Chapter 275: “a Dream” Under The Black Night
“Ah?”
Seeing Kim Tae Yeon’s figure appear at the doorway, Jung Soo Yeon and Ham Eun Jung were stunned almost simultaneously.
Their gazes were first filled with confusion, then quickly exchanged a message of surprise and disbelief between each other.
It was like a silent communication, instantly understanding each other.
This was not the scene they had anticipated.
Among them, Jung Soo Yeon’s lips curved slightly, her expression holding a hint of unreadable stillness, as if she wanted to suppress the “this isn’t right” in her heart but couldn’t fully conceal it.
Ham Eun Jung next to her was more direct; she raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Kim Tae Yeon for several seconds longer than usual, a flicker of curiosity and appraisal in her eyes, though she appeared nonchalant on the surface.
Kim Tae Yeon, whose heart tightened slightly under their scrutiny, instinctively clenched her fingers for a moment, yet forced a relaxed smile.
Then she shifted sideways, opening the doorway, and said in as natural a tone as possible, “Don’t stand outside, come in. Why did you suddenly come over?”
“We came to find Jessica. Tae Yeon, what’s going on with you?” Jung Soo Yeon replied first, her voice carrying a hint of inquiry.
Ham Eun Jung also withdrew her gaze and nodded in agreement.
Then, they heard Kim Tae Yeon laugh and explain, “There’s a performance in two days, right? The company said many fans from China are coming, so I thought I’d ask Xiuyuan for some last-minute Chinese tutoring so I can give the fans a little surprise.”
The reason sounded logical and reasonable, even tinged with thoughtfulness.
So Jung Soo Yeon and Ham Eun Jung exchanged a glance and didn’t press further, but that subtle feeling in their hearts remained unresolved.
The three then walked into the living room side by side.
The air inside at this moment was strangely quiet, as if someone had deliberately lowered their voice just now, leaving behind a lingering trace.
Just past the entrance, Lin Xiuyuan caught their eye, leaning by the kitchen sink.
He was tilting his head back, taking sips from a bottle of mineral water, his movements casual, yet carrying a hint of unhurried leisure.
As footsteps approached from the doorway, Lin Xiuyuan also turned to look, raising his eyebrows slightly, a smile forming on his lips as he greeted them, “Huh? Soo Yeon, how did you and Eun Jung end up together?”
Ham Eun Jung pursed her lips and smiled, casually taking off her jacket and draping it over the sofa armrest. “We bumped into each other downstairs, so we came up together.”
After speaking, she casually surveyed the room, her gaze stopping at the closed bedroom door in the living room. Her eyes twinkled playfully as she asked, “By the way, where’s Jessica?”
Lin Xiuyuan said nothing more, merely gesturing with his eyes towards the door she was looking at.
As if in response to her words, at the very moment their gazes met, the bedroom door slowly opened.
Jessica, who they had just been talking about, appeared at the doorway.
Her steps were not quick, and she maintained a deliberate composure, as if trying to conceal her hesitation behind the door moments before.
Furthermore, after coming out, she neither looked at Jung Soo Yeon nor at Ham Eun Jung, whom she was meeting for the first time. Instead, she walked past both of them, her gaze fixed on the most inconspicuous figure at the back of the group.
Kim Tae Yeon.
In that instant, Jessica’s eyes were filled with a multitude of emotions: surprise, confusion, and a hint of something difficult to articulate.
Kim Tae Yeon, being stared at, felt a sudden clench in her heart, as if pricked by a needle. She instinctively averted her gaze.
Then she turned around, pretending to be absorbed in arranging a small ornament on the cabinet, her expression barely holding steady.
Yet, she looked like a child who had done something wrong, avoiding the teacher’s gaze.
This subtle scene was keenly observed by Jung Soo Yeon.
Her eyes flickered, and a natural curiosity arose in her heart, but she didn’t question it immediately.
Because the more important thing now was to get things back on track. So she took a couple of quick steps, gently breaking the tense atmosphere, and said, “Jessica, this is the last member of 2013. Don’t tell me you don’t recognize her.”
Hearing Jung Soo Yeon speak like this, Jessica finally withdrew her meaningful gaze and turned her attention to Ham Eun Jung.
Her expression was calm, yet held a familiar certainty, her lips curving slightly upwards. “Of course I recognize her, Eun Jung. I just had dinner with her a short while ago in 2025. I must say, you’ve changed so little compared to your future self.”
As she said this, Jessica’s tone was both matter-of-fact and subtly tinged with envy.
Ham Eun Jung, whose name had been called, paused slightly in her expression before her eyes quickly curved into a smile, her demeanor naturally fluid.
She also took the opportunity to offer a greeting and then continued, “I’ve met my counterpart from that time. According to her, it’s all thanks to exercise. Just like you and Soo Yeon, you haven’t changed much either, it’s just that you haven’t been resting well lately.”
With a single sentence, she deftly glossed over the matter, striking a perfect balance between praise and sincerity. Ham Eun Jung’s handling of the situation was precisely appropriate at this moment.
Jessica couldn’t help but chuckle at this, raising her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. “You’re flattering me too much. I know myself well enough.”
A few simple pleasantries gradually eased the atmosphere.
Jung Soo Yeon also naturally sat down on the sofa, letting out a long sigh, her shoulders relaxing as if she had finally found a place to rest. “Phew, I’ve been running around like crazy these past few days. I can finally take a breather now.”
However, Jessica beside her didn’t sit down immediately. Her gaze lingered on the sofa for a moment, her expression thoughtful.
Then she pursed her lips and said with a half-smile, “How about we go have something to drink nearby?”
Ham Eun Jung blinked, raising an eyebrow and murmuring, “Ah, are we starting the drinking this early in the morning?”
“Just a drink, nothing alcoholic,” Jessica replied calmly, her voice carrying an unhurried ease.
She then cast a meaningful glance towards Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Tae Yeon, her lips curving slightly, her tone laced with playful teasing. “Tae Yeon, Xiuyuan, what do you think?”
Hearing this, Kim Tae Yeon’s heart tightened, but she managed to maintain her smile and nodded quickly, agreeing, “Sure, I’m fine with anything.”
Similarly, Lin Xiuyuan on the other side was about to agree when Jessica suddenly changed the subject, her tone light but like a hidden needle pointing at him.
“Lin Xiuyuan, didn’t you just say you were going to take a shower? Go ahead.”
The words fell, and the air paused slightly.
Lin Xiuyuan, hearing about his shower for the first time from someone else, was even more taken aback. He then turned his head to look at her, his eyes filled with surprise and inquiry.
But Jessica’s expression was calm, her lips pressed tightly together, revealing no emotion.
Jung Soo Yeon and Ham Eun Jung, sensing something strange, also looked at Lin Xiuyuan instinctively.
However, from their brief exchange of glances, they couldn’t discern any particular clues, so they had to suppress their curiosity for the moment.
Soon, everyone walked towards the corridor.
Jessica, walking at the very back, suddenly stopped and turned around, glaring fiercely at a certain person over there.
Her eyes were complex, a mix of shyness and annoyance, as if she were scolding, yet also hinting at something indescribable.
Then she pointed at a certain spot on his pants, her lips curling coldly, and let out a soft hmph before turning and striding away.
Noticing this, Lin Xiuyuan looked down at his crotch and then understood, a hint of amusement bubbling up in his heart.
A faint smile formed on his lips, and without another word, he turned and disappeared into the bathroom of the bedroom.
As cold water cascaded down, he raised his hand to cover his face, suppressing the lingering heat and the subtle emotions of the moment.
Meanwhile, in the small hall next door, the atmosphere had clearly livened up.
Several cheerful laughs and conversations rose and fell, gradually intertwining into a chorus, as if washing away the residual awkwardness in the air.
In the sofa area by the bar counter, four women were sitting around, their postures relaxed, their conversation gradually shifting from initial pleasantries to deeper exchanges.
The most active among them were naturally Kim Tae Yeon and Ham Eun Jung.
One was lively and curious, firing off questions one after another; the other was frank and generous, answering crisply and even adding some interesting examples.
With their back-and-forth exchanges, the entire atmosphere was lifted, as if a small flame had been lit in the room, warming the surroundings.
Gradually, Jung Soo Yeon and Jessica also joined in, the topics broadening.
They chatted from the entertainment industry’s development in 2013 to the opportunities and challenges in 2025, sharing their views and suggestions, and time flew by unconsciously.
Jessica, who had initially been leaning against the sofa with her arms crossed, listened calmly. But as the conversation deepened, she chimed in with her opinions from time to time, her eyes becoming particularly bright when discussing stage performances and fashion, as if she had come alive.
“So, with your help, Soo Yeon…”
Ham Eun Jung took a small sip of juice, her gaze shifting between Jessica and Jung Soo Yeon, a meaningful smile on her lips. “With the experience from the future world, we’ve really managed to avoid many detours. This deal has been incredibly profitable.”
Jung Soo Yeon, realizing that the other was speaking on her behalf, slowly lowered her head and gently swirled the ice cubes in her cup before looking up at Jessica.
Coincidentally, Jessica was also looking at her.
Their gazes met briefly in the air, a silent collision, filled with a tacit understanding.
Just then, Lin Xiuyuan, having finished his shower, walked over in a set of clean, light-colored casual clothes.
A few water droplets still clung to his hair, sliding down his temples, making him look refreshed.
He casually grabbed a towel and roughly dried his hair before turning and heading straight for a single sofa, plopping down with a lazy, casual air.
Looking at the clean, refreshed young man before her, Jung Soo Yeon’s eyes involuntarily flashed with satisfaction, her lips curving slightly as she teasingly started a conversation with him. “Xiuyuan, we were just talking about you.”
“Hm?” Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion in his expression.
Jung Soo Yeon pursed her lips and gently tossed the topic out, “We were talking about your ‘Any Door.’ Tell me, if there’s a chance, could we find a quiet villa and gather everyone from both time-spaces together to have some fun? Maybe soak in hot springs or go play in the water or something.”
Before Lin Xiuyuan could even reply, Ham Eun Jung laughingly picked up on Jung Soo Yeon’s topic.
“Yeah! Especially the water play part. Xiuyuan, have you ever tried opening a door on a moving vehicle? Can you do it? Like in an RV or a yacht? If you can really do that, then there are so many more ways to have fun.”
“Vehicles…” Lin Xiuyuan repeated thoughtfully.
As he mumbled, he opened a can of iced coke, the “hiss” of the pull tab sounding in the air.
After gulping down more than half the can, he slowly set it down and said with a hint of confusion, “I haven’t really tried that before, but to be honest, even if you could go out and play, don’t you guys have very little free time?”
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon, sitting to his left, immediately seized the opportunity to chime in.
Her eyes sparkled, as if she had grasped a beautiful idea. “Including travel time, of course it would be tight. But if it’s just the distance of opening a door, we can squeeze in that much time. Even with busy work, we can find a little time in the evening to have some fun.”
“Exactly,” Ham Eun Jung couldn’t help but agree, nodding and adding with a smile.
At this moment, Jessica, who had been quietly turning a grape, also looked up. Her voice was faint but carried a hint of regret.
“Honestly, Lin Xiuyuan. It would be so much more convenient if your Any Door could open just by looking at a photo, without you having to physically mark it. Then there would be countless places we could go and play.”
“A telepath, are you? Haven’t you considered what would happen if you encountered a stranger during teleportation, or if someone saw you?”
Lin Xiuyuan said this, turning his face to glance at Jessica, his lips twitching slightly, a mix of disdain and amusement. “Alright, you already have such a great time-space door, and you’re still being picky? Be more content, okay?”
Kim Tae Yeon was the first to let out a “poof” of laughter, her eyes curved, with a hint of longing and a touch of greed. “That’s because we want to have something better.”
Her expression was like a child staring at a candy store, her eyes so bright they almost seemed to broadcast her thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Jung Soo Yeon nodded repeatedly, her lips pursed in agreement. “Yes, if that were really possible, then we could truly enjoy the world anytime, anywhere.”
As she said this, her gaze unconsciously fell on Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes holding a hint of teasing and a deeper, meaningful look.
Just then, Jessica spoke leisurely, her tone light as she offered a solution. “Actually, it’s not impossible. We can buy real estate in places everyone likes and wants to visit, and have Lin Xiuyuan mark it first like a puppy. Then we can go play there anytime, right?”
“Good idea~”
Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes lit up, and he wasn’t angry that Jessica called him a “puppy.”
Instead, he immediately seized the opportunity, a mischievous glint in his smile. “So, Jessica, you’ll be in charge of this. Let me know when you’ve bought the real estate, and I’ll set the location. Then if everyone wants to play anytime, they can find me. And by the way, I’ll charge a ticket fee.”
“Why should I pay for the property and you charge a fee?” Jessica raised an eyebrow, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she scoffed.
“Because I’m the one opening the door,” Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands, looking entirely reasonable.
“But I’m the one buying the property,” Jessica retorted coldly.
“Then how will you get there?” Lin Xiuyuan countered.
“Take a plane.”
“Even better, give me the round-trip airfare, and I’ll instantly send you there. How convenient? It’ll save time too.”
“???”
Lin Xiuyuan said these words with a straight face, adding a serious final blow. “And I’ll only charge once, with a free seven-day, unlimited round-trip. Isn’t that a great deal?”
“???” Jessica was speechless for a moment, her eyes filled with shock at how thick-skinned this person was.
“See, you can’t even refute it. That means I’m right.” Lin Xiuyuan said smugly, a hint of petty triumph in his smile.
The two went back and forth, locked in a battle of wits, neither willing to back down.
Ham Eun Jung, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but grin. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, but the joy in her eyes was undeniable.
Because from Jessica’s retorts, she could tell that the other was gradually adapting to the role of a “member” and could even joke about her own involvement.
To her, and to everyone, this was undoubtedly a very good sign.
On the contrary, Jung Soo Yeon’s expression was a little off as she watched this scene, her brows furrowed as she gazed at the two of them arguing.
Although Jessica’s face was hers, this bickering like a loving couple was entirely different from her own warm interactions with Lin Xiuyuan.
It wasn’t that these two were more intimate than she was.
Rather, the familiarity and spark between them had clearly accelerated too quickly compared to a few days ago.
Jung Soo Yeon’s heart tightened slightly, and she instinctively tried to capture the details between the two.
From their eye contact, their body language while speaking, and those seemingly casual smiles.
Fortunately, she quickly realized that everything between them was still within “normal” bounds.
After all, if some intimate physical contact had occurred.
Even a one-night stand between strangers, the two would subconsciously let down their guard in subsequent interactions.
Those subtle small movements, eye contact, and instinctive gestures of closeness are hard to fake and impossible to hide.
For example, even in a relationship that is more than friendship but less than romance, there will still be an uncrossable boundary between a man and a woman.
They wouldn’t casually pick up each other’s water cups to drink, nor would they carelessly slap each other on the back, nor would they exchange those ambiguous, lingering glances when their eyes met.
However, once actual intimate contact occurs, even if they were strangers an hour ago, they could reach that state naturally an hour later.
There would be no testing or pushing away, directly leaping from zero to the most intimate distance.
Jung Soo Yeon and Ham Eun Jung’s visit this time was precisely to gauge Jessica’s psychological state.
Seeing her exchange sharp words with Lin Xiuyuan now, although there was gunpowder in their dialogue, it was no longer the initial rejection and resistance. Instead, it was more like she had found her own balance.
The two exchanged a glance, a smile appearing on both their lips, and they both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It turned out their worries from downstairs were completely unnecessary.
Soon, Ham Eun Jung smoothly changed the subject, gently patting Soo Yeon’s arm and adopting a relaxed tone, smiling as she asked, “So Jessica, what have you been busy with in 2025?”
In response, Jessica rolled her eyes in frustration, shrugging with a languid air. Then she glanced sideways at Lin Xiuyuan, her tone laced with a hint of helpless complaint.
“It doesn’t matter what I’m busy with, if this guy doesn’t let me leave, all my schedules will go to waste.”
Lin Xiuyuan, realizing he had been named, looked up with his usual serious expression. “Two more days. I’ll send you back in two days.”
This wasn’t the first time Jessica had heard this answer.
So after hearing it, her gaze fixed on him again. She had intended to retort a few more words, but the corners of her lips involuntarily curved upwards, a hint of awkward laughter in the arc.
It was as if she were saying: You got me.
The atmosphere soon returned to a relaxed track.
The group chatted about interesting stories from 2013, talked about their experiences, punctuated by bursts of laughter.
As for topics about 2025, they were discussed very little, as only Jessica, Kim Tae Yeon, and Lin Xiuyuan could truly contribute to discussions about 2025.
Soon it was noon, and the takeout they had ordered arrived.
So everyone gathered around the dining table to eat together. In the steamy warmth, the atmosphere was as relaxed as a long-lost daily routine.
After the meal, Jung Soo Yeon and Ham Eun Jung got up to leave.
For the two of them at this moment, having half a day free was already a rare opportunity.
Not to mention Girls’ Generation, even Tara’s recent schedule had become increasingly busy, not as leisurely as before.
So the moment the door closed, the atmosphere in the living room quieted down a bit.
The instant he left, Jessica’s gaze involuntarily fell on Kim Tae Yeon on the other side of the sofa.
Her face exuded a fresh aura as if she had just washed, her fair skin possessing a dewy sheen, her full collagen almost radiating an envious glow under the lights.
Compared to her own slightly tired and haggard state, Jessica couldn’t help but feel a complex emotion welling up in her heart.
Envy, mingled with a hint of annoyance.
What made her even more unbalanced was that the other person clearly knew about her actions before, yet acted as if nothing had happened, as if she wasn’t an outsider, or even a person at all.
So, Jessica, with a hint of teasing and a tone mixed with fire, broke the brief silence, “Tae Yeon, do you want to take a shower too? Don’t you feel sticky?”
Faced with this question, if Jung Soo Yeon and Ham Eun Jung were still present, Kim Tae Yeon might have shown a hint of guilty embarrassment.
But at this moment, facing only Jessica, she appeared remarkably calm.
She then tilted her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes holding an unreadable teasing glint, even a hint of provocation as she looked at the other person, “I’m not washing, I didn’t leave any traces outside anyway, all the traces that should be there have been eaten.”
After saying that, she gave a meaningful look and smiled faintly, as if speaking lightly, but it stirred an indescribable ripple in Jessica’s heart.
At the same time, her heart gave a “thump.”
Because she suddenly remembered the juice she had drunk earlier, Kim Tae Yeon had said she wanted to try it, and she had handed it over without any suspicion, letting her have a sip.
But now, recalling the other person’s words “all the traces have been eaten,” Jessica instantly understood the meaning of the situation, and her face rapidly flushed as if set on fire.
She froze in place, her eyes darting, unsure if it was anger at being teased or embarrassment at being exposed.
Her lips tightened slightly, but her cheeks grew hotter, as if even her breathing was tinged with heat.
Finally, she couldn’t help but speak, “Hey, Kim Tae Yeon, you… you weren’t like this before, what’s going on?”
Kim Tae Yeon tilted her head slightly, her eyes carrying a playful glow, and softly replied, “Can’t help it, Xiuyuan is too amazing.”
After speaking, she pointed to her cheek, as if hinting at the source of that redness.
“You…” Jessica wanted to say something more, but her words were interrupted by a nimble action from Kim Tae Yeon.
She saw the other person stand up, smiling gently, a playful glint in her eyes, “Hee hee, I won’t talk to you anymore, I have things to do this afternoon, I have to go back.”
Then she glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, who had just ended his call, and pulled him towards the Time-Space Door, “Xiuyuan, open the door and send me back.”
The second the Time-Space Door slowly closed, Lin Xiuyuan stood in place, looking back at Jessica with a hint of confusion, “What were you two talking about? What’s up with Tae Yeon, she left in such a hurry.”
“Heh, you’re asking me?” Jessica pointed to herself, her tone full of teasing and mockery, “Shouldn’t you be asking yourself? Tae Yeon came over, had a deep spa, her complexion became rosy, she was satisfied, and then she left, you wouldn’t know this answer?”
Caught red-handed, Lin Xiuyuan gave an awkward grin and then sat back on the sofa, preparing to turn on the game console to play for a while.
But before he could start the game, Jessica lightly lifted her foot and a precise “kick” startled him, “Hey! Lin Xiuyuan, you really don’t treat me as a person. Kidnapping, live broadcast, isn’t that a bit too much?”
Lin Xiuyuan, holding the game controller, replied, “Is that my fault? Love between a man and a woman is a normal phenomenon. Just because you’re unwanted doesn’t mean I’m unloved.”
“Go away, who’s unwanted.” Jessica was furious.
“Cough, cough, metaphor, metaphor.”
“Go with your metaphor.”
……
……
In the blink of an eye, another day ended.
Night had completely fallen, and the neon lights outside the apartment shone through the curtains into the room, casting mottled light and shadows that flickered on the floor and furniture, as if a layer of soft fantasy had been spread over the room.
Due to the film crew’s temporary push to catch up on progress, Sulli and Jung Soo Jung weren’t back tonight, and the apartment was so quiet that one could even hear the ticking of the clock. The air carried a slight stillness and anticipation.
In the room, a stark contrast formed between the bed and the floor.
Due to winning rock-paper-scissors best two out of three, Jessica had won fair and square this time, so she finally occupied the soft, large bed.
Lin Xiuyuan, on the other hand, could only lie on the floor, using a pillow as a headrest while browsing his phone.
Lying on the bed, Jessica, with her long hair slightly messy, stared at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting far away.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of laziness and teasing, “Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, were you and Tae Yeon acting like that this morning to provoke me?”
Lin Xiuyuan’s fingers paused for a moment; he didn’t expect her to ask directly, but his expression wasn’t particularly surprised.
After staring at his phone screen for a while, he let out a soft sigh and calmly admitted it.
Upon hearing this, Jessica curled her lips into a cold smile, rolled over to her side, propped herself up on her elbow on the pillow, and began her rant with a snort.
“Heh, as expected, it was that idiot Tae Yeon’s idea. She used to like to provoke me when we were in the group, and after all these years, she still hasn’t improved. Does she really think I’ll still be as young and vigorous as I was back then?”
Her demeanor carried a hint of helplessness and speechlessness as she spoke. The dim yellow light reflected on her jawline, outlining her sharp and elegant silhouette with particular clarity.
However, Lin Xiuyuan didn’t rush to respond, just looked up at her, his tone flat but with a hint of playful amusement, “I don’t know about that. But whether you are young or vigorous, I don’t know, but Tae Yeon is indeed getting younger and younger now.”
This statement seemed to touch Jessica’s most sensitive nerve. Her mood, which had just relaxed a little, was instantly reignited. She abruptly rolled over, leaned out from the edge of the bed, and looked down at the man on the floor.
Her hair cascaded onto her shoulders, and as her body leaned down, the curves of her chest rose and fell slightly with her breathing, creating a subtle sense of oppression.
Her eyes also sparkled with anger, her cheeks flushed a faint red, whether from anger or shyness, she exuded an atmosphere of tension and ambiguity.
“That’s enough!” Jessica gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with complexity, “You just want my body!”
The moment the words left her mouth, she herself paused for a moment. Her eyes flared with anger, but because her face was flushed from rage, it looked like a forced plea suppressing her shyness.
Lin Xiuyuan blinked in surprise, then chuckled, a hint of helplessness and teasing appearing in his eyes.
His gaze was like that of someone appraising a stubborn child, both amusing and a little expectant.
Then he shook his head and said calmly, “Why would I want your body? Isn’t Soo Yeon younger than you? She’s at the peak of her appearance right now, with a great figure and supple skin.”
As he said this, his gaze was serious, yet clearly held a playful, mischievous smile.
And when Jessica heard Lin Xiuyuan say, “Isn’t Soo Yeon younger than you?”, her eyes clearly widened, her lips parted, but she stubbornly didn’t retort further.
The next second, she abruptly turned over, faced away from Lin Xiuyuan, and muffled, “Nonsense, going to sleep!”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and slammed off all the lights in the room.
In an instant, the entire bedroom plunged into complete darkness, leaving only the distant lights from outside the window seeping through the curtains, barely outlining some vague shapes.
This made Lin Xiuyuan inwardly amused.
She had insisted on not being able to sleep without a night light the previous two nights, but now, she preferred complete darkness.
However, he didn’t call her out on it, just lowered his head and continued scrolling on his phone, the white screen looking particularly glaring in the night.
After quite some time, he finally turned off the screen, put down his phone, and turned over, preparing to sleep.
However, amidst the silence, a faint rustling sound suddenly came from the bed.
The sound was light and disorganized, like fabric rubbing against the sheets, or perhaps some restless tossing and turning.
It made Lin Xiuyuan’s heart tighten slightly. He couldn’t help but open his eyes and look towards the bed through the darkness.
In the dim light, he could only vaguely discern the light-colored outline of Jessica’s pajamas.
It was the style she wore on the first night, thin and soft, and as the hem moved, it became faintly visible, making her figure appear exceptionally hazy in the darkness.
The lines of her shoulders, outlined by the faint light filtering in from the streetlight outside, formed smooth curves. Her slender legs were faintly visible near the edge of the bed.
Lin Xiuyuan was about to listen more closely when, before he could discern the sound, suddenly…
With a soft “bang.”
A petite but bouncy body suddenly rolled off the bed and landed straight into his arms.
In that instant, his breath was almost taken away.
The warm body pressed against him through the thin fabric, carrying a faint fragrance and the smooth touch unique to a woman’s skin.
Her soft waist bumped against his abdomen, and her whole body then pressed down, as if naturally fitting, locking him firmly between the mattress and herself.
This situation stunned Lin Xiuyuan, his mind went blank, and his heartbeat suddenly lost its rhythm.
The smooth, delicate skin felt impossible to ignore, and he could even hear her rapid, disordered breathing.
Just as he was about to speak instinctively, a cool, soft little hand suddenly covered his mouth.
In the darkness, that little hand exuded a faint fragrance, its fingertips trembling slightly, yet carrying a commanding intent.
Immediately after, a low murmur reached his ears, her voice soft but with a warning, “You’re dreaming, what are you talking about.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s pupils contracted at these words. Before he could react, Jessica had already snuggled into his covers.
The moment the quilt was lifted, a chill rushed in, but it was immediately replaced by the warmth of her embrace.
Her slender arms wrapped around his neck with a hint of urgency, and she pressed her entire body tightly against him.
Her soft chest pressed firmly against his chest, rising and falling slightly with her breathing, creating an almost burning sensation.
Her hair was scattered around his neck, and her warm breath brushed against his skin, making him feel a tingling sensation that heated his chest.
In the darkness, Jessica spoke no more, just held him tightly, as if to completely erase the distance between them.
The action was ambiguous and direct, with no concealment whatsoever.
Lin Xiuyuan’s hand instinctively lifted, but hovered in mid-air, not daring to lower it easily.
The sound of their heartbeats was amplified infinitely at this moment, as if even the air had become heated.
In the completely dark room, only the faint streetlight outside the window shone through the thin curtains, casting mottled light and shadows.
The light flickered on and off, as if casting a hazy filter over the ambiguity.
Accompanied by the breathing and movements of the two people on the floor, they continuously rolled, their shadows intertwining and overlapping, like willow branches gently swaying on an early autumn night, stirring the heartstrings.
Jessica’s arms were like silent ropes, tightly hooking Lin Xiuyuan’s neck, her fingertips lightly sliding on the back of his neck, each friction bringing a slight electric shock-like tingle.
In contrast, Lin Xiuyuan’s hands became somewhat cautious.
Resting on her waist, it was like a probe, or perhaps a yearning for a response.
As their bodies subtly shifted, they pressed closer together, their chests colliding, creating a wave of warm air, mixed with the moist breath of each other, almost making the air congeal.
After a moment, Jessica, who had been gently rubbing against Lin Xiuyuan, rested her forehead against his shoulder, her breathing slightly trembling near his ear, “Don’t move too fast…”
Her voice was husky and laced with a smile, as if testing, yet with a hint of willfulness, “…or, I’ll move myself.”
The night was deep, and in the room, only their breathing, the faint rustling sounds, and the ambiguous outlines cast by the light and shadow remained.
Every approach towards each other carried a sense of oppression, every breath caused their heartbeats to falter.
The evening breeze outside gently rustled the curtains, bringing the sound of clapping leaves, as if aiding the spring scene in the darkness, filling the entire room with a scent that warmed the heart.
……
……
The next day.
Morning light filtered into the room through the seams of the curtains, the room still filled with the lingering warmth of the night.
On the floor, the bedding from last night’s tossing and turning lay scattered in disarray. By the bedside, a pillow still pressed down on Lin Xiuyuan’s sleeping form.
His arms were casually wrapped around the air, as if the warmth from last night had just seeped from his fingertips.
And the other figure on the floor had already quietly woken up.
Jessica, gently lifting her eyelids, looked at the man in her arms through the faint light, her eyes carrying a subtle, complex emotion, along with a hint of morning-specific languor.
She then took a deep breath, as if bracing herself, or perhaps soothing the fluttering in her heart.
Then she carefully moved her body, avoiding touching Lin Xiuyuan’s still sleeping face.
As if having made up her mind, she slowly extracted herself from his embrace, her movements gentle but with a hint of hesitation.
The warm touch instantly disappeared, leaving only Lin Xiuyuan’s body temperature echoing in the empty embrace in the air.
Finally, she tiptoed back to her own bed, a smug smile playing on her lips.
First, she rustled and tidied her bedding, then took out last night’s pajamas from the bedside and quickly and carefully put them on.
Her movements were hurried, yet graceful, every detail seemed like a small compromise with her own shyness.
A few minutes later, Lin Xiuyuan slowly opened his eyes.
When he found his embrace empty, he blinked in surprise, then looked up at Jessica on the bed.
In the morning light, she was curled up in the quilt, only showing him a messy-haired back.
Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but smile faintly, and muttered to himself, “Did I just have a spring dream?”
Hearing this, Jessica’s cheeks instantly turned red. Her eyes darted around, a smug anger in them, but she didn’t dare to turn and face his gaze directly.
She could only mutter to herself: Who told you it was a spring dream.
Her voice was so low it was as if it was swallowed by the morning light, yet it carried enough emotion to fully display her proud personality.
Jessica’s personality dictated that even if she had feelings, given the previous events, she couldn’t offer herself so openly.
Thus, she found a “safe distance” and “appropriate reason” to conceal her stubbornness and pride.
At least for now, that was the case.
So she chose this method.
Lin Xiuyuan, looking at her trembling, proud back on the floor, felt both amused and somewhat helpless.
But he still respected her choice and sat up, stretching.
The air was filled with the warmth of the morning light, mixed with the ambiguity and flutter left by the lingering warmth of last night.
The entire room was tranquil and gentle, like a spring breeze, merely stirring slightly, making one’s heart feel warm.
（PS: There’s an extra chapter for Soo Jung at midnight, hoping for everyone’s support!!! Vote a lot!!!）
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