Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 293 "If you move again, I'll scream for rape!!!" (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Driving the rented new energy vehicle, Jessica skillfully navigated the traffic in Shanghai and soon entered the Platinum Bay Residence located in the North Bund.

Then, while chatting with Lin Xiuyuan, they passed through the heavily guarded gate and parked the car steadily in the private underground parking lot.

"No one can enter without a license plate?" Lin Xiuyuan, who had just seen Jessica need to register, asked.

Jessica nodded. "Yes, I forgot to tell the property manager here that I had my agent rent this car for me this morning."

"6~" Lin Xiuyuan smiled and made a gesture, then followed behind Jessica and took the elevator that required a card to go directly to the upper floor.

And when Jessica opened the apartment door, even though Lin Xiuyuan had seen a lot in his 25 years, the sudden openness in front of him still made him raise his eyebrows slightly.

The first thing that catches the eye is the overall decor, which is very modern and minimalist.

The main color scheme is sophisticated gray and natural wood tones, with clean lines and unique furniture designs.

The most eye-catching feature is the glass window that occupies most of the wall.

It was afternoon, and the warm autumn sunlight poured in without obstruction, illuminating the entire living room brightly and warmly.

Furthermore, the glass here is spotless, perfectly capturing the winding waterways of the Huangpu River, the towering skyscrapers of Lujiazui on the opposite bank, and the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, forming a cityscape that encapsulates the essence of Shanghai within this small view.

"Not bad, right?" Jessica, standing to the side, spoke with a hint of barely perceptible boastfulness, like a child expecting praise.

Lin Xiuyuan nodded and praised without reservation, "Not only is it good, it's an absolute gem! Seoul really doesn't compare."

“The World Tower is alright,” Jessica said, giving an example.

Lin Xiuyuan pointed out the window, but asked, "Are you sure?"

Then Jessica shut up.

As Lin Xiuyuan walked around the apartment, he suddenly realized that although there were only two rooms, the space felt very spacious, and it had everything a luxury mansion should have.

Finally, he stopped in the center of the living room, circled around with his arms, looked at Jessica, and asked in a slightly teasing but very serious tone, "So, Detective Zheng? Did you find any 'small eyes' that shouldn't be there?"

Jessica knew he was referring to a hidden camera, shook her head, and replied confidently, "I've checked it carefully from last night until today, and my agent and assistant also looked for it, but we didn't find anything, so it shouldn't be there. Besides, the rental agreement here has clear clauses protecting the tenants' privacy, and they will be legally responsible if any problems arise."

However, Lin Xiuyuan, upon hearing the latter sentence, curled his lip in strong disapproval.

“A contract? In certain ‘special circumstances’ and in the face of people with ulterior motives, that piece of paper may have negligible effect, especially…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning in his eyes was clear: especially for people like us.

Jessica's confidence began to waver after hearing his words, and she frowned slightly as she looked at Lin Xiuyuan. "What should we do? I'm not a professional, I really don't know those testing methods."

Then, she saw Lin Xiuyuan begin his "performance".

The other party first took out a small gadget and pointed its lens at various corners of the room, especially carefully scanning the socket holes facing the bed and sofa, decorative paintings, smoke detectors, and other places.

Then, out of nowhere, he pulled out a small, car charger-like device, plugged it into the socket, and watched as the indicator light on it flashed erratically.

They even turned off all the lights, drew the curtains, and shone a flashlight on places where hidden pinhole cameras might be located...

Jessica was dazzled and impressed by this series of actions.

Unable to resist asking, "Xiuyuan, are these things of yours useful?"

After finishing his work, Lin Xiuyuan packed up his tools, clapped his hands, and said with a calm expression, "I don't know, but there should be some, at least it can give me some peace of mind, right?"

"ah!!"

Jessica was so angry at his extremely irresponsible answer that she laughed. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "I thought you really had some high-tech methods."

"It's much better than a visual inspection."

Too lazy to deal with this unreliable guy anymore, she turned and walked towards one of the bedrooms, pushed open the door, and said, "Here, this is your room."

Lin Xiuyuan followed, and was once again attracted by the view outside the window, as the Oriental Pearl Tower seemed to be right next to him.

Then she exclaimed again, "Wow, Jessica, is this the master bedroom for me? There's no need to be so polite. I don't live here often. You can stay here."

To everyone's surprise, Jessica laughed and scolded, "You're crazy, you wish! This is the second bedroom, and the view from both rooms is basically the same."

The apartment's design is indeed luxurious, with even the second bedroom boasting an unbeatable river view.

Thinking about this, Lin Xiuyuan said "Oh," glanced at the smart home control panel on the wall, walked over, and pressed the button to close the curtains again.

The heavy electric curtains slowly closed, blocking out the bright afternoon sunlight from outside, and the room instantly became dark.

Upon seeing this scene, Jessica's expression instantly turned somewhat strange, and her heart involuntarily quickened.

Looking at Lin Xiuyuan's back standing in the dim light, many erotic thoughts flashed through my mind. What is he planning to do? Can't he hold back so quickly?
A mixture of shyness and secret joy quietly spread through her heart.

This also pleased her somewhat, since it showed that her charm was still intact.

However, what happened the next second was completely beyond her expectations.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't turn to her, but instead reached out his hand towards the doorknob.

The moment you grasp the doorknob, give it a gentle push.

The apartment, which I'd lived in for 13 years, appeared behind the door.

Jessica, standing behind him, blushed with embarrassment at her own presumptuous thoughts, and was then amazed by this magical scene.

He leaned closer, staring incredulously at the completely different space behind the door, and murmured, "It's...it's that simple? That's it?"

Lin Xiuyuan turned around and saw her shocked expression, finding it somewhat amusing, but still nodded, "Otherwise what? Do you expect me to burn incense, bathe, draw a magic circle, and chant a few incantations?"

"But this is too simple, even a bit... childish." Although it wasn't the first time she had seen something like this, Jessica felt that her worldview had been refreshed. This was quite different from what she had imagined.

However, just as Jessica finished speaking, Lin Xiuyuan grabbed her wrist and stepped across the threshold into the apartment from 13.

Before she could even stand still and sense the atmosphere, she did the same thing to the portal again, pushing it open and arriving at her home in Seoul 25 years later.

Seeing this familiar scene, Jessica even went up to her and took a hair clip that she had forgotten to bring when she went out.

"Let's go, go back."

Then, as Lin Xiuyuan's voice rang out, Jessica felt her feet lightly floating as she followed him for a few steps before returning to the second bedroom of her apartment in Shanghai.

And it was still the same dimly lit state with the curtains tightly closed.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had led Jessica around in a circle, let go of her hand and walked to the wall to press the button again.

The electric curtains behind me slid open slowly to both sides. The abundant afternoon sunlight, like a golden waterfall, instantly flooded back into the room, illuminating every corner.

The Oriental Pearl Tower and the Lujiazui skyline came into clear view again outside the window.

From darkness to light, from the dizzying sensation of time and space jumping to the anchoring of returning to reality, the extreme contrast and magical experience in these few short minutes left Jessica's brain almost unable to process the information gap. She was stunned and stood there, staring blankly out the window, as if everything she had just experienced was a bizarre dream.

It wasn't until that warm breath enveloped her and the real touch returned that she suddenly came to her senses.

She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze focusing on Lin Xiuyuan beside her, who looked relaxed, as if he had just gone downstairs to buy a bottle of water.

A feeling that was very familiar from a week ago welled up in my heart again.

It was an indescribable feeling, a mixture of extreme shock, disbelief, and the excitement of surviving a catastrophe.

At this moment, like a surging tide, it once again breached the dam of her reason.

Then, without any warning or words,

Jessica took a sudden step forward, reached out and cupped Lin Xiuyuan's cheeks in her hands, stood on tiptoe, and forcefully pressed her soft, trembling lips onto his lips.

It was with a cathartic passion and an eagerness to confirm its existence.

Slightly taken aback by this sudden initiative, Lin Xiuyuan's arms naturally wrapped around her slender waist after he came to his senses.

She lowered her head and responded to the kiss with gentle yet firm words.

As their lips intertwined, their hot breaths mingled.

For Jessica, driven by such intense, almost dizzying emotional fluctuations, nothing seemed to provide a solid foothold for her restless mind like this intimate contact.

This kiss, which carried a sense of confirmation and catharsis, seemed to ignite some kind of fuse.

The two of them involuntarily fell backward and sank into the soft bed.

As their bodies pressed tightly together, they rolled slightly on the large mattress as the kisses deepened.

The subtle rustling of fabric mingled with increasingly rapid breathing, creating a captivating yet restless atmosphere in the sun-drenched room.

……

……

In the blink of an eye, the sky outside the window quietly slipped from the bright afternoon into twilight, and the night fell slowly like a huge velvet curtain, enveloping the city.

In the distance, the skyscrapers of Lujiazui lit up one after another with dazzling lights, outlining the mesmerizing night view of Shanghai.

The bedroom door was pushed open, and Jessica, who had finished her makeup, walked out.

Compared to the afternoon, she had changed into a more comfortable casual outfit: light blue skinny jeans paired with an oversized gray hooded sweatshirt, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders.

Although her outfit was ordinary, it brought out her relaxed and approachable girl-next-door charm.

Upon exiting, she immediately saw Lin Xiuyuan lounging on the soft sofa in the living room, holding a remote control and idly switching between TV programs, his gaze mostly fixed on the dazzling night view outside the window.

"Have you decided yet? Where are we going for dinner?" Jessica asked, leaning back against the sofa.

When asked, Lin Xiuyuan had changed into a casual outfit, wearing a dark sweatshirt on top and knee-length athletic shorts on the bottom, which looked casual and a bit mixed.

Upon hearing this, he turned his head and thought for a moment, "When I get back to China, my first thought is definitely to eat rice noodles. Why bother with a meal? I'll just go out and slurp up a bowl of rice noodles first."

The Jessica before me is not the same person I was in 2013 who didn't know much about China. Over the years, due to work and personal interests, she has made efforts to learn about the local customs and culture, especially the customs and food of the South China region, which is closely related to Lin Xiuyuan.

So when he heard Lin Xiuyuan's answer, which was full of regional characteristics, he laughed and asked in a slightly teasing tone.

"Xiuyuan~ Are you sure you want to eat rice noodles in Shanghai? As far as I know, the popular dishes here are all 'pretty dishes'. Not to mention the exquisite presentation and portion size, the taste might be quite different from the rice noodles back home."

Jessica's reminder made Lin Xiuyuan suddenly realize, and he slapped his forehead, grinning as he blurted out in Chinese, "Damn, I forgot this is Shanghai Boss's territory. Here, even ordering a Mixue Ice Cream would be considered a cardinal sin."

Although Lin Xiuyuan spoke in Chinese, Jessica, who was already an expert in Chinese, understood him perfectly and said earnestly, "I think Mixue Ice Cream is great."

"Hmm? You've had it?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Yes, I’ve had lemonade.” Jessica nodded with a smile, her eyes clear.

Then Lin Xiuyuan immediately put on a stern face and said in a deliberately serious tone, "It's over. I haven't even had a taste yet. We're not on the same page anymore."

Upon hearing this, Jessica immediately glared at him angrily, grabbed a cushion from the sofa, and pretended to pounce on him and give him a beating.

"Okay, okay~ Just kidding, just kidding." Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Lin Xiuyuan quickly put on a smile and raised his hands in surrender. "Stop messing around, let's go. Let's find a more authentic Cantonese restaurant to whet our appetites first, and then try Sichuan or Hunan cuisine tomorrow. We'll take it slow."

However, Jessica seemed to suddenly remember something and suggested, "By the way, I think I heard from the staff around me these past few days that the season for hairy crabs is almost here. Do you want to try them? I've had them a few times before, and they're very delicious."

But Lin Xiuyuan shook his head vigorously, "Forget it, I don't have the time to sit there and mess around for half a day just to eat a small bite of meat. I'd rather just have a lobster and eat it to my heart's content."

Hearing this, Jessica quickly added, "Okay then, how about we go eat lobster? I know a restaurant near the Bund that's pretty good in both taste and ambiance."

"Alright, let's go then." Lin Xiuyuan stood up from the sofa and stretched.

Jessica, who had also stood up, looked at him with a slight smile and a hint of teasing in her eyes, and asked, "Can you ask me a question, Xiu Yuan?"

"What?" Lin Xiuyuan asked curiously.

Jessica raised a finger and gently tapped her soft jawline, asking in a pretentious manner, "What if we go out like this and get photographed by paparazzi or passersby?"

"What are you afraid of? I'll just say he's a gigolo being kept by you, the big star Zheng." Lin Xiuyuan replied casually.

It was meant as a joke, but to everyone's surprise, Jessica didn't get angry at all. Instead, she smiled and walked over to take a closer look at Lin Xiuyuan.

Then she reached out and naturally and affectionately took his arm.

This sudden action, which carried a clear declarative meaning, made Lin Xiuyuan pause for a moment, and he looked down at her.

My gaze met Jessica's upturned face.

The other person tilted their head, a bright and slightly smug smile on their face, "Let's go eat."

"Something's not right with you, Jessica."

"Don't move, I'll take a picture and send it to Soojung."

"Holy crap, you want me dead?!"

"If you move again, I'll scream for rape!!!"

(End of this chapter)