252 Trapped (1/2)

The conference ended smoothly.

Yeo Ri could not help but breathe out a sigh in relief as she left the stage. She immediately reached her arms out to her brother who was waiting eagerly backstage.

He received her weakened body in his embrace readily, muttering 'good work' and 'you did well' to console her.

Yeo Ri relaxed as she rubbed her face in his chest. It was finally over! It was hard to keep her composure when it was so easy for people to focus on her. Being on stage was too unnatural of a setting and difficult, and the girl wished she never had to do it again, though it was highly unlikely considering her big dreams. However, it did not occur to her that this was a double standard considering that acting in front of a camera in a man-made set was just as unnatural as a stage, and her stage-fright was rather irrational.

The crew was going to have an afterparty later, but since Yeo Ri was underaged, she was allowed to abstain from participating as they had planned to drink themselves silly.

And so, after the press conference ended, Yeo Ri decided to go home and rest.

As they were on their way to the car, Yeo Ri suddenly stopped.

”—Ah, sorry, but can I go to the restroom first?”

”Okay. Do you want me to come with?”

”It's okay, Oppa. I'll go alone.”

Yeo Ri smiled at her brother before exchanging glances with Secretary Kwon.

There seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them as he responded to her gaze with a discreet nod. He swiftly took out his phone to notify something to someone, then gestured for the girl's treasured brother to take a seat on the nearest bench while they wait for the girl to come back.

The clueless boy watched as his sister disappear within the crowd, taking a sharp turn to the left as she headed to the nearest bathroom.

Unnoticed by everyone else but the two masterminds, an inconspicuous man trailed after the girl from a distance, taking up the 'chance' to confront her by her lonesome.

Yeo Ri leisurely walked into the secluded area where the restrooms were.

She checked the stalker's position through the reflection of her phone screen, pretending to fix her bangs as she walked. Confirming that he was far enough for her to have a buffer period before he caught up to her, she quickly entered the women's restroom despite the obvious 'Cleaning in Progress' sign placed outside.

”Hello,” she greeted the two men who were waiting for her inside.

The two men nodded towards her, acting nonchalant despite the fact that they were in the women's bathroom.

Since they didn't have much time before her stalker shows up, the two men went ahead to hide themselves. One hid inside the utility closet while the other chose one of the stalls, leaving the door slightly ajar while he sat on the toilet bowl with his legs raised as if to show that the stall was empty.

After waiting for a brief moment, the bathroom door swung upon and in came the mantis.

Yeo Ri hid a smile as she displayed a shocked look at the man's entrance. ”W-what are you doing here?! This is the women's bathroom, you know?!” she shrieked, as if truly surprised that a man had brazenly entered the place.

”Lee Yeo Ri, you b*tch!” the man cried out as he glared at the girl.