> "I know what you did, Han Yuri…"
Yuri's breath caught. She froze, the phone pressed against her ear. Drawing in a slow breath, she answered in a low, icy voice:
Han Yuri
"Who are you? Speak."
A heavy silence. Only the sound of ragged breathing came from the other end.
Han Yuri (sharper now)
"I asked who you are!"
Then… nothing. The line went dead.
A chilling silence filled the van, broken only by the sharp click that signaled the call had ended.
Suddenly, the air inside felt suffocating. Heart pounding, Yuri's trembling hand redialed the number.
An automated voice answered:
> "The number you have dialed does not exist. Please check and try again."
Yuri's blood ran cold. The number was gone—as if it had never existed.
She sat there, phone still pressed to her ear, unable to move. The van kept rolling steadily, carrying her straight back to her agency.
Slowly, almost mechanically, Yuri lowered the phone. Her hand still shook. Her face was frozen in fear, her eyes empty—searching desperately for an answer in the void.
It wasn't until the vehicle finally stopped in front of LYRA Entertainment that she dared to breathe again. She inhaled deeply, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly, her expression calmer now.
Sitting in the backseat, she stared out through the tinted glass, her face cold, unreadable.
Then—her phone vibrated again. This time, the caller ID read: Kim Min Hee.
Kim Min Hee
"Where are you?"
Han Yuri (voice calm, but still faintly trembling)
"We're only a few meters from the agency… but there are too many reporters."
Kim Min Hee
"I'll go down and deal with them. Use another entrance."
The call ended abruptly.
Han Yuri (to the driver)
"Find another way in. There are too many journalists."
Driver
"Yes, Miss."
Yuri didn't respond. She grabbed the black cap beside her, pulled it firmly over her head, then hid her face behind oversized sunglasses. She raised the collar of her long dark coat and drew one last steadying breath.
The van circled the building and slipped into a deserted alley. A side entrance, reserved for staff, waited at the end. No one in sight. The silence felt deceptive.
The van rolled to a stop. Yuri stepped out quickly, eyes fixed on the ground, her figure swallowed by her cap and long black coat.
Hallway — LYRA Entertainment
Yuri strode down the corridor, her heels striking the polished floor, each step echoing sharply. Reaching the director's office, she pushed the door open without knocking.
Startled, the man's head snapped up. He stood from his chair and hurried toward her, concern etched across his face.
Director
"Yuri… what's going on? What is this anonymous message about?"
Without answering, Yuri sank into the chair across from his desk. The director hesitated, then walked slowly to the door. He cracked it open, glanced both ways down the hall, and shut it quietly again.
Director (lowering his voice)
"You're sure no one saw you?"
Han Yuri
"No. There was no one there."
The director let out a breath of relief, though his eyes betrayed lingering worry. He stood frozen for a moment, hands clasped behind his back, visibly tense.
Director
"This scandal… it's a nightmare."
He returned to his seat, lowering himself into the chair, his gaze locking on Yuri.
Director
"Yuri… what that message claims… tell me it isn't true. Because if it is, we're facing something very dangerous."
The air thickened with silence—until the door suddenly burst open.
Kim Min Hee rushed in, clearly flustered.
Kim Min Hee
"Director, the reporters keep multiplying… What are we supposed to do?"
She stopped short when she spotted Yuri sitting across the desk. Her face immediately softened.
Kim Min Hee
"Yuri… Ah, are you okay? How are you holding up? Don't worry, this will blow over."
Without hesitation, she crossed the room and sat beside Yuri, laying a brief, comforting hand on her arm.
Yuri didn't answer. She turned to the director instead, her tone sharpening.
Han Yuri
"Really… how can a simple message, with no proof at all, cause this much chaos? You did nothing to stop it from spreading?"
The director pressed his lips together, clearly uncomfortable.
Director
"We tried. We asked contacts to take it down, but… it was already too late. People had screenshotted it, shared it everywhere. There's no undoing it now."
He paused, eyes shifting away.
Director
"Still… there's nothing concrete. I think this will run out of steam quickly. People will just file it away with all the other ridiculous rumors that have circulated about you."
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the sharp buzz of the director's phone. He answered, listened for barely a second, then hung up with an irritated sigh.
Director
"Aish… It's only been a day, and we've already had over a thousand calls from reporters."
Yuri stood abruptly.
Han Yuri
"Find out who dared to post that message. There's no way I'll let this affect my career."
She turned on her heel, ready to leave, when Min Hee suddenly jolted upright, her face drained of all color, eyes locked on her tablet.
Kim Min Hee
"Oh… what is this?"
Director
"Aish! You scared me… What's going on?"
Min Hee lifted her horrified gaze to Yuri.
Kim Min Hee
"Yuri… ah!"
Han Yuri
"What? What now?"
She practically snatched the tablet out of Min Hee's hands. And in an instant, her world froze.
The color drained from her face. Her eyes locked onto the screen, her breath caught. She stood there, paralyzed.
Director
"What is it? Why are you reacting like this?"
He moved closer, took the tablet, and his face blanched as well.
Director
"What the hell is this? Yuri… what is this image?"
Silence. Heavy, suffocating.
Director
"I asked you a question!"
Yuri finally blinked, as if snapping back to herself.
Han Yuri
"I… I don't know."
Director
"What do you mean, you don't know?! That's YOU in the photo, isn't it?"
Kim Min Hee
"Director… it has to be fake. You know how advanced editing tools are these days. This isn't the first time someone's pasted Han Yuri's face onto something compromising…"
The director exhaled, but fear flickered in his eyes.
Director
"Maybe you're right… But with this photo, things just got a lot more serious. Yuri, for now—stay out of sight. No interviews, and set your social accounts to private."
(turning to Min Hee)
"Take her home. And make sure not a single reporter gets near her.
We'll release an official statement in two or three days.
If we wait any longer, the situation could spiral out of control."
Kim Min Hee
"Understood. Yuri, let's go."
They left the agency together. Silence hung between them as they walked slowly through the underground parking lot. Then, all at once, Kim Min Hee stopped. Yuri turned back, surprised.
Han Yuri
— Why are you stopping?
Kim Min Hee (hesitant, her voice lower)
— Yuri… you really have nothing to do with this, right?
I didn't want to bring it up, but… the clothes in that picture… it's the exact same outfit you wore the night of my birthday. Thirteen years ago.
(A heavy silence falls. The echo of the parking garage makes the tension almost suffocating.)
Han Yuri (her gaze icy, a nervous breath escaping)
— How can you even remember that? It was so long ago… even I don't have that image in my head. (sharper) And don't say things like that out loud… Do you want someone to overhear you?
Kim Min Hee (hesitant, fumbling with her phone)
— I know it was a long time ago… but look… I still have a picture of us that night, from my birthday…
(She's about to show the image. Suddenly, Han Yuri snatches the phone and throws it violently to the ground. Kim Min Hee jumps back, shocked.)
Kim Min Hee (rushing to pick up her phone)
— Yuri! What are you doing? (she inspects the device) Thank God… it's not too broken…
(Han Yuri steps toward her slowly. Her gaze is hard, her face cold as ice.)
Han Yuri (voice low, sharp, cutting)
— What exactly are you trying to prove? That picture—are you trying to drag me down with it? (she leans closer) And what if someone's watching us right now?
Kim Min Hee (swallowing hard, her voice trembling)
— I… I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention. Really. Please don't be angry, Yuri… (she takes a small step back) Let's just go… it's getting late…
(They both get into the car. The ride is heavy with silence, broken only by blaring horns and the endless traffic jam. An hour later, they finally arrive. Kim Min Hee turns off the engine and glances softly at Yuri.)
Kim Min Hee (calmly)
— Yuri-ah… don't pay attention to what I said earlier, okay? After all, we posted that picture online back then. Maybe someone just used it to make a fake.
Han Yuri (staring straight ahead, her voice steadier)
— I'm sorry about earlier… It's just… I'm really at my breaking point with all of this.
(Kim Min Hee lets out a small laugh, flashing her a playful smile.)
Kim Min Hee
— Don't worry, I get it. (a beat, teasing) But you still owe me a new phone…
(A faint smile finally tugs at Yuri's lips.)
Han Yuri
— Fine. Thanks for driving me back.
(Yuri's hand touches the car door handle, but Min Hee stops her with a hesitant voice.)
Kim Min Hee
— …Oh, by the way! Did Jae Hyun call you? I haven't been able to reach him.
Han Yuri
— No.
(Without another word, she gets out of the car.)
She walks slowly through the garden, as if in a dream.
Inside, the cold, luxurious air of the family mansion crushes down on her like a heavy weight.
A maid bows immediately.
Maid (grave tone)
— Good evening, Miss. You must be tired from the trip, but… your father is waiting in his study. He told me to inform him the moment you returned.
Han Yuri (cold, distant)
— As you said, I'm tired. He'll have plenty of time to see me later.
(She climbs the grand staircase without another word.)
In her room, she tosses her bag onto the bed. Pacing restlessly, she runs her hands through her hair, her breath uneven.
Yuri's thoughts
What am I supposed to do… Everything I've worked for is falling apart…
(Her phone suddenly vibrates inside her bag. She grabs it nervously, her heart skipping when she sees the name flashing: Lee Jae Hyun.)
She answers instantly.
Han Yuri (her voice trembling)
— Hello? Jae Hyun oppa… Did you see the news? (her panic rising) I think… someone saw me that night…
(Her breath grows ragged. She presses the phone tighter against her ear, her eyes clouding over, but no tears fall. Not yet.)
TO BE CONTINUED…