Shin didn't let Yeri stay inside the auction any longer. The moment the lights dimmed, he took her wrist and led her out, refusing to let her see the rest.
Pouting, Yeri teased, "Wow… business must be doing really well for those kinds of goods. How much do they usually bid for?"
Shin's expression darkened. "It's not like that. They volunteer of their own accord. Some of them earn ten times more than they would working in illicit places."
Yeri listened with full interest, like a whole new world had opened in front of her. She didn't know anything about the mafia world, but she had to admit it was fascinating.
"Anyway," Shin continued, "money isn't the only reason. For many, these auctions are the fastest way to find a benefactor. And this isn't limited to women alone."
Yeri nodded thoughtfully. So hot male models are also in this business.
"What happens after the bid is confirmed? Can they refuse if the winning bidder isn't their type?"
"That's not how it works." Shin looked down at her suspiciously. "Why are you so interested in this?"
Yeri rolled her eyes. Hot male models aside, growing up, her life revolved around school and hospital rooms. Naturally, something this different would catch her interest.
Just then, Saeki's voice boomed from behind them. "Big bro! Sister-in-law! Going back already? It's still too early. How about returning to the club? Or another bar?"
"You're not bidding anymore?" Yeri asked.
Saeki, meeting Shin's sharp gaze, immediately moved to stand beside Yeri as if she could shield him.
"Sister-in-law, what do you mean? You're hurting my feelings. I don't need to bid for women. One call and my supermodels will be here in less than an hour."
Yeri: "…"
What's the difference? He's still spending money.
"Indeed, it's still early. Let's go karaoke!" Calin suddenly popped up, dragging Tristan with her.
Minutes ago, Tristan had still been raising the paddle for that red-veiled woman when Calin made a dramatic scene and threw it. She wanted to follow Shin and Yeri, but she also couldn't abandon Tristan. She needed to act like the jealous woman, yet she also needed to gauge how deep Shin and Yeri's relationship truly was. She couldn't let any of them leave her sight yet.
"That's a good idea! Let's go!" Saeki agreed enthusiastically.
Yeri's eyes sparkled. Of course she enjoyed hanging out, otherwise she wouldn't have dragged Nina to the bar on her eighteenth birthday and met Shin Keir by accident. Besides, this time Shin wouldn't overthink and chase her across the city.
"Let's go. The car is here." Shin held her wrist, ignoring the others.
"Wait, I want to go with them. Tomorrow is the weekend anyway. If you're busy, you can go first." Yeri tried to pull her wrist back, but he held tighter.
Shin's indifferent expression cracked. Instead of asking him to come along, she was… pushing him to leave?
At the side, this was the perfect chance to sow discord, how could Calin stay quiet? With a worried, awkward tone she said, "Miss Zhi, don't be in such a hurry to send Brother Shin away. Shouldn't you at least ask if he wants to go too?"
Yeri blinked. Shin Keir? A CEO? Going to karaoke? She couldn't imagine it.
More importantly, wasn't he just in a hurry to leave?
"I don't think he wants to go to places like that…" she muttered.
Tristan almost burst out laughing. With Shin's personality, he'd rather stay at the office all night. Even as students, Shin's idea of "hanging out" was working on projects or attending private events with Master Keir.
"Fine." Shin deadpanned, looking at Saeki. "Where?"
Saeki froze in confusion until Tristan answered for him. "You're actually going? It's the newly opened place in the downtown district. I want to check as well how business is doing."
"What?!" Saeki snapped to attention, eyes wide. "Big bro, you're really going to karaoke?! Will there be an apocalypse tomorrow?!"
From Saeki's reaction, it was clear Yeri's assumption wasn't wrong. But before she could question further, an attendant approached to discuss auction items. Shin left after telling her to wait.
Calin threw Yeri a contemptuous look, but Yeri didn't notice. How long will Shin Keir tolerate her? She was certain he was displeased just now.
Suddenly blocking her sight, Saeki said irritably while reading a message on his phone. "Calin, didn't you inform your manager you were here? No wonder Manager Lyn wants to quit."
Meanwhile, Tristan approached Yeri with a teasing grin. "Congratulations. You're the first and probably the only person who could convinced Shin Keir to go karaoke."
"He's never been to karaoke before? Not even as students? Where did you all hang out?" Yeri asked curiously.
Tristan shrugged. "The only time he'd agree to go to a bar is if it's still related to business. Shin hates crowded places, especially nightclubs… his OCD can't handle it."
Yeri went silent. If that was the case, then what about the first time they met at Gaia Bar? And the second time, at Jj's classmate's birthday, when Shin happened to be there?
She'd always assumed because of what happened between them, Shin initially just found her interesting, and slowly developed feelings. But would someone like him, someone so notoriously picky and distant, suddenly break his habits? Force himself to show up at places he normally disliked? Go out of his way to appear where she happened to be?
Were these all coincidences?
"Can you tell me about Brother Shin's past relationships?" Yeri suddenly asked.
Tristan's mouth twitched. How could he say that Shin's "past relationship" was actually her, just in another realm?
"Would you believe me if I said he never dated anyone before you?"
Yeri's expression said absolutely not, making Tristan chuckle.
"Why do you want to know? If you're curious about his past, you should ask Shin himself," he winked.
Yeri hesitated, torn between speaking up and keeping her thoughts to herself.
A dozen questions crowded her mind. What exactly is Shin's ideal type? Why is he so suddenly attached to her? And more unsettling… Why does he sometimes look at her with that strange mix of obsession and yearning?
Could it be that she resembled someone from his past like an ex-girlfriend, a crush or someone he held in his heart?
Or worse, what if he was just a psycho with obsessive tendencies? What if she had been his target from the very beginning?
Her heart thumped once, sharply.
Then she remembered Tristan's offhand reminder back at the hospital that if Shin ever acted "strange," she should just brush it off as him being worried.
At the time, she didn't take it seriously. But what exactly had he meant? And was it connected to the unsettling feeling growing inside her?
"Let's go."
Yeri jolted at Shin's deep voice behind her.
"What's wrong? Are you cold?" He immediately draped his jacket over her shoulders.
"Yeri is jealous of your past," Tristan chimed in before walking ahead.
Shin: "???"
"I'm not! Stop talking nonsense!" Yeri snapped, stomping her foot and instantly regretting speaking to Tristan at all.
Meanwhile, Calin's eyes never left Tristan and Yeri. From her perspective, they looked far too close.
While Saeki chatted beside her, she was lost in thought. She barely caught Shin's name and something about his past from the two.
But this only confirmed her suspicion: Yeri was fishing for information, and Tristan was feeding it to her. How else could she explain their closeness?
By the time they reached the parking area, Calin snapped out of her thoughts, just in time to see Tristan's car pulling out followed by Shin's, with Yeri in the passenger seat.
Saeki was about to hop into his sports car when Calin rushed over. "Brother Saeki, can I ride with you?"
Saeki nearly stumbled backward, goosebumps rising. "Didn't you come here with your car?"
Calin pouted. She was simply too lazy to drive.
Sighing, Saeki raised a hand. "Calin, listen. People are already speculating about your relationship with Tristan. If you're seen with me at this hour, what do you think will happen? You're a public figure. Protect your reputation."
Without waiting for her response, he hurried into his car and drove off. It wasn't only for Calin's sake, he didn't want to be dragged into any scandal either.
Calin, furious, stomped her feet. Fortunately, she knew the new establishment Tristan mentioned and rushed to her sedan.
That night, three luxury sports cars roared down the busy road, turning heads everywhere.
When they arrived, Yeri rolled her eyes at Tristan. Because of his nonsense, Shin had interrogated her the whole ride.
Yeri eventually admitted that she wanted to know about his past relationships, but Shin also insisted he'd never dated anyone.
Still, unlike earlier, Shin was no longer sullen about Yeri wanting to go with the others. Instead, he was in a surprisingly good mood.
Is she curious about his past because she's jealous? The thought made him smile unknowingly.
But that delight didn't last long.
The newly opened place Tristan suggested was indeed high-end. Their VIP lounge wasn't just for karaoke; it was spacious, with its own private cocktail bar.
However, expecting Shin to refuse, Saeki had already invited several of his friends.
They were all from the same circle and also acquainted with Tristan but when Shin walked in, the room fell silent, each person wearing a different expression.
Saeki smiled awkwardly. "Big bro… don't worry. You know most of them."
Shin gave him a side glance and took a seat on an empty sofa.
"What do I do? I also called some girls. They'll be here soon…" Saeki whispered to Tristan nervously.
It wasn't a rule, but everyone knew when Shin was present, no one dared bring escorts or female companions.
Tristan looked unbothered, even amused. "Yeri's here. Maybe he'll endure."
Hearing Yeri's name, Saeki's eyes brightened as he looked around for her.
"I think she went to the restroom," Tristan added.
Soon, the heavy silence eased into scattered conversations. No one expected Shin Keir to actually come but to those waiting for a chance to discuss business or earn favor, his presence was a rare blessing.