Chapter 232: “i Am The Captain Of Girls’ Generation.”
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More than ten minutes ago, in Kim Tae Yeon’s apartment’s master bedroom in the year 25, a slight silence permeated the serene air.
Kim Tae Yeon looked at Kim Soft Soft entering, her gaze gentle yet tinged with hesitation. She beckoned softly, “Come here.”
Her voice held a hint of doubt, “Actually, I was hesitant about whether to let you see these, but I thought it might be good to take a look, just to add an extra layer of certainty for Father over there, to make a deeper impression on you.”
Although Kim Soft Soft didn’t fully understand, upon learning it was something related to her father, she immediately thought of the news she had just received.
Her originally light footsteps became a bit heavier.
Then she slowly walked to Kim Tae Yeon’s side, watching her crouched figure on the floor, and the dark wooden box placed before her seemed exceptionally still.
Kim Tae Yeon gently opened the wooden box, which neatly contained a stack of yellowed photos and a few sheets of paper.
Her finger gently glided over one of the photos, her fingertip touching the soft paper surface, a flicker of an indescribable emotional fluctuation crossing her eyes, perhaps tenderness, or perhaps an unerasable pain.
“These are… Father wrote to me in his final moments, and these photos were taken by Oppa and Mother for him at that time.”
Kim Tae Yeon’s words were soft and tinged with sadness, her voice seeming to echo with those painful and unbearable memories.
At that moment, the temperature of the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Kim Soft Soft stood silently by, her heart rate involuntarily quickening, as if something heavy was pressing on her chest.
At the same time, her gaze involuntarily swept over the photos that documented the little details of her father’s life: it was a kind old man, much older than Father in 13 years, but his eyes held a familiar gentleness that seemed to transcend time-space, gently touching Kim Soft Soft.
Even through the photos, she could feel his silent presence and the unspoken tenderness.
At this point, Kim Tae Yeon slowly picked up another photo and handed it to Kim Soft Soft.
In the photo was a group picture of her as a child with her father. Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto them. Her father looked at her gently, and her smile was pure and bright. The background was the courtyard she had recalled countless times, the place that had accompanied her through her most carefree days.
Kim Soft Soft also had this photo, hidden in her home in Jeonju.
However, in the next second, Kim Tae Yeon handed another photo to Kim Soft Soft.
This time, the photo was no longer filled with warmth; instead, it made the atmosphere suddenly turn cold.
In that photo, their father lay on a hospital bed, surrounded by his mother, brother, and sister.
Only she was absent.
And this was the most difficult part.
If the previous photos were a warm summer, this moment was an icy mountain, instantly stiffening Kim Soft Soft, who had just received the photo.
Next, Kim Tae Yeon took out more things.
The original draft of the tombstone inscription, the notes for the funeral process, the guest list…
Each page recorded that lost time, each word bore unspeakable pain.
These silent memories seemed to turn with Kim Soft Soft’s fingertips, carrying Kim Tae Yeon’s sorrow and irreconcilable emotions into her heart.
Finally, Kim Tae Yeon took out the message Father Kim had written to her before his passing.
She carefully unfolded the paper, her gaze soft, as if reading the words of someone most dear.
There were no lengthy speeches, no deliberate attempts at emotional manipulation, only the usual tenderness and care.
It was a simple line: 【My daughter, remember to eat on time and take care of yourself】
Simple words, ordinary yet filled with deep love.
But with these simple words, after Kim Soft Soft finished reading them, her legs involuntarily weakened, as if all strength had been drained.
She sat on the floor, just like Kim Tae Yeon.
The paper in her hand felt incredibly heavy, her vision blurred, and her fingers tightly clenched the paper, as if she couldn’t bear to look any further.
Although she had never seen her father aged in this time-space, the note filled with tenderness and warmth, that ordinary yet profound care, had made her heart sink involuntarily.
The sorrow and inexpressible sense of loss in her heart surged like a tide, gradually engulfing her thoughts.
Having never experienced the pain of a loved one’s death, she now felt as if she could empathize.
Beside her, Kim Tae Yeon watched Kim Soft Soft’s reaction with a gentle and firm gaze; she understood her feelings very well.
After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice calm but meaningful, “Tae Yeon, you might feel sad seeing these now. But what I hope even more is that you understand that while work is important, what truly supports you will always be family.”
Listening to Kim Tae Yeon’s words, Kim Soft Soft looked down at the photos and words, and an inexpressible emotion welled up in her heart.
Having left home and debuted with the company, in these past years, she had never imagined feeling the strength of familial love so profoundly.
Although she had never met her father in this time-space, these photos and words acted as an invisible bridge, closely connecting her with the memories of her deceased father.
That ordinary yet profound love seemed to transcend time-space in an instant, deeply touching her heart.
After a while, Kim Soft Soft looked up, her gaze firm as she looked at Kim Tae Yeon, “I know.”
She then said softly, “I won’t forget what you said or what I’ve seen.”
Kim Tae Yeon nodded and smiled slightly.
Then she quietly watched Kim Soft Soft continue to look through the items, seeing in her the younger self of that year.
Full of innocence and impulse, yet overlooking too many important things around her.
With that thought, Kim Tae Yeon sighed softly, closed her eyes, as if returning to a time she could no longer go back to.
When she opened her eyes again, the heaviness in her heart had lessened.
She understood clearly that her father had passed away.
But at least now, she could stand here and pass on some of her life wisdom to her younger self from another time-space, and help Kim Soft Soft avoid detours on her future path.
And for Father over there, perhaps it was also a good thing.
Then, Kim Tae Yeon slowly stood up and walked to the bedside, retrieving the birthday gift she had carefully selected for her younger father in 2013.
As she handed the watch box to Kim Soft Soft, her voice was low and gentle, “Actually, this meeting between us two was arranged by Xiuyuan. I wanted to give Father a gift.”
Kim Soft Soft slowly extended her hands and took the watch box from Kim Tae Yeon.
As her fingertips touched the cool outer casing, they trembled involuntarily, as if it were not just an ordinary gift but a weighty expression of her feelings.
Then she lowered her head and opened the box, looking at the exquisite wristwatch inside. Its elegant casing shimmered with a cold light under the soft lighting.
When her gaze fell upon the watch face, the pattern matching her father’s zodiac sign caught her eye, and her heart suddenly tightened.
It was a familiar yet unfamiliar pang of pain; the bitterness of “wanting to nourish but the parents are no more” slowly spread through her chest. This feeling wasn’t from her, but clearly transmitted from Kim Tae Yeon’s eyes opposite her.
Kim Tae Yeon stood opposite her. She didn’t know how Kim Soft Soft felt about this gift.
But for her, it carried inexpressible emotions.
It was like a bridge, attempting to create a subtle connection between her past father and her future self.
It was a fine thread, fragile yet precious, caught between loss and making amends.
After a moment of silence, Kim Tae Yeon’s voice gently sounded, as soft as if afraid to shatter the quiet of the moment, “Do you know? Tae Yeon.”
She lowered her gaze slightly, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy and regret, “When I was choosing this gift, I kept asking myself what I should use to express my feelings for my father. Later, I realized that family love is not just about material or verbal expression; it’s more about companionship and understanding, which is why I chose this wristwatch.”
On the surface, this was said to Kim Soft Soft, but Kim Tae Yeon knew very well that it was also for herself.
Kim Soft Soft, listening to her voice, tightly gripped the watch box, as if she could feel Kim Tae Yeon’s deep sense of powerlessness from it.
And as she empathized with her future self, filled with confusion and sorrow.
Just as this emotion was about to overwhelm her, Kim Tae Yeon stepped forward and gently placed her hand on her shoulder.
In that instant, the warm pressure felt like it pulled Kim Soft Soft out of the whirlpool of her thoughts, and Kim Tae Yeon’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes holding tenderness and comfort.
“Alright, you’ve seen the evidence. How is it? Don’t you think Xiuyuan and I were deceiving you anymore?”
Kim Soft Soft blinked, let out a long sigh, a hint of relief on her face, “From the moment Xiuyuan took me through several rooms, I already believed you.”
“Right? The impact of those spatial scenes, didn’t it make your head spin?”
Quickly regaining her composure and emotions, Kim Tae Yeon pursed her lips and chuckled lightly, intentionally trying to lighten the mood.
After seeing Kim Soft Soft nod, she continued, “By the way, while we have this time, let’s talk about the name issue. I don’t want to end up like Yoona, fighting over it.”
Thinking of the ‘Im Yoon Ah’s nickname’ drama that Lin Xiuyuan had just mentioned, Kim Soft Soft also laughed and looked at her future self beside her.
Although she had many more questions she wanted to ask, it wasn’t good to leave Lin Xiuyuan waiting outside for too long, so she nodded and gave her opinion, “Kim Tae Yeon is a name you’ve used longer than I have. When chatting with everyone, you can just use it. It’s not like I can’t use it anymore.”
“What you said… it doesn’t sound wrong, but why can’t I be happy?”
Kim Tae Yeon furrowed her delicate brows, only latching onto the words “longer time.” For a moment, her face was full of annoyance, and she suddenly understood Ji-yeon’s comment about “old woman” and the argument Yoona and the others had.
Seeing her expression, Kim Soft Soft couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “No, I’m giving you a serious suggestion.”
“What about you then?” Kim Tae Yeon asked.
“When chatting with everyone, I’ll use my real name, Kim Soft Soft, or Tae Little Soft.”
After carefully putting the precious items back into the box and putting away the wristwatch, the two of them walked out of the master bedroom together and happened to run into Lin Xiuyuan, who had brought her over from Lin Yoona’s side.
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It was still Kim Tae Yeon’s apartment, the same familiar living room.
Afternoon sunlight bathed the room, falling on the sofa, coffee table, and the green plants in the corner, bringing a sense of lazy warmth.
Lin Yoona leaned against Lin Xiuyuan, her arm resting casually on the sofa back. Her eyes held a hint of nostalgia and teasing as she looked at Kim Soft Soft opposite her, a slight smile on her lips.
“Unnie, I haven’t seen such a youthful you in a long time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, before Kim Soft Soft could respond, Kim Tae Yeon immediately turned her head, her eyes narrowed, her tone half-joking and half-serious with dissatisfaction.
“Hey, Yoona, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m old?”
However, Lin Yoona had no intention of giving her an easy out. Instead, her eyes lit up as if she had seized an opportunity and she stated directly.
“Looking at our faces, Tae Yeon Unnie, you have to admit it. When I met Lin Xiaolu, I accepted it too.”
The topic of “appearance” made Kim Soft Soft can’t help but look at Lin Yoona in front of her, then gently shook her head and replied sincerely, “No, Yoona, your current state is even more beautiful than you were in 13 years. Your aura, skin, and vitality are much better than in 13 years.”
She wasn’t saying this out of politeness.
Lin Xiaolu in 2013 was not in good physical or mental condition due to consecutive work schedules.
Although youth was her greatest asset, capable of masking some of her fatigue, dark circles were still noticeable, and occasionally a few unruly pimples would pop up.
Compared to the current Lin Yoona, who had taken essence, her complexion was radiant, and she exuded a healthy glow, the difference was undeniable.
Upon hearing this compliment, Lin Yoona’s eyes immediately curved into crescents. Like a cat being petted, she “slid” over to Kim Soft Soft, wrapped her arms around her, and spoke in a light, laughing tone.
“Hahaha, Unnie, I love you so much, you’re the best!”
Kim Tae Yeon couldn’t help but roll her eyes beside them, her expression conveying utter speechlessness, her gaze then drifting to Lin Xiuyuan, who was looking at his phone.
As someone in the know, she naturally understood the real reason behind it.
It was just that, recently, whether it was Lin Xiuyuan himself exercising restraint or Krystal and Lin Yoona being too vigilant, she hadn’t found any opportunity.
Coupled with the fact that her mind had been preoccupied with her father’s birthday in 2013, she could only sigh inwardly at the teasing from the two maknaes, maintaining a facade of “I’m enduring it.”
After a moment, Lin Yoona reluctantly let go of Kim Soft Soft and returned to sit beside Lin Xiuyuan. She gently patted his leg and suggested in a coquettish tone.
“Xiuyuan~ Open the door and take Unnie and the others to my apartment. It’s rare for Soft Soft Unnie to visit for the first time, so I’ll show off my culinary skills and make a good dinner for her. After eating, you can take her back.”
“What do you guys say?”
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Kim Tae Yeon and Kim Soft Soft, asking for their opinions.
The former couldn’t cook, and the latter only knew how to eat instant noodles, so naturally, they had no objections.
Especially Kim Soft Soft, who looked at Lin Yoona’s words with shock, “Yoona, you can cook now?”
“Hehe, my culinary skills are great, Unnie~”
“Yoona has learned many skills in her free time over the years; cooking is just a part of it,” Kim Tae Yeon explained from the side.
Then, led by Lin Xiuyuan, the group opened the door again and passed through the 2013 transit point to arrive at Lin Yoona’s apartment.
During the journey, Kim Soft Soft didn’t forget to check her phone, and finding no urgent messages, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, she was really busy in 2013.
Upon arriving at Lin Yoona’s apartment, Kim Tae Yeon asked, noticing the situation, “Are you very busy lately?”
“The concert tour in Taipei, I don’t know if you remember, the world tour is quite busy. Mainly, everyone has too many individual activities, making it hard to find opportunities to rehearse together.”
Kim Soft Soft nodded slightly, her tone tinged with thought, “And during rehearsals, everyone isn’t as serious as before; they’re always chatting and laughing. I know everyone is tired, so I don’t say much, but I still feel quite anxious.”
“Speaking of which, Soft Soft, there are some issues I might need to tell you about now.”
Lin Yoona paused slightly upon hearing this, but without turning around, she smiled and said, “Okay, Unnies, you can go rest over there. Xiuyuan, you go too. When I’ve finished dinner, I’ll call you over.”
“Don’t you need help?” Lin Xiuyuan asked. It was impossible to expect help from those two, but he could.
“That’s fine too, then Xiuyuan, you can help me with some of the tasks.”
Noticing Lin Xiuyuan’s meaningful glance, Lin Yoona laughed heartily and then took his hand.
In the following time, in the living room, it was Kim Tae Yeon and Kim Soft Soft’s conversation.
However, most of the time, Kim Soft Soft was listening, and Kim Tae Yeon was speaking.
And Kim Soft Soft’s expression gradually became serious, solemn, and silent.
From the kitchen, Lin Xiuyuan, who occasionally peeked in, smiled and said to Lin Yoona after going back in, “She’s probably talking about some issues within your team.”
Lin Yoona paused while chopping the green pepper and replied softly, “Mm, possibly. The group did have quite a few problems later on, and Unnie didn’t intervene much back then.”
She sliced the green pepper along the blade, her eyes filled with nostalgia, “But it’s not Unnie’s fault. It’s mainly that everyone is grown up now, and she might have been worried that too much lecturing would annoy everyone, so at the time, I personally felt it was better not to say anything.”
“What about now?”
Leaning against the kitchen counter, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Lin Yoona, who was wearing an apron. Her face and that signature bun gave him a sense of being in 2013.
That was the youthful aura that Lin Yoona still retained compared to others; he didn’t know how she managed to preserve it.
Lin Yoona, who was asked, stopped chopping and slowly looked up, turning her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, “If it were me now, I’d actually think Unnie should have said it. Things said might have a chance to be resolved, but things left unsaid will never have a chance to be resolved.”
Lin Xiuyuan frowned slightly, “But what if saying it makes everyone dislike you?”
In response to Lin Xiuyuan’s question, Lin Yoona chuckled, her tone playful yet confident, “As if Yoona and I weren’t ostracized before, Xiuyuan~ We’re the most popular members, after all.”
As dusk gradually approached, the sun had not yet fully set, but Lin Yoona’s dining table was neatly set, and the aroma of food slowly wafted from the kitchen.
Since Kim Soft Soft had rehearsal later that evening, the group, a rare occurrence, enjoyed dinner while it was still light.
Looking at the dishes on the table, Kim Soft Soft was genuinely shocked.
“What is this?”
“Boiled beef, it’s very delicious.”
“And this, chili pepper stir-fried pork, it’s also very fragrant.”
“Then this one, stuffed tofu. It’s a new dish I learned recently. Unnie, please try it.”
As Lin Yoona introduced each dish, Kim Soft Soft’s gaze towards her became increasingly impressed, “Daebak, Yoona, are you evolving from a young boy to a married woman over these ten years? Which man could resist such culinary skills?”
Hearing this, Lin Yoona let out a soft chuckle, her eyes curved, and with a hint of pride and playfulness, she pointed towards Lin Xiuyuan.
“Look, Unnie, the one opposite you doesn’t like me. I’ve told him I want to go get the marriage certificate, but he’s always been brushing me off.”
Lin Yoona’s response to Kim Soft Soft’s compliment made the expressions of everyone at the table change.
Lin Xiuyuan let out a wry smile, looking at her sideways, a hint of helplessness and a headache in his eyes. He then made a gesture of clenching his fist and said with a smile, “Stop joking, that’s enough.”
Kim Tae Yeon was slightly shocked, a moment of doubt flashing through her mind, and her immediate reaction was: Good, Lin Dajun, you’ve stooped to this level just to snatch food?
And the only one who hadn’t caught on was Kim Soft Soft.
Her eyes widened, her face full of surprise, her small mouth forming a silent “ah” a few times, and finally she asked in disbelief.
“No way, really? Xiuyuan, you rejected Yoona?”
“Eat your food. Didn’t you hear Yoona was joking?”
Lin Xiuyuan sighed helplessly, directly putting a piece of beef into Kim Soft Soft’s bowl, seemingly trying to shut her up.
However, the next second, Kim Soft Soft shot him a look, “Hmph, hmph, hmph, speaking of jokes, I heard quite a bit from Taeyeon just now. That ‘tacit understanding’ you tricked me with back in ’13 was actually copied homework, no wonder it fit so well.”
“Eat, eat.”
Seeing his embarrassing past brought up, Lin Xiuyuan quickly ended the topic.
His awkwardness drew a burst of laughter from the dining table, instantly lightening the mood.
As they ate, they chatted and laughed, their conversation shifting from things around them to some news from the outside world.
Kim Soft Soft asked questions frequently, and everyone answered her cooperatively.
When explosive news occasionally came up, Kim Soft Soft’s curiosity was piqued, and she could barely eat, eagerly pressing the others for details.
Especially after hearing about that scumbag Kim Soo-hyun, she immediately turned her gaze to Lin Xiuyuan across from her, incredulously asking, “So it was you, Xiuyuan, who took him down?”
“It wasn’t me. The victim he wronged pushed him in. I just released this evidence, hidden for over ten years, ahead of time.”
As Lin Xiuyuan finished speaking, Lin Yoon Ah also asked curiously, “How far has it developed now?”
“Dispatch released solid evidence, and the other party has no chance to turn things around,” Kim Soft Soft replied.
This news caused a huge stir in the industry, and everyone was paying attention to the case, and Girls’ Generation was no exception. Gossip was always on their minds during breaks from rehearsal.
The group continued to discuss this topic for a while, and eventually, their conversation drifted to Kim Sae-ron.
However, since she was still young and an artist in the film industry, they didn’t have many opportunities to interact with her, so they could only silently wish her a better future development in her career.
As the conversation unfolded, time quietly slipped away. The sun gradually disappeared beyond the skyline, nightfall descended, and the streetlights began to glow.
This dinner was also slowly coming to an end.
“Alright, stop talking. Kim Soft Soft, we really need to go. We have to drive back later.”
Lin Xiuyuan, who had already put down his chopsticks, looked at Kim Soft Soft, who was still happily chatting, and reminded her, “Don’t you have rehearsal tonight?”
Kim Soft Soft looked at Kim Tae Yeon and Lin Yoon Ah with some reluctance, then looked up and asked, “Xiuyuan, can’t you just teleport to Seoul directly? That way, you wouldn’t waste time driving back.”
“I have to put on a show, don’t I? The car’s already at the beach. Do you expect to just flash back?” Lin Xiuyuan’s words carried a hint of teasing, but his eyes held a faint smile.
Kim Soft Soft had no response and finally nodded, bid farewell to Kim Tae Yeon and Lin Yoon Ah, and then returned to Kim Tae Yeon’s apartment to retrieve her wristwatch.
Only then did she leave with Lin Xiuyuan and return to the villa by the sea.
It was already night, so as soon as they entered the villa, it was pitch black.
Startled, Kim Soft Soft immediately grabbed Lin Xiuyuan’s arm, “Wow, turn on the lights, Xiuyuan~”
“I haven’t even tripped the breaker for the villa, why would I turn on the lights?”
Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, shook his head, took out his phone, and turned on the flashlight, illuminating their surroundings.
But the howling sea breeze and the sound of waves outside made the darkness even more oppressive, and the atmosphere of the entire villa felt even more eerie.
So Kim Soft Soft held onto Lin Xiuyuan even tighter, not wanting to move an inch away from him.
It wasn’t until Lin Xiuyuan closed the back door of the villa, checked the other room doors, and led her back to the car that Kim Soft Soft finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Next to her, Lin Xiuyuan, who was fastening his seatbelt, smiled at her, “Are you that scared? There’s still some light nearby, and there are streetlights too.”
“I’m scared. I’m most afraid of those things,” Kim Soft Soft nodded, her expression showing genuine fear.
“Then what did you think when you saw Taeyeon earlier?” Lin Xiuyuan asked jokingly.
“I saw a ghost,” Kim Soft Soft giggled, a hint of humor flashing in her eyes.
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan let out a laugh, started the car, and drove Kim Soft Soft towards Seoul.
The scenery outside the window gradually became familiar. As the wheels rolled, Seoul grew closer.
Night had gradually fallen, and the neon lights along the streets flickered on one by one. The view outside the car window was like a flowing painting.
Kim Soft Soft leaned back in her seat, her hands gripping the armrest tightly, her gaze fixed on the distance through the car window, her eyes revealing a thoughtful and complex emotion.
“Xiuyuan, thank you,” she suddenly said softly.
Her voice carried a hint of fatigue, but also sincere gratitude. “Thank you so much for letting me see things that will happen in the future. Although that future cannot change everything, at least it has given me the time and opportunity here to avoid those tragedies and prevent them from happening again.”
Lin Xiuyuan smiled gently, his eyes showing little emotion. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he replied faintly.
“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just a gatekeeper. My role is to bring you face-to-face with these events. As for what to do and what to change, it ultimately depends on your own choices and efforts. If you want to achieve what you desire, you have to put in the effort.”
Kim Soft Soft nodded, well aware that Lin Xiuyuan’s words were reasonable. The future path was ultimately hers to walk.
However, she also understood very well that without Lin Xiuyuan, many of these things would still have led to tragedy and would not have changed at all.
“But… if it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened.”
Thinking this, Kim Soft Soft turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with an indescribable complex emotion. “So you yourself are the most important link in this process. No matter what you say, you are changing our fate.”
Lin Xiuyuan said nothing more, just slightly curved his lips, his eyes holding a faint smile, as if sensing Kim Soft Soft’s emotional shift, yet remaining silent.
Suddenly, Kim Soft Soft chuckled softly, as if recalling the awkward scene in Jeonju. “Right, Xiuyuan, do you remember that situation in Jeonju? I thought the ‘person’ on your leg was Sulli at the time. I didn’t expect it to be my future self…”
As she said this, a hint of shyness flashed in her eyes, a smile tinged with shame, as if recalling the awkwardness of that moment, the corners of her mouth turning up.
Thinking about her posture and actions at that time, even if it wasn’t her real self, her future self was still a part of her.
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan’s expression changed slightly. The corners of his mouth suddenly curved, as if he couldn’t help but reveal a subtle smile. “So, the pervert you called then, are you feeling a boomerang fly back at you now? After all, you were calling your future self a pervert.”
Kim Soft Soft’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her clothes, looking a bit flustered. “Ah, I… I didn’t know at the time.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes flickered slightly, and the smile on his lips hadn’t completely disappeared, but he didn’t delve deeper into the topic, just said softly, “To be honest, that scene at the time was indeed a bit… awkward, but it was also an emergency escape.”
He paused and changed the subject, “But no matter what, it was quite interesting to compare your future self with your current self at that time.”
Then Kim Soft Soft also began to talk about her feelings during this trip to the future, from the initial shock and disbelief to gradually accepting it, and then becoming increasingly engrossed in information about the future.
Towards the end, she paused, her smile carrying a touch of emotion. “It felt like being pulled by an invisible force, as if fate had already begun to influence me inadvertently. It’s strange.”
“Probably a reaction from your brain,” Lin Xiuyuan said with a smile.
As the street scenes quickly receded outside the car window, their conversation continued, their tones relaxed and intimate.
Although the “tacit understanding” from cheating was gone, they had become closer.
The main reason was the added common ground for conversation, so the relationship between the two did not have any major gaps; instead, it became even more intimate.
At this moment, the car entered Seoul’s city area. The traffic on the road gradually increased, and the scenery ahead became familiar.
Soon, the car passed through license plate verification and entered the parking lot of SM Entertainment.
Before getting out of the car, Kim Soft Soft suddenly looked back at Lin Xiuyuan, a smile on her lips. “Right, Xiuyuan~ Come to my place sometime when you’re free.”
Knowing what Kim Soft Soft wanted to say, Lin Xiuyuan nodded. “Let’s talk about it when you’re free. Aren’t you always staying at the dormitory?”
“I’ll be going back more often in the future,” Kim Soft Soft said softly, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation. “There’s too much going on recently, and it’s time to have my own space.”
Then they waved goodbye. After watching Kim Soft Soft’s figure gradually disappear from sight, Lin Xiuyuan slowly started his car and drove back to his apartment along the familiar route.
Under the night sky, the light from the streetlights cast moving patches of light on the car window. His face held a faint smile, as if still reminiscing about the recent farewell.
However, he didn’t notice at all that as Kim Soft Soft entered the company building after getting out of the car, her expression gradually became serious and determined, a discernible resolve in her eyes.
As she was the last to enter the practice room, all the members of Girls’ Generation were finally present.
Lin Xiaolu, who had already learned some things from Jung Soo Yeon, cast a meaningful glance at the leader, her expression pleasant but also tinged with a noticeable smile.
However, since the environment was not suitable at the moment, neither of them approached Kim Tae Yeon to “reconnect,” planning to have a good chat later.
The rehearsal time then began.
With the lanterns lit, the practice room lights illuminated the serious training figures of each member, from light dance steps to rigorous movement corrections, the music rhythm interwoven with their breathing.
Then, as time slowly flowed by, until eleven at night, the rehearsal for tonight finally concluded.
After the dance teachers left one by one, Tiffany and Kim Hyo Yeon quickly packed their clothes, their movements hurried and showing a hint of anxiety, as if eager to leave early.
And just as they were about to leave early, Kim Soft Soft spoke.
She first clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention to herself, and then said in a gentle but authoritative voice, “Let’s all go back to the dormitory together later. We’ll sit down for a short meeting tonight and have a good talk.”
“Ah, Tae Yeon, we made plans with friends,” Tiffany immediately wailed, her tone carrying a hint of complaint.
Kim Hyo Yeon nodded beside her. “Yeah, we already made plans for a gathering.”
Then Choi Soo Young added, “I have to go home tonight too, Tae Yeon.”
“Unnie, me too,” Seo Hyun added softly.
But even under these circumstances, Kim Soft Soft took a deep breath. When she looked down and then up again, her eyebrows and eyes became serious and resolute.
“I know you’re all busy, and I know you’ll all have your own personal activities in the future, and you’ll go your separate ways after the contract ends. But as the leader of Girls’ Generation, and you as members of Girls’ Generation, I hope we can stand firm together for this final shift.”
She paused, her tone gentle yet commanding. “No matter how high your achievements may be in the future, the name Girls’ Generation will still bring you many opportunities. So, before you break through the benefits that the group brings, I hope you can clearly recognize your current identity and responsibilities.”
“Since I’ve said that we’re having a meeting tonight, I hope you’ll remember that I am the leader of Girls’ Generation, and I’m not joking with you.”
Speaking to this point, Kim Soft Soft’s tone was firm, and her gaze swept over each member.
“You all can see the current atmosphere within the group, and as the leader, I cannot just let it go. So, this meeting must happen tonight. If Tiffany and Hyo Yeon, you feel your so-called date is more important than work, the door is there, I won’t stop you.”
She then added, “Sooyoung and Seohyun, you’re going home probably to rest, right? What’s wrong, can’t you rest at the dormitory?”
After Kim Soft Soft finished speaking, the entire practice room fell into silence. Everyone’s breathing became slow and light, even after a very high-intensity training session.
As the silence deepened, a clear laugh broke the tense atmosphere. “Alright, everyone pack up and go back to the dormitory. What should we have for a late-night snack tonight, Sunny?”
Sunny looked at Jung Soo Yeon, who spoke with a bright smile, a spark flashing in her eyes. She quickly replied, “Fried chicken. I still like fried chicken, and some beer too.”
“Unnie, I want tteokbokki,” Lin Xiaolu followed closely, her tone slightly pleading.
“I want fruit. Let’s buy some and go back to the dormitory,” Kwon Yuri said calmly and naturally, picking up her jacket.
As several people spoke one after another, the atmosphere in the practice room began to slowly ease.
Tiffany and Kim Hyo Yeon no longer mentioned the drinking session, and Choi Soo Young and Seo Hyun no longer insisted on going home. Everyone tacitly began to pack their things, ready to return to the dormitory.
However, for tonight’s meeting, everyone was on high alert.
After all, this was the first meeting called by Kim Soft Soft as the leader in many years, fulfilling her duty as captain.
Daily ten thousand finished, thanks to the support and votes from my godfathers.
Monthly tickets exceeded 6K, daily ten thousand +1.
Daily ten thousand progress bar report: 77/83. （ 6 days left ）
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