Chapter 203: Jessica: Thank You!! And “eun-jung, What About You?”
Inside the apartment’s kitchen.
The clashing sound of the kitchen knife and cutting board rang out, Lin Xiuyuan’s hand moved quickly under the knife, on the cutting board, tomatoes were sliced open one by one, juice splattering everywhere.
Nearby, a bowl of beaten eggs waited quietly, hot water in the pot steamed with white smoke, as if urging something.
In the sink a bit further away, two packs of beef were soaking, thawing under running tap water.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom.
Jessica had just walked into the bathroom, closed the door, stood in front of the mirror, gazing at her clear reflection, the sound of her own heartbeat clearly audible in her ears.
Lin Xiuyuan’s words from earlier were like a gentle knife, lightly slicing open a hidden corner of her heart, stirring up countless indescribable emotions.
This made her pause slightly, recalling his casual expression, her restless mood left her unsure how to react, and the complex emotions in her heart made her inexplicably annoyed.
Amid this jumble of thoughts, Jessica sighed deeply, then deliberately relaxed her shoulders.
She then turned on the shower, letting hot water pour down her hair strands, washing away the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
As the bath time passed, she gradually relaxed, her mood becoming much clearer.
But Lin Xiuyuan’s figure lingered in her mind, this guy hadn’t had enough stirring up her anger earlier, now he was getting greedy, as if planning to plant a seed deep in her heart, letting it quietly take root and sprout.
Moments later, Jessica shook her head, took a deep breath, shook her head again, temporarily casting aside those messy thoughts.
Soon, after finishing her shower, she changed into a simple set of pajamas.
The blue pajamas were soft in texture, outlining her slender figure.
She then stood in front of the mirror to tidy her hair, applied skincare products, and subconsciously lightly sprayed some perfume.
The oncoming fragrance carried a familiar sense of comfort.
Finally, she gently opened the room door and walked out of the master bedroom.
The next second, a warm, homely scent hit her in the air, carrying the aroma of stir-fried dishes and a certain temperature of life, making her pause slightly.
The living room’s lighting was soft, two dishes sat quietly on the dining table.
One plate of scrambled eggs with tomato, red and yellow intertwined, glistening with oily sheen under the lights, like a familiar memory stir-fried out with the heat.
The other plate of pan-seared steak, the surface slightly crispy, rich aroma, the beef fat drawing a warm trail of flavor in the air.
However, the man who had been busy in the kitchen moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
Jessica instinctively looked around, even walking to the bathroom doorway to check, but it was empty.
This situation made her furrow her brows, a baseless tension rising in her heart, until she noticed the corner of the dining table.
There was a sticky note quietly stuck there, with only two words on it: Gone.
Looking at this note before her, Jessica was stunned, an indescribable emotion slowly rising in her heart.
As a public figure in her daily life, she was too accustomed to being surrounded, arranged for, and watched.
But precisely because of that, she rarely got to enjoy such simple yet warm homely vibes.
Even just a few hours ago, she had been sitting alone on the sofa eating pizza, like filling her stomach, or chewing on a kind of loneliness.
And now these two dishes before her, this small note, and that kitchen already cleaned spotless.
It made Jessica feel as if she were in another parallel dimension, a place without flashing lights, without labels,
A nameless softness welled up in her heart, even a bit touching.
Although Jessica didn’t know when Lin Xiuyuan had left, the kitchen’s atmosphere still lingered, the lighting soft, the air filled with the aroma of food, and all of this was completely different from her usual life.
Thinking of this, she slowly walked forward, leaned down close to the plate of scrambled eggs with tomato, and gently sniffed.
The fragrance hit her nose, sour and sweet just right, even the softness of the eggs detectable.
Then her gaze fell back on the note, a complex feeling rising in her heart.
That guy with a hot meal seemed to be telling her some wordless care.
Thinking of this, Jessica sighed softly, lifted her head to gaze at the two dishes on the table, the scene woven from colors and aromas, ordinary yet warm.
She then sat down, gently picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with tomato with chopsticks, and put it in her mouth.
That taste was different from any meal in her memory, simple yet warm, like the simplest homely vibe in this city, every bite letting her feel the temperature of life.
Although Jessica was still eating alone at the dining table at this moment, her heart was already different.
The food diminished bite by bite, and her mood softened bit by bit.
She recalled the loneliness when she had eaten pizza alone earlier, at that time she only felt lonely, as if she were the only one in the world, but these two plates before her made her feel a warmth she had never experienced.
Although it wasn’t that no one had cooked for her before.
But no one had cooked for her like tonight.
Different emotional starting points naturally led to different moods.
So Jessica’s gaze unconsciously lingered on the empty spot in the kitchen, her mind imagining the scene of Lin Xiuyuan cooking for her.
After thinking for a while, she unconsciously smiled, as if that scene suddenly seemed a bit appealing.
After finishing the last bite of steak, Jessica put down her chopsticks and picked up her mobile phone.
She didn’t immediately call Lin Xiuyuan, nor did she overthink reasons in her mind, instead choosing to tap on the number that had pulled her out of the blacklist.
Her finger lightly tapped, and that familiar contact name appeared on the screen.
She paused for a moment, her heart suddenly feeling complex.
She hesitated slightly again, but only for a moment, then decisively typed two words: Thanks.
After sending the message, Jessica put down her phone, took a deep breath, looked up at the dining table and kitchen, suddenly feeling she had found some long-lost peace.
No matter what, tonight’s meal, this silent care, had come a bit too suddenly.
The fragrance in the air gradually dissipated, the kitchen still holding onto that leftover warmth, as if silently telling unfinished words.
Jessica smiled lightly, although eating alone, her mood wasn’t as lonely as before.
……
……
On the other side.
After simply stir-frying the two dishes, Lin Xiuyuan had no intention of staying longer and directly left Jessica’s apartment.
Although the building’s elevator required a card to go up, the stairs weren’t locked, so he slipped away neatly.
After returning to Krystal’s apartment, he then returned to the 13-year apartment from there, and then back to the 25-year villa.
He didn’t dare casually try such “supernatural” things outside in public places.
And when Lin Xiuyuan stepped back into the villa’s living room, the few people on the sofa immediately looked at him, with Jung Soo Yeon speaking first, “What did Soo Jung need you for over there, so long.”
“Just signing a contract.”
Lin Xiuyuan said while lazily sitting back on the sofa, casually forking a piece of fruit into his mouth.
As soon as he finished speaking, Kim Tae Yeon laughed, “Signing a contract, took almost an hour? Soo Jung’s contract must be over a hundred pages.”
Im Yoon Ah smiled and added, “People who don’t know might think Soo Jung was there too, and you two were all lovey-dovey putting on a show.”
Facing these few unkind gazes, Lin Xiuyuan chewed the fruit and shrugged, “Krystal wasn’t there, but her sister was.”
“Hm?”
Jung Soo Yeon, who had just set down her snack, instantly became alert.
Lin Xiuyuan pursed his lips, “I was signing the contract when Jessica suddenly came down from upstairs, scared me so much I almost bolted. Turns out her upstairs hot water was out, she came down to shower.”
“Hm? And then? Xiuyuan, say a bit more, why does this plot feel familiar.” Kim Tae Yeon laughed and patted Im Yoon Ah’s thigh next to her.
“And then nothing.”
Facing Kim Tae Yeon’s teasing, Lin Xiuyuan remained unfazed, “I went up to check, that idiot hadn’t paid the bill, they cut her gas, I helped fix it and came back.”
He omitted the fact that he had stir-fried two dishes, to avoid being gossiped about by this group, not worth it.
After hearing this, Jung Soo Yeon finally relaxed, then unceremoniously slapped his arm.
“Hey, you can curse, but can you stop always saying ‘Jessica that idiot’ on your lips? It sounds grating, feels like you’re cursing me too.”
The hit Lin Xiuyuan felt a bit wronged, “I specially didn’t call your name Jung Soo Yeon, I was talking about Jessica.”
“That’s me too.” Jung Soo Yeon righteously refused to be reasonable.
At this time, Lin Xiuyuan looked at the few people on the sofa, no one planning to speak up for him, all holding back laughs, like watching a show.
Helpless, he could only shrug, “Alright, whatever you say.”
“So you’re calling me stupid?” Jung Soo Yeon wouldn’t let it go, her eyes wide.
Lin Xiuyuan, cornered by her, looked helpless and simply extended his hand, “Forget it, skip the process, just hit me, save time.”
Now everyone on the sofa burst out laughing, Kim Tae Yeon rolling on the sofa laughing, even Im Yoon Ah covering her mouth, “This is too proactive in taking the hit.”
After the laughter subsided a bit, it was late, everyone prepared to rest.
Since Sweet Eun-jung’s apartment map hadn’t been unlocked yet, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t send her one-step home, so he called a designated driver, and went along to escort her.
The remaining few were simple, Sulli returning to the 13-year apartment, an anchor point.
Jung Soo Yeon also returning to her own 13-year apartment, already located, directly through the door.
Next were Im Yoon Ah and Kim Tae Yeon, both able to go directly through the door from the 13-year apartment side.
So after sending them back, Lin Xiuyuan waited with Sweet Eun-jung in the villa for the designated driver, then got in her car and headed to the destination.
After the car stopped in the parking lot downstairs of Sweet Eun-jung’s building, the designated driver said goodnight and left, leaving Lin Xiuyuan alone following Sweet Eun-jung toward her apartment.
While waiting in front of the elevator, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly smiled and remarked, “Tsk tsk, suddenly feel my situation is pretty good, at least gives me a reason to visit where you all live, instead of waiting for you at the villa.”
Sweet Eun-jung beside him smiled lightly upon hearing this, her tone gentle, “If you want to visit, I think no one would refuse. And just now Taeyeon’s gaze at you felt very familiar.”
“Familiar?” Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, exactly like Goo Ri’s gaze at you.”
Sweet Eun-jung blinked, her smile teasing, “Xiuyuan, you’re really too attractive to girls, remember to replenish more on usual days, I don’t want to go back and see others only to find you’ve been drained dry.”
Facing Sweet Eun-jung’s so straightforward statement, Lin Xiuyuan frowned while laughing, “The way you say it, I’m really getting a bit panicked.”
Afterward, the two chatted and laughed, took the elevator up to the apartment building. Sweet Eun-jung’s place was like Jessica’s, one unit per elevator, spacious and quiet.
So upon reaching the door, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly got interested and blocked her unlocking motion.
He wanted to try the new function, but couldn’t pull that door at all.
“OK, got it, was wondering if this time-space door was an all-purpose key, now looks like it can only be used on doors that can be casually opened.”
“Already amazing, what more do you want.” Sweet Eun-jung laughed and opened the apartment door, welcoming Lin Xiuyuan inside.
She then asked, “Want to sit for a bit.”
“No, too late, I won’t disturb your rest.”
Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, then selected a second bedroom door and opened it, preparing to return to the 13-year apartment.
But just before stepping in, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, eyes flashing with amusement as he looked at Sweet Eun-jung behind him.
“Eun-jung, you said Taeyeon’s gaze looked like she wanted to eat me, what about you.”
Sweet Eun-jung didn’t expect Lin Xiuyuan to ask this, paused slightly, her gaze briefly meeting his, about to say something.
But he had already turned smilingly, stepped through the door, and left decisively.
Leaving her standing there alone, stunned for a moment, finally lowering her head in helpless yet gentle smile.
Then she looked up at the door that had just closed, her thoughts drifting to that moment in the evening.
That is, the scene when Sulli came from the past to the future, standing before her.
That indescribable shock made her heart tremble slightly, also stirring some longing for a certain loved one.
Moments later, she softly murmured to herself, “Compared to that, I prefer the past, Xiuyuan~”
Unfortunately, Lin Xiuyuan could no longer hear this.
And so, today’s story finally came to a quiet end.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiuyuan who returned to his 13-year apartment greeted Sulli goodnight and went into the bedroom.
Washed up, turned off the lights, slept soundly through the night.
……
……
The next morning, 2013, in a beauty salon in Seoul.
As time passed, Girls’ Generation members arrived one after another according to the draw order for makeup.
In the blink of an eye, the nine had each sat in different corners of the beauty salon, on chairs in front of mirrors, hair dryers and combs busily shuttling, quiet yet orderly.
And Jung Soo Yeon, originally later in line, today proactively swapped positions with Qiu Li, quietly sitting beside Lin Xiaolu.
Lin Xiaolu, who was looking down scrolling her mobile phone, noticed the change beside her and curiously turned her head, “Older sister, what do you want to ask?”
“Did you know about Xiuyuan long ago?”
Jung Soo Yeon said softly while tidying her hair, not spelling out too much, after all, many people around.
Im Yoon Ah clearly didn’t get it, looking up in confusion, “What matter? What about Lin Xiuyuan.”
Next, Jung Soo Yeon didn’t speak, just patted her face.
Watching this, Lin Xiaolu blinked, still shaking her head, “Don’t get it.”
“Last time at dinner, did you see yourself looking much prettier here.” This time Jung Soo Yeon added a sentence, then patted her face.
Now Lin Xiaolu understood, eyes widening, “Older sister, you went to the villa last night?”
“Yeah, know all about it.” Jung Soo Yeon nodded, then emphasized, “Heard you knew even earlier, right, Yoona~”
Facing the “settling accounts” Lin Xiaolu could only dry laugh and shrug helplessly, “Knew is knew, but I didn’t dare try, always felt weird.”
Hearing this, Jung Soo Yeon also sighed lightly, then said.
“We’re still too thin-skinned, or don’t value this much, from what I know last night, that guy over there is now treated like an experience bean, all eager to turn into juice extractors squeezing soy milk from him.”
“Hiss~”
Facing this answer, Lin Xiaolu immediately thought of something, worriedly inhaling sharply, “Then Lin Xiuyuan wouldn’t be…”
“Don’t know, my brain’s a bit fried now, took in too much info yesterday resting, need to sort it out.”
Jung Soo Yeon shook her head, expression somewhat tired.
Because besides this, Jessica’s matter also left her a bit melancholic.
At this time, Lin Xiaolu, having psychological preparation after the surprise, quickly recovered and switched to thinking mode.
“So older sister, he has a reason not to return to the apartment, so many beauties at the villa side, we’re all working, if it were you, would you want to come back here to idle.”
“Yoona, you think that’s the issue?” Jung Soo Yeon looked at her.
“I think even if there are others, this takes up most of it, that guy is very young.”
Jung Soo Yeon listened, stared at her for a while, suddenly sighed, and fell into brief contemplation again.
But before she could think more this time, the makeup artist pushed the door in, and the two had to pause the topic.
Meanwhile, neon Tokyo.
T-ara’s six members finally finished rehearsal and schedule, rarely having some free time, so they went out together to stroll and relax.
Before heading out, Jeon Boram standing at the entryway changing shoes suddenly remembered something, turned to Park Ji-yeon, “Right, Ji-yeon, that guy who bought my apartment, how did you all meet him.”
“Hm?” Park Ji-yeon was a bit surprised, “Older sister, why suddenly ask this?”
Even Ham Eun-jung nearby cast a curious gaze.
“Because he’s been pushing games to me lately, three messages a day all different, asking this and that.”
Jeon Boram’s tone carried a hint of annoyance, “I was wondering… what exactly is your relationship with him? Or should I…”
Jeon Boram, who wanted to say block and delete, suddenly hesitated.
Lin Xiuyuan was a bit annoyingly persistent, but the little games he recommended were very fun, perfectly filling her idle waiting time.
Just wish he wasn’t so proactive, she had social anxiety.
At this moment, Lin Xiuyuan sleeping soundly in the apartment hugging bedding like the world was ending had no idea his persona was about to explode.
Ten Thousand Daily ended, another exhausting day, thanks to godfathers’ support and votes.
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