It seemed Shin and Yeri had been together for quite some time. There was none of the awkwardness one would expect from a new couple.
In fact, Yeri was practically sitting on Shin's lap as he repeatedly stopped her from joining his friends in their growing chaos.
Sensing that Tristan still hadn't returned, his girlfriend eventually excused herself and left the room.
By this point, Saeki was waving his phone around as he announced that he was calling some top models to entertain Allen.
"I'm marrying your sister. What are you bringing models for? Do you want me to get in trouble?" Allen protested.
Saeki looked as though he had only just remembered that Allen was about to become his brother-in-law. He pointed at him accusingly.
"Are you sure you have no lingering feelings for Calin Ricci anymore? If you hurt my dear sister, I'm coming for you."
"Make an oath, or you'll be struck by lightning!" Daniel exclaimed, his voice dragging noticeably from the alcohol.
"Natalia is young and accomplished. Why she agreed to marry you, I'll never understand," Zoren added.
Allen stared at the three men who, only seconds ago, had been dramatically proclaiming their unbreakable friendship and how much they loved him.
Now they were denouncing him.
"Lightning is unreliable, especially when the weather is good. You'd better trust contracts," Yeri suddenly said from the side.
Allen "..."
"Whether it's a marriage of love or a business alliance, having something in black and white would protect you." She added.
The four men stared at Yeri, then at Shin.
Was this the reason Shin had that asset contract with her?
Shin ignored their looks and glanced at his watch. "We should leave. You're drunk."
"I'm not drunk," Yeri frowned. "I'm not as drunk as I was the first time we met. I can still recognize you."
Saeki, who was always quick-witted when it came to gossip, immediately perked up.
"Didn't you two first meet at her debut banquet? You weren't drunk at the time."
Yeri giggled. "Who said we first met at my debut banquet?"
Saeki's eyes widened, practically smelling the gossip.
But before he could pounce on her for more information, Daniel grabbed him and started asking about the women he had called and when they were coming.
"I need to go to the restroom," Yeri announced as she stood up.
Shin immediately followed behind her, just in case.
-
As they turned a corner, they suddenly heard women's voices.
They were arguing, someone was crying, and Tristan's voice could be heard among them.
It turned out another woman had come looking for Tristan, which was why he had left the room earlier. His current girlfriend had apparently found the two of them talking.
Yeri stopped, not sure whether she should pass by or turn around.
"Sister, don't misunderstand. I just wanted to thank Brother Tristan for funding my boutique," the newcomer said tearfully, sniffling. "You're his girlfriend, so you should already know that he often helps people who are in need."
Tristan's CEO girlfriend looked annoyed, though she was clearly trying to restrain herself.
"There are many ways to thank a benefactor. You tracked him all the way here wearing a body-hugging white dress, so tell me, exactly how were you planning to thank him?"
The newcomer blushed and glanced at Tristan, seemingly about to say something.
But his girlfriend continued before she could speak.
"Just so you know, you're not the first woman today to seek him out, eager to become his son's stepmother."
"What do you mean? This has nothing to do with little Xati!" the newcomer blurted out.
Tristan's girlfriend chuckled coldly. "You even know his son's name. Quite quick of you."
The newcomer immediately realized she had said too much. She bit her lip and glanced at Tristan, gauging his reaction.
Tristan "..."
He already expected making Xati as his son would bring trouble.
No matter how generous he was or how clearly he established boundaries in his relationships with women, jealousy and greed were not things that could simply be underestimated.
Before he could say anything, the newcomer suddenly rushed forward and threw her arms around him, completely abandoning her previous pretense.
"Brother Tristan, I know you dislike clingy women and don't care much for matters of love, but I can't help it. I really, really love you. I don't expect you to reciprocate my feelings, but I don't mind being Xati's stepmother. I love children, and I'm very good at taking care of them."
Tristan's girlfriend finally snapped and laughed coldly.
"Where did you even learn those lines? Do you think Tristan is someone who can be easily swayed? Do you think you're the first woman to ever say those things to him? And most importantly, did you even ask his son if he approves of you? You haven't even met him yet!"
The two women continued arguing, trading increasingly sharp remarks.
Yeri stood around the corner, listening.
They were arguing about who should become Xati's stepmother, and for some reason, that did not sit well with her.
"Shut up!"
Yeri suddenly shouted as she marched around the corner and straight toward the two women.
"No one is going to be Xati's stepmother!"
She said indignantly. "You're already thinking about replacing his mother when she's not even dead yet! What is wrong with you people?!"
The newcomer immediately recognized her. "You... aren't you- "
"I'm your granny!" Yeri cut her off then turned toward Tristan's girlfriend. "You were right about one thing, and that's asking Xati if he'll even agree. But I can tell you right now, he won't!"
"Yeri, are you drunk?" Tristan asked.
However, she ignored him, so did the two women.
"Yes, children can be averse to something at first, but that doesn't mean they'll always feel that way," the newcomer argued.
"Why are you so certain?" Tristan's girlfriend added.
Yeri crossed her arms confidently.
"Because Xati is my—"
Shin suddenly appeared behind her and covered her mouth before she could finish.
He then gave Tristan a pointed look.
Tristan nearly broke into a cold sweat. It wasn't the two women arguing that concerned him, but Yeri nearly revealing a connection that would place them both in a scandal.
Most importantly, Shin's obsessive mental state when it comes to Yeri.
"She's drunk," Shin said without further explanation.
He then scooped her up and carried her away.
Before either woman could dwell on what Yeri had meant, Tristan spoke up and made it clear that he had no intention of finding a stepmother for Xati.
Usually, Tristan was amicable and gentle with women, but this time there was a clear warning and displeasure in his voice.
---
Shin didn't return to the VIP room. Instead, he went straight to his car and placed Yeri in the passenger seat.
"Why are we leaving? I don't want to leave yet!" she complained as Shin fastened her seat belt.
"It's late," Shin simply replied.
"So? I don't have classes anymore. I already graduated."
"You'll only drink more if we stay."
Yeri pouted and glared at him. "Why did you stop me earlier? Those women were talking about replacing me as Xati's mother. It was so irritating."
Shin wasn't about to discuss the matter with her while she was drunk. Besides, they'd already talked about it.
As the car drove through the city, Yeri kept staring at him while her hand seemed to have developed a mind of its own.
One moment, she was tugging at his shirt.
The next, she was pinching his cheek, fiddling with his cufflink, or grabbing his ear.
"What are you doing?" Shin finally asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Nothing like him," she muttered then reached for his hand.
"I'm driving," Shin reminded her.
Even so, he allowed his free hand to clasp hers.
"Do you know palm reading?" Yeri asked.
She suddenly pulled her hand free and turned his palm upward, studying the lines intently.
"They say you can see a person's life trajectory through their palm."
Shin smiled faintly. "That's nonsense."
Yeri narrowed her eyes at his palm as though she were about to expose the secrets of the universe.
"Don't move. I'm reading your future."
Shin glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.
"Then what does it say?"
Yeri remained silent for several seconds, tracing one of the lines with her fingertip.
"I don't know. It says nothing about the demon realm."
"Of course," Shin chuckled.
Yeri let go of his hand, her attention drifting toward the window.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, combined with the anxiety and worry that had been building inside her over the past few months, but after a moment, she turned back to him.
"I think I love you."
Shin almost hit the break, his hand tightened around the steering wheel.
"But honestly, I'm not ready to get married."
Shin "..."
Being told what he'd long wanted to hear, only to have a 'but' immediately follow it, felt like handing a child a piece of candy only to slap it out of their hand.
"Should I be happy or worried?" he asked. "It's just wedding jitters. That's normal."
Yeri suddenly felt annoyed. "Stop the car!"
Shin didn't argue, and gradually pulled over onto a quiet side road.
"I need fresh air!"
Again, he didn't argue. He simply rolled down the passenger window halfway.
"Do you feel like throwing up?" he asked.
Yeri looked around the car and pouted. "Are you afraid I'll mess up your sports car?"
"It's just a car. It doesn't matter."
"Let's not get married, okay?" she suddenly blurted.
Shin glanced at her. "Why? You just said you love me."
"Hmm..."
"So?" He waited for her answer.
Yeri held her head before clutching her temple. Finally, the words began spilling out.
She talked about the time Calin had almost killed her, about what had gone through her mind at the time, and how the only thing she regretted was not being able to see him one last time and what she had wanted to say to him.
Then came the memories of her past, pieces of a life she couldn't fully understand that kept surfacing and somehow intertwining with her present.
"It won't be a problem if you treat it as nothing more than memories," Shin said quietly. "You're just Yeri Zhi. You're not a succubus, nor are you the demon realm's empress."
"Do you think it's that easy?" Yeri suddenly flared up. "Past? Memories? Not when the people from my past are also here in my present! You! Xati! Tristan! And maybe other demons you're not telling me about!"
Her voice grew increasingly agitated.
"What else aren't you telling me? What about yourself?"