Chapter 247: “wine-passing” Taeyeon Or “losing Herself” To Xiuyuan
Outside the window, nightfall had completely descended.
The air in Jeonju carried the unique coolness of early autumn, mixed with a hint of sweetness and moisture.
Streetlights lit up one by one, their amber halos stretching shadows and casting a soft, tranquil glow on the quiet street.
Occasionally, a few barks could be heard from a distance, intertwining with the aroma of fried food wafting from a nearby convenience store, painting a picture of an ordinary yet incredibly real atmosphere of life.
Inside the guest room, the atmosphere was in stark contrast to the tranquility outside the window.
Kim Soft Soft looked at Kim Tae Yeon, whose shoulders were still trembling slightly as she cried by the window, her lips parted, but in the end, she just let out a soft sigh.
Knowing she couldn’t stay there for too long, she raised her hand and made a gesture to Lin Xiuyuan, indicating she had to leave.
Lin Xiuyuan understood, looking at her and nodding with a smile.
He then also raised his hand to make a gesture for a phone call, as a reminder.
Seeing this, Kim Soft Soft said no more, but gently pushed open the room door and left with light steps, though with a touch of reluctance.
As the soft sound of the door closing faded, only Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Tae Yeon remained in the room.
Lin Xiuyuan then refocused his attention, reaching out and gently patting the back of the little person in his arms.
Listening to her gradually stabilizing breathing, his voice was deep and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing her, “Feeling better?”
“Mmm… Much better.”
Kim Tae Yeon slowly pulled away from his embrace, her eyes still red, tear streaks un-dried, her voice hoarse from crying, but exceptionally sincere.
She then looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, a slight smile curving her lips, her gaze filled with inexpressible gratitude and vulnerability.
“Xiuyuan, thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity… to see Dad again, in this time-space.”
As she spoke, Kim Tae Yeon took a deep breath, and tears welled up in her eyes once more.
But this time, she smiled more genuinely than before, with a bittersweet sense of release.
“Even if it was just through binoculars, even if it was just hearing his voice, I’m already very satisfied.”
“Satisfied? But your appearance earlier wasn’t like that at all.”
Lin Xiuyuan chuckled, shaking his head with a hint of teasing, “Who was it that insisted on getting out of the car at first? If I hadn’t stopped you, we probably would have caused a scene.”
“At that time… my head wasn’t quite clear.”
Teased, Kim Tae Yeon’s throat tightened, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, and she shyly lowered her head, responding softly.
Then she turned around, raised the binoculars again, her gaze firmly drawn to the lively scene outside the window.
Outside the window, the area by the convenience store was still lively.
Father Kim and his old friends’ laughter was continuous, wine glasses clinked, and words drifted away with the wind. That warmth was amplified in the night, as if time itself was willing to stop at that moment.
Kim Tae Yeon held her breath, concentrating, afraid of missing any detail.
She knew very well that in the reality of 2025, such a scene no longer existed, and everything before her was like a sudden miracle, briefly pitied by time and fate.
Just as she was immersed in it, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her field of vision.
That figure made Kim Tae Yeon pause slightly.
Through the binoculars, Kim Soft Soft ran to Father Kim, tugged on his arm, smiling brightly, saying something.
Father Kim’s expression instantly softened upon seeing her, a father’s exclusive doting appearing in his eyes.
Then he gently patted his daughter’s hand, and they walked side-by-side into the deep shadows of the residential area.
The scene gradually blurred, swallowed by the night and streetlights, leaving only a lingering warmth in Kim Tae Yeon’s heart.
She gazed blankly, emotions swirling layer by layer in her eyes.
There was envy, a sense of release, and also a faint melancholy.
Finally, she slowly lowered the binoculars and let out a long breath.
The soft “Dad” escaped her lips in a low murmur, as if to carry away all the bitterness in her chest.
A moment later, she turned her head, her gaze falling on Lin Xiuyuan. At this moment, she was no longer as flustered and excited as before; her eyes held more calmness and clarity.
“Xiuyuan, could you please take me back? I… I want to be alone for a while.”
Lin Xiuyuan gazed at her quietly for a moment, without pressing for an answer.
He simply nodded gently, his tone warm, “Okay, let’s go.”
As the room door opened and closed again, the lights in the room dimmed slightly.
The night outside the window in ’25 was still deep, but in this world, something of the warmth Kim Tae Yeon was familiar with was missing.
“Then you rest for a bit, I’ll head back now.”
After taking Kim Tae Yeon back to her residence, Lin Xiuyuan quietly instructed, his tone carrying his usual warmth and restraint.
Having said that, he turned around, preparing to reach for the doorknob.
However, before he could touch the cold metal, a soft call came from behind him.
“Xiuyuan.”
The voice was low, yet it was like a sudden force that stopped him in his tracks.
Lin Xiuyuan turned his head and saw Kim Tae Yeon standing at the doorway.
She leaned against the wall, looking a bit tired, her cheeks still bearing traces of crying, but her eyes held a long-suppressed seriousness and a slight plea.
“Can you… stay and have a drink with me?”
Her voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally sincere.
Lin Xiuyuan hesitated for a moment, his brow twitching slightly. A trace of hesitation naturally arose in his heart.
After all, the scene just now had been intense enough, and with the added catalyst of alcohol, he was worried her emotions might completely break down and become uncontrollable.
But when he met her gaze, he clearly caught a glimpse of loneliness and stubbornness in her eyes.
That look, as if she couldn’t bear it alone, and also afraid of rejection, could only cautiously grasp the support at hand.
Lin Xiuyuan’s heart softened, and he finally sighed gently and nodded.
“Sure, but before that, I need to go back and tidy things up over there.”
“Mhm.”
Kim Tae Yeon nodded obediently, responding softly.
She didn’t ask for more, just lowered her eyes slightly, as if telling him with this response: she would wait for him.
Lin Xiuyuan left immediately, quickening his pace.
Upon quickly returning to his hotel room, he picked up his mobile phone and exchanged a few brief words with Kim Soft Soft.
There wasn’t anything complicated, just asking her to wait for him a bit when she returned to Seoul tomorrow, so he wouldn’t have to rush to catch the light rail later.
After hanging up the phone, he returned to the 2013 apartment and gave Sulli a brief explanation.
Once all arrangements were made, Lin Xiuyuan traveled back again, stepping into Kim Tae Yeon’s apartment.
Inside, the living room lighting was soft.
The yellowish-white glow spread to every corner, adding some warmth to the quiet night.
On the coffee table, several small dishes of snacks were already laid out: neatly sliced apple pieces exuded a faint fruity aroma, and next to them, a pile of golden, crispy potato chips was casually arranged.
There were also several dishes of cold side dishes, their spicy and sour aroma intermingling with the scent of alcohol in the air.
Several bottles of alcohol were also placed quietly nearby.
A bottle of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old blended Scotch whisky, its deep brown liquid reflecting a warm luster under the lighting.
Several cans of Budweiser light beer had been opened, bubbles gently rising, mixing with the coolness of the night, and lingering in the room.
And Kim Tae Yeon, in front of the sofa, had already changed into comfortable, casual home attire.
A dark, thin-strap vest hung loosely on her body, her collarbones clearly visible, her skin glowing faintly under the light.
Her long hair was spread out messily, with a few strands falling onto her cheeks, making her profile appear even more delicate.
A pair of thin-rimmed glasses rested on her nose, her gaze behind the lenses seeming to intentionally feign composure, but that vulnerability was still clearly etched between her brows.
The moment she heard footsteps, Kim Tae Yeon looked up, forcing a smile.
The smile was faint, but it couldn’t hide her hoarse voice, “Xiuyuan, you’re here… Sit down.”
Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, inwardly clucking his tongue.
The Kim Tae Yeon before him now, stripped of her stage aura, was just a woman facing her wounds alone in the night.
However, he didn’t say much in the end, walked over gently, and sat opposite her, picking up a drink and pouring himself half a cup of whiskey.
The amber liquid swayed gently under the light, reflecting a warm glow around the rim of the glass, and also illuminated Kim Tae Yeon’s once-dimmed eyes, making them flash briefly.
They gently clinked their glasses, the crisp sound exceptionally clear in the quiet living room.
Initially, the atmosphere was a bit quiet.
Kim Tae Yeon just sipped her drink little by little, as if using the alcohol to gradually suppress the churning emotions in her heart.
Lin Xiuyuan accompanied her, neither hurrying nor interrupting, only occasionally offering some snacks.
But as the alcohol began to take effect, her gaze became hazy, and she gradually started talking more.
She blinked gently, a hint of playful intoxication in her eyes, “Xiuyuan, let’s play a little game.”
“What game?” Lin Xiuyuan asked.
“Truth or dare.”
A smile played on her lips, and she raised her beer can, a flash of slyness in her eyes, as if about to catch him out.
Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, couldn’t help but chuckle, but still went along with her game.
Thus, her initial questions were childish and direct: “What did you feel when you first saw me?”
Then, her tone gradually became sensitive: “Do you dislike me for crying too much?”
Finally, she lowered her voice, her eyes filled with unease and vulnerability: “If one day I wake up and everything is gone, will you forget me? Will I still be able to see Dad?”
Each question, like a joke with a hidden shell, contained her deepest fears and anxieties.
Lin Xiuyuan, who was asked, did not give perfunctory answers. Every response was very earnest and gentle in tone, as if he were slowly soothing her unsettled heart.
So, as the atmosphere gradually eased, Kim Tae Yeon’s smiles also became more frequent.
Sometimes she would cover her mouth and chuckle, sometimes she would playfully poke his arm, her gaze becoming more clinging, more intense.
Until at one moment, she stared at him, her eyes moist, with a hazy intoxication, “Xiuyuan, you know, you’re different from others.”
At that instant, Lin Xiuyuan’s heart trembled slightly, but he dared not meet her burning gaze.
So he pretended to be nonchalant and looked away, reaching out as if to offer her more fruit, trying to change the subject.
However, Kim Tae Yeon didn’t stop. She raised her beer can again, and with a slight tremor of her hand, she lost her grip and stumbled forward.
Lin Xiuyuan instinctively reached out to support her, but before he could steady himself, she fell directly into his arms.
At that moment, he clearly felt Kim Tae Yeon’s small, warm body pressing against him, carrying the scent of light alcohol and shampoo, so soft it made his heart clench.
“It’s okay…”
Just as Lin Xiuyuan was about to lean down and ask Kim Tae Yeon if she was alright, the woman in his arms suddenly lifted her head, her eyes hazy but firm.
In the next moment, she tilted her fair neck, her lips carrying the taste of alcohol, and gently pressed against his lips.
Lin Xiuyuan, his eyes slightly widened, clearly felt Kim Tae Yeon’s trembling hands tightly gripping his clothes.
Whether it was due to the alcohol or because the movement was uncomfortable, her kiss was very clumsy, but it was precisely this clumsiness that held a long-suppressed desire.
The room was extremely quiet, with only their breathing intertwining. The ambiguous atmosphere was like a burning fire, gradually consuming their reason.
Lin Xiuyuan instinctively reached out to support her back, feeling her rapid heartbeat, his breathing also becoming heavy.
Kim Tae Yeon, however, seemed afraid of losing support, closed her eyes, her lips still refusing to leave, gently rubbing against his, with the courage and desire only dared to be released after drinking.
The dim yellow light poured down quietly, casting their shadows on the wall, blurred and overlapping, like inseparable silhouettes, intertwined.
On the coffee table, the half-finished whiskey gently swayed, the amber liquid rippling with the lingering aftertaste, reflecting fragmented light and shadow, as if responding to the suddenly rising temperature between them.
Kim Tae Yeon’s body trembled slightly, and she slowly raised her eyes, her gaze misty.
It wasn’t just the impulse from alcohol.
More than that, it was gratitude from the bottom of her heart.
Gratitude that this young man before her had pulled her out of her painful reality and given her a chance to transcend time and space to see her father again.
That long-lost warmth and reliance made her want to entrust all her unease and vulnerability into his embrace at this moment, even if only for a fleeting instant.
But alongside her gratitude, there was another small yet persistent selfish desire in her heart.
If… she was thinking if.
If Lin Xiuyuan’s special physique could truly make her a bit younger, return her to her 2013 appearance… then, would she be able to face her father more calmly, and not just be a distant observer through binoculars.
This complex desire drove her kiss to become increasingly urgent.
Her hands slowly moved from his clothes up to his shoulders, her fingertips trembling slightly, but with an undeniable firmness, as if tightly holding onto the last hope of salvation.
Lin Xiuyuan naturally sensed her proactivity and clumsiness.
His gaze deepened, but he didn’t feel too many complex emotions.
For him, this moment was more like “each taking what they need.”
He wasn’t going to reject the affection that came to him.
So, he supported her waist, gently pressed her back onto the sofa, and lowered his head to deepen the kiss.
The force was not heavy, but it was enough to take the lead.
Beside the sofa, the floor lamp with its fabric lampshade emitted a soft light, and the light and shadow flickered over them, magnifying the ambiguous atmosphere several times over.
The fruit plate on the coffee table was accidentally bumped, and a few grapes rolled onto the floor, startling the puppy curled up on the carpet.
The puppy lifted its head, tilted its head, and looked at them. It seemed to sense the different atmosphere, but it just wagged its tail and lay down quietly again.
Its action was like acquiescence, and like a faint witness.
Kim Tae Yeon’s lips carried a light scent of fruit and wine, her breathing grew erratic, and her eyes were completely lost in Lin Xiuyuan’s figure.
She knew what she was doing, and she knew that if she took this step, it might change their relationship.
But she still chose to continue.
Because this was the only “present” she could grasp, belonging to her.
Lin Xiuyuan’s movements were unhurried, with a touch of composure, his fingers tracing her side neck, extending downwards along her collarbone.
The other person’s body trembled slightly at this touch, but her eyes grew more fervent.
Outside the window, the night was deep, and the distant streetlights scattered into a soft halo, making the scene inside even more ambiguous.
The half-bottle of beer on the coffee table stood quietly, as if silently witnessing this intimacy ignited by alcohol.
At that moment, time in the apartment seemed to stand still.
The entire apartment was filled only with the woman’s rapid breathing, the man’s low breaths, and the occasional light sound of the puppy wagging its tail.
They intertwined, becoming the most real and moving background sound at this moment.
……
……
At the same time.
Inside the apartment in 2013, the living room lighting was soft, and the night wind outside carried a chill, gently swaying the sheer curtain.
Sulli looked at Lin Xiaolu who suddenly appeared at the doorway, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but her lips quickly curved into an arc. “Older sister, why did you come over?”
Her tone was a little cheerful, as if she genuinely hadn’t expected it.
“I just finished my schedule and was nearby, so I came to see you, and I bought some late-night snacks.”
Lin Xiaolu lifted the takeout bag in her hand and walked in with feigned naturalness.
However, after entering, her gaze was clearly unfocused, as if searching for something, or perhaps concealing something.
She looked around for a moment before slowly sitting down on the sofa.
Sulli let out a “pfft” laugh, as if she had caught something amusing, her laughter crisp. “Oh my, I knew it. Why would older sister specially come to find me. Hahaha, oppa isn’t here, he just went to accompany older sister Taeyeon. Older sister Taeyeon seems to have just finished crying, so…”
“No, I came to find you, Sulli~”
Lin Xiaolu, whose secret thoughts were exposed with a single sentence, felt her ear tips immediately turn red. She quickly waved her hands to explain, her voice rising slightly, with a hint of panic. “I just came to find that guy about something incidentally.”
Sulli leaned back lazily on the sofa, smiling at her, her eyes full of amusement. “Yes, yes, yes, older sister, if you say so.”
Lin Xiaolu felt guilty under her gaze, and averted her eyes. “Really.”
Sulli pursed her lips, smiling even more deeply. She shifted closer and, mimicking Lin Xiuyuan of the past, reached out to brush aside Lin Xiaolu’s long hair that fell on her shoulders, her voice light and teasing.
“Then why did older sister come to find oppa?”
“To ask him something.” Lin Xiaolu’s expression stiffened, and her answer was stiff.
“See, you still came to find oppa~”
Sulli immediately seized the opportunity to add a jab, her smile deepening, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
“Alright, I admit I came to find him.”
Lin Xiaolu, pushed into a corner with nowhere to retreat, finally looked up and added stiffly, “But I also came to find you, Sulli, both reasons.”
“Older sister, just stop being stubborn.”
Sulli poked her shoulder with her finger, her tone filled with a touch of emotion. “If you keep holding back like this, I feel like by the time oppa is completely devoured by the older sisters from 25 years ago, we here will only get to lick the leftover sauce.”
“What do you mean?”
Lin Xiaolu was stunned. The pillow in her arms almost fell, her eyes wide, her face clearly showing “I don’t understand.”
Sulli simply hugged her knees with both hands, turned to the side, and smiled at her, her voice drawn out slowly, as if building suspense. “Older sister Taeyeon and I were just talking about oppa earlier, no, it should be about the two of them.”
Curiosity flashed in Lin Xiaolu’s eyes, and she subconsciously leaned forward, lowering her voice. “What about it?”
“Older sister Taeyeon asked, if our Soft Soft older sister from this side also fancied oppa, would it be awkward if she had sex with oppa.”
At these words, Lin Xiaolu instantly froze.
Her fingers were stiff at the edge of the pillow, and she was completely stunned, as if instantly frozen, even her blinking was half a beat slow.
Sulli, acting as if nothing had happened, stretched lazily and casually took a sip of mineral water from the coffee table. “I was shocked at the time too, but then I thought about it, with oppa’s ‘special’ nature, doesn’t it seem… quite reasonable?”
As she spoke, the wind from the balcony blew in, gently making the sheer curtain sway.
The afterglow of the streetlights filtered in, reflecting on Sulli’s fair cheek, casting a gentle warm hue.
This innocent-looking girl with bright eyes and a naive demeanor seemed to possess a mature and alluring quality beyond her years at this moment.
“Love and romance are nothing more than finding a suitable man to spend your life with.”
Sulli put down the water bottle, propped her chin with her hand, and gazed at Lin Xiaolu with sparkling eyes. “But if this man also has that kind of magical ‘youth-preserving’ function, and can connect two time-spaces… Older sister, do you think you would give up?”
Lin Xiaolu’s breath hitched.
Her lips trembled slightly, her throat felt choked, and after a long pause, she softly squeezed out two words. “No.”
“That’s right then.”
Sulli laughed freely, a hint of smugness in her eyes. She reached out and poked the back of Lin Xiaolu’s hand, her tone light and ambiguous. “So, older sister, stop holding back.”
“I didn’t…”
Lin Xiaolu wanted to retort, but her throat felt tight, her voice so weak that she lacked confidence even in her own ears.
“I don’t care about you guys.”
Sulli simply hugged a cushion, leaned back on the sofa, her voice laced with a playful teasing tone. “Older sister, you figure it out yourself. I’m happy right now anyway, just be happy yourself.”
……
Lin Xiaolu remained silent, her eyes flickering in the light and shadow.
As if her heartstrings were being plucked by her words, but she dared not admit it.
……
……
In Kim Taeyeon’s apartment in 2025, the night was deep, and the streetlights outside cast dappled shadows.
The two who had been kissing were now apart again, sitting on opposite ends of the sofa.
Lin Xiuyuan leaned on the edge of the sofa, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. On the other side, Kim Taeyeon hugged her knees, half her face buried behind her arm, her expression complex.
Lin Xiuyuan, seeing this scene, burst out laughing. “Why the long face? You were the one who initiated it just now, Taeyeon, why does it look like I bullied you?”
Kim Taeyeon looked up, her gaze slightly somber. “No, I was just curious how you could stop. Am I not attractive enough to you?”
The soft lighting fell on her slightly flushed cheeks, adding a touch of displeasure and frustration.
Lin Xiuyuan coughed and said seriously, “Not at all.”
“Then why?” she continued to press, her eyes earnest as if awaiting some judgment.
Lin Xiuyuan hesitated, then finally extended a finger towards his waist with a wry smile. “Uh~ You were pressing on my soft spot just now, it hurt a little.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent.
Kim Taeyeon froze for a moment, then in the next second, she burst into laughter.
She bent over with laughter, her voice crisp, completely breaking the subtle awkwardness of the moment.
Then Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but smile, and he rubbed his side with his hand, his movements slightly exaggerated. “I’m serious, it really hurt. I just pushed you away out of reflex.”
And that’s how the scene unfolded.
The image was too funny to imagine, and they looked at each other, their laughter becoming uncontrollable.
As the laughter subsided, the tension that had been amplified by alcohol and intimacy was diluted considerably.
The atmosphere became relaxed, even carrying a teasing intimacy.
The two picked up their wine glasses again and continued to sip.
In the living room, the warm light from the desk lamp spilled onto the glass walls, refracting into tiny points of light.
The liquor in the glass reflected the light in her eyes as it swirled, and an indescribable warmth permeated the air.
After an unknown amount of time, as Kim Taeyeon drank the last sip of wine, her eyes suddenly brightened, as if recalling a scene.
She put down her glass, a thought flashing in her eyes.
The next moment, she suddenly leaned forward and flipped herself over to straddle Lin Xiuyuan’s lap.
Before Lin Xiuyuan could react, she gently lifted her chin, her lips curved into a smile. Then, she slowly leaned down and, little by little, transferred the wine she had just held in her mouth into his.
The cool liquor passed between them, the intimacy like an electric current, instantly igniting the air.
……
As the liquor slid down his throat, their breaths intertwined.
Kim Taeyeon narrowed her eyes, gazing at Lin Xiuyuan at close range. Her gaze was no longer one of simple exploration, but of naked heat and desire.
Lin Xiuyuan naturally wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling the slight warmth of her body due to the alcohol.
The atmosphere at this moment returned to the initial ambiguity, but it was more direct, more unavoidable.
She gently licked the residual wine from her lips, and with a slight smile, whispered, “Like this… it won’t hurt anymore?”
At that moment, the intimacy completely spiraled out of control, and the night seemed to deepen accordingly.
Kim Taeyeon, straddling Lin Xiuyuan, had her breathing completely disordered by the mouthful of wine she had just shared. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, much like a flower nourished by the night.
Her gaze was fixed on Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes, filled with exploration, desire, and an even more fragile dependence.
Just then, the puppy lying on the carpet suddenly stood up, shook its ears, as if sensing the change in the air.
It let out a low bark, but quickly returned to its small bed in the corner, curling up and no longer disturbing them, as if it understood the secrets between humans.
Kim Taeyeon gently reached out, her fingertips gliding across Lin Xiuyuan’s cheek, her movements cautious, yet with a probing persistence.
Her eyes flickered. “Whether this is a dream or reality, I don’t want to miss it.”
After saying this, she directly leaned down, her forehead resting on Lin Xiuyuan’s shoulder, her breathing rapid.
A moment later, she still lifted her head and, with a touch of stubbornness and gratitude, kissed his lips again.
The night deepened outside the window, but the apartment gradually warmed up.
As their shadows intertwined and drew closer again and again, all that remained in the air was the suppressed sound of heartbeats and ambiguous breathing.
That night, they would not stop.
……
……
The next day, the morning sunlight slowly crept into Kim Taeyeon’s apartment in 2025 through the sheer curtains of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Lin Xiuyuan groggily opened his eyes, glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table, and almost instinctively cried out.
“What the fck, it’s 9:30!”
He sat up abruptly, almost out of reflex, and rolled out of bed.
The agreed-upon time last night, Jeonju, Kim Soft Soft’s instructions… all flooded into his mind at once, startling him awake.
Then he quickly threw on some clothes, grabbed his phone, and prepared to leave.
On the bed, Kim Taeyeon, leaning back, watched this scene quietly, a playful curve at the corner of her lips.
Propping her chin, her gaze was like that of a clumsy child, flustered yet full of urgency, with a hint of helplessness and doting affection.
It wasn’t until Lin Xiuyuan, holding his shoes, almost stumbled towards the door, that he remembered the person on the bed and looked back at her.
Kim Taeyeon smiled and waved at him. “Go ahead, drive carefully.”
“Okay, I’ll be going then.”
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t dare to linger, didn’t even look back, and left through the door with a gust of cool wind as if escaping.
The moment the door closed, the room fell silent.
Then Kim Taeyeon stretched leisurely, her white pajamas sliding loosely off her shoulders, exuding laziness and ease.
She walked barefoot to the full-length mirror, her hair slightly disheveled, her face still carrying a hazy blush from the morning sun.
However, her reflection in the mirror made her pause slightly.
That long-lost tightness and radiance were not something that could be faked by skincare products or makeup.
The fine lines around her eyes had faded significantly, her complexion was as translucent as jade washed by the night rain, and even her eyes shone with a bright luster.
It was a state of rejuvenation, and more so, a sense of awakened youth.
She reached out and touched her cheek. Her fingertips were cold, but her heart was burning.
“It’s over…”
Kim Taeyeon, who chuckled softly, had eyes as soft as melting water.
In just one glance, she knew she could no longer be without Lin Xiuyuan.
On the other side.
In a hotel guest room in Jeonju, Lin Xiuyuan rushed back in.
The moment he pushed open the bathroom door, Kim Soft Soft was sitting on the sofa with her back to the light, holding a small cushion, her eyes shining as if she had been waiting for a long time.
“Yo, you’re finally willing to come back.”
She squinted, her tone deliberately casual.
Lin Xiuyuan’s heart tightened, and he forced a smile. “I… I went back to rest last night.”
“Rest?”
Kim Soft Soft pursed her lips, staring at his slightly messy hair, then at the wrinkles on his collar that he hadn’t smoothed out, her gaze gradually sharpening.
“Xiuyuan, did you sleep with Kim Taeyeon last night?”
The air suddenly solidified.
Lin Xiuyuan’s hand, still holding his phone with the screen on, froze instantly.
He instinctively averted his gaze, pretending to look for water. “No, don’t joke. Given your situation last night, how could I take advantage of you?”
“I’m not worried about you, I’m worried about her.” Kim Soft Soft’s tone was light, but with a hint of sharpness. “Ji-yeon and Sulli were right. Those women in 2025 are too thirsty, they make a move on anyone they see.”
She raised an eyebrow, staring at Lin Xiuyuan’s flickering eyes, as if she could expose him entirely.
Lin Xiuyuan, under her gaze, coughed a few times and tapped his fingers on the table. “Cough, cough, you guys are discussing topics like this?”
Kim Soft Soft, who had intended to press for more answers, immediately softened her sharp gaze upon seeing his reaction.
She then secretly sighed in her heart, sometimes wishing her eyes weren’t so sharp.
Ten minutes later.
Inside the car heading to Seoul, the cabin was unusually quiet.
Lin Xiuyuan drove steadily on the highway, his gaze occasionally flicking towards Kim Soft Soft in the front passenger seat.
She leaned against the car door, her hands crossed on her lap, her expression so calm it was almost like a statue.
Such silence made Lin Xiuyuan’s mind involuntarily drift back to the scene of picking someone up at dawn a few days ago. Krystal had also sat silently in the front passenger seat then.
That silent pressure made him slightly nervous, and he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
Hmm… this one won’t blow up, will she?
Lin Xiuyuan mumbled to himself, but felt a slight sense of relief after thinking about something.
The main thing was, no matter how much she blew up, she couldn’t squeeze any juice out of him.
The car drove smoothly on the highway, and the wind blew in through the gap in the car window opened by Kim Soft Soft, carrying the coolness of early autumn.
Lin Xiuyuan coughed lightly, trying to say something, but before he could even speak, Kim Soft Soft finally opened her mouth.
“Stop at the service area ahead, I’ll drive.”
“No need, I can do it.”
Facing Kim Soft Soft’s suggestion, Lin Xiuyuan intended to refuse, but under her serious gaze, he relented.
Ten minutes later.
Kim Soft Soft, who sat in the driver’s seat, held the steering wheel and looked straight ahead.
Not long after, in Lin Xiuyuan’s somewhat sleepy, somewhat dazed, unclear state, she said a sentence.
“Xiuyuan, do you like the original, or those other ones.”
Her voice was clear and cold, yet carried a hint of teasing.
At the same time, that sentence struck Lin Xiuyuan’s head like a bolt of lightning.
“Ah… what original…”
He stammered instinctively, only to find that the more he thought, the more confused his mind became, his thoughts swirling like a high-speed blender.
And so, for the next few hours, he was as if under a spell, unable to concentrate, his mind a complete muddle.
Kim Soft Soft watched him stare blankly, the corners of her mouth curling into a meaningful smile, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.
She didn’t say any more, but leaned back against the seat, driving seriously, her hands steady on the steering wheel, her gaze cast lightly out the car window, as if using silence to let Lin Xiuyuan slowly digest the weight of her previous sentence.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the car windows, casting dappled light and shadows inside the cabin.
Kim Soft Soft’s profile was soft yet firm in the light, her shoulders slightly straight, her fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel, with an unshakeable composure.
As time ticked by, the car finally entered the streets of Seoul and then steadily stopped below Lin Xiuyuan’s apartment building.
Then Kim Soft Soft quickly pulled the handbrake and watched Lin Xiuyuan get out of the car.
Coincidentally, as Lin Xiuyuan got out, Lin Xiaolu, who was coming out of the apartment entrance, met his gaze.
In that instant, he felt surprise and a flicker in her eyes, but there was no time to think.
A while later.
Back in the apartment, before Lin Xiuyuan even looked up, he heard Sulli’s voice, “Huh, oppa~ you’re back.”
“Mhm, did Xiaolu rest here last night?” Lin Xiuyuan nodded and then asked.
“Ah, oppa, you met unnie.”
“Mhm, did she just come down?”
Sulli smiled and then nodded, “Mhm, unnie came to bring me a late-night snack last night, and then she just stayed to rest, since there was clothes for her to wear anyway.”
“Did she want something from me?” Lin Xiuyuan, very perceptive, sensed something.
After seeing Sulli nod, he scratched his head, “Alright, I’ll go take a shower.”
Hearing this, Sulli looked at Lin Xiuyuan with a somewhat strange gaze, noticing something from the clothes he was wearing, his neck, and some discoloration on his collar.
Then, after Lin Xiuyuan completely disappeared into the room, she immediately took out her phone and sent Lin Xiaolu a text message.
A playful and excited glow flashed in her eyes.
Sulli: 【 Unnie, did you notice the situation just now, oppa… lost his purity last night.】
On the road not far from the apartment, Lin Xiaolu, sitting in the front passenger seat of Kim Soft Soft’s car, looked at the message on her phone screen and let out a soft sigh, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Then she turned her head, wanting to ask Kim Soft Soft something, and whispered, “Unnie…”
To her surprise, Kim Soft Soft seemed to have known beforehand. She looked at Lin Xiaolu’s slightly furrowed brow, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes, and spoke in a calm yet assured tone.
“It wasn’t me, it was my future self.”
…
…
Year 25.
After waking up and washing up, Kim Tae Yeon changed into a set of comfortable clothes and walked with a leisurely pace.
She stopped unconsciously in front of the mirror, her gaze falling on her familiar yet unfamiliar face reflected in it.
Suddenly, she thought of something, took out her phone, and quickly dialed Im Yoon Ah’s number.
After a few rings, a familiar hearty laugh came from the other end, “Hello~ Unnie.”
“Yoona, what are you doing?” Kim Tae Yeon asked, laughing softly, her tone carrying a hint of warmth.
Im Yoon Ah on the other end of the phone was currently in an indoor sports arena.
She looked up at Big Dragon Cub and Sunny opposite her, then smiled and replied, “I’m playing billiards with Sunny unnie and Ji-yeon, do you want to come join us.”
Upon hearing this, Kim Tae Yeon’s lips immediately curved up, her smile becoming even brighter, “Sure, send me your location, I’ll be right there.”
“Okay, then unnie, hurry up, we’re going to eat later.”
“I know, I’m leaving now.”
After hanging up the phone, Kim Tae Yeon looked at herself in the mirror again.
Although the contours were the same, the firmness of her skin, the rosy complexion, and the overall energetic aura she exuded filled her with unprecedented satisfaction.
It was a beauty that was both real and confident, not something that makeup could disguise, but rather vitality and radiance from within.
Then she turned, picked up an outer jacket, put it on, neatly placed her phone and keys in her bag, and walked towards the door.
At this moment, a small sense of triumph welled up in her heart.
It would be a waste not to go out and show off such a good state, wouldn’t it?
It’s like going to the market in brocade clothes without returning home!
Kim Tae Yeon, with this feeling, a hint of playfulness and satisfaction, walked towards a new day under the sunlight.
Daily ten thousand words completed, thank you godfathers for your support and votes.
Monthly tickets exceeded 1.4w, daily ten thousand words +2.
Daily ten thousand words progress bar: 86/95.
Tae Yeon presents~ Can we break 20,000 this month, godfathers!!!
Requesting monthly tickets!! Requesting subscriptions!! Requesting rewards!! Requesting everything!!!
