Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 309 [The JK Who Snatched the Man] or [The Lady's Confession] (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote)

After a while, a few more people squeezed onto the sofa in the living room.

However, it's no longer the previous combination of Tai Xiyun and Lin Xiuyuan, but rather the JK sisters and Lin Xiuyuan.

The three people sat side by side on the spacious sofa, with a plate of washed, cut, and tempting-looking fruit on the coffee table in front of them.

The TV screen in front of him was being projected onto Lin Xiuyuan's phone, playing a recording of Jessica's live stream, driven by his certain "mischievous sense of humor."

Looking at her own vivid expressions and interactions with fans on the screen, especially the thought that the good things she did during the live stream might have been vaguely recorded, Jessica felt both amused and ashamed.

Krystal, however, was thoroughly enjoying the show, especially when she heard some of the funny comments. She even patted the sofa armrest and exclaimed, "Jessica, you're so clumsy with words, hahaha!"

"She's got a new nickname, 'Little Foreigner,' which is pretty funny," Lin Xiuyuan said with a laugh.

However, while watching the replay, Jessica looked at Lin Xiuyuan curiously and asked, "Xiuyuan, where did you find this video? How come you have a complete screen recording so quickly? I remember I just finished my broadcast not long ago."

Sitting between the two, Lin Xiuyuan picked up his phone, skillfully switching between pages, and replied, "You underestimate the mobilization power of your fans, and the speed of information dissemination on the internet these days. I remember just now when I was browsing short videos in my room, I found that while the live stream was still going on, people had already edited and posted the highlights."

Then I found the page of a certain screen recording account and showed it to her. "For the full version, basically the moment you click 'end live stream,' someone starts uploading it. If your internet speed is fast, it can be done in ten minutes or so, and even if it's slower, half an hour or so is enough to spread it to major fan sites and video websites. Look, this is it."

As Lin Xiuyuan explained with great familiarity, Jessica curiously moved closer to him, almost leaning half her body on his arm and looking down at his phone screen, her tone somewhat incredulous.

"So what I'm curious about is how you knew to find it here? You seem to know more about these channels than I do, even though I've only been here for 25 years. And Xiuyuan, you've only been here for less than half a year, right?"

"Half a year? That's about right." Lin Xiuyuan thought about the timeline and nodded.

"We first met not long after you arrived, right?" Jessica asked again, seemingly wanting to confirm something.

"Yes, the next day." Lin Xiuyuan nodded again to confirm.

Krystal, who was munching on a slice of apple nearby, felt a pang of jealousy when she saw the two of them so close together.

Suddenly, she stretched out her foot and, with the toe of her sock-clad foot, lightly but firmly kicked Lin Xiuyuan's shin.

Sensing the movement, Lin Xiuyuan turned around and glanced at her, his eyes questioning.

Jessica, who also noticed Krystal's little action, peeked out from behind Lin Xiuyuan and looked at her younger sister.

She chuckled, her tone slightly teasing, "What's wrong, Xiujing? Can't I even chat with Xiuyuan for a bit?"

"No way~" Krystal snorted calmly, making no attempt to hide her emotions. "I'm a little jealous and envious. I should have known better than to encourage Xiu Yuan to bring you in. You've really made yourself a rival."

These words were spoken in a way that was half true and half false, carrying a certain cool and aloof quality characteristic of that person.

However, after making this joke, Krystal quickly switched to a more serious topic, "By the way, Xiuyuan, Xueqiu mentioned Hara unnie's situation to me last time. What are you planning to do? Didn't you two meet and talk about it these past few days?"

Upon hearing the name "Goo Hara," Jessica immediately abandoned her joking intentions, her expression becoming slightly more serious, and she also turned her gaze to Lin Xiuyuan.

Clearly, they were all very concerned about their friend's situation.

When asked the question, Lin Xiuyuan was still unconsciously swiping his phone screen with one hand, while the other hand seemed to have its own ideas, quietly touching Krystal's calf resting on the sofa through the gap in a loose pant leg.

Using your fingertips to gently press and knead, you can create waves of subtle, tingling sensations in the other person's heart.

Then he replied, "Let's talk about that when I get to Seoul. We need to find a suitable time, like a thunderstorm? We'll give her a proper 'initiation ceremony' like we did when we welcomed Truth. We'll give her a strong reaction, make a lasting impression, otherwise I feel like she won't take it seriously given her personality."

Hearing this, Krystal couldn't help but burst into laughter, her calves trembling slightly from Lin Xiuyuan's massage and her smile. "A thunderstorm? We'd rather find a typhoon day; the experience and effect would be much more spectacular. And it's typhoon season right now!"

Lin Xiuyuan thought about it and felt it made a lot of sense. "Hmm, that works too. Wind, rain, thunder and lightning are perfect for ghosts and monsters to appear. And this time it's much more convenient than last time, saving driving time, we can go directly to the vicinity of the cemetery... Hmm, the atmosphere will be perfect."

Krystal nodded, but her expression was a little off because someone's massaging hands started to wander upwards.

So she gently curled her toes, her cheeks slightly flushed, but she still tried to maintain a conversational tone, "Xiuyuan~ do you think Hara unnie will react the same way as Snowball did back then?"

"What kind of reaction?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Then, with teary eyes, I'll ask you: Xiujing, how are you doing???"

However, Krystal is no longer the person who would be easily saddened by such topics. Having found redemption, she has now resolved nine-tenths of her inner conflicts.

So when faced with Lin Xiuyuan's teasing, she simply gave him a playful kick and then analyzed the situation.

“Personally, I feel that Hara unnie might not be as calm as Snowball. Because someone like Hara unnie, who is used to keeping her emotions under control and seems very strong, will react more violently, like an explosion, once she breaks down or suffers a huge shock.”

As she spoke, Krystal made an expanding gesture, then slowly brought her outstretched hands together. "On the contrary, Snowball, who usually seems to have large emotional fluctuations and is easily angered, will subconsciously tighten up and protect herself when faced with a big event, and won't tell anyone."

"A sense of contrast, right?" Lin Xiuyuan nodded thoughtfully, finding Krystal's analysis reasonable. "That's a possibility."

At this moment, Jessica, who had been listening for a while, finally couldn't help but speak up, her face full of confusion.

"What are you two talking about? Thunderstorms, typhoons, cemeteries, ghosts? And what happened to Shirley back then? I didn't understand a word you said."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her and explained, "I was talking about the situation when Zhenli first came here 25 years ago. It's quite different from your and Xiujing's situation."

"How are they different?" Jessica's curiosity was completely piqued.

Regarding the issue of the first trip, she had not inquired about the details before, but had only communicated with Krystal about the other party's situation. This was the first time she had heard about the specific experiences of Shirley and others.

With Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal adding their own details, Jessica quickly constructed in her mind the extreme shock, fear, and bewilderment Shirley felt when she opened her eyes and found herself standing 25 years in the past, facing a tombstone with her own name and photo on it...

"hiss……"

After hearing this, Jessica gasped, staring incredulously at the two people in front of her who seemed to be telling some interesting story. Her voice was practically booming, "Who came up with this outrageous idea?! This is too... too ruthless!!"

With a smile, Krystal immediately pointed at Lin Xiuyuan, betraying him without hesitation.

Seeing this, Jessica didn't hesitate at all. She raised her hand and slapped Lin Xiuyuan's arm hard, bringing up both old and new grudges at once. "Hey~ you're really going too far. Shirley is like this, and so am I. When are you going to change your perverse sense of humor?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who had been hit, shrugged helplessly. "Your situation was purely accidental. I didn't even intend to talk to you at the time. You just asked for trouble. As for Zhenli, the situation is special. If we don't use some 'strong medicine' and let her see the worst outcome with her own eyes, it will be even more troublesome."

When Jessica heard Lin Xiuyuan's answer that it was an "accident," and recalled the scene when he put a gag on her and scared her out of her wits, she was immediately furious.

So, old and new grudges surged up in his heart again, and he gritted his teeth and raised his hand to slap Lin Xiuyuan's arm and back several times.

Although they didn't really exert any force, they made a great show of it.

"Hey~ you bastard, you still dare to say that, huh? You call that an accident? You clearly waited for me to fall into that trap on purpose."

On the other side, Krystal, upon seeing Lin Xiuyuan being "beaten up," immediately smiled and pulled him into her arms.

Like a mother cat protecting her kittens, she glared at Jessica with a smile, "Hey~ Jessica, you're not allowed to hit Xiuyuan."

Jessica widened her eyes in response, looking like she thought, "Wow, Krystal Jung, is it really necessary to be so protective? I didn't use any force, I just patted her a few times."

"That won't do either!" Krystal laughed loudly, hugging Lin Xiuyuan tightly, resting her chin on his shoulder, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she raised an eyebrow at Jessica, "It hurts me to see him like this~"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Jessica was enraged by Krystal's smugness and, bypassing Lin Xiuyuan who was sandwiched between them, pounced on Krystal and knocked her down onto the large sofa.

He pinned her down and began tickling her furiously, saying viciously, "So you feel sorry for him? So you protect him? Let's see if you still feel sorry for him!"

"Ah~ Hahaha, Jessica, let go, let go, hahaha, it itches so much~ Xiuyuan, save me."

Krystal was laughing and struggling at the same time, and the scene instantly became chaotic.

Freed from his predicament, Lin Xiuyuan nimbly flipped over and rolled off the sofa onto the carpet.

Then she scrambled onto a single sofa and sat down, leisurely picked up a grape and popped it into her mouth, enjoying the uninhibited "sister wrestling" scene between the two top female idols.

Until a cushion flew over precisely and hit him in the face with a "smack," interrupting his interest in watching the show.

After removing the cushions, Lin Xiuyuan saw that Jessica and Krystal had stopped their "battle" sometime earlier, their hair slightly disheveled, their cheeks flushed, and they were kneeling side by side, panting.

Two equally beautiful but distinctly different faces, with smiles of shared hatred, were staring intently at him.

The three exchanged a glance, and then burst into even louder laughter.

Jessica and Krystal also rushed towards Lin Xiuyuan.

I don’t know how long it took.

The three of them laughed and joked in the living room, occasionally eating some fruit and chatting about interesting things in the industry. Time flew by in the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, and before they knew it, it was late at night.

Krystal glanced at the time on her phone. Although a little reluctant, she stood up, tidied her slightly messy hair and clothes, and said, "Alright, it's getting late. I need to go back and rest. I have a photoshoot early tomorrow morning, and then I have to choose a dress for an awards ceremony in the afternoon. My schedule is pretty full."

After saying this, she naturally reached out and took Lin Xiuyuan's hand, leading him to the villa back in Seoul.

As soon as Lin Xiuyuan stood up with her help, Jessica on the other side immediately reached out and grabbed his other hand.

In an instant, Lin Xiuyuan was like a tug-of-war rope, pulled on both sides by the two JK sisters in front of him.

Krystal pulled herself closer, "Xiuyuan, take me home."

Jessica, not to be outdone, tugged at her, "It's so late, Xiuyuan must be tired too. Let me open the door for you and you can go back by yourself."

The two went back and forth for several rounds, neither willing to let go first.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was caught in the middle as the "rope," felt the force coming from both sides and glanced at the two beauties' unyielding gazes. Finally, he couldn't help but laugh and cry as he offered his suggestion.

"Um~ Ladies, how about you play rock-paper-scissors to decide? That way it's fair and just, and it all depends on luck."

Upon hearing this explanation, Krystal's eyes lit up. She thought the idea was quite interesting. "Sure, let's do it this way, one game to decide the winner."

But Jessica was a little reluctant. She frowned and retorted with a hint of frustration and defiance, "No, I have terrible luck in this game and I always lose. If you really want to play, then it'll be best three out of five."

"No, let's decide the winner in one round," Krystal said.

The situation immediately became deadlocked again.

However, before Lin Xiuyuan could say anything more, Krystal suddenly curled her lips and slowly said to Jessica in a tone that seemed to be "bringing up old grievances".

"Hey~ Jessica, I didn't know who she was before. At first, she looked down on our Xiuyuan, thinking he was a cult leader? What's wrong? Now you're not even confident of winning a couple more rounds of rock-paper-scissors?"

This statement was a precise and accurate hit-or-miss move.

Jessica immediately glared at Krystal like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

But his indomitable spirit was instantly ignited. At this point, he no longer cared about luck. He straightened his back and shouted, "Bring it on! Who's afraid of who! One game to decide the winner!"

So, with Lin Xiuyuan, who was both the prize and the referee, as a witness, the JK sisters each hid their right hands behind their backs, their faces showing a nervous yet feigned calm expression.

"Scissors, rock, paper..."

Two fair hands stretched out at the same time!

Krystal – Stone!
Jessica—Scissors!

"Yes~~" Krystal cheered immediately after glancing at the situation, her face beaming with a bright and triumphant smile.

"Ah!! How could it be scissors!!" Jessica on the other side let out a frustrated wail, stomping her foot in annoyance, helplessness, and frustration.

However, the outcome was already decided at this point.

So Jessica could only watch helplessly as Krystal, like a victorious little peacock, triumphantly took Lin Xiuyuan's hand and headed straight for a door on the side.

Open the door, slip inside, and close the door.

The movements are done in one go.

After a soft "bang," the lively and cozy apartment in Shanghai instantly returned to silence, leaving Jessica alone once again staring blankly at the empty living room.

"Ah!!! Krystal Jung!!!"

A few seconds later, Jessica angrily clenched her fist in the direction of the closed door, feeling incredibly frustrated.

Fortunately, during the day, Lin Xiuyuan did his job dutifully by feeding her two fast food meals, which replenished her energy and sense of happiness.

Otherwise, Jessica would probably go crazy with frustration over the feeling of "the duck that was about to be eaten flying away".

On the other side, a villa in Seoul.

Lin Xiuyuan had just returned to his feet when Krystal poked him in the chest several times with her finger.

Then, tilting her delicate little face up with a half-smile, she began to "settle accounts later."

"Xiuyuan~ You've been living the good life lately. Jessica and Yoona unnie, and you've got such a huge strawberry patch planted on you. How's it going? Are you so happy you don't want to leave?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who was being poked in the chest, looked at Krystal and found her cute and funny at the same time, as she pretended to be nonchalant even though she clearly cared.

After a slight smile, he suddenly reached out and pulled Krystal's slender waist into his arms. He leaned down and looked down at the flawless, beautiful face so close to his, and answered her question with a soft laugh.

"I don't know, I didn't feel it carefully, but I think none of them are as good as our Soojung."

Although these words sounded a bit slick, they were exactly what Krystal wanted to hear.

In fact, women are not only intelligent, but also easily satisfied.

It's nothing more than sweet words and constant care.

So Krystal couldn't help but smile, but she still forced a haughty snort and said, "Hmph, you better tell the truth."

"I swear." Lin Xiuyuan immediately raised one hand as if making an oath, his eyes full of smiles.

"Come on, men's words are just lies."

Krystal playfully slapped his hand away, then turned and walked briskly toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

When she reached the top of the stairs, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and smiled.

Her eyes, brimming with a subtle allure and invitation, darted around as she softly asked, "By the way, Xiuyuan, who do you want to sleep with tonight?"

This question may seem a bit strange, but the two of them already have a great understanding of each other.

So Lin Xiuyuan immediately gave a knowing smile and replied, "Yeah, I suddenly feel like taking a plane. It's been a while since I've done that."

To everyone's surprise, as soon as Krystal finished listening, a knowing look and a blush flashed across her face. She gave Lin Xiuyuan a charming sidelong glance and said with a coquettish tone, "Nonsense, you just flew to Shanghai a few days ago, didn't you just take a flight? You're already thinking about it again?"

"That's different." Lin Xiuyuan's eyes were bright, filled with obvious anticipation and a hint of excitement. "The services are different."

Krystal's heart raced under his direct gaze. She said nothing more, simply turning and going upstairs, leaving behind a sentence that left much to the imagination.

"Okay~ Since you were so obedient today and did a pretty good job just now, I'll give you a special reward tonight."

Hearing these words and watching Krystal's slender figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, the light in Lin Xiuyuan's eyes instantly became brighter and stronger, and the smile on his lips widened even further.

It looks like tonight will be another sleepless night at the villa in Seoul.

……

……

After the special reward with Krystal that night, Lin Xiuyuan returned to Shanghai the next day. He then spent two days enjoying the 25-year-old immersive experience in Shanghai, experiencing many new technologies and urban atmospheres that were not yet widespread or were quite different from those in the peninsula. Although he hadn't had enough fun, he was also eager to catch up in Seoul.

So they quickly boarded the plane again and headed to Seoul.

That afternoon, as soon as the plane landed and I turned on my phone, Da Longzai called.

Then, in a flurry of activity, they drove straight to the airport and "kidnapped" him, taking him to Sweet Eun-jung's home.

In her words, with a mix of confidence and concern, "Xiuyuan~ you should go apply the medicine to Eunjung unnie, we can't let it go untreated~"

At this time, after being nourished by Lin Xiuyuan's two "special medicines", Tian Enjing's leg injury had been mostly healed.

Although he is still unable to engage in strenuous activities such as running and jumping, and even experiences some pain when exerting force occasionally, he can already move freely indoors with the help of a support frame.

For a ligament tear, the recovery speed is nothing short of a medical miracle.

While Lin Xiuyuan was "routinely" treating Tian Enjing, Li Juli also came to his door.

After enjoying her carefree and beautiful life on her own for a while, this woman probably felt that the effects of the drug in her body were about to wear off, so she called Lin Xiuyuan.

This caused the little dragon cub, who was lying in Lin Xiuyuan's arms at the time, to hear the roundabout but actually purposeful invitation on the phone.

She laughed so hard she was practically shaking with mirth.

They even made some very unkind jokes.

And that night, perhaps out of some subtle sense of territory, or perhaps wanting to enjoy the warmth while he was still by her side, the little dragon entangled with her for the entire night.

He was so exhausted in the middle of the night that he finally fell asleep.

In the blink of an eye, it's morning again.

This is the morning of the third day since Lin Xiuyuan returned to Seoul.

As he slowly woke up, his consciousness returned, and he habitually glanced at the ceiling.

Another unique ceiling and bedroom.

Blinking, Lin Xiuyuan's memory gradually cleared, and he realized that he was in Li Juli's apartment.

Then she turned her head slightly to look at Lee Juri, who was still fast asleep, or rather, just pretending to sleep, beside her.

She lay on her side facing him, her delicate body exposed as the velvet blankets slipped down to her waist, revealing her rounded, full shoulders and exquisite collarbones.

Her face looked exceptionally serene in the morning light. After being fully nourished by the effects of last night's medicine, her skin was fair and smooth, full of healthy collagen, and radiated an alluring glow like a ripe peach.

Lee Qri possesses a unique charisma that is more serene than Da Long Zai, less sharp than Jessica and Krystal, and more charming than Im Yoon A and Kim Tae Yeon.

She possesses a mature and sophisticated style that blends languidness and elegance, making her a rather unique presence among Lin Xiuyuan's many women.

In his opinion, this woman has a much stronger sense of being a wife than the dragon cub.

Just as Lin Xiuyuan was observing Li Juli, her long eyelashes suddenly trembled a few times, and then she slowly opened her eyes.

In fact, she had woken up earlier than Lin Xiuyuan, but she was just pretending to be asleep, craving this moment of tenderness.

Looking at the young, handsome face before her, the face that was both her long-term meal ticket and intimate partner, Li Juli smiled, her voice hoarse and sexy from just waking up, "Xiuyuan, you're awake?"

"Hmm~" Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

"Hehe, so is Shanghai fun?"

Hearing Li Juli's question, which seemed a bit abrupt yet also suggested she had some ideas, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her and asked, "Hmm? Why did you suddenly ask this?"

"Is it fun?" Lee Juri asked coquettishly.

The older sister's mature coquettishness was a complete game-changer compared to the younger sisters, so Lin Xiuyuan definitely couldn't resist it.

So she immediately replied, "It's fun!"

Then, she reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Lee Juri's ear, casually continuing, "The sense of technology and the convenience of life here are indeed much stronger than here. There are also more new things. Anyway, it feels more futuristic than Seoul."

Upon hearing this, Li Juli seemed to be intrigued, and with a nimble turn, she lay on his chest.

Like a lazy and clingy cat, she reassured him with her entire weight, squeezing her soft flesh into a ball, her big eyes fixed on Lin Xiuyuan. "When can we go on another trip together? I didn't feel like I really relaxed and enjoyed the Maldives last time. How about we go again?"

Hearing her say that, Lin Xiuyuan knew that she must already have a plan in mind, so he smiled and asked, "Then, Juli, where do you want to go?"

Lee Juri, who was in her arms, smiled and, no longer keeping her in suspense, gave her destination directly: "Let's go to LA, how about it? The weather there is perfect for surfing right now, we can also go out to sea, and enjoy some California sunshine."

As she said this, her eyes were filled with anticipation, like a little girl planning her dream vacation.

Seeing her so enthusiastic expression, Lin Xiuyuan pondered for a moment but didn't agree immediately. Instead, he said, "Going to LA? Well, let me think about it. I have something else to take care of first, so I need to decide whether or not to go."

"Oh?" Lee Juri tilted her head curiously, her long hair cascading over Lin Xiuyuan's chest. "What is it? Is it important? Do you need my help?"

Looking at Li Juli, who always lived a free and unrestrained life and seemed untouched by worldly affairs, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "No need, I can handle it myself. As for you, it's best to continue being your free and unrestrained fairy. I don't want to tie you down when you're so cheerful."

However, the next second, Li Juli's answer surprised him.

Marie Curie then abandoned her joking expression, her eyes becoming unusually serious and frank.

Looking directly into Lin Xiuyuan's eyes, he said, word by word, "If you feel that I am too unconventional, too difficult to control, and make you uneasy, I can put a lock on you and add a rope for you."

When she said this, there was not a trace of joking or probing in Li Juli's tone; her natural charm was now filled with a desperate and straightforward attitude.

“Although deep down I still feel most comfortable in a free and unrestrained state, but…” she paused, as if making a solemn promise, “if I had to add a constraint or entanglement to this, then for now, that person can only be Xiu Yuan. Because if it's you, I'm willing.”

Lin Xiuyuan was shocked by Li Juli's words, which were almost a confession and a promise.

While I was moved, a complex mix of emotions welled up within me.

So he reached out his right hand and gently stroked the back of her head, following her silky long hair all the way down her smooth back.

“Fool…” Lin Xiuyuan replied with a soft sigh, “Since you’ve said that, I’m even more unwilling.”

Then she gently cupped that face, allowing Lee Juri to clearly see the sincerity in her eyes, "The best version of you is the one who is free and unrestrained, so you don't need to add any constraints to yourself because of me or any relationship. Living happily and being yourself is the most important thing."

Finally, he laughed self-deprecatingly, "What am I? What are men? Don't overthink it."

But Li Juli shook her head, her eyes revealing a rare uncertainty and a hint of worry about the future.

"Actually, I'm worried that I sometimes play too wildly, and I'm also afraid that if something happens in the future, or if I suddenly stop caring about anything, then it's better to hand the rope over to you now while I'm still perfectly clear-headed about what I want. This way, I'll feel more at ease, at least it's a kind of guarantee."

"Guarantee?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you need something like this? Given your temperament, Li Juli."

At her chest, Lee Juri met his gaze without flinching and nodded very seriously.

"Yes, I used to think I didn't need it, that I could drift like this forever, but now I realize I do need it."

"Need a man?" Lin Xiuyuan wasn't afraid of angering her by saying this, and directly pointed out the word.

In his mind, what makes a woman like Li Juli think about security is nothing more than a place to call home.

And Li Juli was indeed not angry, and even very frankly admitted, "Yes, a man like Xiuyuan."

As she spoke, her slender fingers unconsciously traced circles on Lin Xiuyuan's chest. "If, I mean if, there were a second man in this world like you, with your physique, dashing and humorous, handsome and young, and whom I could meet and who would treat me even better than you, then I might really leave you."

These are bold and realistic words, carrying an adult's honesty and cruelty.

But then, Lee Juri changed the subject, her face regaining that lazy and confident smile, and added, "However, the probability of that is so low that it can be ignored. I've only met one person like you in all these years."

Lin Xiuyuan looked at her and listened to her words, which were both a confession and a warning, a desire for restraint and a yearning for freedom.

A mix of emotions welled up inside me, but in the end, it all boiled down to a faint, complex smile.

Without saying anything more, he turned his gaze to the bedroom window, which had been slightly ajar by the morning breeze.

The vast sky outside the window symbolizes infinite possibilities, but also implies the elusive nature of freedom and constraints.

He repeated it softly, as if he were talking to Lee Juri, or as if he were whispering to himself.

"Let me think about it, let me think about it some more."

after that.

Lin Xiuyuan and Li Juli cuddled and snuggled in bed for a while until they were really hungry, and then they lazily got out of bed.

By this time, it was already approaching noon.

So the two of them simply combined breakfast and lunch and dealt with it directly.

However, with Lee Juri, there will naturally be no heartwarming scene of a beautiful cook preparing meals.

She rarely stepped into the kitchen, having never lifted a finger to cook, and she also didn't want Lin Xiuyuan to cook.

In her unique philosophy of life, a man like Lin Xiuyuan should not be confined to the small kitchen, troubled by the fumes and trivial matters.

Lee Juri has an open and free personality, like a soaring bird. When she chooses a man, she hopes he is dashing, unrestrained, and always has the most dazzling and handsome side.

This mindset may be the reason why she was able to share those extremely private bedroom anecdotes with Eun-jung without any hesitation.

So this lunch was ordered as takeout, and it was exquisite and delicious.

The two sat facing each other at the dining table, enjoying their meal in silence.

However, as they ate, Li Juli brought up the old topic again, gently poking at the salad leaves in her bowl with her fork, and looking up at Lin Xiuyuan across from her, she asked, "Xiuyuan, what exactly is that thing you said you needed to finish first this morning? You're being so mysterious."

Lin Xiuyuan, who was cutting the steak, paused slightly, raised his eyebrows, and glanced meaningfully at Li Juli across from him.

Then, lowering her eyes, she replied, "It's not certain yet whether I'll be 'busy' enough. Actually, it's just some private matters involving some members of the tavern, so it's not convenient to go into details."

Upon hearing the specific term "pub member," a rare hint of annoyance appeared on Li Juli's face.

She pouted, a hint of dissatisfaction and curiosity in her eyes, "It's this again. What are you, Jiyeon, and Eunjung up to? Is there something we can't talk about?"

"It's a big deal," Lin Xiuyuan said succinctly, with a smile.

But seeing the probing look in Lee Juri's eyes, she added, "But Juri, if you don't have any plans these next few days, don't go running around. That way, I can call you anytime if I really need your help."

Hearing this, Lee Juri across from her brightened up slightly and nodded. "Yeah, I just got back from a trip with friends a few days ago, and I'm planning to take a break. I'm not going to travel around much; I'll just stay in Seoul. Play some ball, do some exercise..."

As she spoke, her tone suddenly became ambiguous, her eyes flickering with a hint of probing as she added meaningfully.

"And I feel like I'm falling behind Xiu Yuan in terms of pace and stamina lately. Have you been secretly doing extra training somewhere?"

Lin Xiuyuan was no longer the innocent young man he once was, so he wouldn't be foolish enough to self-destruct.

So, without batting an eye, he replied with the universal answer, "There's nothing special about it. It's just about working out more and staying in shape. You've gone crazy."

"Hmph~ I know even if you don't say it, it's just Jiyeon, Eunjung and the others..."

Lee Juri gave him a playful glare but didn't dwell on it. Instead, she brought up the afternoon's plans, "By the way, Xiuyuan~ it seems like you haven't played golf in a long time, right? How about we go for a walk together this afternoon and get some exercise? I just happened to have a golf date with Hyomin."

"Hyomin? She's free?" Lin Xiuyuan was a little surprised. "I feel like her recent schedule is even busier than when you were in the group. She's appearing on camera so often."

Li Juli shook her head, "I don't know how she suddenly became free. Anyway, she took the initiative to ask me out. Let's go out and have some fun, just to relax."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan thought for a moment, then raised his phone, which he was checking messages on, and waved it. "Why don't we invite Taeyeon too? She's been so bored lately, she told me she's practically going moldy and growing mushrooms at home."

This suggestion prompted Lee Qri to give him a meaningful look, a playful smile playing on her lips. "Oh~ Xiuyuan, you're not going to give Taeyeon away too..."

"Nonsense, that's not true." Lin Xiuyuan immediately closed his phone, vehemently denying it.

Seeing this, Li Juli simply smiled and did not press the matter further.

The older sister knows when to stop and when to stop.

……

However, after lunch, the two did not leave immediately. Instead, they stayed on the sofa in the living room and watched TV for a while, chatting idly.

Only when the sunlight outside the window softened and was no longer so glaring did I get up, change into a comfortable tracksuit, and go out.

Although Lin Xiuyuan doesn't often stay overnight here, Li Juli thoughtfully prepared several sets of well-fitting clothes for him, including a set of expensive golf clubs that she personally selected.

This set of golf clubs is significantly better than the one she gave Lin Xiuyuan before, both in terms of materials and feel, which shows how much effort Li Juli put into it.

Half an hour later, the group met at the golf club's reception area, as agreed.

As Lee Qri approached, arm in arm with Lin Xiuyuan, Kim Tae-yeon and Park Hyo-min, who had arrived a little earlier and were waiting in the rest area, looked up at them.

When Park Hyo-min's gaze fell on Lee Qri's radiant, glowing face, even though she had seen it several times before, she was still deeply amazed and shocked by this almost ageless appearance, finding it somewhat difficult to adjust.

On the contrary, Kim Tae-yeon, who was standing next to her, was perhaps already immune to someone's amazing abilities, or perhaps she was in the same boat herself.

After glancing at Li Juli, he turned his gaze to Lin Xiuyuan beside her.

With a hint of barely perceptible reproach, she quietly rolled her eyes at him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group headed towards the practice area in twos and twos behind, ready to warm up and get a feel for the game.

Watching Lee Qri and Park Hyomin walk away side by side, Kim Tae-yeon deliberately slowed down and lagged behind. She nudged Lin Xiu-yuan with her elbow and said in a low voice with a hint of warning.

"Xiuyuan~ I'm just reminding you, don't mess around with Xiaomin, she's happily married now."

Lin Xiuyuan chuckled upon hearing this, finding her concern somewhat absurd. "Taeyeon, what nonsense are you talking about? Hyomin and I have only met a few times, and we've barely even spoken on the phone. What nonsense could we possibly be talking about?"

However, his gaze lingered thoughtfully on Lee Qri's slender back as he asked softly, "By the way, Taeyeon~ is there a problem?"

"what?"

"Is Qri familiar with Hara?"

"Hara? Goo Hara?"

Upon hearing the name, Kim Tae-yeon abruptly stopped in her tracks, as if she had heard something unbelievable. She turned to look at Lin Xiu-yuan in utter shock, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Why...why are you asking this??"

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(End of this chapter)