down.

Walking in the spacious and bright airport parking lot, Lin Xiuyuan's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the surrounding environment.

As he was leaving Seoul for the first time in 2025 to travel overseas and return to his home country, he felt a mix of emotions.

The speed of infrastructure construction and development in China is completely different compared to 13; it's truly impressive.

Although he is still inside the airport, the level of intelligence of the facilities and the demeanor of the people coming and going already show a completely different picture.

After that, Lin Xiuyuan, who does not have a poor sense of direction, found the parking space for D-117 without much effort.

There, a sleek, stylish dark green new energy vehicle sat quietly.

At the same time, the driver's side door opened, and Jessica, who had already spotted him, got out of the car.

She was dressed casually today, wearing a loose white knit sweater with skinny jeans, sunglasses covering half of her face, and her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, yet she still exuded star quality.

Jessica glanced at the seemingly light backpack on Lin Xiuyuan's shoulder from afar, and a smile appeared on her lips. When he got closer, she asked with a hint of teasing, "Is that all the luggage you have?"

Lin Xiuyuan patted his backpack and said matter-of-factly, "Well, I don't plan to stay long anyway, besides..."

He paused, his tone carrying a meaning only the two of them could understand, "If we really need something, we can just go back and get it, right?"

Upon hearing this, Jessica was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and couldn't help but shake her head with a sigh, "Your ability is really too cheating, even cheaters wouldn't dare to use it like this."

His tone was a mixture of envy and disbelief.

"Get in the car first." After saying that, he opened the driver's side door and gestured to Lin Xiuyuan.

So Lin Xiuyuan nodded and went around to the passenger seat to get in.

The car's interior was spacious, and the high-tech central control screen and simple interior made him curious. "Is this the car you bought?"

Jessica, who was sitting next to her, had already fastened her seatbelt and shook her head. "Rented."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan immediately understood and made a gesture as if zipping up his mouth to indicate that he understood.

Upon seeing the other person's expression, Jessica smiled, nodded slightly, and started the car.

The quiet electric drive system made almost no noise as it smoothly pulled the car out of the parking space, merged into the traffic on the airport expressway, and headed towards the bustling city center of Shanghai.

The scenery outside the car window rushed past, with crisscrossing viaducts and towering skyscrapers in the distance, outlining a spectacular city skyline.

Although some sensitive topics are not suitable for discussion in the car, there are still many things to talk about.

"How should we arrange our work for the next few days?" Lin Xiuyuan started the conversation with a safe topic.

“I have a brand event to attend tomorrow, and I’ve arranged to meet with people from this studio the day after tomorrow to discuss the details of the live stream…” Jessica answered while keeping a close eye on the road. “But I’m free this afternoon and evening.”

"That's perfect," Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile. "Could you take me to see the food in Shanghai? Or maybe we could check out some of the best restaurants run by culinary masters? No problem, right?"

“I’m fine with anything.” Jessica’s tone was more relaxed, but she still didn’t want to talk about it too much. “But let’s go back first and talk about it then.”

"OK~ I'll do whatever you say."

"Ah."

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(End of this chapter)