Chapter 194: Jung Soo Yeon And Jessica Gazing At Each Other From Afar
Not long ago.
Lin Xiuyuan sent Big Dragon Cub and the others to where Jessica’s car was parked, then waved his hand and left alone.
Lee Ji-eun watched his departing back, about to turn around, when Big Dragon Cub suggested again from beside her, “It’s almost noon, right? Although Xiuyuan isn’t coming… how about we go eat by ourselves? I recently found a pretty good Japanese diner and recommend you all try it.”
Facing Big Dragon Cub’s suggestion, Sunny immediately agreed, “I’m in favor. I didn’t eat the airplane meal this morning; I’m starving.”
“Now?”
Lee Ji-eun also nodded, but seemed slightly hesitant, “I want to go home first to take a shower and relax. Sitting on the plane made my bones all stiff. Is later okay?”
Then Jessica smiled from the side, lightly walking to Big Dragon Cub’s side, “No problem. You go back first to shower and change into something more comfortable. Ji-yeon and I will go hit some balls to warm up first, and we can meet up once you’re done—perfect timing.”
“Good, then it’s settled.” Sunny also smiled in agreement, “I’ll head home first to drop off my luggage too, and give you a ride on the way. I can drive Sulli’s car.”
Just like that, the group quickly settled on a plan. Sunny drove Lee Ji-eun home first, then headed back herself.
Meanwhile, Jessica and Big Dragon Cub went straight to the indoor tennis court upstairs, played a bit of tennis, and after exercising, felt completely refreshed.
Once Sunny and Lee Ji-eun arrived one after another, the group headed together to the agreed restaurant.
It was a Japanese casual dining spot at a street corner, with the second floor somewhat hidden, but the environment quiet and elegant.
The window booth seat was slanted by sunlight, warm and cozy, with a perfect overlook of the entire street.
The group ordered a few light main dishes and snacks, chatting while eating. Topics went from old gossip in the entertainment industry to recently watched dramas, then to gossiping about some second generation’s recent moves, bursting into laughter now and then.
During this, Jessica ate while occasionally turning her head to gaze outside the window.
Suddenly, her expression froze slightly.
On the sidewalk below, a familiar figure slowly walked past the corner… it was Lin Xiuyuan.
Beside him was a woman, tall and slender just like her.
A black camisole outlined her delicate curves, beige high-waisted shorts revealed straight, long beautiful legs, and her just-tousled long hair draped over her fragrant shoulders, casual yet not messy.
The woman was shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Xiuyuan, the two seemingly casually walking and chatting, occasionally tilting their heads to speak, their expressions so natural it didn’t seem like a first meeting.
Jessica’s brows furrowed slightly, her chopsticks paused in her hand, and she went quiet for two seconds.
She wasn’t one to overthink easily, but the scene before her still stirred a slight unease in her heart.
Dog man, he just told us he had something to do, and now he’s out on a date with another woman?
“Sulli, eat up. What are you looking at?”
Sunny noticed Jessica’s distraction, followed her gaze out the window, and suddenly let out an “eh,” “Hey, isn’t that Xiuyuan?”
After instinctively saying the name, Sunny somewhat regretted it, because she also noticed the girl next to Lin Xiuyuan.
Done for, it seemed she’d stirred up trouble for her little disciple.
Sure enough, the next second, Big Dragon Cub immediately leaned over, “Xiuyuan? Where, where?”
Lee Ji-eun also leaned over, looking out the window together.
At that moment, as if sensing something, Lin Xiuyuan on the street paused slightly, suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting exactly the group behind the second-floor glass window.
Then the girl beside him also lifted her head.
……
……
Not long ago.
Jung Soo Yeon, who had come from 2013 to 2025, glanced at the unchanged villa living room. The last time she’d been here was a long time ago, in her impression.
But there was no helping it—who let the past two years be Girls’ Generation’s peak period? Schedules were nonstop; squeezing out even a little time was extremely rare.
At this time, Lin Xiuyuan, walking ahead, suddenly turned back to look at her, his gaze landing on the quite conspicuous straw hat on her head, a smile immediately tugging at his lips.
“What’s this about? Planning to come over as Straw Hat Luffy the Pirate King? Or are you going to blow up with Jessica and go public with the world, telling everyone Jessica is a fake knockoff?”
“No way.” Jung Soo Yeon pouted, “I just think it matches pretty well.”
“Matches my foot. You’re coming out with me later—no hat. How about a mask instead.”
Seeing her straw hat removed, Jung Soo Yeon wrinkled her nose in some depression and asked, “A mask doesn’t conflict with the hat. Can’t I just wear both?”
“That works too. No objection from me.” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
Then he shoved the hat back onto Jung Soo Yeon’s head, infuriating her into gnashing her teeth. She raised her hand and landed a few small fists on his arm, “You asking for a beating?”
Lin Xiuyuan dodged with a laugh while teasing, “Whoa, pretty strong. Then no need to eat later. I was thinking we’d grab food first before heading out.”
“Eat, why not? I haven’t had breakfast yet.” Jung Soo Yeon huffed, withdrawing her small fists.
Lin Xiuyuan said no more and directly ordered takeout on his mobile phone.
He didn’t dare risk taking her out to eat here. This wasn’t 2013 anymore, when candid shots relied on paparazzi tailing.
Seoul in 2025… candid shots were like random public defecation in India—everywhere. He didn’t want to gamble on that risk.
While waiting for the takeout to arrive, he took Jung Soo Yeon to his 2013 apartment to pick a suitable mask.
A dazzling array of anime masks covered the entire wall, but Jung Soo Yeon pulled out a classic 《V for Vendetta》 one.
Lin Xiuyuan was momentarily stunned, “You like this?”
“No.” Jung Soo Yeon answered straightforwardly, “Just grabbed it casually.”
Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help glancing at the mask in her hand, then surveying the surroundings—from Hatsune Miku to Pikachu, Disney princesses to Gundam warriors, what mask wasn’t there?
And she casually grabs a smirking “terrorist” one? Called casual?
But he didn’t press further, letting her have it. The two returned to the 25 villa with the mask.
In the time that followed, Jung Soo Yeon, just like Sulli and Park Ji-yeon who had come before, nestled on the sofa scrolling short videos, occasionally letting out a light laugh or two.
Until the takeout arrived and Lin Xiuyuan urged her three times, she reluctantly put down her phone and walked to the dining table, eating slowly while still staring at the screen.
With lunch over, the two finally headed out properly. This was also Jung Soo Yeon’s first “long trip” since the first time driving with Lin Xiuyuan to dig a pit for Jessica.
The moment they stepped out of the villa, bright sunlight spilled onto the street.
Jung Soo Yeon lowered the V for Vendetta mask, long hair draped over both sides of her shoulders. In simple yet sharp attire, walking beside Lin Xiuyuan, she didn’t seem too out of place. Instead, the mask made it even harder to see the expression in her eyes.
“This mask of yours… looks more and more like a terrorist the longer I look.”
Lin Xiuyuan muttered lowly, pulling her arm to draw her closer, “If we run into reporters later, don’t blame me for ditching you and running.”
“If you dare ditch me, you won’t sleep well for the rest of your life, and don’t think about coming back.”
Jung Soo Yeon shot him a sideways glance. Though her tone was tough, her steps subconsciously drew closer.
Crossing the street corner, the two turned into a commercial street area with moderate foot traffic.
Unlike modern shopping districts with towering buildings, this area was mostly standalone designer boutiques, outer walls painted in various graffiti styles, doorways hung with all sorts of handwritten signboards, exuding a unique lifestyle aura.
“Where are we going?” Jung Soo Yeon curiously looked around.
“Just walk around, go shopping.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s tone was relaxed, “You don’t come to 25 often anyway. Gotta let you see more of what it’s become around here.”
The two soon entered a clothing store full of design sense.
Walls hung with simply tailored, crisp-fabric ready-to-wear pieces, mainly in beige and navy, in a Japanese minimalist style.
Lin Xiuyuan casually picked up a long navy windbreaker, flipped the inner label, and held it right in front of Jung Soo Yeon.
“Take a look.”
He smirked, “Made in China.”
“This is just the first one.”
Lin Xiuyuan smiled, hung the clothes back, then took a pair of metal earrings from a rack of accessories, the label similarly bearing the familiar four words.
“Still Made in China.”
Next were shoes, handbags, even in a decor store full of wooden structures—the ceramic pen holders on the table and sketchbooks’ labels were no exception.
Then they went to the neighboring jewelry store.
Lin Xiuyuan selected a pair of metal tassel earrings, flipping open the tiny back label with practiced ease.
“Made in Shenzhen, China.”
Jung Soo Yeon paused, said nothing, and followed him out again.
The third was a hardware miscellany shop. Lin Xiuyuan directly picked up a folding small scissors, showing the label once more.
“Manufactured in Zhejiang.”
All along the way, over a dozen shops of different categories and styles—from clothes and accessories to ceramic tableware, phone cases to handbags.
Lin Xiuyuan, as if having planned the route in advance, leisurely led Jung Soo Yeon on a “patrol,” flipping out a “Made in China” in every single one.
Finally, standing at a bookstore doorway, Lin Xiuyuan turned to Jung Soo Yeon with a light smile.
“So, Sulli, still worried about that idea of yours now?”
Jung Soo Yeon had lost count of how many times she’d stared blankly at such a label.
“These products mostly appear in consumption spots young people frequent most, street shop windows most easily captured by lenses, and most easily guide fashion trends.”
Standing beside her, Lin Xiuyuan’s voice was low and firm, “They’ve permeated every crevice of life here, but most people have no idea where these things come from, who made them, or how they got here.”
Then, seeing the spark igniting in Jung Soo Yeon’s eyes, his tone gradually softened.
“So I support you wanting to develop in domestic entertainment. The China market isn’t just a ‘billion-plus population’ concept—it’s real production and consumption power. This isn’t the future; it’s now.”
Jung Soo Yeon said nothing, just looked down at her shadow on the ground.
The sunlight cast her slender figure very long, overlapping perfectly beside Lin Xiuyuan’s shadow.
After a while, she smiled softly and said, “You’re right.”
The sunlight was now even brighter. Seoul streets bustled, roadside trees swaying slightly in the early summer breeze. Lin Xiuyuan led Jung Soo Yeon from the west side of the city area all the way to the cultural district.
The streets after lunch were getting lively—small art exhibits, street performances, handmade markets…
Two-story street-side shops were scattered neatly along both sides of the road.
Lin Xiuyuan gradually slowed down, suddenly turning to Jung Soo Yeon and asking, “Tired?”
“No.”
Jung Soo Yeon shook her head. Compared to tired, the mask was actually making her a bit uncomfortable, “But we can find a place to sit for a bit.”
“There’s a milk tea shop up ahead I’ve been to before; taste is decent.” Lin Xiuyuan said, pointing to a spot not far off.
Jung Soo Yeon looked in the direction of his finger. The building glass nearby reflected sunlight; the second floor had a large floor-to-ceiling window, vaguely showing a few figures inside, but hard to make out due to the backlighting.
“Then let’s go there.” She nodded.
The two continued forward, just rounding a street corner and about to cross the road when Lin Xiuyuan suddenly stopped.
“Hm?”
“What’s wrong?”
Jung Soo Yeon, about to check her phone, was startled by Lin Xiuyuan’s pause and stopped too.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t speak, instead tilting his head slightly, eyes scanning the few figures and gazes behind the second-floor window.
He narrowed his eyes, gazing at one figure by the window. That slightly turned face was still clearly discernible amid the interplay of light and shadow.
It was Jessica.
At the same time, Jung Soo Yeon also looked over following his line of sight.
Daily ten thousand ends. Thanks to godfathers for your support and votes.
Daily ten thousand progress bar report: 55/65.
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