Chapter 169: “hey, Xiuyuan Is Sleeping”
Early morning in Jeonju, the air was moist, and a hazy dawn light spread across the sky.
The car was as silent as ever, only the misty rain outside pattering against the car window, the fine rain sounds seeming to replace words, spreading in the silence.
“It’s raining.”
Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the blurry glass, raised his hand to turn on the windshield wipers, and cleared away the rainwater to prevent it from obscuring Kim Tae Yeon’s view.
“Xiuyuan…”
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon spoke softly, her voice so faint it was almost drowned out by the rain outside the car.
“Hmm?”
Lin Xiuyuan turned his head to look at her, only to find her gaze still fixed on the intersection ahead, as if waiting for a figure who should have appeared long ago.
Then, Kim Tae Yeon, slowly turning her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, murmured, her eyes slightly red, “Do you think this rain is falling for me?”
The result was a very realistic answer; Lin Xiuyuan replied, “What are you thinking, it’s just a typhoon.”
This answer made Kim Tae Yeon pause for a moment, clearly not expecting him to explain it like that, neither gently nor poetically, nor to comfort her.
So she couldn’t help but laugh, “Hey, you’re such a straight man, can’t you be more romantic?”
“I’m too sleepy, I can’t be romantic.”
Having stayed up all night and sitting in the driver’s seat, Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes were already bloodshot, and he was very tired.
“Then do you want to nap?” Kim Tae Yeon asked with care.
“Forget it, I’m afraid you’ll open the car door and jump out.” Lin Xiuyuan shook his head.
“Then you can turn off the engine.” Kim Tae Yeon was a little annoyed.
“I’m afraid you’ll smash the glass.”
This time Kim Tae Yeon had nothing to say, because if she had the chance, she probably would have smashed it.
The rain outside the window became denser, hitting the glass, the sound like the emotions that had been accumulating in her heart, unable to be fully released.
Gradually, the raindrops once again blurred the world outside the car window, and also blurred Kim Tae Yeon’s vision.
At the same time, her emotions gradually sank, as if even her heartbeat was carried away by the sound of the rain. Until the wipers swept across the glass again, clearing the blur, giving her a clear scene, and seemingly wiping away the thick fog in her heart.
Time passed slowly, and it quickly skipped past 7 in the morning. It was unclear if it was due to the rain or something else, but the figure she was looking forward to did not appear on time.
After some more time passed, Kim Tae Yeon finally saw a familiar figure appear at the entrance of the residential area.
Still wearing the same old jacket, with the same upright back, only he looked a bit younger than she remembered, with more youthful vigor.
As the figure appeared, Kim Tae Yeon’s gaze followed him closely, her heart involuntarily accelerating.
Her fingers tightly gripped the armrest of the seat, and fine sweat beaded on her palms.
The last shred of reason frantically warned her: do not get out of the car.
She could only hide in this car, like an observer, quietly watching her father in front of her, as if watching her own past years, slowly flowing away before her eyes.
“Xiuyuan…”
In the next second, Kim Tae Yeon’s voice trembled slightly, “He’s walking over.”
Lin Xiuyuan, seeing her like this, said nothing, but gently took Kim Tae Yeon’s soft little hand, his grip firm, as if giving her courage and support.
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon’s heartbeat almost stopped. She watched her father walk closer and closer, as if traversing through time.
Those were the years of her growth, the companionship she thought would never be absent.
Soon, Kim Tae Yeon’s father walked to the front of the car, and her gaze was fixed on him, a thought in her mind: to take off the hat on her head, so that the brim would not block her view.
But having already taken off her sunglasses, if she took off her hat, she would be very likely to be recognized.
So she didn’t dare, and Lin Xiuyuan didn’t let her.
Until her father walked to the side of the car, passing parallel to the vehicle, she finally couldn’t help but slightly raise the brim of her hat and gaze through the dark glass.
She saw that still young face, those eyes full of spirit.
That was the father she had looked up to every day, but now he treated her as if she were air.
Thinking of this, Kim Tae Yeon’s chest suddenly tightened, as if something was blocking it, and her breathing became difficult.
At this moment, her hand instinctively reached for the car door handle.
She wanted to get out of the car, to rush to his side, to hug him, to say many, many things, to talk about many, many things.
But in the end, Kim Tae Yeon’s hand could not push open the car door.
Because Lin Xiuyuan beside her had already tightly grasped her little hand, and with his other arm around her waist, he secured her in her seat.
“Just take a quiet look.” He said softly in Kim Tae Yeon’s ear, “In other words, you are now like a ghost superimposed on Kim Tae Yeon, do you really want to scare him?”
After saying this, Lin Xiuyuan hugged her tightly again, preventing her from acting on impulse.
And after hearing the words above, the tears in Kim Tae Yeon’s eyes finally fell silently at that moment.
This time, she didn’t choose to cry out loud, but quietly watched her father’s receding figure, watching him walk out of her sight step by step, disappearing around the corner.
Until the familiar figure completely disappeared from her sight, her reddened eyes overflowed with another tear, which gently slid down.
Then she turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with a bit of confusion and helplessness.
And the tear that slid from the corner of her eye, like a pearl carrying countless memories, slid down her cheek and finally landed in his arms.
“Can we wait a little longer?” Kim Tae Yeon asked hoarsely, “I want to see him one more time.”
“Sure, as long as you don’t get out of the car and rush in front of him, anything is fine.” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
But her next sentence made him chuckle, “Xiuyuan, I… need to go to the bathroom.”
“Then let’s leave for a bit.”
Lin Xiuyuan, who had already booked a room at a nearby hotel, was familiar with this situation. After all, no one can hold it for several hours.
A few minutes later, after driving around a street, Lin Xiuyuan parked the car at the back door of the hotel, then led the fully disguised Kim Tae Yeon past the hotel lobby and up the stairs to the second-floor room.
Once inside, Kim Tae Yeon went straight to the bathroom, while Lin Xiuyuan quickly turned on the television and turned the volume to maximum.
Otherwise, who knows if that pattering sound of water is from the rain outside.
Soon, Kim Tae Yeon, who had finished her physiological needs, looked at Lin Xiuyuan, then at the somewhat shabby hotel environment, “Xiuyuan, you know, this is the first time I’ve stayed in a hotel room with such a bad environment.”
“This is a hotel, not a hotel,” Lin Xiuyuan corrected.
Kim Tae Yeon then walked lightly to the guest room window, gazing through the glass at the familiar glasses shop not far away, her expression dazed, a hint of emotion and calmness emerging in her eyes.
After a while, she looked at Lin Xiuyuan, who had just come out of the bathroom, and suddenly said, “Xiuyuan, why don’t we just stay here? You can get some rest too… I don’t mind if you tie me up with a rope.”
Lin Xiuyuan was stunned and chuckled, “That makes me sound a bit like a pervert.”
Kim Tae Yeon also realized something was off, pursed her lips and smiled, a hint of relief appearing in her eyes.
Lin Xiuyuan then said, “It’s not that I don’t want to hide here, it’s just too troublesome. If we get caught during a room check, it’ll be a big problem.”
“We’ll get caught on the car too,” Kim Tae Yeon retorted.
“I can break through a car check.”
Facing the retort, Lin Xiuyuan explained, “Because if you slip away normally, they won’t chase the car immediately, as that would cause a bigger accident. Most of the time, they’ll catch you the next day.”
He paused, then continued, “But by then I’ll have already sent you back, so there’s nothing to worry about. At most, I’ll be caught and stay for a few days. But if they check the room, you can’t escape at all, because this isn’t like those activity rooms, there’s no darkroom to hide in.”
Facing Lin Xiuyuan’s explanation, Kim Tae Yeon stared at him with her slightly red eyes, and after a long while, she smiled, “You’re so experienced, Xiuyuan, do you do this often? And those darkrooms, don’t go there, it’s dirty.”
“Don’t slander me, I only know from videos, I haven’t been there.” Lin Xiuyuan quickly explained.
“I hope so.”
Kim Tae Yeon pouted, then said softly, “Let’s go, let’s go back to the car. I’m feeling much better now… I’ll wait for him to come back one more time, and then we’ll go back to Seoul.”
Seeing Kim Tae Yeon say this, Lin Xiuyuan was a little shocked, “Ah, I thought you were going to watch all day. No, you’re better this quickly?”
In response, Kim Tae Yeon replied seriously, “I need to go back and make a plan to replace the Kim Tae Yeon here with me, and then I can appear in front of my dad openly.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan almost broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes wide, “Your idea is even more absurd than watching your father here all day. How can your face not be recognized by the Kim Tae Yeon here? You’ll be found out as soon as you go out.”
“I’ll wear a mask.” Kim Tae Yeon said righteously.
“You won’t be able to get away with wearing a helmet,” Lin Xiuyuan rolled his eyes, “Do you think your parents, who have lived with you for decades, wouldn’t notice even the slightest bit of difference? Then you’re underestimating them too much. Your parents shouldn’t be so incompetent.”
Then he sighed, “Forget it, forget it, we’ll talk about this later. Let’s go down first.”
Kim Tae Yeon snorted, thinking silently, then followed Lin Xiuyuan back into the car and returned to their previous spot.
Fortunately, the parking spot was still there, unoccupied.
Unfortunately, the rain had become heavier.
Then Kim Tae Yeon couldn’t help but worry if her father would get wet when he returned later, although she knew that for her father, this much rain was nothing.
As expected, about half an hour later, her father, holding that familiar umbrella, slowly walked home from the market direction again.
As he passed by Lin Xiuyuan’s car again, Kim Tae Yeon inside the car’s eyes immediately reddened, almost breaking down again, but she finally managed to control her emotions.
Then she leaned back quietly in her seat, took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
Finally, she watched her father’s figure gradually disappear into the depths of the residential area and fell into silence.
Although she had painfully accepted reality, every emotion related to her father would always stir up an empty wind in her heart, making her feel the weight of loss once again.
Not to mention that now she could see him, that emotion was something she couldn’t share or articulate with others.
Taking advantage of this lull, Lin Xiuyuan rested for a while, leaning against the car seat, closing his eyes to rest.
It was around nine in the morning when Kim Tae Yeon’s father went out again, preparing to open the glasses shop.
Seeing the familiar back, Kim Tae Yeon’s gaze became tense again as she stared ahead, silently praying that he would walk slower so she could watch him longer.
However, as they were watching that figure, a young girl suddenly ran out from inside the residential area and caught up with Father Kim.
Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice, “Kim Tae Yeon? What is she doing here?”
Then he frowned, his gaze shifting slightly to Kim Tae Yeon, “Didn’t Sulli and the others say last night they had an activity in Gimpo today? Do you remember this?”
Kim Tae Yeon shook her head and replied in a low voice, “I don’t remember… it shouldn’t be a team activity.”
Although her tone was calm, her heart trembled slightly, thinking that her past self was able to accompany her father at this time.
The world hadn’t collapsed then, and everything was still operating normally.
Seeing Kim Tae Yeon fall silent again, Lin Xiuyuan didn’t ask any more questions.
He simply started the car, took a long detour from behind, adjusted the car’s direction, and before Father Kim and the 2013 version of Kim Tae Yeon, he parked the car in the lane opposite the glasses shop, quietly waiting for the father and daughter to arrive.
Inside the car, Kim Tae Yeon stared intently ahead until her father and the 2013 Kim Tae Yeon walked past from the other side of the street.
Her father held an umbrella in one hand, a gentle smile on his face, while the younger Kim Tae Yeon walked briskly beside him.
The raindrops hit the umbrella of the two, but did not affect the atmosphere between the father and daughter at all.
The scene of fatherly love and filial piety was so harmonious, as if everything had returned to the familiar family of Kim Tae Yeon.
Then, a complex expression flashed in the eyes of Kim Tae Yeon in the car, her lips pursed slightly, and an indescribable feeling arose in her heart.
Envy, longing, and a hint of jealousy.
That was the daily life she once had, and now she could only observe from behind the glass.
Kim Tae Yeon bit her lip, forcing herself to stop looking, but her gaze could not leave the familiar back.
Only when the two walked into the glasses shop did she slowly retract her gaze.
Then she turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes complex, “Xiuyuan…”
Hearing her voice, Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his eyes full of understanding and emotion, and sighed softly, “I know, you don’t need to say it.”
It was like in school, seeing someone you liked walk with someone else would make your heart ache.
What’s more, this was Kim Tae Yeon’s reunion with her deceased father, but now she could only watch her younger self be close to him, while she herself could not get close or experience it.
That kind of shock was something outsiders could not comprehend.
After receiving the reply, Kim Tae Yeon said nothing further, but buried her face in her hands, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil within her.
Silence fell in the car for a moment, only the sound of the light rain outside and the occasional footsteps of pedestrians filled this brief interlude.
At the same time, the 2013 Kim Tae Yeon inside the glasses shop quietly glanced at the car outside the door.
That Land Rover was too conspicuous, rarely seen even in Seoul, and even rarer in Jeonju.
And she clearly remembered seeing this car at the entrance of the residential area just now.
A doubt arose in her mind: was someone following her?
As the captain of Girls’ Generation, she certainly had the confidence and reason to suspect something was unusual.
“Let’s go, let’s go take a look.”
Muttering to herself in a low voice, the younger Kim Tae Yeon decisively stepped out of the glasses shop, preparing to approach the car.
As she walked, she reassured herself: it’s broad daylight, not a TV show, who would kidnap her on the street? As long as I don’t go near it, it’ll be fine.
However, just as she took a few steps out of the shop, the atmosphere in the car suddenly became tense.
Lin Xiuyuan stared intently outside the car and suddenly exclaimed in a low voice, “What the fck, Tae Yeon, quick, find a place to hide. Kim Tae Yeon is coming over, this is trouble, she seems to have recognized the car.”
“Ah, where should I hide then?”
Kim Tae Yeon didn’t react immediately. She was about to turn and duck into the back seat, but when she looked out the window, her face instantly changed.
Because the younger Kim Tae Yeon had unhesitatingly crossed the road and was walking towards the Land Rover.
In her haste, a flash of inspiration struck Kim Tae Yeon, and she suddenly lunged towards Lin Xiuyuan’s thigh, burying herself on him.
This sudden action made Lin Xiuyuan’s entire body stiffen, and he froze on the spot.
The other person was too close, the soft hair, the warm breath, and that extremely ambiguous distance surrounded him overwhelmingly, causing his heart to race.
But Lin Xiuyuan managed to maintain his composure, quickly rolled down the car window, and waved at the younger Kim Tae Yeon, who was walking towards the front of the car, “Hey, Tae Yeon…”
The younger Kim Tae Yeon was startled and stopped, a look of surprise flashing across her face, “Xiuyuan, what are you doing here?”
Her tone carried obvious surprise, and her gaze relaxed a bit.
“Yeah, what a coincidence.” Lin Xiuyuan forced a smile, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Coincidence my foot, this is my family’s glasses shop. Are you here to play?” The younger Kim Tae Yeon rolled her eyes and continued to walk forward.
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon, who was lying on Lin Xiuyuan’s lap, her face as red as a ripe apple, was so nervous she dared not move.
Then she tried to hide her face deeper, her legs straight, clamped tightly together, even her breathing lightened.
She hadn’t really expected to hide from “herself” in such a posture, and Lin Xiuyuan’s scent and body temperature filled the cramped space with a blush-inducing and heart-pounding ambiguity.
As the younger Kim Tae Yeon approached, she quickly saw the scene inside the car: a fair-skinned girl was lying all over Lin Xiuyuan’s thighs.
Instantly, the younger Kim Tae Yeon’s expression froze, and she was stunned for a full two seconds, then suddenly took two steps back, her voice clearly panicked.
“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t expect you guys to be here…”
Before she could finish speaking, she turned around with a red face and ran back to the glasses shop almost in a panic.
Silence finally fell in the car, and Lin Xiuyuan slowly rolled up the window, letting out a long sigh.
Kim Tae Yeon, who was lying down, also slowly raised her head, a hint of slyness in her eyes, and a slight smile on her lips.
Her heart was still pounding. Her previous action made her both shy and excited, and a blush involuntarily appeared on her face.
“Now she’s misunderstood, I’m doomed.” Lin Xiuyuan leaned his head back against the seat, smiling bitterly to himself, “In such a position in the car in broad daylight… she must think I’m a pervert.”
After saying this, Lin Xiuyuan stopped speaking and quietly looked at Kim Tae Yeon beside him, a hint of a helpless smile in his gaze.
Silence filled the car for a second, and the air seemed to freeze.
Until Kim Tae Yeon suddenly chuckled softly, her voice laced with teasing, “What, isn’t being a pervert good? I like perverts.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s eyelids twitched, his breathing hitched, and he looked at her with complex emotions in his eyes.
“These past few years of yours…”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lin Xiuyuan abruptly silenced himself, wishing he could slap himself.
Those few years 25 years ago—was that something he could casually bring up?
Kim Tae Yeon’s eyes widened, but soon a smile bloomed again, devoid of the earlier heaviness. “Xiuyuan, you’re quite quick to react.”
“Let’s go, shall we? If we stay any longer, this Kim Tae Yeon over here will really think I’m a pervert and I’m playing with her.”
Quickly changing the subject, Lin Xiuyuan turned his head, and together with Kim Tae Yeon beside him, they looked towards the young Kim Tae Yeon standing at the doorway of the glasses shop. The latter’s gaze had been fixed on the car, as if contemplating something.
“Let’s go.”
Kim Tae Yeon said softly, looking at the glasses shop that held countless memories, her gaze softening. “Although it wasn’t satisfying enough, one can’t be too greedy… I will come back.”
After speaking, her eyes were still fixed on the kind figure moving back and forth inside the glasses shop, and the smile on her lips became even brighter.
Lin Xiuyuan said nothing more, only turned his head, started the car, and slowly drove away from the glasses shop.
Outside, at the glasses shop doorway behind the car.
The young Kim Tae Yeon remained standing in place, watching the car gradually drive away.
Then she slightly lowered her head, a flash of confusion in her eyes, accompanied by a surge of complex emotions in her heart.
That scene just now was really too strange.
She clearly saw… in Lin Xiuyuan’s car, a girl was lying on his lap.
The fair skin, blurred outline, and intimate posture all gave her an indescribable sense of awkwardness.
So why did Lin Xiuyuan come to my doorstep…
Was he stalking me, playing some kind of game?
Thinking of a certain game she and Sunny had played before, the young Kim Tae Yeon couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
Then she exclaimed softly, “What’s going on?”
Thinking of this, the young Kim Tae Yeon mumbled to herself again, not forgetting to purse her lips with some disdain, “This is a bit too much in broad daylight, Lin Xiuyuan… and you’re even following and stalking me, what are you trying to do?”
Unable to help but mutter softly, she tried to process everything that had just happened.
The more she thought about it, the more it felt wrong, so she subconsciously took out her phone, preparing to find someone to confide in about this absurd encounter.
Then she tapped on her contacts and quickly called Lin Xiaolu, her voice tinged with a hint of strangeness and uncertainty.
The call connected quickly, and Lin Xiaolu’s voice came through, clear and bright, “Hello? Older sister, what’s up?”
The young Kim Tae Yeon frowned, adjusted her tone slightly, and said in a lowered voice, “Yoona, are you free? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Go ahead, why so mysterious?” Lin Xiaolu asked with a smile.
“I discovered Xiuy… Lin Xiuyuan seems to be a pervert.”
“Ah?”
…
…
On the other side, Lin Xiuyuan drove out of the rain-soaked alleys of Jeonju and slowly merged onto the highway towards Seoul.
The tires rolled over puddles, splashing water, and the wipers slid rhythmically, clearing the fine rain from the windshield. The entire car cabin was in stark contrast to the gloomy weather outside.
Kim Tae Yeon seemed much more relaxed, whether it was because her emotions had been released or she had completely let go of something.
From initial silence to soft humming, then to occasional teasing and jokes, her entire demeanor was like a completely different person compared to when they were on their way.
Lin Xiuyuan looked at her profile, marveling with disbelief, “Are you really okay with your current state? The emotional contrast is too drastic!”
“Of course I’m okay.” Kim Tae Yeon lifted her chin, smiling triumphantly. “The me now is Miss Tae Yeon, reborn after soul healing.”
“Just one meeting healed you?”
Lin Xiuyuan chuckled lightly, and just as he was about to continue, a phone call interrupted his thoughts.
It was Lin Xiaolu, and the car’s Bluetooth quickly connected automatically.
The next second, a barrage of laughter came from the other end. “Hahaha, hahaha, Lin Xiuyuan, what were you doing last night and just now? Tae Yeon older sister said you were stalking her.”
Lin Xiuyuan froze and instinctively glanced at Kim Tae Yeon beside him.
Kim Tae Yeon was laughing so hard she was hunched in her seat, covering her mouth and waving at him, looking like “Don’t interrupt, let her continue.”
With no other choice, he asked again, “What else?”
“Also, Tae Yeon older sister initially thought some second-generation rich kid was chasing her. When she realized it was you, she was a bit happy. But then she saw a girl in the car lying on your lap, doing that sort of thing. Wow, you have no idea what her first words were when she called, she said you’re a pervert.”
“Pfft—!”
This time, Kim Tae Yeon in the front passenger seat couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter, practically collapsing onto the passenger seat. “My god, she really said that?”
Upon hearing this familiar voice, Lin Xiaolu’s clever little head quickly confirmed her earlier guess was correct, and she started laughing too.
“Of course, she said she initially wanted to call the police. She only held back when she saw it was Xiuyuan, but then she wanted to call the police again after seeing the scene inside the car. Luckily, you ran fast, otherwise, you’d probably be sitting at the police station drinking tea right now.”
Lin Xiuyuan sighed helplessly, feeling as if he had aged ten years in the rain and fog. “What did I do wrong? This isn’t my problem at all.”
“When you enjoy too much, you have to take the blame sometimes. Lin Xiuyuan, I’m hanging up, I have to get busy.”
Lin Xiaolu said, laughing, and hung up the phone.
As soon as the call ended, Kim Tae Yeon laughed and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “So, Xiuyuan, in the eyes of this area’s Kim Tae Yeon, you’re now a pervert who was doing ‘play’ in the car?”
“I had just opened my heart to her, and in the blink of an eye, it’s gone. Tae Yeon, please respect the victim’s feelings.”
Lin Xiuyuan replied earnestly, trying to put on an act of being greatly wronged. “I’m taking the bullet for you, alright?”
“Then do you want me to compensate you a little?” Kim Tae Yeon suddenly changed the subject, her voice gentle and slightly provocative.
“Compensate?” Lin Xiuyuan looked at her warily. “What compensation?”
“What do you think?” Kim Tae Yeon smiled, saying no more.
At this moment, the rain outside intensified, and the highway entrance ahead began flashing “Low visibility, drive safely” alerts.
Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan dared not speed recklessly. Noticing a service area not far ahead, he signaled and drove into the rest area to stop temporarily.
After the car stopped, the rain and fog outside enveloped the world in a hazy gray. Raindrops hit the roof densely, like a softly sung melody.
Kim Tae Yeon hugged her arms and looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a serious expression, then suddenly spoke again, “Thinking about the situation just now, it’s fortunate I reacted quickly, otherwise, we would have kidnapped her into the car, right?”
“Your ‘quick reaction’ was you directly pouncing onto my lap?” Lin Xiuyuan looked at her with a mix of laughter and tears. “But I’ve completely died socially now.”
“You only died in her heart.”
Kim Tae Yeon smiled and bit her lip, a hint of cunning in her eyes. “Besides, didn’t I say I’d compensate you?”
Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow. “So, how exactly are you going to compensate me?”
Kim Tae Yeon didn’t answer, instead, she unbuckled her seatbelt, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
The next second, she suddenly leaped from the front passenger seat, straddled Lin Xiuyuan, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The warm perfume instantly enveloped him.
The raindrops hitting the car window seemed to accompany the amorous moment.
“This will do,” she said softly.
Then, without giving Lin Xiuyuan any chance to react, she leaned down and proactively kissed him.
The moment her lips touched his, Lin Xiuyuan felt his body stiffen for half a second, but the gentle warmth was too real to allow him to think.
Kim Tae Yeon knelt on the side of his legs, leaning forward, her hands braced on his shoulders, kissing with great intensity.
Although she didn’t start with a rushed demand, she first pecked lightly, then pressed closer, as if probing, or perhaps confirming.
Confirming that she could truly embrace this new life, instead of being trapped in the painful memories of 2025.
A moment later, Kim Tae Yeon’s movements were no longer shy but became somewhat bold.
As her actions completely relaxed, Lin Xiuyuan’s hands, which had been gripping the steering wheel, gradually loosened, then slowly lifted, and cupped her lower back.
The soft curves there transmitted through the thin fabric, gentle and vibrant, like a ray of restorative light, awakening him from his silence.
At the same time, when Kim Tae Yeon felt that large hand press against her, her heart skipped a beat.
However, she didn’t retreat; instead, she pressed closer, and the emotion in their kiss deepened.
Her tongue lightly brushed his lower lip, then gently bit down.
At this moment, Kim Tae Yeon’s emotions were like the downpour outside, pressing down on the sky, having accumulated for too long.
So this proactive embrace was as if she wanted to pour all the grievances, longing, regret, and desire suppressed in her heart over the years into this kiss.
And finally, she could stop holding back tears, stop dodging and yielding, and stop pretending to be calm.
As Kim Tae Yeon truly “broke down” in Lin Xiuyuan’s arms, it was also when she truly began to “approach” him.
Lin Xiuyuan’s hand slowly moved up her back, stopping at her shoulder blades, as if wanting to pull her entirely into his body.
His other hand gently rested on the side of her thigh, feeling a faint tremor through the denim.
Kim Tae Yeon’s body was light, like a feather, yet hot like fire.
Midway through the kiss, she suddenly stopped, her forehead resting against Lin Xiuyuan’s, breathing heavily, her lips still catching his breath.
Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, his voice a little hoarse, “Are you… really okay now?”
Kim Tae Yeon let out a soft laugh, raised her hand to push aside the messy strands of hair from her forehead, then decisively hugged him, pressing her face against his neck. “Yes, now… I’m really okay. Xiuyuan, I can really offer myself to you.”
“Don’t joke around, get some rest.”
Kim Tae Yeon smiled, nodded lightly, and closed her eyes, quietly feeling the warmth emanating from Lin Xiuyuan.
It was a warm reassurance that seemed to penetrate the layers of gloom, gently pulling her out of the mire of torn memories.
At this moment, she finally transformed from a Kim Tae Yeon forever stuck in “regret” to someone who still possessed the “present.”
She could feel her heartbeat gradually steadying, no longer sobbing at the sight of her father’s back, no longer blaming herself for past missed opportunities.
And at this moment, in this man’s embrace, she was received without reservation, truly and solidly.
“I always thought I couldn’t face it again…”
Kim Tae Yeon said softly, her tone filled with a sense of relief and a hint of dependence. “I didn’t expect… I really did it.”
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t speak, only tightened his arms, holding her even closer.
The rain was still falling outside, but between them, there was no longer any chill.
Last night’s crying + this morning’s meeting + the deep kiss just now.
After all this, Kim Tae Yeon’s whole being seemed to soften, yet also ignited.
She let down her guard, ignited her courage, and finally allowed herself to stop living in the corner of memories and instead passionately embrace the life before her.
The two of them held each other quietly, the temperature in the car slowly rising, not because of the heater, but due to their mutual aura.
The rain outside continued to fall, hitting the glass with a dense and soft sound, like a curtain separating them from the world, leaving only the heartbeat that transmitted when their breaths and chests met.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t move, and Kim Tae Yeon didn’t speak, as if after this deep kiss, they had both tacitly fallen into a kind of tacit understanding stillness.
Her face was nestled in the crook of his neck, the corner of her lips unconsciously curving into a gentle arc, her fingers gripping the corner of his clothes, her fingertips curled, with a hint of longing and reluctance.
It wasn’t until the sound of rain outside gradually lessened, the pattering receding quietly from the car roof, and sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a ray of brightness.
Only then did Lin Xiuyuan gently move his shoulders and ask in a low voice, “Are we leaving?”
“Mmm…” Kim Tae Yeon responded, but her tone was lazy, as if still immersed in the lingering afterglow of their physical entanglement. “Wait a little longer, just five minutes.”
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t refuse; instead, he gently stroked the top of her head, then rested his forehead lightly against hers.
Five minutes later, the two of them tidied up their emotions, returned to their usual appearance, restarted the car, and drove onto the return highway.
This time the journey was free of tears, silence, or a stifling atmosphere.
Kim Tae Yeon seemed much lighter. Leaning against the front passenger seat, she would hum a song, then pick up her phone to look at selfie filters, and then turn to playfully tease Lin Xiuyuan, “Next time you see how that develops, remember to tell me.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s mouth twitched. “She’ll probably turn around and leave.”
Kim Tae Yeon laughed until she bent over.
Talking and laughing all the way, the two of them returned to Seoul.
It was nearly noon when they returned to the apartment. The sky had completely cleared, and sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, giving a sense of gentle awakening after a night’s sleep.
Lin Xiuyuan glanced at Kim Tae Yeon’s state, confirming that her emotions had truly settled, before walking into the kitchen to pour her a glass of warm water. “Do you want to take a shower first? Or go over there first?”
“Let’s go over there first.” Kim Tae Yeon took the water, took a sip, and then picked up her phone again. “Although I’m off today, I’m afraid they might look for me for something.”
And so, soon the two of them stepped through the Time-Space Door and returned to that side in 2025.
Arriving on this side, Kim Tae Yeon glanced at her phone and smiled, pursing her lips. “Haha, I worried too much. Only Yoona contacted me, asking if I was awake?”
“She’s asking if you’re back, isn’t she?” Lin Xiuyuan laughed.
“I know.”
After speaking, Kim Tae Yeon looked at Lin Xiuyuan’s red eyes and asked with some concern, “Okay, everything is settled now, the door is closed. Xiuyuan, you don’t have to worry about me anymore, you should get some rest.”
“I am indeed sleepy. I’ll go upstairs and nap for a bit. Are you going back?” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
However, Kim Tae Yeon shook her head and then patted the sofa with a smile. “You sleep. I want to stay a while longer and watch you fall asleep before leaving.”
“Ah, I’m not a child, it’s not necessary.” Lin Xiuyuan found it a bit strange and refused.
However, in the end, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t refuse Kim Tae Yeon, and coupled with the running back and forth and emotional exhaustion from the night and day, he was extremely tired physically and mentally.
So, he quickly took off his jacket, lay down directly on the sofa, and closed his eyes, falling asleep.
“I’m really asleep now, don’t laugh at me if I snore.” As he said this, Lin Xiuyuan’s tone was already heavy with sleepiness.
“Sleep, good boy.”
Kim Tae Yeon smiled with her eyes curved, her tone as gentle as if she were coaxing a child. “I’m not recording, what are you afraid of?”
Lin Xiuyuan no longer responded, only gave a soft “hmm” and slowly drifted into dreamland.
And the moment he closed his eyes, a familiar and gentle scent vaguely lingered at the tip of his nose.
It was the unique scent of Kim Tae Yeon, a faint perfume mixed with the warm aroma of her skin, not overpowering, but enough to bring peace.
Kim Tae Yeon sat quietly beside him, her fair leg resting against Lin Xiuyuan’s head, looking down at him sleeping.
He was sleeping soundly, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow, his lips not smiling, but his face was calm and clear.
After this night, her gaze towards Lin Xiuyuan had become much gentler.
A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, as if just looking at Lin Xiuyuan made her feel at ease.
“Just watching you like this, how can it bring me so much peace…”
Kim Tae Yeon murmured softly, as if speaking to him, or perhaps confirming to herself.
And so she sat quietly, watching, watching, the palpitations in her heart slowly turning into warm anticipation.
Time flowed by quietly.
Suddenly, the phone on the coffee table vibrated softly, its ringtone breaking the silence.
Lin Xiuyuan slept too soundly to be woken.
But Kim Tae Yeon was startled and quickly reached for her mobile phone, carefully silencing the ringtone.
Glancing down, she saw the caller ID was “Ji-yeon.”
Her bright, beautiful eyes darted around, and then the corner of her lips curved into a playful arc. She tapped the answer button, brought the mobile phone to her ear, and said softly in a voice that was almost laughing.
“Hello, Xiuyuan is sleeping.”
…
…
Daily ten thousand completed, thank you godfathers for your support and votes.
Monthly tickets broke 5K, daily ten thousand +1.
Daily ten thousand progress bar report: 43/56.
Seeking monthly tickets, seeking subscriptions, seeking subscriptions, seeking rewards, seeking everything!
PS: I implore all godfathers not to let the book gather dust. My part-time job of daily ten thousand has truly exhausted me, and letting the book gather dust is a bit demoralizing!!!
