Chapter 261: Jung Soo Jung: “lin Xiuyuan Seems Actually Useful”
At the dining table.
Jung Soo Jung froze in place as if electrocuted, her breathing even slowing by half a beat.
Right now, she was genuinely scared.
Because in her impression, she had never exposed her dimples of Venus in any setting; even if the stage outfit was super low-waisted, it would cleverly cover that area.
Even the clothes in the practice room, she always habitually tucked them neatly.
But why did Lin Xiuyuan know?
At the same time, the scene she saw last night suddenly uncontrollably emerged in her mind.
That is, the scene of Lin Xiuyuan and Lin Xiaolu embracing and kissing from the entryway, and her and Sulli’s idea today of finding Lin Xiuyuan for a meal to probe some gossip.
Then, she remembered that she and Sulli had gone to find him for a meal today, originally planning to pry some gossip, but now she was the one being pried instead.
Could it be… Yoona unnie also has dimples of Venus?
Wait, what does this have to do with Yoona unnie?
No, the point is, how did he know she had them?
Jung Soo Jung, who grew more confused the more she thought, subconsciously clenched her fingers on her lap, as if using that strength to pull herself back to reality.
But her mind grew more chaotic, her heartbeat faster and faster; this was even more absurd than a love triangle in a TV series.
But mainly, Lin Xiuyuan’s method of using the “result” to tease people in return was truly despicable.
Despicable, shameless, detestable.
Just as she was about to fully immerse herself in her little mental drama, Sulli suddenly waved her hand in front of her eyes, breaking the distracted aura with a grin, “Soo Jung ah, what are you spacing out for? Don’t overthink it, oppa is probably just bluffing you.”
She then looked at Lin Xiuyuan, her gaze coquettishly giving him a playful glare, “Right, oppa~”
“Ah?” Jung Soo Jung snapped back, like a schoolgirl caught with her thoughts, quickly lowering her head to pretend to eat, though even her fork trembled twice.
Lin Xiuyuan looked at her embarrassment, his smile deepening instead, “Yeah, I guessed. Generally, people with good figures and pretty waistlines have dimples of Venus. I just thought you had them too, Soo Jung.”
He paused, then deliberately added another jab, “By the way, Jinjin, do you think right in the middle of the back waistline, that is, in the dimples of Venus, there might be a little mole?”
“Cough cough cough…”
This time, Jung Soo Jung was directly choked by her own saliva, hurriedly covering her mouth, her face flushing from pink all the way to red, her whole body seeming to steam with heat.
When she looked up at Lin Xiuyuan again, her gaze was no longer just shock, but horror, panic, even with an impulse to flee.
Meanwhile, Sulli beside her facepalmed and slumped on the table, shoulders shaking from holding back laughter: this oppa’s perverse taste really hadn’t changed at all.
Moments later, she still reached out to pick a prawn for Jung Soo Jung, smoothing things over comfortingly, “Alright alright, oppa, stop teasing Soo Jung. How could there be? Don’t talk nonsense~”
She softly coaxed her friend on the side, “Come on, Soo Jung, eat something first. Ignore oppa; he just loves making wild guesses about these things.”
Jung Soo Jung stared at the prawn in her bowl, her lips moving several times as if to say “I really do have them,” but swallowed the words back down.
She didn’t even dare look up again, because every time her gaze met Lin Xiuyuan’s, it felt like being seen through to the bone, uncomfortable all over, her heart pounding as if it would jump out.
No, if before it was just a bit of a naked feeling.
Now it wasn’t just a bit; she felt like she was stripped bare and thrown under the sunlight, completely exposed before him, even breathing feeling embarrassing, no different from streaking down the street.
Thus, this lunch was particularly eerie.
Clearly, at the start it was Jung Soo Jung and Sulli teaming up to grill Lin Xiuyuan, but once at the table, the situation was completely taken over by him.
Lin Xiuyuan leisurely peeled prawns, his movements very skilled, occasionally glancing at them and tossing out a few teasing, playful remarks, like he was fishing.
And what he was fishing for was Jung Soo Jung, this little fish sitting ramrod straight.
So the Lin Xiuyuan who should have been grilled became the one eating the most heartily and happily, completely controlling the atmosphere.
Whereas Jung Soo Jung, who came today to ask gossip, was toyed with like a fish on a line.
The questions she wanted to ask weren’t gotten at all, and she was teased again and again.
So much so that now Jung Soo Jung had no impulse at all to delve deeper into how exactly Lin Xiuyuan knew these things; she just wanted to escape this damned restaurant soon.
Because she always felt that the more she delved, the more it seemed like she was pushing herself step by step into an irreversible situation, even a sixth sense surging up that “something big is about to happen.”
And Sulli sitting in the middle was somewhat exasperatedly amused.
Sulli in the middle was even more torn: one was her best friend, the other oppa; favoring either wasn’t appropriate.
One harboring a huge secret, the other a wide-eyed curious baby full of confusion.
She could only smile bitterly as the peacemaker, picking food for Jung Soo Jung on one side while putting peeled prawns into Lin Xiuyuan’s bowl on the other, trying hard to pull the atmosphere back to normal, but no matter what, it wouldn’t return.
In the end, this lunch proceeded in this bizarre and subtle atmosphere.
Finally, during the moment Lin Xiuyuan finished peeling prawns and went to wash his hands, Jung Soo Jung seized the chance to escape, immediately setting down her chopsticks and standing up, grabbing Sulli’s hand and urgently whispering, “Let’s go, Snowball, let’s get out of here quick.”
Now she felt like she’d just been pulled out of a huge vortex, even her breathing feeling much lighter.
“Hey, Soo Jung, we haven’t finished eating.”
“Not eating, not eating. I’ll treat you to something better when we get back.”
Seeing this, Sulli couldn’t help laughing out loud, then was dragged firmly by Jung Soo Jung, hurriedly grabbing her bag and heading out.
But even in fleeing, she didn’t forget to turn back and instruct the server, “When that gentleman comes back, please tell him we left first.”
Only then did she follow Jung Soo Jung, leaving the restaurant almost at a jog.
So when Lin Xiuyuan returned to the restaurant, what he saw were empty seats, even the bags gone.
With some experience already, he immediately looked toward the approaching server.
Sure enough, after getting confirmation from the other, he just smiled, then sat back down casually to continue eating, wiping his hands with tissues while taking out his mobile phone to check messages.
Not long after, a message from Sulli came.
Sulli: 【Oppa, you scared Soo Jung bad~】
Lin Xiuyuan: 【No way, just teasing her a bit.】
Sulli: 【Who says it like that? If Soo Jung said something about the thing in oppa’s crotch, would you be scared?】
Lin Xiuyuan: 【??】
Lin Xiuyuan: 【Jinjin, you’ve been learning bad things from Krystal lately. Don’t learn from her; kids should act like kids.】
Sulli: 【No, it was Ji-yeon unnie who taught me.】
Lin Xiuyuan: 【I’m heading back to teach her a lesson right now.】
In the car on the other side, the air still carried the hurried breath of just escaping the dining table.
Seeing Sulli put down her mobile phone and prepare to start the car, Jung Soo Jung finally couldn’t hold back, “What happened? He didn’t say anything, right?”
“It’s fine, oppa just asked if we paid the bill.”
Sulli casually brushed it off; after spending time with Lin Xiuyuan, she’d long learned this light dismissal technique.
But Jung Soo Jung believed it, clearly relaxing with a sigh, though still pouting resentfully, “So what’s really going on between you two? Moving in together without a word, and that guy even brought Yoona unnie back to that apartment. You’re really not…”
“Cult”—she was tired of saying the word, but her gaze was still full of suspicion.
When she visited yesterday, she’d entered from another door, so she hadn’t seen the shoe cabinet in the neighboring entryway. Only when Lin Xiuyuan opened the door bringing Lin Xiaolu in did she realize the apartment had a second door.
But no matter how she asked Sulli, the latter just replied “It’s a long story,” shutting down her questions.
“This is really hard to explain, but Soo Jung, rest assured, we’re not what you think.”
Sulli pursed her lips slightly, a comforting smile tugging at the corners, “Just think of it as a collective dormitory. It’s not just me and oppa; others come over occasionally too.”
But as soon as she said it, she realized she’d let something slip, freezing for a moment.
Sure enough, Jung Soo Jung instantly sat up straight in fright, “Wait, others too? Who? Unnies? No way, you guys really aren’t some brainwashing organization?”
“Soo Jung ah, you’re overthinking this a bit.”
Sulli toyed with the steering wheel while smiling helplessly, her tone gently advising her not to take it to heart.
But this time, Jung Soo Jung wasn’t fooled by that smile; she leaned forward slightly, her gaze so serious it could bore a hole through Sulli, “It’s not me overthinking, Snowball. Your behavior is really starting to detach from reality.”
She paused, as if organizing her thoughts, then her tone grew heavier.
“I won’t deny that some second generation kids, or those who play really wildly, can do even more exaggerated things. But among the people I know close to me—you, Jessica, Yoona unnie and the others—you weren’t like this before. Your current state really gives me a feeling that… life has been rewritten by someone.”
By the end, she even couldn’t help raising her voice, as if shouting out all the doubts pent up in her heart at once.
“So Snowball, what exactly is that Lin Xiuyuan guy? Who are the members of his tavern? What exactly is that inner circle of yours like, making you all like you’ve been cast magic, becoming so unfamiliar?”
After she spoke, the car fell briefly silent.
Jung Soo Jung looked deeply at Sulli in the driver’s seat, her gaze complex.
At the same time, those familiar faces flashed one by one in her mind.
The once gloomy, emo Sulli had now become a radiant goddess who seemed to glow, even turning into a genius screenwriter.
Her unnie, Jessica, had transformed from someone who just boasted about fashion into a designer everyone vied to collaborate with.
And Lin Xiaolu and Park Ji-yeon, each like they’d hacked the system, their careers and lives suddenly surging to new heights.
All of this was clearly good, but in Jung Soo Jung’s eyes, it was like an impenetrable puzzle, making her increasingly uneasy.
Sulli in the driver’s seat listened to this familiar questioning, just subconsciously showing a smile. She’d heard these questions more than once and had answers ready.
She gently pressed the accelerator, letting the car slowly pull away from the restaurant, her tone like coaxing a child, “What people? It’s just a group of pitiful folks huddling for warmth, sharing info, swapping resources, that’s all.”
“That again.” Jung Soo Jung let out a long breath, slumping in her seat, a hint of grievance in her eyes, “Snowball, you’ve gotten really good at brushing people off lately.”
“You’ll know one day.”
“That line again.”
Sulli glanced at her, not continuing, instead suddenly changing the subject, “Let’s not talk about me. Back to the film crew situation. Soo Jung, the director said again today that your emotional bursts in front of the camera and those ambiguous little actions are still a bit off. That method I told you about before, wanna consider it?”
Sulli’s tone was light and natural, like casually tossing a heavy topic out the window.
From interacting with Krystal, Im Yoon Ah and others, she’d become very skilled at shifting topics, even knowing to use what the other valued most to completely divert attention.
Sure enough, upon hearing it, Jung Soo Jung frowned, her annoyed expression gradually fading, replaced by a troubled look, “Ah, I’ve already tried my best to learn it, but your suggestion is too weird. I can’t find anyone.”
“How about trying the method the acting teacher mentioned?” Sulli blinked.
“What method?” Jung Soo Jung asked reflexively.
“Xiuyuan oppa~” Sulli deliberately drew out the tone, with a mischievous smile.
“No way!” Jung Soo Jung sat straight up immediately, shaking her head like she’d been scalded.
“Too bad~” Sulli couldn’t help laughing, one hand on the steering wheel, inwardly relieved the topic had shifted smoothly again.
……
Evening.
In the filming studio, the lighting was bright and glaring; cameras, monitors, boom mics lined up, staff moving about, the site quiet yet tense.
Jung Soo Jung sat at the edge, hugging the script and reading the few lines of dialogue in her hand over and over, eyes fixed tight, but her mind felt stuffed with cotton, a bit chaotic.
The scene to shoot next was one with extremely delicate emotions:
Roughly, the male lead sees her through the room, his gaze carrying some probing and affection.
And she had to show that complex feeling of her heart being seen through, yet pretending to be nonchalant while unable to help wanting to dodge a bit.
For this, the director had specially instructed Jung Soo Jung.
This shot had to be carried by her gaze and subtle body movements.
Not too exaggerated, natural and real, making the audience feel she was truly moved but trying to hide it.
“Prepare, action!”
With the field assistant’s shout, the site suddenly went quiet, the camera humming lowly.
The shot first pushed into the room where the male lead was, following his gaze outside to cut to Jung Soo Jung’s face.
She subconsciously pursed her lips, but overdid it, making it seem stiff.
“Cut!”
The director frowned, picking up the megaphone, “Soo Jung ah, more natural. Right now you’re like reciting an expression, not shy from being looked at.”
Take two.
Jung Soo Jung tried lightening her breathing, but as the lens closed in, her gaze still drifted away, her body instinctively shrinking back too obviously.
“Cut!”
The director sighed, rubbing his forehead, “Soo Jung, don’t deliberately retreat. Make it like your heart is panicking but your body is pretending to be calm. No big movements; use small actions and micro-expressions to convey it, got it?”
Take three, take four…
Called cut several times in a row, Jung Soo Jung grew more anxious inside, a bit of flush on her face.
Then, she faintly heard the director and assistant director whispering, “She still doesn’t have that ambiguity feel; too pure.”
Those words stung her heart.
This made Jung Soo Jung, standing at the center of the film crew, take a deep breath, glance at the crew members who’d been busy with her for so long, then subconsciously look down at the floor, suddenly thinking of noon today.
At that dining table, Lin Xiuyuan setting down his chopsticks, slowly raising his eyes to look at her.
That gaze of his seemed to carry some knowing smile, like deliberately seeing through her, or waiting for her to slip up.
That line of sight felt like it truly saw through everything about her.
Thinking of this, Jung Soo Jung’s heart tightened, her ears uncontrollably heating up.
“Good, prepare for another take!”
With the assistant’s shout, she stood ready again.
The lens closed in again, the male lead’s gaze landing on her face.
At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan’s expression flashed in her mind again, her breathing instinctively lightening by half a beat.
Her breathing lightened involuntarily by half a beat, shoulders shrinking slightly; the lighting reflected starlight-like panic in her eyes.
Her dodging gaze quickly pretended nonchalance with a pursed smile, a bit awkward, her earlobes tinged faintly red, like her secrets had been seen through.
“Good, good, nice, Soo Jung, that’s it, this one’s good.”
The director not far away suddenly waved his hand, looking at the monitor and laughing heartily, “This one’s excellent, Soo Jung. That’s the natural panic and small actions—perfect.”
Jung Soo Jung stood there dazed, not yet pulled out of the emotion, until the staff came to remove her mic, snapping her back, realizing her heart was beating a bit fast.
During the wait for scene change, she returned to the resting chair area.
Hand propping her cheek, still unable to calm the pounding in her chest.
Until Sulli bounced over, handing her water, “Soo Jung, I was watching your take on the monitor just now—super great! Your acting skills are amazing; the director kept praising you, you know?”
Jung Soo Jung took a sip of water, lowering her lashes, saying softly, “It seems… it really kinda worked.”
She didn’t say what she truly thought, but she knew that the natural subtle panic movement just now was all thanks to Lin Xiuyuan’s half-smiling eyes flashing in her mind.
That ambiguous gaze, and the almost suffocating heartbeat at the lunch table, helped her perfectly nail the scene.
Sulli paused, then raised a brow, “What worked?”
Jung Soo Jung looked up at her, silent for a few seconds, a meaningful curve at her lips, before slowly saying.
“That Lin Xiuyuan guy seems really effective.”
That meal with President Yu today felt like it was laced with sleeping pills; came back and slept groggily, so tonight it’s 5K first.
But I guarantee the next four or five days, daily ten thousand words for sure. Godfathers, please supervise me; I guarantee no skipping tickets.
Above, begging for monthly tickets!!!
