As Levi had mentioned, Shin was busy reviewing several contracts at KGG when Tristan knocked on his office door.
"Hey, there's an important gathering regarding some affiliated organizations with Hexion. You should be there," Tristan said.
Shin lifted his gaze, completely indifferent. "Can't you handle it yourself?"
"It's not about handling it. Your presence is more important," Tristan replied.
His gaze then landed on the red bonsai sitting prominently on the desk.
For the past week, that bonsai had become the most controversial object in the Keir household.
It was also the reason Tristan had no desire to return to his villa.
With Xati and Elder Madam Keir constantly hounding him to do something about the missing bonsai, what exactly was he supposed to do?
Moreover, the matter had somehow spread to their family friends, and the story had become increasingly distorted.
Apparently, the Little Prince of the Keir family was extremely fond of bonsai.
People had started sending all kinds of bonsai trees to the Keir residence, much to Elder Madam Keir's delight.
Then people had apparently assumed that he was secretly searching for a suitable stepmother for Xati.
As a result, all kinds of gifts had begun arriving at the villa. Toys for boys. Homemade meals, supposedly prepared with great care. Expensive children's clothes, etc.
At this point, Tristan wouldn't have been surprised if someone actually showed up and started auditioning for the position right in front of him.
Even his girlfriend had grown paranoid.
The misunderstanding had caused them to argue repeatedly, eventually contributing to their recent breakup.
"By the way," he said, "it seems Uncle Ellis is up to something again. He's been sending socialites over to win Xati's favor."
Shin raised an eyebrow, "And did he succeed?"
Tristan's mouth twitched.
Succeed? Not exactly.
If anything, the women had come to the conclusion that Xati was a living nightmare.
One socialite from a prominent trading family had visited the villa and Xati curiously asked her to explain a stock chart.
Unfortunately, she couldn't even tell the difference between a candlestick chart and a line chart.
Xati didn't give her any face and bluntly declared that he didn't like stupid mothers, leaving the woman thoroughly humiliated.
Then another socialite came to visit Elder Madam Keir.
Or, at least, that was what she claimed.
In reality, she had come specifically for Xati.
At some point during their conversation, Xati casually told her there was an unborn baby sitting on her shoulder.
The woman had been so terrified that she fainted on the spot. As it turned out, she had recently undergone an abortion.
The third one used to be one of Calin's close socialite friends, who wore the persona of a bright and cheerful person, only for Xati to intentionally let Carpet, Yeri's golden retriever, jump on her.
She immediately showed her true colors, cursing as her dress was ruined.
That's right. In order to appease Xati, Yeri brought Carpet there to stay for the time being.
Then someone actually did her research and somehow learned that Xati was close to Yeri, so she came looking pure and delicate, fragile and pale.
But Xati, that little demon, actually went and called the funeral service, saying they had a customer who had gotten into the wrong place, mortifying the woman.
Anyway, Tristan had heard even more stories from his butler, who always reported whatever was going on at his villa. His once-quiet and often-empty villa couldn't be any livelier nowadays.
At the very least, there was a bright side to being Xati's dad.
He didn't have to get disturbed or deal with these women himself, since Xati was already enough of a menace.
Who would dare want to be his stepmother?
---
Later that night, the two drove to one of Hexion's exclusive elite club establishments.
Shin was checking his messages and frowned. He had sent Yeri a message earlier, saying he would be late coming home, but she hadn't replied.
Just as he was thinking of calling her, Saeki's loud voice reverberated the moment they got out of the car.
"Big bro! Why do you look so formal? Did you just come from work?!" he blabbered.
"You, shut up and let's go in," Tristan warned him.
Shin didn't find it strange for Saeki to be there, as he was also a member of Hexion. It was only when he saw Allen that his brows contorted in confusion.
Before he could ask, the door to a private VIP room opened, and people shouted, "Surprise!" "Happy bachelor's party!" "It's a countdown to your wedding day!"
Shin "..."
Saeki pushed him from behind, excitedly chatting about this and that.
"Shin, you'll be a married man soon. Are you having some wedding jitters now, huh?" Daniel jested.
"Let's make this a moment to remember. Our richest friend is about to leave the single market!" Zoren followed.
Shin glanced at Tristan, annoyed that he'd been tricked.
"It's not often that you get to hang out with everyone like this, and everyone's been asking about it. Just go along with it," Tristan grinned.
"Big bro, how could we skip your bachelor's party? There's no way I wouldn't organize one for you!" Saeki said. "I'm sure sister-in-law is also enjoying her bachelorette party."
"What did you say?" Shin's eyes narrowed.
"Relax. Her friends organized some hiking trip, so don't worry. She's not dancing drunk or touching any other man's abs at this moment," Tristan reassured him.
Even so, Shin was unhappy that he had been completely unaware of it and made Tristan spit out all the details.
After Tristan explained everything, Shin still felt upset that Yeri hadn't even sent him a message to at least let him know where she was.
Not long after, Zahn also arrived, sporting dark circles under his eyes from coming straight from work.
He checked his watch and said, "I wouldn't be drinking much. I have surgery for a patient as early as five tomorrow morning."
Saeki clicked his tongue. "Stone face, do you have to be such a buzzkill? We're supposed to party until we drop!"
"I'm a doctor. I can't exactly ignore immediate emergencies," Zahn shrugged as he poured himself a whiskey.
Tristan chuckled as he watched him talk while doing otherwise. It seemed this bachelor's party had jabbed at his heart, given his divorce status with Lianna.
"Don't forget, we'll have another bachelor's party for Allen and Natalia!" Zoren exclaimed.
"Let's drink to that!" Saeki shouted.
The group chatted, laughed, and made jokes while downing liquor one after another.
There was a knock on the door, and Jj entered, looking awkward. "Sorry I'm late."
"Jj Zhi! Come, come here! Don't be sorry. Glad you could make it." Saeki urged him to sit anywhere before turning to Shin. "Of course I invited sister-in-law's brother for you. Let you two get along even more."
Jj scratched his nose awkwardly. He originally hadn't wanted to attend, as he wasn't that close to Shin Keir or any of his circle. But no matter what excuse he gave, Saeki was adamant, and Tristan had also convinced him.
As time passed, Saeki blabbered, "Alright, before we forget, while we're still sober, let's all give our best wishes and advice to big bro. Let's start with our youngest."
Jj noticed everyone looking at him and pointed at himself.
"Who else? You're the only college student here," Daniel chuckled.
Jj cleared his throat, looking at Shin, who always wore that intimidating expression.
"How about you tell us your thoughts and impression of Shin?" Zoren suggested.
"First impression!" Saeki said excitedly.
"I think we can all agree that we all had the same first impression of Shin," Allen said, followed by everyone laughing.
"What about both Shin and Zahn?" Tristan grinned.
Imagining the two together, both with personalities as rigid as their expressions, made everyone laugh again.
After some time, Jj simply said that he hoped Shin would always love and cherish his sister, never let her get hurt, and that the two of them would be happy.
He dared not mention his first impression. He still remembered the time Shin and his people had chased him and Yeri around the city. He had been so frightened at the time that he genuinely thought they were about to be assassinated.
When it was Saeki's turn, he blabbered for so long that he could probably publish it as a book before the others finally cut him off.
"I'm not done yet! I haven't even gotten to the interesting part!" Saeki complained.
"Why are you telling us your entire life story? Just give him your advice," Daniel scowled.
"What do you know? I'm speaking from experience!"
At that moment, there was another knock on the door. The manager politely bowed before informing them that the girls had arrived.
Soon after, rows of slender, beautiful, and stunning women entered the room.
For a moment, everyone simply looked at one another before they all glanced toward Shin Keir, waiting for his reaction.
"It definitely wasn't me. You know I'm also engaged." Allen quickly washed his hands of the matter.
"Big bro, this is just the first and last time. For your sake, I simply couldn't bring myself to not let you experience it," Saeki said righteously.
Then he pointed at Tristan and Zoren. "These two agreed to it too."
Zoren choked on his liquor, coughing as he said, "I thought you were joking!"
The women who had come all had determined looks in their eyes, as if they had fought tooth and nail to get where they were now.
After all, whoever heard that they would be entertaining the nation's elite circle? Shin Keir's bachelor's party was practically an opportunity to step through a door they had never even dared imagine opening.
Shin, who had been silent all this time, still looked as though this party had absolutely nothing to do with him.
"Saeki Jie, did you run out of brain cells while planning a bachelor's party? You have these kinds of parties almost every week. Aren't you sick of them?" He finally asked.
Saeki immediately defended himself. "Of course I'm a pro at this! That's why I'm sharing my experience with you, big bro! Let you experience the fun too!"
The women swarmed toward the seats beside the men, especially Tristan, knowing his reputation and how generous he was, particularly when it came to breakup fees.
Then there was Saeki, who could offer them not only resources but instant stardom if fame was what they sought.
Those who dreamed of becoming rich young ladies or wanted to pursue a serious relationship quickly approached Zoren and the others.