Chapter 309: 【kidnapping Jk】or【madam’s Confession】
After a while, a few more people squeezed onto the sofa in the living room.
However, it wasn’t Tai Xiyun and Lin Xiuyuan from before, but the JK sisters and Lin Xiuyuan.
The three of them sat side-by-side on the spacious sofa, with a plate of washed and cut, tempting-looking fruit placed on the coffee table in front of them.
The TV screen in front was being cast by Lin Xiuyuan using his mobile phone, and driven by some “perverse taste” of his, it was playing a replay of Jessica’s live broadcast from earlier.
Looking at her own vivid expressions and interactions with fans on the screen, especially thinking that her mischievous actions during the break might have been subtly recorded, Jessica herself found it a bit funny and embarrassing.
Krystal, on the other hand, was watching with great interest, and whenever she heard something funny, she would slap the sofa armrest, “Jessica, your mouth is too clumsy, hahaha.”
“She’s now got the nickname ‘little foreigner,’ it’s quite amusing,” Lin Xiuyuan said with a laugh.
Jessica, however, was watching the replay while curiously looking at Lin Xiuyuan, “Xiuyuan, where did you find this video? How did you get a full recording so quickly? I remember I only just finished my stream.”
Lin Xiuyuan, sitting between the two of them, picked up his phone, skillfully switched pages, and replied, “You underestimate the drive of your fans and the speed of the internet. I remember while I was watching short videos in my room earlier, I noticed your live stream was still ongoing, and people were already editing and posting snippets of the highlights.”
Then he found a recording account page and showed it to her, “As for the full version, basically the moment you clicked ‘end stream,’ someone started uploading it. With a fast internet connection, it takes ten-plus minutes, and for slower ones, half an hour is enough to spread it to major fan sites and video websites. Look, this is it.”
Listening to Lin Xiuyuan explain it as if he had it all memorized, Jessica curiously leaned closer to him, almost half her body resting on his arm as she looked down at his phone screen, her tone a little incredulous.
“So what I’m curious about is how you knew to look here? You seem more familiar with these channels than I am, and I’ve been here for 25 years. And Xiuyuan, you’ve been here for less than half a year at most, right?”
“Half a year? It’s about right,” Lin Xiuyuan thought about the timeline and nodded.
“Our first meeting was probably not long after you first arrived, right?” Jessica asked again, seemingly wanting to confirm something.
“Yes, the next day,” Lin Xiuyuan nodded in confirmation again.
Beside them, Krystal, who was quietly chewing on a piece of apple, looked at the two of them in their almost intimate posture and felt a little bit of jealousy welling up again.
So she suddenly extended her foot and, with the tip of her sock-clad toe, lightly kicked Lin Xiuyuan’s calf.
Feeling the movement, Lin Xiuyuan turned to look at her, his gaze questioning.
Jessica, who also noticed Krystal’s small action, peeked out from behind Lin Xiuyuan to look at her younger sister.
She chuckled, her tone a bit teasing, “What’s up, Soo Jung? Can’t I chat with Xiuyuan for a bit?”
“No~” Krystal hummed indifferently, not hiding her emotions at all, “I’m a little jealous and envious. I shouldn’t have encouraged you to bring him in, I’ve just brought myself a competitor.”
What she said was half true and half joking, with a characteristic coolness.
However, after saying this joke, Krystal quickly switched to a more serious topic, “By the way, Xiuyuan, Xueqiu mentioned Hara’s situation to me last time. What are your plans? Haven’t you met and talked recently?”
Upon hearing the name “Goo Hara,” Jessica immediately stopped joking and her expression became a bit more serious, also turning her gaze to Lin Xiuyuan.
Clearly, they both cared deeply about their friend’s situation.
Lin Xiuyuan, who was asked, was unconsciously sliding his phone screen with one hand, while the other hand seemed to have a mind of its own, and quietly, through a gap in a loose trouser leg, touched Krystal’s calf resting on the sofa.
He began to knead it gently with his fingertips, sending waves of subtle tingling sensations through her.
Then he replied, “Let’s talk about that after I get to Seoul. I need to find a suitable time, maybe during a thunderstorm? I’ll give her a proper ‘initiation ceremony’ like when Zhenli first arrived. Give her some strong medicine to make it memorable, otherwise, with her personality, I don’t think she’ll take it seriously.”
Hearing this, Krystal couldn’t help but laugh, her calf trembling slightly from Lin Xiuyuan’s massage and her laughter, “Thunderstorm? Why not just find a typhoon? The experience and effect would be even more shocking, and it’s typhoon season right now~”
Lin Xiuyuan thought about it and felt it made sense, “Yeah, that could work. Wind, rain, lightning, and thunder – perfect for ghosts and spirits to appear. Plus, it’s much more convenient this time than last time, saving us driving time. We can go directly near the cemetery… yeah, the atmosphere will be maxed out.”
Krystal, nodding, felt a bit uneasy as the massaging hand began to move upward.
She gently curled her toes, her cheeks flushing, but still tried to maintain a conversational tone, “Xiuyuan~ do you think Hara will have the same reaction as Xueqiu back then?”
“What reaction?” Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and playfully continued, “Will she tearfully ask you, ‘Soo Jung, are you doing well?'”
However, Krystal was no longer the person who would be easily saddened by such topics. Having found salvation, nine-tenths of her inner struggles were resolved.
So, facing Lin Xiuyuan’s teasing, she playfully kicked him again and analyzed,
“Personally, I feel Hara might not be as calm as Xueqiu, because someone like Hara, who usually hides her emotions well and appears strong, will have a more intense reaction once she breaks down or experiences a huge shock, like an explosion.”
Krystal, making a gesture of expansion as she spoke, then slowly brought her open hands together, “On the other hand, Xueqiu, who usually seems to have more emotional ups and downs and gets easily agitated, will subconsciously tighten up and protect herself when facing a major event, and won’t tell others.”
“A contrast, right?” Lin Xiuyuan nodded thoughtfully, finding Krystal’s analysis plausible, “That’s possible.”
At this point, Jessica, who had been listening for a while, finally couldn’t help but speak, her face filled with confusion.
“What are you two talking about? Thunderstorms, typhoons, cemeteries, ghosts? And what happened to Sulli back then? I didn’t understand a single word.”
Lin Xiuyuan looked at her and explained, “We’re talking about what happened when Zhenli first came to 25 years. It was quite different from your and Soo Jung’s situations.”
“How was it different?” Jessica’s curiosity was completely piqued.
She hadn’t asked for details about the first trip back, only discussing Krystal’s situation, so this was the first time she was hearing about Sulli’s and others’ specific experiences.
With Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal supplementing each other’s descriptions, Jessica quickly formed a picture in her mind: the moment Sulli opened her eyes, she found herself in the 25-year timeline, facing a tombstone with her name and photo on it, experiencing extreme shock, fear, and confusion…
“Hiss…”
After listening, Jessica let out a sharp gasp and looked incredulously at the two people in front of her who were narrating what seemed like an interesting story, her voice cracking slightly, “Who came up with such a wicked idea?! That’s too… too cruel!!”
Krystal, smiling, very directly pointed at Lin Xiuyuan, “selling him out” without hesitation.
Seeing this, Jessica didn’t hesitate either, and raised her hand to slap Lin Xiuyuan’s arm hard, settling old and new scores, “Yah~ You’re really too much, Sulli was like this, and I was similar. When are you going to change this perverse taste of yours?”
After being hit, Lin Xiuyuan shrugged helplessly, “Yours was purely an accident. I didn’t intend to deal with you at all; you brought it upon yourself. As for Zhenli, her situation was special. If I didn’t administer ‘strong medicine’ and let her see the worst possible outcome herself, it would have been more troublesome.”
When Jessica heard Lin Xiuyuan’s reply that hers was an “accident,” and then recalled the scene of him putting a gag on her and terrifying her out of her wits, she became even more angry.
So the old and new grudges surged in her heart again, and she gritted her teeth, raising her hand to hit Lin Xiuyuan’s arm and back several more times.
Although she didn’t put much force into it, the display was quite impressive.
“Yah~ You scoundrel, you dare say that again? Was that an accident? You clearly set me up to fall into the trap.”
Meanwhile, Krystal, seeing Lin Xiuyuan being “beaten,” immediately smiled and pulled him into her arms.
Like a protective mother cat, she “glared” at Jessica with a smiling gaze, “Yah~ Jessica, you’re not allowed to hit Xiuyuan.”
Jessica widened her eyes in response, with an expression of “Are you serious?”, “Wow, Jung Soo Jung, are you that protective? I’m not hitting hard, just a few light taps.”
“Still not allowed!” Krystal said, laughing heartily, hugging Lin Xiuyuan tightly, resting her chin on his shoulder, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she provocatively raised an eyebrow at Jessica, “I feel sorry for him~”
Who knew that as soon as she said this, Jessica, provoked by Krystal’s smugness, felt her competitive spirit surge and, jumping over Lin Xiuyuan who was caught in the middle, pounced on Krystal like a fierce tiger, tackling her onto the wide sofa.
She pinned her down and began tickling her wildly, saying fiercely, “Let’s see if you feel sorry now~ Let’s see if you still feel sorry for him~”
“Ah~ Hahaha, Jessica, let go, let go, hahaha, it tickles so much~ Xiuyuan, save me.”
Krystal struggled while laughing, and the scene instantly became chaotic.
Lin Xiuyuan, now free, seized the opportunity to skillfully roll off the sofa and onto the carpet.
Then he scrambled onto a single sofa nearby, sat down, and leisurely picked up a grape, popping it into his mouth, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of the two top female idols engaging in an uninhibited “sisterly wrestling” match.
Until a pillow accurately flew over and hit him squarely in the face, interrupting his enjoyment of the show.
After removing the pillow, Lin Xiuyuan saw that Jessica and Krystal had stopped their “fight” at some point. Their hair was slightly disheveled, their cheeks flushed, and they were kneeling side-by-side, panting.
On their similarly beautiful but distinct faces, they shared a look of “united against a common enemy” and stared at him intently.
The three of them met each other’s gaze and then, as if by unspoken agreement, burst into even louder laughter.
“How about it?” Jessica and Krystal also lunged towards Lin Xiuyuan.
Who knows how long passed.
The three of them continued to laugh and play in the living room, occasionally eating fruit and chatting about interesting things in the industry. Time flew by in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, and in the blink of an eye, it was late at night.
Krystal glanced at her phone’s time. Although she was a little reluctant, she still stood up, tidied her slightly messy hair and clothes, “Okay, it’s getting late, I need to go back and rest. I have a photo shoot early tomorrow morning, and I have to choose a gown for the awards ceremony in the afternoon. My schedule is quite full.”
After saying this, she naturally reached out and took Lin Xiuyuan’s hand, leading him back to the villa in Seoul.
As soon as Lin Xiuyuan stood up following her pull, Jessica also immediately reached out and grabbed his other hand.
In an instant, Lin Xiuyuan became like a tug-of-war rope, pulled by the JK sisters on either side.
Krystal pulled towards her side, “Xiuyuan, take me back.”
Jessica, not to be outdone, pulled towards her side, “It’s so late, Xiuyuan must be tired. I’ll open the door for you, you can go back yourself.”
The two of them went back and forth in a tug-of-war for several rounds, neither willing to let go first.
Lin Xiuyuan, stuck in the middle as the “rope,” felt the force from both sides and looked at the unyielding eyes of the two beautiful women. He finally couldn’t hold back and, with a half-laughing, half-crying expression, suggested.
“Um~ Ladies, why don’t you play rock-paper-scissors to decide? That way it’s fair and impartial, all based on luck.”
Hearing this explanation, Krystal’s eyes lit up, thinking it was a fun idea, “Okay, let’s do that, one round to decide the winner.”
But Jessica seemed a bit unwilling. She frowned, with a hint of frustration and a plea, and retorted, “No, I’m terrible at this game, I always lose. If we have to play, then best of five.”
“No, one round to decide the winner,” Krystal stated.
The situation immediately became deadlocked again.
However, before Lin Xiuyuan could say anything else, Krystal suddenly curved her lips and, in a tone that hinted at bringing up past grievances, slowly said to Jessica.
“Oh~ Jessica, who was it earlier that looked down on our Xiuyuan, thinking he was some cult leader? What’s wrong, now you don’t even have the confidence to win two more rounds of rock-paper-scissors?”
This statement was like stepping on a landmine.
Jessica immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, giving Krystal a fierce glare.
But her competitive spirit was instantly ignited. At this point, she no longer cared about luck. She immediately straightened her back and said loudly, “Bring it on, who’s afraid of who! One round to decide the winner, it’s one round to decide the winner!”
Thus, with Lin Xiuyuan, the prize and referee, as a witness, the JK sisters each hid their right hands behind their backs, their faces a mixture of nervousness and feigned composure.
“Scissors, rock, paper…”
Two fair hands extended simultaneously!
Krystal – rock!
Jessica – scissors!
“Yes~~” Krystal cheered loudly after seeing the result, a brilliant and triumphant smile blooming on her face.
“Ah!! How could it be scissors!!” Jessica on the opposite side let out a cry of annoyance, stomping her foot in frustration, helplessness, and exasperation.
However, the winner was now decided.
Jessica could only watch as Krystal, like a triumphant little peacock, triumphantly pulled Lin Xiuyuan’s hand and headed straight for a door nearby.
She opened the door, flashed inside, and closed it.
The actions were smooth and seamless.
After a soft “bang,” the lively and warm Magic City apartment instantly returned to silence, leaving Jessica alone staring blankly at the empty living room.
“Ah!!! Jung Soo Jung!!!”
A few seconds later, Jessica angrily shook her fist towards the closed door, feeling incredibly wronged.
Fortunately, during the day, Lin Xiuyuan had dutifully fed her two meals of fast food, replenishing some of her energy and happiness.
Otherwise, Jessica estimated she might have gone mad with frustration over the feeling of “the duck flying away after it was caught.”
On the other side, Seoul Villa.
As soon as Lin Xiuyuan steadied himself after returning, Krystal poked his chest a few times with her finger, not too hard.
Then she tilted her delicate little face, a half-smile playing on her lips, and began to “settle accounts after autumn.”
Then, tilting her delicate face, she looked at him with a half-smile and began to “settle accounts.”
“Xiuyuan~ you’ve been living quite a comfortable life lately. Jessica, Yoona unnie, and you’ve got such a big strawberry garden on you. How is it? Are you so content you’ve forgotten to go home?”
Lin Xiuyuan, being poked in the chest, looked at Krystal’s obvious concern trying to feign indifference, and found her both cute and amusing.
He smiled slightly, then suddenly reached out and pulled Krystal’s slender waist into his arms, leaning down to look at the flawless, beautiful face so close to him, and replied to her question with a low chuckle.
“I don’t know, I haven’t really felt it. Anyway, I think it’s not as good as our Soo Jung.”
Although his words sounded a bit glib, they hit the spot with Krystal.
Women, while intelligent, are also easily satisfied.
It’s simply about sweet words and consistent care.
Thus, Krystal’s face couldn’t help but break into a happy smile, but she still pretended to be proud and sniffed, “Hmph, you better be telling the truth.”
“I swear,” Lin Xiuyuan immediately raised one hand as if to swear, his eyes filled with amusement.
“Forget it, a man’s mouth is a lying devil.”
Krystal playfully slapped his hand away and then turned, walking briskly towards the stairs leading to the second floor.
When she reached the stairwell, she suddenly stopped and looked back with a smile.
There was a hint of subtle charm and invitation in her eyes as she softly asked, “By the way, Xiuyuan. Who do you want to sleep with tonight?”
This question seemed a bit strange, but there was already a deep understanding between them.
So Lin Xiuyuan immediately smiled knowingly and replied, “Hmm, I suddenly feel like taking a plane, I haven’t done it in a while.”
Unexpectedly, as soon as Krystal heard this, a hint of realization and blush flashed across her face. She gave Lin Xiuyuan a charming sideways glance and said in a spoiled tone, “Nonsense, you just flew to Magic City a few days ago, didn’t you just take one? You want to do it again so soon?”
“That’s different,” Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes burned with clear anticipation and a hint of excitement, “The service is different.”
Krystal’s heart raced at his direct gaze, and she said no more. She simply turned and went upstairs, leaving behind a remark full of endless imagination.
“Got it~ Considering you’ve been so obedient today, and your performance earlier was quite good, I’ll give you a special reward tonight.”
Hearing these words and watching Krystal’s graceful silhouette disappear around the stairwell corner, Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes instantly became brighter and more powerful, and the smile on his lips widened.
It seemed like tonight at the Seoul villa would be another sleepless night.
…
…
After the special reward with Krystal that night, Lin Xiuyuan returned to Magic City the next day.
He then spent two days immersing himself in the 25-year Magic City experience, sensing a lot of new technologies and urban styles from the Peninsula that were not yet widespread or were distinctly different. Although he hadn’t had his fill, Seoul was also urgent.
So he quickly boarded a plane again and headed to Seoul.
As soon as the plane landed that afternoon, shortly after turning on his phone, Big Dragon Cub’s call came through.
Then she rushed over to the airport and “kidnapped” him to Sweet Eun-jung’s home.
In her words, with righteous concern, “Xiuyuan~ It’s time to apply medicine to Eun-jung unnie, we can’t have any gaps~”
Sweet Eun-jung’s leg injury had already healed more than halfway after being nourished by Lin Xiuyuan’s two “special medicines.”
Although she still couldn’t perform strenuous activities like running and jumping, and occasionally felt a slight pain when exerting force, she could already move freely indoors with the help of a support frame.
For a ligament tear, this recovery speed was nothing short of a medical miracle.
While Lin Xiuyuan was “routinely” treating Sweet Eun-jung, Lee Ji-eun also came calling.
After enjoying her freedom and beauty outside for a while, this sister probably felt that the medicinal effect within her was about to run out, so she called Lin Xiuyuan.
Upon hearing the indirect but clear invitation on the phone, Big Dragon Cub, who was lying in Lin Xiuyuan’s arms and enjoying the post-intimacy warmth,
Laughed uncontrollably.
She then taunted him unceremoniously.
And that night, perhaps out of some subtle territorial awareness, or perhaps wanting to fully enjoy his warmth while he was still by her side, Big Dragon Cub clung to him passionately the entire night.
It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning, exhausted, that she finally fell asleep.
In the blink of an eye, it was another morning.
This was the third morning since Lin Xiuyuan returned to Seoul.
Driven by his biological clock, he slowly woke up. As his consciousness returned, he habitually looked at the ceiling.
Blinking his eyes, Lin Xiuyuan’s memory gradually cleared, and he realized that he was currently in Lee Ji-eun’s apartment.
Then he slightly turned his head, looking at Lee Ji-eun beside him, who was still sleeping, or rather, just feigning sleep.
Her body, lying on its side facing him, the silk bedding had slipped down to her waist, revealing her round, full shoulders and delicate collarbones.
Her face appeared particularly serene in the morning light. After being fully nourished by the effects of last night, the skin on her face was fair and smooth, brimming with healthy collagen, exuding an alluring luster like a ripe peach.
Lee Ji-eun’s unique aura was more tranquil than Big Dragon Cub’s, less sharp than Jessica’s and Krystal’s, and much more charming than Lin Yoon-ah’s and Kim Tae Yeon’s.
It was a mature woman’s style, caught between languor and elegance, and also a rather unique presence among Lin Xiuyuan’s many confidantes.
In his opinion, this woman had a more pronounced “wife material” aura than Big Dragon Cub.
Just as Lin Xiuyuan was observing Lee Ji-eun, her long eyelashes suddenly fluttered a few times, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
In fact, she had woken up earlier than Lin Xiuyuan, but she was reluctant to leave the moment of tenderness and had been pretending to sleep.
Looking at the young, handsome face before her, the face of her long-term sugar daddy and intimate partner, Lee Ji-eun smiled, her voice carrying the husky, sexy tone of just waking up, “Xiuyuan, you’re awake?”
“Mmm~” Lin Xiuyuan nodded.
“Hehe, so, was Magic City fun?”
Hearing Lee Ji-eun’s seemingly abrupt, yet perhaps thoughtful question, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her, “Hm? Why the sudden question?”
“Was it fun~” Lee Ji-eun acted cute.
A mature older sister’s charm, compared to younger girls, was simply a dimensionality reduction attack, so Lin Xiuyuan definitely couldn’t resist.
So he immediately replied, “It was fun~”
Then he reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair from Lee Ji-eun’s cheek behind her ear, casually continuing, “The sense of technology and convenience of life there is indeed much stronger than here. There are also many new things, and it feels more futuristic than Seoul anyway.”
Hearing this, Lee Ji-eun seemed to be sparked with interest. With a nimble turn, she propped herself up on his chest.
Like a lazy and clingy kitten, she entrusted her entire weight to him with peace of mind, squeezing her soft flesh into a ball, her big eyes staring at Lin Xiuyuan without blinking, “Then when can we go on a trip together again? I feel like we haven’t fully relaxed and enjoyed our last trip to the Maldives. Shall we go again?”
Hearing her say this, Lin Xiuyuan knew she must have already made plans, so he went along with her, smiling, “Then where would you like to go, Ji-eun?”
Lee Ji-eun, cradled in his arms, smiled and stopped playing coy, directly stating the destination, “Let’s go to LA, how about it? The weather there is perfect for surfing this season, and we can also go out to sea and enjoy the California sunshine.”
As she said this, her eyes held expectation, like a little girl planning her desired vacation.
Seeing her so enthusiastic, Lin Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, but didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he said, “LA, huh? Then you’ll have to wait for me to consider it. It’s mainly that I have something to finish up first recently. How I proceed will determine if we can go out.”
“Oh?” Lee Ji-eun tilted her head curiously, her long hair spreading across Lin Xiuyuan’s chest, “What is it? Is it very important? Do you need my help?”
Looking at Lee Ji-eun, who always lived so freely and unrestrainedly, as if untouched by the world, Lin Xiuyuan smiled and said, half-jokingly, half-seriously, “No need, I can handle it myself. As for you, it’s best to continue being your carefree fairy. I wouldn’t want to restrain such a cheerful you.”
However, in the next second, Lee Ji-eun’s reply surprised him.
He saw that Madam Ji-eun had dropped her playful expression, her eyes becoming exceptionally serious and frank.
Looking directly into Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes, she said word for word, “If you feel I’m too unconventional, too difficult to handle, and make you uneasy. I can lock myself up for you, put on a leash.”
As she said this, there was no hint of a joke or probing in Lee Ji-eun’s tone. Her natural charm was now filled with a decisive directness, as if she were making a final gamble.
“Although deep down, I still feel most comfortable being free and unfettered. But…” she paused, as if making a solemn promise, “if a restraint, a tie must be added, then currently, it can only be you, Xiuyuan. Because if it’s you, I am willing.”
Facing Lee Ji-eun’s words, which were almost a confession and a promise, Lin Xiuyuan’s heart trembled.
Along with some emotion, what followed was more of a complex feeling.
So he extended his right hand, gently stroking the back of her head, following her long, silky hair all the way down to her smooth back.
“Silly girl…” Lin Xiuyuan sighed softly and replied, “If you say it like that, then I definitely won’t do it.”
Then he gently cupped her face, allowing Lee Ji-eun to clearly see the sincerity in his eyes, “The free and unrestrained you is definitely the best you, so you don’t need to add any restraints to yourself for me, or for any relationship. Living happily, living as yourself, is the most important thing.”
Finally, he gave a self-deprecating smile, “What am I? What are men? Don’t overthink it.”
But Lee Ji-eun shook her head, her eyes showing a rare uncertainty about the future and a hint of worry.
“Actually, I’m worried that I sometimes get too wild, and I’m afraid that if something happens in the future, or if I suddenly stop caring about something, then it’s better to hand over the leash to you now while I’m still perfectly clear about what I want. This way, I’ll feel more at ease, at least it’s a guarantee.”
“A guarantee?” Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow slightly and retorted, “Do you need that kind of thing? With your disposition, Lee Ji-eun.”
On his chest, Lee Ji-eun met his gaze without any evasion and nodded very seriously.
“Yes, I might have felt I didn’t need it before, thinking I could always drift like this. But now that I think about it, I do need it.”
“Need a man?” Lin Xiuyuan didn’t shy away from the word, directly pointing it out, unafraid of offending her.
In his cognition, the only thing that could make a woman like Lee Ji-eun think of a guarantee was a home.
And Lee Ji-eun didn’t get angry either, even admitting it very frankly, “Yes, a man like you, Xiuyuan.”
As she spoke, her slender fingers unconsciously drew circles on Lin Xiuyuan’s chest, “If, I’m just saying if, if there was another man in this world like you, with your physique, charismatic, humorous, handsome, young, and I happened to meet him, and he treated me better than you do, then maybe I would really leave you.”
A bold yet realistic statement, carrying the honesty and cruelty of adults.
But then, Lee Ji-eun changed the subject, her face regaining that lazy, confident smile, and added, “However, the probability of this happening is so low it’s negligible, right? I’ve only met you in all these years.”
Lin Xiuyuan looked at her, listening to her words that were both a confession and a warning, seeking restraint yet yearning for freedom.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions, which ultimately turned into a faint, complex smile.
He didn’t say anything more, but turned his gaze towards the bedroom window, which had been opened a crack by the morning breeze at some unknown time.
The sky outside the window was vast and boundless, symbolizing infinite possibilities, and also hinting at elusive freedom and ties.
He then softly repeated, as if speaking to Lee Ji-eun, or perhaps to himself.
“Let me think about it, let me think carefully.”
After that.
Lin Xiuyuan and Lee Ji-eun lingered in bed for a while longer, until their stomachs genuinely rumbled with hunger, before they lazily got out of bed.
By this time, it was already approaching noon.
So the two of them simply merged breakfast and lunch and settled it.
However, at Lee Ji-eun’s place, there was naturally no heartwarming scene of a beautiful cook in the kitchen.
She, who had never soiled her hands with housework, rarely entered the kitchen, and she also didn’t want Lin Xiuyuan to cook.
In her unique life philosophy, a man like Lin Xiuyuan should not be confined to the small space of a kitchen, trapped by the drudgery of cooking.
Lee Ji-eun’s personality was like a soaring bird, open and free. Towards the man she had chosen, she also hoped he would be unrestrained, acting as he pleased, maintaining his most dazzling and handsome appearance.
This viewpoint might also be the reason why she had previously shared intimate bedroom stories with Sweet Eun-jung without any reservation.
So, this lunch was takeout, exquisite and delicious.
The two sat at the dining table, enjoying it quietly.
However, as they ate, Lee Ji-eun brought up the topic again, gently stirring the salad leaves in the bowl with her fork, and looked up at Lin Xiuyuan opposite her, asking, “Xiuyuan, what was that thing you said you needed to finish up this morning? You’re so mysterious.”
Lin Xiuyuan, who was cutting his steak, paused his movements slightly, his sword-like eyebrows raised, and gave Lee Ji-eun opposite him a look of deep meaning.
Then he lowered his eyes and replied, “I’m not sure yet if I need to ‘busy myself’ with it. It’s just some personal matters of tavern members, so it’s not convenient to elaborate.”
Upon hearing the specific term “tavern members,” a rare hint of dejection appeared on Lee Ji-eun’s face.
She pouted, with a touch of dissatisfaction and curiosity, “This again. What are you and Ji-yeon and Eun-jung up to? Is there anything we can’t talk about between us?”
“Important matters,” Lin Xiuyuan said concisely, smiling.
But seeing Lee Ji-eun’s inquisitive gaze, he added, “However, if you don’t have any arrangements these few days, Ji-eun, then don’t go running around. If I really need your help, I can call you anytime then.”
Lee Ji-eun opposite him, upon hearing this, her eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded, “Mm, I just got back from traveling with friends a few days ago, and I was planning to rest recently. I’m not planning to wander around anymore, I’ll just stay in Seoul. Play some golf, do some exercise…”
As she spoke, her tone suddenly became ambiguous. Her eyes flickered, carrying a hint of playful probing, and she added meaningfully.
“And I feel like I’m falling behind your pace and stamina again recently. Have you been secretly practicing somewhere?”
At this time, Lin Xiuyuan was no longer the pure young man he once was, so naturally, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal himself.
So he remained expressionless, responding with the universal answer, “There’s nothing special. It’s just working out more and maintaining my condition. You’re the one who’s been having too much fun.”
“Hmph~ I know even if you don’t say it, it’s just Ji-yeon, Eun-jung and the others…”
Lee Ji-eun gave him a playful glare but didn’t probe further, then changed the subject to the afternoon’s arrangements, “Oh, right, Xiuyuan~ You haven’t played golf in a long time, have you? Accompany me out for a walk this afternoon, to stretch our legs? I just arranged to play golf with Hyo Min.”
“Hyo Min? She has time?” Lin Xiuyuan was somewhat surprised, “I feel like her recent schedule is even busier than when you were in the group. Her exposure is sky-high.”
Lee Ji-eun shook her head, “I don’t know how she suddenly has time. Anyway, she proactively asked me. Let’s go have some fun together, just to relax.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan thought for a moment, then raised the phone he was checking messages on and shook it, “Then why don’t we call Tae Yeon too? She’s been very idle lately, telling me she’s almost molding and growing mushrooms at home.”
This suggestion made Lee Ji-eun look at him meaningfully, a playful smile curling the corner of her lips, “Oh~ Xiuyuan, you wouldn’t have… Tae Yeon too…”
“Nonsense, that’s not true.” Lin Xiuyuan immediately covered his phone, vehemently denying it.
Seeing this, Lee Ji-eun just smiled and didn’t press further.
An older sister knows when to stop.
…
After finishing lunch, the two didn’t leave immediately. Instead, they nestled on the living room sofa for a while longer, watching television and chatting idly.
It wasn’t until the sunlight outside softened and was no longer so glaring that they got up, changed into comfortable athleisure wear, and went out.
Although Lin Xiuyuan didn’t often stay overnight here, Lee Ji-eun had thoughtfully prepared several sets of well-fitting clothes for him, even including a set of golf clubs she personally selected, which were quite expensive.
Compared to the set she had given Lin Xiuyuan before, this set of clubs was clearly a few notches higher in terms of material and feel, demonstrating Lee Ji-eun’s attentiveness.
Half an hour later, the group met at the reception area of the agreed-upon golf club.
As Lee Ji-eun affectionately linked arms with Lin Xiuyuan and approached, Kim Tae Yeon and Park Hyo Min, who had arrived slightly earlier and were sitting in the rest area waiting, both looked up.
And when Park Hyo Min’s gaze fell on Lee Ji-eun’s radiant face, which was glowing with a healthy blush, even though she had seen her a few times before, each time she saw such a near-reverse-aging state, she was still profoundly amazed and shocked, finding it somewhat hard to adapt.
On the other hand, Kim Tae Yeon, perhaps having witnessed someone’s magic long ago, or perhaps being in the midst of it herself, was already immune to it.
After a quick glance at Lee Ji-eun, she turned her attention to Lin Xiuyuan beside her.
With a trace of barely perceptible reproach, she subtly gave him a glare.
After meeting up, the group exchanged a few pleasantries and then headed towards the practice area in pairs, ready to warm up and get a feel for their swings.
Looking at the backs of Lee Ji-eun and Park Hyo Min walking side-by-side ahead, Kim Tae Yeon, deliberately slowing her pace to fall behind, nudged Lin Xiuyuan with her elbow, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of warning.
“Xiuyuan~ I’m warning you, don’t mess around with Hyo Min. She’s happily married now.”
Lin Xiuyuan chuckled at this, finding her concern somewhat inexplicable, “Tae Yeon, what nonsense are you talking about? I’ve only met Hyo Min a few times in total, and we’ve barely even spoken on the phone. What could I possibly mess around with?”
However, his gaze thoughtfully drifted towards Lee Ji-eun’s graceful silhouette ahead, and he softly asked, “By the way, Tae Yeon~ I have a question.”
“What?”
“Is Ji-eun familiar with Hara?”
“Hara? Goo Hara?”
Hearing the name Goo Hara, Kim Tae Yeon’s steps suddenly faltered. As if she had heard something unbelievable, she turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan with utter shock, her eyes filled with disbelief, “Wh-why are you asking this??”
Daily ten thousand word goal completed, thank you to my godfathers for your support and votes!!
Monthly ticket exceeded 2k, daily ten thousand word goal +2.
Daily ten thousand word progress bar: 110/147.
