Chapter 206: Glute Bridges And Push-ups Exercise
2025.
The afternoon sunlight was just right, the sky tinged with soft white light, carrying the lazy aura unique to early summer, with even the air filled with a drowsy comfort.
After finishing lunch and completing the necessary tasks.
Lin Xiuyuan also changed into comfortable clothes and invited the supervisor of the construction team that had previously helped him decorate the small tavern to the villa.
After exchanging a few pleasantries in the living room, he led the other directly up to the rooftop of the villa.
Pushing open the rooftop door that had rarely been used, a gust of wind mixed with faint dust hit them in the face.
The swimming pool lay quietly there, its empty bottom covered in fallen leaves, dust, and remnants of a few plastic bags that had flown in at some point, giving it quite the vibe of a “ruins restart.”
This swimming pool was not small, over ten meters long and five meters wide, with a shallow water area on the side, complete with a slide and a few rattan chairs infused with the scent of sunlight.
At a glance, it looked just like a rooftop mini paradise.
The team supervisor couldn’t help but squint, carefully inspecting it several times, then turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, his tone filled with a bit of emotion.
“Mr. Lin, placing a swimming pool like this on the rooftop… the cost must not be low, right?”
The construction team Lin Xiuyuan hired here was from China, so everyone spoke without the rigid etiquette of the peninsula, straightforward and direct.
“No idea, anyway, it didn’t cost me any money, and I get to live here, that’s good enough.”
Lin Xiuyuan, who was asked, chuckled lightly, half sighing and half helpless, “But it’s also because it hasn’t been used for a while, so it’s been left to waste like this until recently when the weather got a bit hot, and that’s when I thought to get it fixed up.”
“Understood, Mr. Lin.”
After hearing this, the supervisor immediately imagined Lin Xiuyuan as a second generation young master in his mind; this villa was probably a gift from his family.
Money and such, the other probably didn’t care about at all.
Thinking of this, the supervisor looked around, then walked toward the filtration system on the side.
Lifting the pump cover, he crouched down expertly to check, speaking while making notes.
“The system’s maintenance is decent, circulation, water pressure, and disinfection functions all still work. Mainly need a thorough cleaning of the pool, and replace the diatomaceous earth in the filter tank. Then clear it out, refill with water, disinfect, and it should be ready to use again.”
“For the cleaning, can you arrange someone for tomorrow?” Lin Xiuyuan asked casually.
“Yes, I’ll arrange it for you right away.” The supervisor stood up and nodded, “It’ll take about two or three hours, then refill with water and disinfect, and it should be usable by evening.”
“Good, see you tomorrow.”
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t dawdle and quickly finalized the time with the supervisor.
Then he personally escorted the man downstairs, only closing the door gently after hearing the sound of the car starting outside, and turned back into the house.
The master bedroom on the third floor was quiet, with only the light from the floor-to-ceiling window slanting in, like a layer of soft gauze quietly spread on the floor.
Lin Xiuyuan stepped slowly on the floor into the master bedroom, and the first thing that caught his eye was a familiar little wild cat.
More precisely, Soo Jung was curled up entirely on the big bed, the bedding loosely draped over her, her little head pillowed on the pillow.
She looked just like a cat basking in the sun, sleeping soundly, with a satisfied curve at the corners of her mouth.
Soo Jung’s emotions had been exceptionally lighthearted all day today, and she had relaxed a lot.
Probably because she truly felt at ease, or perhaps after lunch, following a round of that post-meal indulgence play game with Lin Xiuyuan, she had shed the mask she wore outside and fully relaxed.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t make a sound, keeping his footsteps extremely light.
As he walked over, he quietly crouched down, gently pulling up Soo Jung’s slightly askew bedding to cover her properly, and smoothly brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
Soo Jung, who was in deep sleep, suddenly let out a soft hum in her dream, as if sensing a familiar aura, instinctively nuzzling toward Lin Xiuyuan.
Lin Xiuyuan smiled, reached out to pinch her cheek, then leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
The next second, as if sensing something, Soo Jung’s eyelashes fluttered lightly, and she opened her eyes.
She stared at Lin Xiuyuan for a few seconds, her gaze still a bit hazy, but the corners of her mouth slowly curved up, “Back already?”
“Yeah, got the swimming pool sorted, it’ll be cleaned tomorrow.” Lin Xiuyuan said softly.
Soo Jung nodded, but suddenly reached out and hooked him, directly pulling him onto the bed.
“Then you rest a bit too,” she mumbled, nestling into his arms, “Who finishes and doesn’t cuddle? Xiuyuan, you need to learn some manners.”
“Is this you wanting me to lie here with you? Or go another round? You’re getting a bit greedy.” Lin Xiuyuan chuckled helplessly.
“How is this greedy?” Soo Jung lifted her head, looking perfectly justified, “I haven’t even brought up you going off traveling with others for so many days.”
With that, she stuck to him again like soft cotton candy, pressing her whole body into Lin Xiuyuan’s arms, “And… I feel like I can only sleep soundly and peacefully when you’re by my side.”
“By that logic, you should sleep more from now on.” Lin Xiuyuan responded with a gentle laugh.
“More sleep is impossible, more rounds is the way.”
Soo Jung looked up at him, her gaze sly yet earnestly captivating, “By the way, I’m really looking forward to what you’ll arrange once the swimming pool is ready. Just messing around by yourself, or…”
She paused, her gaze suddenly meaningful, “Swimsuit party?”
Lin Xiuyuan paused at her look, then chuckled, “That tone of yours sounds like you’re hinting at something.”
Soo Jung huffed lightly.
The situation from Big Dragon Cub’s birthday party last time still left quite an impression on Soo Jung.
Because right after that, more than half of the boy in front of her was snatched away, and it still made Soo Jung a bit uncomfortable even now.
As a result, Lin Xiuyuan blurted out, “Ah, aside from Ji-yeon and the others, what swimsuit party is there worth watching.”
This made Soo Jung’s gaze sharpen, and she sat up straighter, “What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing else, just a casual joke.” Lin Xiuyuan, realizing his slip, suddenly smiled a bit guiltily.
“Heh.”
Soo Jung sneered coldly while staring at him, slowly leaning closer, “Xiuyuan, you know? Often, the jokes people say out loud are their most sincere inner thoughts. You weren’t just now, right?”
“Of course not.” Lin Xiuyuan denied seriously.
“I won’t listen, I’ll take it as you are.” Soo Jung said, suddenly pulling his hand and pressing him flat on the bed, “Another round.”
“Again?” Lin Xiuyuan was helpless yet amused.
“Of course.”
Soo Jung leaned by his ear, her voice low and sweet, “Didn’t you say… I should sleep more from now on? How can I sleep without you accompanying me.”
……
At this time, over at Jessica’s apartment.
Having just finished a meeting with a collaborator, she stepped in high heels back home, and the moment she kicked off her shoes, it was like she was liberated.
Then she casually tossed the expensive bag onto the entryway table, walked into the living room, and collapsed into the soft beige sofa, letting out a long breath.
Originally this afternoon, she had planned to invite “Big Dragon Cub” to hit some tennis at the court, but the other side had Lee Ji-eun back, so the sisters had all agreed to go play golf together.
So they politely asked Jessica if she wanted to join and make up the numbers.
Jessica lost interest just hearing that lineup. That was their group’s reunion moment; why would she, an outsider, crash it? To give people something to talk about? Or voluntarily play social wallpaper?
So after politely and elegantly declining, she smiled, hung up, and ended up in her current lazy pose, slouched on the sofa, bored scrolling on her phone.
After sitting on the sofa for a bit, she suddenly thought of Soo Jung, who had finished work that morning.
She immediately opened the call log, found that extremely familiar number, and dialed.
At least call her out for dinner, best if she could bring that “personal attendant.”
Beep… beep… beep…
But the call rang for a long time, so long that Jessica thought Soo Jung wouldn’t pick up, before it finally connected at the last moment.
“Hello, Jessica, what’s up…”
Hearing the voice, Jessica narrowed her eyes, then asked nonchalantly, “Want to grab dinner tonight? Didn’t you want that Italian pasta last time? Let’s go eat some.”
“Tonight?”
Soo Jung on the other end mumbled these words, then immediately replied, “Not tonight, I already have plans tonight.”
Although it was during exercise time, she still remembered Lin Xiuyuan telling her at noon that Sulli had reserved a big dinner for her tonight, so Soo Jung naturally wouldn’t break the appointment.
After all, she wasn’t planning to repeat the misses from previous years.
This long-lost little snowball, she cherished it like a treasure in her palm, afraid it would melt.
“With who? Hey, Soo Jung, how come you’re never free when I ask you out? You’re so hard to schedule now.”
Jessica asked again, slightly furrowing her delicate brows.
Actually, when she asked this, she already had an answer in her heart; she just wanted to hear if her guess was correct from Soo Jung.
Sure enough, after Jessica’s voice fell, Soo Jung on the other end went silent for about half a minute.
Then, taking a deep breath, she answered the question, “What you want to ask, Jessica, is it about Xiuyuan~ Hahaha, I can only tell you, you guessed right, it’s indeed him.”
As she spoke, Soo Jung’s voice had sunk.
In response, Jessica gave a faint “oh,” then fell silent for a moment.
Soo Jung sensed the atmosphere was a bit off, “Jessica? Why aren’t you talking?”
“Nothing.” Jessica’s tone was light, “You… continue exercising.”
With that, without giving the other a chance to react, she hung up decisively.
Beep…
The moment the call cut off, Jessica was still sitting on the sofa, phone left on the coffee table unmoved, her whole body leaning back into the sofa.
Her gaze was a bit unfocused, staring at the sky outside the window, saying nothing.
The sky was a clear blue, sunlight pouring down, bright almost to the point of whiteness.
It cast large patches of light and shadow in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, slanting across her refined features, making her gaze seem wandering.
At this moment, Jessica’s mind still lingered on Soo Jung’s words: “…you know…”
And that faint sound, as well as… the other’s coquettish nasal tone.
“…”
Then she slowly raised one hand to rub her brow, let it drop, and leaned back on the sofa again, as if not wanting to move at all.
After a good while, she muttered to herself in a low voice.
“Soo Jung, you’re really letting yourself go more and more now.”
Then her mind flashed to Lin Xiuyuan’s figure, last night’s dinner, and the message Soo Jung had sent her not long ago; she lowered her eyes and sighed with a bit of headache.
Now, she had the illusion of not knowing how to face this person.
Wimbledon?
Really going?
……
At the same moment, inside Im Yoon Ah’s apartment.
Her home today also had an unexpected pair of guests.
One was Girls’ Generation’s captain Tae Little Soft, the other was Girls’ Generation’s third eldest, the veritable President Lee Sunny.
“Unnie, it’s been many years since you last visited me here, what’s up today?”
Im Yoon Ah, smiling as she handed water cups to the two, sat on the adjacent sofa, looking curiously at the pair opposite.
Kim Tae Yeon took the water cup, smiling as she spoke, “Don’t ask me, I’m just a little add-on tagging along with Sunny.”
Then Im Yoon Ah looked at Sunny, “Sunny unnie?”
Sunny coughed lightly, grinning, “It’s Teacher Lee Soo-man who called me over to sound you out, see if there’s any opportunity.”
“Huh?”
Im Yoon Ah was shocked, momentarily at a loss, “Unnie, you’re serious? Don’t mess around, I’m panicking a bit.”
“If you don’t believe me, ask Tae Yeon.” Sunny shrugged, her tone quite relaxed.
Im Yoon Ah turned to Tae Yeon, who shrugged and nodded with a smile, “That’s what she just told me, probably a task. Just listen, no big deal. If nothing unexpected, Sunny’s probably visiting everyone this time.”
Sunny nodded, laughing, “Pretty much, just going through the motions, but mainly chatting with some behind-the-scenes teachers. The new company is short on these experienced grassroots folks.”
“The new group’s variety shows are out already, looks like Teacher Lee Soo-man is really motivated.”
Hearing the answer, Im Yoon Ah laughed too, not taking the earlier words seriously, shifting to other topics.
As they spoke, the three exchanged glances and all tacitly smiled.
After all, Im Yoon Ah and Kim Tae Yeon, who could already snag a bit of small red wine from SM Entertainment, really had no need to run around elsewhere.
At 30+, in other industries you might say just starting out, but for star actors and idol artists, they’re basically set and can semi-retire.
And when Im Yoon Ah brought up the topic, Sunny followed, “Speaking of which, watching those little girls rise bit by bit now really brings an indescribable feeling, always reminding me of our debut memories.”
Then the three sat on the sofa, reminiscing about the past.
It’s undeniable that as people age, no matter how glamorous they once were, they always start talking about the past; it seems like a law.
While chatting, Sunny went to the restroom in the middle.
And Kim Tae Yeon immediately scooted next to Im Yoon Ah, staring straight at her, “Yoona, what you’re doing isn’t right?”
“Doing what? Politely declining Sunny unnie? How isn’t it right?” Im Yoon Ah didn’t get it.
“Not that.”
Kim Tae Yeon rolled her eyes at her, pointing at Im Yoon Ah’s cheek with a finger, her tone half scolding, “I mean this… you secretly hogging it all alone, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Im Yoon Ah clearly didn’t expect Kim Tae Yeon’s topic to veer so far, stunned for a moment before chuckling, “No, unnie, if I told you about this, without that door, would you believe me?”
“…”
Kim Tae Yeon instantly fell silent, momentarily speechless.
And it was indeed the truth; who would believe without experiencing it firsthand.
Straight out of a fantastical sci-fi movie plot, unthinkable.
But she still muttered unwillingly, “Then after I learned about that door, you should’ve told me.”
“No way, something this good, if not hidden away, what if it’s all snatched up.”
Im Yoon Ah continued seriously, “Science proves men’s milk is irreversibly finite; more people means more mouths, hard for me to get a turn. If it were you, unnie, you’d hide Xiuyuan too.”
Kim Tae Yeon pursed her lips, not replying.
She wouldn’t just hide him; last night back at her apartment, she even had a dream.
In the dream, she locked Lin Xiuyuan in an underground garage, feeding him on schedule, extracting juice, even slapping an anti-theft mark on him.
While her mind was racing, Sunny came out of the restroom and saw the two so close, eyeing them suspiciously, “What ghosts are you two whispering about?”
“Nothing, just thinking about what to eat tonight.”
The moment she heard the voice, Im Yoon Ah instantly composed herself, her smile gentle and innocent, “Unnie, any recommended restaurants?”
“Dinner? No particular ideas.” Sunny thought, then her eyes lit up slightly, “How about… barbecue? Haven’t gathered for a good grill in ages.”
With that, she casually added, “Maybe call Xiuyuan along too?”
“I’m in.” Kim Tae Yeon nodded immediately, a strange expectation in her eyes.
Only Im Yoon Ah’s lips pressed slightly, her tone tactful, “I think Xiuyuan’s busy, maybe don’t disturb him.”
Kim Tae Yeon raised a brow, “Busy with what?”
“I’ll call him and ask.”
Before Kim Tae Yeon could act, Sunny beside her swiftly pulled out her phone and dialed, “No need, I’ll ask. He might just be free.”
“Hey, don’t…”
Im Yoon Ah tried to stop her, but Sunny was too quick, already hitting the call button.
Beep… beep…
The phone rang twice before connecting.
“Hello?”
Lin Xiuyuan’s voice came through, somewhat heavy and ragged, low with a muffled underwater quality.
Sunny hadn’t spoken yet when the slightly off voice stunned her, “Xiuyuan, why… is your breathing so heavy? Are you… running?”
“Ah, no… I’m… doing some training…” Lin Xiuyuan’s voice was intermittent, mixed with slight intakes of breath and faint background water sounds.
Kim Tae Yeon froze, her brows shooting up quickly.
Sunny instinctively switched to speaker mode.
“Ah? Training? At the gym? Want to come out for barbecue tonight?”
“…No, just… upstairs, on the rooftop…”
Lin Xiuyuan laughed awkwardly a couple times, his tone unsteady as he answered irrelevantly, “Yeah… doing push-ups… sweat dripping a lot, need to pad a towel…”
As he spoke, he seemed choked, coughing twice, “Cough cough… Uh, I’m not convenient to go out, have plans with others tonight, really sorry, next time I’ll treat you all.”
Im Yoon Ah slowly covered her face beside them, shaking her head with a low laugh, “Told you he’s busy.”
“Yeah.”
After Lin Xiuyuan finished, without giving them time to react, he shifted tone, “Gonna hang up now.”
“Hey…” Kim Tae Yeon wanted to ask more, but the call “beeped” and ended.
The room fell quiet.
The three looked at each other.
Sunny still held the phone, half-leaning on the sofa, brows furrowed tight, “He said… doing push-ups? Sweat dripping on the floor? …Is he serious?”
Kim Tae Yeon opened her mouth but couldn’t speak, her expression complex as if suppressing her imagination.
Instead, Im Yoon Ah’s lips curved, laughing lightly and confidently as she picked up a fruit and popped it in her mouth, her tone relaxed.
“See, I said Xiuyuan’s busy, but you insisted on calling.”
She smiled at the two, like commenting on two disobedient kids, continuing, “Believe me sooner next time, unnies.”
“…”
Sunny rolled her eyes, annoyed as she leaned back on the sofa, “Damn, now I can’t stop looping in my head what that guy’s doing.”
“I feel like…”
Kim Tae Yeon suddenly said, “He’s not the one training, he’s being trained.”
Im Yoon Ah quickly called stop, “Unnie, don’t say random things; baseless claims are rumors, you’re slandering the victim.”
As soon as she spoke, the three exchanged looks and laughed in unison.
Meanwhile, in a villa in Gangnam District.
A sweaty guy who had just paused core training stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, wiping water droplets from his shoulders while gazing at the white clouds in the sky, slightly lost in thought.
“Close call… almost got heard…”
The next second, laughter rang out.
“Don’t kid yourself, Xiuyuan~”
……
……
Time unknowingly slipped into evening.
Sunset glow poured through the villa’s large floor-to-ceiling windows, plating the whole room in a warm golden halo.
After finishing exercise, Lin Xiuyuan and Soo Jung took a comfortable hot shower at the villa, then returned together to the 2013 apartment.
As soon as the door opened, a faint scent of green onion and ginger wafted over, warm and healing.
Sulli was in the kitchen wearing an apron, skillfully stir-frying the dishes in the pan; hearing the door, she poked her head out immediately, beaming as she came out to greet them.
“Hey~ you’re back.”
Sulli, stepping out of the kitchen while wiping water stains from her hands, hurried to the living room, bouncing like welcoming family back from a business trip.
Then looking at Soo Jung’s flushed, radiant little face, she smiled slightly and teased, “Soo Jung, having so much fun today?”
Soo Jung laughed lightly at her teasing, shaking her hair, “Very happy, thanks, Sulli~”
“Since you had such a good time, time to pay up.”
Sulli smiled, grabbing her hand and half-pulling her toward the kitchen, “Come quick and taste this soup for me; I feel it’s missing something, you decide the saltiness.”
After changing into home slippers, Soo Jung didn’t say much, tacitly rolling up her sleeves and going in, washing veggies while laughing, “What if I hadn’t come early, what would you do?”
“By my standards, whether you like it or not.”
The kitchen immediately filled with their laughter, the clatter of spatula against wok, and the sound of running water, weaving into the most everyday and warm melody.
As they busied themselves, Lin Xiuyuan comfortably nestled on the living room sofa, with an exquisite fruit platter on the coffee table in front.
Chilled watermelon, peeled grapes, sliced apples, and a few fresh orange segments.
While watching a variety show on TV, he held his phone in one hand, ate fruit, and chatted idly in the group with Park Ji-yeon, Jung Soo Yeon, and the others.
Park Ji-yeon: 【Oppa, can you fly to Tokyo?】
Lin Xiuyuan: 【Sure, book a presidential suite first, ask Jinjin.】
Park Ji-yeon: 【Not safe, forget it.】
Park Ji-yeon: 【Oppa, look at these house photos, which one do you like?】
Jung Soo Yeon: 【Buying another house? Ji-yeon, no need to rush.】
Ham Eun-jung: 【I’ll buy, church funds.】
Jung Soo Yeon: 【Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, come over tonight, I need to talk to you.】
Lin Xiuyuan: 【Want to come for dinner? Sulli’s almost done.】
Jung Soo Yeon: 【I’m working, jerk~】
Looking at the screen messages, Lin Xiuyuan typed smilingly while forking an orange segment into his mouth.
Just as it hit his tongue, he couldn’t help exclaiming softly, “Oh wow, so sweet.”
He tried a few more fruits: chilled watermelon, crisp apple, grapes—each juicy and delicious.
So he called toward the kitchen smiling, “Jinjin, where’d you get this fruit? Great picks.”
Sulli in the kitchen was stir-frying; hearing this, she laughed out loud, responding lightly through the fumes.
“Hahaha, I didn’t buy it; Soo Jung brought it over at noon, we didn’t eat it then, so packed it back. Oppa, if you like it, I’ll ask her for the place later and get more next time.”
Lin Xiuyuan chewed the fruit, mumbling back, “Sure, ask.”
After this little interlude, time quietly slid to seven in the evening.
The aroma from the kitchen grew richer. When Soo Jung carried out the last dish of garlic green vegetables, the steaming garlic scent whetted appetites.
Sulli following behind removed her apron, clapped her hands, and called brightly to Lin Xiuyuan in the living room, “Oppa, dinner’s ready!”
“Coming.”
Lin Xiuyuan got up and walked to the dining table, eyes lighting up at the plates of colorful, aromatic home-style stir-fries, “Wow, this spread is quite lavish today.”
“Of course.”
Sulli sat slowly beside him, tucking back her side hair, her tone gentle with a hint of pride.
“I’ve been specially studying a balanced taste of Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine lately, aiming for home-style dishes that aren’t too spicy or oily. Today, taking the chance to make something good for Soo Jung, I tried out the dishes properly.”
Soo Jung coughed lightly, smiling at Sulli, “What? Sulli, by that, am I the test subject?”
“No, tonight’s dinner is specially made for you, Soo Jung.” Sulli smiled, eyes narrowing, tone earnest.
“But specially researched for Xiuyuan.” Soo Jung raised a brow, quietly ladling soup into her bowl.
The two bantered back and forth; Lin Xiuyuan listening felt his mood lighten considerably.
Then he picked up chopsticks, first grabbing a bite of curry potato braised chicken; eyes lighting up at the taste, he immediately gave Sulli a thumbs up.
“Wow, Jinjin, your culinary skill has really improved a ton. How about I start you a channel called Jinjin’s Food Diary? Once fans pile up in a few years, one wave covers your income all these years, then retire comfortably.”
“Nah, oppa, this is just ordinary home cooking.”
Sulli, praised shyly, laughed lightly and lowered her head to pick at the food.
But Lin Xiuyuan seriously said, “Your so-called White Master Chef treats oyster sauce like a secret ingredient, and a simple garlic green veggie stir-fry has stars raving and tearing up. By that standard, Jinjin, this meal on a show would crown you peninsula’s new master chef.”
Soo Jung knew who Lin Xiuyuan meant and burst out laughing, “Xiuyuan, don’t make me laugh, watch me spray food in your face.”
“No problem, I sprayed you earlier; fair chance to spray back now.”
Straightforward Lin Xiuyuan subconsciously said this, startling Soo Jung into glancing quickly at Sulli beside her.
Sulli kept her head down quietly eating, as if she hadn’t heard.
So Soo Jung shot a fierce glare at the guy opposite; she could flaunt such things in front of others, but not comfortably in front of Sulli.
However, the dinner table atmosphere became even more relaxed and natural from this little episode.
The three ate and chatted, from today’s schedules to favorite recent variety shows, with bursts of laughter now and then.
Occasionally, Sulli would update Lin Xiuyuan on some work progress here, like TV series prep and investment company promotions.
Soo Jung pulled Sulli to chat about some fun stories from 25, saying once Lin Xiuyuan’s time-space door evolved, they could go abroad traveling together with time on their side.
Throughout the dinner, warm yellow lights illuminated the dining table, wok hei lingering, laughter nonstop, like returning to some long-lost sense of life.
Simple, everyday, yet precious.
Everyone ate this meal with particular satisfaction.
Trimmed version~
