Inside the car, Shin's voice softened as he turned toward her, his gaze already scanning for any sign of injury.
"Are you alright?" he asked, gently brushing a stray strand of hair aside as if checking for hidden damage.
Yeri gave a small nod. "I'm fine. Nothing hit me."
"Good." A pause, then more firmly, "This will be resolved soon. I've just been waiting for the right time."
Yeri studied him for a moment before speaking again. "I saw the news… about Elder Madam Keir. Are you okay?"
Shin leaned back against the seat. "I was never close to her, but I've already arranged for someone to investigate what exactly caused her heart attack."
After a brief silence, Shin glanced at her again.
"If things get worse, would you prefer switching to online classes for now? The school is preparing for final exams anyway. Students can opt for private tutors and only show up during the exams."
Yeri hesitated, her parents had suggested the same thing. Logically, it made sense.
But still she refused. She wanted to see Nina and the others, and exist like a normal student for as long as she could.
Just then, her phone rang and almost instinctively, she glanced down at the screen.
[ It's not too late to change your mind. People are scolding you online, and that man hasn't done anything, even though he's clearly capable of stopping it. If you want, I can help you clear your name and cancel your engagement with Shin Keir — Xian ]
Yeri didn't need to look up to know Shin had already seen it.
"Why are you still in contact with Xian Song?" he asked casually, though the faint drop in his tone betrayed something heavier underneath.
Yeri swallowed.
"He… was good to me when we were still neighbors," she replied. Then, more cautiously, "Do you mind if I stay friends with him?"
Shin's expression darkened, subtle but unmistakable. "I do," he said flatly.
Before she could react, he took her phone, his movements precise and decisive. A few taps later, Xian's number was blocked.
"Stay away from people who try to sow discord between us," he added, handing the phone back as if the matter were already settled.
Back when Shin first heard that Xian Song had met her, his mood had plummeted into something dangerously volatile that he had even confined her to the penthouse, ordering his men not to let her leave.
If this were the demon realm, he need not worry with her sealed within palace walls, untouched by the outside world.
But this was the human world, there were far too many hands reaching for what he considered his.
Yeri lowered her gaze to her phone, not arguing. The last time she did, she had paid for it the entire night.
Moreover, consider it her respect for Shin Keir as her fiancé.
After all, unlike Zoren Lin and the others, who had only ever been friendly, Xian Song's intentions were far from innocent. No man would be pleased knowing someone else was trying to persuade his fiancée to leave him.
After changing out of her uniform, the two headed to an upscale seafood restaurant overlooking the river, where the water shimmered like molten glass beneath the city lights.
The staff welcomed them with bright enthusiasm and quickly escorted them to the largest VIP room.
The moment the dishes were served, Yeri's eyes lit up. Lobster, king crab, and shrimp, her favorites, were arranged like a luxurious feast meant to tempt royalty.
"This restaurant also offers VIP memberships, similar to the one you have at Brizola," Shin said casually. "Do you want one?"
Yeri considered it for a moment before shaking her head. "No, it's fine."
The place was far, and it wasn't as if seafood was rare. To her, memberships like these felt more like ornamental luxuries than necessities.
Seeing her refusal was genuine, Shin didn't press further.
They ate in relative peace, the quiet occasionally filled with the soft clink of utensils against porcelain.
"Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?"
Yeri nearly dropped her fork.
"H-Honeymoon?" she repeated, staring at him as if he had just skipped several chapters of her life without permission.
For a brief, absurd second, she wondered if she had somehow slept through her own wedding.
Shin glanced at her, unfazed. "It's not strange to discuss it in advance."
Yeri "...."
Come to think of it, everything had been moving far too quickly. Right after the engagement, her phone had been bombarded not only with public uproar but also with messages from wedding planners asking about themes, venues, and schedules.
Wedding...
The word still felt unreal.
In just a few months, right after graduation she would be married.
"…Somewhere you can hike," Yeri finally said.
Shin raised a brow, clearly surprised. "You want to hike?"
She nodded, a small spark of anticipation flickering in her eyes. "Maybe a mountain. Somewhere with dense forests… and beautiful scenery. I've always been sickly, so I never really had the chance to experience it."
For a moment, Shin said nothing. Then, quietly, "I'll find a few places for you to choose from."
Inwardly, a different thought crossed his mind.
Perhaps, deep down, she missed it...
The vast, untamed forests of the demon realm. The forbidden woods she had once roamed for thousands of years.
Even if she no longer remembered…
Some instincts, it seemed, were carved too deeply into the soul to ever truly fade.
While they were still chatting, Shin's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen before answering.
Secretary Yun's voice came through, efficient as ever, asking how to proceed regarding Marco Fabian's lawyer, who was attempting to reach him.
Shin's gaze flickered briefly toward Yeri.
Yeri had already heard about Marco's intentions. But why should she help him with his crimes?
Seeing her lack of interest, Shin replied calmly, "Reject it. There's no need to entertain him."
The call ended as cleanly as it began.
Feeling full, Yeri stood and wandered toward the window, drawn by the quiet charm outside.
The river stretched like a ribbon of dark silk, reflecting scattered lights. Along the banks, couples strolled leisurely, while across the water, a nature park rested like a green sanctuary tucked into the city.
Just as she leaned slightly closer to the glass, arms slipped around her waist.
Before she could react, a soft kiss landed on her cheek.
Yeri turned, startled, only to be caught again as Shin leaned in and kissed her properly this time, swift and deliberate, leaving her no room to protest.
They had just eaten seafood. What happened to his supposed obsession with cleanliness?
Shin pulled back just enough to see her flustered expression, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"So… which seafood did you taste?" Yeri muttered, her face warming in embarrassment.
Shin only shrugged, entirely unbothered. "I don't mind."
And before she could recover he kissed her again, deeper this time, as if determined to prove just how little he cared.
By the time a knock sounded on the door, Yeri felt like her brain had short-circuited and Shin finally let her go.
A waiter entered politely, placing desserts on the table as if nothing unusual had just happened.
Yeri shot Shin a glare as she returned to her seat. "Hooligan," she muttered under her breath.
---
Not long after, they left the VIP room.
The hallway was quiet until a man's loud, agitated voice echoed ahead, sharp enough to cut through the calm atmosphere.
As they approached the exit, the source revealed itself.
Yeri blinked in surprise recognising Hadi Keir.
He stood at the counter, clearly making a scene, his voice laced with frustration as he berated the staff.
From the bits and pieces she caught, it didn't take long to piece things together: his card wasn't working.
Shin's expression didn't change, but his arm slid around Yeri's waist, subtly guiding her closer as they walked past, clearly intending to ignore the spectacle.
Unfortunately, Hadi spotted them.
"You! Shin Keir!"
He hurried over, looking both irritated and suspicious.
"Did you block my cards? That's why none of them are working, right?"
Shin stopped, looking at the idiot running his mouth. "Am I your grandfather? What do your cards have to do with me?"
Hadi faltered, but suspicion still lingered in his eyes.
Logically, he knew Shin shouldn't have control over his personal bank cards.
But if he wanted to meddle or mess with him… who could say he wouldn't?
"I already tried three cards," Hadi insisted. "All blocked! And it's night, I can't even call the bank!"
A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Shin's lips. "Ever heard of customer service?"
Hadi "…."
VIP customers, especially those from prominent families typically had access to a dedicated 24/7 priority line.
A single call, and a specialized agent would practically materialize to solve whatever crisis dared inconvenience them.
Yeri bit her lip, holding back a laugh, even she knew that.
"Yeri?"
The familiar voice pulled her attention back.
"You guys on a date?"
Only then did she notice Hadi hadn't come alone.
Venice approached, dressed to impress as always, and next to her was her uncle, Nolan.
For a moment, Yeri could only think: What a ridiculously small world.
She gave Nolan a polite nod before answering with a simple, "Mm."
With the three of them together at night, this didn't look like a casual outing. If anything, it felt unusual.
Was her uncle trying to push Hadi toward a divorce? Or was this some kind of business collaboration?
Meanwhile, Hadi had already retreated to a corner, phone pressed to his ear.
"Hello, Young Master Keir," Venice chimed in, her tone instantly softening as she turned toward Shin, her eyes bright with barely concealed admiration. "What a coincidence, isn't it?"
Nolan followed with equal enthusiasm, clearly eager to engage.
Regardless of the noise online, one fact remained unshaken, Shin Keir still held power over KGG.
"Coincidence, indeed, is it also a coincidence when you said Brother Shin and Calin were very close? You seem to know quite a lot about their past." Yeri continued, tilting her head. "Were you a houseplant? Or perhaps the family dog, quietly watching everything unfold?"
Venice paled, her confident composure cracked almost instantly as she instinctively glanced at Shin Keir.
Saying things online, behind a screen, was very different from saying them in front of the man himself.