Chapter 70: “one Blessing From Each Person”
At the restaurant.
Seeing Soo Jung on the sofa side pick up her mobile phone but not answer it for a long time, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but casually say, “It wouldn’t be Jessica, would it?”
Sulli and Park Ji-yeon immediately turned their gazes to Jung Soo Yeon, who rolled her eyes. “Why are you looking at me? It’s definitely not me.”
As soon as she said this, the two young girls immediately burst into laughter.
Then Soo Jung spoke up. “Shh, don’t laugh yet. It’s Yoona older sister’s phone.”
Everyone quickly fell silent, and Soo Jung smoothly answered.
“Hey~ Yoona older sister.”
“Oh, oh~”
“Um, older sister, do you mean now?”
While talking with Yoona on that side, Soo Jung suddenly made a gesture to everyone, first pointing to the mobile phone by her ear, then mimicking an eating motion.
Seeing this, Jung Soo Yeon muttered softly at the dining table. “Looks like Yoona is asking Soo Jung to eat.”
Lin Xiuyuan understood the situation here even better. “I heard Soo Jung say before that the two haven’t met for about a month. The last time they met was because of an activity, just bumping into each other backstage once. This sudden dinner invitation is suspicious.”
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Jung Soo Yeon.
Jung Soo Yeon was stunned. “Why are you looking at me?”
“It wouldn’t be that you were really seen by her that evening, right?”
Lin Xiuyuan’s casual guess hit the bullseye.
Jung Soo Yeon said indifferently, “If seen, just say it’s plastic surgery, or simply say it’s Jessica. Anyway, refuse to admit it, what can she do to us?”
After hearing this, the others nearby all gave her thumbs up.
The two whispered to each other, while Soo Jung on the other side was still thinking about how to politely decline this dinner invitation from Yoona.
Today was so rare; after so many years apart, reuniting with Sulli—how could she go out socializing?
Impossible.
So when her gaze fell on Lin Xiuyuan, her little head had a bright idea and she replied, “Older sister, it’s a bit inconvenient today. I have a member’s dinner party here and can’t get away. How about tomorrow? I’ll find you tomorrow.”
Yoona on the other end of the phone didn’t expect this, but she wasn’t upset, just a bit regretful as she let out an “ah.”
“No problem, tomorrow works too. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Just in time with these rainy days, we can find a place to sit.”
Just as she said this, Soo Jung on that side suddenly saw something and shouted, “Hey, Lin Xiuyuan, that cup is my juice. Yours is on the other side.”
After shouting, Soo Jung realized she was still on the call and quickly responded. “Sorry, older sister, I didn’t scare you just now, did I?”
Listening to those words on the other end of the phone, Yoona’s mind immediately flashed to the boy she saw a couple of days ago. Combining it with Soo Jung’s mention of a “member’s dinner party,” everything suddenly made sense.
Then she smiled. “It’s fine, no problem. Soo Jung, you go ahead with your thing. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Okay, older sister, bye~”
The second after hanging up, Soo Jung rushed to the dining table side, pretending to hit someone, but luckily Sulli quickly soothed her. “Soo Jung, drink my cup, hahaha.”
Sulli’s voice instantly dissipated most of Soo Jung’s anger, but she still glared very unhappily at that guy.
Lin Xiuyuan averted his eyes, pretending not to see, and continued picking up food to eat.
Fortunately, Soo Jung had no time to bother with him. After giving him a glare, she went back to being affectionate with Sulli, making Park Ji-yeon and Jung Soo Yeon on the side laugh.
During a break while eating, she also shared the conversation she just had with Yoona, mentioning that this invitation was indeed quite sudden.
Until she heard Sulli tell her about the chat between Lin Xiuyuan and Jung Soo Yeon just now, Soo Jung suddenly realized. “Oh, so older sister, you were caught by Yoona older sister?”
“It’s not exactly being caught. Probably she saw a side profile while passing by and thought it looked familiar.”
Jung Soo Yeon chewed her food and answered softly.
The group then chattered about future outings, roughly saying that from now on when going out, it’s best to wear a mask or hat and such.
Don’t really get caught; that would be truly bad.
As they talked about this topic, Soo Jung suddenly said, “Lin Xiuyuan, all the people who joined that so-called ‘cult’ of yours before are here now, right?”
Lin Xiuyuan, who hadn’t spoken much, finally looked up and glanced around, realizing it was true.
First believer Jung Soo Yeon, second Soo Jung, third Park Ji-yeon, and finally the fourth, Sulli, who joined today.
Thinking of this, he immediately looked at Sulli. “Sulli, since you’ve already joined the cult, when are you paying the membership fee?”
“Membership fee? What membership fee?”
Freshly joined Sulli didn’t understand and immediately looked to Soo Jung beside her, listening as she explained Lin Xiuyuan’s pitch from back then.
Then victim Park Ji-yeon supplemented details with a smile from the side, even pulling out the note Lin Xiuyuan gave her that evening. They all laughed so hard they doubled over.
After hearing the two’s explanations, Sulli recalled what Jung Soo Jung had said in front of her about the “ten million” sky-high alcoholic beverages. “So oppa, that ten million alcoholic beverages you mentioned back then wasn’t scamming others—it was scamming your own members.”
“Is this scamming? This is the door fee.”
Lin Xiuyuan stated righteously. “Of course, you can also see it as protection fee. As long as you pay, I’ll ensure you live safely and soundly here in 2025, with no mishaps.”
Just after saying this, he was exposed by Jung Soo Yeon nearby on the “logic.” “Exactly, Sulli who’s already ‘laid to rest’—if she appears here or has any mishap, this guy definitely can’t escape responsibility either.”
“So can I be exempt from the protection fee, oppa~?”
Sulli was thrilled and smiled at Lin Xiuyuan.
In response, Lin Xiuyuan just turned his gaze to Jung Soo Yeon. “Then you’re done for. You’ll cover Sulli’s share, or no entry.”
Then Jung Soo Yeon laughed. Right now was the peak of her career, making money, heh.
“No problem, sis has money. Sis will smash you with money until you’re dizzy.”
With that, the others nearby burst into laughter.
Park Ji-yeon got even more excited, stood up with her glass, and suggested, “Then as Soo Jung said, today can count as the first dinner party of our ‘church.’ Let’s toast.”
Sulli and Soo Jung exchanged a glance, smiled, and stood up, with the latter following suit.
Jung Soo Yeon pushed Lin Xiuyuan, pulling him up too, then scanned the group. “Since that’s the case, everyone say a blessing.”
“Bless who?”
Facing curious Sulli, Lin Xiuyuan pointed his index finger holding the wine glass at her. “Bless yourself. One sentence of blessing per person, bless your future self.”
“What about me?”
As the only one here from 2025, Soo Jung smiled at Lin Xiuyuan.
“Then give your past self some advice. We can all help deliver it back.”
And so, everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke first.
Until Sulli took a deep breath and proactively said, “I’ll go first.”
Everyone’s gazes turned to her, listening as she said, “I want to wish my future self safety and happiness.”
This made Soo Jung the happiest; she pursed her lips in a smile, eyes fixed on Sulli.
Having watched her so long today, she still couldn’t get enough.
“Now me. I wish to become better and better, a successful independent single woman, not a divorced ‘old woman.'”
With Park Ji-yeon’s words, everyone really laughed uncontrollably.
Especially Lin Xiuyuan. “Ji-yeon, you’ve cursed so many days already, still not vented?”
“Can’t vent it, oppa~~ Every time I think I’ve just become an adult here, but over there I’m already a divorced married woman, I really can’t sleep at night. You don’t understand that feeling—it’s awful, too awful.”
Jung Soo Yeon chimed in. “My turn. I wish to become the successful artist I want to be.”
Jung Soo Yeon’s answer made everyone glance at her, while Soo Jung added from the side, “Older sister, this time you will succeed.”
Hearing this, Jung Soo Yeon smiled pursed lips and nodded lightly.
After speaking, Soo Jung looked at Lin Xiuyuan. “My turn. I want you to pass it on for Jung Soo Jung to hear.”
“Say it. I’ll see what you want to say.” Lin Xiuyuan smiled.
“I want to give my past self advice: stay away from this guy. That’s it.”
Lin Xiuyuan didn’t understand this, but Jung Soo Yeon caught a hint first and slightly frowned at Soo Jung.
The latter was now laughing at the bewildered Lin Xiuyuan, laughing very happily.
Finally, Park Ji-yeon looked at Lin Xiuyuan and asked, “Oppa, what about you?”
“Do I have to say too? I’m the ‘pope.'”
“Even if you’re a shit-stirrer, you have to say.” That was Jung Soo Yeon’s retort.
Lin Xiuyuan shrugged. “Then I wish my time-space door won’t get caught, so I can keep bringing you all here to jump around.”
After Lin Xiuyuan finished, the four girls nearby exchanged glances, then all raised their glasses.
“Oppa, what’s our church called?”
“Ah, playing for real?”
“Mhm.”
“Then let’s call it 【Solve Worries Church】.”
“Okay, then, cheers~”
……
……
While Lin Xiuyuan and the others were lively holding the ‘Solve Worries Church’ party over there.
On the other end, Yoona who had just hung up with Soo Jung fell into brief contemplation because of the few words she overheard unintentionally.
From her many years of understanding, Soo Jung didn’t seem like the type to like a young, cute boy.
If so, then unexpectedly, that boy Lin Xiuyuan must have some secret attracting Soo Jung, or some strength she temporarily couldn’t see.
The latter… unlikely, right?
Thinking this, Yoona herself laughed awkwardly.
So that ‘secret’ of the former was probably what brought the two together.
It might even be related to ‘that person’ she bumped into that evening.
Thinking this, Yoona suddenly felt her deduction was so reasonable, nodding satisfactorily and muttering to herself, “Right, that’s it.”
But just after saying it, she couldn’t help laughing. “What… Have I really been bored to death? What kind of nonsense guesses are these? Watched too much Conan, my brain’s getting led astray.”
After lightly mocking herself twice, she shook her head, turned back to the island counter, and started making herself oatmeal.
Actually, it wasn’t that no one was free to eat with her. Soo Jung was busy, but she had other friends, even could call Girls’ Generation members for a gathering.
But for some reason, after losing that interest, she was too lazy to go out.
Of course she didn’t know that her casual guesses, seemingly random, actually hit the truth just like Lin Xiuyuan’s judgment of her.
A casual remark unexpectedly struck the truth of the matter.
