Chapter 278: “xiuyuan, Come See How Bright My Headlights Are”
Evening.
After Lin Xiuyuan had dinner with Jessica at the villa, the two returned to the apartment together.
However, this time they didn’t stay to rest as they usually did.
As soon as she returned to the 2013 apartment, Jessica walked directly to the bedroom, changed out of her pajamas with almost no hesitation, and put on her familiar clothes again.
Her fingertips paused on the zipper, which closed with a “click.” Then, she subconsciously turned, her gaze slowly falling on the bedroom.
The dim yellow light illuminated the room. The large bed lay quietly there, the soft bedding neatly piled, and the pillows seemed like silent witnesses.
The air still retained a faint, fresh scent, but it was impossible to tell if it was the smell of detergent or some indescribable memory.
Jessica stared at the bed, her expression pausing slightly, her lips pressing together.
It was a complex gaze, containing both a sense of relief and an admixture of embarrassing shame.
Then, her eyebrows slightly raised, she exhaled a breath, as if finally bidding a temporary farewell to the traces that had been forced to remain during this period.
When she turned and walked out of the bedroom, the scene in the living room came into view.
Lin Xiuyuan was leaning lazily on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, holding his phone to his ear.
His voice was calm and unhurried, with a hint of patience and casualness, as he explained to Sulli on the phone the arrangement for not staying at the apartment tonight.
His composed demeanor was as if nothing had happened.
Yet, the thought of being forcibly imprisoned there made Jessica’s chest feel a sense of inexplicable blockage.
“Bang!”
So she quickly walked forward and kicked his leg without hesitation.
Lin Xiuyuan frowned slightly and let out a short “Huh?”.
However, he didn’t move the phone from his ear, nor did his expression change much, as if a kitten had suddenly swiped at him, neither painful nor itchy.
He patiently suppressed his reaction until he finished his call with Sulli. Only then did he casually place the phone on the coffee table and turn to look at Jessica with raised eyebrows.
“What? Did I offend you somewhere?”
As he said this, Lin Xiuyuan’s tone carried a hint of helplessness.
Jessica crossed her arms, glared with her almond-shaped eyes, and retorted with indignation, “What do you think? The thought of you tying me up like that back then makes me furious. Can’t you just talk nicely? If you had spoken to me properly then, I would have listened.”
Lin Xiuyuan paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle softly, raising his hand to rub his forehead, his expression conveying a sense of helpless resignation.
“So Jessica, are you going to settle accounts with me now? Think carefully, if you had listened then, you wouldn’t have ended up at the villa. Besides…”
He paused intentionally, a hint of teasing flashing in his eyes, “Isn’t kidnapping, perhaps, a form of… foreplay, right?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jessica couldn’t help but roll her eyes, snorted coldly, and as if suddenly remembering something, turned and walked towards the bedroom.
Not long after, she reappeared, holding a rope.
The rope hung naturally in her slender hand, swaying gently with her steps. The sound of friction was almost imperceptible, but it suddenly made the air tense.
Holding the rope, Jessica narrowed her eyes, a sly smile curling at the corner of her lips, but her tone held a hint of coldness.
“Lin Xiuyuan, this rope has tied me up before, so logically… it should be mine, right? And besides, this is something you brought from Jung Soo Yeon’s place, isn’t it? Hmph, I’ll remember this debt.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan froze, then was completely dumbfounded. He seemed to instantly recall certain scenes and couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.
“No, are you two planning to be sworn enemies? Are you going to drag this into everything?”
Jessica didn’t bother to respond, just held the rope, her expression carrying a hint of proud declaration of ownership, along with a little excitement for something mischievous.
Then, she walked directly to the Time-Space Door, gently patted its surface, and then turned to call out, “Let’s go, we’re heading back.”
Lin Xiuyuan got up and followed, his tone indifferent but with a hint of curiosity, “Back to the villa? Or your apartment? I can go directly there.”
Jessica, asked this, stopped, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. After carefully considering the situation, she shook her head.
“Let’s go back to the villa first. There’s a surveillance lock at my apartment entrance. If I go there directly now, I’d have to replace all those things before I could go.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan didn’t press further, just nodded lightly, “Okay.”
Then, in the next second, he reached out and covered the handle of the Time-Space Door.
With a light “click,” the door opened naturally. He entered with Jessica, returning to the 2025 villa.
…
…
The night was deep, and the streetlights outside the car window passed by one after another, their light fragments cutting across Jessica’s profile.
Her expression was sometimes clear and bright, and sometimes swallowed by shadows, with coldness and sharpness alternating between her eyes.
At this moment, she steadily held the steering wheel with one hand, while the other operated her phone with crisp efficiency.
The light from the screen shone on her manicured fingertips, cold and decisive.
The call she dialed was quickly connected, and Jessica’s voice was brief and direct, “Hello, Master. I’ve sent you my address. How soon can you arrive? … Okay, okay, alright, please be quick.”
After hanging up, she casually placed the phone on the center console, her posture neat and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.
In the front passenger seat, Lin Xiuyuan quietly turned his head, watching Jessica’s series of efficient actions, and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
This woman was truly full of initiative; she did things without any delay.
Recalling the villa just now, she had immediately asked to return to the apartment as soon as she arrived, to thoroughly clear out the “hidden danger,” her tone decisive and leaving no room for negotiation.
Lin Xiuyuan had originally intended to stay a while longer, but in the end, he just shrugged, grabbed some testing tools, and followed her into the car.
The car smoothly drove into the apartment’s underground garage, so quiet that only the sound of tires frictioning against the ground could be heard.
When they walked side-by-side to the apartment entrance, the locksmith was already waiting.
As soon as Jessica arrived, she opened the door and let the person start working.
The sound of metal friction quickly followed, and the old surveillance lock was efficiently removed.
The process of installing the new lock was swift and clean, but Jessica never let her guard down.
She crossed her arms, leaned against the wall, and coldly watched the entire process, like an alert cat, until she confirmed the final set of passwords had been entered successfully and the locksmith left.
Only then did she nod slightly and look at Lin Xiuyuan, who had been accompanying her, and say calmly, “Now no one can just come in as they please.”
Her tone carried a sense of relief and certainty.
After dealing with this, Lin Xiuyuan didn’t remain idle either.
He carried the small tools he had brought and went through the apartment inside and out.
He first checked the electrical wiring in the living room, then carefully scanned every corner of the bedroom, not even neglecting the balcony.
His movements were skilled and cautious, like a diligent bodyguard.
About ten minutes later, he clapped his hands and returned to the living room with a sense of ease.
Jessica had already changed her posture and was sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet, a laptop on her knees, her slender fingers tapping on the keyboard. The light from the screen reflected her focused expression.
Seeing this situation, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but curl his lips and say with a half-joking tone, “I just checked for you, and this place is fine, very safe. You carry on, and I’ll be going now.”
Jessica paused when she heard this, her fingers hovering in mid-air, then slowly looked up.
Turning her head, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly raised, a subtle sharpness flashing in her eyes, “Leaving already? Didn’t you tell Sulli you weren’t going back tonight?”
Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands naturally and said, “I’m going back to the villa tonight.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he acutely caught the dangerous glint in Jessica’s eyes.
It flared up like a flame, as if it could burn him to ashes in the next second.
Then, images from last night inevitably flashed in his mind.
He had just thoroughly “consumed” her, and now tonight she wanted to leave just like that. Anyone would be angry in this situation.
Understanding the situation, Lin Xiuyuan gave a sheepish smile, raised his hand to touch his nose, and tried to change the subject, “Uh… I’m just going back to take a shower, and then I’ll come back. You don’t have any clothes for me here, so I can’t possibly make do with this, can I?”
Upon hearing this, the anger in Jessica’s eyes finally eased slightly. The corner of her lips curved into a smile of unknown meaning, and she let out a soft hum, temporarily accepting the reason.
Then she closed her laptop, got up from the carpet, her long hair swaying gently over her shoulders.
When her gaze fell on him, it held a mix of provocation and stubbornness, “Fine, then I’ll go over and take a look too. I didn’t have time to tour your villa during the day, so I’ll make up for it now.”
Her tone was playful, but her eyes were sharp.
Lin Xiuyuan paused, then shrugged and said nothing more, leading her to a random door.
With a “click,” the door turned gently.
The scene inside and outside the door instantly transformed, as if entering another world.
The moment they stepped over the threshold, they were in the villa in Gangnam District.
The villa’s living room was still spacious and bright, the marble floor reflecting a soft sheen, like a lake kissed by moonlight.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the night sky was clear and cold, moonlight pouring down, making the courtyard scenery dreamlike.
Looking at this magical scene, Jessica, despite being mentally prepared, couldn’t help but open her lips slightly, a flicker of astonishment in her eyes.
“Amazing… No wonder Soo Jung and the others’ emotions have become more stable. After experiencing this kind of thing so often, no matter how tumultuous things get in reality, their emotions won’t be too shaken.”
“It’s not that exaggerated,” Lin Xiuyuan smiled, his tone somewhat indifferent, clearly accustomed to it.
Jessica shook her head, her almond-shaped eyes slightly raised, her steps following him onto the soft carpet, half complaining, half teasing.
“Not exaggerated? If it were before, I wouldn’t believe you could appear before me as if nothing happened after sleeping with Ji-yeon, that divorced woman. This afternoon, your face was either unbelievably thick-skinned, or you genuinely thought this wasn’t a big deal. Which one is it?”
Lin Xiuyuan paused at these words, looked back at Jessica.
The corner of his lips curved slightly, but he said nothing, just smiled and continued leading the way.
Soon, he led her to the master suite on the third floor.
As they stepped into the suite, Jessica couldn’t help but pause slightly.
The layout of the entire suite was almost luxurious, with no unnecessary partitions, the space opening up to a panoramic view.
A high ceiling was adorned with an exquisite crystal lantern, casting a warm light.
The night peeked through the half-drawn curtains, the indoor lighting and moonlight intermingling, creating a soft and ambiguous atmosphere.
What made her stop was the entire wall that extended into a walk-in closet.
Jessica slowly walked over, her gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged shirts and casual wear, her expression gradually becoming subtle.
Soon, she discovered a few familiar dresses and sunglasses in the corner, with a fresh style and a distinct youthful aura.
After lightly touching the fabric, her finger paused, and she narrowed her eyes.
Her gaze then lingered on the details, and she turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, who was now coming out with a set of pajamas.
“These clothes… they’re Soo Jung’s, right?” Jessica’s tone was certain, her eyes scrutinizing.
Then she smiled brightly, pointed to the sunglasses and accessories next to them, and said with some frustration, “Did she ‘snatch’ these from me too? Those sunglasses and accessories over there, did she take them from my place?”
Lin Xiuyuan blinked slightly but quickly nodded, not denying it.
Upon getting the answer she wanted, Jessica snorted, turned her head, a faint curve at the corner of her lips, but a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
“No wonder Soo Jung is so good to you, and no wonder you protect her so much. For her to occupy both master bedrooms without a word, that’s not an ordinary relationship.”
Hearing the somewhat strange reply, Lin Xiuyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows, a smile on his lips, his eyes twinkling with teasing, “You don’t mean to say that even Krystal…”
“Shut up and go take a shower.”
Jessica immediately interrupted his impending “lewd words” and pushed him towards the bathroom without explanation.
As the sound of “whoosh” from the water began, Jessica remained alone in the bedroom, looking around, her steps slowly pacing.
Her gaze moved from the desk to the windowsill, then to the bedside, finally landing on a corner of the room.
There, a pair of red high heels were placed quietly.
The style of these shoes made Jessica’s eyes freeze instantly, and she was stunned for a moment.
She knew Krystal’s personality and style too well, so the style and color of those shoes absolutely couldn’t belong to her sister.
Doubt first flashed in her mind, but she quickly suppressed it.
If Lin Xiuyuan liked… no, even if he liked it, Krystal wouldn’t wear such ostentatious high heels.
Then… Krystal is ruled out.
Im Yoon Ah? Even more impossible.
Kim Tae Yeon? Makes no sense at all.
Jessica’s thoughts sifted through rapidly.
Finally, she lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the pair of red high heels, a meaningful cold smile curling at the corner of her lips, and she murmured to herself, “It seems this person’s life with Ji-yeon is even more exciting than I imagined.”
Ten-odd minutes later.
The sound of water in the bathroom gradually stopped, and the steaming mist slowly escaped through the gap in the door, spreading a damp warmth throughout the space.
Lin Xiuyuan came out, towel-drying his hair haphazardly. As soon as he stepped into the bedroom, his gaze fell on Jessica in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Standing barefoot, her slender figure overlapped with the night sky, as if she had melted into that deep darkness.
The courtyard lights and the moonlight from high above intertwined, casting her silhouette long and soft, like a quiet painting.
At this moment, Jessica hugged herself, her gaze fixed on the spacious courtyard and the blurry night scene in the distance. Her voice was soft, yet it conveyed a sense of envy and complex emotion.
“Lin Xiuyuan, this villa of yours, you probably can’t buy it with money nowadays. The location and view, plus this rare sense of tranquility… it’s too perfectly combined.”
After speaking, she turned to look at him, “How did you buy this villa?”
Lin Xiuyuan, asked this, paused slightly, then chuckled. He casually draped the towel aside and walked to her side. “I don’t know how to explain it. Just consider it a gift from the new timeline. Anyway, if you have a place to live, just live in it. Why think so much about it?”
Jessica turned her head, her eyes fixed on his face, a thoughtful expression flashing in her eyes.
She didn’t ask any further questions after that, just gave a faint smile, then suddenly reached out and took the towel, gently wiping his wet hair.
Her actions were meticulous, yet carried her unique, cold demeanor.
Before long, feeling it was enough, Lin Xiuyuan took the towel back.
He turned and led Jessica downstairs, casually opened a random door, and soon they were back in her apartment.
Back in the apartment living room, both had changed their state.
Jessica sat cross-legged on the soft carpet, leaning slightly forward, her laptop on the coffee table, her fingertips quickly typing on the keyboard. The light from the screen illuminated her profile, making the cold elegance and focus in her eyes more distinct.
Lin Xiuyuan, on the other hand, was lounging lazily on the sofa, holding his phone horizontally, watching short videos while casually chatting with Yoo Jimin about their meeting during the day.
“Lunch tomorrow noon…” Yoo Jimin sent a message, asking if he had any dietary restrictions.
Lin Xiuyuan typed with a smile: 【 I’m not picky, just don’t make it Korean food. Anything else is fine… Oh, and French food, let’s skip French food too. Anything else is fine. 】
As soon as the other side saw this message, Yoo Jimin burst into hearty laughter, her voice causing the members around her to lean in.
They looked at each other, their eyes full of gossip and helplessness: This older sister, isn’t she going to fall in love again? She truly has a romance brain.
Lin Xiuyuan, however, paid no mind and was about to make a joke when a new message suddenly popped up on his phone screen.
It was from another account he had added at noon.
The other party first sent an emoji, but then immediately withdrew it less than a second later.
If Lin Xiuyuan hadn’t been looking at the screen, he might have almost missed it.
Seeing this, he curled his lips slightly and quickly typed a few times, replying with a gentle greeting.
【 Not resting yet? It was nice meeting you today~ 】
It wasn’t long before a reply came from that side.
It was Bae Joo Hyun.
While responding, she cautiously and indirectly posed a question that piqued her curiosity to Lin Xiuyuan: what was Lin Xiuyuan’s profession?
Lin Xiuyuan casually typed a few words: 【 Bartender. 】
After sending the message, a brief silence enveloped the chat window. Even through the screen, he could sense her slight pause.
A while later, Jessica finally finished her work.
As she stretched, the lines of her back were faintly visible under the lighting, her curves soft and captivating.
When she got up, she turned her head back, glancing at Lin Xiuyuan, who was smiling and typing messages.
Her lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible arc before she withdrew her gaze and walked directly into the bathroom.
Lin Xiuyuan, who noticed this, caught a glimpse of her retreating figure out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat, and instinct told him tonight might not be a peaceful one.
Indeed, half an hour later.
Just as he and Yoo Jimin confirmed their lunch spot for the next day, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.
Jessica emerged slowly after her shower, her damp hair clinging to the sides of her neck, a refreshing coolness washing over him.
In that instant, the air in the living room seemed to change subtly.
She was wearing a sleepwear that was almost scandalously revealing, the sheer fabric clinging to her snow-white skin, faintly revealing the soft luster of her skin.
A strap of the camisole slipped slightly from her shoulder, revealing the delicate curve of her collarbone and neck.
Her damp hair, still carrying the moisture from her bath, cascaded casually over her shoulders and chest, swaying gently and emitting a faint, sweet fragrance, carrying the unique freshness and allure of a post-bath state.
Just as Lin Xiuyuan was about to say something, the lights in the living room suddenly went out with a “snap.”
Instantly, the entire room plunged into boundless darkness.
Even the dim light from the secondary lights vanished, leaving only the faint glow of his phone screen, and the cold moonlight and faint streetlight filtering in from the night view outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
Light and shadow intertwined, making the entire space both mysterious and ambiguous.
In the darkness, Jessica’s voice slowly sounded, accompanied by a dangerous, teasing low laugh, “Lin Xiuyuan, do you know what I’ve been thinking about while you’ve had me ‘kidnapped’ these past few days?”
Lin Xiuyuan leaned back on the sofa, his heart suddenly tightening, but he still replied with a smile, “Thinking about what?”
“I was thinking…” Her voice was indistinct, like a cat weaving around his ears, and then suddenly lowered even further, “After I’m free, I want to tie you up in front and show you my car lights… how bright they are.”
Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and chuckled teasingly, “You want to run me over? Then you should have let me check your headlights earlier.”
“I know, but I later thought of another better way.”
Before she finished speaking, a light and rapid sound of footsteps swept across the carpet and approached.
Before Lin Xiuyuan could react, he was tackled by the fragrance and softness in the darkness, crashing heavily onto the sofa.
Jessica pounced on him fiercely, her broad and soft body pressing him into his embrace.
In an instant, Lin Xiuyuan’s entire body, his entire face, was buried in the soft, fragrant mounds.
At the same time, his phone was casually thrown aside, its screen light flickering a few times, mingling with the moonlight outside the floor-to-ceiling window, casting an extremely ambiguous silhouette of their intertwined bodies.
Their breaths intertwined, the air filled with a passionate fragrance, the night seeming to ignite in that moment.
The fiery breath was like a silent flame, quickly making the entire room scorching hot.
Lin Xiuyuan’s hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, feeling the close temperature and softness. His heart skipped a beat, and the smile in his eyes took on an unspeakable fire.
Jessica gently leaned close to his ear, her voice low with a delectable breath, “This time, you’re not getting away easily.”
……
……
The next day.
In the living room, morning light streamed through the gaps in the half-drawn curtains, casting dappled shadows on the clothes scattered on the floor and the disheveled pillows.
The aftermath of last night’s frenzy was still clearly visible in every detail.
An overturned wine glass left a faint mark on the carpet, a blanket draped from the corner of the sofa lay on the ground, and the air still held the lingering scent of ambiguity mixed with wine and a faint perfume, as if silently recounting the passion of the night.
The scene slowly shifted to the master bedroom.
On the large bed, the wrinkled sheets were tossed haphazardly, and the bedside lamp remained off. Only the morning light filtered in, enveloping the two people on the bed.
Lin Xiuyuan and Jessica lay nestled tightly together. His arm was naturally wrapped around her waist, while she curled up in his embrace. Her disheveled long hair fell over his chest, her breathing steady, her eyes retaining a post-indulgence languor and softness.
Their posture was intimate and ambiguous, like a vibrant spring scroll painting.
Amidst this tranquility, a sudden phone ringtone abruptly shattered the quiet of the bedroom.
Lin Xiuyuan frowned, reached for his phone on the bedside table, and answered.
From the other end came Yoo Jimin’s cheerful but slightly helpless voice, “Hello? Lin Xiuyuan, you’re not still asleep, are you? We agreed to have lunch together today, and I called because I was afraid you’d forgotten.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s voice was still groggy, his tone low and husky, “Mm, I know… I’ll get up soon, I won’t be late.”
At this moment, the person in his arms stirred. Jessica shifted in his embrace like a cat and mumbled, her voice lazy and hoarse, “Who is it…”
Lin Xiuyuan instantly sobered up, his heart tightening, and quickly said into the phone, “See you in a bit.”
He then hung up.
Yoo Jimin on the other end was still frozen, the unfamiliar female voice that wasn’t Lin Xiuyuan’s echoing in her ears. Her eyes instantly became complex, her expression strange, as if she’d caught something but didn’t want to dwell on it.
Mostly… it sounded familiar.
In the bedroom, Jessica rolled over, revealing a glimpse of her skin.
The white quilt barely covered half her body, her smooth skin and faintly visible curves appearing particularly striking in the morning light.
She squinted at Lin Xiuyuan, pouting, “What’s wrong?”
“I made plans for lunch with a friend yesterday, and they just called to hurry me up,” Lin Xiuyuan replied truthfully, not deceiving Jessica at all.
He just omitted the friend’s identity.
But Jessica said, “It’s a woman, right.”
As soon as she spoke, before Lin Xiuyuan could explain, she lifted her leg and kicked him squarely, with a hint of playful annoyance, “Get lost, the spring dream is over.”
Lin Xiuyuan stumbled from the kick but burst out laughing.
His gaze fell on her pouting derrière, and he couldn’t resist a resounding slap.
“Ah…” Jessica let out a soft cry and quickly burrowed under the covers, her eyes both shy and annoyed.
Lin Xiuyuan laughed heartily, casually grabbed his pajamas from the floor, put them on, and activated the Time-Space Door to return to his apartment.
As the door closed, Jessica’s indignant shout followed, “Lin Xiuyuan, you just wait!”
The room door closed, and the air still held the lingering warmth of the night’s passion and the morning’s fire.
On the other side, after returning to his villa from Jessica’s apartment, Lin Xiuyuan quickly took a shower, washing away the ambiguous scent that clung to him from last night, and changed into casual yet presentable clothes.
Then he picked up his car keys, walked out of the villa at a leisurely pace, started the car, and drove towards the restaurant where he’d arranged to meet Yoo Jimin.
Seoul’s midday traffic was as congested as ever, the traffic winding like a slowly moving dragon.
Lin Xiuyuan tapped his fingers idly on the steering wheel, then glanced sideways and saw a flower shop by the roadside, with fresh bouquets displayed at the entrance, brightly colored and carrying the scent of the afternoon sun.
His heart stirred, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he rolled down the car window, calling out to the shop owner.
“Please arrange a bouquet for me, no roses.”
He thought for a moment and chose baby’s breath, daisies, and a few tulips for accent. Fresh and elegant, it perfectly matched his current mood.
When he pushed open the door to the restaurant private room with the bouquet, Yoo Jimin was already waiting inside.
As she looked up from her phone upon hearing the door open, surprise and unexpectedness clearly flashed in her eyes.
Especially when she saw the bouquet of pale, fresh flowers in Lin Xiuyuan’s hand, she was stunned for a few seconds, then her lips slowly curved upwards, her eyes shining like the summer sun.
“Wow… is this for me?” Yoo Jimin asked softly, with disbelief in her smile.
“Of course, who else would it be for,” Lin Xiuyuan replied with a casual smile, handing her the flowers.
Yoo Jimin took the bouquet, sniffed it, and genuine joy and a girlish delight overflowed in her eyes.
She looked up at Lin Xiuyuan, her voice softening, “Thank you, I really like it.”
At that moment, her expression seemed to light up, both surprised and happy, her heart almost leaping out of her chest.
They sat down and casually ordered a few Western dishes: beef ribs, spaghetti, grilled fish and lobster, and a small dessert.
The restaurant’s environment was quiet and elegant, the air filled with the aroma of red wine and olive oil, and the atmosphere was just right.
After ordering, as soon as Lin Xiuyuan put down his phone, Yoo Jimin suddenly looked up and asked, “Lin Xiuyuan, that voice I heard on the phone earlier… wasn’t it senior Park Ji Yeon?”
Lin Xiuyuan’s hand froze, and he looked up sharply, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
It wasn’t because Big Dragon Cub’s name had come up, but rather he was surprised by how Yoo Jimin had immediately thought of her.
“Why would you think it was her?” he raised an eyebrow, his tone half-joking.
Yoo Jimin pursed her lips, her expression a little teasing, “Yesterday at noon, I saw you and senior Ji Yeon leaving together from the window of a coffee shop. Although it was only from the side, I still recognized her.”
Lin Xiuyuan paused, then chuckled and shook his head, “No, what are you thinking? How could someone like me get involved in any ambiguous relationship with a beauty like Tara’s Park Ji Yeon.”
“Really?” Yoo Jimin tilted her head to look at him, her gaze still assessing.
After a moment, she smiled softly, her eyes deepening, “Xiuyuan, you know Krystal senior and Jessica senior, and Yoona senior often seeks you out; your relationships don’t seem superficial. If you add senior Ji Yeon now, I think it’s quite normal.”
Lin Xiuyuan was momentarily speechless, and couldn’t help but laugh, “We know each other, but are you overthinking it? I don’t have the guts to do something like that with Park Ji Yeon.”
He certainly couldn’t tell Yoo Jimin the truth, so he denied it.
Thus, his words lightened the atmosphere with a touch of teasing.
The reason they could naturally discuss these ambiguous topics upon meeting was all due to the online teasing and flirting during this period. Although they had only met twice in reality, they had become as familiar as old friends.
Especially the bouquet, which had completely softened Yoo Jimin’s heart.
So, she didn’t press further, but leaned back slightly, reaching to gently sweep her long, black, smooth hair behind her back.
Sunlight slanted in from outside the window, falling on her slender neck and well-defined shoulders.
She was wearing a light-colored V-neck camisole today, which accentuated her slender waist and impressive bust.
The two nearly protruding curves were stretching the fabric taut, rising and falling slightly with her breathing, creating an extremely strong visual impact.
Lin Xiuyuan’s gaze was almost involuntarily drawn to them.
Yoo Jimin noticed his gaze, and the corner of her lips slowly curved into a meaningful smile, her voice soft but with a hint of teasing, “So Xiuyuan, do you think… between senior Ji Yeon and me, who has a better figure?”
This question was like a spark, igniting the ambiguous atmosphere.
In Lin Xiuyuan’s mind, Jessica’s dazzling “car headlights” from last night instantly flashed, almost making him lose his composure.
So he cleared his throat, a sly smile on his lips, “Both are beautiful, both are beautiful.”
Upon hearing this, Yoo Jimin gave him a look that was both coquettish and amused.
As if dissatisfied with his perfunctory answer, yet secretly pleased by his words.
……
……
Inside the SM building, the hallway was still quiet in the morning.
Bae Joo Hyun, holding a few files, was on her way to the studio when she saw a familiar figure approaching.
“Taeyeon senior.”
“Joo Hyun, going to work?”
They smiled at each other and exchanged brief pleasantries.
Kim Tae Yeon had her usual polite and gentle smile, and Bae Joo Hyun nodded slightly, her eyes clear.
“Yes, I have recording today.”
“Me too, I just finished and am heading back to rest for a bit.”
Their words were casual, with a touch of everyday politeness.
Normally, after exchanging pleasantries, they would part ways, but as Kim Tae Yeon’s back receded, Bae Joo Hyun’s steps suddenly stopped.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze following the retreating figure, a strange emotion rising in her heart.
The conversations, glances, and even the subtle atmosphere between Lin Xiuyuan and Kim Tae Yeon during their few chance encounters came to mind.
Thinking of this, Bae Joo Hyun gently bit her lip, slowly took out her phone, and opened the chat window from last night.
The few simple sentences made her stare for a long time.
The faint light of the phone screen reflected in her eyes, causing her expression to become gradually more somber.
On the other side.
Jessica, having been slapped on the butt by Lin Xiuyuan, finally got out of bed.
She walked into the bathroom with light steps, and reflected in the mirror was a face with radiant vitality and a glowing complexion.
Her eyes were clear, and her skin even had a youthful glow.
She gazed at herself in the mirror, a smile slowly forming on her lips.
“Heh…” She chuckled softly, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes.
Soon, Jessica took out her phone, flipped through her contacts, and dialed a number.
“Hello, Ji Yeon? Are you free for lunch? Let’s grab a meal together.” Her tone was cheerful, with a touch of subtle mischief.
Big Dragon Cub on the other end was taken aback, but quickly replied, “Sure.”
Jessica’s smile deepened, and she added, “Let’s go play ball in the afternoon, it’s been a while since we exercised.”
Big Dragon Cub didn’t think much of it, just assuming it was a friend gathering, so she readily agreed. She even followed Jessica’s suggestion and casually called her older sister, “Hello, Goo Ri unnie, have you eaten…”
Lee Ji-eun, on the other hand, was doing her makeup in front of the vanity, her expression much more subdued than usual.
She was also taken aback when she received Big Dragon Cub’s call, and after hearing the general situation, she hesitated before nodding in agreement, “Okay, see you then.”
She didn’t notice that behind this seemingly ordinary invitation, a silent malice was brewing and quietly approaching her.
After finishing her makeup, she left her apartment, went downstairs, drove her car, and headed towards the restaurant they had agreed upon.
A while later, after parking her car, she walked at an unhurried pace along the familiar street to the restaurant where Jessica and Big Dragon Cub had arranged to meet.
As soon as she stepped into the restaurant, the lights illuminated her face, and the details of her morning makeup made her appearance even more radiant than usual, her complexion exceptionally clear.
Her hair was smooth and natural, with slightly curled ends gently swaying on her shoulders, complementing her clear eyes and the faint curve of her lips.
However, the moment Lee Ji-eun walked towards the dining table, her elegant pace involuntarily slowed, and her eyes fixed on two figures not far away.
Looking at their appearance, Lee Ji-eun’s pupils constricted slightly, and she froze as if electrocuted.
This was because at that moment, the complexions and appearances of Jessica and Big Dragon Cub, not far away, were clearly brighter and more spirited than the last time she had seen them, exuding a sense of calm and confidence that came after a trial.
Especially Big Dragon Cub, as she had just met her yesterday, the comparison was quite noticeable.
But what surprised Lee Ji-eun even more was that Jessica, who was so proud and full of self-esteem, had also undergone this transformation.
Having experienced such situations before, Lee Ji-eun naturally saw the signs.
So, she immediately understood in her heart what this implied.
Beyond shock, a long-buried desire within Lee Ji-eun was instantly ignited, and her need for that familiar figure grew even more urgent.
But before that, she had to endure the “bullying” that came with lunch today.
So, taking a deep breath and slightly adjusting her breathing, as if cheering herself on, or perhaps suppressing inner turmoil, she smiled and faced the two people over there.
After sitting down, the atmosphere at the Dining Table was subtle and tense.
Jessica remained calm, her words carrying an imperceptible tease, while Big Dragon Cub responded with occasional laughter and Teasing, enveloping the entire table in an atmosphere that was relaxed yet subtly oppressive.
Only the “bullied” Lee Ji-eun bit her lip as she ate Things, inwardly cursing these two “plastic sisters” while secretly calculating how to respond to each sentence.
Soon after, she used the Restroom as an Excuse to get up from her seat and quickly walk towards the Restroom.
After entering and locking the door, she immediately took out her Mobile Phone and dialed Lin Xiuyuan’s number.
The moment the Phone connected on the other side, her voice followed, asking, “Xiuyuan, what are you doing right now?”
“Ah? Eating.”
“Where are you eating?”
Lee Ji-eun’s questioning voice carried an irrepressible urgency, mixed with a hint of hidden Expectation.
It was a strong desire that occupied her, pointing directly at someone on the other end of the Phone.
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