Chapter 138: Front Four, Back Three Safe Zone
“Huh, you seem like the fourth one.”
“Seem like?”
Ham Eun-jung in the front passenger seat turned her head to Lin Xiuyuan with a wry smile, “Why don’t you think carefully again? Your tone makes it feel like another ten or twenty are going to pop up behind, pushing my ‘seem like’ position further back.”
Lin Xiuyuan had already driven the car about a hundred meters, but upon hearing her, he thought seriously again.
Then he suddenly exclaimed “Ah,” “Oh right, I forgot there’s one more, so you’re the fifth.”
As soon as these words came out, Ham Eun-jung burst out laughing on the spot, “Wow, just now fourth, now fifth? Xiuyuan, do you want to think carefully again?”
“No need to think, it’s the fifth, definitely no mistake.”
Just now Lin Xiuyuan had forgotten Yoo Jimin, that DuangDuang romance brain, but it wasn’t his fault; he had just attended Tara’s swimsuit party a few days ago, with Lee Ji-eun and Sunny inside, too many Duangs, he forgot at once.
Ham Eun-jung smoothed the leather trim beside the seat, teasing with a smile, “That’s pretty few then, new car?”
“Yeah, should count as one.”
How would Lin Xiuyuan know if this car was new? Anyway, like that villa, he just took it and used it.
Then the two chatted about cars, from new energy to sports cars, then to RVs, the topics drifting along as the car steadily drove toward the destination.
Meanwhile, during the conversation, the car moved steadily toward the destination at a uniform speed, soon arriving at the nearby streets.
While chatting, a bakery flashing by outside the car window made Ham Eun-jung suddenly speak up, “Xiuyuan, stop for a bit, I’ll get off and buy some bread for late-night snack breakfast, want any?”
“Ah, I…”
He wanted to say no need, but Lin Xiuyuan thought of something and changed his words, “Then bring me two, I’m a bit afraid Ji-yeon will drag me to eat some Thai food later.”
Ham Eun-jung was about to push the door open, but hearing this, she turned back with a smile, “Tom Yum Goong Soup is pretty good.”
“Refuse, next time I’ll take you back to our side for better.”
She smiled lightly at these words, pushed the door open, got out, and entered the bakery, leaving Lin Xiuyuan alone in the car scrolling his mobile phone.
Then he realized Big Dragon Cub had sent him a text about picking up Ham Eun-jung, but he hadn’t noticed while driving.
After replying ‘on the way’ to her, he checked messages from others.
A few minutes later, Ham Eun-jung quickly finished buying and returned to the car, seeing him replying to messages, she casually asked, “Who is it.”
“Ji-yeon, asking where we are.”
Lin Xiuyuan looked up and saw the big bag of bread in her hand, instantly stunned, “Ah, Eun-jung, are you eating bread as a meal? Bought a bit too much, they have expiration dates.”
“Not too much, take some to the practice room tomorrow to eat together, Ji-yeon and the others want some too.”
“Rehearsals mean no going out for meals, all eating bread?”
“There’s also ramen, instant noodles.”
Lin Xiuyuan, restarting the car, was somewhat surprised, “With this eating style, no wonder you don’t gain weight, too harsh on yourselves.”
“Can’t go on stage performances fat, and it’s not every day, just occasionally.”
At this moment, she suddenly turned to look at him, “By the way, heard from Ji-yeon you’re going back to your country recently?”
“Yeah, something came up, need to go back.” Lin Xiuyuan replied, lightly braking at the same time, “Arrived.”
Ham Eun-jung looked outside the window, the car parked downstairs at a hotel.
Tonight’s dinner spot was the scenic restaurant on the rooftop booked by Big Dragon Cub.
The two took the elevator straight to the rooftop, as the doors opened, at the window seat, Big Dragon Cub and Lee Ji-eun were already sitting there.
Seeing Lin Xiuyuan and the other arrive, they also raised hands and called out softly.
“Eun-jung, this side.”
“Xiuyuan, here.”
Hearing the call, Lin Xiuyuan led Ham Eun-jung over, with almost no hesitation, and sat directly beside Big Dragon Cub.
This action caught the eyes of Lee Ji-eun and Ham Eun-jung, who exchanged a glance, tacitly pursing lips, then casually looked away as if nothing happened.
However, seeing tonight’s Big Dragon Cub, Lin Xiuyuan’s gaze couldn’t help a moment of amazement.
She had obviously dressed up specially, a black thin-strap camisole dress fully exposing her fair shoulders and neckline, delicate collarbone as if lightly outlined by moonlight under the soft lighting, emitting captivating sheen.
That hair also changed from the usual neat style to full soft long wavy curls, draped over shoulders and chest, outlining a lazy sexy atmosphere.
Plus a vibrant yet tasteful red lip color, and faintly visible tattoos, the whole person like a rose blooming in the night, stunningly radiant, full of allure.
At the moment, she was looking down at the menu, eyelashes thick and long, nose bridge high, lips slightly pursed, expression focused and quiet.
Noticing Lin Xiuyuan sit down, she turned her head to him with a gentle smile, handing over the menu, “See what you want to eat.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s lips curved slightly, taking the menu, “In this kind of restaurant, mains are just steak or pasta. You know, I’m a standard carnivore.”
As soon as he spoke, he sensed Big Dragon Cub beside him quietly leaning closer, that faint warmth gradually pressing near, familiar perfume scent drifting into his nose.
It was the scent deep in his memory, the scent he had been close to all night.
Tonight, this scent on her outfit was even more tantalizing.
Unconsciously, he sneaked a glance at the faintly visible curves on her chest, but quickly averted his gaze, afraid that one more second would be noticed as “improper” by Lee Ji-eun or Ham Eun-jung.
However, Big Dragon Cub keenly caught his little move, quietly smiled, and under the table reached out to gently pinch his thigh root.
This made Lin Xiuyuan a bit unable to handle it, so he pretended to flip the menu to ease the awkwardness, but his heartbeat was chaotic.
Meanwhile, the two “seniors” opposite had long caught this bit of ambiguity, exchanged a glance, both reading amusement and helplessness in each other’s eyes.
As dinner officially began, Lin Xiuyuan amid the flowers could only cope with the food while enduring the “mental torment.”
Especially Lee Ji-eun, after learning about Lin Xiuyuan and Big Dragon Cub’s relationship, spoke much more intimately, occasionally steering topics to him, and teaming up with Big Dragon Cub to tease him.
Even though Lin Xiuyuan had grown a lot now, this “double attack” was still too much for him.
Luckily Big Dragon Cub timely called stop on Lee Ji-eun’s teasing, then Ham Eun-jung also chatted about needing to cut her hair short for her new drama, making Lin Xiuyuan immediately look at her in surprise, “Ah, Sweet Eun-jung is turning back to Ham Eun-jung again?”
“Hahaha, I know that name, it’s what China fans gave me, pretty fitting.”
Ham Eun-jung smiled as she spoke, reaching to brush that long hair, “But no choice, filming requires it, hair that needs cutting still has to be cut. Honestly, if short hair could take me back to the ‘Ham Eun-jung’ era fans talk about, I’d actually be quite willing.”
“Why?” Lin Xiuyuan asked.
Ham Eun-jung didn’t answer immediately, just slightly turned her head, glancing at Big Dragon Cub beside her with peripheral vision, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, then quietly sighed.
Lin Xiuyuan saw her hesitation, raised his brow slightly, but tactfully didn’t press further.
Instead, he steered the topic to Lee Ji-eun, “Qiu Li, if given a chance to choose, would you cut your hair to go back to the past?”
Lee Ji-eun ate her salad with head down, smiled faintly, “Going back to the past doesn’t guarantee anything. If for making money, that’s just restarting once. As for changing fate, I don’t have that ability. So, now is pretty good.”
Lin Xiuyuan nodded, turning his gaze to Big Dragon Cub.
Her response was even more direct, taking a room card from her bag beside, and stuffing it into Lin Xiuyuan’s pocket under the table.
Then her lips hooked up, leaning close to his ear, whispering softly, “This is my answer. If life restarted, maybe you wouldn’t get this idol of yours.”
Lin Xiuyuan felt the card in his pocket, frozen like acupoint struck, no longer caring to ask questions, just burying his head to eat fiercely.
Meanwhile, Big Dragon Cub beside him smilingly added, “Eat more, get full.”
Opposite, Lee Ji-eun and Ham Eun-jung couldn’t hold back laughter, quietly exchanged a glance, shook heads, then found an excuse to leave the restaurant early, leaving the space to this pair of man and woman whose atmosphere was already extremely ambiguous, friends and more.
Seeing the dining table suddenly left with just him and Big Dragon Cub, Lin Xiuyuan asked, “Ah, they…”
“Can’t tell?” Big Dragon Cub smiled back, “They’re making space for us.”
She leaned closer, voice low and soft, “Full yet? Xiuyuan.”
“Hm?”
“Then, my turn to eat.”
“Ah?”
……
……
After nine in the evening, in a guest room of a certain hotel in Seoul, a low “clang” sound accompanied by the door closing echoed in the dim yellow lighting.
Big Dragon Cub, just back from the downstairs restaurant, turned around upon entering, without hesitation pinning Lin Xiuyuan against the wall behind.
Her actions decisive and sharp, eyes hot and burning, carrying emotions suppressed too long.
“Were you staring at me just now?”
Big Dragon Cub’s voice low and soft, tone sticky like drunken haze, even though she hadn’t drunk tonight.
But before Lin Xiuyuan could reply, she hugged his head again, kissing him.
This was an aggressive kiss without warning.
Passionate, dominant, leaving almost no room for the other to breathe.
Amid intertwined lips and teeth, Big Dragon Cub braced one hand on the wall, the other climbing his shoulder, feeling through the shirt his muscles tightening from the sudden intimacy.
Though all very sudden, Lin Xiuyuan quickly reacted, gripping her waist in return, instinctively responding to that heat.
Their actions grew more intense, as if igniting all previous careful restraints in this moment.
After bodies intertwined by the wall for a moment, they stumbled to the bedside, barely separating along the way.
Lin Xiuyuan supported Big Dragon Cub’s back with one hand, the other unconsciously sliding to her cunning shoulder, the skin under his palm scorching hot.
She bit his lower lip, teasing with a light laugh, then smoothly pushed him down on the bed edge, covering him entirely.
After a brief unsteady pause at the bed edge, they both stood up almost simultaneously, embracing and kissing toward the floor-to-ceiling window of the guest room.
Outside the window was brilliant night lights, while inside the glass, they formed an ambiguous silhouette wrapped in the night.
Inside the window, Big Dragon Cub’s fingertip lightly slid over Lin Xiuyuan’s neck side, then down, undoing the first button at his collar, when Lin Xiuyuan suddenly kissed her back fiercely, pulling her closer.
Their foreheads touched, breaths rapid, bodies pressed tight.
“Isn’t this a bit too rushed, Ji-yeon?” Lin Xiuyuan’s throat hoarse as he swallowed, panting lightly as he asked.
Big Dragon Cub chuckled lightly, voice like night breeze, “If you weren’t busy, I’d have come for you yesterday, you say is it rushed?”
Night deepened, neon outside blurred into hazy glow by the heat.
……
……
In the car, still that familiar car.
Just positions swapped, Ham Eun-jung in the front passenger seat, Lee Ji-eun gripping the steering wheel, driving slowly through Seoul’s crisscrossing neon night.
Outside the window, colorful lights, the city flowing in silence.
Suddenly, Ham Eun-jung turned to Lee Ji-eun beside her, said lowly, “Qiu Li, do you think Ji-yeon has been holding back too long?”
Lee Ji-eun raised her brow slightly, glanced at her, laughed out, “Rare, hardly ever see Eun-jung curious about this, but maybe, before she couldn’t casually find someone to release, could only vent inner emotions with tattoos.”
“By your logic, suddenly feel Xiuyuan appearing earlier might’ve been better.” Ham Eun-jung sighed lightly, “Honestly, I can understand Ji-yeon’s tattoos, but each time I see them, it feels a bit heartbreaking.”
“Hard to say, some things and people appearing at the right time is what’s correct.”
Looking at the colorful neon car lights outside, Lee Ji-eun sighed deeply, “If Xiuyuan appeared earlier, Ji-yeon hadn’t recovered a bit mentally then, maybe wouldn’t even bother with him.”
“True, just right after some recovery.” Ham Eun-jung nodded lightly after hearing the answer.
Moment of silence, then Lee Ji-eun suddenly laughed, “Forget it, no more heavy stuff. What do you say Xiuyuan and Ji-yeon are doing now?”
Ham Eun-jung’s lips curved in a smile, tone a bit playful, “What else, full belly thinks of XX~”
“Wow! You actually say that too!” Lee Ji-eun burst laughing, “Amazing, Sweet Eun-jung title won’t hold tonight.”
……
……
Night outside the window like a silent audience, starlight and city neon weaving a flowing backdrop, while the two figures before the glass nearly set the whole guest room ablaze.
Big Dragon Cub pinned against the glass by Lin Xiuyuan, the chill behind through the gauze dress reaching her skin, contrasting the heat of every inch pressed between them, suffocatingly hot.
She looked up at him, lips still flushed from the deep kiss, breath slightly disordered, with a hint of provocation, “Just kissing enough? Xiuyuan.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, gaze deep like an inky pool.
Next second, he leaned down to kiss her again, no longer rushed or probing like before, but deeper, fiercer, as if to swallow her whole into his chest.
Amid entwined lips and teeth, one hand pressed her waist to hold her tight, the other sliding down her back curve, brushing her side waist, then probing toward the skirt hem edge.
Big Dragon Cub trembled lightly, but didn’t retreat, instead wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tighter.
Outside lights shone in, her head slightly raised, exposing slender neck, delicate and vulnerable.
Lin Xiuyuan lowered to kiss that skin, first lightly touching, then fixing on that spot, suddenly deepening the force.
Big Dragon Cub let out a soft cry, hands climbing his back, nails nearly digging into his clothes.
Next instant, Lin Xiuyuan’s laughter sprinkled behind Big Dragon Cub’s ear, low and husky, “Louder, anyway outside can’t hear.”
Big Dragon Cub bit her lip without nonsense, stubbornly reaching to lift her long hair, fully exposing that fair neck to him, “Then bite.”
This sight made Lin Xiuyuan no longer restrain, lips and teeth from below her collarbone along the neckline down, from earlobe to shoulder, kiss marks dense, lips and teeth entangled.
His hand didn’t stop, wandering her side waist, fingertips repeatedly crossing her camisole edge, drawing tiny shivers on that soft skin.
Big Dragon Cub against the glass, head slightly tilted back, hair strands disheveled, thin sweat on forehead, eyes reddened at corners, lips vividly aflame.
“Xiuyuan…” she called him lowly, voice soft like melted sugar, “I’m safe today.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes tightened, inner heat intensifying, whispering by her ear, “You sure? Still time to regret now.”
But she just bit his shoulder and smiled, “Too late, never thought of backing out. This room, I booked for three days.”
With these words from Big Dragon Cub’s lips, the four-three knowledge point nearly melted Lin Xiuyuan’s reason instantly.
Thus the two embracing by the window, actions gradually accelerating out of control, like two speeding in the night, crashing into each other’s world.
Regardless of consequences, no limits, only seeking this moment.
Blazing, real, inseparable.
……
……
Three days later.
In that old tavern of 2013, Lin Xiuyuan lay on the bar counter dozing, face a bit pale, gaze drifting.
These days, besides occasionally returning here in daytime to check info, he almost stayed all night in the 2025 hotel room, squeezed dry by the limited experience card.
Krystal and Im Yoon Ah, due to work, had no time to mind him, giving Lin Xiuyuan this unparalleled three-day experience card.
But as he savored these days’ highlights, the tavern door was unlocked and pushed open from outside, someone entering.
Cheerful voice entered the tavern before the person, “Oppa, we got it, you ready?”
Sulli entering saw Lin Xiuyuan sprawled on the table, blinked, smilingly ran over, “Get up, oppa, gotta head to the airport, late otherwise.”
Lin Xiuyuan just about to rise and stretch, but froze seeing the familiar figure behind Sulli.
“Wait, Lin Xiaolu you’re going too?”
Lin Xiaolu raised her brow at him with a smile, “You didn’t know?”
Can I ask for some votes and rewards for this chapter, I revised it countless times!!!!
