Chapter 296: “how Did You Know I Gave Xiuyuan A Ring?”
After Jung Soo Jung hung up on that side, Jung Soo Yeon stared at the instant noodle bucket in front of her that still had a small half bowl of soup left. She had originally wanted to drink a couple more sips of soup, but the information conveyed in that call just now stirred up a stuffy feeling in her heart, completely ruining her appetite.
Fortunately, the instant noodles had already been finished.
Sitting on the carpet, she leaned back against the sofa and zoned out for a good while.
At this moment, the living room only had one warm yellow floor lamp on, the light casting faint shadows on that slightly aloof side profile.
After a while, Jung Soo Yeon reached for her mobile phone and subconsciously opened Lin Xiuyuan’s Kakao account. Her fingertip hovered over the input box for a moment, but she suddenly remembered that the phone linked to this account was a number from China.
It was also to avoid missing important messages when he wasn’t around in 13, so that Sulli, who lived with him, could also see other info on this account and occasionally report back to family, so it was public.
Thinking of this, Jung Soo Yeon slightly furrowed her brows, exited this chat interface, slid her finger on the screen, and soon found another contact account.
That was Lin Xiuyuan’s alternate account, a local Seoul number, which Jung Soo Yeon had specially set up for him back then—it was their initial “secret channel” between the two of them.
Most importantly, Sulli wouldn’t check this alternate account’s phone.
Though at first this account truly belonged only to the two of them, somehow Lin Xiaolu and Park Ji-yeon found out later, so gradually, the existence of this alternate account was no longer a secret in the inner circle.
If anyone had secrets they wanted to chat with Lin Xiuyuan about, they’d basically send them to this account.
But as of now, it seemed only Jung Soo Jung, who had just recently learned the situation, was still in the dark.
After opening the chat window of the alternate account, Jung Soo Yeon quickly typed a line with her slender fingers on the screen, but just as she was about to hit send, she hesitated, her thumb hovering in mid-air.
Her gaze quietly fell on this account’s profile picture.
It was a photo she had taken of Lin Xiuyuan, with him sitting behind the bar counter in the small tavern.
Elbow propped on the counter, palm supporting his chin, his gaze carrying a bit of laziness and nonchalance, yet exceptionally clear.
Gazing at this photo, after a moment of silence, Jung Soo Yeon deleted the string of emotional text she had just typed and re-entered.
She changed it to a few concise yet indisputable words: 【Call me back】
Tap, send.
After doing all this, Jung Soo Yeon casually set her mobile phone aside, leaned her body back, rested the back of her head on the soft sofa cushion, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Her mind uncontrollably echoed with what Jung Soo Jung had just said.
About Lin Xiaolu, about Ham Eun-jung, and about this sister of hers, and Jessica…
She then pursed her beautifully lined lips, a trace of depression showing in her gaze, but deeper inside was a stubbornness that refused to give in easily.
Because what she wanted had never been that simple. Though Jung Soo Yeon knew better than anyone that making Lin Xiuyuan revolve only around her was almost impossible.
Unless…
Unless back then when Lin Xiuyuan jokingly mentioned that so-called “church” and started establishing those “church rules,” she could have stopped him in time, limiting his world to just her, Krystal, and a very few others.
That way, perhaps she would still have a chance at exclusivity.
But what status did she have back then, what confidence or courage to demand that of Lin Xiuyuan.
So given the current situation with all these rivals, if Jung Soo Yeon dared to show even a hint of wanting to claim Lin Xiuyuan for herself, she probably wouldn’t even need Lin Xiaolu to act—Park Ji-yeon that dragon cub would definitely be the first to jump out and “fight her to the death.”
Hmm!? Fight to the death maybe not.
But PKing once or several times, or even PKing right upon meeting, might not be difficult at all.
Thinking of these tangled relationships, Jung Soo Yeon felt a massive headache and rubbed her temples.
Then she stood up, tidied the empty instant noodle bucket, threw it in the trash, and decided not to think more, heading back to the bedroom to sleep first.
These past few days, dealing with the company and initial contacts with CJ had drained her mentally. The moment she returned to the apartment, exhaustion had already surged over her like a tide, now nearly overwhelming her.
However, just as she lay down and prepared to turn off the light to sleep, the mobile phone on the bedside table rang again.
Thinking it was Jung Soo Jung calling back to stimulate her, Jung Soo Yeon impatiently picked up the phone.
But when her gaze touched the flashing name on the screen, the curve at her lips hadn’t even had time to be deliberately suppressed, and the spark that instantly lit up deep in her eyes had already most truthfully betrayed her inner excitement.
“Hello.”
So she answered the call, keeping her voice as calm as usual, even with a hint of laziness as if just preparing to sleep.
Right after, Lin Xiuyuan’s familiar voice came from the other end, “What’s up? I just got back and saw your message.”
Jung Soo Yeon didn’t directly answer his question, instead turning the tables by asking and issuing an invitation, “Nothing, want to chat. Not good over the phone—why don’t you come over here? No one’s home now.”
Lin Xiuyuan on the other end seemed to pause, and at the same time, an extremely faint light chuckle from another woman came through the background noise.
Inside the tavern apartment, the guy holding the phone turned back and met Jessica’s playful gaze.
Then she smiled faintly at him, shrugged indifferently, and mouthed for him to decide himself.
At the same time, Jung Soo Yeon keenly caught the brief silence on the other end, and that almost inaudible odd sound.
Maybe even she herself didn’t realize that in that instant, she rolled her eyes at the air, accompanied by a mix of displeasure and “as expected” emotion flashing through her heart.
She then spoke again, her tone showing no ripples but carrying a strange generosity, “Heh, that stupid woman is with you too, right? Fine, then bring her along.”
Apple’s phone audio quality was well-known, so Jessica clearly heard “stupid woman,” her brows immediately furrowing as a burst of anger rushed up.
If not for knowing the secret had to be strictly guarded, she really wanted to grab the phone right then and “reason” with Jung Soo Yeon about who was stupider.
Caught in the middle, Lin Xiuyuan clearly felt the silent sparks from both sides.
So he touched his nose, somewhat helplessly but still agreed, “Alright, I’ll head over now. Want anything to eat? I grabbed some late-night snack on the way back when I returned—barbecue skewers and such.”
Hearing “barbecue skewers,” Jung Soo Yeon immediately judged that those two had definitely gone out for food and drinks that evening.
And linking it to herself just now, alone facing the instant noodle bucket…
The next second, she smiled lightly. Her original thought of just having Lin Xiuyuan come over to sit and chat instantly turned into a determination not to let that woman monopolize the spoils.
In an unusually gentle tone, even a bit sweet, she replied, “Yeah~ I’m starving. Bring everything you bought.”
Though she had just eaten almost enough, to prevent Jessica from having a chance to enjoy late-night snacks with Lin Xiuyuan and grow closer, Jung Soo Yeon didn’t mind eating a bit more.
It was just dieting, she was fine with it.
After hanging up, Lin Xiuyuan didn’t delay, turning to skillfully lead Jessica through several portals connecting different time-spaces.
When he pushed open that familiar room door again, he was already standing in 13 Jung Soo Yeon’s Seoul apartment living room, holding barbecue late-night snacks from Magic City streets emitting tempting aromas and a few cans of iced beverages.
At the same moment, in this short few minutes, Jung Soo Yeon in the apartment bedroom had completed a quick image change.
She quickly took off the conservative long-sleeve pajamas she was wearing, pulled a silky black camisole from the closet, paired with tight home shorts below.
Originally she wanted to change into a more impactful sexy pajamas, but after the thought circled in her mind, she ultimately gave up this slightly deliberate choice.
Instead opting for this outfit that more naturally showed off her youthful vitality and fine figure.
The silky camisole softly hugged her exquisite upper body curves, revealing large expanses of fair smooth skin and delicate collarbones.
The tight shorts outlined her straight slender leg lines, under the living room lighting, that white tender skin seeming to glow softly.
However, after finishing all this and adjusting her expression to walk out of the bedroom, she spotted at a glance the familiar yet piercing figure beside Lin Xiuyuan.
And upon seeing the other’s state, Jung Soo Yeon felt her molars were about to be ground to pieces by herself.
Though she had long guessed roughly, after seeing the other’s appearance with her own eyes, her heart still felt stuffy.
An indescribable sourness and anger surged instantly, but at the same time, a subconscious relief bubbled up.
Good thing she didn’t change into that pajamas.
Otherwise compared to this radiant Jessica, whose skin state and body curves were in a plump and full state.
Even if she wore sexy pajamas, under the current hardware comparison, she probably wouldn’t gain much advantage.
Thinking of this, Jung Soo Yeon’s gaze shot straight at Lin Xiuyuan in the middle, like substantial resentment.
Complex emotions surged in those beautiful eyes.
There was depression from “betrayal,” hard-to-dissipate grievance, and a “you explain to me” anger—all turning in this moment into silent signals, precisely aimed at the culprit before her.
So when Lin Xiuyuan received that X-ray-like gaze, even with mental preparation, his scalp still tingled.
Yet he could only steel himself, force a natural smile, raise the bag in his hand to divert attention, “Soo Yeon~ You’re still up so late? Come eat, it’s still hot—try the authentic barbecue taste from our side?”
Jessica standing beside smiled then, casting her gaze at this younger version of herself clearly full of hostility.
And after her sight swept over the camisole and shorts Jung Soo Yeon had deliberately changed into, the corners of her mouth immediately hooked into an understanding yet teasing curve.
Heh, little woman, still trying to play this with me?
As the same “self,” as the self who walked from 13 to 25, Jessica knew all too well the meanings behind Jung Soo Yeon’s little thoughts and actions at this moment.
This feeling of seeing through everything gave her an inexplicable sense of superiority and amusement.
Just like how Jung Soo Yeon used to look at those members in 13.
Especially recalling how when she was “imprisoned” by Lin Xiuyuan before, Jung Soo Yeon had stood by the bed with that scrutinizing and… um, indescribable gaze.
Jessica felt it was time to “return the favor” a bit, to make it fair.
So while Lin Xiuyuan went to the coffee table to set down the late-night snacks with his head lowered, in the unnoticed corner, she tilted her head slightly toward Jung Soo Yeon, sending an unmistakable provocative gaze.
And after that provocative gaze, Jessica felt it still wasn’t enough.
So she raised her right hand, extended her slender index finger, and extremely slowly and elegantly slid her fingertip along her smooth full, beautifully lined jawline.
If Jung Soo Yeon wasn’t dumb, she should see what this action meant.
After all, her current rejuvenated state was obvious to anyone not blind.
!!!
Sure enough, after Jung Soo Yeon clearly received this provocation, she instantly clenched the fist hanging at her side, bit her lower lip hard until it paled.
Aaaah!!!
It pissed her off!!!
At this moment, Jung Soo Yeon suddenly deeply understood why Park Ji-yeon and Big Dragon Cub had gone straight to full brawl at their first formal meeting without a word.
Only she herself understood herself the best.
That feeling was like a hole dug in her heart—stuffy and painful.
On the other side, when Lin Xiuyuan deftly arranged the barbecue skewers and beverages on the coffee table.
Turning back, he found both “Soo Yeons” still standing in place, their gazes clashing in mid-air without moving an inch.
This scene made Lin Xiuyuan swallow hard with difficulty, carefully probing, “Soo Yeon? Come eat.”
Hearing his voice, Jung Soo Yeon finally took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the massive waves in her heart, turned her head, and gave Lin Xiuyuan a look with an expression forcibly kept calm.
Then she nodded lightly and stepped toward the sofa.
While Jessica didn’t even need Lin Xiuyuan to call her, acting like she was back home, naturally and even a bit excitedly approaching Lin Xiuyuan, sweetly demanding, “Xiuyuan~ I want the roasted chicken wings I ordered earlier, and that rice cake~”
Jung Soo Yeon, who had just reached the sofa to sit, halted abruptly, turned her head sideways, her icy gaze shooting like a scalpel at Jessica.
And Jessica seemed oblivious, still smiling at her.
Even proactively attacking!
Like suddenly recalling something extremely amusing, in a “innocent” tone, she said to Jung Soo Yeon, “Ah, what did you say? Oh, how did you know I gave Xiuyuan a ring as a gift?”
“Gift?? Ring???”
At these words, Lin Xiuyuan, who was bending to grab chicken wings, froze instantly, his heart “thudding,” directly closing his eyes in despair.
Done! For!
While Jung Soo Yeon by the sofa was like struck by lightning, whipping her head back, her sight deadlocked on Lin Xiuyuan.
Her gaze fixed on that accessory reflecting light on the guy’s finger, pupils shaking violently, filled with disbelief and an impending storm.
The air in the living room froze solid in that instant, dropping to freezing point.
