Chapter 230: Stalker

In the afternoon of 2013, the streets of Seoul were shrouded in bright sunlight, the light refracting mottled shadows on the glass outside the coffee shop.

Park Hyomin sat in the car, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, but her expression was a bit silent.

Today she originally just intended to go to the flower shop opened by a friend to sit, order a cup of coffee, flip through a book by the way, and then take a few exquisite photos to post on social media, which would be a perfect day.

But the figures of the two people always circled in her mind, that is, Park Jiyeon and Xian Enjing.

Mainly because the time outside of rehearsal recently was particularly idle, and she found that she was often "isolated", always feeling a bit uncomfortable.

In the past, she probably wouldn't care about these small things, but after experiencing the events of last year, the lingering fear and sensitivity in her heart were significantly improved.

Especially, after her own youngest member and Xian Enjing suddenly joined that mysterious "tavern membership", their behavior and expressions became strangely abnormal.

Always sneaky, expressions cautious, as if some secret was hidden behind their backs.

This made Park Hyomin couldn't help but hide a hint of worry in her heart: could it be that these two joined some "cult"?

So, she followed to this coffee shop.

Through the glass, Park Hyomin saw Park Jiyeon sitting by the window, with Sulli and Lin Xiuyuan beside her.

The sunlight spilled on the three through the floor-to-ceiling window, the warmth carrying a relaxed atmosphere, and the few were drinking coffee while chatting happily.

Park Hyomin muttered in her heart in a low voice: "That Lin Xiuyuan's tavern... wouldn't it really be a gathering place for a cult?"

After speaking, she shook her head again, feeling it was unlikely, "Not right either, that place is so small that it can't even sit a few people, where does the brainwashing scene come from... but, always feel something is wrong."

Her fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, her heart both curious and a bit uneasy.

However, Park Hyomin didn't intend to act rashly, just wanted to observe and collect information first.

However, she still overestimated her caution.

Or rather, her behavior itself carried a bit of silliness.

Just at this time, Park Jiyeon suddenly turned her head to look out the window, her gaze fixed on a car on the opposite road.

The familiar car model and appearance made her couldn't help but mutter, "Huh, seems to be Hyomin Unnie's car."

"Is it the same model?" Sulli beside her, hearing this, also looked over following her gaze.

"Don't know, can't see the license plate." Park Jiyeon shook her head, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Both of their eyesight wasn't very good, so Lin Xiuyuan, after listening to the two's conversation, narrowed his eyes, looked at the license plate number over there, and said it out.

Then Park Jiyeon's eyes widened suddenly, "It really is Hyomin Unnie's car, how come she came over here?"

Before the words fell, Lin Xiuyuan's laughter came from the shop, carrying teasing, "You guys look at the sign photo over there, men's massage shop... tsk tsk, Jiyeon, is Hyomin a bit too hungry?"

As his voice fell, Park Jiyeon and Sulli finally noticed the shop Park Hyomin's car was parked in front of.

The eye-catching sign on it wrote the striking "Massage" two characters, and next to the door there was also a promotional poster with men as the main body and women as the service object, the picture direct and explicit.

The sunlight spilled on these signs, stinging people to squint, but it made people's hearts tighten, and the atmosphere suddenly became slightly tense.

This situation made Park Jiyeon immediately pick up her phone, muttering in her mouth, "Shouldn't be, Unnie, even if she's blind, she wouldn't be like this... I guess it's just a coincidence to park there, I'll call and ask."

She skillfully clicked on the address book and quickly dialed Park Hyomin's number.

The calling sound on the screen was exceptionally clear in the quiet car.

"Hey, Hyomin Unnie, what are you doing now?"

On the other end of the phone, Park Jiyeon's tone carried a hint of concern, but her curiosity was clearly unable to be hidden.

Park Hyomin, who was in a daze in the car, was startled by the phone, her fingers shook, and she almost dropped the phone on her lap.

She hurriedly waved her hand, opened her mouth, and said in a low voice, "Ah, Jiyeon, I... I'm preparing to go out for a stroll, look at the scenery, what's wrong."

"Stroll??"

Park Jiyeon's voice carried a hint of suspicion, "You wouldn't be... hmm, wanting to go to some men's massage shop, right? Unnie, don't be impulsive, that kind of place is very dirty, don't go in casually."

Park Hyomin was stunned, originally didn't understand what she was talking about, her gaze subconsciously looked toward the coffee shop, and was instantly fixed by the three gazes.

Lin Xiuyuan, Sulli, and Park Jiyeon were all looking toward her side through the glass.

The next second, she glanced at the shop sign next to her again, the striking "Massage" two characters and those posters made her head feel like it was being burned by flames instantly, her whole face red until it was almost dripping blood.

"Ah... no, it's really not!"

Park Hyomin hurriedly explained, while subconsciously rubbing her face, "I just arrived here, parked the car, preparing to come over to buy a cup of coffee..."

On the other end of the phone, Park Jiyeon couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, Unnie, I see your car, you parked too coincidentally."

"Jiyeon... shut up."

Park Hyomin was both ashamed and angry, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

And fortunately, the oolong was dismantled in time, without letting people misunderstand too much.

Then, under Park Jiyeon's enthusiastic invitation, Park Hyomin agreed to come over to the coffee shop to sit for a while.

A moment later, she got out of the car, tidied up her clothes and hairstyle, and walked quickly into the coffee shop.

Park Jiyeon and Sulli had already stood up, smiling and signaling her to come over.

"Come, sit here."

Park Jiyeon beckoned, pointing to the seat beside her.

Park Hyomin nodded slightly, sitting between Park Jiyeon and Lin Xiuyuan.

The sunlight spilled on her through the floor-to-ceiling window, the warmth mixed with slight tension, making her whole person feel slightly hot.

After all, the misunderstanding of being called 'duck' was seen by Lin Xiuyuan, and she really had the urge to want to drill into a crack in the ground, wanting to die.

Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan just smiled faintly, without opening his mouth to make her embarrassed.

On the contrary, her own youngest member, Park Jiyeon's words made her almost die on the spot, "It's okay, Unnie, oolong is a small matter, don't be nervous. And even if you called, it's normal, daily needs, but I think you'd better find a more hidden place next time."

"Ya~ Park Jiyeon, I already said it was a misunderstanding." Park Hyomin glared at Park Jiyeon in anger and shame.

And Lin Xiuyuan, seeing this, also hurriedly took the opportunity to pull Sulli, go out to buy bread at the cake shop next door, leaving space for these two to PK.

Sure enough, the next second Park Jiyeon took out Park Hyomin's spare phone, laughing cunningly: "Unnie, you wouldn't be following me here, right."

After learning about the "Time Gate" situation, Park Jiyeon had made up a lot of knowledge about tracking and anti-tracking.

At least just now when she rummaged out the phone from her bag, seeing a spare phone that didn't belong to her, and then running into Park Hyomin's car... so many coincidences made her couldn't help but produce suspicion.

Park Hyomin took back the phone, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her eyes carrying a hint of blame, and mixed with curiosity.

She held the phone tightly, her knuckles slightly forced, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness and frankness, "Hmm, yes, I didn't see anyone in the dormitory early in the morning. So I originally wanted to see what you and Enjing were hiding from me, didn't expect you to come over to find Lin Xiuyuan and Sulli, you guys should have said so earlier."

Park Jiyeon listened, first stunned, then couldn't help but laugh, arms crossed, head tilted slightly, "Ah, Unnie, you are so boring."

Her laughter carried helplessness, and also a bit of teasing, the corners of her eyes raised slightly.

"Who let you guys be like this,"

Park Hyomin put the phone on her lap, her fingers tapping on the phone case, her voice carrying a hint of small anger, "Yesterday you said 'sisters are of one heart', but the next day you left me alone, is this called one heart."

Park Jiyeon waved her hand hurriedly, a flash of apology and discomfort in her eyes, "Unnie, we didn't... this wasn't intentionally hiding it from you, mainly..."

Park Hyomin waved her hand impatiently, interrupting her words, her eyes wide, carrying half-joking blame.

"Members, I know, you guys said it many times. But Jiyeon, I also seriously ask once, can the things inside the membership really not be said at all?

Others haven't joined any special clubs, but more or less can say a little, how come you guys act like a cult, if it's really like this, you guys really have to get out early."

Hearing the word "cult", Park Jiyeon almost laughed out loud, her fingers stroked her forehead lightly, the corners of her mouth carrying a curved smile, a flash of headache in her eyes.

"Cult? Not really, Unnie, hahahaha, not to the point of being a cult, just that some things are not easy to say, and most importantly... need Oppa's consent to say."

Park Hyomin raised an eyebrow, learning from Park Jiyeon, arms crossed, leaning forward slightly, half-squinting her eyes, "Signed a confidentiality agreement?"

Park Jiyeon shrugged, her hand gesturing in the air, "Unnie, just take it as that."

She didn't deny it, although she didn't really sign, everyone who joined the cult basically defaulted to this agreement.

Park Hyomin's mouth twitched, eyes staring at her, half-helpless and half-teasing, "Hmph, you guys... always so mysterious."

Outside.

Lin Xiuyuan and Sulli carried the bread they just bought, walked out of the cake shop lightly, preparing to return to the coffee shop.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out of the door, they saw Lee Shaoxi coming out of the coffee shop, holding a small trash bag in her hand, preparing to throw the trash into the trash can outside stealthily.

Lin Xiuyuan coughed lightly, opening his mouth with a smile, "Hi~ don't you guys have a trash can in the shop."

Lee Shaoxi was stunned, her hand shook, the trash bag almost fell to the ground, she hurriedly looked up, a hint of surprise and nervousness appearing on her face, "Ah, ah, this is because it has a smell, so it's generally thrown outside the shop."

Sulli tilted her head slightly, her eyes gentle, the corners of her mouth carrying a shallow smile, introducing herself, "Hello, my name is Sulli."

"Oh, hello, my name is Lee Shaoxi." Lee Shaoxi's voice was a bit low, carrying a hint of shyness.

Sulli looked at her with a smile, her tone gentle but carrying a hint of probing interest, "Lee Shaoxi~ what a nice name, I wonder if you have any plans to enter the entertainment industry in the future?"

Lee Shaoxi was stunned, lowered her head and bit her lower lip, and only whispered after a moment, "Want... want to."

Lin Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes, his smile carrying a hint of probing, "Why do you want to enter?"

Lee Shaoxi pursed her lips and answered frankly, "Want to make money."

This answer was so straightforward it made people cry and laugh, yet it carried sincerity and firmness, making people unable to question her sincerity.

So Sulli's smile gradually restrained, her expression a bit complex, her eyes looking at Lee Shaoxi, "But... if this circle is very deep and the water is very dirty, are you still willing to enter?"

Lee Shaoxi was stunned subconsciously, waves rising in her heart.

This popular idol from the singing world would actually say these things to herself? This made Lee Shaoxi slightly hesitant, but after a moment, she nodded again in a low voice.

A hint of determination couldn't be hidden in her eyes; money for her was an urgent reality.

Lin Xiuyuan laughed lightly on the side, changing the way of saying it, "Then if there are other ways to make money, would you be willing to try?"

Lee Shaoxi hesitated again instantly, her eyes flashing slightly, as if weighing the pros and cons.

It also seemed to be guessing what these two were trying to do by pulling her to say these things?

Sulli, seeing Lee Shaoxi hesitate, just wanted to open her mouth, but was pulled by Lin Xiuyuan on the side, "How about this, let's add contact information, how about it? If you have anything, you can contact me, I do have some positions here that need a good-looking girl to help."

He took out his phone, the screen lit up, and handed it over.

Lee Shaoxi looked at the phone, and glanced at Sulli on the side again.

If Sulli wasn't present, she would definitely misunderstand that Lin Xiuyuan had other plans for her.

But now with Sulli, Park Jiyeon, and Park Hyomin present, her heart was actually much more settled, knowing that she must remain calm.

Finally, she bit her lip, her heartbeat accelerated slightly, and she still excitedly clicked the phone screen, adding the contact information.

Then she asked, "Are you a talent scout?"

"Me?" Lin Xiuyuan pointed at himself, then turned to Sulli, his smile relaxed, "Zhenli, do you think I look like a talent scout?"

"Not like, Oppa, you look more like an idol, it's just a pity you don't want to do it." Sulli's mouth curled, a hint of approval in her eyes.

Lee Shaoxi listened to the two's answers and finally understood the situation.

She wanted to ask something else, but her name had already been called in the shop, and her seniors were calling her to work again.

Helplessly, she had to bow deeply to Lin Xiuyuan and the two to thank them, and then turned and walked into the coffee shop.

Lin Xiuyuan and Sulli stood at the door, looking at her back with a hint of emotion.

"Oppa, where else do you have other work to make money."

"I don't, Jiyeon does, find her an assistant first to help busy and see what her personality is like, and then consider the follow-up situation."

"Then Oppa, why did you just say you want to find a good-looking girl."

"If I don't have any requirements, wouldn't I be able to find anyone casually? This way she will think more, right."

"So thoughtful, Oppa~"

Inside the shop.

At this time, Park Jiyeon, who was chatting happily with Park Hyomin, didn't notice at all that Lin Xiuyuan had found a "star assistant" for her unknowingly.

And it was a pure newbie who had just graduated from high school.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 231 =====