Late that night, Yeri went downstairs to get a glass of water. On her way back to her room, she noticed light spilling through the guest room door.
Curious, she quietly walked closer. Before she even reached the door, she heard Linda and Venice talking, with Xian's name mentioned several times.
Yeri "...."
Without lingering any longer, she quietly returned to her room.
She had no idea what the mother and daughter were planning, but knowing Xian's eccentric nature, they were truly pushing their luck.
Instead of prioritizing Venice's education and helping her return to school, they were already setting their sights on another man, as though they hadn't learned a single lesson from what had happened with Hadi Keir.
--
The next morning, a black sedan pulled up early in front of the Zhi residence. Shin Keir stepped out of the car, looking as composed as ever.
The family butler, who had already been expecting him, immediately came forward to greet him and led him inside.
Having barely slept the night before, Venice had intended to find Yeri and vent all the resentment bottled up inside her.
However, the moment she saw Carpet sleeping right outside Yeri's bedroom door, she immediately abandoned the idea. Remembering how the damned dog loved jumping on her whenever she got too close, she quietly headed downstairs instead.
To her surprise, Shin Keir was actually sitting in the living room.
Venice froze halfway down the staircase, her mind going blank.
Shin noticed her as well, but realizing it wasn't Yeri, he simply lowered his gaze and continued scrolling through his phone.
Venice bit her lip, this bitter pill was really hard to swallow.
Yeri had lived a pampered life since the day she was born, and now she was about to marry Shin Keir, she'll spend the rest of her life enjoying an even more dazzling future.
Who wouldn't be green with envy?
Slowly composing herself, she walked over and greeted him shyly. "Good morning, Young Master Keir. You're here to see Yeri, right?"
Shin merely gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Unfazed, Venice sat across from him and spoke casually.
"Yeri probably just woke up. Her childhood friend came over last night, and dinner ended rather late."
Shin's fingers paused over his phone before he slowly lifted his eyes to look at her.
Venice's heart nearly leaped out of her chest looking at him. That face alone was enough to drive anyone crazy.
No wonder...
No wonder Calin Ricci had become so obsessed with this man.
Lowering her head, she mumbled, "Well... to be exact, he's their next-door neighbor. I remember he was very close to the Zhi siblings, especially Yeri."
Shin remained silent, simply watching her.
Under his bone-piercing gaze, Venice's palms gradually became damp with sweat. Still, she wasn't lying, so there was nothing for her to be afraid of.
"Well... Yeri must've already told you about him. Besides, he's also from a prestigious family." Venice scratched her nose nervously. "Uhm... sorry if I'm talking too much. I'm really not good at entertaining guests."
By the time Yeri came downstairs, Venice had already recounted everything that had happened during last night's dinner.
A dull thud echoed through the foyer as a maid dragged Yeri's suitcase downstairs.
"Why did you come so early?" Yeri asked as she walked toward him. "Besides, I already told you that you didn't have to pick me up."
Shin stood up, leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek before taking the suitcase from the maid.
"It's fine. I'll carry this."
The maid shyly nodded before hurrying back toward the kitchen, barely able to contain her excitement as she eagerly told the other staff that she had actually spoken to Shin Keir.
"Ah, Yeri, you're finally ready." Venice stood up with a bright smile that failed to reach her eyes. "I thought I was going to run out of things to talk about while entertaining Young Master Keir. Are you two going somewhere?"
"Graduation trip," Yeri answered flatly.
"That's wonderful," Venice replied enviously. "So that's why you turned down Xian Song's invitation to hang out."
The moment she heard those words, Yeri instinctively glanced at Shin but he wore the same indifferent expression as always.
Yet that alone was enough for Venice to sense the subtle tension in the air.
Only then did she remember.
The Song and Keir families had never been on good terms. Almost everyone in their social circle knew that.
It felt as though she had finally unearthed something capable of making Yeri uncomfortable. Perhaps she had even stumbled upon a way to drive a wedge between these two.
With renewed confidence, she smiled and asked, "Come to think of it... was Xian Song at your engagement banquet? I don't seem to remember seeing him. As your childhood friend, he should've been invited, right? You didn't forget about him just because you're engaged, did you?"
Yeri shot her a cold glare. "None of your business."
At that moment, Mother Zhi came downstairs. Seeing Shin carrying Yeri's luggage, she smiled warmly.
"Thank you, for taking it upon yourself to bring Yeri to the airport.".
"No need for thanks. I like taking care of my fiancée," Shin said before briefly chatting with Mother Zhi.
Venice still wanted to say something when her phone suddenly rang.
Looking at the notification, she was surprised to see that Yeri had actually sent her a message.
[Did you really think I don't know what you're up to? Cousin don't be ungrateful. Don't forget who bailed you out of detention and hired a lawyer for your case.]
Venice's face instantly darkened.
Out of everything, she hated being reminded of how incapable her own parents were and how she had been forced to rely on Yeri's family, as though she were living off charity.
"We should leave. I don't want to miss the flight," Yeri said as she slipped her arm around Shin's.
Shin checked his watch before nodding. "Let's go."
As the two walked outside, followed by Mother Zhi, Yeri didn't forget to throw Venice a condescending glance.
Stomping her foot in frustration, a thought suddenly crossed Venice's mind.
'Yeri warning me like this... doesn't that only prove my suspicions were right?'
"Yeri Zhi... just you wait," Venice muttered, finally calming down as a smug smile slowly spread across her face.
---
Inside the car, Yeri busily replied to messages in their class group chat. Everyone was excited, already immersed in the mood of their graduation trip.
"So," Shin suddenly spoke, "when were you planning to tell me that Xian Song had become your neighbor? Or were you never planning to tell me at all?"
His words instantly made the atmosphere inside the car tense.
Yeri looked up at him calmly. "If he wants to live next door, how am I supposed to stop him? Whatever Venice told you, are you actually letting it affect you? You know exactly what she's trying to do."
Of course Shin knew. But this wasn't about Venice's intentions.
He had long made it clear that he didn't like Xian Song.
"You still spend time with him?"
"You already blocked him on my phone, so no." Yeri shrugged.
"You know very well that's not what I'm talking about." Shin's voice remained calm, but there was unmistakable displeasure beneath it. "That person doesn't see you as just a friend. Are you really going to pretend you don't know? Is it really that difficult to keep your distance?"
Yeri fell silent.
Recalling her conversation with Xian in the basement, everything he had done to avenge her, and how she had firmly told him she would only ever see him as a brother, she suddenly felt wronged.
Keep her distance?
Shin had already blocked Xian's number from her phone. They hadn't contacted each other since.
She had also refused every invitation that could lead to misunderstandings, except for the times Xian simply visited next door to chat with her parents.
What was she supposed to do?
Slam the door in his face every time he came over? Start unnecessary arguments just to drive him away?
"I already told him I only see him as a brother," Yeri replied. "As for keeping my distance, you should ask your people. Aren't they following me all the time? I can't exactly stop him from visiting my house if he wants to see my parents."
Shin let out a scoff. "He's taking the long way around by getting close to your parents. Just like a Song, always resorting to underhanded schemes and petty calculations. Listen to yourself. You're so eager to defend him."
Yeri stared at him, momentarily speechless.
She couldn't remember if there was a time he had been this confrontational with her.
"When you say I should keep my distance..." she asked quietly, "do you actually mean I should dislike him too? I'm not defending him. He's simply a childhood friend. I haven't done anything that betrayed our relationship, emotionally or physically. So why are you making me feel guilty?"
"Yeri Zhi," Shin replied, his voice low, "it's not that complicated. Just don't give him any reason to misunderstand that he still has a chance with you."
Yeri "...."
Somehow... He had implied those words before.
Then she remembered.
It was during their engagement banquet, after Calin Ricci's attempt to drug him had been exposed.
Indignant, she immediately shot back. "There's a difference between Calin Ricci and Xian Song. You were never friends with her, not even acquaintances. Besides, it's your choice not to get close to other women, and it's my choice to have different friends. What? Do you also want me to distance myself from Levi and every other male friend I have?"
Shin frowned, looking as though he couldn't understand why it was so difficult for her to see his point.
"I have nothing against your friends. I think you're the one trying to make me feel guilty." His voice remained steady. "We're already engaged. What's wrong with keeping boundaries?"
Boundaries?
Is he saying she doesn't understand boundaries?
Yeri felt a surge of anger rush to her head.
The atmosphere inside the car instantly turned heavy.
Meanwhile, Secretary Yun, who had been quietly driving in the front seat, couldn't have been more stressed.
How on earth had these two ended up arguing?