Chapter 174: “ji-yeon, Your Future Self Is Working So Hard Too”
“Why didn’t you open the door two years earlier?”
“You’re asking too? Haha, I wasn’t even in Seoul two years ago. Besides, I know what you want to ask, but even if I had opened the door two years ago, you didn’t know about that incident back then anyway.”
Inside the tavern, after Ham Eun-jung leaned into Lin Xiuyuan’s arms and slightly calmed her emotions, she got up and went to the restroom to wash her face and adjust her state.
Sweet Eun-jung on the sofa gave Lin Xiuyuan a deep look, and after he sat down, she spoke up and threw out that sentence from earlier.
But when she heard Lin Xiuyuan’s half-teasing response, she suddenly stood up, moved closer to sit beside him, and leaned forward slightly, seemingly trying to create a sense of oppression.
As a result, Lin Xiuyuan just sat calmly, not dodging at all.
So that lean forward made Sweet Eun-jung directly bump into Lin Xiuyuan’s arm, and then she slid forward a bit more, almost kissing him.
Startled, she quickly stopped her movement, frowned awkwardly and glared at him, then lightly sighed and said softly, “What I mean is, why didn’t you come back from an even more future timeline?”
Lin Xiuyuan, who had just been immersed in that instant touch, let out a “wow” upon hearing this and laughed, “Tsk tsk, this novel angle is something even Taeyeon never thought of. Eun-jung, you’re impressive.”
“Taeyeon?”
Sweet Eun-jung repeated the name, then a series of events quickly flashed through her mind, and she slightly raised her eyebrow, “Oh, right. Given Taeyeon’s situation, you’d probably take her there to make up for her psychologically. When did she go?”
“Last night,” Lin Xiuyuan answered.
Sweet Eun-jung was stunned upon hearing this, as if realizing something, “So when Ji-yeon told us today that you were sleepy and tired, and Taeyeon took the phone call, it was because of this?”
“Yeah, I rushed to Jeonju overnight last night and only got back this morning.” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
“Did you meet?” Sweet Eun-jung asked in surprise again, but then felt it unlikely.
Sure enough, the next second, Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, “Just met in the car. Do you want to go?”
This question hit Sweet Eun-jung’s heart just right. A certain figure immediately flashed in her mind, and her body stiffened slightly.
But she quickly reacted, gently shaking her head, “According to what you said earlier, once the door is open, it can’t be hidden from me anyway. Let me sort out my thoughts first. There are too many questions swirling around me tonight; I need to take a breather.”
At that moment, Ham Eun-jung came out of the restroom and immediately saw the two people on the sofa sitting unusually close. She frowned lightly, walked over and plopped down opposite them, then said half-seriously, half-jokingly.
“You two are so intimate… you haven’t had some super-friendship event already, have you?”
Facing Ham Eun-jung’s accusation, Sweet Eun-jung, who had originally wanted to pull away upon seeing her return, instead stopped and smiled as she linked arms with Lin Xiuyuan, saying with a beaming smile, “You know, if Xiuyuan is willing, I’d actually like to try that legendary Rejuvenation Pill.”
“What Rejuvenation Pill?” Ham Eun-jung looked puzzled.
Lin Xiuyuan beside her immediately wanted to cover Sweet Eun-jung’s mouth upon hearing it, but he was still a step too late.
Sweet Eun-jung dodged to the side and then said to Ham Eun-jung, “Don’t you know? After being intimate with Xiuyuan, a person’s complexion improves dramatically. Ji-yeon’s state has rejuvenated by several years; her skin is even tighter, almost making Goo Ri envious to death.”
Ham Eun-jung across from them watched the scene: Sweet Eun-jung leaning to one side, Lin Xiuyuan reaching to stop her, but instead pressing onto the other person—and that pressed figure was ‘herself.’
In that instant, she had a strange “stand-in” illusion.
The scene was already shocking enough for Ham Eun-jung, but Sweet Eun-jung’s words made her brain explode again, her ears buzzing.
What rejuvenation, what great complexion, what… wait, Ji-yeon???
Suddenly seizing the key words, Ham Eun-jung turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, who was now a bit awkwardly avoiding her gaze entirely.
After a moment, Ham Eun-jung’s voice rang out, “No wonder I heard Ji-yeon over there talking about ‘wife’ and ‘old woman’ before. So she was talking about her future self? And then you… with this side’s Ji-yeon… tsk, if Little Ji-yeon finds out, Xiuyuan…”
She didn’t finish, but her tone was meaningful.
“Misunderstanding, total misunderstanding. I’m the victim here too.”
Afraid Ham Eun-jung would tell Park Ji-yeon, Lin Xiuyuan quickly spoke to explain, but it turned into, “Uh… how about we order some late-night snack first?”
Ham Eun-jung, whose expression had been slightly serious, immediately turned to exchange a glance with Sweet Eun-jung upon hearing this, and both burst out laughing at the same time.
As the same person with the same personality, how could Sweet Eun-jung not see that Ham Eun-jung was joking earlier?
But beyond the joke, Ham Eun-jung seriously said, “Xiuyuan, you should probably tell Ji-yeon. Whether she knows or not is one thing, but whether you tell her is another.”
Sweet Eun-jung nodded in agreement, “Indeed, the old Ji-yeon cared quite a bit about this, unlike now that she’s grown up.”
After hearing them, Lin Xiuyuan scratched his head, “I’ll think about it. Let’s order food for late-night snack first; I’m hungry.”
“Didn’t you eat enough dinner?”
“Hungry again.”
Under Ham Eun-jung’s curiosity, the group eventually ordered a bunch of takeout.
Budae jjigae, fried chicken, tteokbokki, barbecue platter, and more. Since they were big orders, the food arrived soon, filling the air with aroma.
After the phone rang, Lin Xiuyuan got up to get the takeout at the door, then placed the food on the coffee table while unpacking the bags and asking.
“Who wants spicy? This tteokbokki is extra spicy. If I don’t warn you and someone coughs later, don’t blame me.”
“Me!”
“I’ll have some too.”
The two “Eun-jungs” answered in unison, then exchanged smiles.
Sweet Eun-jung glanced at Lin Xiuyuan, curled her lips teasingly, “Xiuyuan, asking that is redundant, isn’t it? We two have exactly the same taste.”
“Hasn’t changed after all these years?” Ham Eun-jung asked curiously.
“Hasn’t changed much; eating too much makes me not want it anymore.” Sweet Eun-jung nodded.
After speaking, Sweet Eun-jung lazily leaned on the sofa, hugging a cushion and teasing Ham Eun-jung, “But I remember the current you still doesn’t dare eat too spicy, right?”
“Nonsense, I can eat spicier than you.”
Ham Eun-jung raised her eyebrow in retort, snatched a bamboo skewer from Lin Xiuyuan, and stuffed a piece of grilled pork belly into her mouth, “Mmm… grilled really well.”
Watching her pretend to be calm, Sweet Eun-jung chuckled lightly without calling her out.
Instead, she shifted closer to Lin Xiuyuan, saying with a coquettish tone, “Xiuyuan, I want some tteokbokki; get me some.”
“Sure thing.”
Lin Xiuyuan smiled while portioning out the food.
He carefully placed it on the coffee table, then handed each of the two across from him a can of soda, “Here, no more alcohol from now on. Let’s drink soda and chat sober.”
The three moved the sofa closer, sitting tightly around the coffee table.
The soup in the pot bubbled, steam rising, filling the room with a homely vibe.
“Seriously, Ji-yeon getting married first and then divorcing is just too shocking.”
While eating, Ham Eun-jung poked at her bowls and chopsticks and shook her head, “Everyone in the group thought Soyeon unnie would marry first; even she nodded. But it turned out to be Ji-yeon. Do you know what happened?”
“Seemed like family issues.”
Sweet Eun-jung picked up a sausage and bit into it, slowing her tone, “Her father hasn’t been well; he had a liver transplant but didn’t recover well. She said… she wanted him to see her get married while he’s still lucid.”
At this point, she paused and added, “That’s what Ji-yeon told us then. We all advised her against it because it was too rushed, even faster than Soyeon unnie, but you know the end result now.”
After hearing the answer, Lin Xiuyuan immediately quipped, “As expected, marriage reasons are either personal or family. If personal, no divorce; family…”
But as he got to the end, the gazes of the two ‘Eun-jungs’ locked him in place, so he quickly raised his hands, “Okay, I won’t say it. I’ll eat my late-night snack.”
Afterward, Sweet Eun-jung asked about Ham Eun-jung’s current 2013 situation, since Lin Xiuyuan’s uncertain factor would surely cause different changes.
So after Sweet Eun-jung explained this side’s situation earlier, now it was Ham Eun-jung’s turn to explain the changes in ’13 to Sweet Eun-jung, while Lin Xiuyuan quietly ate as before.
Of course, when it came to him, Lin Xiuyuan would retort a few times when Ham Eun-jung blamed everything on herself.
The three bantered back and forth, eating and chatting.
In the hot pot rolled spicy rice cakes and instant noodles; the air was filled with the aroma of pepper and chili oil, plus the interwoven laughter of the three young people.
Outside the window, night breeze rustled the wind chime, tinkling; inside, soft lighting warmed the identical outlines on Ham Eun-jung and Sweet Eun-jung’s faces, but with utterly different expressions.
One still bearing the weight of reality, eyes occasionally hiding concerns.
The other long past innocence, with added clarity and certainty in her demeanor.
“Seriously.” Sweet Eun-jung suddenly brought the topic back, “Has Xiuyuan ever thought that if a few more years pass and this time-space door changes again, a third me might come?”
“Whoa, don’t scare me.”
Lin Xiuyuan frowned while biting a chicken wing, “Two time-spaces are already giving me a headache; another one, and I’m really afraid something will go wrong.”
“Are you afraid your future self will suddenly open the door and come in?” Ham Eun-jung’s lips curved mischievously.
“You two, stop teaming up to scare me.” Lin Xiuyuan feigned pitifulness, “I’m just a young boy; I really can’t handle it.”
“Who’s little?” The two Eun-jungs looked up at him in unison, then both laughed out loud.
Night fell slowly outside the window; in one corner of the small tavern, the three sat around, laughter unending.
Transversal miracles of time and the future world’s direction suddenly felt less heavy; at least this night, ease and warmth were the main melody.
But in the corner Sweet Eun-jung ignored, her phone had a group chat jumping with messages.
……
Big Dragon Cub: 【 Unnie, say something. What gift did you get? 】
Lee Ji-eun: 【 Yeah, yeah, you’ve been chatting so long, still not done? 】
Park Hyomin: 【 I’ve been asking forever; what exactly are you doing? 】
Big Dragon Cub: 【 Oh no, Goo Ri unnie, Eun-jung unnie isn’t… 】
Lee Ji-eun: 【 Ah… Ji-yeon, don’t say it. Eun-jung, don’t eat! You’re not really eating Xiuyuan, are you… 】
……
Soon, time reached early morning.
After the late-night snack, the three sat on the sofa chatting and laughing for a while, the atmosphere more relaxed and familiar than at first.
Until Sweet Eun-jung yawned occasionally, and Ham Eun-jung leaned on the sofa back gently rubbing her temples.
Seeing their tired looks, Lin Xiuyuan suggested, “Let’s call it a night. Gotta get up early tomorrow.”
“You’re sending her back?”
Sweet Eun-jung pointed at Ham Eun-jung. Seeing Lin Xiuyuan nod, she got interested, “Then I’ll come along to see. That ‘magical time-space door’ she mentioned—I haven’t seen it with my own eyes yet. Kinda curious.”
“Let’s go.” Lin Xiuyuan smiled and agreed without stopping her.
The three got up, tidied things simply, then left the small tavern one in front, two behind. Night breeze blew gently; streets were much quieter, only distant car lights occasionally flashing, illuminating the damp cobblestones in the alley.
They entered the narrow, deep alley beside the tavern, dim streetlights casting three long shadows on the ground.
“Like a movie scene.”
Looking at the shadows on the stone bricks underfoot, Sweet Eun-jung said amusedly, but didn’t slow her steps, “And Xiuyuan, you actually live right next door. That I really didn’t expect.”
“In his words, it’s for emergencies or temporarily hosting guests—safe and convenient.”
Ham Eun-jung suddenly quoted what Lin Xiuyuan had said before, making him chuckle involuntarily, “I just didn’t want to run too far.”
Then he stopped, “Alright, we’re here.”
As her gaze shifted to the villa before them, Sweet Eun-jung, like others before, showed a somewhat shocked expression.
Especially following Lin Xiuyuan into the yard and seeing the large floor-to-ceiling windows with hidden light strips—low-key yet luxurious decor—she finally exclaimed.
“Wow~ Xiuyuan, you sure you’re not some second generation? Or a low-key conglomerate heir?”
Standing in the living room, Sweet Eun-jung took a light breath, scanning the room unblinkingly in admiration.
“This is too exaggerated… This villa isn’t cheap, right? Though Goo Ri unnie bought one too, hers is in the suburbs. Yours is in Gangnam District—insane.”
Lin Xiuyuan just smiled slightly, not responding directly.
After the two “Eun-jungs” looked around the house, he smilingly urged, “Okay, seen enough. You can tour slowly next time; come over now.”
With that, he opened the time-space door; the apartment lights on the other side lit up responsively, soft and warm.
Sweet Eun-jung stepped forward immediately, standing at the doorway gazing inside, her expression shifting from curiosity to shock.
Seeing the completely different room layout there, she murmured, “So this is real, not a sci-fi movie.”
“You just said you wouldn’t be surprised. Look, same as us.”
Ham Eun-jung shrugged, tone seemingly casual, but her eyes lingered a few more seconds, “Though I was more shocked my first time; even wanted to turn and run back.”
“So we just step through this door to get back to 2013?” Sweet Eun-jung asked softly.
“Yes.” Lin Xiuyuan turned to her, “But if you’re coming with me to send her back, better wear a mask to avoid chaos when we cross.”
“Got it.” Sweet Eun-jung nodded, pulling a prepared white mask from her pocket and putting it on deftly.
Then following Lin Xiuyuan and Ham Eun-jung, she stepped through back to the 2013 apartment.
Standing again in this familiar living room, complex emotions emerged in Ham Eun-jung’s eyes.
The room was as quiet as when she left; clothes draped on the sofa unmoved, only the wall clock showing 2:30 a.m.
“This is too seamless.” Sweet Eun-jung who followed sighed, “No dizziness or anything… I thought there’d be some traversal effects.”
“You watch too many movies.”
Hearing Sweet Eun-jung, Lin Xiuyuan chuckled lightly and gestured to Ham Eun-jung, “Come on, we’ll send you back to the dormitory first.”
……
Late-night air slightly cool, tree shadows dappled under streetlights.
After sending Ham Eun-jung to the dormitory building downstairs, Lin Xiuyuan waved to her, adding, “Your car—want me to get a driver to send it over tomorrow?”
Ham Eun-jung replied, “No rush; I’ll drive it myself. Some personal items inside.”
Lin Xiuyuan nodded without saying more, waved goodbye, then hit the accelerator and left the quiet neighborhood.
Gazing at the fading taillights, Ham Eun-jung stood silently for a moment, then lightly patted her cheeks and turned toward the dormitory.
Tonight’s two-plus hours were truly too shocking.
Soon, back at the dormitory, Ham Eun-jung had just changed into slippers and was about to relax.
Footsteps came from inside; Park Hyomin poked her head out, relief in her eyes.
“Eun-jung, I thought you weren’t coming back tonight, leaving me alone to guard the empty dorm.”
“Why so dramatic? I just went out for late-night snack.”
After changing shoes, Ham Eun-jung entered the living room, and Park Hyomin sidled up, sniffing her like a puppy.
Moments later, she looked at her in surprise, “…This smell’s off. Tteokbokki, budae jjigae, a bit of barbecue… You really just ate late-night snack?”
“What else?”
Amusedly pushing away Park Hyomin’s nosy head, Ham Eun-jung was glad Lin Xiuyuan really did order late-night snack, or she’d be exposed.
“What did I think? That you slept together.” Park Hyomin pivoted teasingly.
“Xiuyuan’s not that type, and… never mind.”
Sweet Eun-jung’s earlier “constitution” mention surfaced in Ham Eun-jung’s mind; though hard to fully believe now.
But she knew her own personality meant reasons behind it; this wasn’t baseless.
But that wasn’t something to tell Park Hyomin, so she stopped.
Seeing Ham Eun-jung hesitate, Park Hyomin suspiciously sat on the sofa, arms crossed, “Something’s off, very off. Eun-jung, coming back like this, you’re acting just like Ji-yeon—saying half and stopping.”
“Ji-yeon?”
Ham Eun-jung paused, suddenly seeming to understand, her gaze shifting slightly.
Meanwhile.
In the car back to the apartment, Sweet Eun-jung sat in the passenger seat, glancing sideways at driving Lin Xiuyuan teasingly.
“Xiuyuan, I’m curious—how’d you think to pull 2013 me in? Don’t say big gift package; if gifting, you could’ve just pulled me over.”
“So how’d you assume I had other plans?”
Lin Xiuyuan gripped the steering wheel, smile on his lips.
“Intuition.” Sweet Eun-jung answered crisply.
Facing this answer, Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, then said, “Do all you women have such strong sixth sense?”
“So you’re admitting I guessed right?” Sweet Eun-jung raised her brow.
Lin Xiuyuan nodded, “Not that complicated. Just lately, this side’s Ji-yeon seems… a bit lonely.”
His tone was gentle yet sincere.
“She doesn’t have Krystal like Sulli does to confide in, or Sulli and Taeyeon like Yoona. Compared to them, Ji-yeon holds up alone daily.”
This made Sweet Eun-jung furrow her brows lightly, glance silently at him, then smile relaxedly, “So you used this fishing chance to see who’s lucky, and give Ji-yeon a companion.”
“Something like that.” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
“I was thinking if 25’s Ji-yeon got hooked, it’d be a headache. With Little Ji-yeon’s resentment toward future Big Ji-yeon… it’d be full brawl in minutes.”
As Lin Xiuyuan finished, Sweet Eun-jung thought of something and laughed, “Hahaha, true. Ji-yeon at this age has quite the temper.”
“So good it was you, or Goo Ri. I was praying it wouldn’t be Ji-yeon, or I’d be scrapped on the spot.”
“You don’t want to see Ji-yeon them fighting, or yourself getting beat by Ji-yeon?”
In the passenger seat, Sweet Eun-jung looked at Lin Xiuyuan amusedly, “I just thought of something—that true love fan album you gave Ji-yeon was definitely made by this side’s Little Ji-yeon.”
“How are you so smart?” Lin Xiuyuan smiled without denying.
But the smiling Sweet Eun-jung turned serious the next second, “So Xiuyuan, you’re admitting you deceived Ji-yeon from the start?”
“I admit the start was deception, but not the rest.” Lin Xiuyuan answered calmly.
“It was deception from the beginning; what’s ‘the rest’?” Sweet Eun-jung pressed.
“Let me give an example.” Lin Xiuyuan said while driving, “I originally wanted to write 1000 on the check for you, but later thought it improper, crossed out the ‘1’, made it 2000.”
“So Eun-jung, do you think you ultimately got 2000 or 1000?”
After hearing, Sweet Eun-jung first answered, “Neither, checks can’t be crossed out.”
Then she smiled, “But I get your point: don’t fixate on the start; look at the whole process and result.”
“About that meaning.” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
Sweet Eun-jung pondered, then said, “Your saying matches almost exactly what Ji-yeon answered us back then. She threw a harsh line that shut us all up.”
Next second, Lin Xiuyuan casually followed, “Gentlemen judge by deeds, not intentions, right?”
“So in sync. Fine, since you both think it’s good, I won’t interfere. But hope you follow through, Xiuyuan.”
At this, Sweet Eun-jung’s smile faded slowly, “25’s Ji-yeon isn’t young like this side; better not hurt her more.”
“Tsk.” Lin Xiuyuan lightly clicked his tongue, “Hearing you, I wanna go back tonight and pump her full of Rejuvenation Pills.”
Sweet Eun-jung laughed happily, a bit curious, “She’d be thrilled. But seriously, Xiuyuan, does it really work that well?”
“How would I know? Ask Ji-yeon.”
“She said you smell great; Goo Ri unnie’s into you too.”
“…”
The car fell silent, then both laughed simultaneously.
On the way back, night gentle, car window framing quiet city streets. They chatted and laughed, not returning straight to the apartment but cruising Seoul’s nightscape.
Until Sweet Eun-jung dozed off in the seat, Lin Xiuyuan slowly drove back to the apartment.
He gently woke her, supported the groggy her through the time-space door, back to 2025 side to her apartment.
Gazing at her quiet figure on the bed, saying Lin Xiuyuan had no stray thoughts would be too fake.
But it was just thoughts.
His actions remained very restrained: removed her jacket, tucked her under the quilt, placed a cup of warm water by the bed.
Neat, no oversteps.
He didn’t notice that as he softly closed the bedroom door, those closed eyes had quietly opened.
Sweet Eun-jung’s eyelashes trembled slightly, eyes full of gentle amusement and undisguised admiration.
After he left, she got up to the living room window, watching the Mercedes-Benz car slowly leave sight, then sighed lightly with a curved smile.
“Xiuyuan—its repair far and winding, huh? What a nice-sounding name.”
……
……
Next day early morning, 2013, Seoul.
After squeezing in bed with Sulli and Jung Soo Jung last night, Park Ji-yeon rushed back to the company early today for stage rehearsal.
But soon, she noticed something off.
Eun-jung unnie kept looking at her with meaningfully complex eyes.
Eyes with smiles, but hiding pity and care, making Park Ji-yeon inexplicably guilty, wondering if she’d done something wrong.
Until rehearsal ended and before lunch everyone collapsed resting, Park Hyomin chatted with the dance teacher about friends’ updates, casually mentioning someone’s marriage, drawing sighs.
Park Ji-yeon listening nearby suddenly rolled her eyes, muttering “old woman.”
Next second, gentle hands landed on her shoulders, softly kneading her sore muscles.
Looking back to see Ham Eun-jung, Park Ji-yeon was about to say “No need, unnie,” but Ham Eun-jung softly said something first, striking her heart.
“Ji-yeon, don’t say that about yourself anymore. Your future self works really hard too.”
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