Chapter 175: “ham! Eun! Jung! You Just Wait!”
In the practice room, Hyo Min over there was chatting idly with the dance teachers, while the new maknae in front of the mirror was earnestly and tirelessly memorizing the dance steps and positions.
In front of the resting bench, Ji-yeon was sitting quietly, panting softly, trying hard to adjust her breathing.
And just at that moment, the words from behind her ear: “Ji-yeon, don’t say that about yourself anymore in the future. The future you is also working very hard.”
This sudden sentence struck her mind, making Ji-yeon widen her eyes abruptly and turn her head in surprise to look at that person.
The next second, her gaze was full of shock and confusion, because the one speaking was none other than the familiar Eun-jung unnie.
Moments later, Ji-yeon quickly glanced around to confirm no one was paying attention, then immediately stood up and pulled the smiling Ham Eun-jung out of the practice room.
She kept going until the end of the corridor by the window before finally stopping, her tone full of shock and uncertainty as she asked, “Unnie, you… what do you mean by this?”
“You’ve already passed 25 years, so I’m not surprised you know,” Ham Eun-jung smiled slightly.
“Wow, oh my, no, when did this happen?”
Another shocking statement made Ji-yeon completely believe Ham Eun-jung’s identity, yet at the same time she was full of doubts, “But last night you clearly didn’t understand my investment yet.”
“Last night was last night, today is today. A whole night has passed, so it’s normal that I understand now, right?”
Ham Eun-jung’s response made Ji-yeon seem to understand something, her eyes widening, “So unnie, what you mean is, oppa took you there last night? But no, he only brought Taeyeon unnie back the day before yesterday… Wow, what’s going on, has oppa gone crazy?”
Watching Ji-yeon muttering to herself, Ham Eun-jung smiled and patted her arm, “Don’t change the subject. Whether Xiuyuan is crazy or not can be discussed later. Right now, we’re talking about you, Ji-yeon.”
“Me, what’s wrong with me? I’m fine, I’m doing pretty well now.” Ji-yeon pointed to herself, then shook her head innocently.
But Ham Eun-jung looked deeply at her and softly said, “Ji-yeon, I know you don’t like your future situation much. But the Ji-yeon over there wasn’t as lucky as us, having Xiuyuan open the time-space door to 2025 to correct things based on information.”
“Actually, it’s impossible for people to make the right choice every step of the way; that’s what’s normal.”
“If you chose wrong, you chose wrong. We can’t use the perspective of the past to blame our future selves. She was fumbling forward alone back then, essentially testing mistakes for you, so you have the information now to complain about her.”
“But you have to know, the you back then was lost in the fog, very confused too. If given the same opportunity, without meeting Xiuyuan, with the same life experience and mindset, what choices do you think you could make?”
“So Ji-yeon, you can’t stand at the height Xiuyuan has given you now to judge your future self.”
Ham Eun-jung’s tone was gentle, yet every word sincere, “Just like how we met Xiuyuan in this time-space, every step is fate’s arrangement. We should cherish everything and take good care of ourselves, whether it’s you here or you over there.”
After Ham Eun-jung finished this long speech, Ji-yeon just stood there, staring at her unblinkingly, lips pressed tight, as if she hadn’t heard a word.
Helplessly, seeing this, Ham Eun-jung couldn’t help but sigh softly and resorted to her “killer move,” “I heard the Ji-yeon over there was eager to get married so her uncle could personally walk her down the aisle. This reason… might make you understand more easily than what I just said?”
As the words fell, Ji-yeon’s pupils shrank sharply, like she’d been struck hard in the chest.
She froze, her whole body almost fixed in place.
Ham Eun-jung’s reason just now was like a needle piercing straight into her heart.
“Wh-what?” Ji-yeon subconsciously repeated.
Ham Eun-jung didn’t answer immediately, just quietly looking at her with a hint of pity in her gaze.
But Ji-yeon soon snapped back, frowning and looking at her suspiciously, “No, unnie, where did you get this info? Oppa doesn’t seem to know either, right?”
“The me from 25 years told me. Although she said Ji-yeon didn’t explicitly state the reason, just chatted about it, it can’t be too far off, otherwise she wouldn’t have divorced so quickly after marriage.”
Ham Eun-jung continued softly telling the situation to Ji-yeon. She knew this resentment might not be very deep, perhaps just venting some emotions verbally.
But as unnie, she had the responsibility to tell Ji-yeon one thing.
That after gaining “experience left from others’ mistakes,” she shouldn’t resent the self who walked the wrong path alone back then; she hadn’t done anything wrong.
This time, Ji-yeon finally quieted down.
She stood there dazedly, her gaze somewhat scattered, silent for a long time.
Until Hyo Min came out of the practice room and saw them from afar standing by the window, their expressions different.
She walked over slowly, her gaze scanning back and forth between Ji-yeon’s silent expression and Ham Eun-jung’s serious face, asking cautiously, “What’s wrong… you two, did you fight?”
Hearing the voice, Ji-yeon snapped back, looked up with a smile, gently shook her head, and naturally linked arms with Ham Eun-jung.
“No, unnie, don’t talk nonsense. Eun-jung unnie is comforting me. Let’s go, back to rehearsal, unnie.”
“You really didn’t fight? Your faces look off.”
Hyo Min was a bit suspicious.
“My mental state isn’t great today, unnie, really nothing.” Ji-yeon waved her hand casually, pretending to be relaxed.
“But no matter how I look, it feels off… Are you hiding something from me?”
“Yes.” Ham Eun-jung suddenly raised an eyebrow, smiling mischievously, “But we’re not telling you.”
“Hey, Ham Eun-jung, just you wait.”
Hyo Min stomped her foot unwillingly.
……
……
The other side, 2025.
The next day at noon.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains into the room, sprinkling on the snow-white sheets.
Sweet Eun-jung slowly opened her eyes, her mind still lingering with last night’s scenes: the warm car interior, the Mercedes-Benz fading into the distance, and Lin Xiuyuan’s gentle expression as he tenderly tucked her in with the quilt.
She stretched lazily, rubbing her cheek against the pillow as she turned over, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she murmured softly.
“It’s really hard to imagine there’s such a magical thing as the time-space door, but thinking about it makes sense, otherwise how could Xiuyuan be the rejuvenation pill.”
With that, she sat up, ruffled her hair, yawned as she got out of bed, barefoot stepping onto the soft carpet, and walked into the bathroom.
But while washing up, looking at the familiar yet tired face in the mirror, she suddenly grew serious for a few seconds.
【I really don’t look as good as Ham Eun-jung, huh】
Thinking this, Sweet Eun-jung stood silently in front of the mirror for a moment, then washed her face, wiped off the water droplets, and walked back to the bedroom.
While pulling open the curtains to let in the sunlight, she casually picked up the phone left on the bedside last night, intending to check for any messages.
But as soon as she turned on the screen, she saw a string of unread messages.
She swiped to open them and burst out laughing on the spot:
Lee Ji-eun: 【What to do, Eun-jung still hasn’t replied to us, it’s early morning.】
Big Dragon Cub: 【Unnie, you’re still sending? It’s early morning, ask Eun-jung unnie tomorrow.】
Lee Ji-eun: 【I can’t sleep, why cut in line? Eun-jung~ It was me who told you.】
Big Dragon Cub: 【This is where I have to say unnie you’re silly, hide and eat it secretly.】
Lee Ji-eun: 【Same as you, right.】
Big Dragon Cub: 【I didn’t.】
Hyo Min: 【Can you not ignore me? What exactly are you talking about, reply to me.】
At this point, the messages stopped for a few hours, then resumed activity at 9:38 in the morning.
Lee Ji-eun: 【Eun-jung, are you awake? Have you eaten? Are you full? Reply to me, I don’t even dare call you, afraid of waking Xiuyuan.】
Hyo Min: 【So unnie, can you reply to me?】
Big Dragon Cub: 【Unnie you’re so noisy, what time is it?】
Lee Ji-eun: 【Can’t sleep, can’t sleep at all, wuu wuu~ Eun-jung still hasn’t replied.】
Seeing this, Sweet Eun-jung really laughed so hard she cramped up, from standing to sitting, then lying on the bed rolling around.
Her Goo Ri unnie was really too funny, how could she be so crazily adorable.
After laughing, Sweet Eun-jung lay on the bed, kicking her legs for exercise while replying to the group messages.
Sweet Eun-jung: 【Unnie stop messing around, I just woke up.】
Then, the group replied instantly.
Lee Ji-eun: 【Eun-jung, have you eaten? Are you full? Did you sleep? Are you asleep? Was it good?】
Looking at this barrage of concern like rapid-fire, Sweet Eun-jung held back her laughter and typed back: 【Ji-yeon was right yesterday, Xiuyuan really smells great, even better than I imagined.】
Big Dragon Cub: 【??? Unnie you really ate it?】
Lee Ji-eun: 【The sky has fallen.】
Lee Ji-eun: 【Eun-jung where are you? Don’t move, I’m coming to find you, let me sniff.】
Big Dragon Cub: 【???? Unnie you’re such a pervert.】
Hyo Min: 【Can you see me?】
Sweet Eun-jung, laughing so hard she could barely breathe, originally wanted to tease a bit more, to poke fun at her “manic” Goo Ri unnie.
But the other side couldn’t hold back and directly called with a video.
After hesitating a moment, Sweet Eun-jung finally answered.
The next second, Lee Ji-eun appeared on the screen, just woken up still in a silk pajamas, her gaze sharp like a scanner sweeping over her background.
“Where are you now? Eun-jung, where’s Xiuyuan?”
“Xiuyuan?”
Sweet Eun-jung’s lips curved, smiling slightly, “He went back. Of course I’m at home. Unnie, stop staring, really, he’s not here with me.”
Saying this, she got up and walked to the bedside, gently tugging to pull the covering quilt casually onto the floor.
Then she raised the phone camera, slowly circling the room, finally steadily aiming at the messy bedding, “See, he’s really not here.”
Lee Ji-eun’s gaze locked tightly on the quilt dropped on the floor, gritting her teeth as she squeezed out, “You really deserve to die, Ham Eun-jung.”
“Hahaha, unnie you’re too funny.”
“You wait for me, I’m coming over right now.”
“Okay, then remember to bring me breakfast,” she covered her mouth laughing, eyes crinkling, “Last night… I got a bit tired.”
The other end went silent for two seconds, followed by a response almost gritted out.
“Ham! Eun! Jung! You! Wait! For! Me!”
Ten Thousand Daily ended, thanks to the godfathers for your support and votes.
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