Chapter 276: “oppa Took Her Medicine!!!”
Seoul, 2025.
The golf course in the early morning was shrouded in a light mist.
The lawn glowed with a soft green under the dawn light, as if every blade of grass was adorned with lingering dew.
The air was fresh and cool, distant hills were vaguely visible, and a few birds occasionally skimmed the lake, their gentle wingbeats stirring up tiny ripples.
Lee Ji-eun, who hadn’t exercised in a while, had specifically changed into a clean, sharp white sleeveless sports top and a light blue pleated skirt today.
Her slender leg line was particularly striking in the morning light, and she wore a pair of limited edition golf shoes.
The early morning sunlight gently fell on her face, her skin was delicate and firm, making her appear as radiant as ever, showing no signs of being over thirty.
However, a persistent worry was always hidden between her brows, like a faint shadow.
Big Dragon Cub, standing beside her, appeared full of energy.
A red sports polo shirt accentuated her healthy complexion, and her eyes held a vibrant youthful spirit, the confidence to swing a club at any moment, effortlessly, making her stand out on the green.
In contrast, Park Hyomin, walking behind the two, looked considerably more haggard.
She wore a black sports outfit, her waistline was still slender, and her figure was maintained quite well.
But even with light makeup on her face, it couldn’t hide the fatigue from lack of sleep, and a hint of exhaustion flickered in her eyes from time to time.
As a newlywed, her complexion and state of mind at this moment seemed to contradict the concept of “happiness.”
While Park Hyomin went to get the golf clubs, Lee Ji-eun seized the opportunity, grabbed Big Dragon Cub’s arm, and asked, “Ji-yeon, do you know what Xiuyuan has been up to lately? He’s not answering his phone, but he messaged me saying he’s busy and will only be free in a couple of days.”
As soon as the question was out, Big Dragon Cub clearly froze.
Her expression showed a moment of unnaturalness, as if a sensitive spot had been hit.
As a “member,” she of course knew Lin Xiuyuan’s recent situation best, and as an eyewitness, she understood the entanglement between Lin Xiuyuan and Jessica better than anyone.
But she couldn’t say a single word about it.
So, she could only give an awkward smile, her gaze slightly evasive, and shake her head, “Ah, unnie, I’m not really sure either. Rehearsals have been very busy lately, so I haven’t seen Xiuyuan much.”
Just then, Park Hyomin walked back slowly, casually twirling a club in her hand, her eyes darting between the two, a smile of unknown meaning forming on her lips.
“I say, Ji-yeon, unnie, is your relationship with Lin Xiuyuan getting more and more ambiguous?”
Her tone carried a hint of deliberate teasing, but her gaze was sharp, as if she was investigating something, her lips curling slightly, “I used to think you were just doing it for fun, like raising a young puppy, with an expiration date, at most a one-night stand, or just a few times and then it’s over.”
She then let out a soft hum, her expression somewhat peculiar, seemingly with a hint of uncontainable frustration and dissatisfaction, “But looking at you now, it seems like you both intend to keep him close, even… moving towards something deeper. Tell me, are you serious?”
The words hung in the air, and the golf course fell silent for a few seconds.
Lee Ji-eun and Big Dragon Cub exchanged glances but neither responded immediately.
Lee Ji-eun, in particular, curved her lips into a knowing smile and replied faintly, “Hyomin, you’re already married, so don’t ask too many questions about these things. It’s useless to ask, and more importantly, knowing more will only make you more upset. Go play golf.”
“Tsk~”
Not expecting to be brushed off like that, Park Hyomin rolled her eyes, turned her face away in a huff, and grumbled a few times, venting all her frustration onto the club in her hand.
She then walked directly to the side and swung the club hard. The white golf ball cut through the air and landed heavily on the distant grass.
The atmosphere briefly returned to normal. But Lee Ji-eun didn’t let Big Dragon Cub off the hook.
After Park Hyomin left, her back gradually disappearing into the golf course, Lee Ji-eun’s gaze returned to Big Dragon Cub, her eyes filled with inquiry. She suddenly lowered her voice and asked, “Ji-yeon, have you entered Xiuyuan’s inner circle?”
The question struck like a direct blow to the heart, making Big Dragon Cub’s heart tremble. Her face involuntarily changed, and the panic in her eyes was almost too quick to hide.
So that moment of panic was enough for Lee Ji-eun to have an answer in her heart.
The doubt in her heart was completely ignited, so she mimicked Park Hyomin’s teasing tone from earlier, deliberately humming a few times, but she couldn’t hide the annoyance and frustration in her eyes.
“I knew it, it’s just as I guessed. Your situation now is exactly the same as Eun-jung back then, it makes me so angry. No, how did you get into his circle? Is it because you slept together? I slept with him too, why can’t I?”
Her voice carried a mix of genuine and feigned anger, yet it was tinged with a hint of petulance.
The end of her sentence was slightly drawn out, it was unclear whether it was from sulking, seeking confirmation, or teasing.
“Ah, unnie, can you not be so funny? It has nothing to do with that.” Big Dragon Cub clearly hadn’t expected Lee Ji-eun to suddenly get so agitated, so she quickly reached out to comfort her, her tone softening, as if afraid of being misunderstood, “Really, don’t overthink it…”
Then, she tried hard to think of how to explain the situation when…
The mobile phone in the electric cart over there suddenly rang with a hurried tone.
The abrupt sound broke the tension in the air, causing both of them to instinctively turn their heads.
Big Dragon Cub, recognizing her ringtone, walked over, looked down at the caller ID, and frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
It wasn’t Sweet Eun-jung, but her assistant.
“Hello?” she answered the phone.
Her initially calm tone quickly became heavy within a few seconds.
The news from the other end of the phone made her face change drastically.
Her breathing was filled with an uncontrollable heaviness, her fingers gripping the phone tightened slightly, and even her voice trembled, “What? When did it happen?”
After hanging up, Big Dragon Cub’s expression remained worried.
Then she quickly turned to look at the two unnies, “Unnies~ Eun-jung unnie’s old injury has relapsed, her ligament has torn again, and she’s been rushed to the hospital.”
Upon hearing this news, none of the three had any interest in playing golf anymore.
They quickly packed up their clubs, didn’t even bother to change, and rushed to the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital shortly after, the three saw the figure lying on the hospital bed.
In the hospital room, the faint smell of disinfectant permeated the air, which was oppressively cold.
Sweet Eun-jung was leaning against the hospital bed, her face somewhat pale, her lips faded.
Her neatly trimmed short hair was slightly messy now, and the hospital gown looked particularly thin on her. One hand had an IV drip, and she held her phone in the other.
But even so, she tried to lift the corners of her mouth and force a reluctant smile at the three who pushed open the door.
“What’s going on, Eun-jung, how did you tear your ligament again?”
Lee Ji-eun’s heart tightened, and she quickly walked to the bedside, her eyes slightly reddened.
She then reached out and tightly gripped Sweet Eun-jung’s small hand, which was cold from the low temperature of the hospital room’s air conditioner, her voice laced with reproach and heartache, “How could you be so careless? Wasn’t this injury healed long ago?”
“It’s nothing serious, don’t make such a fuss.”
Sweet Eun-jung tried to sound relaxed and even called out her assistant’s name, “Eun-hee, didn’t I tell you not to tell the unnies? But it couldn’t be hidden after all.”
The named assistant looked innocent, shrank her neck, and muttered softly, “Unnie, I… even if I didn’t say anything, it wouldn’t have been hidden for long.”
At this moment, Big Dragon Cub sighed softly beside her, her expression full of concern, “Unnie, this must be because you’ve been too dedicated to rehearsals lately, and combined with the continuous filming for the crew, your body couldn’t take it, right?”
Having been sick for a long time, she seemed to have guessed the general situation.
“Yes, that’s right, Ji-yeon unnie, the doctor said the same thing.”
The assistant quickly added, as if trying to ease Eun-jung’s burden.
But Sweet Eun-jung only remained silent, her gaze wandering, as if she didn’t take this injury seriously.
However, upon hearing about the situation, Park Hyomin, despite the fatigue in her eyes, sighed with some concern, “Yah~ Eun-jung, are you still worried about the performance? Thinking about work at a time like this, are you trying to kill us with worry? We can postpone it if necessary.”
On the hospital bed, Sweet Eun-jung pursed her lips, her eyes flickering slightly, “It’s mainly that this stage is too important, everyone has been waiting for a long time, and I don’t want to affect the group’s performance because of me…”
Without giving Sweet Eun-jung a chance to continue speaking, Lee Ji-eun, sitting by the bedside, immediately interrupted her, her tone firm, “Don’t talk nonsense, Eun-jung. No matter how important the stage is, it’s not as important as you, and the group belongs to everyone, it’s not something you carry alone. We can go on stage.”
The air in the ward froze for a moment.
Just then, Big Dragon Cub suddenly fell silent, and at the same time, a rather strange and outrageous thought flashed through her mind.
A few seconds later, she suddenly leaned closer to Sweet Eun-jung, her expression mysterious, and whispered something in her ear.
In that instant, Sweet Eun-jung’s eyes widened abruptly, and her breathing hitched for half a beat.
Then she turned her gaze to Big Dragon Cub, her face etched with shock and disbelief, and she asked in a low voice, “Ji-yeon… are you serious? Does that thing… really work?”
Big Dragon Cub raised an eyebrow, a hint of slyness in the corner of her eye, and pouted, “Let’s try it, I can’t be 100% sure, but how will we know if we don’t try? What if it does, right, unnie. You want to be on stage too, don’t you.”
At this moment, Big Dragon Cub was like a demon from hell, whispering temptations to the patient before her.
Sweet Eun-jung stared at her blankly, both surprised and unable to suppress a surge of indescribable palpitations.
With this whisper, the air in the ward seemed to ripple, and the oppressive atmosphere was stirred bit by bit, as if some ineffable secret was quietly stirring.
Only Park Hyomin and Lee Ji-eun exchanged glances, seeing the frustration in each other’s eyes.
They were “isolated” again.
Compared to Park Hyomin’s habit, Lee Ji-eun was more exasperated.
After they had eaten everything, they were still isolating herself??
…
…
Not long ago, in an apartment in 2013.
The morning air still held a trace of the lingering ambiguous atmosphere from the previous night.
After Lin Xiuyuan and Jessica woke up, the atmosphere remained subtle, as if a faint, elusive subtlety hung in the air.
Normally, they would consciously stagger their washing times, maintaining a sense of distance.
But today, Lin Xiuyuan seemed disinclined to follow the usual routine. He directly pushed open the bathroom door and walked in, almost brushing past Jessica from behind.
“Swish swish…”
With the sound of strong running water suddenly erupting, it instantly spread throughout the quiet space.
Jessica, who was brushing her teeth in front of the mirror, flinched, almost swallowing the toothpaste foam.
She immediately looked up, her ear tips quickly turning red, her entire face like a scalded shrimp, reflected in the mirror, appearing utterly ashamed.
“Hey! You bastard, I’m brushing my teeth. Can’t you wait? Aren’t there other bathrooms outside?”
Her scolding was fierce, but her voice trembled slightly, and even her anger was laced with a sweet, coquettish tone, completely lacking any real seriousness.
But Lin Xiuyuan, who was being scolded, appeared nonchalant. After relieving himself, he walked directly to her side.
Before she could react, he suddenly reached out, encircling her shoulders and waist from behind, and rinsed his hands under the faucet, letting the water droplets splash onto her pure white pajamas.
Jessica froze for a moment at this sudden turn of events. Just as she was about to pull away, she saw him smile and gently wipe his wet palms on her pajamas.
The action was excessively ambiguous, as if deliberately so.
He didn’t say anything, but his eyes clearly conveyed a message: You’re so useful.
This action made Jessica stomp her foot in anger, her cheeks burning even hotter, and she kept scolding him incoherently.
“Hey, Lin Xiuyuan! You pervert, you bastard!”
But by the time she looked up, the bastard was already looking completely unbothered, humming a tune as he walked out of the room, leaving her alone to face her own extremely shy and angry reflection in the mirror.
And when Jessica finished washing up and came out, she was also out of character today.
Usually, she would casually throw on a jacket to cover her pajamas, but this time she walked out directly in that slightly alluring thin nightgown. The fabric was soft and swayed with her steps, making her figure even more alluring.
In the living room, Lin Xiuyuan was drinking water, tilting his head back.
Jessica, who had just come out, watched for a moment, then walked straight over, snatched the cup from him, and took a few gulps unceremoniously, casually wiping her lips with the back of her hand.
The action was as natural as if she had been accustomed to it, yet it carried a hint of ambiguity.
“What are we having for breakfast today?” she asked, looking up at him, her tone casual but with a hint of probing.
Lin Xiuyuan wasn’t angry that she snatched his cup. Instead, he looked at the refrigerator and shrugged, “How about toast?”
Jessica, who had been indifferent to breakfast like this a few days ago, frowned in disgust, “Toast again? Can’t we have some variety?”
Faced with this answer, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but chuckle. He didn’t bother to retort, just pushed open the refrigerator door and shrugged, “This is all there is in the fridge. How about… tuna kimchi fried rice?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the end of his sentence carried a teasing tone.
Jessica, who had been teased with a meme, immediately reacted, her fists lightly hitting his shoulder in anger, hitting him a few times with feigned fierceness, “Hey, you’re playing with me, right!”
Although she scolded fiercely, her punches were as light as a kitten’s scratch.
Then she grumbled and whined, not wanting to eat toast.
If it were a few days ago, Lin Xiuyuan would have ignored her.
But last night’s absurd “spring dream” had put him in a good mood, so looking at Jessica, the female lead, he found her current petulance particularly pleasing.
So after a moment of thought, he smiled and said, “Then how about we go over there to eat? There are more takeout options there, and more variety.”
Upon hearing this, Jessica’s eyes immediately became strange, and her lips curved, “No way, you’re only letting me go because I slept with you? You’re letting me go? If it was that simple, you should have said so earlier, I would have…”
Mid-sentence, she stopped abruptly, her heart burning like fire.
The words “I would have” almost slipped out, but her pride made her swallow them back.
Lin Xiuyuan stared at her with amusement, raising an eyebrow, his smile full of mischief, “You would have done what?”
Jessica, her cheeks burning from being teased, gave him a charmingly disdainful look, her eyes carrying a hint of sulky prettiness.
She then pretended to be calm and let out a “hmph,” trying to conceal her inner panic with indifference, and added a sharp, sarcastic remark, “I should have let that dog bite me earlier, what a waste of time.”
Her tone seemed to be complaining, but it was soft and carried a hint of coaxing, as if even her scolding was somewhat provocative.
After a small spat, Lin Xiuyuan no longer teased her and kept his word, taking Jessica back to the villa in 2025.
This was Jessica’s return to her own time and space, after her impulsive words a few days ago.
In a sense, it was also an early termination of the “eagle-tiring” “captivity play” game. She felt an inexplicable sense of relief and emotional fluctuation, but on the surface, she pretended to be as if nothing had happened.
After the two sat down on the sofa, they first ordered breakfast, each group’s favorites.
While waiting for the takeout, they each took out their phones and started scrolling. The living room quickly became quiet, with only the occasional sound of fingers tapping on screens.
About half an hour later, breakfast finally arrived.
Jessica tore open the packaging and ate fried dough sticks and buns in a few bites, rapidly replying to messages while chewing.
Because her company team hadn’t been able to contact her for the past few days, although there weren’t many issues, they were very complex, and now they were almost all piled onto her.
Forcing her fingers to tap quickly on the screen, her expression was full of busyness.
Seeing her like this, Lin Xiuyuan said with concern, “Eat breakfast first before you get busy.”
However, Jessica looked up at him irritably and kicked him with a long, straight, fair leg.
The action looked forceful, but it was tinged with deliberate complaint. She huffed and grumbled, “It’s all your fault. I told you before, I only came over to make a phone call, just a phone call, I wouldn’t be this troubled now.”
Lin Xiuyuan happily dodged not at all, letting her vent her frustration. On the contrary, her kick made him feel even lighter, and he deliberately emphasized his tone in his reply.
“That won’t do. If I hadn’t called you, would I have had the chance to have a spring dream last night?”
“Get lost,” Jessica shot back with a laugh.
While bickering, they both lowered their heads and fiddled with their phones.
Lin Xiuyuan occasionally looked up at her, a faint smile on his lips.
His fingers naturally slid across the screen, and he occasionally replied to messages in the chat window. The name on the other side was also eye-catching: Yoo Jimin.
It was the name that was dominating the news recently.
Fortunately, Jessica didn’t notice this situation, otherwise she would have probably kicked Lin Xiuyuan a couple more times to vent her anger.
After breakfast, the two of them remained lounging on the sofa.
One was frowning, engrossed in processing work messages; the other was leaning back, leisurely chatting with the person on the other end of the phone.
Time passed unconsciously in this subtle contrast.
Until Lin Xiuyuan’s mobile phone suddenly vibrated, the screen lit up, and he looked at it, the caller ID showing: Big Dragon Cub.
“Hello, Ji-yeon, what’s wrong?” Lin Xiuyuan answered the phone.
Then, Big Dragon Cub’s voice came from the other end of the phone, “Xiuyuan, Eun-jung’s old injury has flared up again, and she’s in the hospital. Do you want to come and see her?”
Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, his heart sinking immediately.
What injury could be serious enough to require hospitalization? This was a big deal.
Subconsciously, he looked up at Jessica opposite him.
Although she was busy with her head down, she had also heard snippets of the conversation. Her expression paused slightly, she pursed her lips and then nodded gently, her gaze signaling him to go.
Although Lin Xiuyuan didn’t understand the specific situation yet, since Big Dragon Cub had spoken like this, and considering their “member” relationship, he didn’t hesitate much and quickly nodded, “Okay, I’ll be right there. Send me a location.”
After hanging up the phone, he looked up and briefly explained the situation to Jessica.
Jessica just pursed her lips and smiled after hearing it, her eyes flickered, she pointed to herself, and said teasingly in a low voice, “Then I’m free?”
Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, his gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, and then he slowly nodded, “Yes, you’re free.”
Jessica curved the corners of her lips, her eyes flashed, and she kicked him.
The force was neither light nor heavy, as if giving him a closure, “Forget it, I can’t be bothered to scare you. You go check the situation first. I’ll stay here and finish the accumulated work, and besides…”
She lifted her chin, her voice soft, “My clothes are still at the apartment. I can’t leave wearing these pajamas, can I? I’ll wait for you.”
Lin Xiuyuan gazed at her for a few seconds, a smile in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything more.
Only before leaving, he thoughtfully gave a few important reminders about the villa, then grabbed his car keys and quickly walked out the door.
Soon, Lin Xiuyuan arrived at the doorway of the hospital’s VIP single room.
As he pushed the door open, the smell of disinfectant mixed with a faint medicinal aroma hit him, making his heart tighten instinctively.
The first thing that caught his eye was Sweet Eun-jung on the hospital bed, wearing protective gear.
Leaning on the hospital bed, she was slightly forward, her long hair falling on her shoulders, one hand gently pressing on her thigh.
Her eyes hid an irrepressible fatigue, as if even her breathing carried a hint of restraint.
On the stool beside her, Big Dragon Cub was keeping her company.
Looking up and seeing Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes clearly showed a hint of surprise. She immediately stood up, her voice filled with relief, “Xiuyuan~ you’re here.”
“Yeah.” Lin Xiuyuan nodded, his brow furrowed with confusion, “What’s going on?”
Big Dragon Cub scratched the tip of her hair and answered for Sweet Eun-jung, “Unnie has been practicing for too long recently, rehearsing too intensely, plus other work, which has aggravated her old injury.”
At this moment, Sweet Eun-jung slowly raised her head. Although her face was pale and her lips had lost their color, she still managed a polite smile towards Lin Xiuyuan, “It’s nothing serious, don’t worry, it’s just that my body couldn’t take it anymore.”
After hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect in his heart.
Such determination in practicing was not something everyone could possess.
So he nodded, walked to the bedside, and asked with concern, “What did the doctor say? How long will you need to rest? Will there be any lingering issues in the future?”
Sweet Eun-jung answered softly, “The problem isn’t very big, it’s just that I can’t be careless. I need to recuperate slowly and can’t keep pushing myself, so I’m hospitalized.”
As she spoke, her eyes dimmed for a moment, as if silently worrying about her own body.
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan’s brow furrowed slightly. He then turned to look at Big Dragon Cub and said seriously.
“Then… you called me here, do you need my help with anything?”
As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere in the room became slightly stagnant.
Sweet Eun-jung and Big Dragon Cub were both lost in thought, looking at him simultaneously. A hint of surprise flashed in their eyes, as if they hadn’t expected him to see through it so quickly.
Their reaction made Lin Xiuyuan smile, and he naturally offered his guess, “Mainly because Ji-yeon, you specifically called me, so I don’t think you just wanted me to visit, right? There must be something else you need to talk about.”
Having been seen through, Big Dragon Cub no longer hid anything. Her eyes flashed, and she stepped forward.
Then she tugged at his sleeve, half-pushing Lin Xiuyuan towards the window, and whispered into his ear, her voice leaving no room for doubt, stating her thoughts.
Lin Xiuyuan, who was leaning against the window, was casually gazing at the green plants and car shadows outside.
But as he listened, his expression gradually tensed, his brow furrowed tighter and tighter, and finally, he couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice, “What the fck, that’s not right, Ji-yeon. Did you misunderstand something? I’m not some elixir, how could this be possible?”
Sweet Eun-jung, who had been watching the two acting secretively, and then heard Lin Xiuyuan’s exclamation, involuntarily blushed.
The shyness in her heart made her not dare to look for too long, and she even regretted agreeing to Big Dragon Cub’s bizarre idea earlier.
But Big Dragon Cub looked serious, even a little anxious, and lowered her voice even more, “Let’s try it first, Xiuyuan. I personally think your situation is even more effective than an elixir.”
“You’re really crazy, how could this be possible~”
Lin Xiuyuan was speechless with a wry smile. Before he could refuse, she half-pushed and half-pulled him towards the restroom.
“Ji-yeon…”
Sweet Eun-jung quickly called out, her voice so low it was almost inaudible, her face turning even redder, “Don’t be so hasty, in a moment…”
Big Dragon Cub turned her head, smiling playfully and a little dominantly, “Unnie, this round is mine. Yours can wait, I’m in a hurry too!”
Sweet Eun-jung was choked speechless and could only sigh softly.
However, the atmosphere in the room became ambiguous and tense at that moment, as if the air itself had become scorching hot.
Yet, just a moment after the restroom door closed, the room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside with a “click.”
Sweet Eun-jung, who was leaning against the headboard in a daze, felt her heart suddenly tighten at the sound. She stiffened completely, unsure of where to put her hands.
She could only instinctively pull the edge of the blanket, wrapping herself tighter, as if this could hide her fluster.
Only when she saw that it was Park Hyomin and Lee Ji-eun did she slightly relax, but her chest was still rising and falling, not yet fully calm.
“Why did you come back again?” Her voice held a hint of nervousness, and she forced a smile.
Park Hyomin held up the fruit basket and bouquet of flowers she was carrying, her eyes filled with warm concern, “We bought some things on the way. It must be so boring for you to be hospitalized alone, right? Eating more fruit can also supplement your vitamins.”
Sweet Eun-jung was stunned for a moment, then gently shook her head. Her voice was soft but carried a hint of refusal, “I’m only staying for one day, I’ll be discharged tomorrow for recuperation. Buying these is such a waste…”
Before she could finish, Park Hyomin steadily placed the fruit basket on the bedside table, completely ignoring her rejection.
Her expression was gentle yet firm, as if this gesture was more important than anything.
Instead, Lee Ji-eun’s eyes flickered. She looked around the room, her brow furrowed slightly, “Where’s Ji-yeon? When we went out just now, she said she’d stay and keep you company. Why is she gone now?”
Sweet Eun-jung’s heart tightened, her eyes flickered, and she quickly explained, “She… she just went to get me some water.”
Park Hyomin glanced suspiciously at the sink, “That’s not right, isn’t there water here? Do you need to go out to get it?”
Seeing this, Sweet Eun-jung instinctively bit her lip. Quick-witted, she immediately added, “It’s different… it’s a powder prescribed by the doctor, the kind that needs to be mixed with glucose.”
Upon hearing this, Park Hyomin said “Oh,” as if she suddenly understood, and Lee Ji-eun also nodded, not asking further questions for the moment.
However, the two didn’t leave. Instead, they pulled up chairs and sat down, seemingly intending to wait for Ji-yeon to return.
This situation made Sweet Eun-jung’s heart skip a beat, and a fine sweat broke out on her forehead.
Helplessly, she stammered out two excuses: one that the fruit needed washing, and the other that she needed to register with the nurse.
With her lips pursed tight, she busied herself for a while and finally managed to persuade them to leave.
Just as the two had left, the restroom door opened with a “click.”
Big Dragon Cub, who had been hiding inside, emerged, her lips tightly pressed together, as if trying hard to suppress something. She also casually took away an empty cup.
Her gaze paused on Sweet Eun-jung for a moment, carrying a meaningful look.
Two minutes later, Park Hyomin and Lee Ji-eun returned, pushing the door open. They also noticed the subtle change in Sweet Eun-jung’s demeanor from before.
So their gazes converged on Sweet Eun-jung on the bed, suspicion flashing in their eyes. Just as they were about to ask something.
Precisely at this moment, Big Dragon Cub pushed the door open, holding a cup of milky white liquid, and smiled as she approached the hospital bed, “Unnie, it’s time to take your medicine.”
This scene made Sweet Eun-jung’s pupils contract sharply, and her face instantly turned red.
The color of the liquid in the cup was too suspicious, and she had a vague guess, so she froze completely.
“Is this… really medicine?” Her voice trembled slightly, and she looked at Big Dragon Cub with complex eyes.
Big Dragon Cub blinked, her expression as natural as if everything was as it should be, “Of course, the doctor specifically instructed me to mix it.”
Hearing this, Sweet Eun-jung bit her lip, her fingertips tightly gripping the edge of the blanket.
But she could feel Lee Ji-eun and Park Hyomin’s gazes on her, eyes filled with both concern and a hint of inquiry.
Under their scrutiny, she had almost no way to retreat.
After a brief moment of hesitation and struggle.
With no way back, Sweet Eun-jung finally slowly reached out and took the cup of milky white liquid.
The moment her fingers touched the cup, her whole body trembled slightly.
“I… I’m really drinking it?” she murmured softly, as if talking to herself, or asking herself.
Lee Ji-eun smiled and nodded, her voice gentle and firm, “It’s medicine prescribed by the doctor, drink it and be at ease.”
At the same time, Park Hyomin urged, “Hurry up, don’t delay.”
Sweet Eun-jung’s heart was beating like it would explode. Under their gazes, she closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and drank the cup of milky white liquid in one gulp.
The moment the cup was empty, her throat moved violently, her cheeks rapidly flushed red, her heart filled with shock and shyness, as if the whole world was trembling with her heartbeat.
Honestly, she didn’t know what effect this “medicine” would bring, but it was really hard to swallow.
The moment the milky white liquid went down her throat, Sweet Eun-jung felt a “thump” in her chest, as if struck by something heavy.
There was no strange taste, but the more bland it was, the more her doubts grew.
In that instant, her breathing quickened, her hands clenched the blanket, and images she dared not think of kept flashing through her mind.
Her heart felt as if it were squeezed by an invisible hand, beating wildly.
Sweet Eun-jung, who was trying hard to maintain a calm expression, was still noticed by Big Dragon Cub, her anxiety and shyness evident from her eyes to the tips of her ears.
Big Dragon Cub sat quietly by the bedside, legs crossed, holding her mobile phone, her gaze subtly assessing her.
Her eyes clearly conveyed “I know what you’re thinking,” as if watching a “psychological drama” that belonged only to her.
Yet, her expression pretended to be relaxed, and she even casually chatted with Lee Ji-eun and Park Hyomin about trivial matters like the weather outside and performance preparations.
Her smile was natural, her voice gentle, as if nothing had happened.
But whenever her peripheral vision swept over Sweet Eun-jung’s subtle expression, a hint of unconcealed teasing and slyness would flash in her eyes.
Not long after, her mobile phone suddenly vibrated with a “ding.”
Big Dragon Cub looked down, a slight smile on her lips, but she put her phone aside and ignored it.
In less than two seconds, another notification sound. Then, a third, a fourth…
It was almost continuous.
This made Lee Ji-eun curious, and she glanced at her sideways, “Why aren’t you checking your messages? Who is it?”
“It’s nothing, just a persistent suitor,” Big Dragon Cub said with a playful chuckle.
But Sweet Eun-jung saw it and her heart tightened, she vaguely guessed something.
To smooth things over, she said softly, “Ji-yeon, do you have something urgent to do? If you’re busy, you guys can leave first. It’s not a big deal here, don’t worry about me.”
Big Dragon Cub shook her head, her expression calm, “It’s fine, no rush, let’s sit a little longer.” She then smiled, as if everything was under control.
The atmosphere in the room paused for a few minutes.
Suddenly, another text message notification sounded, but this time it wasn’t Big Dragon Cub’s.
Lee Ji-eun took out her mobile phone from her bag, glanced at it, and the expression on her face clearly changed the next second, her eyes lighting up, “Oh, Xiuyuan is looking for me, Ji-yeon.”
Sweet Eun-jung’s heart skipped a beat, she turned to look at Lee Ji-eun, while Big Dragon Cub beside her merely pursed her lips and smiled.
After saying that, Lee Ji-eun naturally replied to Lin Xiuyuan’s message, and they quickly started chatting, their smiles almost uncontrollable, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Beside them, Big Dragon Cub and Sweet Eun-jung exchanged a glance. In that moment, they both saw a smile in each other’s eyes.
A smile that only they understood, a tacit understanding.
A few minutes later, Lee Ji-eun looked up and asked Big Dragon Cub, “Ji-yeon, Xiuyuan said he’s treating us to a meal, do you want to go?”
This time, Big Dragon Cub no longer deliberately played hard to get. The corners of her lips curved up, and she readily replied, “Sure, I haven’t seen him in a while either.”
Sweet Eun-jung nodded gently and said with a smile, “Say hello to him for me.”
Park Hyomin, who had been quietly silent until now, spoke up, half-jokingly, “Can I join too? I haven’t had lunch yet.”
Lee Ji-eun thought for a moment and then readily agreed, “Then let’s go together.”
So the three of them tidied up briefly, quickly said goodbye to Sweet Eun-jung, and left the room.
The room fell silent again.
Not long after, the restroom door creaked open.
Lin Xiuyuan walked out, a peculiar expression on his face.
His gaze met Sweet Eun-jung’s, and they both saw that awkward, unspoken understanding in each other’s eyes.
After a brief silence, they almost simultaneously nodded, a tacit greeting.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t say much, and quickly walked out of the room.
Only Sweet Eun-jung remained, staring blankly at the empty water cup on the bedside table. She raised a hand to cover her forehead and let out a soft groan, “What am I even doing…”
Her mind felt like it had been stirred a thousand times, her cheeks were still burning hot, and the entire room seemed to be filled only with the sound of her own heartbeat.
On the other side.
The moment Lin Xiuyuan quickly walked out of the hospital, his breathing was a little rapid, and his mind was still replaying the scene in the room.
When he sat in the car, the screen of his mobile phone, which he had just placed aside, suddenly lit up, and a message quietly popped up.
Upon subconsciously looking down, he saw that the sender was none other than Sweet Eun-jung.
Opening it, the content was extremely simple, just a few words.
【This is a secret】
Looking at the message, Lin Xiuyuan’s lips curved slightly, a playful smile in his eyes.
Then he leaned back in the car seat, and a few scenes flashed through his mind. Surprisingly, he felt much lighter.
A moment later, his fingers quickly tapped out a reply, choosing an emoji that best expressed his mood.
Humorous with a hint of teasing.
It was an emoji of a character with the words 【I’m going to eat you for a lifetime with this secret】, making an exaggerated biting gesture.
（P.S.: Don’t overthink it, this was Ji-yeon teasing Eun-jung. To prevent some sensitive folks from thinking the male lead is a pervert, I give up. I won’t be using foreshadowing anymore, I’ll just write it plainly now）
Daily ten thousand completed. Thank you to the godfathers for your support and votes.
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National Day double points, there’s an event to participate in, hope everyone votes a lot.
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