Chapter 137: Im Yoon Ah Who Tricks Lin Xiaolu
At the elevator entrance.
Seeing Lin Xiuyuan’s car slowly pulling up, Lin Xiaolu immediately quickened her pace, deftly pulled open the car door, and slipped inside.
As soon as she sat down, she took off her sunglasses and grinned at Yoona in the front passenger seat, greeting her in a soft and sweet tone, “Te~acher, hello~”
Hearing that tone, Lin Xiuyuan’s hand tightened on the steering wheel, sensing trouble.
Sure enough, with that deliberately drawn-out “Te” popping out, Yoona—who had just been boasting to Lin Xiuyuan about her own charm—suddenly froze and turned her head to look at Lin Xiaolu in the back seat.
Wasn’t it? When she was young, where did this kind of attack power come from?
But there was no time for her to dwell on it now, so Yoona smiled back at Lin Xiaolu and casually sized up her outfit. “Yo, kid, why are you dressed so… youthful and vibrant today?”
“Eh? Really?”
Lin Xiaolu gazed at that incredibly familiar face, blinked, and as if genuinely surprised, looked down at her own outfit. “23 years old, isn’t that right in the prime of youth? Dressing a bit sunnier makes me look as young as Xiuyuan.”
Hearing that specific “23 years old” down to the exact digit, Yoona in the front seat instantly fell silent, while Lin Xiuyuan, who was driving, sneaked a chuckle, his shoulders shaking lightly.
“Oh dear, Teacher~ Sorry, I forgot about your situation.”
Lin Xiaolu acted as if she’d just remembered, her voice sweet as sugar and laced with a teasing edge. “I won’t mention age next time. After all… 23 is getting a bit old, right? What do you think, Xiuyuan?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Xiuyuan decisively changed the subject. “Let’s go, where should we drive?”
“Drive first.” Yoona tossed out the words coolly, her tone carrying a chill.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t dawdle and very tactfully hit the accelerator, leaving the parking lot. He picked a random direction and drove onto the avenue bathed in early summer sunlight.
The atmosphere in the car was subtly tense yet still lively.
Lin Xiaolu in the back seat quietly leaned forward, looking at Yoona’s profile, and launched her “attack plan” again.
“Teacher, your outfit today is really quite mature. I was just thinking if I should switch to a long skirt too. But then I thought, nah, I can’t pull off that kind of elegance like you, so I stuck with this.”
Mature, elegance!!!
These two words hit Yoona—who had just claimed “sexy invincible”—like precision-guided missiles.
She narrowed her eyes. Though her lips still curved in a smile, her fighting spirit had quietly ignited.
In 2025, she had toned down her edge a bit, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fight back.
“Your outfit’s not bad either,” she drawled, turning back to glance at Lin Xiaolu. “Pretty girly vibe, nice leg lines… just a shame you can’t show a bit more up top.”
In response, Lin Xiaolu in the back seat fired right back. “No worries, Teacher~ My legs can get corrective surgery. But at your age… what can be done?”
As she said this, her little expressions and lively gaze were full of spirit, nothing like the clumsiness she’d shown earlier during the lecture.
The air instantly froze.
That straight-ball critical hit silenced the car for three seconds.
Lin Xiuyuan stared dead ahead while driving, as if he no longer existed in this world, occasionally sneaking peeks at the two in the front and back seats via the rearview mirror.
But the smirk at the corner of his mouth couldn’t be hidden no matter what.
The car continued weaving through Seoul’s streets, leaving the clamor behind bit by bit. Outside the window, things gradually quieted, with greenery shading a serene park built along the riverside.
Lin Xiaolu twirled her sunglasses in her hand, her usual innocent smile inscrutable, as she continued her offensive toward Yoona in the front passenger seat.
“Teacher, you sure my skirt’s okay? I feel like I look a bit… um, like a tomboy in a long skirt. I wanted to be like you last time, full of charm, elegant, sexy, and mature.”
After saying that, she blinked, clearly waiting for Yoona’s reaction.
But this time, Yoona wasn’t playing along with the circling. She cut straight in: “Hey, enough already. Lin Xiaolu, did you eat gunpowder today? Chattering nonstop right from the start—who provoked you?”
Lin Xiaolu wasn’t backing down. “Wasn’t it you who started it? Dressing like that and calling me out for a drive—just showing off your figure, right?”
“I didn’t have that in mind. It was Xiuyuan who said to call you along.” Yoona countered.
Lin Xiaolu paused. “Ah? Was it Lin Xiuyuan who said you looked pretty and especially elegant today? I thought you came to show off.”
After quickly settling accounts, the two little deer Bambis exchanged glances and swiftly identified the ‘traitor,’ immediately turning their gazes to Lin Xiuyuan, who was driving.
At this moment, sweat beaded on Lin Xiuyuan’s forehead. “Uh, I… I was just telling the truth. Didn’t expect you two to ‘compete in beauty’…”
After hearing the explanation, Yoona snorted a laugh. “Tsk tsk, Xiuyuan, I really underestimated you. That relaying skill—too bad not to go into PR.”
Lin Xiaolu joined in tearing him down. “This guy’s clearly fanning the flames. I saw him sneaking chuckles earlier—obviously just watching the show. No wonder he suddenly said those things to me.”
“I didn’t. Lin Xiaolu, don’t make stuff up.”
Lin Xiuyuan wouldn’t dare admit it, so he adopted a stubborn duck stance.
At the same time, he quietly sped up the car. Under the cold stares from Yoona and Lin Xiaolu, he drove through a residential area and finally pulled into the parking lot of a suburban riverside park.
This place wasn’t as bustling as the parks in the city area; it carried a quiet coolness. Occasionally, the sound of river water lapping the shore could be heard, the air fresh, giving a sense of tranquil escape from the hustle.
It also drew a brief pause to this “in-car showdown.”
“We’re here.”
After saying that, Lin Xiuyuan quickly got out of the car—the pressure inside was intense.
Right behind him, Lin Xiaolu got out, opening the car door and stepping down while stretching lazily, breathing in the fresh air.
“You know, lately I’ve just been shuttling between the company and your place, Xiuyuan. It’s been ages since I casually came out like this to enjoy the breeze and sun.”
Next, Yoona in the front passenger seat got out unhurriedly, looking up at the open scenery with a distant gaze. “This park is gone in 2025—turned into residential buildings.”
“How do you know?”
Lin Xiuyuan, who had planned to stay far away after the ‘fanning the flames’ incident, had no choice but to turn back when he met Yoona’s half-smiling gaze.
“Because I used to come here for walks when I was dating in the past. How else would I know this place? Unless you’re specifically here to play, hardly anyone stops at this little park.”
Facing Yoona’s explanation, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly understood and turned to survey the surroundings.
The park wasn’t near any residential area or commercial district—just by the roadside, in the middle of nowhere.
After looking around, he sighed a bit. “No wonder. So that’s how you knew this place. Did you come back to reminisce about the past?”
“Reminisce my foot. I just wanted to come blow some wind.”
Yoona chuckled in exasperation, then lightly kicked Lin Xiuyuan’s leg as a small punishment for his earlier fanning and misspeaking.
Lin Xiuyuan dodged to the side, laughing as he said, “Running from 2025 back to 2013 just to blow wind— Yoona, you’re the most romantic being I’ve ever met.”
In response, Yoona pointed to the side and laughed. “Forget it, Xiuyuan. You stand guard over there for us—don’t talk to me anymore. You’re getting better and better at being annoying.”
Lin Xiuyuan was happy to oblige and quickly moved away from the two, though he didn’t forget to scan the surroundings, keeping watch for the two little deer Bambis.
Though he was quite curious what they were going to talk about.
As he left, Lin Xiaolu—who had already sensed something—turned to Yoona. “You came over specifically to talk to me about something, right?”
“Yeah, originally wanted Xiuyuan to call you, but thought I’d come in person and sightsee a bit.”
Yoona nodded lightly. Besides the drive, she did have something to discuss with Lin Xiaolu this time.
“What is it?” Lin Xiaolu asked curiously.
Then she saw Yoona pull out a mobile phone, flip to a photo inside, and hand it over.
Looking at the figures in the photo, Lin Xiaolu’s eyes first locked on Soo Jung. “Huh, Soo Jung unnie hasn’t changed much—just her hairline’s a bit higher, haha.”
“I’m not asking you to look at her.” Yoona was a bit exasperated.
“Is that Sunny unnie? Her face looks a bit stiff—is it a side effect?” Lin Xiaolu looked at the one next to her.
Yoona rolled her eyes speechlessly, then suddenly hooked her arm around Lin Xiaolu’s neck and whispered in her ear, “Look at Soo Jung, look at Soo Jung. Didn’t you notice she’s a bit different today from how we saw her yesterday?”
“Taken today?”
The voice in her ear made Lin Xiaolu murmur, then she took off her sunglasses and squinted at Soo Jung on the phone screen.
A moment later, she replied, “Doesn’t seem like a big difference. Maybe just her state—looks better than yesterday, probably got good rest last night.”
Lin Xiaolu’s words made Yoona roll her eyes again. She swiped her finger, opened a pre-buffered video, and held the screen in front of Lin Xiaolu once more.
2 minutes later, through the dynamic video, Lin Xiaolu finally noticed some differences.
“Her skin looks so good. Is makeup in ’25 already this refined? Dark circles aren’t as heavy, and the concealer shade looks nice too.”
Hearing this, Yoona sneered. “That’s because Soo Jung only had BB cream on, whereas yesterday she was in full makeup. Get what I’m saying now?”
Earlier, Lin Xiaolu hadn’t gotten it because there wasn’t enough info.
Now with Yoona laying it out plainly, Lin Xiaolu suddenly realized and turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, who was stretching nearby. “You mean him?”
“Besides Xiuyuan, I can’t think of another answer. That state change is too dramatic. I once slept a whole day and didn’t see anything like this.”
Yoona put away the phone, her eyes gleaming hotly as she gazed at Lin Xiuyuan.
“That’s too outrageous.” Lin Xiaolu still wasn’t quite ready to believe it.
“Is it more outrageous than the time-space door?” Yoona said.
Lin Xiaolu had nothing to say to that, but a curiosity arose. “Then why tell me? Why not just try it with him yourself? Didn’t you say before, guys or girls, friends or whatever, it doesn’t matter?”
Realizing Yoona wanted to push her out as a test subject, Lin Xiaolu shot back.
Yoona spread her hands. “I’d like to, but no time. Tomorrow I’m heading overseas for a while—fan meetings and activities around my birthday, you know how it is.”
“So coincidental?” Lin Xiaolu widened her eyes.
Yoona replied, “I’ve already postponed it once and again.”
They chatted while slowly walking along the riverside until they spotted a small pavilion.
Yoona suggested, “Let’s go sit in that pavilion over there—nice and cool.”
Lin Xiaolu nodded, not forgetting to call Lin Xiuyuan.
Then the three strolled unhurriedly to the small pavilion by the water’s edge. After sitting, a gentle breeze swept through, making the atmosphere even more serene and relaxed.
Lin Xiuyuan leaned against a pavilion pillar, enjoying the moment of peace while keeping an eye on the surroundings, standing guard for the two behind him.
On the pavilion’s rear side, Yoona and Lin Xiaolu sat close. Lin Xiaolu tilted her head, as if holding back for a long time before finally speaking softly. “Why does it have to be me trying it?”
Yoona didn’t answer right away, her gaze lingering on Xiuyuan leaning against the pillar ahead.
A moment later, she softly asked, “Have you ever seriously and up close looked at Xiuyuan’s eyes? And his figure.”
“Ah, no.”
Lin Xiaolu was stunned by the question, blinked, and hesitated before shaking her head. “We’ve talked a lot, but I guess I haven’t really looked at his eyes specifically. Same with his figure—haven’t seen him without clothes.”
“That’s really a shame. Xiuyuan’s figure is explosive.”
Yoona propped her chin, as if recalling something, her lips curving in that familiar smile between teasing and seriousness. “As for his eyes, just look once and you’ll know. They’re truly clear—unbelievably clear.”
She paused, then continued, “Like they’ve been washed by something, so clean it’s unreal. Like eyes with a ‘protagonist filter’.”
“So?” Lin Xiaolu still didn’t see what this had to do with her.
Yoona lifted her chin lightly, staring straight into her deer eyes. “I’m thinking, if you had eyes like that, a bunch of lead actress roles would land right on your desk.”
“That’s exaggerating a bit.”
Having figured it out, Lin Xiaolu found it hard to believe.
Just mugwort—could it really transform someone?
“I don’t get it either, just sharing my thoughts.”
Yoona shrugged lightly and said casually, “I came over suddenly today because a few photos and videos from Sunny unnie shocked me a bit, so I wanted to chat with you. If you don’t believe it, pretend I never said anything.”
Facing Yoona’s excuse, Lin Xiaolu rolled her eyes hard. “You think that’s possible? You spelled it out, showed me evidence, and expect me to act like I don’t know?”
Then, as if realizing something, Lin Xiaolu immediately looked at her future self with utter gloom.
“Oh, I get it. You’re blatantly dangling this in front of me to tempt me. Hey, Yoona, that’s not cool. No matter what, I’m you too.”
“So I’m doing this for your own good.” Yoona smiled faintly.
“Thanks a lot.”
After her sarcastic remark, Lin Xiaolu fell silent and followed Yoona’s gaze to the young man half-leaning against the pavilion pillar.
Her thoughts suddenly drifted far, her thin lips pursing tightly before she let out a soft sigh.
Beside her, Yoona—who had been watching—smiled slightly. She wasn’t unwilling to try herself; she just wanted to see if the effect was really that striking.
Yeah, observe first.
Anyway, pitting anyone is pitting—pitting herself had the least mental burden.
……
……
In the evening, after strolling the riverside park a bit, they drove a couple laps around Seoul city center.
Until the sun dipped west and lights came on, they finally ended this ‘drive outing’.
Since there was rehearsal in the evening, Lin Xiuyuan first dropped Lin Xiaolu back at her dormitory, then took Yoona back to 2025.
“Xiuyuan, dinner together?” Back at the villa side, Yoona immediately suggested.
However, Lin Xiuyuan said he already had plans with Big Dragon Cub that evening.
“Hm?” Yoona narrowed her deer eyes, her smile deepening. “You two?”
Lin Xiuyuan quickly replied, “Friends, don’t overthink it.”
“Heh~”
Yoona, who had just been mocked by Lin Xiaolu for that phrase, couldn’t believe she heard it from Lin Xiuyuan’s mouth so soon—her eyes nearly rolled to the sky.
But she wasn’t some little girl; she wouldn’t throw a tantrum over a refusal.
She even stepped forward proactively, brushing dirt off Lin Xiuyuan’s sleeve. “Then drive carefully. I start work tomorrow anyway and need to pack tonight.”
Hearing this, curiosity flashed in Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes. “Huh, rare for you to work? How many days?”
“3 or 4 days, but then promoting the new drama—probably flying to three or four places. It’ll be over a week total, around when you get back from Neon.”
Chatting as they went, the two left the villa and sped off once more in the Mercedes-Benz on Seoul’s familiar streets.
But this time, it was 2025, not 2013.
After dropping Yoona at her apartment, Lin Xiuyuan turned the car around and headed to the spot he’d just arranged with Big Dragon Cub on the road.
But when he arrived, instead of Big Dragon Cub, he saw Ham Eun-jung.
Slightly surprised, Lin Xiuyuan pulled up beside her, lowered the car window. “Evening, Eun-jung.”
Seeing Lin Xiuyuan, Ham Eun-jung smiled first, then said softly, “Evening, Xiuyuan. Ji-yeon isn’t here—she’s elsewhere. I had her call you to pick me up and go together.”
“Ah, you could’ve just called me directly. I thought it was her here.”
Understanding the situation, Lin Xiuyuan spoke while quickly unlocking the car door, letting Ham Eun-jung into the front passenger seat.
The moment she sat, she twitched her nose slightly, as if catching a scent, and curiously side-eyed the guy in the driver’s seat.
Facing that look, Lin Xiuyuan explained without hesitation, “Just dropped Yoona at her apartment—probably her perfume lingering.”
Hearing it was Yoona’s perfume, Ham Eun-jung’s eyes lit up, and she laughed. “Looks like your front passenger seat has hosted quite a few girls, Xiuyuan.”
The comment left Lin Xiuyuan silent for a moment as he mentally counted, then looked at Ham Eun-jung beside him in some surprise.
“Huh, seems you’re the fourth.”
Daily ten thousand ends—thanks to godfathers for support and votes.
Daily ten thousand progress bar report: 25/38.
Monthly tickets, subscriptions!!!
（PS: Godfathers, I’m a part-time writer, part-time, so work is busy!!!!!）
