The residential building was conveniently close to her school, so close that Yeri could even see the campus from her window. It would only take a few minutes on foot, hardly any different from living in the dormitory.
If anything, at least she no longer had to worry about curfew hours or Principal Red's surprise inspections.
And, of course, Carpet could visit her anytime now. No more waiting for semester breaks or those unfortunate sick leaves that forced her to rest at home.
"Later will be the engagement meeting," Shin said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "There's something I have to do at the company first. If I don't make it back in time, someone will come pick you up and take you to the restaurant."
Yeri blinked, realizing he had changed suits. Wait, did that mean he also lived here?
Her brows furrowed. It was already overwhelming enough to suddenly move under his roof, but if he actually lived here too? That would be… extremely uncomfortable. And awkward.
Did her dad really agree to this arrangement?
Shin didn't seem to notice her growing discomfort. Checking his watch, he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before hurrying toward the door.
Yeri: "…"
No, this wasn't what people dating did, this was what married people did! The husband leaving for work after reminding his wife of something and kissing her goodbye?
Her brain tangled into knots. What was she even feeling right now? Panic? Overthinking? Paranoia? Maybe fear or just plain confusion?
Everything felt too fast, too sudden!
Trying to comfort herself, she imagined the alternative: what if she had no choice but to get engaged to that repulsive addict, Leo Nafplion? She shuddered. No thanks, she'd rather jump off the rooftop.
With a sigh, she decided to call her parents to tell them what happened and, of course, complain that nobody had warned her beforehand.
---
Crash!
Ever since her conversation with the old matriarch, Calin felt as if her world had shattered.
No matter how much she screamed or threw things around the house, the anger inside her refused to fade. Seeing her mother only fueled her rage further. She didn't even care about her argument with her brother Sergei anymore, all her resentment now burned toward her mother.
Years of hard work, patient scheming, careful planning, every moment she spent building connections and dreaming of standing beside Shin Keir, all of it was ruined. Destroyed by one reckless mistake her mother made.
Madam Ricci's eyes were red as she tried to approach her daughter. "Calin, don't be like this, okay? I never thought they'd hold a grudge because of that—"
"Shut up!" Calin screamed, looking half out of her mind. "If someone spread a scandal calling you an illegitimate child, wouldn't you be furious too?! How was that 'teaching someone a lesson'? You dragged the public into this wanting to ruin Brother Shin's reputation! Are you happy now? You ruined me, you ruined my life!"
Madam Ricci covered her face, trembling. Her daughter's words cut deep. She had never imagined things would spiral into such an irreversible mess. "I'll talk to your father," she said shakily. "He'll handle this. Isn't he the one who wanted this engagement the most?"
Calin laughed bitterly. "Really? If he's so capable, why didn't he do something years ago? No one in this family cares about me! Even Brother Sergei only worries about the company, he's even turned violent toward me!"
Madam Ricci froze. Sergei? Right, there was also that matter.
Realizing the situation was beyond her control, and sensing her once-perfect family slipping apart, she hurried out of Calin's room to call her husband.
"What is it now?" came Master Ricci's irritated voice through the phone.
"Husband, did Allister tell you that Shin's engaged to someone else?" she asked nervously.
"No. What nonsense are you talking about this time?"
Madam Ricci took a deep breath. "Calin isn't doing well. She went to see Elder Madam Keir and was told the clan elders already chose Shin's fiancée...and it's not her."
Silence. Then the faint sound of a door opening, as if Master Ricci had moved to another room. His tone turned serious. "That old hag actually said that? This can't be! The company's struggling, and this engagement was supposed to secure our survival!"
"Is the Keir family the only one we can rely on?" she snapped, unable to hide her frustration. She hated bowing to anyone. "If it's about investment, what about the Neris or the Jies or other families tied to our business?"
"I told you before, stay out of business matters," he replied sharply. "No one would think you're dumb if you just kept your mouth shut. And that useless daughter of yours? She only had one job, to win Shin Keir over. Years have passed, and she's done nothing!"
Madam Ricci's face twisted with fury. Her daughter despised her, and now her own husband was calling her dumb?
"You—what do you mean, dumb?" she shouted. "Didn't I raise the children you're so proud of? Sergei's running the company well, and Calin's a beloved socialite! Without me, do you think this family would even function? Do you think they'd have turned out the way they did?"
A low chuckle came from the other end of the line. He clearly wasn't taking her anger seriously.
"Enough with your drama. I'll call Allister to ask about the engagement," Master Ricci said sharply before hanging up.
Madam Ricci stared at her phone in a daze, unable to process the conversation. Her husband's indifference stung, but she knew better than to call him back.
Meanwhile, Master Ricci wasted no time. He immediately dialed Allister Keir's number.
At that moment, Master Keir was standing in front of his mirror, adjusting his tie and choosing which suit to wear for the upcoming engagement meeting. He looked almost boyishly pleased rare for someone of his age, when his phone rang.
"Ricci, what's the matter?" he asked casually, not taking his eyes off his reflection.
"Who are you calling Ricci?" Master Ricci chuckled dryly. "By the way, what have you been up to lately?"
"Nothing much," Allister replied with mild amusement. "Just the usual, this and that."
Master Ricci didn't bother with pleasantries. "How about Shin? Is it true he's engaged?"
The question made Master Keir pause. His brows knitted slightly. So, the news had spread already. Still, since the engagement was decided by the clan elders, there was no point hiding it.
"Yes," he admitted evenly. "He has a fiancée now."
Master Ricci's tone turned displeased. "Allister, don't tell me you don't want our families to be in-laws anymore? For years, my daughter has been under the impression that she'd be engaged to your son. She's devastated by this news."
Allister sighed softly. Of course, he had expected this call. He considered him a friend, but this was not a simple matter that could be resolved by a few words. After all, it was his own mother who had given Calin false hope in the first place.
"I'm sorry," he said after a moment. "There's nothing I can do. The decision wasn't just made by the elders, Shin himself agreed to it. Old Ricci, you and I both know we can't force our children into relationships like we were back in our day. You should understand that much. Your daughter is a fine young woman; she deserves someone who will truly love her."
Master Ricci froze. Shin agreed? That tyrant actually consented to this engagement? Then…
"Are you saying his fiancée is someone he likes?"
"That should be the case," Allister answered simply. "Tonight, we'll be holding the engagement meeting to finalize the details for the banquet."
Master Ricci fell silent, his hand tightening around the phone. If the girl replacing Calin was truly someone Shin had chosen himself, then there was nothing he could say to change it.
Even so, Master Ricci tried to use their long-standing friendship to persuade Allister, to convince him to change Shin's mind, or better yet, to force the boy into reconsidering.
But from Allister's calm, resolute tone, it was clear he had no intention of interfering.
When the call ended, Master Ricci sat in silence, deep in thought.
A young, beautiful woman in a revealing dress approached him hesitantly, offering a flirtatious smile. Normally, he would have entertained her for a few drinks, but not tonight.
He brushed past her without a word and headed straight home.
The moment he stepped through the door, Madam Ricci rushed to greet him, her earlier anger completely forgotten. Her face lit up, almost relieved to see him back.
"Where's that useless daughter of yours?" he demanded.
The sharp crash of shattering porcelain answered him from upstairs. He didn't need to guess who was losing control again.
Storming up the stairs, he slammed the bedroom door open. Calin stood amid a mess of broken glass and overturned furniture, her once-elegant composure gone. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes red from crying.
"Are you done?" he snapped. "Do you think throwing a tantrum will change anything? Hurry up and go see Shin Keir!"
Calin flinched at his tone, startled. Though she was often spoiled and willful, her father's anger always made her uneasy.
"Dad…" she said in a trembling voice. "The clan elders already chose a different fiancée for Brother Shin."
"That may be so," he replied, crossing his arms. "But I don't believe that stubborn bastard would agree so easily. Shin's always done whatever he wants, restructuring his company without caring who he offends. Do you really think he'd get engaged to someone he doesn't even like?"
Calin blinked, confused. "W-what do you mean?"
Master Ricci scowled, pointing at her. "I'm telling you to find him. Do whatever it takes, whatever it means! If you hadn't been so proud, trying to act like some virtuous lady with useless dignity, you'd already have him by now! Calin, all men are the same. Whether they wear suits or uniforms, once they see a beautiful young woman showing interest, they'll pounce when given the chance."
Calin: "…"
"I don't know where you got those ridiculous ideas about being famous, gentle, and elegant," he continued, his voice laced with bitterness. "Ask your friends, those so-called refined socialites. How many of them are secretly miserable, with their husbands keeping mistresses? How many have half-siblings they have to compete with for inheritance?"