Chen Mo watched the backstage worker hand out the money bit by bit, then watched the women stand there holding their meal boxes and cash. Nobody cheered, nobody hugged, and nobody even dared head straight outside.
They merely lowered their heads to count it, then quickly hid everything inside their clothes, their movements so practiced it hurt to watch.
The first to try leaving was the Latina woman. She stuffed the cash into her boot and, clutching her meal box, edged two steps toward the back door.
Chen Mo raised his wrist. Several strands of webbing shot out, sealing the back door with a series of sharp snaps.
Webbing plastered over the gap between the door and the wall.
Dim lighting, a red backdrop, and a door and wall gap covered in spider silk.
Who could walk in without asking, "Is this the Spider Demons' Cave?"
The bizarre scene immediately reminded everyone of Gotham's previous sunny, cheerful, creepy, excessively talkative young man.
The woman froze, her face instantly going pale.
Chen Mo saw the atmosphere suddenly turn wrong. Every face he could see looked worse than if its owner had seen a ghost.
He hurriedly raised both hands, making his voice as gentle as a soft-spoken male livestreamer's.
"Don't panic. I'm not locking you in. I'm locking them in. Please wait a moment, everyone. Red Velvet is temporarily entering its after-sales service phase."
Someone out front still wasn't afraid of getting beaten and was sneaking toward the main entrance. Clearly, the earlier kick hadn't left a deep enough impression, and now he evidently wanted to get out and tip off his boss.
Chen Mo pushed off with his toes, flipped onto the ceiling, and dangled upside down over the man's head.
"Hey, buddy. Love the work ethic." Chen Mo reached