Chapter 120: The Hungover Artistic Girl Ham Eun-jung
Apartment entrance.
With that sudden jolt of static electricity, Ham Eun-jung instinctively let go of her hand, while Lin Xiuyuan quickly took the bag from her hand first.
Then he lightly coughed, concealing the strangeness of that instant, “Just static electricity. The weather has been pretty dry lately.”
Ham Eun-jung softly hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t continue the conversation, just slightly lowering her head, her peripheral vision quietly sizing him up.
The fingertips gripped tightly seemed to still retain that sensation, like some lingering warmth that hadn’t dissipated, slowly trailing across her skin.
The air fell into a brief silence.
Lin Xiuyuan seemed to sense the subtle aura in that wordless silence, so he took the initiative to speak, “Why did you come alone? Why didn’t you have Ji-yeon come with you?”
Ham Eun-jung was taken aback upon hearing this, lifting her head, her gaze pausing slightly on his face.
Seeing that he had proactively mentioned her own little dragon cub, she curiously asked, “Boss Lin, how did you and Ji-yeon meet? This is the first time I’ve seen Ji-yeon so intimate and close with a guy.”
Lin Xiuyuan, somewhat surprised she would ask this, blinked and tugged at the corner of his mouth, “How we met—you were there at the time too, weren’t you?”
Then, Ham Eun-jung’s voice rose a few degrees, “That’s why it’s so hard to believe. You two have only met one or two more times than I have, right? How did you get so familiar?”
“We’ve met many times afterward too, and after drinking and chatting together a lot, we just got more familiar.”
“Just drinking and chatting?” Ham Eun-jung pressed calmly, her gaze clear yet carrying a hint of inquiry.
Lin Xiuyuan felt a bit uneasy under her stare, turning his head to avoid her gaze, smiling as he deflected, “What else? You wouldn’t think there’s something between us, would you? That would really be overthinking it.”
“Is that so~ Well, there’s also Sulli and Yoona. Your network of relationships is even harder to imagine.”
After softly responding, Ham Eun-jung’s tone showed no emotion, but her gaze seemed to quietly note those words down.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiuyuan, carrying the bag, walked toward the elevator again and pressed the downstairs button.
As the elevator dinged upon arrival, Lin Xiuyuan stepped in first, pressed the first floor button, and looked back at Ham Eun-jung following behind, “Eun-jung, do you have work tomorrow too?”
“No, taking a day off.”
Ham Eun-jung entered the elevator and stood beside him.
This time her voice was warm, not as sharp as before, “Just handling these miscellaneous things.”
“Then…”
During the elevator’s descent, Lin Xiuyuan seemed to suddenly remember something, turning his head to her, “How about not rushing off when we get down? My tavern is just ahead—want to come sit for a bit? I’ll mix you a special cocktail.”
Ham Eun-jung’s eyes widened slightly, a bit surprised by Lin Xiuyuan’s invitation, “Drinking this late?”
“What, afraid I’ll get you drunk?” Lin Xiuyuan deliberately flashed a mischievous grin.
Unexpectedly hearing this, Ham Eun-jung burst out laughing with a “pfft,” her eyes curving as she gazed at him, “Not that, just curious what the two of us could even talk about.”
Lin Xiuyuan paused, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, his tone half-teasing, “Let’s chat and see just how much it takes to get you completely drunk.”
This remark left Ham Eun-jung’s gaze slightly shocked; she hadn’t expected this guy to still remember that conversation they had back then.
So she didn’t reply, just tilting her head slightly, gazing at him with a half-smile, a glint from the elevator’s LED screen reflecting in her eyes, turning into a silent response in the night.
The elevator doors slowly opened, and the two walked out side by side, a faint ambiguity quietly rippling through the silent night corridor.
“Shall we go?”
Ham Eun-jung nodded lightly, not refusing.
Their footsteps one behind the other, heading toward the small tavern at the edge of the residential area.
But passing the parking space, Ham Eun-jung suddenly said, “You just went out—were you seeing Sulli off?”
Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, “How did you know?”
“I’ve come a few times and recognized Sulli’s license plate. I saw it downstairs just now and thought you two were at the tavern.”
With that, she familiarly took out her key to unlock the car, “Put the things in the car first, so we don’t have to carry them back and forth later.”
Lin Xiuyuan nodded, placed the bag in, and soon the two arrived at the small tavern entrance.
Watching the guy opening the door, Ham Eun-jung curiously asked from behind, “Boss Lin, why did you think to invite me for a drink?”
“I just said so.”
Lin Xiuyuan smiled back, pushing the door open amid the beeping of the door lock, casually turning on the lights and some equipment by the bar counter.
Ham Eun-jung, following in, smiled and said, “That reason sounds a bit fake.”
This made Lin Xiuyuan, already at the bar counter, glance back at her, “What if I say there’s no reason—just suddenly wanted a drink, so I invited you.”
Ham Eun-jung seemed to be waiting for such a response; upon hearing it, her smile brightened even more, even laughing out loud, “Hahaha, Boss Lin, does that count as lustful intention?”
Lustful intention?
Ham Eun-jung’s response made Lin Xiuyuan look at her seriously.
Today, she was dressed simply: a pure white fitted T-shirt paired with high-waisted dark blue jeans, trouser legs casually rolled up twice, revealing a section of slender calf, canvas shoes on her feet.
No excessive adornments, nothing deliberately styled.
Her hair in a casual ponytail, earlobes clean without accessories, looking just like a female college student who could grace the cover of a lifestyle magazine with a casual snap.
Yet this casual outfit outlined her figure perfectly clearly.
Her slim, taut waistline, the T-shirt clinging just right, letting one sense that ultimate curve at a glance.
The subtle rise at her chest was clearly present, yet not at all abrupt, more like a natural temptation with tension.
Especially those high-waisted jeans, displaying her already superior waist-to-hip ratio to the fullest—round, firm, curves sharp—compared to that one from 2025, seeming even more captivating.
Lin Xiuyuan, who had meant to joke back, after looking twice, truly couldn’t dodge that “lustful intention” tease.
Finally, he lightly coughed and turned to work at the bar counter, “If you put it that way, I can’t very well say no, or I’d seem too clueless.”
“That’s not the answer I wanted to hear.”
Ham Eun-jung sat on the high stool in front of the bar counter, her tone soft, “I thought since you can make Ji-yeon so happy, you must have some real skills behind it.”
And this response above was precisely the real reason Ham Eun-jung agreed to meet so late.
She really wanted to probe what this guy had that made little Ji-yeon pounce on him so irrationally.
Was it sweet talk to coax women, or what?
So when Ham Eun-jung sat on the high stool and voiced this thought, Lin Xiuyuan, standing inside, paused in his bartending, looking up with a smile.
“Then I can only borrow a line to describe it.”
“What line?” Ham Eun-jung rested her hands on the bar counter, propping her chin slightly, watching him.
“The flowers are blooming at their brightest; if I don’t appreciate them, I’d seem to lack romance.”
Hearing this, Ham Eun-jung was somewhat stunned, a trace of daze passing through her gaze.
Lightly stated, yet carrying a piercing romance, like a classic dialogue plucked from an old poetry collection or a black-and-white classic movie, striking her instantly.
So she gently lowered her lashes, fingertips rubbing the solid wood bar surface, her expression no longer prickly like before, but softer and more serene.
Actually, even though she was always alluring on stage, dancing the hottest dances, singing the most seductive songs.
Deep down, she was still that artistic young girl who could quietly be alone, feeling the world with pen and eyes.
She liked curling up on the sofa alone reading Haruki Murakami, or on a sunny afternoon, taking some pigments to paint a lily under light and shadow.
In such a life, even days without speaking, she could live freely and peacefully.
Behind the bar counter, Lin Xiuyuan continued bartending, the clink of glass and metal pulling her back from her thoughts.
She lifted her eyes, looking at this guy with skilled movements.
Handsome features, phoenix eyes with a boyish air, under the dim yellow lighting, giving off an indescribable artistic vibe.
So she spoke softly, her tone softer than before, “That line of yours would fit right into the novel I’m reading lately.”
Lin Xiuyuan, busy as he was, surprisingly raised a brow, “You usually read novels?”
Ham Eun-jung smiled faintly, suddenly laying her head on the bar counter, whispering, “Novels, essays, art books; occasionally I practice drawing too. In Ji-yeon and their words, I’m not really like the ‘female idol’ in fans’ minds.”
She didn’t elaborate, but her gaze gradually cleared.
It seemed from this moment, her view of Lin Xiuyuan was no longer just “friend of a friend” so simply.
“Eun-jung Eun-jung, the name fits you perfectly.” Lin Xiuyuan laughed after hearing this.
“What about you, Lin Xiuyuan? What does your name mean?”
Hearing this question, Lin Xiuyuan paused slightly in his bartending, seeming stunned for a moment.
But he quickly recovered, smiling in response, “My name comes from a line of poetry by an ancient poet from our side.”
“Ancient poetry?” Ham Eun-jung perked up, “Which line?”
“The road is long; its repair far. I will go up and down to seek.”
As he said this line, Lin Xiuyuan used Chinese.
So Ham Eun-jung didn’t quite understand, and he translated it again, also explaining the meaning of the poem to her.
When Ham Eun-jung heard “persevering unyieldingly to seek that ideal path in life,” her already clear eyes seemed even brighter.
Then she straightened up, looking at Lin Xiuyuan with genuine admiration, “Boss Lin, your name is even better.”
“Don’t be so formal—call me by name or Xiuyuan. You’re older than me anyway.” Lin Xiuyuan, having finished mixing the drink, gently placed the glass in front of her.
“Call you Xiuyuan? If Ji-yeon hears that, will she challenge me to a fight?” Ham Eun-jung, sipping the drink, laughed.
Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, following her tone, “So who would win between you two?”
“Not sure. Ji-yeon is great at taekwondo, but I’m not bad either—won’t know without trying.”
Unexpectedly seeing this other side of Ham Eun-jung, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help looking at her a few more times, smiling, “Hearing you say that, I’m curious what kind of novels you read. Not those violent ones or gory horror types, right?”
“You guessed wrong.”
Ham Eun-jung seemed poked at something, a faint smugness emerging on her face, “I’ve been rereading Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata lately—not my first time, but some passages always feel different each read.”
“‘After passing through the long tunnel marking the county line, there was the snow country,’ right?” Lin Xiuyuan’s mouth curved up, “I remember the opening.”
Across from him, Ham Eun-jung’s eyes lit up, “You’ve read it too?”
“A little.”
Indeed just a little, since he learned about Snow Country mostly from explanations in future short videos, pausing to watch a few episodes casually.
So his knowledge of Snow Country mostly came from those explanations; as for the actual novel, he only flipped a few pages on an e-book, didn’t finish it.
Perhaps because it had been so long since meeting someone she could really connect with, when discovering Lin Xiuyuan unexpectedly matched her in some ways, Ham Eun-jung became more proactive than usual.
“Actually, compared to Snow Country, I prefer stories that are slow with lingering aftertaste. Then, depending on my mood while reading, I sketch a painting casually—not always succeeding, just stroking the canvas bit by bit.”
“So painting isn’t the main thing; you’re just seeking a spiritual solace.” Lin Xiuyuan chuckled lightly, explaining for her.
“Yes!” Ham Eun-jung’s eyes brightened, as if her thoughts were read, “That’s exactly it. You’re really smart.”
Watching her increasingly bright expression, Lin Xiuyuan teased smilingly, “You’re smarter. The realm of painting has always been the preserve of geniuses.”
This made Ham Eun-jung a bit shy, “No, I just doodle casually—nothing as great as you imagine.”
“Never studied it professionally?”
“No, just took some elective courses in college, then bought materials and messed around on my own.”
As Ham Eun-jung spoke, she framed a shape with her fingers, “And I paint small pieces, mostly scenery, some abstract, but I don’t dare show them to others.”
“I’d really like to see your paintings.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s tone was sincere, not polite, “Because from what you say, you feel completely different from the Eun-jung I imagined.”
With that, he thought of something, looking around, “Or see if you can give me a few pieces to decorate the walls around the tavern—saves me buying paintings outside, best of both worlds.”
“So what did you think I was like before?” Ham Eun-jung tilted her head, gazing at him with a playful glint.
At this moment, she had completely shed the vigilance from the apartment entrance.
Facing this guy she clicked with, it was like finding a channel to be understood; many buried emotions and preferences poured out toward him involuntarily.
“Thought you were the type who’s radiant on stage, aloof and silent off it.”
Lin Xiuyuan laughed, “Because at the tavern opening before, that’s how you were—your stare made me worry you’d come scold me anytime. But now I see you’re quite warm, very grounded in life.”
Ham Eun-jung didn’t speak upon hearing this, just raised her glass, clinked it lightly against his, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, “Then you better cherish this ‘limited edition warmth’ today—miss it and it’s gone.”
“Alright, then I’ll have a few more drinks tonight.” Lin Xiuyuan, amused by her, nodded.
The two thus chatted and drank, occasionally swapping books they’d read, favorite painters—from Monet’s colors to Murakami’s solitude, then Eileen Chang’s tone to Kawabata’s whitespace.
But none delved too deep, both being half-knowledgeable.
Ham Eun-jung too busy with work to read deeply, Lin Xiuyuan mostly from 2025 short video platforms’ superficial intros—here a bit, there a bit, scattered.
So just superficial understanding.
But even that was enough for Ham Eun-jung to feel a long-lost resonance. In all these years, no one had chatted so much random stuff with her.
Even members didn’t chat this much variety; they just went deeper.
Night serene, tavern lights softly enveloping them, their distance quietly drawing much closer amid cup after cup of sake and words.
The next day.
In the dormitory.
Morning light filtered through curtain gaps onto Ham Eun-jung’s eye corner; she frowned, feeling drained of strength when turning over.
Head slightly throbbing, mouth dry,
Staring blankly at the ceiling, seconds later realizing it was her own room, but forgetting how she got back here.
Head still faintly aching, last night’s alcohol haze not fully gone; still in yesterday’s clothes, but shoes neatly removed by the bed.
But soon, as her mind cleared, memory fragments drifted into Ham Eun-jung’s mind.
Small tavern’s music, cocktail taste, and their happy laughter.
“I remember I wasn’t drunk then.”
Ham Eun-jung, holding her forehead as she sat up, recalled more clearly.
She remembered not drinking much later, just too absorbed in chat; time flew till late.
Then Lin Xiuyuan said “I’ll take you back,” and she seemed blown here by night wind—everything after blanked out.
After sitting dazed for a while, as her head improved slightly, Ham Eun-jung got up and went out, immediately bumping into two familiar faces.
“Yo, you’re awake, our Eun-jung.”
Park Hyomin leaned against the living room doorframe, holding a cup of hot coffee, squinting at her.
Beside her stood Park Ji-yeon, full of resentment, pouting.
“Oppa, you went drinking with oppa last night without calling us. You said you never get drunk, but first time alone with a guy and you blacked out—lucky it was oppa, or consequences unimaginable.”
“Who says I blacked out…” Ham Eun-jung rolled her eyes, stubbornly retorting, “Just a bit dizzy.”
Drunk people are all stubborn as titanium alloy, refusing to admit drunkenness—Ham Eun-jung no exception.
While Ham Eun-jung was handling Park Ji-yeon and Park Hyomin in 2013, Lin Xiuyuan in 2025 unexpectedly got a call from Kim Tae Yeon.
“Hey, Xiuyuan, come out for food.”
“Hm?”
Seeking monthly tickets, another chapter later.
