Chapter 162: Kim Tae Yeon: “xiuyuan, You’re So Dangerous.”
Seoul late at night in June.
The streetlights cast a soft orange-yellow glow, spilling onto the wet road surface, reflecting faint glimmers as car wheels rolled by.
The coffee shop on the street corner was still lit, with a few night owls conversing in low tones, occasionally letting out light laughter.
From the depths of a nearby alley, the calls of night birds could be heard intermittently, weaving together with the distant sound of trolley bells to form a quiet yet not lonely urban night scene.
Kim Tae Yeon sat inside the car, having just finished her radio show. After making a call, she fell into a brief period of thought.
Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the tavern in front of the establishment outside the car window, and through the hazy light and shadow of the car window, her expression was somewhat dazed.
She thought about how, today, due to Lin Xiaolu’s issue, the group members had repeatedly brought up this tavern and discussed it amongst themselves, which reminded her of this place.
Perhaps it was her curiosity, or some unconscious pull, that led Kim Tae Yeon to come here alone after work, bringing some barbecue and fried skewers, and making that phone call.
She couldn’t really say why she had come alone in the middle of the night.
Perhaps she wanted to hear a different story from Lin Xiuyuan.
Their last conversation had been very much to her liking.
The air inside the car felt a bit stuffy. Kim Tae Yeon’s fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, her rhythm a little hurried.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a familiar figure appeared at the tavern entrance outside the car.
It was Lin Xiuyuan, slowly walking out from the apartment. He tilted his head up slightly, as if feeling the coolness of the night breeze, then turned his head to look at Kim Tae Yeon inside the car, smiling and waving to her, then beckoning.
He then opened the tavern door and walked in first, skillfully flipping the circuit breaker and turning on the lights, all in one smooth motion.
Kim Tae Yeon, seeing Lin Xiuyuan descend, also smiled slightly, opened the car door, and stepped out.
She then walked into the tavern, lightly brushing past Lin Xiuyuan, who held the door open for her.
As Kim Tae Yeon pushed the door open and entered, Lin Xiuyuan released his hand from the door and turned to follow her in.
“What’s going on? Not resting well in the middle of the night, and you come looking for me for a late-night snack?”
As soon as the words fell, the door closed automatically with a “bang,” and the room instantly quieted down a bit. The entire tavern was left with only the two of them.
“If I say I had nothing to do, will I sound silly?”
Kim Tae Yeon replied casually, placing the late-night snack bag she was holding on the coffee table next to the sofa, and turning back to smile at him.
Lin Xiuyuan walked over to the bar counter. Facing her slightly self-deprecating remark, he didn’t ask much, but easily followed up on her words.
“If you say so, then I absolutely can’t let you be embarrassed. I’ll choose to believe you.”
“Hahaha, do we look ridiculous now?” Kim Tae Yeon teased with a laugh.
This time, Lin Xiuyuan didn’t respond directly but changed the subject, “What would you like to drink?”
Kim Tae Yeon walked a few steps closer, peered around the bar counter, and her gaze finally landed on a coke bottle in the corner. “Never mind, I have to drive later, so I won’t drink. I’ll have some coke.”
“Cocktails aren’t that strong. Who comes to a tavern to drink coke? If you do this, I’ll have to consider asking you to leave.”
Lin Xiuyuan noticed a hint of hesitation in Kim Tae Yeon’s eyes, as well as a subtle hint of longing, uncertainty, and hesitation in her tone.
He then roughly understood that she probably had something on her mind tonight, so he offered a way out, “Don’t worry, someone will give you a ride back.”
“Really?”
To be honest, although Kim Tae Yeon’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t high, she dared to drink cocktails and other beverages. Or rather, she wanted to drink the beverages that Lin Xiuyuan made here, which tasted better and had a smoother texture than those from outside.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t answer this question but glanced at her, as if in agreement.
So, Kim Tae Yeon began to order.
It was the usual: two kinds of fruit wine she was familiar with, one cherry and one passionfruit. In her words, “I’ll drink slowly, no rush.”
After ordering the drinks, Kim Tae Yeon smiled and took out a vinyl record from behind her, placing it on the bar counter. “Ta-da~”
Lin Xiuyuan was cleaning the bartending equipment when he heard the sound and looked up. He glanced at the slightly faded cover, and when he recognized the figure on it, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
“Wow, Leslie Cheung’s 《 For Your Heart Only 》, this is a classic among classics.”
“And that’s not all. Xiuyuan, look inside.”
Kim Tae Yeon smiled and slowly opened the packaging, revealing only a small gap for him.
That touch of snow white made Lin Xiuyuan pause, “A White Album?”
“Yes, it’s rare to see, right? Black ones are rarer, but many are not in good condition, so I chose the white one. Last time I saw your record wall, there were a lot of Hong Kong music, especially Leslie Cheung’s. So I specially picked this one for you. Do you like it?”
Seeing the shock on Lin Xiuyuan’s face, Kim Tae Yeon finally smiled with great satisfaction.
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan naturally nodded and said he liked it.
This was the first White Album from Hong Kong Island, which pioneered the use of colored vinyl there, and it was a limited edition release. He estimated that this “little captain” must have put some thought into it.
However, Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, then lowered his head to look at the record, and said with some emotion, “But Tae Yeon, this gift of yours caught me a bit off guard.”
“Didn’t you want to treat me to a drink?” Kim Tae Yeon smiled easily, her tone cheerful. “It’s just a return of favor.”
“These few drinks are nothing.”
Kim Tae Yeon, who seemed to have been waiting for this, smiled after hearing this and said, “Then how about giving me a membership seat?”
This sentence made Lin Xiuyuan, who had just finished washing the bartending tools, freeze. He looked up, his gaze meeting Kim Tae Yeon’s.
As their eyes met, the air froze for a moment.
After a pause, Kim Tae Yeon hummed softly, as if making fun of herself, “It’s still no, huh. By the way, Xiuyuan, you say this tavern is membership-based, but we friends can come in and drink, yet we’re not considered members. Don’t you think this setup is a bit strange?”
“No, I consider it subjective. Members are T0 level, and friends… T1, T2, and so on.”
Seeing that Kim Tae Yeon had moved on proactively, Lin Xiuyuan breathed a sigh of relief and then explained the situation.
Otherwise, it would have been quite awkward if he had to say no himself.
After hearing his explanation, Kim Tae Yeon commented, “An outrageous grading system.”
After saying this, Kim Tae Yeon turned and walked towards the record wall, placing the record she was holding in a prominent position. She hesitated for a moment, then turned back and asked, “Xiuyuan, do you want to listen to it?”
She looked at Lin Xiuyuan, who nodded slightly, “Sure.”
So, Kim Tae Yeon took the record again and inserted it into the slightly aged record player. As the mechanical needle gently dropped, accompanied by a faint “poof” of friction, the melody slowly began to play.
The first melody of the record flowed out slowly, and then, with the first prelude of 《 For Your Heart Only 》, it flowed leisurely. The mellow tone and nostalgic emotion gradually overflowed, as if instantly transporting the entire tavern back to that charming and somewhat distant era.
Kim Tae Yeon stood by the record player, a rare look of concentration on her face, listening intently to the melody of the music.
A warm atmosphere permeated the air, and the soft lighting in the tavern cast a glow on her face, sketching a hint of deep and gentle light and shadow.
Lin Xiuyuan, at the bar counter, saw this scene, glanced at his phone, wiped his hands clean with a towel, picked it up, and took a photo of her from that direction.
Click.
The lens captured this gentle scene.
The crisp shutter sound brought Kim Tae Yeon back to her senses.
She turned around, looked at the boy holding his phone not far away, smiled gently, and slowly walked back to the bar counter and sat down. “Taking candid photos is illegal, Xiuyuan xi~”
“I’m taking it openly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be bothered to turn off silent mode.”
Lin Xiuyuan put down his phone with a smile and pushed the freshly prepared cherry cocktail towards her.
Seeing this, Kim Tae Yeon got up again and went back behind, bringing the late-night snacks. The two of them then sat face-to-face across the bar counter, drinking and eating skewers, and the small tavern was instantly filled with a lively atmosphere.
The conversation naturally unfolded, from records to music, from music to their respective work, and finally the topic circled back to the matter confirmed today, which was Lin Xiaolu landing the female lead role.
“So,” Kim Tae Yeon said with a smile, her eyes full of curiosity, “what kind of teacher did you and Sulli find for Yoona? In less than a month, her acting skills improved so much that she could succeed in an audition. It’s too exaggerated.”
“Why can’t it be Xiaolu’s talent?” Lin Xiuyuan replied. He had spoken the nickname out of habit and momentarily forgot to switch back.
Then Kim Tae Yeon caught the slip-up, “Xiaolu?”
Fortunately, this small issue was quickly explained by Lin Xiuyuan. “It’s Yoona. Fans in our fandom like to call her Lin Xiaolu because her eyes are very much like a deer’s.”
Kim Tae Yeon’s suspicion faded after hearing this, but in its place was a hint of teasing. “Oh, you even know Yoona’s fan nickname so well. How do you and Sulli call each other?”
“What nickname, is this a nickname? These are fan-given names. As for Jung Soo Yeon, I call her by her name directly, just Jung Soo Yeon.”
“Oh~ Impressive. Others call her Jessica, but you use her real name directly.” Kim Tae Yeon’s smile became more obvious.
“Hey, then if I call you Kim Tinkle, Kim Soft Soft, is that a nickname?”
Pestered, Lin Xiuyuan retaliated by teasing Kim Tae Yeon in the same way.
“That’s different!” The little captain immediately showed her double standards. “Those are nicknames fans gave me, so they don’t count.”
Lin Xiuyuan laughed, finding it both amusing and exasperating. He decided not to argue with her and changed the subject to the stage.
As for why he brought up this topic, it was naturally because he had discussed it with the 2025 version of Kim Tae Yeon over lunch.
This 2013 version of Kim Tae Yeon, although she hadn’t had a solo concert yet, clearly had a long-held passion for the stage.
So, as Kim Tae Yeon listened to Lin Xiuyuan speak, her heart tightened with each word.
Because the thoughts expressed by the man in front of her perfectly resonated with her own inner desires. The stage she hoped for wasn’t one of flashy technique, but of connection.
On the other side, Lin Xiuyuan continued to speak with a smile, “Lighting, stage design, and choreography are of course important, but I personally feel that the most important thing is always the atmosphere on site, that moment when everyone is truly immersed.”
Another heartfelt remark that made Kim Tae Yeon tilt her head slightly, her gaze fixed on him. She didn’t speak, just listened.
Only after he finished speaking did she let out a long sigh, as if sketching a scene in her mind, “Xiuyuan, you’re not a mind-reader, are you? How do you understand everything I haven’t said out loud?”
She hoped the audience would not just watch her perform, but sing with her, cry with her, laugh with her, or even be silent with her.
Even if it was just for a few seconds, that feeling of resonance, just once, was enough to make Kim Tae Yeon remember it forever.
After saying this, Kim Tae Yeon smiled and added a little sheepishly, “But it sounds a bit too idealistic, doesn’t it?”
Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, “Do you remember the ‘low-light zone’ design I mentioned earlier? That’s to allow the audience to watch you with peace of mind, without being blinded by sweeping lights, and not just focused on taking pictures. This allows them to truly immerse themselves.”
He continued, “And the sound system must be matched to the frequency range of your vocal line as much as possible. Your breath control and some of your vocal runs can easily be drowned out by the live sound pressure… But that’s precisely where the most emotion in your voice lies.”
This time, Kim Tae Yeon was completely stunned.
She suddenly realized that she had never mentioned her “vocal run breath control” issues to anyone.
She had even thought that these were things only she cared about.
Yet, the Lin Xiuyuan in front of her had pointed them out directly, even considering the details of the sound system setup.
So, she subconsciously asked, “Xiuyuan, how did you know I’m most afraid of the microphone being too loud and covering up the details of my voice?”
This question made Lin Xiuyuan pause, but being as quick-witted as he was, he quickly found an excuse.
“Because when I watched some material videos before, I noticed that you would unconsciously frown every time you listened back to your live performances, especially those places where your small breaths were suppressed. You might not have noticed, but as an observer, I naturally knew, so I guessed.”
Kim Tae Yeon didn’t speak, but just gave him a gentle look. In her eyes, for a moment, there was a palpitation that struck her heart.
She said in a low voice, “People like you… are truly frightening.”
Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but laugh, “Why?”
Because they make people… unconsciously want to get closer.
However, Kim Tae Yeon didn’t voice this thought. Instead, she smiled and changed the subject, “Then Xiuyuan, what do you think my first solo concert opener should be? Should I slowly rise up on a revolving stage, or should I start directly in the center of the spotlight?”
As she asked this question, her gaze was exceptionally focused, staring intently at the man opposite her, as if waiting for an echo that would confirm the answer in her heart.
“You should hide in the darkness…” Lin Xiuyuan answered slowly. “Let everyone think you haven’t appeared yet, until your first clean acapella line comes out. That kind of shock is what belongs to Kim Tae Yeon.”
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon truly couldn’t maintain her composure.
She stared blankly at Lin Xiuyuan.
Even though he hadn’t done anything, just casually said a few words, it was as if he had precisely struck the softest part of her heart without bias.
Kim Tae Yeon began to feel her heart beating erratically.
Then she lowered her head, averted her gaze, took a gentle breath, picked up her wine glass, and drank the last sip of cocktail, as if using the alcohol to suppress a restless emotion in her chest.
A few seconds later, having adjusted her breathing, Kim Tae Yeon regained her usual composure and smiled at Lin Xiuyuan. “Xiuyuan, tell me honestly, did you secretly go to the future and watch my performance?”
Although spoken in a joking tone, it inadvertently revealed everything. However, the person who said it didn’t believe it herself.
So Lin Xiuyuan laughed and, following her lead, readily agreed, “Smart person, you guessed it right away. But I haven’t seen your performance yet. I’m still considering whether to go to your solo concert tour in a few days.”
“I knew you’d go along with me.”
Kim Tae Yeon snorted. “Concert tour, my foot. I haven’t even released a single song. Am I supposed to just stand there?”
As she spoke, she helplessly reached out her hand as if to hit Lin Xiuyuan.
But being unable to reach across the bar counter, she could only glare at him, rolling her eyes with a playful expression of exasperation.
Lin Xiuyuan inside raised an eyebrow. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the top solo female singer in the music industry in the future.”
This simple encouragement touched her more than any sweet words.
It also made Kim Tae Yeon suddenly feel a sting in her nose and a warmth in her eyes.
She lowered her head and smiled, as if hiding those emotions again, but her heart had already lost its rhythm.
The things this man said were not sweet nothings, yet each one seemed to cut through the noise, through time, and land precisely where she most longed to be understood and known.
Sensing that things were taking a turn, Kim Tae Yeon took a deep breath and straightened up, avoiding Lin Xiuyuan’s gaze. “Well, it’s getting late, I should be going.”
Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the time next to him. It was almost midnight. He hadn’t expected them to chat for over an hour. He nodded, “Yes, you should indeed be going. Wait a moment, I’ll call someone to give you a ride.”
Since he had also had some drinks, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t drive. He could only take out his phone and send a text message to Sulli in the apartment.
After about a few minutes, the tavern door was gently pushed open, and the wind chimes tinkled a few clear notes.
A refreshing mint aroma wafted in with the night breeze. Sulli entered from the doorway, wearing a loose white t-shirt and light blue jeans.
Her hair was slightly curled, as if casually tied back after a shower. She looked clean and fresh, with a hint of the cool moonlight aura, and then smiled at Kim Tae Yeon and Lin Xiuyuan, “Hi, Unnie, Oppa~”
Hearing her arrival, Kim Tae Yeon suddenly turned her head. She was about to get up and greet her, but upon seeing Sulli’s appearance, her movements paused.
“Sulli? How did you get here?”
“I came to give Unnie a ride back,” Sulli replied with a smile, shaking the car keys in her hand, her eyes curving.
Kim Tae Yeon blinked and turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan. “You called her? Then what about Sulli later?”
“Don’t worry, I have an arrangement,” Lin Xiuyuan said softly. “You go back first, Sulli will take you.”
Facing Lin Xiuyuan’s statement, Kim Tae Yeon wanted to say something. But after meeting his gaze, she withdrew the words she wanted to say, and finally only said, “Then I’m leaving. We’ll talk again later.”
“Okay, text me when you get home,” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
Then he looked at Sulli, “Thank you, Jinjin. Please take care of her on the way back. Drive safely.”
“Okay, Oppa. Leave it to me,”
Sulli gave him an OK gesture, opened the door, and walked out of the tavern with Kim Tae Yeon.
As the door closed again, after the final chime of the wind chimes, the small tavern in the night returned to silence.
The bar counter still held residual warmth, and the dim lantern hung quietly, its light spilling onto the tabletop. The aroma of wine and emotions seemed to still swirl in the air.
Lin Xiuyuan did not rush to leave. He poured himself some more whiskey, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the seat Kim Tae Yeon had just occupied, falling into a brief reverie.
About forty minutes later, the tavern door was pushed open again.
Sulli walked in, pulling at her jacket, her cheeks slightly flushed, as if the car’s air conditioning had been too warm.
“Oppa, I took Tae Yeon Unnie to the dormitory entrance before coming back.”
“Mm,” Lin Xiuyuan nodded. “Thank you for your trouble.”
Sulli waved her hand and then curiously sat down in front of Lin Xiuyuan. “It wasn’t any trouble. But Oppa, what were you just talking about? Unnie was either silent the whole way, or kept asking me about you, her eyes were wandering.”
Sulli waved her hand and then curiously sat down in front of Lin Xiuyuan, “It’s not tiring at all, but oppa, what were you guys just talking about? On the way, your older sister was either silent or kept asking me about you, her gaze was drifting.”
Then Lin Xiuyuan did not hide it, and used the things he learned from Kim Tae Yeon from 25 years ago.
Sulli was stunned after listening, and then exclaimed, “Wow! No wonder her expression was so strange. Oppa, you’re directly hitting her where it hurts when you chat, this is really against the rules.”
“What can I do? I’m already cheating.” Lin Xiuyuan shrugged and gently clinked his wine glass with her.
Then the two of them chatted for a while, and by the time they got up to return to the apartment, it was already 1:30 in the early morning.
Finally, they said ‘goodnight’ to each other and returned to their respective bedrooms.
On the other side.
After returning to the dormitory, Kim Tae Yeon took a hot shower, blew her hair until it was mostly dry and let it fall on her shoulders, then dived into bed.
The soft quilt wrapped around her body, but it couldn’t cover the strange restlessness in her heart.
Then, for some reason, she started to turn over and stare at the dim yellow night light on the headboard, her mind replaying the scenes in the tavern.
“You should hide in the darkness until the first acapella begins…”
That sentence seemed to carry warmth, circling her ears gently.
That guy understood her so well, understood her expectation for the stage, understood the details she cared about most when singing, and even said it out loud before she did.
The words she almost blurted out at that moment.
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon rephrased it and said, “Xiuyuan, you are so dangerous.”
Another chapter later tonight, please vote with monthly tickets and subscribe.
