Chapter 151: Monogamy And Polygamy
In 2013, inside the temporary private room of a private cuisine restaurant.
As the food was served, Lin Xiuyuan closed the room door again, and Im Yoon Ah, who had just put on the mask, took it off again.
Lin Xiaolu, watching all this from the side, smiled slightly. “Although the mask is a bit troublesome, at least I can go out and walk around now. It’s quite effective.”
Im Yoon Ah, who had put down the mask, nodded lightly. “Yeah, but there’s one situation: if someone accidentally knocks it off, it’ll be trouble, so it’s still not suitable for crowded places.”
Lin Xiuyuan, who was serving soup to the two, heard this and immediately thought of something, smiling. “If you want to go to crowded places, I suggest buying a skin suit to wear before going.”
“In that case, even more people would surround and watch, right? Moreover, going out is to go shopping, to have fun. Wearing that kind of doll skin suit would mean being played with.”
After hearing Lin Xiuyuan’s answer, Im Yoon Ah directly gave him a charming eye roll, then said faintly.
However, Lin Xiaolu, who heard this answer, also stood up to speak for Lin Xiuyuan. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a skin suit. Just wearing that kind of mask or headgear that goes over the head would do. The kind that’s hard for you to take off yourself, let alone others touching it off.”
“Hmm~ So Lin Xiaolu, you’ve been watching SM lately, huh.”
A nasal sound with laughter passed by, and then Im Yoon Ah, amid Lin Xiaolu’s shock, said this.
After her pupils shook for a few seconds, Lin Xiaolu denied it repeatedly. “What thing? I didn’t. What are you talking about?”
“Otherwise, it’s headgear, and it can’t be taken off…”
“Let’s eat. I don’t want to talk to you.”
Looking at the teasing smile on Im Yoon Ah’s face, Lin Xiaolu, after throwing out this sentence, could only pick up the chopsticks and start drinking soup, picking up food, and eating.
Across from her, Lin Xiuyuan saw the situation and laughed silently.
Then, very unluckily, this smile was caught by Lin Xiaolu. She looked up and said, “What are you laughing at, Lin Xiuyuan? How did I not know you could make bread? When will you make some for me?”
“Ah?”
“He can make it with you right now.”
“Huh?”
In these few short sentences, there were all sorts of messy thoughts. First, it stunned Lin Xiuyuan, then dumbfounded Lin Xiaolu, while only Im Yoon Ah was laughing.
So the three of them just gazed at each other, and in an instant, the entire private room fell silent.
A moment later, Lin Xiuyuan, who had sorted out the context and meaning of the words, chuckled, glanced at the slyly smiling Im Yoon Ah, and quickly said, “Definitely next time. Let’s eat first, eat.”
At this time, Lin Xiaolu, who was a step behind Lin Xiuyuan, also figured out the meaning of that sentence Im Yoon Ah had suddenly interjected, understanding all the implications after the misunderstanding.
Then she sighed deeply. “Wow, hey, Im Yoon Ah, will I really end up like you in the future? Are you sure you’re Im Yoon Ah and not Sunny older sister?”
“You know, Sunny older sister has really become more and more conservative as she gets older, unlike in 12 or 13 when she was more open about playing.”
It was fine not mentioning it, but once Sunny was brought up, Im Yoon Ah had a topic.
Then she pulled Lin Xiaolu to chat beside her, comparing the members from 2013 and 2025, one remark after another.
From changes in personality, work situations, to private lives, developments, and so on.
Lin Xiuyuan quietly ate his lunch, listening to the two gossip while occasionally interjecting with a few curious questions, and chatting in the group with Jung Soo Yeon, Park Ji-yeon, and others.
Among them, Park Ji-yeon asked Lin Xiuyuan if he was free tomorrow. She had finally finished handling the company setup through connections recently and wanted to meet up with him.
Lin Xiuyuan, who had just returned from Neon, naturally had time, so they scheduled a time.
At this moment, Im Yoon Ah across from him saw Lin Xiuyuan typing furiously with his head down, so she quickly leaned to Lin Xiaolu’s ear and whispered, “What’s the situation between you two? No, what’s your situation? Couldn’t you win this guy over in a week?”
After saying that, she gave Lin Xiaolu a disdainful look, feeling that this young version with her own face had made such a mess, which was a bit embarrassing.
“You’re nagging. And I never said I was going to make a move.”
Lin Xiaolu avoided her gaze, lowered her head to eat a couple of bites of food, seemingly unwilling to talk about this topic.
Mainly, the stop-and-go game these past few days had her a bit hooked. For example, right now, while eating, she subconsciously licked her lips.
As if the warmth from the two of them these past few days still lingered above.
Compared to straightforward needle-to-needle opposition, she seemed to prefer the taste of this ambiguity period.
Im Yoon Ah, who didn’t notice this, became curious about another situation. “So how did you pass that morning audition?”
Because if nothing had happened as Lin Xiaolu said, she didn’t think her young self could have snatched that role.
“…”
Lin Xiaolu, pierced right to the problem, looked around and then lifted her gaze to the opposite side.
Across from her, Lin Xiuyuan, who had also heard the question, met Lin Xiaolu’s gaze. What else could he do but bail her out?
So he opened his mouth. “Yoona…”
But before he could finish, Im Yoon Ah interrupted. “Xiuyuan, I think you need to go use the bathroom. Don’t you think so?”
“Ah~”
Lin Xiuyuan was stunned, and only when he saw Im Yoon Ah’s smiling expression did he suddenly realize. “Oh, alright, I’ll go use the bathroom. You two chat.”
Then, with a helpless smile, he glanced at Lin Xiaolu beside him, giving her a ‘can’t help you’ look, before standing up and leaving.
As the private room door closed, Im Yoon Ah didn’t beat around the bush and immediately said, “Lin Xiaolu, we two are a community of shared future now. Why are you hiding things? What’s the benefit to you? Or do you just feel… shy and don’t dare say?”
“You’re so gossipy, Im Yoon Ah.” Lin Xiaolu retorted.
“What do you mean gossipy? Let me tell you the truth: last night Xiuyuan just had his yang energy sucked by other vixens. And men are always weaker than women in this aspect. If you keep dragging your feet, don’t regret it later.”
As soon as Im Yoon Ah said this, Lin Xiaolu beside her narrowed her eyes.
“What do you mean sucked yang energy? You mean last night he… Wait, didn’t you say he was at your apartment last night? Could it be…”
Then, Lin Xiaolu’s gaze locked tightly onto Im Yoon Ah, wanting an answer from her.
Im Yoon Ah smiled, teasing Lin Xiaolu’s appetite fully. “I did leave the door open for him, but who knew Xiuyuan was so upright? He surprisingly didn’t open the door to peek…”
“Just wanting him to peek?”
“If he wanted to eat, I was quite happy last night, so I wouldn’t have refused.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu frowned tightly. Although reason told her that with Lin Xiuyuan’s current situation, there was no way it would lead to any proper romance.
But the feminine sensibility that had emerged these days due to the ‘experience methods,’ along with hormone secretions and such, was influencing Lin Xiaolu, making her impulsively want to go for the heart rather than just the body.
A moment later, Lin Xiaolu finally shared some of what happened these past few days in the Roppongi presidential suite, and how when going out, she proactively threw herself into the ‘experience,’ trying various behaviors.
However, after hearing it, Im Yoon Ah was completely dumbfounded. “No way, you were that proactive, and Xiuyuan held back?”
“So you know why I didn’t want to say it? It’s really embarrassing. He really held back.”
Slamming down her chopsticks, Lin Xiaolu sighed deeply, feeling depressed and annoyed, yet also admiring Lin Xiuyuan.
Not unworthy of the man she had her eye on… The aftereffects were back again.
Then Im Yoon Ah asked, “What about you? It’s reached this point, why not be more proactive?”
“I have a face to save.”
Lin Xiaolu’s explanation left Im Yoon Ah completely speechless.
At the same time, she realized that her young self in front of her was only 23 years old. Even if worldly and experienced, her skin was still a bit thin.
If it were her, she wouldn’t let Lin Xiuyuan leave the hotel door without sucking his bone marrow dry.
Thinking of this, Im Yoon Ah let out a regretful “Ah.”
“What?” Lin Xiaolu looked at her.
“No wonder Xiuyuan kept staring at me occasionally last night. Turns out you’ve progressed to this step. If I’d known, I would’ve…”
Im Yoon Ah thought that since her young self was like this, her future self had no secrets left.
Might as well just eat that guy and experience if it really works.
Learning Im Yoon Ah’s thoughts, Lin Xiaolu felt a bit uncomfortable inside and huffed. “No need to be that proactive, right? Can’t we take it slow?”
“I just told you, in that matter, men are definitely the weaker ones. You think why monogamy is popular in society now? It’s to protect men. In polygamy, look why men died young in ancient times—most were drained dry by women.”
Facing Im Yoon Ah’s ‘fallacy,’ it shocked the current Lin Xiaolu immensely. “Ah, don’t lie to me. Is monogamy explained like that?”
“Otherwise, go back and check the books yourself.” Im Yoon Ah didn’t explain further.
Because she had heard this saying on short videos, and using it now to shock her young self was quite amusing.
Moreover, in some sense, Im Yoon Ah thought it made sense.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help turning her head to look at the doorway.
Noticing this gaze, Lin Xiaolu pulled Im Yoon Ah. “You’re not really thinking of doing that, are you? Please, restrain yourself. If you really do, it’ll make it hard for me to face him later.”
Currently, in the two time-spaces, only the two of them could form a set.
So when Lin Xiaolu thought that if the other really rolled with Lin Xiuyuan, the way he would look at her later made her inexplicably shiver all over.
“You’re young, you can take it slow. But I’m different, Lin Xiaolu. You’ll know when you reach my age.”
Im Yoon Ah, lightly reminding Lin Xiaolu, smiled slightly. “But I really don’t have that idea right now, so relax. If it really happens, I’ll tell you. I won’t hem and haw even about a kiss.”
“Is this about a kiss?”
Lin Xiaolu held her forehead. She had even forgotten how many kisses she and Lin Xiuyuan had shared these past few days.
“I thought you two did something, with such a weird atmosphere, but it was just kissing…” At the end, Im Yoon Ah summarized, “Boring. Xiuyuan probably thinks so too.”
Being repeatedly whipped, Lin Xiaolu couldn’t hold back. “Im Yoon Ah, that’s enough. Don’t act like sour grapes just because you can’t have it.”
“Can’t have it? Believe it or not, when Xiuyuan comes back in, I’ll perform for you.”
“…”
“See, you’re not talking again, coward.”
At this moment, the silent Lin Xiaolu thought she had passed this hurdle and it would be fine afterward.
But after the three finished eating, paid the bill, left the restaurant, got in a car together and drove away, Im Yoon Ah’s bomb finally dropped.
“Xiuyuan, tell me, is it that you look down on Lin Xiaolu, or look down on me? You’ve kissed like that, how could you still hold back?”
“Ah? I didn’t.”
Lin Xiuyuan, gripping the steering wheel, widened his eyes, his shaking pupils full of shock.
In the back seat, Lin Xiaolu had already pounced on Im Yoon Ah. “Hey, stop talking, it’s so embarrassing.”
But unfortunately, Im Yoon Ah’s next sentence was already out. “Is it that her technique isn’t great and you didn’t feel it? If so, I can teach her.”
“Hey, Im Yoon Ah!!!”
“Haha, hahaha, no, I…”
Lin Xiuyuan, suddenly bombarded, didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
Say no? But he had quite enjoyed the kisses.
Say yes? That would completely offend Lin Xiaolu.
So after a couple of dry laughs, Lin Xiuyuan chose silence, quietly assuming the driver’s role, completely ignoring the two fighting to the death in the back.
“What’s wrong, Lin Xiaolu? You came out ahead too. The experience card’s experience directly got you the role, right? It’s a normal exchange. You didn’t get too into it, did you?”
Im Yoon Ah, whose hands were being pulled, looked at Lin Xiaolu with a playful gaze and laughed.
Lin Xiaolu, being stared at, blushed a bit and could only turn her head to look at the figure driving in front. “Lin Xiuyuan, hurry and send this crazy woman back to 2025. I really don’t want to talk to her.”
“It’s not like that just because you can’t outtalk me. I think Xiuyuan lost out, running around helping you so much, and all he gets is a few kisses.”
Facing Lin Xiaolu’s statement, Im Yoon Ah lightly prodded her young self a few times, telling her not to hold back, to strike while the iron is hot. “If this were given to other artists, they’d probably lie straight on Xiuyuan’s big bed themselves.”
“…”
Though harsh, these words were very reasonable, leaving Lin Xiaolu speechless, her cheeks burning in silence.
Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan timely spoke up for her. “Mutual benefit and win-win. Can’t say it’s that absolute.”
“Xiuyuan, don’t speak. On this matter, she is absolutely the beneficiary. So you must be very clear about this, Lin Xiaolu.”
While saying this, Im Yoon Ah put away her smile, looking a bit seriously at her young self next to her. Having seen many inflated thoughts, although she knew she wouldn’t be that kind of person.
But her past self didn’t have this 2025 parallel dimension, so she couldn’t say for sure about Lin Xiaolu, hence she could only warn her in advance.
Being reserved and saving face is fine, but don’t think of going elsewhere.
As the same self, though Lin Xiaolu was younger now, she instantly understood Im Yoon Ah’s meaning.
So she withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyes, and stopped making a fuss.
Lin Xiuyuan in front glanced at the rearview mirror, about to say something, but was glared back by Im Yoon Ah, telling him to be quiet.
Half an hour later, after dropping Lin Xiaolu back at the company, Lin Xiuyuan drove the Im Yoon Ah, who had now put on the fox mask, back to the apartment.
On the road, though he didn’t ask, halfway there, Im Yoon Ah suddenly volunteered, “I know you didn’t think too much, Xiuyuan, but I’m worried some people might think too much and not take you seriously. You get it?”
“I know, so I’m quite touched.”
Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Im Yoon Ah in the rearview mirror and smiled slightly.
His answer made Im Yoon Ah laugh too. “Then accompany me to make bread again tonight?”
“Ah, again? The ones at home aren’t finished yet.”
“Then this afternoon when we get back, help me pack those bread ones, take them down to give to the community aunties, do some good deeds, and not waste food. What do you think, Xiuyuan?”
“You’ve said it like that, if I refuse, wouldn’t it mean I lack love?”
Just like that, after driving back to the apartment, Lin Xiuyuan and Im Yoon Ah quickly returned to that side of 2025, and headed straight to Im Yoon Ah’s apartment.
On the way, they didn’t forget to buy some packing bags, and then the two busied themselves over there for most of the afternoon.
Until Big Dragon Cub’s call came to Lin Xiuyuan’s mobile phone, waking him up.
“Who is it?”
Im Yoon Ah, sitting on the carpet fiddling with a box, turned back to ask.
Behind her, Lin Xiuyuan was bending iron wire with pliers. “Don’t know, let me see…”
While saying, he stood up to look at the mobile phone on the coffee table, and upon seeing the caller, he slightly inhaled.
At the same time, Im Yoon Ah’s voice came again. “What’s the situation? Who?”
“Uh, it’s Ji-yeon.”
“Hmm? The one who ate you clean last night~”
As Lin Xiuyuan spoke, Im Yoon Ah immediately came over, even more straightforwardly lying on his shoulder laughing. “Answer it, see what’s up.”
“Hey, Ji-yeon.”
“Xiuyuan, dinner together tonight~”
As Big Dragon Cub said this on the phone, she didn’t forget to push away Lee Ji-eun who had come close to her face, finding it amusing yet expectant.
“Ah, oh, sure.”
“Ji-yeon, can I join in?”
“Ah, Yoona older sister?”
Ten minutes later.
Krystal, on the train back, called. “Xiuyuan, I’ll be back in Seoul this evening. I just booked a restaurant. Let’s have dinner together.”
Lin Xiuyuan, “…”
Im Yoon Ah laughed, took the phone. “Soo Jung, Xiuyuan is with me. We just made dinner plans with Ji-yeon. Want to join?”
Krystal, “…”
Please give monthly tickets~
