Chapter 48: Jung Soo Yeon And Krystal’s First Meeting
In the small tavern late at night, the lighting was dim and gentle.
The lighting inside the room wasn’t bright, only a few warm yellow lanterns above the bar counter casting an amber glow on the wooden tabletop and sofa, like a nostalgic shot from an old movie infused with the taste of time.
In the corner, a desk lamp emitted a faint glow, illuminating half a old photo and a vintage record player. The music was soft jazz, neither loud nor intrusive, brushing through the air like a night breeze, carrying laziness and considerate unobtrusiveness.
On the sofa, Krystal glanced that way and smiled, “That record player, I remember it wasn’t at the villa? You moved it over.”
“Throwing it there would be a waste, better to bring it here and set it up.”
Hearing Lin Xiuyuan’s answer, Krystal nodded lightly, but then raised another question, “When my tavern over there opens, do you plan to make it the same as this side too?”
“Yeah, saves trouble. Blueprints and decor are the same, just the soft furnishings and accessories will have slight differences.”
At this point, Lin Xiuyuan suddenly remembered something, raised his eyes to look at her, “By the way, the record player is gone now, how about you get me another one? The sound quality of this old antique is too perfect for a tavern.”
Krystal, who had just lowered her head to sip her cocktail, looked up and rolled her eyes, “Then why don’t you put this one over there, and let older sister find one for you here.”
Not sure if it was a coincidence or what, but speaking of the devil and she appears.
Just as Krystal mentioned her older sister, the electronic door lock at the doorway beeped a few times, drawing both their gazes over simultaneously.
After a soft “click,” the tavern door was slowly pushed open.
The night wind poured into the room, causing the hanging bells behind the door to jingle lightly.
At the doorway, Jung Soo Yeon, covered in travel dust, stepped in, a few strands of hair on her forehead tousled by the wind, her face carrying a bit of fatigue and stubbornness from the night.
As soon as she entered, her gaze landed straight on the two on the sofa.
Especially that familiar female figure, which made her spirit clearly jolt, her footsteps pausing lightly.
On the sofa side, Krystal suddenly sat up straight, her pupils trembling lightly, momentarily forgetting what to say, just staring fixedly at Jung Soo Yeon at the doorway.
Only Lin Xiuyuan remained relatively calm, glancing at the two sisters before turning to walk to the bar counter, silently preparing a drink for Jung Soo Yeon.
At this time, the shop door slowly closed, shutting out the wind noise, the air so quiet that even the “clink” of ice cubes falling into the glass was clearly audible.
Jung Soo Yeon standing in place, her gaze fixed on that figure on the sofa for a long time without speaking.
That familiar face and features, the face whose outline she could draw even with her eyes closed, now felt almost unreal in its strangeness.
Clearly both her own little sister, both Krystal, yet not like the appearance she had seen just two days ago.
The features still delicate and cool, but the gaze held a maturity and calm she had never seen, like an adult who had experienced too much and learned to hide her edges.
Just this gaze made Jung Soo Yeon’s heart suddenly jolt hard.
The palpitation in her chest felt like it was suddenly bumped, abruptly losing its rhythm.
She took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing all her emotions, and smiled as she spoke, “Yo, quite lively, huh.”
Her tone pretended to be casual, the corners of her mouth curving into her usual, imperceptible smile, “Lin Xiuyuan, when did you call Soo Jung over, and not tell me.”
Krystal on the sofa, her expression remarkably similar to Jung Soo Yeon’s just now.
And upon hearing the other’s pretended casual words, her fine brows furrowed slightly, yet her eyes couldn’t shift away from that familiar figure and that familiar smile she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Older sister~”
She called out softly, her tone like crossing a twelve-year time gap, landing gently.
The playfulness and provocation from the phone call earlier all vanished without a trace after seeing Jung Soo Yeon standing before her.
Hearing her call, Jung Soo Yeon slowly walked a few steps closer, the lighting stretching her shadow on the ground.
“What, grown up and don’t recognize me anymore?”
Trying to make her tone lighter, Jung Soo Yeon’s voice was still a bit hoarse.
Krystal shook her head, her lips moving, forcing a smile, “Sit first, older sister, let me catch my breath. Didn’t expect to see such a young you so suddenly, I just had dinner with you yesterday.”
However, after saying this, Krystal’s gaze scanned Jung Soo Yeon a few times before finally gently linking arms with her.
That action made Jung Soo Yeon stiffen, but she soon raised her hand to hug her back, as if holding something long-lost and important, “How did you get so thin, not eating properly?”
Her soft murmur like a complaint, yet also like coaxing her own child.
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t speak, just placed a glass of ice water in front of Jung Soo Yeon before quietly returning to the bar counter side, leaving them this rare reunion space.
The small tavern was momentarily extremely quiet, only the jazz music lingering softly, and that long-separated reunion.
After hugging for a moment, Jung Soo Yeon lightly patted Krystal’s back, “Alright, enough sentimentality, it’s not like we won’t see each other again.”
Krystal chuckled lightly, with a bit of nasal tone, “Older sister, that mouth of yours is as sharp as ever. Unlike in the future, you don’t talk to me like that.”
“Why not.”
“You said I grew up, we can talk heart-to-heart.”
This sentence wasn’t problematic, but it made Jung Soo Yeon purse her lips tightly a few times, “How could I become such a jerk in the future, Soo Jung, no matter how much you grow up, you’re still my little sister.”
“Actually it’s pretty good, can’t stay immature forever.”
“Yo, talking back now.”
Pretending to be angry at Krystal’s retort, Jung Soo Yeon the next second reached out to press her onto the sofa to sit properly, then turned her head to carefully look at her face.
“Indeed looking more and more like an adult.”
Jung Soo Yeon’s voice was very soft, like a thief afraid of disturbing time, “The you from yesterday who was playfully messing around with me, still frantically rolling eyes at me, wanting to come hit me.”
Hearing this, Krystal’s thoughts stretched, recalling the past, and tilted her head to look at Jung Soo Yeon, “Older sister, it’s because the current you is too annoying, managing everything, controlling everything.”
The voice after saying this paused, the next sentence a bit low, “But later I realized, you protected me really well, good thing you controlled me, otherwise if you let me be, I don’t know what I’d have become.”
Jung Soo Yeon’s breathing paused slightly, turning her head to look at the glass of ice water Lin Xiuyuan had brought, picking it up for a light sip.
Then she smiled lightly, “Indeed grown up, otherwise how could you say something like that.”
Krystal leaned her head on the sofa back, her eyes fixed on her, hesitantly asking: “Older sister, have you been okay lately?”
“You know as well as I do, the current me is at my best time. It’ll be even better in the future, don’t worry.”
Hearing this, Krystal glanced at Lin Xiuyuan at the bar counter, chuckling lightly, “True, with Jessica over there stepping into pits for you, older sister you here will definitely do great.”
Jung Soo Yeon was stunned, not expecting her to mention another “herself”.
So she looked at Krystal and asked, “Soo Jung, what are you here for this time.”
“A bit annoyed, came for a drink.” Krystal answered honestly.
Then Jung Soo Yeon looked at Lin Xiuyuan, who quickly spread his hands, “Nothing to do with me, I’ve been here these past couple days.”
Saying this, he remembered something else, calling out to Krystal.
“By the way, Krystal, this afternoon, Sulli was sitting right where you are now.”
As soon as the words fell, Krystal froze instantly.
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