Perhaps they had assumed she'd react like most women who were infatuated with Shin Keir. They expected her to act innocent and fragile in front of him, then panic that he might misunderstand her.
Perhaps she'd pretend nothing had happened and quietly leave with him.
Instead, she had announced everything in front of everyone.
The three employees immediately scrambled to explain themselves.
"I'm sorry! Miss Zhi, that's not what we meant!"
"It was her!"
They began apologizing, bowing, and pointing fingers at one another so quickly that their carefully maintained friendship collapsed within seconds.
Yeri clicked her tongue. "I at least thought you'd defend each other. But you couldn't even maintain your fake friendship for a moment. No wonder you couldn't get yourselves your own CEO."
Employee B looked like she was about to cry. "Miss Zhi, it's a misunderstanding! You really misheard us. That's not what we meant!"
"Oh?" Yeri raised an eyebrow. "Then what did you mean? That I can't even enter the private elevator because Brother Shin doesn't trust me?"
Shin frowned. "Why can't you access it? I gave you the pass months ago. Did you leave it at the penthouse or the villa?"
Several employees nearby widened their eyes.
So they already lived together?
And these three had the audacity to question their relationship?
Yeri shrugged. "I don't remember."
Employee D immediately bowed so deeply she nearly hit the floor before pointing accusingly at Employee B.
"It was her! She's the one who instigated me. She's just jealous because you're marrying CEO Keir!"
"Yeah!" Employee C quickly added. "Even when you weren't here, she kept telling everyone that you're not that impressive and that CEO Keir is making a huge mistake."
She hesitated before adding, "I think it's because she's friends with the tech manager. She's the one who keeps shipping them together."
Employee B's eyes widened in fury. "Bah! You two are really my good friends, aren't you? You're willing to throw me under the bus the moment trouble hits! Did I force either of you to insult Miss Zhi?!"
As the three women continued blaming one another, Yeri couldn't be bothered anymore.
She didn't mention the tech manager again. It wasn't her fault that these three had dragged her into the conversation, and for all Yeri knew, the woman was completely innocent.
However, Shin's gaze swept coldly over the three employees, none of whom dared to meet his eyes.
Truthfully, they had probably never been this close to Shin Keir before, let alone caught his attention so directly.
Could this count as a blessing in disguise?
The thought lasted barely a second.
"When was the last time the company conducted individual performance reviews?" Shin turned to Secretary Yun, who had been silently standing behind him.
"Do it tomorrow. And while we're at it, include an employee audit. Check whether everyone's skills align with our business goals, as well as overall productivity and operational efficiency."
The three employees instantly turned ashen.
Employee B's knees nearly buckled. The other two looked as though they had just been handed a death sentence.
In fact, it wasn't only them.
The employees nearby who realized they had somehow been dragged into the mess also wore shocked and terrified expressions.
Everyone knew there was no negotiating with him unless they wanted to be the first ones audited.
Secretary Yun shook his head inwardly. Who told these people to dangle themselves in front of Shin Keir?
Lately, the company had been enjoying a rather lax atmosphere. With Shin's attention occupied by Yeri and their upcoming wedding preparations, the employees had gradually relaxed.
And now they had asked for it themselves.
"Understood, Boss. I'll inform HR and have it arranged immediately," Secretary Yun affirmed.
Shin nodded before turning toward Yeri, who was still looking at him with displeasure.
"Alright. It's my fault. You're not the clingy one. I'm the clingy one. Is it wrong that I'm even more productive when my fiancée is around as my moral support?"
Yeri rolled her eyes. "I should charge you for that, then."
The two entered the private elevator while Secretary Yun remained behind to deal with the aftermath.
He glanced at his watch before sweeping his gaze over everyone gathered around the elevator corridor. "Good luck."
Everyone "..."
Did he mean that sincerely? Why did it sound more like a countdown to their doom?
Once Secretary Yun left as well, the silence that had settled over the corridor immediately descended into chaos.
The three women who had been blaming one another moments ago suddenly found themselves surrounded by furious colleagues.
"Damn it! Why did you have to offend the CEO's fiancée?! Now you've dragged all of us into this!"
"I've been delaying my reports for days! Now I have to make sure everything is finished before the audit! What am I supposed to do?!"
"What if I don't pass the performance review?" Another employee pointed accusingly at the three women. "I'm telling you right now, if I lose my job because of this, the three of you better compensate me!"
"What exactly happened?! Don't you read the news? You actually dared to anger Yeri Zhi? Do you think she's a doormat?"
"Right! Someone who isn't afraid of our CEO isn't simple either."
As the three women desperately scrambled to defend themselves, the incident quickly spread throughout KGG.
Employees still at work began whispering about it. Those who had been preparing to clock out suddenly became glued to their desks, their phones ringing incessantly as messages flew through the company group chats.
Even employees who had already left couldn't resist rushing back.
One by one, they began frantically checking their performance records, unfinished reports, attendance, project contributions, and even their recent work habits.
Nobody wanted to be the unlucky person who discovered tomorrow that their career had been sacrificed to three women's loose tongues.
---
Inside the CEO's office, Yeri pointed accusingly at the red bonsai sitting proudly on Shin's desk.
"Are you honestly stealing a present meant for a child?"
Shin looked completely pleased with himself. "Don't you think it matches my office aesthetic?"
Yeri pressed her fingers against her temple. "Give it back. I'll make you a different one."
"For what?" Shin raised an eyebrow. "Consolation? Because you're being forced to?"
"I didn't even know you wanted a bonsai," Yeri reasoned.
"You never told me you could use that ability again." Shin's expression gradually became more serious. "Besides, how long did it take you? It must have been painful and draining, right?"
Yeri immediately averted her gaze.
It had been painful.
She had felt unwell more than once while experimenting with her blood and trying to create the bonsai.
"It was just a drop... here and there. On random days," she muttered.
Shin scoffed, his tone was unmistakably mocking. "How dedicated of you. All to please one little troublemaker."
"He came to this realm because of me."
"And I didn't?"
Yeri paused. "We're getting married anyway. That means we'll be together often. But Xati? He can't even be our child."
"Xati is a demon. He doesn't care one bit about human opinions of him. He doesn't care what he is in this realm as long as he can be around you." He folded his arms. "You're overthinking it. And if he finds out you feel guilty toward him, he'll use it to pretend he's often wronged and wrap you around his finger."
"I told you, I owe him." Yeri's voice softened. "I don't even remember whether I was good to him as Empress Jewel. I don't remember if I ever considered him my son or simply a tool I could exploit."
She looked toward the bonsai.
"No matter what, he's still a child. Don't you know he was crying his eyes out this morning?"
Shin stared at her.
For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, gradually, a mocking grin appeared.
"Don't you know he learned his acting skills from you? He never cried whenever I punished him for causing trouble back then. Not even when my horse nearly trampled him. He's crying because he knew you'd come after me. He wanted to let me know you're on his side."
"I'm not on anyone's side, okay? Let's not derail the topic, and don't you be unreasonable." Yeri sighed. "If you don't want consolation, then you also wouldn't want something that wasn't originally meant for you, right?"
"No, I don't mind." Shin shrugged. "You put so much effort into this bonsai, and it's the first one you made. Naturally, it's mine."
Yeri was rendered completely speechless.
She was starting to wonder if she was somehow the one at fault here.
"It's not about Xati using his scheming tricks. But don't forget how he came into existence. You were the one who wanted proof of our love. You gathered all the demon mages and used all kinds of forbidden methods just so you could create living evidence that tied us together."
She pointed at him. "Meaning, he's your responsibility."
Shin wasn't the least bit moved. "I know. But taking responsibility doesn't mean he gets whatever he wants. I could've thrown him back into the demon realm and let him experience every level of its prisons. I compromised instead, didn't I? Isn't that me taking responsibility?"
Yeri stomped her foot in frustration. "I'm not trying to negotiate with you here! I'm not someone pitching a business deal. Just tell me, what would it take for you to give it back?"
Shin smiled devilishly, "In the demon realm, I'm the emperor. And in this realm, I have what most people don't have. It's the best of both worlds, isn't it? I don't think there's anything out there worthy of exchanging for this bonsai."
"You..." Yeri really wanted to kick him.
"Rather than that, why don't you make another one and give it to Xati?" Shin suggested casually. "You think you owe Xati, but you owe me too. I'm supposed to be your priority."
Yeri glared at him.
Was he a senior? Was this some kind of first-come, first-served system now?
"In a relationship, it's not just about priority. It's about compromise." She reasoned.
"Hmm. He's the third wheel. He should be the one compromising." Shin crossed his arms, completely satisfied with his own logic. "Besides, I'm his father. It's only natural that he gives in. That's called respect."
Yeri's expression went blank.
Before she could argue again, the office door suddenly opened. An assistant hurried inside carrying several stacks of documents.
He took two steps before hearing Shin's last sentence as he froze, becoming increasingly nervous.
Shin slowly turned his head toward him, gaze menacing enough to make the assistant reconsider every decision that had led him to that moment.