Meanwhile, Shin Keir finally shifted, stepping to the glass wall. His sharp eyes zeroed in on a certain someone on the couch below.
She's here?!
Yeri Zhi.
The same girl who said she was busy with school. And now here she was, laughing with two guys. One of them even patted her head.
Shin's eye twitched.
She was flirting. FLIRTING. After he suffered through sugary desserts on her behalf—he even brushed his teeth twice that night!
With a clenched jaw, he pulled out his phone and typed:
[Shin: What are you doing?]
The plump man sat again, cutting off his view.
Shin's expression soured.
[Shin: Where are you?]
[Yeri: Where else? In my dorm.]
[Shin: Really?]
[Yeri: Yes, can I sleep now?]
[Shin: Why don't you ask me where I am?]
[Yeri: Okay. Where are you?]
[Shin: Across your room. Watching you.]
Yeri almost dropped her phone.
She tilted her head, casually sipping her drink, and looked up. Her eyes locked with a deadly stare from across the glass.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
She nearly choked.
Holy crap! How long has he been watching?! Did he teleport here? Is this man part owl?!
Cedric passed her water, concerned. "You okay?"
She nodded stiffly, lips stretched into a smile that screamed internal panic. She beelined for Jj, heart hammering.
Across the glass, Shin Keir watched her scurry away like a startled bunny.
"Hmph." He snorted. Can't even give me a second glance? Guilty conscience?
The air in the room had chilled to sub-zero, and no one knew why. Everyone's gaze slowly turned to the plump man.
He sat frozen, mentally counting his regrets. What sin did he committed this time?
"Maybe there's a hidden meaning in Young Master Keir's words," someone muttered, trying to make sense of the sudden tension.
Another nodded solemnly. "It's hard to fathom the mind of a genius."
"What are you two implying?" the plump man snapped, suspicious.
Drego chuckled. "Well, when young master Keir said 'ugly font style,' maybe he meant your face. And 'text should be smaller'? Sounds like he's hinting you should go on a diet."
Everyone instinctively glanced at the plump man's round belly.
He huffed indignantly. He's a man, why should he diet? Still, he glanced around at his muscular, lean companions and hesitated. Does being in the mafia mean I need abs now? I'm just a desk guy… aren't I?
Tristan approached Shin Keir, giving his shoulder a casual pat. "What's up with you?"
Shin's eyes narrowed, fixed across the VIP lounge. He spoke through clenched teeth. "There is a beautiful woman…"
!!!
Silence fell.
Did they hear that right? Shin Keir—the iceberg, the woman-repellent, the celibate tyrant—just said what now?
Even Tristan blinked, stunned. "Wait… you… saw a beauty?"
Shin didn't answer. His gaze had already locked onto the familiar figure across the lounge. Jj Zhi... He recognized the guy immediately from Yeri's profile.
Okay, so she wasn't out partying irresponsibly—she was with her brother. That eased some of his ire.
Still... Why did she lie to him?
"Boss!" the plump man perked up like an eager puppy. "Say no more! I'll go fetch the beauty for you. Leave it to me!"
The rest of the crew craned their necks like gossip-starved aunties, eager to spot this miracle woman who'd cracked their boss's cold exterior.
Below, the dance floor throbbed with chaotic bodies and bad lighting. They squinted across multiple VIP rooms—each packed.
"Which one is she?"
"The one in purple is pretty!"
"Please, she looks like every other club girl."
"Boss, we need coordinates!"
Shin ignored their squawking. His jaw clenched as he saw Yeri preparing to leave with Jj.
Leaving without a word? Running after lying to me?
He grabbed his coat.
"Where are you going?" Tristan asked, instantly alert.
"Go block her, otherwise?" Shin said darkly, flicking away his cigarette. His eyes gleamed with lethal intent.
Everyone froze. Shocked. Confused.
Did Shin Keir just say… block her?
Was their boss a romantic thug now? What is this sudden changed of genre?
Tristan was just as stunned. "Couldn't you, you know… just ask her to come over?"
Still, he was way too entertained to stop him. "Let's go then. Meeting's over!"
"Let's assist the Young Master!" the plump man declared, full of spirit.
Tristan glanced over his shoulder and snorted. "Don't. You all look like you're about to torture someone."
Everyone looked at each other… and grimaced.
Conspicuous tattoos, menacing scowls, one guy had a tiger tattoo crawling up half his face. Yeah... not the best welcome party for a girl.
---
In the basement parking, Yeri and Jj got into their car without trouble—except Jj noticed her restless glances.
"You forget something?"
"Nope. Just sleepy," Yeri lied smoothly, eyes glued to her phone.
She felt guilty about lying—but even more anxious that Jj might find out about her relationship with that guy. Shin Keir had the free time to stalk her, apparently, but she wasn't about to let Jj discover their secret.
She texted Shin coldly:
[Let's talk another time. I'm busy.]
Jj didn't push. The car rolled out just as the elevator doors opened and Shin Keir stepped out with Tristan.
"Damn, she left? That beauty is your girlfriend, right?" Tristan asked, scanning the garage. The only noise was a car engine fading into the distance.
Shin said nothing, turned back to the elevator.
"Good thing I asked someone to keep eyes on her."
Shin glared. "Mind your own business."
Tristan shrugged. "If you're not going to introduce her, how else am I supposed to meet her? Besides, isn't it strange that she's avoiding you?"
Shin's jaw tightened. A vein throbbed in his temple. He looked one second away from turning Tristan into street art.
Tristan, grinning through his nerves, pressed on. "Do you even know how to coax a woman? Leave it to me, you know I'm an expert."
Shin said nothing.
Such a big deal? Does he even like her?
He called it compensation. An arrangement. But now...
Tristan fought to hide a smug smile. So that's the trigger? Something very entertaining is about to happen.
---
Outside, the night was quiet—moonlight scattered over calm streets, a picture of peace.
"I think we're being followed," Jj muttered, eyeing the rearview mirror.
Yeri glanced back. "Maybe they're just heading the same way?"
Jj wasn't convinced. He made a sharp U-turn.
The black cars followed—at a careful distance, but definitely not by chance.
"Yz, contact Uncle Klaus. Say we're being tailed. Might be mafia-related. Vulture needs to handle this."
Their country operated under two powers: the government and the mafias. Every elite family had affiliations. For the Zhi family, it was the Vulture organization.
Yeri bit her lip. It has to be Shin Keir... right?
She messaged him:
[Did you send your people to follow us?]
A second later:
[Yeah.]
She resisted the urge to scream.
[Young Master Keir, we agreed to keep our relationship secret.]
[That was the deal. But I don't recall agreeing to a one-man relationship.]
Yeri gaped. They'd barely been dating for two weeks and now he's accusing her of a one-man relationship?!
Was she dating a mafia boss or a prison warden?
"Yz? You okay?" Jj glanced at her.
Yeri nearly pulled her hair out. No way can Dad know about this! She wasn't ready for that level of world war.
Jj sighed and eased off the pedal. "Maybe it's a misunderstanding. I'll pull over and talk to them."
"Wait, don't—!"
Before Jj could act, Yeri slammed her foot on the accelerator. The car screeched and swerved sharply, nearly sideswiping the barrier.
Jj fought to steady the steering wheel as they bolted ahead, his face pale. "Yeri, what the hell?!"
But she had no intention of stopping.
One man relationship?
Fine, she didn't want to see him in the first place.